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The Bookstore Mystery #4
A Cover for Murder
She loved writing the perfect murder mystery, but she never wanted to be written into one . . .
Just as amateur sleuth Jen gets to work on her next book, the owner of the town’s rival bookstore is found murdered. Suspicions quickly turn to Jen, and she is forced to get back to sleuthing to clear her own name.
To make matters worse, customers for Ravenous Readers are slipping away as they hear of Jen's alleged misdeeds. Time is ticking for Jen to prove her innocence and win back customers before the store closes forever.
But what will strike Jen first? Inspiration…or the killer?
Just as amateur sleuth Jen gets to work on her next book, the owner of the town’s rival bookstore is found murdered. Suspicions quickly turn to Jen, and she is forced to get back to sleuthing to clear her own name.
To make matters worse, customers for Ravenous Readers are slipping away as they hear of Jen's alleged misdeeds. Time is ticking for Jen to prove her innocence and win back customers before the store closes forever.
But what will strike Jen first? Inspiration…or the killer?
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 18, 2024
105 people are currently reading
1435 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 12, 2024
In my opinion, this is a cheap American version of a good crime/mystery novel. I have never before read a 'cosy mystery', but I sure hope that in general, cosy mysteries aren't as bad(ly written) as this one and are actually realistic. This book was bad.
The main character Jen annoyed me so much. She doesn't really seem to have any characteristics, apart from the fact that she's nosy and audacious. For example, at the beginning of the book, she finds a dead person, but doesn't seem fazed by this at all, because she literally acts like she just found a random plastic bag on the street. Not once throughout the book does she show or express any sort of emotion towards this event, or seem to have been bothered by it, which made her the flattest character ever and seemingly devoid of feelings. She owns a bookstore but is barely involved with the bookstore and all she does when she goes to the bookstore is pour coffee from an urn and have sarcastic conversations with employees/friends. Also, she's a writer, but she never writes, and the writer aspect seems to just be there to make her seem interesting or something (again, flat). I found her annoying and unlikeable and she made dumb decisions all the time for no reason (leaving the front door of your house unlocked while there's a murderer on the loose, girl, just eff off). This girl's dumbness is insane. At one point, she's exercising in the park with some people, including her boyfriend (whose name is Eric), but she wants to leave, so she waits for him at the entrance of the park to tell him she's leaving, thinking If I'd left without explanation, Eric would be upset, assuming the worst. I'd worked hard at learning to consider his feelings. What??
Even worse, when Jen finds out Eric has a sister (how do you not know that about your partner who you've been together with for more than a few weeks/months), I laughed out loud at the passage describing this: He has a sister? I'd had no idea. He never talked about his family. Of course, I'd never asked either. I'd figured he'd tell me when he was ready. What did that say about me? Was I really that self-centered? It seemed so. No wonder he became frustrated with me. Girl stfu, I can't. Lastly, the funniest example of Jen's few braincells at work is the one where she asks her colleague Lacey who is organising books what she's doing: "I'm rearranging this case. People seem to buy the ones closest to the register more often, so I'm moving the ones closer in the back forward. Then I'll know if they're buying the others because they like them best or only because they're the ones they see while checking out. Make sense?" Jen's reaction: "Absolutely, that's a great idea." One I'd never have thought of in a million years.
About ninety percent of the dialogue in this book is either cringey or sarcastic or both, and some passages were really weird (at one point Jen goes to a Chinese restaurant and she describes a dragon having been painted on the building, and adds to that the fact that the dragon is red, not gold, because gold paint was probably more expensive. What???? In what world does that a) make sense, is that b) relevant, and does that c) add anything to the story??? And also, why do we care what the restaurant looks like? The passage itself, so you can have a laugh: I unbuckled my seat belt as the car rolled to a stop in front of the brick building, topped by a dragon stretched from end to end. Painted red, not gold. Perhaps the gold paint cost more.
Jen's boyfriend Eric is a cop, and he pretends to be a good, law-abiding one, but seems to have no trouble spilling confidential case information to not only his girlfriend, but many more others in town, which I'm sure would get you fired. (The town's medical examiner does the same thing by the way, so maybe it's just a 'small cozy town' thing lolllll).
Another thing that irked me: Some of Jen's friends find out the name of a guy that they think may be the murderer: Steve. A few lines later this name is mentioned one more time, but on the next page and from then on in the story, the guy's name is suddenly Steven, not Steve? Typo much?
As opposed to what is written on the back of the book, the story did not leave me guessing until the final page as to who the murderer was. And the murderer's motive is laughable at most (He killed his sister because she wanted to bring drug trade to the town, and he didn't like that, because he'd fallen in love with the "idyllic town").
I think I'll lay off of cosy mysteries for now.
The main character Jen annoyed me so much. She doesn't really seem to have any characteristics, apart from the fact that she's nosy and audacious. For example, at the beginning of the book, she finds a dead person, but doesn't seem fazed by this at all, because she literally acts like she just found a random plastic bag on the street. Not once throughout the book does she show or express any sort of emotion towards this event, or seem to have been bothered by it, which made her the flattest character ever and seemingly devoid of feelings. She owns a bookstore but is barely involved with the bookstore and all she does when she goes to the bookstore is pour coffee from an urn and have sarcastic conversations with employees/friends. Also, she's a writer, but she never writes, and the writer aspect seems to just be there to make her seem interesting or something (again, flat). I found her annoying and unlikeable and she made dumb decisions all the time for no reason (leaving the front door of your house unlocked while there's a murderer on the loose, girl, just eff off). This girl's dumbness is insane. At one point, she's exercising in the park with some people, including her boyfriend (whose name is Eric), but she wants to leave, so she waits for him at the entrance of the park to tell him she's leaving, thinking If I'd left without explanation, Eric would be upset, assuming the worst. I'd worked hard at learning to consider his feelings. What??
Even worse, when Jen finds out Eric has a sister (how do you not know that about your partner who you've been together with for more than a few weeks/months), I laughed out loud at the passage describing this: He has a sister? I'd had no idea. He never talked about his family. Of course, I'd never asked either. I'd figured he'd tell me when he was ready. What did that say about me? Was I really that self-centered? It seemed so. No wonder he became frustrated with me. Girl stfu, I can't. Lastly, the funniest example of Jen's few braincells at work is the one where she asks her colleague Lacey who is organising books what she's doing: "I'm rearranging this case. People seem to buy the ones closest to the register more often, so I'm moving the ones closer in the back forward. Then I'll know if they're buying the others because they like them best or only because they're the ones they see while checking out. Make sense?" Jen's reaction: "Absolutely, that's a great idea." One I'd never have thought of in a million years.
About ninety percent of the dialogue in this book is either cringey or sarcastic or both, and some passages were really weird (at one point Jen goes to a Chinese restaurant and she describes a dragon having been painted on the building, and adds to that the fact that the dragon is red, not gold, because gold paint was probably more expensive. What???? In what world does that a) make sense, is that b) relevant, and does that c) add anything to the story??? And also, why do we care what the restaurant looks like? The passage itself, so you can have a laugh: I unbuckled my seat belt as the car rolled to a stop in front of the brick building, topped by a dragon stretched from end to end. Painted red, not gold. Perhaps the gold paint cost more.
Jen's boyfriend Eric is a cop, and he pretends to be a good, law-abiding one, but seems to have no trouble spilling confidential case information to not only his girlfriend, but many more others in town, which I'm sure would get you fired. (The town's medical examiner does the same thing by the way, so maybe it's just a 'small cozy town' thing lolllll).
Another thing that irked me: Some of Jen's friends find out the name of a guy that they think may be the murderer: Steve. A few lines later this name is mentioned one more time, but on the next page and from then on in the story, the guy's name is suddenly Steven, not Steve? Typo much?
As opposed to what is written on the back of the book, the story did not leave me guessing until the final page as to who the murderer was. And the murderer's motive is laughable at most (He killed his sister because she wanted to bring drug trade to the town, and he didn't like that, because he'd fallen in love with the "idyllic town").
I think I'll lay off of cosy mysteries for now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2024
firstly, calling Mara the “owner of the town’s rival bookstore” is a bit of a stretch….the bookstore never even opened…
secondly, I haven’t read a book with a main character *this* unlikable in…maybe ever. she read like the main character of a badly written Wattpad fanfic: she had no sense of self-preservation (she literally left the door unlocked when there was a murderer on the loose), she was SO self-involved, an awful friend and girlfriend (she didn’t even know that her boyfriend had a sister because she “never asked”??), and she was constantly butting into people’s business that just didn’t concern her or the investigation at all??
the writing was also not very good. there was absolutely no subtext in anything; the characters would just freely say everything they thought at any moment of the day. meanwhile, they also would freely discuss a murder investigation in the middle of a diner as if that information isn’t incredibly confidential..
the book has so much repetitive dialogue that it made me want to tear my hair out. why are we being told that her boyfriend asks her how she is doing every time they meet?? every single time??? why does it matter??? do they have nothing else to say to each other that the author needed to fill their conversations with mindless chit chat???
I also don’t understand how a book can have such high stakes on paper (Jen is literally being accused of murder, she has a crazy tight deadline for two books, and her bookstore is going under) and still not make me feel any sort of stress or worry on behalf of the protagonist. I just didn’t care what would happen to her.
god this book was so frustrating.
P.S. I bought this exclusively for the beautiful cover and the fact that I love Agatha Christie books and now I wish I’d never spent my money on it :/
secondly, I haven’t read a book with a main character *this* unlikable in…maybe ever. she read like the main character of a badly written Wattpad fanfic: she had no sense of self-preservation (she literally left the door unlocked when there was a murderer on the loose), she was SO self-involved, an awful friend and girlfriend (she didn’t even know that her boyfriend had a sister because she “never asked”??), and she was constantly butting into people’s business that just didn’t concern her or the investigation at all??
the writing was also not very good. there was absolutely no subtext in anything; the characters would just freely say everything they thought at any moment of the day. meanwhile, they also would freely discuss a murder investigation in the middle of a diner as if that information isn’t incredibly confidential..
the book has so much repetitive dialogue that it made me want to tear my hair out. why are we being told that her boyfriend asks her how she is doing every time they meet?? every single time??? why does it matter??? do they have nothing else to say to each other that the author needed to fill their conversations with mindless chit chat???
I also don’t understand how a book can have such high stakes on paper (Jen is literally being accused of murder, she has a crazy tight deadline for two books, and her bookstore is going under) and still not make me feel any sort of stress or worry on behalf of the protagonist. I just didn’t care what would happen to her.
god this book was so frustrating.
P.S. I bought this exclusively for the beautiful cover and the fact that I love Agatha Christie books and now I wish I’d never spent my money on it :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2024
A Cover for Murder by Sue Minix the 4th instalment in the "A Bookstore Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 5! I do recommend reading in order so that you understand Jen better. She loved writing the perfect murder mystery, but she never wanted to be written into one . . .
I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and Ravenous Reads Bookstore. The main cast of characters Charlie, Lacey, Eric, and I love Savannah the German shepherd and all her antics. Jen is trying to figure out how to save the bookstore, write 2 more books in a year along with proving she’s not a killer!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and Ravenous Reads Bookstore. The main cast of characters Charlie, Lacey, Eric, and I love Savannah the German shepherd and all her antics. Jen is trying to figure out how to save the bookstore, write 2 more books in a year along with proving she’s not a killer!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
February 11, 2024
I enjoyed this book. The mystery was well-plotted, the characters were likable, the concept was good. It was solid. I gave it four stars for that reason. Also, Jen has an adorable German Shepherd Dog who loves to eat. I do wish it was more humorous and there were more literary/book references. I don't know what it is about me, but I like my cozy mysteries funny and with plenty of local color. I'd definitely read more books in this series.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Avon Books UK.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Avon Books UK.
January 19, 2024
Jennifer Dawson is once again hoping to be writing up a storm as she begins the third book in her best selling mystery series but, with Christmas out of the way, business at her store isn't good and she has financial as well as plot problems to deal with. When relatives of the late owner of Riddleton's only posh restaurant arrive to reopen Antonio's Jen is keen to welcome them but to her dismay discovers instead that they also plan to set up a rival bookstore to her very own Ravenous Readers!
Desperate to make the newcomers understand why their new hometown isn't large enough to support two similar businesses, Jen instead becomes a prime suspect in a murder investigation when a dead body is found! With boyfriend Eric unable to work the case and her stress induced writer's block preventing any progress on her novel, Jen knows she has to concentrate on clearing her name instead. Unfortunately her nemesis, Detective Havermayer, can finally see a chance to put her behind bars; has Jen reached the final chapter of her time as a Riddleton resident, or does she have more story left to write?
Sue Minix's fourth book in a series I always look forward to was as brilliantly written as the previous three. With compelling new characters as well as familiar recurring protagonists, antagonists, and, of course, Jen's loyal canine companion, Savannah, it was a pleasure to return to Riddleton once again. There is a fifth installment being released towards the end of May, which I have already pre-ordered.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Avon Books UK, but the opinions expressed are my own. I loved this. Highly recommended.
Desperate to make the newcomers understand why their new hometown isn't large enough to support two similar businesses, Jen instead becomes a prime suspect in a murder investigation when a dead body is found! With boyfriend Eric unable to work the case and her stress induced writer's block preventing any progress on her novel, Jen knows she has to concentrate on clearing her name instead. Unfortunately her nemesis, Detective Havermayer, can finally see a chance to put her behind bars; has Jen reached the final chapter of her time as a Riddleton resident, or does she have more story left to write?
Sue Minix's fourth book in a series I always look forward to was as brilliantly written as the previous three. With compelling new characters as well as familiar recurring protagonists, antagonists, and, of course, Jen's loyal canine companion, Savannah, it was a pleasure to return to Riddleton once again. There is a fifth installment being released towards the end of May, which I have already pre-ordered.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Avon Books UK, but the opinions expressed are my own. I loved this. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2024
This suuuuuucked!! I didn't connect with any of the characters, I was bored, the plot did not "leave [me] guessing right up until the final page", and I really, really disliked the main character. What a stupid, short minded, whiny, self-obsessed woman. Get this lady: Not everyone is out to get you!! The police only want to do their job. Even her boyfriend said, "I hate when you turn what I say into a personal attack."
Also, why are you so much on the phone when you're at work if you want to save your bookstore??? Hellooo??? Give attention to the customers.
Our main character summarised her behaviour throughout this story on page 292: "Someday, I'd learn to think things all the way through before acting, but probably not anytime soon."
The only good thing about this book was the dog.
Also, why are you so much on the phone when you're at work if you want to save your bookstore??? Hellooo??? Give attention to the customers.
Our main character summarised her behaviour throughout this story on page 292: "Someday, I'd learn to think things all the way through before acting, but probably not anytime soon."
The only good thing about this book was the dog.
January 14, 2024
As I expected and very much hoped, there’s a fourth book in the Bookstore Mystery series, and I picked it up the second it came out! This time, murder mystery author Jen Dawson not only gets entangled in a murder case in the small town of Riddleton, but she’s the prime suspect. And on top of that, some problems are forming concerning the bookstore. Will she clear her name? And can she save the bookstore from closing forever?
December 31, 2023
A Cover For Murder is the fourth installment in the Bookstore Mystery series. Caught in the middle of a writing slump, Jen's troubles are just beginning. The bookstore is having money problems and things are about to get worse. A rival bookstore is coming to town. Jen hopes she can convince the owner to change her mind, but then the woman is found dead and Jen is accused of murder.
Not having read any of the previous books in the series it took some time getting used to the characters. It was easy enough to follow along but I think having read the previous entries would have helped. As it is I didn't care for the main character. Jen is prickly, hard headed, and prone to impulsive gestures. That being said I think these characteristics are well established and referenced by the other characters. Perhaps I would like Jen more if I had read about her other adventures first.
The mystery is fairly easy to figure out. What's harder to understand is some of the characters' bizarre behavior. Jen isn't the only one acting rashly. The tone is consistent throughout which makes it easier to follow along and becomes the thing to solve.
My favorite parts are the action sequences when Jen is in danger. They are quite entertaining and show great thinking on Jen's part. Although she might not get into so much trouble if she didn't try to do everything on her own. I find Jen fairly believable actually. It's the other characters that I don't understand as well. Like when Jen is left alone after a major thing happens. That just doesn't seem realistic.
A few things kept taking me out of the story. Jen referenced a name several times in her thoughts and that character appears nowhere in the book. I'm guessing this is something I would understand if I had read the other entries. There is a spoiler for a previous book. I found a small error near the end when Lacey is talking to Jen. She's talking about another character and their interaction with Jen. What she says is inaccurate unless she was supposed to use different wording.
I could have done without the constant references to Jen's hygiene, or lack thereof, and descriptions of Savannah the dog's potty habits. A lot of time is spent talking about Savannah so I think it's worth mentioning that she's not a good bookstore pet. She's 80 pounds and runs around on the carpeted floors, books everywhere, where she could crash into a customer at any moment. It's even talked about a few times by the characters. She's so excitable she nips at people's hands enough that they (jokingly?) need bandaids. Savannah clearly needs training yet everyone is okay with it all. Also, Lacey constantly feeds the dog treats and naturally gets slobber on her hands. But she's handling books while doing so! There might be many things to look at when trying to improve sales....
Despite all my nitpicking I found A Cover For Murder entertaining. The scenes where Jen is in danger are really good. It's a quick read.
2.75 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read.
Not having read any of the previous books in the series it took some time getting used to the characters. It was easy enough to follow along but I think having read the previous entries would have helped. As it is I didn't care for the main character. Jen is prickly, hard headed, and prone to impulsive gestures. That being said I think these characteristics are well established and referenced by the other characters. Perhaps I would like Jen more if I had read about her other adventures first.
The mystery is fairly easy to figure out. What's harder to understand is some of the characters' bizarre behavior. Jen isn't the only one acting rashly. The tone is consistent throughout which makes it easier to follow along and becomes the thing to solve.
My favorite parts are the action sequences when Jen is in danger. They are quite entertaining and show great thinking on Jen's part. Although she might not get into so much trouble if she didn't try to do everything on her own. I find Jen fairly believable actually. It's the other characters that I don't understand as well. Like when Jen is left alone after a major thing happens. That just doesn't seem realistic.
A few things kept taking me out of the story. Jen referenced a name several times in her thoughts and that character appears nowhere in the book. I'm guessing this is something I would understand if I had read the other entries. There is a spoiler for a previous book. I found a small error near the end when Lacey is talking to Jen. She's talking about another character and their interaction with Jen. What she says is inaccurate unless she was supposed to use different wording.
I could have done without the constant references to Jen's hygiene, or lack thereof, and descriptions of Savannah the dog's potty habits. A lot of time is spent talking about Savannah so I think it's worth mentioning that she's not a good bookstore pet. She's 80 pounds and runs around on the carpeted floors, books everywhere, where she could crash into a customer at any moment. It's even talked about a few times by the characters. She's so excitable she nips at people's hands enough that they (jokingly?) need bandaids. Savannah clearly needs training yet everyone is okay with it all. Also, Lacey constantly feeds the dog treats and naturally gets slobber on her hands. But she's handling books while doing so! There might be many things to look at when trying to improve sales....
Despite all my nitpicking I found A Cover For Murder entertaining. The scenes where Jen is in danger are really good. It's a quick read.
2.75 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read.
November 22, 2024
I enjoyed this just as much as the other books in this series. It was not about what I thought it was but this was just as fun. Buuuut I hope the next book will be about the mystery I think this would be. Can’t wait!
December 4, 2024
I’m really not a fan of murder mysteries in which the MC has become the main suspect.
February 23, 2025
De voorjaarsvakantie is echt begonnen nu ik het 4e deel in deze reeks ook heb gelezen. Wederom overkomt ik-persoon Jen weer allemaal heftige dingen die zich afspelen rondom haar boekwinkel Ravenous Readers.
November 23, 2023
A Cover for Murder by Sue Minix is a fun cozy book with a solid mystery and charming characters.
Just as Jen gets to work on her next book, the owner of the town’s rival bookstore is found murdered, and suspicions turn to Jen. Time is ticking for Jen to both clear her name and write her new book before the store closes forever.
On the cover, the German shepherd, Savannah, drew me to the book, then the premise. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the atmospheric locale.
A Cover for Murder included a good plot, twists, and an exciting ending. This book is a great weekend read. I will check out more books by this author.
#NetGalley @AvonBooksUK
Just as Jen gets to work on her next book, the owner of the town’s rival bookstore is found murdered, and suspicions turn to Jen. Time is ticking for Jen to both clear her name and write her new book before the store closes forever.
On the cover, the German shepherd, Savannah, drew me to the book, then the premise. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the atmospheric locale.
A Cover for Murder included a good plot, twists, and an exciting ending. This book is a great weekend read. I will check out more books by this author.
#NetGalley @AvonBooksUK
December 27, 2023
Another cozy, quick, mystery by Sue Minix, with likable characters, a bookstore, and a great dog! Thankfully, there were not too many detailed references to the previous books, although there were a few. I, personally, do not like to read series books that constantly refer to the previous writings, however, this book only did that minimally and not enough to be distracting. I finished the book in a day and enjoyed every minute of it. if you would like an easy, quick-read escape, I would recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.
January 15, 2024
3.5⭐️ This is a solid read. I loved how fast paced it was while also keeping a cozy vibe. Some of Jen’s decisions were questionable but still very realistic. Not a ton of character development but what was there was on point. The plot was gripping and had me sucked in. I stayed up very late trying to read this as fast as I could. While the plot was not as twisty as I usually like, it was solid and ended in a complete way. This didn’t leave me guessing. I will definitely be reading her other books.
December 26, 2025
I'm really enjoying this series. I like the characters and I think Jen is really trying to grow. I enjoyed the mystery in this one and would not have guessed it went down the way it did. I really hope Jen is able to solve the skeleton cold case in the next book.
March 27, 2024
2.5 stars
I’m still not the biggest fan of these characters or the plot lines, but it was enjoyable enough.
I’m still not the biggest fan of these characters or the plot lines, but it was enjoyable enough.
July 11, 2024
No. Just no.
March 11, 2025
Liked this book quite a lot even though at the beginning it was rough to get started. I also did not know it is the 4 book of a series. But in my knowledge it doesn’t matter this much
October 18, 2024
The main character was so unlikeable. This book may have just started my reading slump.
June 19, 2025
I've been really enjoying this series!
My one small critique is that i would enjoy a longer last chapter (in all of the books, not just this one), showing us Jen's life after the mystery is solved a little more.
I love how imperfect Jen as a person is, though I still am baffled by some of her decisions. But she is that kind of a character that you like despite their flaws.
The detailed parts of Jens life that don't have much to do with the mystery itself provide a nice, comforting feeling, like you are watching a cozy tv show about a group of friends. And I've grown to enjoy all of their backstories and personalities!
Excited to read more :D
My one small critique is that i would enjoy a longer last chapter (in all of the books, not just this one), showing us Jen's life after the mystery is solved a little more.
I love how imperfect Jen as a person is, though I still am baffled by some of her decisions. But she is that kind of a character that you like despite their flaws.
The detailed parts of Jens life that don't have much to do with the mystery itself provide a nice, comforting feeling, like you are watching a cozy tv show about a group of friends. And I've grown to enjoy all of their backstories and personalities!
Excited to read more :D
July 12, 2024
mazajiem suniem si ari loti patika
September 7, 2024
This one didn't resonate with me. I'm not a personal fan of having the main character arrested and charged with murder. It often happens in the first book to give the character a reason to become an amateur detective, but by the 4th book we usually move on to having the main character trying to exonerate a friend or relative. Police procedure was really shaky. I can't believe she would be arrested for first degree murder on the flimsy circumstantial evidence presented. It just got more unbelievable from there. As soon as she was safely away from the house where she was held after being kidnapped, her boyfriend cop should have guarded the crime scene to catch the perpetrators if they tried to come back and to preserve any evidence. Instead he informs nobody, leaves the scene, and allows the kidnappers time to come back and get rid of all evidence she had ever been there. And the whole chapter where she and her friend go back into the house hoping to find evidence the police missed is preposterous. Anything she found would not be admissible in court or usable by the police. She has no way to prove that she didn't bring the evidence with her. Just because her friend recorded her unwrapping the tool that would have her fingerprints on it proving she was there didn't prove anything except that she was guilty of breaking and entering!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2025
WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. in dem buach war absolut alles dabei was as Herz höher schlaga lost. Kidnapping, Drogen, Manipulation, ALLES. Habs glesa während minam Hin udn Rückflügle vo Barcelona und die Frau nebat mir, war glich geschockt wia i wo ma ussagfunda hon wer der Mörder war. I glob bus etzt as beschte Buach vo dera Reihe!! To say at least: Ma kann niamandem vertraua.
June 12, 2024
1/5
1 star for wasted potential.
I was so looking forward to reading a “cozy murder” novel, and the summary definitely intrigued me (hence the wasted potential); a mystery author being the primary suspect for a murder in their small town? Absolutely this could have been an interesting read!
The main character (Jen) was insufferable and I hated her. She had absolutely no sense of self-preservation; none of her actions were logical and they put her into so many avoidable, unpleasant situations. She’s an author, but she doesn’t write. She’s the owner of a failing bookstore, but she’s uninvolved in any of its upkeep. All she does is put herself in dangerous/stupid situations and complain about how miserable her life is. I think the author tried to portray her as the heroic-hyper-independent type, courageous enough to investigate a murder, but unfortunately she came out as audacious, incompetent, ignorant, and immensely unlikeable.
The writing was really bad, the storyline was all over the place, and the plot often got lost within the many unnecessary mini-plots (which were never resolved?What happened to Angus’ mysterious gf?). The author describes every single thing/place in so much detail, for what? Why did we need to know what the Chinese restaurant looked like, that the dragon was red instead of gold? It did nothing for the plot. The dialogue was cringey and sarcastic. It tried too hard to be funny.
Overall, I would avoid this novel if you’re looking for a cozy murder mystery. I bought it purely for the cover and the summary (comparing it to Agatha Christie; which is completely false btw). I was at Shakespeare and Co. in Paris and it caught my eye, now I wish I had spent my money on something else.
***SPOILER BELOW***
I need to rant.
Jen was so annoying, like after her kidnapping, Eric wanted to take her to the station for a statement and then to the hospital to get checked/evidence and she was "too tired and only wanted to take a bath and sleep"???? like... ????? aren't you being tried for MURDER????? don't you want to clear your name ASAP?????
1 star for wasted potential.
I was so looking forward to reading a “cozy murder” novel, and the summary definitely intrigued me (hence the wasted potential); a mystery author being the primary suspect for a murder in their small town? Absolutely this could have been an interesting read!
The main character (Jen) was insufferable and I hated her. She had absolutely no sense of self-preservation; none of her actions were logical and they put her into so many avoidable, unpleasant situations. She’s an author, but she doesn’t write. She’s the owner of a failing bookstore, but she’s uninvolved in any of its upkeep. All she does is put herself in dangerous/stupid situations and complain about how miserable her life is. I think the author tried to portray her as the heroic-hyper-independent type, courageous enough to investigate a murder, but unfortunately she came out as audacious, incompetent, ignorant, and immensely unlikeable.
The writing was really bad, the storyline was all over the place, and the plot often got lost within the many unnecessary mini-plots (which were never resolved?What happened to Angus’ mysterious gf?). The author describes every single thing/place in so much detail, for what? Why did we need to know what the Chinese restaurant looked like, that the dragon was red instead of gold? It did nothing for the plot. The dialogue was cringey and sarcastic. It tried too hard to be funny.
Overall, I would avoid this novel if you’re looking for a cozy murder mystery. I bought it purely for the cover and the summary (comparing it to Agatha Christie; which is completely false btw). I was at Shakespeare and Co. in Paris and it caught my eye, now I wish I had spent my money on something else.
***SPOILER BELOW***
I need to rant.
Jen was so annoying, like after her kidnapping, Eric wanted to take her to the station for a statement and then to the hospital to get checked/evidence and she was "too tired and only wanted to take a bath and sleep"???? like... ????? aren't you being tried for MURDER????? don't you want to clear your name ASAP?????
January 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
This book is the fourth book in a series but can be read as a standalone. There were mentions to characters and events that obviously came from the other books but the author did a great job of explaining anything relevant to the current novel. I don’t think reading the other books would have affected my rating.
Overall, I liked this book. It was a quick read, a fun mystery, some likable characters and a nice conclusion.
I didn’t quite connect to the main character Jen and I don’t quite understand why. She’s a dog lover, a writer and owns a book store. All things I find highly positive. While I understood her motives for investigating the murder, her lack of awareness and putting herself in dangerous situations irked me to no end. In some cases, it wasn’t even necessary to keep the story going. Leaving her apartment unlocked, leaving the bookstore unlocked when she’s alone in the middle of the night and a murderer is loose… just stupid mistakes. The plot could have proceeded with the criminals breaking into these places but she constantly put herself in danger by being purposely reckless or downright forgetful.
I liked the side characters and wanted more of their adventures. Charlie felt so fun and interesting, Eric was adorable and such a wonderful love interest and of course Savannah was the star of every scene. Love me a well behaved spoiled German Shepherd.
As far as the mystery goes, I suspected the murderer early on and didn’t feel like the plot had many surprises or convinced me of any of the false leads.
This book is the fourth book in a series but can be read as a standalone. There were mentions to characters and events that obviously came from the other books but the author did a great job of explaining anything relevant to the current novel. I don’t think reading the other books would have affected my rating.
Overall, I liked this book. It was a quick read, a fun mystery, some likable characters and a nice conclusion.
I didn’t quite connect to the main character Jen and I don’t quite understand why. She’s a dog lover, a writer and owns a book store. All things I find highly positive. While I understood her motives for investigating the murder, her lack of awareness and putting herself in dangerous situations irked me to no end. In some cases, it wasn’t even necessary to keep the story going. Leaving her apartment unlocked, leaving the bookstore unlocked when she’s alone in the middle of the night and a murderer is loose… just stupid mistakes. The plot could have proceeded with the criminals breaking into these places but she constantly put herself in danger by being purposely reckless or downright forgetful.
I liked the side characters and wanted more of their adventures. Charlie felt so fun and interesting, Eric was adorable and such a wonderful love interest and of course Savannah was the star of every scene. Love me a well behaved spoiled German Shepherd.
As far as the mystery goes, I suspected the murderer early on and didn’t feel like the plot had many surprises or convinced me of any of the false leads.
December 22, 2023
Literary Cozy Mystery in which a mystery author and South Carolina bookstore owner turns sleuth when the town's rival bookstore owner's murdered and suspicions turn to her.
5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Minix's Bookstore Mystery series, which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in South Carolina and features a YA/NA mystery writer and bookstore owner. With plenty of twists and turns, Minix has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. This is a favorite series of mine due in part to Minix’s well crafted characters. Jen's a go-getter and determined to make her writing career and her deceased friend's bookstore a success. Additionally, I love catching up with the Ravenous Readers employees and I get a kick out of the Riddleton town folks. Oh and it's great to see Jen's relationship with her detective boyfriend, Eric, continue to grow. The other reason I love this series is Minix's inclusion of Jen’s actual writing journey and the “excerpts” of her Davenport twins books in progress. Those peek into the process are oh so very meta and tons of fun. And one must never forget the fluffy cuteness of Savannah, Jen's lovely German Shepherd. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder at the Bookstore.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Minix's Bookstore Mystery series, which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in South Carolina and features a YA/NA mystery writer and bookstore owner. With plenty of twists and turns, Minix has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. This is a favorite series of mine due in part to Minix’s well crafted characters. Jen's a go-getter and determined to make her writing career and her deceased friend's bookstore a success. Additionally, I love catching up with the Ravenous Readers employees and I get a kick out of the Riddleton town folks. Oh and it's great to see Jen's relationship with her detective boyfriend, Eric, continue to grow. The other reason I love this series is Minix's inclusion of Jen’s actual writing journey and the “excerpts” of her Davenport twins books in progress. Those peek into the process are oh so very meta and tons of fun. And one must never forget the fluffy cuteness of Savannah, Jen's lovely German Shepherd. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder at the Bookstore.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
March 14, 2024
Princess Fuzzypants here: This is the first book in the series where I was not spending part of the time in disbelief about why our protagonist was doing the things she was doing. Jen, once more has writers block and the book store she inherited is still holding on by its fingertips. Her nemesis has her in her investigative sights in spite of her boyfriend being a detective as well. But this time, even Jen admits, the circumstantial evidence is strong including her standing over the corpse of the woman who threatened to destroy her business.
Jen has a legitimate reason for wanting to find the killer. She is even arrested and remanded. This time it is serious but she does not go half-cocked putting herself in ridiculously dangerous situations. Yet, she does end up in some very dicey spots and it adds excitement rather than frustration. Well done, in fact. I enjoyed the story very much both the mystery and the Ravenous Readers plot. Jen will always be a character who has her quirks but this time, I can see why the other characters rally to her defence.
Five purrs and two paws up.
Jen has a legitimate reason for wanting to find the killer. She is even arrested and remanded. This time it is serious but she does not go half-cocked putting herself in ridiculously dangerous situations. Yet, she does end up in some very dicey spots and it adds excitement rather than frustration. Well done, in fact. I enjoyed the story very much both the mystery and the Ravenous Readers plot. Jen will always be a character who has her quirks but this time, I can see why the other characters rally to her defence.
Five purrs and two paws up.
February 19, 2024
A Cover for Murder is an interesting cozy mystery. Jen's bookshop is struggling to become a town institution but then a rival bookshop is planned to open. Jen hopes that she can dissuade the woman planning to open the shop to sell something else that the small town needs. Her hope is that they can both be successful.
When that fails, Jen is naturally upset and has words with the woman, Maura. Unfortunately Maura has clearly upset someone else because she is found dead -- Jen is the one to find her and is immediately the suspect.
So, Jen tries to clear her name, write a new book=with a deadline looming, ---and make the bookshop a success. But it seems that the police investigator has decided she is guilty.
Can Jen find her way out of this dilemma or will she lose everything including her writing career?
I enjoyed the characters in this book, but I had an issue with a plot point that was never resolved/explained. There were some fun twists and turns in the plot that kept the suspense going.
When that fails, Jen is naturally upset and has words with the woman, Maura. Unfortunately Maura has clearly upset someone else because she is found dead -- Jen is the one to find her and is immediately the suspect.
So, Jen tries to clear her name, write a new book=with a deadline looming, ---and make the bookshop a success. But it seems that the police investigator has decided she is guilty.
Can Jen find her way out of this dilemma or will she lose everything including her writing career?
I enjoyed the characters in this book, but I had an issue with a plot point that was never resolved/explained. There were some fun twists and turns in the plot that kept the suspense going.
December 11, 2023
Just as Jen gets to work on her next book, the owner of the town’s rival bookstore is found murdered and suspicions turn to Jen. Time is ticking for Jen to both clear her name and write her new book before the store closes forever.
This is the first book I read in The Bookstore Mysteries Series, and while this is #4, I was able to understand the character dynamics and get into this cozy mystery right from the start! The town of Riddleton reminded me so much of Stars Hollow, with a unique cast of characters from the manager of the diner to the mayor, and I loved seeing all of them interact with our MC, Jen. Her love for her friends, her town, and her store made her instantly likeable. And while she didn't have much character development, solving the mystery alongside her was a delight.
A well-paced mystery, this book was a perfect cozy afternoon read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sue Minix, and Avon Books for this ARC!
This is the first book I read in The Bookstore Mysteries Series, and while this is #4, I was able to understand the character dynamics and get into this cozy mystery right from the start! The town of Riddleton reminded me so much of Stars Hollow, with a unique cast of characters from the manager of the diner to the mayor, and I loved seeing all of them interact with our MC, Jen. Her love for her friends, her town, and her store made her instantly likeable. And while she didn't have much character development, solving the mystery alongside her was a delight.
A well-paced mystery, this book was a perfect cozy afternoon read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sue Minix, and Avon Books for this ARC!
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