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The Bookshop Detective #3
The Secret in the Stacks
A mysterious letter hidden in a valuable book leads a novice bookshop owner to uncover a decades-old disappearance in a quaint coastal town.
A former librarian turned bookshop owner uses her literary expertise and newfound amateur sleuthing skills to solve a decades-old missing person case in a small coastal town, uncovering long-held secrets and finding her place in a close-knit community.
When Olivia Paige inherits her aunt's bookshop in charming Millbrook Cove, she expects a quiet life surrounded by books. But a cryptic letter discovered in a rare edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" plunges her into a 30-year-old cold case. As Olivia investigates, she clashes with skeptical locals and forms unlikely alliances, including a gruff fisherman with surprising literary knowledge. With her keen analytical mind and vast knowledge of mystery novels, Olivia must piece together clues from dusty records and town gossip to solve a long-buried secret—and possibly put herself in the crosshairs of a killer who thought their crime was long forgotten.
This is the PREQUEL to The Bookshop Detective series.
A former librarian turned bookshop owner uses her literary expertise and newfound amateur sleuthing skills to solve a decades-old missing person case in a small coastal town, uncovering long-held secrets and finding her place in a close-knit community.
When Olivia Paige inherits her aunt's bookshop in charming Millbrook Cove, she expects a quiet life surrounded by books. But a cryptic letter discovered in a rare edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" plunges her into a 30-year-old cold case. As Olivia investigates, she clashes with skeptical locals and forms unlikely alliances, including a gruff fisherman with surprising literary knowledge. With her keen analytical mind and vast knowledge of mystery novels, Olivia must piece together clues from dusty records and town gossip to solve a long-buried secret—and possibly put herself in the crosshairs of a killer who thought their crime was long forgotten.
This is the PREQUEL to The Bookshop Detective series.
- GenresCozy Mystery
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2024
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 13, 2026
2⭐️
The story started out well with a lovely setting and promising plot. Unfortunately multiple areas of the book need attention due to errors in continuity and subsequent weakening of the book’s internal cohesion.
Do not recommend until significant revision.
The story started out well with a lovely setting and promising plot. Unfortunately multiple areas of the book need attention due to errors in continuity and subsequent weakening of the book’s internal cohesion.
Do not recommend until significant revision.
April 1, 2025
E-book freebie at time of download.
Olivia Paige has inherited her aunt's bookshop in the quaint town of Milbrook Cove. Whole sorting through the books, Olivia discovers her aunt had an autographed Sherlock Holmes book and tucked inside was a posthumous letter from the town doctor written to her Aunt Joy. The letter references the disappearance of a local girl 30 years ago. Olivia decides to investigate and bring justice to the girl's family but as she begins searching for answers, she discovers Milbrook Cove is not as charming as it appears.
Wow! This story turned out to be creepy! For me this doesn't work as a short story. There are too many gaps in the timeline and characters appear after Olivia has already met them. I'd like a little more resolution to how the mystery was solved. I'm uninterested in reading this series since it contains a creepy paranormal element I don't care for. Plus, there's no way Aunt Joy had a book signed to HER from Conan Doyle unless she was around 100 years old! Maybe she was named for someone? That was never explained. I wanted more books and bookish mysteries and less terrifying whatever.
Olivia Paige has inherited her aunt's bookshop in the quaint town of Milbrook Cove. Whole sorting through the books, Olivia discovers her aunt had an autographed Sherlock Holmes book and tucked inside was a posthumous letter from the town doctor written to her Aunt Joy. The letter references the disappearance of a local girl 30 years ago. Olivia decides to investigate and bring justice to the girl's family but as she begins searching for answers, she discovers Milbrook Cove is not as charming as it appears.
Wow! This story turned out to be creepy! For me this doesn't work as a short story. There are too many gaps in the timeline and characters appear after Olivia has already met them. I'd like a little more resolution to how the mystery was solved. I'm uninterested in reading this series since it contains a creepy paranormal element I don't care for. Plus, there's no way Aunt Joy had a book signed to HER from Conan Doyle unless she was around 100 years old! Maybe she was named for someone? That was never explained. I wanted more books and bookish mysteries and less terrifying whatever.
December 13, 2024
A quick, compelling read, not so believable though. This newcomer arrives in town to take over her aunt's bookshop and that same day begins to investigate. Tactlessly asking questions, she discovers there's been an ongoing series of disappearances in this town and it seems she is the only one ever to actually do anything. Police prefer to remain clueless.
One night she and a friend reach a terrifying and life-threatening point, then the story skips to a few days later with all resolved and everyone happy. Incredible.
One night she and a friend reach a terrifying and life-threatening point, then the story skips to a few days later with all resolved and everyone happy. Incredible.
September 16, 2025
I thought this was a prelude as the book page says the Bookshop Detective Book 0, plus it’s very short, but Goodreads says it’s The Bookshop Detective Book 3?
As a prelude it’s a good idea for a series. A bit repetitive in the early chapters. The main character, Olivia, says come hell or high water too many times which is distracting, and it seems like the mentions of the cob webs and dust are more than is necessary (she seems to be cleaning major dust off the top shelves for the whole storyline.)
Additionally, the final Chapter, 10, is a few weeks after the dust has settled on the case, but Chapter 9 is three months after the discovery with the main people all in jail so the chronology seems off. She also says she's now got her first case under her belt but early on she alluded to having solved mysteries before moving there.
More detail would definitely help. As a short intro to a series… 3 stars for potential with some editing. As a 3rd book in a series… 1 star for being too short with too much editing needed.
As a prelude it’s a good idea for a series. A bit repetitive in the early chapters. The main character, Olivia, says come hell or high water too many times which is distracting, and it seems like the mentions of the cob webs and dust are more than is necessary (she seems to be cleaning major dust off the top shelves for the whole storyline.)
Additionally, the final Chapter, 10, is a few weeks after the dust has settled on the case, but Chapter 9 is three months after the discovery with the main people all in jail so the chronology seems off. She also says she's now got her first case under her belt but early on she alluded to having solved mysteries before moving there.
More detail would definitely help. As a short intro to a series… 3 stars for potential with some editing. As a 3rd book in a series… 1 star for being too short with too much editing needed.
October 11, 2025
I absolutely enjoyed this story. This is a brilliant example of a Cozy Mystery done right, and exactly the kind of book I turn to when I need peace and pure enjoyment.
The atmosphere of the bookshop, the secrets it holds, and the subsequent revelations all work together perfectly. Kat Finn masterfully unfolds the hidden truths, keeping you hooked throughout the narrative.
This is my kind of comfort reading. It's the type of story that provides a wonderful sense of escape without the high-stakes stress of a heavy thriller. It successfully captured my attention from the very first page.
For me, The Secret in the Stacks is a truly great book. It gets a confident 5-star rating and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a delightful mystery.
The atmosphere of the bookshop, the secrets it holds, and the subsequent revelations all work together perfectly. Kat Finn masterfully unfolds the hidden truths, keeping you hooked throughout the narrative.
This is my kind of comfort reading. It's the type of story that provides a wonderful sense of escape without the high-stakes stress of a heavy thriller. It successfully captured my attention from the very first page.
For me, The Secret in the Stacks is a truly great book. It gets a confident 5-star rating and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a delightful mystery.
December 16, 2025
What does the note in the book imply?
This is a fast moving story about Olivia, a girl from a big city, moving to a small town. Changing her from a quiet Librarian to a bookselling, mystery solving, slooth.
At first the town is friendly and welcoming, but things changed fast. When a note is found in a rare book. She starts to question why no one seemed to care when a young girl went missing. There was no answer to what happened.
So, she starts to research, looking for an answer why no one seems to care about the missing girl. What a change, Olivia now finds no one wants to discuss this! There is an overwhelming feeling of fear. She is now regarded as an unwanted snoop, and from a new note,
Her life may be in danger!
What does she do now?
This is a fast moving story about Olivia, a girl from a big city, moving to a small town. Changing her from a quiet Librarian to a bookselling, mystery solving, slooth.
At first the town is friendly and welcoming, but things changed fast. When a note is found in a rare book. She starts to question why no one seemed to care when a young girl went missing. There was no answer to what happened.
So, she starts to research, looking for an answer why no one seems to care about the missing girl. What a change, Olivia now finds no one wants to discuss this! There is an overwhelming feeling of fear. She is now regarded as an unwanted snoop, and from a new note,
Her life may be in danger!
What does she do now?
January 17, 2025
This wee cosy mystery story is badly let down by the continuous repetition of expressions (my heart skipped a beat appears a minimum of three times on different chapters, a chill ran down my spine mentioned at least four times, twice ''squaring my shoulders'', several a whirlwind of this or that), errors (interesting where it should have been interested), and the rushed ending, with everything neatly tied in.
Olivia is a likeable character and this could work if those mistakes were corrected, but way too many mistakes and these do distract from the main story.
I am afraid I cannot recommend it.
Olivia is a likeable character and this could work if those mistakes were corrected, but way too many mistakes and these do distract from the main story.
I am afraid I cannot recommend it.
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March 30, 2025I don’t like monster, haunting stories. This was advertised as a cosy mystery at a bookstore. I don’t think it’s fair for me to rate it because there was no way I ever would have liked it. I did finish it because it is a short story. I do think the author tried to do way too much in 49 pages. The characters were underdeveloped and the action was unexplained and rushed. If you like this sort of book, you may like more than I did.
September 21, 2025
I haven’t read any of the other novels in this series. I was given this prequel free, and I’m glad I read it. I’m a fan of cozies, but I don’t like the cutesy kind which seem to be in abundance right now. I started two others and quit a chapter in. Ms. Fin has woven a twisty cozy with smart characters and just enough of the “cozy” feel to make it a good Cozy Mystery. I’ll be sure to check out the other books in this series.
March 18, 2025
Was too fast of a read. The story had great bones but there was too much fast forwarding without completing the picture for me.
I liked the premise of the story and just wished it was longer to be able to develop more details and background information to help us become vested in the characters and in the town.
I liked the premise of the story and just wished it was longer to be able to develop more details and background information to help us become vested in the characters and in the town.
November 7, 2024
Great book. I absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to read more.
December 31, 2025
☆☆☆☆☆
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Sooo good ! I got it for free on Apple Books and I’m excited for the future books !
~~~~~~~~~~
Sooo good ! I got it for free on Apple Books and I’m excited for the future books !
June 1, 2025
this is actually a prequel, not third in the series chronologically. which is ironic because my biggest issue is the internal chronology of the story. Olivia finds a note from Arthur Conan Doyle to her recently deceased aunt yet the story is modern so her aunt was 120? the final chapters seem to contain alternate endings as both are different but both take place a few weeks after the mystery is solved. and the solution certainly isn't a resolution since it completely ignores the creepy, existential threat to the town. I might try the next in the series, see if it's any better but it won't be at the top of my tbr list.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews