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A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3
Death at the Dinner Party
Annie Murray is excited to host a murder mystery–themed dinner party, but soon the evening takes a deadly turn…
When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
Annie knows she didn’t add arsenic to the entrée, so who messed with her catering, and why? Everyone in the party had some reason to hate renowned bully Curtis – not least Penny, who was under pressure to sell land to him. Annie realizes she’ll need to clear her friend’s name fast. Soon, she’s in deep, uncovering long-buried family secrets, shady business deals and pitch-black hidden passageways.
But as Annie closes in on the truth, the killer is determined to stop her at all costs. Will justice be served in time, or will Annie get a helping of death with dessert…?
Packed with twists, turns and charming small-town intrigue, Death at the Dinner Party is a deliciously page-turning, cozy mystery that will keep you guessing. Fans of Lauren Elliott, Tonya Kappes and Janet Evanovich will love the latest tasty treat from The Secret Bookcase series.
Readers love The Secret Bookcase
“Knocked me out of my seat!!! Loved this first book and I am eagerly waiting the next… Five stars hands down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Kept me glued to the page as I raced to find out whodunit. A winner!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This book was AMAZING! A great start to a new series… I can’t wait to read more!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely loved this!!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and had no idea whodunit until it was revealed… I love a good twist!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Unputdownable cozy mystery!! This was such a fun read, I could not get enough. It felt like a classic Hercule Poirot or Benoit Blanc mystery. Perfection!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Ellie Alexander has done it AGAIN!! As cozy mysteries go this is one of the coziest… So good I devoured it in one sitting.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a magnificent read! A perfect cozy mystery.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ELLIE ALEXANDER HAS A NEW SERIES!!!!! I immediately wanted to hop on a flight to Redwood Grove to take part in the festival and meet Annie, her friends, co-workers, and townspeople. The characters and the setting seemed so real. I’m looking forward to book two…” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A page-turner. Ellie Alexander has once again proven herself as the queen of cozy mysteries.
When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
Annie knows she didn’t add arsenic to the entrée, so who messed with her catering, and why? Everyone in the party had some reason to hate renowned bully Curtis – not least Penny, who was under pressure to sell land to him. Annie realizes she’ll need to clear her friend’s name fast. Soon, she’s in deep, uncovering long-buried family secrets, shady business deals and pitch-black hidden passageways.
But as Annie closes in on the truth, the killer is determined to stop her at all costs. Will justice be served in time, or will Annie get a helping of death with dessert…?
Packed with twists, turns and charming small-town intrigue, Death at the Dinner Party is a deliciously page-turning, cozy mystery that will keep you guessing. Fans of Lauren Elliott, Tonya Kappes and Janet Evanovich will love the latest tasty treat from The Secret Bookcase series.
Readers love The Secret Bookcase
“Knocked me out of my seat!!! Loved this first book and I am eagerly waiting the next… Five stars hands down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Kept me glued to the page as I raced to find out whodunit. A winner!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This book was AMAZING! A great start to a new series… I can’t wait to read more!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely loved this!!! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and had no idea whodunit until it was revealed… I love a good twist!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Unputdownable cozy mystery!! This was such a fun read, I could not get enough. It felt like a classic Hercule Poirot or Benoit Blanc mystery. Perfection!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Ellie Alexander has done it AGAIN!! As cozy mysteries go this is one of the coziest… So good I devoured it in one sitting.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a magnificent read! A perfect cozy mystery.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“ELLIE ALEXANDER HAS A NEW SERIES!!!!! I immediately wanted to hop on a flight to Redwood Grove to take part in the festival and meet Annie, her friends, co-workers, and townspeople. The characters and the setting seemed so real. I’m looking forward to book two…” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A page-turner. Ellie Alexander has once again proven herself as the queen of cozy mysteries.
238 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2024
1502 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Alexander
85 books3,044 followersEllie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
October 10, 2024
EXCERPT: The rustic wrought-iron chandeliers flickered as the wind howled, rattling the thin windows and sending a cold chill through the room like an angry ghost about to unleash its rage.
'We cannot lose power tonight, Annie,' Pri wailed, staring at the tin ceiling as if she expected it to cave in at any minute. She twisted her ponytail around her finger. I recognised her telltale sign of nerves. 'The guests are arriving in less than an hour. What are we going to do if it goes out.'
'Candles,' I replied, motioning to the tapered candles on the table. 'Lots and lots of candles. Didn't Penny say she found a stash in the basement? And if you think about it, you can't get more on the nose than a murder by candlelight. . . '
ABOUT 'DEATH AT THE DINNER PARTY': Annie Murray is excited to host a murder mystery–themed dinner party, but soon the evening takes a deadly turn…
When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
Annie knows she didn’t add arsenic to the entrée, so who messed with her catering, and why? Everyone in the party had some reason to hate renowned bully Curtis – not least Penny, who was under pressure to sell land to him. Annie realizes she’ll need to clear her friend’s name fast. Soon, she’s in deep, uncovering long-buried family secrets, shady business deals and pitch-black hidden passageways.
But as Annie closes in on the truth, the killer is determined to stop her at all costs. Will justice be served in time, or will Annie get a helping of death with dessert…?
MY THOUGHTS: This is my first book by Ellie Alexander, and it won't be my last!
Neighboring landowner Curtis Wright is a curmudgeonly old sod with not many friends, his one redeeming feature being that he sponsored the local performing arts society, so there's not too many people mourning his loss. The problem is, it's not Curtis that was meant to drop dead at dinner. He stole the show from one of the actors at the table, employed for that purpose.
Who wanted Curtis dead, and why? There's no shortage of suspects just like there's no real motive. But Penny, having served Curtis wine just before he died, is the obvious suspect. Pri, Annie's friend, is frantic on Penny's behalf so Annie decides to investigate, hoping to clear up the mystery of the murder before Penny can be arrested.
I did guess the murderer early on - there are clues in the storyline - but this in no way impacted my enjoyment.
I found the story to be an entertaining read. I liked the majority of the characters although Pri's almost constant hysterics were a bit wearing. Will someone pass her the smelling salts, please!
The plot encompasses a search for lost treasure, secret passages, and the heroine and her friend trapped in a decidedly dangerous situation.
There are the beginnings of a romance, but this occurs very late in the book and is a natural progression.
This is the first book in this series that I have read, but I didn't feel in any way disadvantaged by this. Death at the Dinner Party is easily read as a stand-alone. Already I am looking forward to the next in this series.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Death at the dinner Party by Ellie Alexander was published September 30, 2024
I combined reading with listening to Death at the Dinner Party written by Ellie Alexander and narrated by Ellen Quay. I enjoyed both formats.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'We cannot lose power tonight, Annie,' Pri wailed, staring at the tin ceiling as if she expected it to cave in at any minute. She twisted her ponytail around her finger. I recognised her telltale sign of nerves. 'The guests are arriving in less than an hour. What are we going to do if it goes out.'
'Candles,' I replied, motioning to the tapered candles on the table. 'Lots and lots of candles. Didn't Penny say she found a stash in the basement? And if you think about it, you can't get more on the nose than a murder by candlelight. . . '
ABOUT 'DEATH AT THE DINNER PARTY': Annie Murray is excited to host a murder mystery–themed dinner party, but soon the evening takes a deadly turn…
When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
Annie knows she didn’t add arsenic to the entrée, so who messed with her catering, and why? Everyone in the party had some reason to hate renowned bully Curtis – not least Penny, who was under pressure to sell land to him. Annie realizes she’ll need to clear her friend’s name fast. Soon, she’s in deep, uncovering long-buried family secrets, shady business deals and pitch-black hidden passageways.
But as Annie closes in on the truth, the killer is determined to stop her at all costs. Will justice be served in time, or will Annie get a helping of death with dessert…?
MY THOUGHTS: This is my first book by Ellie Alexander, and it won't be my last!
Neighboring landowner Curtis Wright is a curmudgeonly old sod with not many friends, his one redeeming feature being that he sponsored the local performing arts society, so there's not too many people mourning his loss. The problem is, it's not Curtis that was meant to drop dead at dinner. He stole the show from one of the actors at the table, employed for that purpose.
Who wanted Curtis dead, and why? There's no shortage of suspects just like there's no real motive. But Penny, having served Curtis wine just before he died, is the obvious suspect. Pri, Annie's friend, is frantic on Penny's behalf so Annie decides to investigate, hoping to clear up the mystery of the murder before Penny can be arrested.
I did guess the murderer early on - there are clues in the storyline - but this in no way impacted my enjoyment.
I found the story to be an entertaining read. I liked the majority of the characters although Pri's almost constant hysterics were a bit wearing. Will someone pass her the smelling salts, please!
The plot encompasses a search for lost treasure, secret passages, and the heroine and her friend trapped in a decidedly dangerous situation.
There are the beginnings of a romance, but this occurs very late in the book and is a natural progression.
This is the first book in this series that I have read, but I didn't feel in any way disadvantaged by this. Death at the Dinner Party is easily read as a stand-alone. Already I am looking forward to the next in this series.
⭐⭐⭐.8
#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Storm Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Death at the dinner Party by Ellie Alexander was published September 30, 2024
I combined reading with listening to Death at the Dinner Party written by Ellie Alexander and narrated by Ellen Quay. I enjoyed both formats.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 30, 2024
The restoration of the Wentworth farmhouse by their friend Penny, and its looming costs, inspired Annie Murray to organise a murder mystery fundraiser, with delicious "themed" food and entertainment, raffles and giveaways. All was going well - the first course of delectable nibbles had been eaten, soup was to follow, all with plenty of wine - when one of the guests dropped dead from his chair, gasping with his last breath - "poison"...
Annie ran The Secret Bookcase which had been in the small town for decades, and while her true calling was solving crimes, she adored the bookshop. But now, her sleuthing hat came on and while the police were on their way, Annie kept the remaining guests happy, and worked out a timeline for the night's murder. But would she solve the crime, clearing her friend Penny's name? Or was danger moving closer?
Death at the Dinner Party is the 3rd in A Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander and it sounded like lots of fun. But while I mostly enjoyed it, there was a little too much waffling on, which took away from the actual plot. I'll try #4 soon :)
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
Annie ran The Secret Bookcase which had been in the small town for decades, and while her true calling was solving crimes, she adored the bookshop. But now, her sleuthing hat came on and while the police were on their way, Annie kept the remaining guests happy, and worked out a timeline for the night's murder. But would she solve the crime, clearing her friend Penny's name? Or was danger moving closer?
Death at the Dinner Party is the 3rd in A Secret Bookcase Mystery by Ellie Alexander and it sounded like lots of fun. But while I mostly enjoyed it, there was a little too much waffling on, which took away from the actual plot. I'll try #4 soon :)
With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.
October 3, 2024
The third book in this series and I have read them all. I am growing to really like all the main characters.
Annie works at a bookshop which has a Sherlock Holmes theme and sells mostly mysteries and crime books. She is also an amateur sleuth and spends a lot of time searching for the person who killed her close friend. She has an agreeable relationship with the local police which is refreshing for this genre.
At a Halloween dinner party a guest dies from poisoning and issues raised by this lead to a search for lost treasure, secret tunnels, explosions and many possible culprits. It is a fun book which also features a developing relationship between Annie and Liam. Recommended. 4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Annie works at a bookshop which has a Sherlock Holmes theme and sells mostly mysteries and crime books. She is also an amateur sleuth and spends a lot of time searching for the person who killed her close friend. She has an agreeable relationship with the local police which is refreshing for this genre.
At a Halloween dinner party a guest dies from poisoning and issues raised by this lead to a search for lost treasure, secret tunnels, explosions and many possible culprits. It is a fun book which also features a developing relationship between Annie and Liam. Recommended. 4 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 9, 2024
(3.5 stars, rounded up)
Death at The Dinner Party is the third book in the Secret Bookcase cozy mystery series. Ellie Alexander knows how to write a strong mystery story. This one has some great fall vibes, so people looking for seasonal sorts of reads will enjoy this one a lot.
The setting is a small town in northern California called Redwood Grove. Annie Murray has been working at the Secret Bookcase, a mystery-centric bookstore, for over 8 years and in that time has organized a number of special events. The bookstore doesn’t figure into the story very much this time, which is too bad, but all the regular returning characters are here. Penny has bought a historic home that needs a lot of “love” and Annie organizes a special murder mystery dinner as a fundraiser, with hired actors and everything. Attendees are encouraged to come in period costume (think 1920 and 1930s).
One of the guests is murdered at the dinner party - and it’s not acting! The rest of the book, of course, concentrates on trying to figure out whodunit and why. Annie has a background in criminology, so her investigations make some sense. Her original ambition was to open a detective agency with her best friend in college, Scarlet, but that went by the wayside when Scarlet was killed right before graduation. That mystery carries over from earlier books in the series, and I hope we will eventually learn what happened to Scarlet, because nothing much new was revealed in this book.
Along the way, there’s a search for lost treasure, secret passageways/tunnels and Annie and Priya get themselves into a very dangerous situation. There is progress in Annie’s relationship with Liam, which was good to see, but I thought her focus on how handsome he is and what great shape he’s in was a bit much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Death at The Dinner Party is the third book in the Secret Bookcase cozy mystery series. Ellie Alexander knows how to write a strong mystery story. This one has some great fall vibes, so people looking for seasonal sorts of reads will enjoy this one a lot.
The setting is a small town in northern California called Redwood Grove. Annie Murray has been working at the Secret Bookcase, a mystery-centric bookstore, for over 8 years and in that time has organized a number of special events. The bookstore doesn’t figure into the story very much this time, which is too bad, but all the regular returning characters are here. Penny has bought a historic home that needs a lot of “love” and Annie organizes a special murder mystery dinner as a fundraiser, with hired actors and everything. Attendees are encouraged to come in period costume (think 1920 and 1930s).
One of the guests is murdered at the dinner party - and it’s not acting! The rest of the book, of course, concentrates on trying to figure out whodunit and why. Annie has a background in criminology, so her investigations make some sense. Her original ambition was to open a detective agency with her best friend in college, Scarlet, but that went by the wayside when Scarlet was killed right before graduation. That mystery carries over from earlier books in the series, and I hope we will eventually learn what happened to Scarlet, because nothing much new was revealed in this book.
Along the way, there’s a search for lost treasure, secret passageways/tunnels and Annie and Priya get themselves into a very dangerous situation. There is progress in Annie’s relationship with Liam, which was good to see, but I thought her focus on how handsome he is and what great shape he’s in was a bit much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
This is the third in this cozy mystery series. Annie Murray agrees to host a murder mystery themed dinner party as a fundraiser for a friend. The evening is a success, until a neighbor suddenly dies at the table. It turns out he was a difficult man, so there are several suspects, including Annie’s friend Penny. Annie uses her experience to secure the area, and is already looking for clues by the time her mentor and police chief arrive.
Can she help stop the killer before they ranger her? This is a fun book, not overly complex, but enjoyable.
Can she help stop the killer before they ranger her? This is a fun book, not overly complex, but enjoyable.
November 18, 2024
A spooky, eerie good time! Full of twists and turns, Death at the Dinner Party is the quintessential fall read for cozy mystery lovers. This series offers great continued character and relationship development, and I look forward to book four.
September 1, 2024
*3.5 stars
Ellie Alexander is a prolific storyteller and writes several cute cozy-mystery series. I dipped into this one, the third in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series, and had no trouble jumping in as back info was pretty well covered.
The main character, Annie Murray, works at the Secret Bookcase in Redwood Grove, CA--an Agatha Christie-inspired bookstore, but has also earned a degree in criminal investigation. In this episode, she and her friend Pri want to help Penny, Pri's partner, raise money to continue with her restoration of the old Wentworth family farmhouse. They come up with the bright idea to host a murder mystery dinner for 50 people. Unfortunately, during the course of the meal, an actual murder occurs. There's also a massive storm, a leaking basement and a ghost! What else could go wrong?
The story was pretty entertaining with interesting characters and lots of candidates for whodunit. I deducted 1/2 star because I found it easy to guess the killer by what clue was ignored but otherwise enjoyed the quick read.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Ellie Alexander is a prolific storyteller and writes several cute cozy-mystery series. I dipped into this one, the third in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series, and had no trouble jumping in as back info was pretty well covered.
The main character, Annie Murray, works at the Secret Bookcase in Redwood Grove, CA--an Agatha Christie-inspired bookstore, but has also earned a degree in criminal investigation. In this episode, she and her friend Pri want to help Penny, Pri's partner, raise money to continue with her restoration of the old Wentworth family farmhouse. They come up with the bright idea to host a murder mystery dinner for 50 people. Unfortunately, during the course of the meal, an actual murder occurs. There's also a massive storm, a leaking basement and a ghost! What else could go wrong?
The story was pretty entertaining with interesting characters and lots of candidates for whodunit. I deducted 1/2 star because I found it easy to guess the killer by what clue was ignored but otherwise enjoyed the quick read.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new mystery via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 21, 2024
I think I enjoyed this one more because I am starting to warm to Annie. She was less rigid in this one and was more likeable. The setting was interesting, too, and more sense to me than the movie premiere. Still not a fan of Fletcher or Dr. Caldwell but hoping they’ll eventually grow on me, too. The mystery in this one was interesting and I do like the developments with Liam and the cold case so I will continue with the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
December 30, 2025
4.5 stars! This addition to the cozy mystery series is my favorite yet! We follow Annie, a former criminology student who now works at a mystery-themed bookshop in her beloved small town. In this book Annie decides to host a dinner murder mystery, she writes the story, hires the actors, and sets the whole thing up. But things go off the rails when a guest at the dinner party is murdered (and not the actor who was supposed to “die” as part of the dinner party)!
I love all the Agatha Christie and Clue type vibes in this series, this one in particular leaned into that even more which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. We continue to learn more about the town, old secrets, the case of Annie’s best friend who died, and Annie’s growing relationship with Liam!
I love all the Agatha Christie and Clue type vibes in this series, this one in particular leaned into that even more which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. We continue to learn more about the town, old secrets, the case of Annie’s best friend who died, and Annie’s growing relationship with Liam!
October 9, 2024
Great mystery! I really enjoyed that the murder happened at dinner party and the locked room-ish setting that it brought about.
October 6, 2024
"Death at the Dinner Party (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3)" by Ellie Alexander starts off like a classic dinner party murder mystery with Annie helping to host a fundraiser party for the vineyard that a friend of hers has been trying to restore. It was supposed to be a murder mystery dinner party but then it got a little too real. The man who owns the farm next to Annie's friend and has been a bit of a pill to her, collapses just before the actor who was going to pretend to die could take their death scene.
Since Annie is still considering her options, she gets involved. She is trying to decide if she should take the offer to work with the police. Should she start her own private investigation work. Or should she stick with the bookstore with the option of some investigation work? Unfortunately, this doesn't really get answered even in this book. Same with any real progress on the death of her friend from college.
We do get some progress on Annie's relationship with Liam. At least now they're starting something. No more of the denial about how she thinks he feels about her. He actively helps her in the investigation as well. Hopefully, this keeps progressing and doesn't take a step back anymore.
Since Annie is still considering her options, she gets involved. She is trying to decide if she should take the offer to work with the police. Should she start her own private investigation work. Or should she stick with the bookstore with the option of some investigation work? Unfortunately, this doesn't really get answered even in this book. Same with any real progress on the death of her friend from college.
We do get some progress on Annie's relationship with Liam. At least now they're starting something. No more of the denial about how she thinks he feels about her. He actively helps her in the investigation as well. Hopefully, this keeps progressing and doesn't take a step back anymore.
July 25, 2024
The events coordinator at the Secret Bookcase, Annie Murray, has organized a murder mystery-themed dinner party at the newly renovated historic Wentworth farmhouse. The property has garnered enduring rumors of secret passageways concealing a fabled fortune in gems and gold, attracting widespread interest and leading to sold-out tickets. Annie was introduced to the new owner, Penny Shurr, through her friend Priya (Pri) Kapoor. Costly renovations have caused Penny's depleted savings, and significant improvements are still needed on the property's exterior, including the orchards, vineyards, and farming equipment. The women have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the upcoming dinner party and fundraising auction for experiences in Redwood Grove.
It's another irresistible visit to a small town in Northern California. A mystery-themed bookstore hints at a unique architectural element called the Secret Bookcase, along with an owner's genealogy that could link to an ancestry connection to Agatha Christie. As a fellow enthusiast of mysteries and small-town events, I find these elements particularly engaging. This time, there are two events before Halloween: an offsite fundraising dinner party on an eerie and stormy night, adding to the atmosphere with links to the town's history, and a children's story time celebration at the bookstore. The author's descriptive writing not only creates vivid images of delectable menus for dinner and story time refreshments but also infuses friendship and romance in the characters' lives that sparkle with humor, respect, and looking out for one another. What history and/or mystery buff can resist an investigation that might finally answer rumors from the 1800s?
Reviewer’s Note: The author’s website shares:
Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.
It's another irresistible visit to a small town in Northern California. A mystery-themed bookstore hints at a unique architectural element called the Secret Bookcase, along with an owner's genealogy that could link to an ancestry connection to Agatha Christie. As a fellow enthusiast of mysteries and small-town events, I find these elements particularly engaging. This time, there are two events before Halloween: an offsite fundraising dinner party on an eerie and stormy night, adding to the atmosphere with links to the town's history, and a children's story time celebration at the bookstore. The author's descriptive writing not only creates vivid images of delectable menus for dinner and story time refreshments but also infuses friendship and romance in the characters' lives that sparkle with humor, respect, and looking out for one another. What history and/or mystery buff can resist an investigation that might finally answer rumors from the 1800s?
Reviewer’s Note: The author’s website shares:
"This series is a love letter to the mysteries that shaped me and is inspired by the real-life Mystery Festival we launched in Ashland, OR in 2023."You can be assured that this reader plans to visit Redwood Grove for the next event! I hope you will too!
Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.
July 24, 2024
A murder mystery dinner with a storm threatening to cut off the electricity, right out of the gate? That is how you grab my attention. Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favorite of the series so far. I had such high hopes with the premise and loving the first two in the series. But it ended up being quite obvious who the culprit was from very early on. There has also been no advancement in the murder of Scarlet. Which after 3 books you would think we would have something happening. I do, overall, enjoy this series and will continue on.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2024
I am familiar with Ellie Alexander through her excellent Bakeshop Mystery series, Death at the Dinner Party didn't work quite as well for me. A fund raising dinner party is the setting. A murder mystery theater production turns into a real murder. There is a strong nod to Clue, although as the investigation expands the characters leave the room. I am not sure cozy mysteries are as much about the mystery as they are about the characters, the setting, the location and the community. I started with book three so I might not be the best judge of the series, I found the characters to be thin, the dialog a bit silly and the action scenes a little heavy handed. I never was completely engaged. One of the pluses is the author is brilliant when writing about food. I wish I had gotten a better picture of Redwood Grove.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
August 10, 2024
I went into this book hoping it was an easy one-room mystery where everything happens in one setting. Nope, the plot left the building as soon as the setting did unfortunately.
Once the setting changed I found it to get so description heavy that I ended up semi-dnfing and skimming to just see who did it.
The book had a strong start that was led by action with some description that helped build the cozy aspect of the mystery and then halfway through added in a random overarching series mystery (that doesnt get mentioned again) and then went SO into detail about useless things (neighbors sharing baked goods, what an ARC is, the main characters coworkers, etc etc). The pace started off fine in the beginning but got bogged down halfway. It made it genuinely hard to want to finish it.
Once the setting changed I found it to get so description heavy that I ended up semi-dnfing and skimming to just see who did it.
The book had a strong start that was led by action with some description that helped build the cozy aspect of the mystery and then halfway through added in a random overarching series mystery (that doesnt get mentioned again) and then went SO into detail about useless things (neighbors sharing baked goods, what an ARC is, the main characters coworkers, etc etc). The pace started off fine in the beginning but got bogged down halfway. It made it genuinely hard to want to finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2024
The third book in this series shifts the setting to a dinner party murder mystery night, that turns out to host a real murder!
Returning to Redwood Grove feels like returning home, especially after three books. But I found myself not as engaged with this book, and I think it's because The Secret Bookcase bookshop plays less of a role. I still enjoy protagonist Annie and her best friend, Pri, but I wanted more of Fletcher and Hal. While I am happy that each book presents a different setting for the mysteries, I am hoping for more of a connection to the bookshop in each book.
One of the best things in this book is the treasure hunt theme in the mystery. I loved that, but also wanted more from it. A possible missing fortune - how exciting is that in a mystery! But it felt almost forgotten about until towards the end. But is the treasure still out there, waiting to be discovered? Who knows? Maybe it will pop up again! The second thing I adored in this book is the cosy elements. And that's why I read cosy mysteries. The community, the friendships, the recurring and support characters. They are the things that make cosies what they are. And in this series, we have regulars and new characters popping up in each book. The new characters in this book are fascinating. I wonder if we'll see some in future books. I hope so. Ophelia and Jeff come to mind, and I'm thinking Patrick may be lurking in the background in a future book. It says a lot about a cosy series when readers start wondering what characters may get up to next.
The overarching mystery about Scarlett is only briefly mentioned, which I thought disappointing. After three books, I thought we'd be given more information on it by now. It does make me curious if the author has that part of the story planned out yet. It's a big part of Annie's development in the series. It deserves more than a sentence or two in each book. But there is something that may lead into book four. I hope it does and I hope it progresses the mystery.
This remains an entertaining series and one I highly recommend. It's a small town setting with real small town vibes. And I hope the small town feel remains for many more books to come.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Returning to Redwood Grove feels like returning home, especially after three books. But I found myself not as engaged with this book, and I think it's because The Secret Bookcase bookshop plays less of a role. I still enjoy protagonist Annie and her best friend, Pri, but I wanted more of Fletcher and Hal. While I am happy that each book presents a different setting for the mysteries, I am hoping for more of a connection to the bookshop in each book.
One of the best things in this book is the treasure hunt theme in the mystery. I loved that, but also wanted more from it. A possible missing fortune - how exciting is that in a mystery! But it felt almost forgotten about until towards the end. But is the treasure still out there, waiting to be discovered? Who knows? Maybe it will pop up again! The second thing I adored in this book is the cosy elements. And that's why I read cosy mysteries. The community, the friendships, the recurring and support characters. They are the things that make cosies what they are. And in this series, we have regulars and new characters popping up in each book. The new characters in this book are fascinating. I wonder if we'll see some in future books. I hope so. Ophelia and Jeff come to mind, and I'm thinking Patrick may be lurking in the background in a future book. It says a lot about a cosy series when readers start wondering what characters may get up to next.
The overarching mystery about Scarlett is only briefly mentioned, which I thought disappointing. After three books, I thought we'd be given more information on it by now. It does make me curious if the author has that part of the story planned out yet. It's a big part of Annie's development in the series. It deserves more than a sentence or two in each book. But there is something that may lead into book four. I hope it does and I hope it progresses the mystery.
This remains an entertaining series and one I highly recommend. It's a small town setting with real small town vibes. And I hope the small town feel remains for many more books to come.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2024
This is the third book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series set in the small town of Redwood Grove, California. Although the mystery itself would work as a standalone, I think this one will be more enjoyable if you read at least one of the prior books. The first two books have more details about the characters and knowing them better will make this book more fun to read. The main character, Annie Murray, is a bookseller who is an excellent event planner who also studied criminology in college. She and her best friend Pri have planned a mystery theater dinner party to raise money to help save Pri's girlfriend's farm. Even before the main course is served, instead of a faked death as part of the play, one of the guests dies for real.
I enjoyed seeing Annie investigate the crime, but I wish there had been more scenes at the bookstore. The mystery dinner party setting is fun, but it is unfortunately cut short by the crime! Small steps were taken in Annie's potential romance with Liam, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for them. This series has an overarching mystery of the death of Annie's friend Scarlett. Not a lot of progress is made on that front, but it looks like there is a possible lead for Annie to follow up on in the next book. This book was a quick read that seemed a bit rushed at the end, but has me eager to read book 4, which comes out in November.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Storm Publishing, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
I enjoyed seeing Annie investigate the crime, but I wish there had been more scenes at the bookstore. The mystery dinner party setting is fun, but it is unfortunately cut short by the crime! Small steps were taken in Annie's potential romance with Liam, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for them. This series has an overarching mystery of the death of Annie's friend Scarlett. Not a lot of progress is made on that front, but it looks like there is a possible lead for Annie to follow up on in the next book. This book was a quick read that seemed a bit rushed at the end, but has me eager to read book 4, which comes out in November.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Storm Publishing, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
July 16, 2024
After reading the first two books in Ellie Alexander's new series, A Secret Bookcase Mystery, I was completely hooked! Death at the Dinner Party is the third installment, and I am convinced Ellie will never disappoint when it comes to delivering a small-town cozy mystery.
This book takes us right back to Annie Murry and her small, quaint town of Redwood Grove. A few things have changed since the first book, one being Annie's best friend Priya is now dating "Double Americano". Penny (aka "Double Americano") has purchased the historic Wentworth manor, and unfortunately, it's not in the best condition. It needs to undergo a lot of restoration, and Annie comes up with a brilliant plan to host a dinner party. Annie and her friends agree to work together to host a Clue-style dinner party, where one guest will be "murdered" and the other guests will have to collect clues to solve the mystery. But of course, Redwood Grove wouldn't be Redwood Grove if a real murder didn't go down! When the neigboring (and highly despised) landowner, Curtis Wright, drops dead at the party, several people become suspect. This was not part of the plan, and now it is up to Annie to put her detective skills to use and find out who killed Curtis Wright.
After reading the first two books in this series, this one automatically made it to the top of my TBR list! I am 100% invested in Annie Murray and the Redwood Grove crew, and I wholeheartedly enjoy snuggling up on my couch and reading about their next adventure. I appreciate how the author gives us small recaps throughout the book but also introduces new characters at a steady, even pace. She allows us to get a feel of the characters, a bit of background, and possible motive, which all ties in nicely while reading. It really gets the reader's mind going, and I found myself easily trying to solve this mystery along with our MC, Annie. I also loved how this book, although set in the same small town, is different from the others. Yes, we have a mystery murder with many of the same characters, but each murder is different. I loved how this book incorporated a dinner party, Clue (the game) vibes, underground tunnels, secret hiding spots, missing fortunes, and a family's tragic history/ curse. It was great and different from the first two books, however not too far off to where the lovers of this series would find it hard to appreciate it. I also like how the author seems to give us a victim who is despised by the community in each book- it really adds to the whole whodunit theme. Lastly, I love how Annie and Liam slowly progress from enemies to lovers by the end of each read. Unfortunately, there were a few things that I was disappointed by, with the first being Scarlet. I wish we had touched more on Scarlet's murder. It feels like each book leaves us with a Scarlet cliffhanger that is never addressed in the following book. Next, I felt like the killer was practically revealed to us fairly early on, which made a lot of the following events predictable. I also didn't like how Annie kept mentally reviewing her detective training in the second half- it seemed a tad bit excessive. However, I can appreciate how, with each book, Annie dives deeper into her detective skills and begins to accept and hone it again. Overall, this was another great cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander! 4 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for another wonderful ARC!
This book takes us right back to Annie Murry and her small, quaint town of Redwood Grove. A few things have changed since the first book, one being Annie's best friend Priya is now dating "Double Americano". Penny (aka "Double Americano") has purchased the historic Wentworth manor, and unfortunately, it's not in the best condition. It needs to undergo a lot of restoration, and Annie comes up with a brilliant plan to host a dinner party. Annie and her friends agree to work together to host a Clue-style dinner party, where one guest will be "murdered" and the other guests will have to collect clues to solve the mystery. But of course, Redwood Grove wouldn't be Redwood Grove if a real murder didn't go down! When the neigboring (and highly despised) landowner, Curtis Wright, drops dead at the party, several people become suspect. This was not part of the plan, and now it is up to Annie to put her detective skills to use and find out who killed Curtis Wright.
After reading the first two books in this series, this one automatically made it to the top of my TBR list! I am 100% invested in Annie Murray and the Redwood Grove crew, and I wholeheartedly enjoy snuggling up on my couch and reading about their next adventure. I appreciate how the author gives us small recaps throughout the book but also introduces new characters at a steady, even pace. She allows us to get a feel of the characters, a bit of background, and possible motive, which all ties in nicely while reading. It really gets the reader's mind going, and I found myself easily trying to solve this mystery along with our MC, Annie. I also loved how this book, although set in the same small town, is different from the others. Yes, we have a mystery murder with many of the same characters, but each murder is different. I loved how this book incorporated a dinner party, Clue (the game) vibes, underground tunnels, secret hiding spots, missing fortunes, and a family's tragic history/ curse. It was great and different from the first two books, however not too far off to where the lovers of this series would find it hard to appreciate it. I also like how the author seems to give us a victim who is despised by the community in each book- it really adds to the whole whodunit theme. Lastly, I love how Annie and Liam slowly progress from enemies to lovers by the end of each read. Unfortunately, there were a few things that I was disappointed by, with the first being Scarlet. I wish we had touched more on Scarlet's murder. It feels like each book leaves us with a Scarlet cliffhanger that is never addressed in the following book. Next, I felt like the killer was practically revealed to us fairly early on, which made a lot of the following events predictable. I also didn't like how Annie kept mentally reviewing her detective training in the second half- it seemed a tad bit excessive. However, I can appreciate how, with each book, Annie dives deeper into her detective skills and begins to accept and hone it again. Overall, this was another great cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander! 4 stars!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for another wonderful ARC!
August 27, 2024
It was a fun, quick read in the series. Annie and Pri are trying to help Penny raise funds to continue the work being done on the old Wentworth homestead. Penny has been able to redo and fix up the home, but the orchards, vineyards, and remaining property need a lot of work. Annie comes up with the idea of a murder mystery dinner to show off the redone house and raise some additional funds. Everything goes well until Penny's cranky neighbor Curtis is poisoned. Annie, of course, can't let it go as she was there, and Priya is afraid Penny will be the chief suspect. While there is plenty to like here, I do have a couple of peeves. First, we get little time with the bookstore, town, and many of my favorite characters. Worse, however, is the Annie who is supposed to be so smart and has criminal research training, does some really stupid things, and that's a shame. We also get hints of several other storylines but no follow-up. Thanks to #Netgally, #StormPublishing, and the author for an opportunity to read. #Ellie Alexander #DeathattheDinnerParty #ASecretBookcaseMystery #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
October 5, 2024
As always I'm late but thanks to Netgalley for the ACR.
Ellie Alexander knows exactly what she's doing!
Honestly a 4.5/5 for me. Having read the first two books as well, I have to say that this book's plot progression and pace are much quicker than the other two, which I like.
Deducted the 0.5 only because the midpoint of the book seemed to go for a lot longer. It did feel a bit dragged out. Maybe because there wasn't a strong enough plot (as is with most books that involve a large creepy mansion) to carry on the story.
However, the character growth and story progression of Annie and the rest of her posse from the 1st to the 3rd book is great. I love how they seem to give you warm hugs from inside the book. Every character has a clear throughline which makes them very universal/likeable/relatable. (However, I was not intrigued by the list of suspects in this book. The second book did have a much more interesting list of suspects.)
All in all would definitely recommend THE ENTIRE SERIES not just this beautiful and very cozy book.
I stand by my review of the first book. I still want to leave everything behind in my life and move to a small town and work in a bookstore (and maybe hope to solve a murder just like Annie Murray!)
Am I reading the next book? Pfff. Of course, I am!
Ellie Alexander knows exactly what she's doing!
Honestly a 4.5/5 for me. Having read the first two books as well, I have to say that this book's plot progression and pace are much quicker than the other two, which I like.
Deducted the 0.5 only because the midpoint of the book seemed to go for a lot longer. It did feel a bit dragged out. Maybe because there wasn't a strong enough plot (as is with most books that involve a large creepy mansion) to carry on the story.
However, the character growth and story progression of Annie and the rest of her posse from the 1st to the 3rd book is great. I love how they seem to give you warm hugs from inside the book. Every character has a clear throughline which makes them very universal/likeable/relatable. (However, I was not intrigued by the list of suspects in this book. The second book did have a much more interesting list of suspects.)
All in all would definitely recommend THE ENTIRE SERIES not just this beautiful and very cozy book.
I stand by my review of the first book. I still want to leave everything behind in my life and move to a small town and work in a bookstore (and maybe hope to solve a murder just like Annie Murray!)
Am I reading the next book? Pfff. Of course, I am!
September 22, 2024
Another great installment in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series.
Annie has organized an event to help her friend Penny literally ‘save the family farm’ from the financial issues Penny is having.
Hostile neighbor Curtis Wright drops into the dinner and after upsetting everyone manages to get himself murdered.
Annie has to jump in and investigate in order to save her friend Penny from being unjustly taken in.
There is a lot of twists and turns, cuddles with Prof Plum, romance and clues solving Annie’s best friend Scarlett’s murder.
I really am enjoying the direction this series is going.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley
Annie has organized an event to help her friend Penny literally ‘save the family farm’ from the financial issues Penny is having.
Hostile neighbor Curtis Wright drops into the dinner and after upsetting everyone manages to get himself murdered.
Annie has to jump in and investigate in order to save her friend Penny from being unjustly taken in.
There is a lot of twists and turns, cuddles with Prof Plum, romance and clues solving Annie’s best friend Scarlett’s murder.
I really am enjoying the direction this series is going.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.
#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley
April 26, 2025
3.5 Stars
Version: Audiobook
Another fun instalment to the series. This one takes place in a historic farmhouse that’s full of secret passageways and tunnels. This reminded me so much of the board game Clue that I was obsessed with as a kid! As always, I was here more for the cozy small town vibes and the breadcrumbs we continued to be fed about Annie and Liam’s relationship than the mystery itself but I gotta say that I enjoyed the suspense and treasure hunt vibes of this one.
Version: Audiobook
Another fun instalment to the series. This one takes place in a historic farmhouse that’s full of secret passageways and tunnels. This reminded me so much of the board game Clue that I was obsessed with as a kid! As always, I was here more for the cozy small town vibes and the breadcrumbs we continued to be fed about Annie and Liam’s relationship than the mystery itself but I gotta say that I enjoyed the suspense and treasure hunt vibes of this one.
October 24, 2024
This was my favorite one of the series so far! The atmosphere was so spooky, but wasn’t in love with the culprit reveal!
December 6, 2024
Annie Murphy is helping her friend, Penny host a murder mystery dinner party to raise money to fund the restoration of an old mansion. When someone dies at the dinner, Penny is the immediate suspect. Annie starts investigating to clear Penny's name.
This is quickly becoming my favorite series. I love the setting so much. Annie is a great character that I have been enjoying reading about. The mystery was well done, and I enjoyed every minute of this book. I highly recommend the audio version of this series. The narrator really brings the story to life.
This is quickly becoming my favorite series. I love the setting so much. Annie is a great character that I have been enjoying reading about. The mystery was well done, and I enjoyed every minute of this book. I highly recommend the audio version of this series. The narrator really brings the story to life.
July 20, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. This book is the third book in A Secret Bookcase Mystery series. I love this cozy mystery series. As the title gives away there is a death at a dinner party and the female main character is there to help investigate. This book has more will they wont they between Annie and Liam. As with the other two books in this series, I did not want to put this book down. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
April 11, 2025
Another delightful installment in this new mystery. Set at a dinner party at a house recently bought by a friend of Annie's. It was to be a murder mystery dinner however a killer had other ideas as a real murder takes place. There is also a storm during the dinner which cut off the electricity. As always Annie can't help but investigate. I love the ending.
October 26, 2024
another enjoyable book!! I am a baby genius because once AGAIN I guessed the killer
November 25, 2025
Ellie Alexander truly writes some of the best cozy mysteries and this series is no exception. There is just something so special about the Secret Bookcase Mystery Series.
This book follows Annie who works at a mystery themed book shop and has previously studied criminology with the aspirations of opening her own private investigation business.
Death at A Dinner Party is a classic closed door whodunit mystery novel. It starts off by following Annie as she is hosting a murder mystery themed dinner party to raise money for her friend Penny’s estate. Things take a turn for the worst when one of the attendees is poisoned in the middle of the dinner.
I really liked this continuation of the series. It gave classic Agatha Christie vibes & I also like how we got more of the romance between Liam and Annie!
Overall it was a five star read and a great addition to the series!
Tropes: cozy mystery & small town
This book follows Annie who works at a mystery themed book shop and has previously studied criminology with the aspirations of opening her own private investigation business.
Death at A Dinner Party is a classic closed door whodunit mystery novel. It starts off by following Annie as she is hosting a murder mystery themed dinner party to raise money for her friend Penny’s estate. Things take a turn for the worst when one of the attendees is poisoned in the middle of the dinner.
I really liked this continuation of the series. It gave classic Agatha Christie vibes & I also like how we got more of the romance between Liam and Annie!
Overall it was a five star read and a great addition to the series!
Tropes: cozy mystery & small town
September 7, 2024
4.5 stars
Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander the 3rd instalment in the "A Secret Bookcase Mystery" series. I loved returning to the charming town of Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase bookstore. In this instalment Annie is hosting a a spooky, immersive dinner party at the old Wentworth farmhouse, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Storm Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander the 3rd instalment in the "A Secret Bookcase Mystery" series. I loved returning to the charming town of Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase bookstore. In this instalment Annie is hosting a a spooky, immersive dinner party at the old Wentworth farmhouse, and the evening is a roaring success – until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Storm Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
December 22, 2024
1/5 ⭐️ I couldn’t finish this one. Only got 18% in before I realized the book was putting me in a bad mood. I felt like I was reading an AI generated book. Also, who the heck does this character think she is - Monk?
It got old real quick. The main character’s anxiety was doing the most. It felt hella disorganized and who the 🤬 moves a body from a crime scene?! Scooby-doo wouldn’t even do that even in the highest of states.
I’m realizing I was pretty kind in the reviews for the first 2 books I read in this series, but I woke up with this 3rd one. The writing is not good. In fact my 10 year old tells better more cohesive stories and he’s got ADHD … 🧐maybe that’s why 🤔…. Anyway, DNF’d with no regrets!
Wait … is this a middle grade book?! 🤦🏽♀️
It got old real quick. The main character’s anxiety was doing the most. It felt hella disorganized and who the 🤬 moves a body from a crime scene?! Scooby-doo wouldn’t even do that even in the highest of states.
I’m realizing I was pretty kind in the reviews for the first 2 books I read in this series, but I woke up with this 3rd one. The writing is not good. In fact my 10 year old tells better more cohesive stories and he’s got ADHD … 🧐maybe that’s why 🤔…. Anyway, DNF’d with no regrets!
Wait … is this a middle grade book?! 🤦🏽♀️
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