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A Cosy Crime Club Mystery #1
Murder by the Book
Nothing is deadlier than angry readers… especially when you murder one of their own.
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they’ve picked up from their favourite fictional detectives.
If anyone knows how to solve a killer of a crime, it’s a team of murder-mystery superfans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case…
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they’ve picked up from their favourite fictional detectives.
If anyone knows how to solve a killer of a crime, it’s a team of murder-mystery superfans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case…
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2026
533 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
January 23, 2026
EXCERPT: 'We think we've got a breakthrough,' said Lauren, conspiratorially.
'What do you mean?'
Fforde delayed for effect, casting a glance at his audience like the professional actor he purported to be.
'We have a trail,' he announced at last.
'A trail?'
'A trail,' Fforde repeated. 'Leading us back from Felicity Perman's body, out there in the bookshop, to a mystery worthy of Ruth Rendell, involving false identities, dodgy pasts and who knows what else.'
ABOUT' MURDER BY THE BOOK': Nothing is deadlier than angry readers… especially when you murder one of their own.
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they’ve picked up from their favorite fictional detectives.
If anyone knows how to solve a killer of a crime, it’s a team of murder-mystery superfans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case…
MY THOUGHTS: Cats know stuff is my favorite line from this book.
I was seriously tempted to abandon this read several times. Murder by the Book is the first in a new cosy mystery series - one that I won't be continuing with.
"Overblown" is the word that comes to mind when I think of this book. Everything is 'overdone', from the plot to the characters.
Harrison Fforde is a 'resting actor; Bella Bourton a downtrodden housewife; Professor Stone a retired mathematician; and Lauren Sherwood an aspiring writer. These four make up the Quaint Reading Group.
The text is littered with phrases like Maybe their friendliness and support would help ease her ongoing domestic struggle against the overbearing clutches of Trevor. There are contradictions - In chapter 10 The Archimedes text was as dry as the Sicilian sand he'd experimented with . . .' (and that sentence goes on and on and on . . .) but mere paragraphs later Stone is Ripped from the gripping narrative of the academic tract . . . Need I go on?
Ludicrous plot, heavy-handed writing. Not my cup of tea, I'm sorry.
⭐⭐
#MurderbytheBook(LibraryDetectives#1) #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: M.R.G. DAVIES aka Michael Davies
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Murder by the Book by M.R.G. Davies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'What do you mean?'
Fforde delayed for effect, casting a glance at his audience like the professional actor he purported to be.
'We have a trail,' he announced at last.
'A trail?'
'A trail,' Fforde repeated. 'Leading us back from Felicity Perman's body, out there in the bookshop, to a mystery worthy of Ruth Rendell, involving false identities, dodgy pasts and who knows what else.'
ABOUT' MURDER BY THE BOOK': Nothing is deadlier than angry readers… especially when you murder one of their own.
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they’ve picked up from their favorite fictional detectives.
If anyone knows how to solve a killer of a crime, it’s a team of murder-mystery superfans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case…
MY THOUGHTS: Cats know stuff is my favorite line from this book.
I was seriously tempted to abandon this read several times. Murder by the Book is the first in a new cosy mystery series - one that I won't be continuing with.
"Overblown" is the word that comes to mind when I think of this book. Everything is 'overdone', from the plot to the characters.
Harrison Fforde is a 'resting actor; Bella Bourton a downtrodden housewife; Professor Stone a retired mathematician; and Lauren Sherwood an aspiring writer. These four make up the Quaint Reading Group.
The text is littered with phrases like Maybe their friendliness and support would help ease her ongoing domestic struggle against the overbearing clutches of Trevor. There are contradictions - In chapter 10 The Archimedes text was as dry as the Sicilian sand he'd experimented with . . .' (and that sentence goes on and on and on . . .) but mere paragraphs later Stone is Ripped from the gripping narrative of the academic tract . . . Need I go on?
Ludicrous plot, heavy-handed writing. Not my cup of tea, I'm sorry.
⭐⭐
#MurderbytheBook(LibraryDetectives#1) #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: M.R.G. DAVIES aka Michael Davies
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Murder by the Book by M.R.G. Davies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
January 28, 2026
A cozy mystery about a book club that prides themselves on their armchair detective skills. Sounds like my kind of story. The book summary introduces the premise of the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t mention is the most vital part of the story, the MC’s, because it’s these four characters that make this whole story worth reading. We have Professor Stone, a retired college professor harboring some secrets as to why he had to retire, Lauren, a struggling mystery writer, Harrison, a struggling actor, and Bella, an unhappily married housewife.
Most of the story revolves around the MC’s investigating the death of Felicity Penman, the book store’s manager, who basically formed the book club reading group (the Professor despises the label book club) by introducing the members to each other. There are the requisite law enforcement officials that are constantly hindering the group’s efforts to solve the case, like DCI Miranda Carlton, and DS Muir. Carlton constantly threatens to arrest the group for interfering, and Muir is basically just Carlton’s lackey. There are also a local reporter and her editor that are knee deep into the murder investigation and always trying to get as much info as possible from the police and the reading group who are the ones that found Felicity’s body.
The character development for the reading group was well done, and pretty thin for the rest of the characters, at least until the end. There was one point in the story when Bella compared the group to the Scooby Do team. LOL, that was a great comparison. The pacing was pretty slow for most of the story and literally dragged in some spots. The storyline wasn’t as engaging as I was hoping and the same can be said for the writing, both of which became a downright hot mess in the end. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.1 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. This will be a one and done for me and the Cosy Crime Club Mystery series. I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #HarperCollinsUKOneMoreChapter #MurderbytheBook
Most of the story revolves around the MC’s investigating the death of Felicity Penman, the book store’s manager, who basically formed the book club reading group (the Professor despises the label book club) by introducing the members to each other. There are the requisite law enforcement officials that are constantly hindering the group’s efforts to solve the case, like DCI Miranda Carlton, and DS Muir. Carlton constantly threatens to arrest the group for interfering, and Muir is basically just Carlton’s lackey. There are also a local reporter and her editor that are knee deep into the murder investigation and always trying to get as much info as possible from the police and the reading group who are the ones that found Felicity’s body.
The character development for the reading group was well done, and pretty thin for the rest of the characters, at least until the end. There was one point in the story when Bella compared the group to the Scooby Do team. LOL, that was a great comparison. The pacing was pretty slow for most of the story and literally dragged in some spots. The storyline wasn’t as engaging as I was hoping and the same can be said for the writing, both of which became a downright hot mess in the end. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.1 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. This will be a one and done for me and the Cosy Crime Club Mystery series. I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #HarperCollinsUKOneMoreChapter #MurderbytheBook
December 9, 2025
Read as an ARC from NetGalley, to be published in Jan 2026
Thank god it’s over holy shit. This book was highly predictable and felt like it was trying to hit a word count the entire time.
I only finished it because I wanted to know who committed the murder and I’m not going to lie I skimmed so so so much. There was so many parts that were so unnecessary they should have been cut out and this could have made a great novella.
For example - “he watched a squirrel gambolling in a tree. It was definitely gambolling. He knew it was gambolling, even though he couldn’t remember ever actually hearing the word defined. There was something about the squirrel’s acrobatic insouciance; it lacked the purposefulness of running and the frivolousness of mere scampering. It was definitely gambolling.”
HOW DID THIS END UP IN THE BOOK
Thank god it’s over holy shit. This book was highly predictable and felt like it was trying to hit a word count the entire time.
I only finished it because I wanted to know who committed the murder and I’m not going to lie I skimmed so so so much. There was so many parts that were so unnecessary they should have been cut out and this could have made a great novella.
For example - “he watched a squirrel gambolling in a tree. It was definitely gambolling. He knew it was gambolling, even though he couldn’t remember ever actually hearing the word defined. There was something about the squirrel’s acrobatic insouciance; it lacked the purposefulness of running and the frivolousness of mere scampering. It was definitely gambolling.”
HOW DID THIS END UP IN THE BOOK
May 3, 2026
I had hopes of this , with the bookshop setting, as a decent cosy crime read. Unfortunately, it was written in a very pedestrian, plodding style with everything spelled out so heavily it was like being bashed over the head with it. The author also seemed to have swallowed the contents of a thesaurus.
Most of the story consisted of the characters having meetings and going over things, often the same things repeatedly. There were lots of red herrings about who might have murdered the bookshop manager where they met for reading group meetings. I also didn't find the solution particularly convincing. Overall, I would give this 2 stars.
Most of the story consisted of the characters having meetings and going over things, often the same things repeatedly. There were lots of red herrings about who might have murdered the bookshop manager where they met for reading group meetings. I also didn't find the solution particularly convincing. Overall, I would give this 2 stars.
Did Not Finish
March 17, 2026This was a DNF for me. I really could not get into this book at all!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With thanks to HarperCollins and One More Chapter for the advanced reader copy.
Murder by the Book is a cosy mystery with alternating perspectives, centred on an unlikely group of amateur detectives brought together through a reading group, each with complex lives of their own. It’s an immediately engaging premise, and one that feels especially resonant for anyone who belongs to a book club themselves.
From the outset, the village of Norcester feels well realised. It’s the kind of setting you can picture clearly, with a strong sense of place that grounds the mystery and gives the story real texture. The murder itself is intriguing from the very beginning, and the pacing is one of the book’s real strengths. This is a genuine page-turner. Each member of the reading group is well developed, with Bella and Lauren in particular standing out as characters I’m keen to spend more time with in the future. The mystery-solving feels amateur in the best possible way: realistic, intuitive, and grounded in how ordinary people might actually approach such a situation. I love how the police play a role here - I often find murder mysteries don't pay enough attention to them, but it's done very well here.
The conclusions makes complete sense and is believable, though I would have liked a few more clues pointing in that direction to strengthen the final reveal. Still, the humour and charm throughout more than make up for this, with delightful touches - including the memorable presence of a certain character, despite never hearing directly from him.
This is easy, accessible reading, and very much a love letter to readers who enjoy piecing together mysteries as they go. Fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, and Janice Hallett will feel right at home. With slightly tighter language, future books could be even stronger, and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.
Murder by the Book is a cosy mystery with alternating perspectives, centred on an unlikely group of amateur detectives brought together through a reading group, each with complex lives of their own. It’s an immediately engaging premise, and one that feels especially resonant for anyone who belongs to a book club themselves.
From the outset, the village of Norcester feels well realised. It’s the kind of setting you can picture clearly, with a strong sense of place that grounds the mystery and gives the story real texture. The murder itself is intriguing from the very beginning, and the pacing is one of the book’s real strengths. This is a genuine page-turner. Each member of the reading group is well developed, with Bella and Lauren in particular standing out as characters I’m keen to spend more time with in the future. The mystery-solving feels amateur in the best possible way: realistic, intuitive, and grounded in how ordinary people might actually approach such a situation. I love how the police play a role here - I often find murder mysteries don't pay enough attention to them, but it's done very well here.
The conclusions makes complete sense and is believable, though I would have liked a few more clues pointing in that direction to strengthen the final reveal. Still, the humour and charm throughout more than make up for this, with delightful touches - including the memorable presence of a certain character, despite never hearing directly from him.
This is easy, accessible reading, and very much a love letter to readers who enjoy piecing together mysteries as they go. Fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, and Janice Hallett will feel right at home. With slightly tighter language, future books could be even stronger, and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.
March 12, 2026
I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries, particularly for the communities that are created to support the amateur sleuths. Being an amateur sleuth isn’t enough to make it a cozy, you need a few other pieces. And this one did not have it. The main characters, the book club, didn’t have an easy camaraderie between them, and I didn’t feel any warmth from any of them; they had a task and they were going to complete it, and bore everyone along the way. This was slow, tedious, and managed to take any excitement out of investigating by rambling overlong about anything and everything. This wasn’t for me and I will not be continuing with the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Read
December 23, 2025While this is pitched as similar to The Thursday Murder Club, I felt it was more similar to the Aurora Teagarden books. In The Quaint Bookshop located in central England, a book club is meeting. The members: a professor, a housewife, a middle aged and still struggling actor, a nursery school teacher and undercover author, and the bookstore manager, who is looking in on the group.
By the end of their meeting, one of them will be dead, and the rest receive clues to help solve the murder.
I'm still trying to get into cozies. While this didn't quite have the humor and plotting of TMC, I did like the inclusion of a reporter, who manages to get all the witnesses to talk even after the police sternly told them to talk to no one.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
By the end of their meeting, one of them will be dead, and the rest receive clues to help solve the murder.
I'm still trying to get into cozies. While this didn't quite have the humor and plotting of TMC, I did like the inclusion of a reporter, who manages to get all the witnesses to talk even after the police sternly told them to talk to no one.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
February 21, 2026
I thought this would be right up my alley! A bookstore. A murder. A book club deciding to solve it themselves. Fun book references scattered throughout.
I loved all the literary references. That was easily my favourite part, but man, did I struggle to fully get into this one. I had a hard time sticking with it and not just skipping to the end. The idea was great but the execution missed the mark for me. I found myself wishing for a tighter editing job to streamline the rambling!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favourite.
I loved all the literary references. That was easily my favourite part, but man, did I struggle to fully get into this one. I had a hard time sticking with it and not just skipping to the end. The idea was great but the execution missed the mark for me. I found myself wishing for a tighter editing job to streamline the rambling!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favourite.
November 26, 2025
Readers may be nerds, but you do *not* want to come between them and their precious books - or their favourite bookstore! So, when a bookshop owner is murdered, a set of avid crime story junkies decide to do their own investigation...
This is a charming cozy mystery that will have particular appeal for bibliophiles, thanks to the setting. And it easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This is a charming cozy mystery that will have particular appeal for bibliophiles, thanks to the setting. And it easily earns 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
January 11, 2026
An intriguing concept of a book, but for me it just didn’t hit the mark. I’m not sure if it was the writing style, the characters or what but it just didn’t grab me. I know others have loved it but sadly not for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.
February 3, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: 2.93
Spice: Flirting
ARC publication date: January 23rd 2026
Tropes: Amateur detectives, multi POV, character driven story
Quote: Who is there better than a group devoted to mysteries to help solve this one?
My synopsis
Norcester, England - Fiction comes to life when the four members of The Quaint Bookshop's murder mystery bookclub find the store manager dead. With the police investigation plodding along, the bookclub members decide to harness the skills of their favourite golden era detectives and deliver justice.
My review
Overall, I found this book a little dry. This would be best for an older audience who enjoy slow character driven emotional fiction.
The good: The start was very engaging, opening with the denouement from the bookclub's read that immediately set the scene and was a key reflection throughout the story. The detailed character introductions were cleverly given as part of the suspect lineup.
The bad: The book was very narrative heavy with limited dialogue that made most chapters a little tedious. Every character seemed flawed and incompetent, constantly chasing red herrings that sought to create confusion rather than whittle down the suspects. The book ended as it started, with a mystery being frustratingly solved through a Deus ex machina.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Trigger warnings: Death, murder, misogyny, domestic abuse, police brutality, abandonment, alcohol
CAWPILE rating: 2.93
Spice: Flirting
ARC publication date: January 23rd 2026
Tropes: Amateur detectives, multi POV, character driven story
Quote: Who is there better than a group devoted to mysteries to help solve this one?
My synopsis
Norcester, England - Fiction comes to life when the four members of The Quaint Bookshop's murder mystery bookclub find the store manager dead. With the police investigation plodding along, the bookclub members decide to harness the skills of their favourite golden era detectives and deliver justice.
My review
Overall, I found this book a little dry. This would be best for an older audience who enjoy slow character driven emotional fiction.
The good: The start was very engaging, opening with the denouement from the bookclub's read that immediately set the scene and was a key reflection throughout the story. The detailed character introductions were cleverly given as part of the suspect lineup.
The bad: The book was very narrative heavy with limited dialogue that made most chapters a little tedious. Every character seemed flawed and incompetent, constantly chasing red herrings that sought to create confusion rather than whittle down the suspects. The book ended as it started, with a mystery being frustratingly solved through a Deus ex machina.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Trigger warnings: Death, murder, misogyny, domestic abuse, police brutality, abandonment, alcohol
January 23, 2026
A humorous, gripping cosy mystery story that every crime fiction lover will really enjoy.
Nothing is deadlier than angry readers… especially when you murder one of their own
This book is perfect fans of Marlow Murder Club Mysteries I enjoyed this book it’s part of a series called A Cosy Crime Club Mystery.
Nothing is deadlier than angry readers… especially when you murder one of their own
This book is perfect fans of Marlow Murder Club Mysteries I enjoyed this book it’s part of a series called A Cosy Crime Club Mystery.
November 29, 2025
Professor Stone, Lauren Sherwood, Harrison Fforde, and Bella Bourton, not names to strike fear into any type of criminal let alone a murderer! When their friend is killed however, and the police investigation seems to be going nowhere, they are ready to leap into the breach and look at the clues which seem to have been laid out for them. When the discovery of another body leads the police in their direction the four reading club members know they have to up their game but they've read crime novels, how hard can it be?
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, but the opinions expressed are my own. The first book in a new series, this is an absolute joy. The four main protagonists are easy to read about, their personal lives are all completely different but they need each other in ways none of them has acknowledged before. There is quite a lot of internal thought and problem solving which did become quite noticeable but a first book is like a blank canvas and it gave an early insight into the way the four of them work both individually and as a group. The culprit was well hidden in plain sight and I was surprised by their reveal but in a good way. If you're considering trying a new cosy crime series this is definitely work a look.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, but the opinions expressed are my own. The first book in a new series, this is an absolute joy. The four main protagonists are easy to read about, their personal lives are all completely different but they need each other in ways none of them has acknowledged before. There is quite a lot of internal thought and problem solving which did become quite noticeable but a first book is like a blank canvas and it gave an early insight into the way the four of them work both individually and as a group. The culprit was well hidden in plain sight and I was surprised by their reveal but in a good way. If you're considering trying a new cosy crime series this is definitely work a look.
March 22, 2026
boring, shallow characters, not a brain in their head, police detective is unbelievably rude and unprofessional.
I tried. I got pg 179 but life is too short for bad books.
I tried. I got pg 179 but life is too short for bad books.
March 30, 2026
This one just wasn’t for me. There was far too much time spent on details that didn’t really add anything. At one point it felt oddly fixated on chairs, the different types, their history, even how people sat on them. It was just too much focus on things that felt insignificant, while the main parts of the plot were rushed.
The characters weren’t fleshed out enough, and the dialogue often sounded like it was coming from the same voice. The idea behind the book was really enticing, but it just wasn’t executed very well.
The characters weren’t fleshed out enough, and the dialogue often sounded like it was coming from the same voice. The idea behind the book was really enticing, but it just wasn’t executed very well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Murder by the Book is trying its absolute hardest to be a cozy mystery girlie. We’ve got the quirky bookstore, the motley reading group, the murder that conveniently happens after a reading group meeting (because timing is everything when you’re staging your amateur sleuth origin story). It’s giving Richard Osman lite, meets discount Agatha Christie, and for the most part, it pulls it off... but only just.
Here’s the setup. Four wildly mismatched people make up a mystery reading group: Professor Stone (brooding academia edition), Harrison Fforde (washed-up actor, full-time drama queen), Lauren (author slash nursery assistant with main character energy), and Bella (suburban wife with a “will probably snap” face). When the manager of their beloved indie bookstore is murdered right after their meeting, these chaotic book nerds are like, “Yeah, the police are technically investigating, but what if we did it better?” And look, I respect the energy. It’s very “we read a lot of Agatha Christie, and now we think we’re licensed.”
Where the book shines is the core vibe. It’s very much a love letter to mystery lovers. There are literary references baked in like little Easter eggs, and the town of Norchester is charming in a way that screams “Hallmark Christmas special, but make it murder.” You can tell M. R. G. Davies loves the genre, and that affection bleeds onto the page. When the gang starts receiving mysterious book-themed packages with cryptic clues, I was like, okay, yes, now we’re in murder bingo territory and I’m eating it up.
But then the pacing hits. And wow, does it drag. Somewhere between the squirrel monologues and the 47 separate internal crises, I found myself yelling at my Kindle, “CAN SOMEONE JUST GET MURDERED AGAIN, PLEASE?” This book has the chaotic charm of a group chat that keeps spinning off into weird tangents but doesn’t know how to circle back to the actual plot. And don’t get me wrong. I live for chaos. But I need it to be narratively useful, not just page-count padding.
Also. Detective Chief Inspector Carlson needs therapy and maybe a vacation. She is somehow both aggressively competent and wildly bad at her job. She gives major “I’m tired of these meddling readers” energy while simultaneously ignoring half the suspects. I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to root for her or fear she was going to throw Bella off a bridge out of pure spite.
Now, character-wise, this little gang has promise. Lauren is my favorite. She’s got a touch of the “girl detective who’s not afraid to Google stalk a potential murderer” edge. Bella’s transformation from human doormat to “yeeted my trash husband out the front door” icon was satisfying, if a little fast. Harrison is there, mostly for comic relief and light chaos, which... fine. And the Professor? Sir. What are you hiding. He has big “accidentally implicated in multiple murders and still thinks he’s in charge” energy.
The reveal? Not bad. The clues were there, kind of, if you squinted through the red herrings and didn’t get too distracted by literary misdirection and weird character alibis. I wouldn’t call it mind-blowing, but it wasn’t rage-inducing either. Just... fine.
This book is like a cinnamon bun that sat out a little too long. Still sweet. Still comforting. Just slightly stale around the edges. It’s a solid entry for the “murder mystery with literary flair” crowd, and if the sequel tightens up the pacing and leans harder into the unhinged group dynamics, I’ll absolutely be back for more tea and dead bodies.
Casual three stars. Nothing fatal (except, you know... the actual murder), but it didn’t fully slay either.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Wonder If I Should Start a Book Club or Call the Cops
Big thanks to HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC. I promise not to start a real-life sleuth squad if someone goes missing in a bookshop. Probably.
Here’s the setup. Four wildly mismatched people make up a mystery reading group: Professor Stone (brooding academia edition), Harrison Fforde (washed-up actor, full-time drama queen), Lauren (author slash nursery assistant with main character energy), and Bella (suburban wife with a “will probably snap” face). When the manager of their beloved indie bookstore is murdered right after their meeting, these chaotic book nerds are like, “Yeah, the police are technically investigating, but what if we did it better?” And look, I respect the energy. It’s very “we read a lot of Agatha Christie, and now we think we’re licensed.”
Where the book shines is the core vibe. It’s very much a love letter to mystery lovers. There are literary references baked in like little Easter eggs, and the town of Norchester is charming in a way that screams “Hallmark Christmas special, but make it murder.” You can tell M. R. G. Davies loves the genre, and that affection bleeds onto the page. When the gang starts receiving mysterious book-themed packages with cryptic clues, I was like, okay, yes, now we’re in murder bingo territory and I’m eating it up.
But then the pacing hits. And wow, does it drag. Somewhere between the squirrel monologues and the 47 separate internal crises, I found myself yelling at my Kindle, “CAN SOMEONE JUST GET MURDERED AGAIN, PLEASE?” This book has the chaotic charm of a group chat that keeps spinning off into weird tangents but doesn’t know how to circle back to the actual plot. And don’t get me wrong. I live for chaos. But I need it to be narratively useful, not just page-count padding.
Also. Detective Chief Inspector Carlson needs therapy and maybe a vacation. She is somehow both aggressively competent and wildly bad at her job. She gives major “I’m tired of these meddling readers” energy while simultaneously ignoring half the suspects. I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to root for her or fear she was going to throw Bella off a bridge out of pure spite.
Now, character-wise, this little gang has promise. Lauren is my favorite. She’s got a touch of the “girl detective who’s not afraid to Google stalk a potential murderer” edge. Bella’s transformation from human doormat to “yeeted my trash husband out the front door” icon was satisfying, if a little fast. Harrison is there, mostly for comic relief and light chaos, which... fine. And the Professor? Sir. What are you hiding. He has big “accidentally implicated in multiple murders and still thinks he’s in charge” energy.
The reveal? Not bad. The clues were there, kind of, if you squinted through the red herrings and didn’t get too distracted by literary misdirection and weird character alibis. I wouldn’t call it mind-blowing, but it wasn’t rage-inducing either. Just... fine.
This book is like a cinnamon bun that sat out a little too long. Still sweet. Still comforting. Just slightly stale around the edges. It’s a solid entry for the “murder mystery with literary flair” crowd, and if the sequel tightens up the pacing and leans harder into the unhinged group dynamics, I’ll absolutely be back for more tea and dead bodies.
Casual three stars. Nothing fatal (except, you know... the actual murder), but it didn’t fully slay either.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Wonder If I Should Start a Book Club or Call the Cops
Big thanks to HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC. I promise not to start a real-life sleuth squad if someone goes missing in a bookshop. Probably.
February 16, 2026
There is something undeniably comforting about a cosy crime that begins in a bookshop.
Set in the village of Norcester and centred around The Quaint Bookshop, this is a mystery that feels both warmly familiar and freshly engaging from the very first chapter.
The premise is immediately appealing: a reading group of devoted crime-fiction fans find themselves facing a real-life murder when the bookshop manager is discovered dead among the shelves.
For anyone who belongs to a book club, there’s an extra layer of enjoyment here. The dynamic feels authentic — the differing personalities, the subtle tensions, the shared enthusiasm for stories — and watching that fictional sleuthing knowledge spill into reality is enormous fun.
Norcester is the kind of village you can see clearly in your mind’s eye, with its rhythms, relationships and quiet undercurrents.
That strong sense of place grounds the mystery and gives it texture, making the events feel all the more impactful.
The alternating perspectives work particularly well, allowing us to understand not just the investigation but the complicated lives of the reading group members.
Bella and Lauren stand out in particular — layered, believable and the sort of characters you genuinely want to spend more time with.
The pacing is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. It moves at exactly the right tempo for a cosy mystery: engaging without feeling rushed, steadily building intrigue without tipping into melodrama.
This is very much a “just one more chapter” kind of read. I also appreciated the way the police are woven into the narrative.
In many cosy mysteries they are little more than background noise, but here their presence feels realistic and adds credibility without overshadowing the amateur investigation at the heart of the story.
The mystery-solving itself feels amateur in the best sense — intuitive, occasionally flawed, and rooted in how ordinary people might genuinely approach such a situation.
The resolution makes logical sense and is satisfying, although I would have liked a few more subtle clues pointing towards the final reveal. A slightly stronger trail of breadcrumbs would have made the ending even more satisfying.
There are affectionate nods to classic detective fiction throughout, which seasoned crime readers will enjoy, but the tone remains accessible and welcoming.
It’s witty without being overdone, atmospheric without being heavy, and full of that cosy, bookish charm that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and lose an afternoon to its pages.
A village setting, a bookshop backdrop, and a group of unlikely sleuths? It’s very hard not to feel right at home.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARc in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the village of Norcester and centred around The Quaint Bookshop, this is a mystery that feels both warmly familiar and freshly engaging from the very first chapter.
The premise is immediately appealing: a reading group of devoted crime-fiction fans find themselves facing a real-life murder when the bookshop manager is discovered dead among the shelves.
For anyone who belongs to a book club, there’s an extra layer of enjoyment here. The dynamic feels authentic — the differing personalities, the subtle tensions, the shared enthusiasm for stories — and watching that fictional sleuthing knowledge spill into reality is enormous fun.
Norcester is the kind of village you can see clearly in your mind’s eye, with its rhythms, relationships and quiet undercurrents.
That strong sense of place grounds the mystery and gives it texture, making the events feel all the more impactful.
The alternating perspectives work particularly well, allowing us to understand not just the investigation but the complicated lives of the reading group members.
Bella and Lauren stand out in particular — layered, believable and the sort of characters you genuinely want to spend more time with.
The pacing is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. It moves at exactly the right tempo for a cosy mystery: engaging without feeling rushed, steadily building intrigue without tipping into melodrama.
This is very much a “just one more chapter” kind of read. I also appreciated the way the police are woven into the narrative.
In many cosy mysteries they are little more than background noise, but here their presence feels realistic and adds credibility without overshadowing the amateur investigation at the heart of the story.
The mystery-solving itself feels amateur in the best sense — intuitive, occasionally flawed, and rooted in how ordinary people might genuinely approach such a situation.
The resolution makes logical sense and is satisfying, although I would have liked a few more subtle clues pointing towards the final reveal. A slightly stronger trail of breadcrumbs would have made the ending even more satisfying.
There are affectionate nods to classic detective fiction throughout, which seasoned crime readers will enjoy, but the tone remains accessible and welcoming.
It’s witty without being overdone, atmospheric without being heavy, and full of that cosy, bookish charm that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and lose an afternoon to its pages.
A village setting, a bookshop backdrop, and a group of unlikely sleuths? It’s very hard not to feel right at home.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARc in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2026
Murder by the Book by MRG Davies is a cosy mystery, the first in a new British series. It opens with a chapter from the traditional British mystery the group had just finished., which is a little different way to open a book. The group has four members: Professor Stone, a retired professor of mathematics; Harrison Fforde, an out-of-work actor; Lauren Sherwood, a serious young woman of thirty, erstwhile author; and Bella Bourton, a fortyish, dissatisfied housewife, the newest member of the group. They had all been recruited by Felicity Penman, the manager of the bookshop, who was now dead, killed just moments after the four of them left the building. They were so close they heard the scream, but could do nothing but call 999. What was to follow was interesting, to say the least. Within the next day or so, each of them had received a book in the mail, not ordered, and with no explanation. Were they to be clues in the murder? Then there was another murder. Was it related? Why? How?
This was a book that didn’t quite get off the ground for me. The characters were interesting but didn’t really begin to come to life until the second half of the book. They have potential. The plot was a good one, a woman who anticipated her death, possibly, and gathered together a crew to investigate. The police were not at all happy with their interference, but between the four of them, and the computer skills of Simon, Lauren’s brother, they discovered far more than the police did, but that was possibly lack of motivation on the part of the police. The had arrested Professor Stone and were willing to let it go at that. The pacing was off although I am not sure how to remedy that. All-in-all, it has possibilities as a series. I am prepared to give it another chance.
I was invited to read Murder by the Book by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUKOneMoreChapter #MurderByTheBook
This was a book that didn’t quite get off the ground for me. The characters were interesting but didn’t really begin to come to life until the second half of the book. They have potential. The plot was a good one, a woman who anticipated her death, possibly, and gathered together a crew to investigate. The police were not at all happy with their interference, but between the four of them, and the computer skills of Simon, Lauren’s brother, they discovered far more than the police did, but that was possibly lack of motivation on the part of the police. The had arrested Professor Stone and were willing to let it go at that. The pacing was off although I am not sure how to remedy that. All-in-all, it has possibilities as a series. I am prepared to give it another chance.
I was invited to read Murder by the Book by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollinsUKOneMoreChapter #MurderByTheBook
January 25, 2026
Thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review. I was also lucky enough to listen to the audiobook.
This is my first time reading a book by Michael Davies and it certainly won't be the last! I love books about books, so this was always going to be on my TBR list. Murder by the Book is a bibliomystery of the finest standard. It's the first in a new series by M R G Davies. The Cosy Crime Club Mysteries second book - A Game of Murder - is due in March and then From Murder With Love will be published later in the year. Personally I can't wait! I have to say, the blurb for the next two scheduled instalments sounds thrilling -
Harrison Fforde, Bella Bourton, Professor Stone and Lauren Sherwood are members of The Quaint Book Shop reading group (whatever you do, don't call them a book club!). We follow the group as they investigate the murder of the book shop manager. Davies opens with a detached prologue focused on the book the group are currently reading. This was a new approach for me. It was a bit of a curveball but I appreciated it, as it made the book stand out.
My thoughts before I read this book was that it might be yet another carbon copy of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the author's writing style and content. The story itself was original, the characters were believable and overall it was a polished piece of work. The audiobook narrators (Victoria Brazier and the author himself) gave lively and captivating performances.
This was most definitely NOT a Deus ex machina! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#MurderByTheBook #NetGalley
This is my first time reading a book by Michael Davies and it certainly won't be the last! I love books about books, so this was always going to be on my TBR list. Murder by the Book is a bibliomystery of the finest standard. It's the first in a new series by M R G Davies. The Cosy Crime Club Mysteries second book - A Game of Murder - is due in March and then From Murder With Love will be published later in the year. Personally I can't wait! I have to say, the blurb for the next two scheduled instalments sounds thrilling -
'a country house cut off from the outside world by a blizzard and the intriguing world of international espionage in the footsteps of a certain secret agent, as they attempt to solve the mysteries that appear to dog them incessantly.'
Harrison Fforde, Bella Bourton, Professor Stone and Lauren Sherwood are members of The Quaint Book Shop reading group (whatever you do, don't call them a book club!). We follow the group as they investigate the murder of the book shop manager. Davies opens with a detached prologue focused on the book the group are currently reading. This was a new approach for me. It was a bit of a curveball but I appreciated it, as it made the book stand out.
My thoughts before I read this book was that it might be yet another carbon copy of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the author's writing style and content. The story itself was original, the characters were believable and overall it was a polished piece of work. The audiobook narrators (Victoria Brazier and the author himself) gave lively and captivating performances.
This was most definitely NOT a Deus ex machina! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#MurderByTheBook #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Murder By the Book
by M.R. G. Davies is the first book in the Cozy Crime Club Mystery series. It features four members of a reading group who meet at The Quaint Bookshop. One night as soon as they leave, they hear a scream. The manager, Felicity Penman, has been murdered. The four decide to use what they’ve picked up from their fictional detectives to solve the cases. Surely, the murder mystery fans can solve the case since it doesn’t seem like the police are doing much to solve it.
Professor Stone is the leader of the group. He’s analytical and logical. Lauren is forthright, as well as bringing empathy and character insight. Harrison is optimistic, but he can be irritating. Bella has a quiet resilience and tends to be a team player. They all have a shared interest in literature, especially mysteries.
The novel switches points of view frequently with transitions that don’t always work smoothly. The story has plenty of literary references and is descriptive. However, the amount of description tends to slow the pace. The author did a great job on characterization and showing how the group worked well together. The reveal wasn’t much of a surprise, but it was well done.
Overall, this is a charming mystery with likeable characters, but slow pacing.
HarperCollins UL, One More Chapter and M.R.G. Davies provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for January 23, 2026.
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My 2.94 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Professor Stone is the leader of the group. He’s analytical and logical. Lauren is forthright, as well as bringing empathy and character insight. Harrison is optimistic, but he can be irritating. Bella has a quiet resilience and tends to be a team player. They all have a shared interest in literature, especially mysteries.
The novel switches points of view frequently with transitions that don’t always work smoothly. The story has plenty of literary references and is descriptive. However, the amount of description tends to slow the pace. The author did a great job on characterization and showing how the group worked well together. The reveal wasn’t much of a surprise, but it was well done.
Overall, this is a charming mystery with likeable characters, but slow pacing.
HarperCollins UL, One More Chapter and M.R.G. Davies provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for January 23, 2026.
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My 2.94 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3,5 stars. An interesting new series following the mold of The Thursday Murder Club.
The manager of The Quaint Bookshop ends up slumped between the shelves. The four members of the shop's reading group decide to try to solve the mystery. If they use everything they know from all the murder-mysteries they've read, can they solve the crime?
This is definitely following the same kind of script as many of these other cozy-ish British murder mysteries that we've been seeing over the last several years, and I think that's great. I enjoy that we get to read from the perspectives of all four of the members of the reading group and learn bit about them and the mystery as we go. This book also definitely embraces its British roots and feels very much in that relatively dry style.
I think the characters are the biggest struggle for me. We don't get to see that much of each of them, so they end up not being super likeable. While I don't necessarily need to like the characters in a mystery story, it was harder to care about what happened to them. The start of this story debates what constitutes fair-play in a murder mystery, and that ended up being a factor in this book as well.
Overall, if you enjoy murder mysteries with quirky casts of characters, give this book a try. It references a lot of golden age of mysteries, which is a great thing to get to enjoy throughout the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
The manager of The Quaint Bookshop ends up slumped between the shelves. The four members of the shop's reading group decide to try to solve the mystery. If they use everything they know from all the murder-mysteries they've read, can they solve the crime?
This is definitely following the same kind of script as many of these other cozy-ish British murder mysteries that we've been seeing over the last several years, and I think that's great. I enjoy that we get to read from the perspectives of all four of the members of the reading group and learn bit about them and the mystery as we go. This book also definitely embraces its British roots and feels very much in that relatively dry style.
I think the characters are the biggest struggle for me. We don't get to see that much of each of them, so they end up not being super likeable. While I don't necessarily need to like the characters in a mystery story, it was harder to care about what happened to them. The start of this story debates what constitutes fair-play in a murder mystery, and that ended up being a factor in this book as well.
Overall, if you enjoy murder mysteries with quirky casts of characters, give this book a try. It references a lot of golden age of mysteries, which is a great thing to get to enjoy throughout the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
December 1, 2025
There’s something irresistibly charming about a mystery that begins in a bookshop. Murder by the Book invites us into The Quaint Bookshop, where the shelves hold more than stories—they hide secrets, danger, and ultimately, a body. When the manager is found dead among the novels, it’s not the police who capture our hearts, but a reading group of devoted crime-fiction fans who decide to put their fictional sleuthing skills to the test.
This is a cozy mystery that sparkles with humour and warmth, yet never loses its grip on suspense. Davies cleverly balances the playful energy of amateur detectives with the darker undercurrent of murder, creating a tale that feels both comforting and thrilling. The camaraderie of the reading group is delightful—like sitting in on a lively book club where the stakes suddenly turn deadly.
The narrative is peppered with nods to classic detective fiction, making it a treat for seasoned mystery lovers, while the accessible style ensures newcomers will feel right at home. It’s witty, engaging, and brimming with atmosphere—the kind of story you want to curl up with by the fire, blanket wrapped tight, as the pages turn effortlessly.
Fans of The Marlow Murder Club will find themselves right at home here, but Davies brings his own flair: a knowing wink to the genre, a warmth in characterisation, and a pace that keeps you guessing until the final chapter.
With thanks to MRG Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
This is a cozy mystery that sparkles with humour and warmth, yet never loses its grip on suspense. Davies cleverly balances the playful energy of amateur detectives with the darker undercurrent of murder, creating a tale that feels both comforting and thrilling. The camaraderie of the reading group is delightful—like sitting in on a lively book club where the stakes suddenly turn deadly.
The narrative is peppered with nods to classic detective fiction, making it a treat for seasoned mystery lovers, while the accessible style ensures newcomers will feel right at home. It’s witty, engaging, and brimming with atmosphere—the kind of story you want to curl up with by the fire, blanket wrapped tight, as the pages turn effortlessly.
Fans of The Marlow Murder Club will find themselves right at home here, but Davies brings his own flair: a knowing wink to the genre, a warmth in characterisation, and a pace that keeps you guessing until the final chapter.
With thanks to MRG Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
January 25, 2026
Edition: 📚 Read as a book
📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx.)
🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter
ARC provided by NetGalley
📅 Published: January 23, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Murder by the Book is an intriguing concept: four amateur sleuths, one bookshop murder, and a puzzle laid out for them by the deceased manager. In theory, it’s a perfect setup for a cozy, page-turning mystery. And the actual unraveling of the murder? Solid. The clues are clever, and the resolution itself is satisfying.
Where the book falters for me is in the execution. Told from four different perspectives, each member narrating their side of the investigation, the story loses some of the intimacy and suspense that comes from following a single sleuth. Instead of building a connection with one character, I was bouncing between four different viewpoints, and it got confusing. By the end, I also struggled with the motive behind the murder; it didn’t resonate, and left me feeling slightly disconnected from the emotional stakes.
Overall, it was a decent read. If you love puzzles and classic cozy tropes, you might enjoy the ride. For me, though, it wasn’t compelling enough to return for the rest of the series.
Would I recommend it?
The mystery itself is fun and clever, but the multiple perspectives diluted the connection I crave in cozy mysteries. A good one-off read, but I won’t be following this series.
📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx.)
🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter
ARC provided by NetGalley
📅 Published: January 23, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Murder by the Book is an intriguing concept: four amateur sleuths, one bookshop murder, and a puzzle laid out for them by the deceased manager. In theory, it’s a perfect setup for a cozy, page-turning mystery. And the actual unraveling of the murder? Solid. The clues are clever, and the resolution itself is satisfying.
Where the book falters for me is in the execution. Told from four different perspectives, each member narrating their side of the investigation, the story loses some of the intimacy and suspense that comes from following a single sleuth. Instead of building a connection with one character, I was bouncing between four different viewpoints, and it got confusing. By the end, I also struggled with the motive behind the murder; it didn’t resonate, and left me feeling slightly disconnected from the emotional stakes.
Overall, it was a decent read. If you love puzzles and classic cozy tropes, you might enjoy the ride. For me, though, it wasn’t compelling enough to return for the rest of the series.
Would I recommend it?
The mystery itself is fun and clever, but the multiple perspectives diluted the connection I crave in cozy mysteries. A good one-off read, but I won’t be following this series.
Read
January 12, 2026This is definitely a cozy mystery and if that is your vibe you will definitely enjoy this book.
For me personally, this was not my favorite book. Mostly because I didn't connect with the story or the characters. The reader follows the 4 main characters - Professor Stone, Bella, Lauren, and Harrison. They are all members of a reading group that is hosted by a local bookstore. The manager of the bookstore is the one who began the reading group and encouraged/selected each of the members. Early on in the book, the manager is unfortunately murdered and the 4 reading group members decide to investigate the murder once they all became suspects. I will say in the beginning it did take me a bit of time to get into the story. It felt that at times the story was going in 5 or 6 different directions that didn't quite add to the story. But by the end of the story, I was invested and I did feel like the story built up to the conclusion. I don't mind a book that has a slower start but then builds into a nice ending. I do wish, personally, that we hadn't had some of the subplots that didn't seem to help move the story forward. At times with all of the subplots, I would get lost in where I was in the actual mystery itself.
Was it a good time? Yes. Did I think the story wrapped up nicely? Yes. For whatever reason, this book and I we just didn't vibe.
For me personally, this was not my favorite book. Mostly because I didn't connect with the story or the characters. The reader follows the 4 main characters - Professor Stone, Bella, Lauren, and Harrison. They are all members of a reading group that is hosted by a local bookstore. The manager of the bookstore is the one who began the reading group and encouraged/selected each of the members. Early on in the book, the manager is unfortunately murdered and the 4 reading group members decide to investigate the murder once they all became suspects. I will say in the beginning it did take me a bit of time to get into the story. It felt that at times the story was going in 5 or 6 different directions that didn't quite add to the story. But by the end of the story, I was invested and I did feel like the story built up to the conclusion. I don't mind a book that has a slower start but then builds into a nice ending. I do wish, personally, that we hadn't had some of the subplots that didn't seem to help move the story forward. At times with all of the subplots, I would get lost in where I was in the actual mystery itself.
Was it a good time? Yes. Did I think the story wrapped up nicely? Yes. For whatever reason, this book and I we just didn't vibe.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
British cozy mystery by M.R.G. Davies. I was looking forward to it because I love cozy mysteries set in bookstores and with book clubs but it didn't meet my expectations unfortunately. The four members of The Quaint Bookshop Book Club are Professor Stone, Lauren, Bella and Harrison Fforde. They leave the bookstore after a meeting and hear a scream. They find the bookstore manager slumped over between the shelves (not dead yet but may as well have been!). The next day they each receive a package at their domiciles. This is almost as big a mystery as the dead bookstore manager. The story takes place over 1 week (Tuesday-Tuesday). What a long week! The pace was slow and at first I thought it took place decades ago until current phrases and people are mentioned. I didn't particularly like any of the characters until near the end there was some improvement. Eventually they basically became a team and kind of worked together to solve the murder mystery and who sent the books and why. I liked the addition of Lauren's brother Simon. By the end, the story got a little better and the mystery was solved in a satisfactory way. I really wanted to like this book and I can only imagine how much work went into it but the pace and characters were a hurdle I had trouble with. The cover is great! #MurderByTheBook #OneMoreChapter #NetGalley
January 29, 2026
A cozy murder mystery set in a bookshop will attract all kinds of readers and it certainly kept my attention: a murder, a group of amateur detectives, and many secrets to uncover.
The Quaint Bookshop is a safe place for many people, especially for the retired professor Stone, the housewife Bella Bourton, the out-of-work actor Harrison Fforde, and the aspiring writer Lauren Sherwood, who hold their own bookclub every week. When the manager of the bookshop, Felicity Penman, is found murdered after one of their meetings, the group decides to investigate on their own, especially since the police are convinced that the killer is one of them.
Murder by the Book is an entertaining and intriguing read. There is a cast of likable characters, all from a different background, with different stories and personalities, but also with secrets to hide, and each chapter is told from the perspective of each character. There are mysterious letters, lots of references to classic detective fiction, an hostile detective who doesn’t appreciate the interference of a group of bookworms, and an interesting mystery to solve. The pace was a bit slow, but, overall, Murder by the Book is an engaging and compelling novel, the first of a series that will see a group of determined and promising sleuths at work.
The Quaint Bookshop is a safe place for many people, especially for the retired professor Stone, the housewife Bella Bourton, the out-of-work actor Harrison Fforde, and the aspiring writer Lauren Sherwood, who hold their own bookclub every week. When the manager of the bookshop, Felicity Penman, is found murdered after one of their meetings, the group decides to investigate on their own, especially since the police are convinced that the killer is one of them.
Murder by the Book is an entertaining and intriguing read. There is a cast of likable characters, all from a different background, with different stories and personalities, but also with secrets to hide, and each chapter is told from the perspective of each character. There are mysterious letters, lots of references to classic detective fiction, an hostile detective who doesn’t appreciate the interference of a group of bookworms, and an interesting mystery to solve. The pace was a bit slow, but, overall, Murder by the Book is an engaging and compelling novel, the first of a series that will see a group of determined and promising sleuths at work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up
Book 1 of Library Detectives.
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they have picked up from their favourite fictional detective. If anyone knows how to solve a crime, it's a team of murder-mystery super fans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case.
This is the first book in a new cosy crime series. Four members are at The Quaint Bookshop when the manager, Felicity Penman, was murdered. The four members decide to do some investigating themselves as the police don't seem to be getting anywhere.
This story is told from alternating points of view. I liked the four club members for different reasons, and they were well-portrayed. The pace is steady, there was some humour, and we get some nods to some classic detective fiction.
Published 23rd January 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #MRGDavies for my ARC of MurderByTheBook in exchange for an honest review.
Book 1 of Library Detectives.
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found slumped between the shelves, the four members of the shop's reading group decide to put into action all the skills they have picked up from their favourite fictional detective. If anyone knows how to solve a crime, it's a team of murder-mystery super fans. The police might be investigating but the reading group are on the case.
This is the first book in a new cosy crime series. Four members are at The Quaint Bookshop when the manager, Felicity Penman, was murdered. The four members decide to do some investigating themselves as the police don't seem to be getting anywhere.
This story is told from alternating points of view. I liked the four club members for different reasons, and they were well-portrayed. The pace is steady, there was some humour, and we get some nods to some classic detective fiction.
Published 23rd January 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #MRGDavies for my ARC of MurderByTheBook in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2026
Murder by the Book is a solid but slightly uneven start to the Cosy Crime Club series.
The setup is a good one: four people who only know each other through a weekly reading group at a local bookshop decide to investigate after the shop manager is murdered just as they leave for the night.
The rotating viewpoints are interesting and help show how different the group really is, though none of them are especially skilled sleuths.
At times, it feels less like clever deduction and more like well-meaning guesswork, which can be frustrating as the story goes on.
One character in particular, Harrison Fforde, a hapless and struggling actor, tested my patience by the end. Then again, I think he was meant to because even in the book he is referred to as 'Mr Raiders of the Lost Brain Cell' which is funny - and accurate!
The mystery itself is decent, and the solution makes sense, but the pacing drags in places.
If you enjoy slower cozy mysteries with bumbling amateur detectives, this will probably work for you. For me, it was just okay.
With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.
The setup is a good one: four people who only know each other through a weekly reading group at a local bookshop decide to investigate after the shop manager is murdered just as they leave for the night.
The rotating viewpoints are interesting and help show how different the group really is, though none of them are especially skilled sleuths.
At times, it feels less like clever deduction and more like well-meaning guesswork, which can be frustrating as the story goes on.
One character in particular, Harrison Fforde, a hapless and struggling actor, tested my patience by the end. Then again, I think he was meant to because even in the book he is referred to as 'Mr Raiders of the Lost Brain Cell' which is funny - and accurate!
The mystery itself is decent, and the solution makes sense, but the pacing drags in places.
If you enjoy slower cozy mysteries with bumbling amateur detectives, this will probably work for you. For me, it was just okay.
With thanks to NetGalley for the early copy in return for an honest review.
February 18, 2026
It's a nice cozy murder mystery book!
Each characters in the reading group is quite relatable and I enjoyed seeing their differences in point of view and reactions. I also enjoyed how slow it was, because, of course, you can't be a detective and have everything figured out fast even if you're a fan of murder mystery books haha. So that was also relatable.
The resolution of the mystery though was a bit weak. The clues are not really helpful and they have basically no evidence (well excluding the behavior of the culprit at the very end, but if they could have just hold it in, we would have literally nothing to say).
That probably stems from the fact that we don't actually know if the drug-dealing case is true. Felicity might have formed this idea, but there is also no evidence here to prove it's true. The assumptions are all compelling, but yes, even this original case was weak. So everything else felt like it was a bit too convenient. Especially when they keep using the quote from Sherlock Holmes, while not actually using it in practice.
Still it was a nice and cozy read, so I'll read the next book if I come across it :)
Each characters in the reading group is quite relatable and I enjoyed seeing their differences in point of view and reactions. I also enjoyed how slow it was, because, of course, you can't be a detective and have everything figured out fast even if you're a fan of murder mystery books haha. So that was also relatable.
The resolution of the mystery though was a bit weak. The clues are not really helpful and they have basically no evidence (well excluding the behavior of the culprit at the very end, but if they could have just hold it in, we would have literally nothing to say).
That probably stems from the fact that we don't actually know if the drug-dealing case is true. Felicity might have formed this idea, but there is also no evidence here to prove it's true. The assumptions are all compelling, but yes, even this original case was weak. So everything else felt like it was a bit too convenient. Especially when they keep using the quote from Sherlock Holmes, while not actually using it in practice.
Still it was a nice and cozy read, so I'll read the next book if I come across it :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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