What do you think?
Rate this book
Mystery Bookshop #11
Murder from A to Z
When Michigan bookshop owner and mystery writer Samantha Washington and her sister, Jenna, agreed to host a class for seniors on estate planning, they didn’t plan on discovering shady doings at Shady Acres Retirement Village . . .
Nana Jo has volunteered her lawyer granddaughter, Jenna, to teach estate planning to retirees—with Sam providing her bookshop as the venue. But during the seminar, entitled Getting Your Ducks in Order, it quickly becomes clear someone’s up to Fowl Play. When elderly Alva Tarkington, accompanied by her niece, sits down for a consultation, Sam realizes the woman’s frequent blinking is actually Morse Code—S.O.S. The sisters get her alone, and Alva tells them she believes her life is in danger and must change her will . . .
Unfortunately, Alva is found dead the next day—seemingly from natural causes. But Nana Jo and the sisters suspect otherwise. In between penning her latest historical mystery, set in 1939 as England declares war on Germany and Lady Elizabeth Marsh pursues stolen paintings and a traitor, Sam teams up with the senior sleuths of Shady Acres to search for motives—beginning with Alva’s family. They soon learn not everyone is who they say they are, and someone is more than qualified to teach a class on cold-blooded murder . . .
Nana Jo has volunteered her lawyer granddaughter, Jenna, to teach estate planning to retirees—with Sam providing her bookshop as the venue. But during the seminar, entitled Getting Your Ducks in Order, it quickly becomes clear someone’s up to Fowl Play. When elderly Alva Tarkington, accompanied by her niece, sits down for a consultation, Sam realizes the woman’s frequent blinking is actually Morse Code—S.O.S. The sisters get her alone, and Alva tells them she believes her life is in danger and must change her will . . .
Unfortunately, Alva is found dead the next day—seemingly from natural causes. But Nana Jo and the sisters suspect otherwise. In between penning her latest historical mystery, set in 1939 as England declares war on Germany and Lady Elizabeth Marsh pursues stolen paintings and a traitor, Sam teams up with the senior sleuths of Shady Acres to search for motives—beginning with Alva’s family. They soon learn not everyone is who they say they are, and someone is more than qualified to teach a class on cold-blooded murder . . .
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2026
About the author
V.M. Burns
21 books1,318 followersValerie (V.M.) Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in
Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs,
British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the
Midwest she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Northern Georgia with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Her short story, "The Vermeer Conspiracy" was an Anthony and Edgar Award finalist in 2022. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, Crime Writers of Color, and Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com.
Contact Info: author@vmburns.com
Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs,
British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the
Midwest she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Northern Georgia with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Her short story, "The Vermeer Conspiracy" was an Anthony and Edgar Award finalist in 2022. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association, Crime Writers of Color, and Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com.
Contact Info: author@vmburns.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 1, 2026
Another good book in the series
February 7, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Samantha Washington’s Market Street Mysteries is becoming “a hip hangout for young and old”. So Nana Jo’s idea to have Jenna, her lawyer granddaughter, teach a group of retirees about estate planning at the bookshop sounds like a great idea. They meet Alva Tarkington when her niece brings her in for a consultation. During the meeting, Sam and Jenna notice Alva is blinking a lot. They realize she is sending them an S.O.S. message in Morse Code. The sisters enlist Nana Jo’s help to get the niece out of the room so they can get to the bottom of Alva’s distress. It is then that Alva tells them someone is trying to kill her and she needs to change her will immediately.
Everyone is shocked to learn the next day that Alva has died from natural causes. Sam, Jenna, and Nana Jo are very suspicious of that claim. Soon, the sisters and Shady Acres sleuths are investigating. Will Sam be able to work through the clues as she works on her new historical mystery? Who benefits from Alva’s death? It has to be her family, but who had the means, motive, and opportunity to send Alva to an early grave?
This is one of my favorite series, and Ms. Burns never disappoints. You never know what Sam, Jenna, Nana Jo, Ruby Mae, Irma, Dorothy, and Frank are going to get into within the pages, but you know it is going to be very entertaining.
In Murder from A to Z, Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt is out of town. Everyone is still trying to wrap their heads around his relationship with Frank’s mother. He is usually a good source of needed information. But Sam, Jenna, and the Senior Sleuths won’t let that hold them back. Frank has some connections that may come in handy. What I enjoy about these characters is that, for all their craziness, their hearts are always in the right place. They genuinely care about each other and the people they meet who need their help.
Alva Tarkington was one smart cookie with an intriguing history. Sadly, her relatives and nurse are more concerned about their inheritances than they are about her death, landing them high on the suspect list. The list grows as we learn more about Alva. FBI agent Warren Brown enters the case as it enters his area of expertise. An additional murder cuts into the list of suspects, and soon clues start to fall into place, and a showdown is afoot. I loved the take-down.
Part of the fun of these stories is that Samantha is a mystery author. Her characters live in 1939 at Wickfield Lodge, England, where the war that had been “looming on the horizon for years had finally arrived”. The Marsh family plays vital roles. It is while Sam is writing that she begins to see things more clearly in the current-day mystery she is trying to solve.
Sam’s toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo, jump from the covers into readers’ hearts with ease. Snickers is slowing down a little, now 14 years old. Oreo, 2 years younger, still acts like a puppy. Both, like most pets, are spoiled and love attention. Snickers like our Daisy adjust themselves and move our hands to ensure our scratches are administered to the right area to give them maximum bliss.
Murder from A to Z is a fast-paced read, taking on some hot topics and serving up some twists and turns that kept the pages flying. With characters that feel like old friends, I hate to reach the last page because my visit ends much too soon. Until next year . . .
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Samantha Washington’s Market Street Mysteries is becoming “a hip hangout for young and old”. So Nana Jo’s idea to have Jenna, her lawyer granddaughter, teach a group of retirees about estate planning at the bookshop sounds like a great idea. They meet Alva Tarkington when her niece brings her in for a consultation. During the meeting, Sam and Jenna notice Alva is blinking a lot. They realize she is sending them an S.O.S. message in Morse Code. The sisters enlist Nana Jo’s help to get the niece out of the room so they can get to the bottom of Alva’s distress. It is then that Alva tells them someone is trying to kill her and she needs to change her will immediately.
Everyone is shocked to learn the next day that Alva has died from natural causes. Sam, Jenna, and Nana Jo are very suspicious of that claim. Soon, the sisters and Shady Acres sleuths are investigating. Will Sam be able to work through the clues as she works on her new historical mystery? Who benefits from Alva’s death? It has to be her family, but who had the means, motive, and opportunity to send Alva to an early grave?
This is one of my favorite series, and Ms. Burns never disappoints. You never know what Sam, Jenna, Nana Jo, Ruby Mae, Irma, Dorothy, and Frank are going to get into within the pages, but you know it is going to be very entertaining.
In Murder from A to Z, Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt is out of town. Everyone is still trying to wrap their heads around his relationship with Frank’s mother. He is usually a good source of needed information. But Sam, Jenna, and the Senior Sleuths won’t let that hold them back. Frank has some connections that may come in handy. What I enjoy about these characters is that, for all their craziness, their hearts are always in the right place. They genuinely care about each other and the people they meet who need their help.
Alva Tarkington was one smart cookie with an intriguing history. Sadly, her relatives and nurse are more concerned about their inheritances than they are about her death, landing them high on the suspect list. The list grows as we learn more about Alva. FBI agent Warren Brown enters the case as it enters his area of expertise. An additional murder cuts into the list of suspects, and soon clues start to fall into place, and a showdown is afoot. I loved the take-down.
Part of the fun of these stories is that Samantha is a mystery author. Her characters live in 1939 at Wickfield Lodge, England, where the war that had been “looming on the horizon for years had finally arrived”. The Marsh family plays vital roles. It is while Sam is writing that she begins to see things more clearly in the current-day mystery she is trying to solve.
Sam’s toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo, jump from the covers into readers’ hearts with ease. Snickers is slowing down a little, now 14 years old. Oreo, 2 years younger, still acts like a puppy. Both, like most pets, are spoiled and love attention. Snickers like our Daisy adjust themselves and move our hands to ensure our scratches are administered to the right area to give them maximum bliss.
Murder from A to Z is a fast-paced read, taking on some hot topics and serving up some twists and turns that kept the pages flying. With characters that feel like old friends, I hate to reach the last page because my visit ends much too soon. Until next year . . .
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
January 25, 2026
Several twists and turns. The main characters were delightful. I believe this is the first book I’ve read by this author and I plan to enjoy many more. There were some nice subplots as well. Enjoy.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
November 7, 2025
"Murder from A to Z (Mystery Bookshop #11)" by V.M. Burns is really two books blended into one. There is the modern day cozy mystery and the historical fiction "British Countryside" cozy mystery. The historical one cuts off most of the modern story's chapters. Honestly, I skipped the historical fiction pages. They just interrupted the flow of the modern story. Maybe I'll go back and read just the historical story's parts. Probably not though. So I feel I really only got half the book that's advertised since it's the modern story that's the face of this book. I really only keep reading this series because I keep forgetting it does this and I get it from Netgalley. No more for me, thank you.
To be fair, this one's modern story was the most enjoyable of the series for me so far. Samantha gets pulled into an investigation before the first victim is even dead. This story touches on elder fraud/abuse, twins switching lives, and art theft during the world wars. The sassy senior crew is very active as well. Probably the part I enjoyed the most. The modern story being much better written this time around is what bounced this from 3-4 stars for me.
To be fair, this one's modern story was the most enjoyable of the series for me so far. Samantha gets pulled into an investigation before the first victim is even dead. This story touches on elder fraud/abuse, twins switching lives, and art theft during the world wars. The sassy senior crew is very active as well. Probably the part I enjoyed the most. The modern story being much better written this time around is what bounced this from 3-4 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It is always a trip to get to spend time with Sam, Frank, Nana Jo, and her crazy friends. In this adventure, Sam has set up for Jenna to do a workshop on wills and probate at Market Street Mysteries, and the ladies run into an elderly lady that hands them an addendum to her will while her niece in law is distracted and begs for help. When the lady shows up dead the next day, you know the group is going to make sure the addendum to the will is acknowledged as well as doing some investigation into how she actually died. Things are complicated because their usual police contact detective "Stinky" Pitt is on vacation visiting Sam's mother-in-law to be. With Frank's help and an FBI special agent, the ladies pursue all avenues until they find justice! This was a quick read with some interesting twists and turns in our mystery and some fun with our Shady Acres Retirement crew. Thanks to #Netgalley, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to read early! #MurderFromAtoZ #MysteryBookshopseries #ValerieBurns #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
February 4, 2026
I enjoy this series for the characters and the setting; Sam and her friends are spunky and fun, and the different generations of the characters adds a little more to the stories. This story, however, despite a compelling start, dragged for me and it took me much longer than usual to get through it. There were things that were repeated (twice we learn that Dawson makes cookies) that I hope will have been picked up in editing. The mystery was predictable and didn't really hold my interest, with many of the regular characters absent from the book. I've never really been a fan of the book within a book and used to skip these but have been making my way through them in the last few books and had started to enjoy them. This one, however, had a very weak plot and seemed like an afterthought to me. Hoping the next one is more like the earlier ones in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
March 16, 2026
They team is at it again. When one of their own is murder, Sam, Nana Jo and the lady determined to find who killed her. But when the second murder happens will they find the murder before it’s one of them. Lots of surprises and twists until the murder is revealed.
May 4, 2026
An enjoyable cozy. The characters really make this series work well. The relationship between family and “family” is enjoyable and very realistic. The group has to solve another mystery and its additional twists. Hope to have another book to read soon
March 4, 2026
Nana Jo has volunteered her granddaughter, Jenna, to teach estate planning to retirees at Sam's bookshop. When elderly Alva Tarkington, accompanied by her niece, sits down for a consultation, Sam realizes the woman’s blinking is actually S.O.S. in Morse Code. The sisters get her alone, and Alva tells them that her life is in danger and she must change her will. Alva is found dead the next day. In between penning her latest historical mystery, Sam teams up with Nana Jo and the senior sleuths to search for motives. They soon learn not everyone is who they say they are, and someone is more than qualified to teach a class on cold-blooded murder.
This story is a great cozy mystery and a fun read. I love Sam because she's inquisitive, nosey, and loves her family and will do anything for them. Her grandmother Nana Jo and her friends are great side characters who always makes me smile with their antics. The best part of reading this series is there's always a mystery within a mystery. Sam is a writer and a bookshop owner, so the plot always has two mysteries in it. One of them is the main mystery for the book and the other one is the mystery that Sam writes to help her solve the main mystery. I love how she can sort out what's going on through her writing. And the plot always keeps me guessing until the very end. I will definitely read more from this wonderful author. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
This story is a great cozy mystery and a fun read. I love Sam because she's inquisitive, nosey, and loves her family and will do anything for them. Her grandmother Nana Jo and her friends are great side characters who always makes me smile with their antics. The best part of reading this series is there's always a mystery within a mystery. Sam is a writer and a bookshop owner, so the plot always has two mysteries in it. One of them is the main mystery for the book and the other one is the mystery that Sam writes to help her solve the main mystery. I love how she can sort out what's going on through her writing. And the plot always keeps me guessing until the very end. I will definitely read more from this wonderful author. Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
January 29, 2026
I never get tired of Nana Jo’s friends from Shady Acres especially the incorrigible Irma and always get a huge laugh going when she starts to say something raunchy and everyone goes “Irma!” There were so many good ones in this book, loved ‘em all! Irma might be a little questionable in her actions, but she managed to get some good info for the case as they all did.
After two bodies, I still hadn’t guessed whodunit or let’s just say I was wrong. The showdown was awesome and super satisfying as to what happened to that nasty perp. But someone nice got a good ending which the lady who died would’ve been happy about. Oh and I loved the nod to New Bison, the other Michigan city in another of the author’s current series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
After two bodies, I still hadn’t guessed whodunit or let’s just say I was wrong. The showdown was awesome and super satisfying as to what happened to that nasty perp. But someone nice got a good ending which the lady who died would’ve been happy about. Oh and I loved the nod to New Bison, the other Michigan city in another of the author’s current series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
January 31, 2026
This author never disappoints!
This is a difficult review to write because many things about the book that I adore would spoil it if mentioned. I’m a sucker for books with identical twins. I’m a history buff and adore book stores. Burns serves up my favs so well.
The tie between the two books was clever.
I love the characters, but I always worry about losing one. I’m anticipating a death. Sad, but inevitable. I’m sure the author will skillfully handle it.
Stinky…I want to thump him…hard. Gah! He’s attracted someone and I’d love for her to sit me down and explain.
My thanks to the author for making me think and entertaining me.
This is a difficult review to write because many things about the book that I adore would spoil it if mentioned. I’m a sucker for books with identical twins. I’m a history buff and adore book stores. Burns serves up my favs so well.
The tie between the two books was clever.
I love the characters, but I always worry about losing one. I’m anticipating a death. Sad, but inevitable. I’m sure the author will skillfully handle it.
Stinky…I want to thump him…hard. Gah! He’s attracted someone and I’d love for her to sit me down and explain.
My thanks to the author for making me think and entertaining me.
January 19, 2026
This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series. Great characters with multi generations relating & interacting together with warmth & humour.
As always, a really well written mystery with the added bonus of the protagonist writing an historical mystery. Two mysteries for the price of one!
I highly recommend this series & look forward to reading further books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
As always, a really well written mystery with the added bonus of the protagonist writing an historical mystery. Two mysteries for the price of one!
I highly recommend this series & look forward to reading further books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
February 4, 2026
Another fantastic episode in the lives of Samantha, Nana Jo and the gals. I liked that this one was less repetitive on Samantha's previous life and the dogs weren't always being let out to pee. The trip to England was also a lovely story. I thoroughly recommend this series as a gentle cozy mystery series with a bunch of people who are lovely to spend some time with. I look forward to the next instalment.
February 24, 2026
I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed all of them. I think the idea of the book within a book is clever, although I have no interest in British historical cozies so I always skip those parts. The “real” story is the one that interests me, I love the characters and the plot in this one was especially good though I kind of figured out whodunnit early on as well as some other important details. Still a really good book. I love Nana Jo and the seniors!
February 14, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and VM Burns for providing me with a complimentary digital Murder from A to Z coming out January 27, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really love this author! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I haven’t read all the books in this series yet, but I really love it. I love that she’s a writer. I loved it!
I really love this author! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. I haven’t read all the books in this series yet, but I really love it. I love that she’s a writer. I loved it!
January 23, 2026
This series is by far one of my favorite series ever. I can’t wait till a new book comes out and they never disappoint!
This is a book that could be read as a stand alone but better if read from the beginning.
Always 5 stars!!
This is a book that could be read as a stand alone but better if read from the beginning.
Always 5 stars!!
February 20, 2026
Another great book in the series that I have read from the first one and get the new ones as soon as they come out. Love the cast of characters! This one had a good mystery and good English mystery to go with it.
March 1, 2026
The books in this series are always fast paced and hard to put down! I hope there will be many more of them!
And I'll say it again, I really wish the author would write the Wickfield Lodge mysteries as a separate series.
And I'll say it again, I really wish the author would write the Wickfield Lodge mysteries as a separate series.
February 1, 2026
Such a fun series and cast of characters. The mystery was good as it could have been several people. I also learned a little bit about art.
Looking forward to the next one!
Looking forward to the next one!
February 7, 2026
Fantastic read. Interesting twists in both stories. Love this series. Didn't see the ending coming.
March 1, 2026
One of my favorite authors.
March 11, 2026
Mystery right up to the end. Love her books.
April 14, 2026
https://openbooksociety.com/article/m...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Without exception, each cozy/historical mystery in this series is consistently better than the one prior! This gave me hours of pure enjoyment and suspense! Some of Sam’s (Samantha’s) big dreams have come true. As a relatively young widow, she is living the dream that she and her late husband nurtured. She owns a mystery bookstore, turned the huge loft into an apartment, and wrote and published the first in a series of historical British cozy mysteries. Sam never thought she could fall in love again. She and Frank, a restaurateur, will marry in two months.
Market Street Mysteries is growing into the pages of local readers. She also offers beneficial classes to the community. The current class offered the opportunity to learn about estate planning. Sam’s pit bull – uh, sister – Jenna is an attorney who is very knowledgeable about the subject, and is leading the class. Those attending include Sam’s grandmother, Nana Jo, and her friends from Shady Acres, a Senior living community where Nana Jo, Ruby, Dorothy, and Irma live. Frank, Sam’s fiancé, Jo, and her friends are like one big family, despite the age differences. The sense of community and kinship between the various ages is greatly appealing in this series.
One guest had her head bowed, seemingly out of it. After everyone left except the lady – Alva – and the woman who brought her there – Bethany – Alva looked up, caught Sam’s eye, and blinked, in Morse code, SOS. Sam caught on quickly and sent Jo take the younger woman with Alva out of the room. Alva began to interact as a fully functional woman, despite her earlier appearance. Alva needed help from Jenna, and handed her what she called an addendum to her will, to process urgently before “they” succeeded in killing her. This is one of the more poignant scenes in the book, the lengths Alva went to in order to alter her final wishes. Bethany was the wife of Carl, Alva’s great-nephew and only living relative. Jenna offered a free half-hour consult to Bethany and her husband, hoping to learn more about Alva and her potential killers.
Jenna and Sam went to Alva’s home the next morning, but Alva had died. Even before her body was removed, Carl and Bethany were trying desperately to find her will.
The detective with whom they helped find several murderers was on vacation. Brad “Stinky” Pitt, the king of ill-fitting polyester shirts and suits, caught the eye and heart of Frank’s mother, Dr. Camilla Patterson. She is a brilliant, stylish, renowned surgeon, and they were taking their vacation time together. In desperation, Sam called her future mother-in-law, who volunteered Brad’s help to them to get an autopsy done. Alva, a former artist, had been poisoned.
This excellent mystery kept me engaged from the first page, and my fascination grew from there. The case had many strands to follow, and plot twists were as dramatic as hairpin curves. Alva’s addendum opened much speculation among her heirs!
A second mystery enhances the present-day murder. Sam, whose first book baby was in the world, worked on her next novel. Writing fiction helped her clear her mind. This novel has its own mystery, set in England during WWII. Stolen paintings and murder were intriguing, especially in light of Alva’s estate.
The characters are a blast to follow! Sam, Nana Jo, and their friends from Shady Acres have a long history together. Their dry wit and vague resemblance to the Golden Girls gave this reader much to laugh at. Their love for each other and for solving mysteries is a treasure and an adventure. Each of the regulars could easily step off the page to “real life”. The short-term characters, including Alva, Bethany, and Carl, are described per their roles and become easily recognizable.
There was much more going on than Alva’s murder and inheritance. Sam found herself chatting with an FBI agent, an art appraiser, and the local museum owner, as well as the two ladies hired to help Alva. I was happy to figure out one tiny section of the puzzle while Sam did the heavy lifting to put everything together. There were definitely surprises of the depth of the deceptions. I am all-in for the next mystery in this series, and highly recommend this and others in the series!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Without exception, each cozy/historical mystery in this series is consistently better than the one prior! This gave me hours of pure enjoyment and suspense! Some of Sam’s (Samantha’s) big dreams have come true. As a relatively young widow, she is living the dream that she and her late husband nurtured. She owns a mystery bookstore, turned the huge loft into an apartment, and wrote and published the first in a series of historical British cozy mysteries. Sam never thought she could fall in love again. She and Frank, a restaurateur, will marry in two months.
Market Street Mysteries is growing into the pages of local readers. She also offers beneficial classes to the community. The current class offered the opportunity to learn about estate planning. Sam’s pit bull – uh, sister – Jenna is an attorney who is very knowledgeable about the subject, and is leading the class. Those attending include Sam’s grandmother, Nana Jo, and her friends from Shady Acres, a Senior living community where Nana Jo, Ruby, Dorothy, and Irma live. Frank, Sam’s fiancé, Jo, and her friends are like one big family, despite the age differences. The sense of community and kinship between the various ages is greatly appealing in this series.
One guest had her head bowed, seemingly out of it. After everyone left except the lady – Alva – and the woman who brought her there – Bethany – Alva looked up, caught Sam’s eye, and blinked, in Morse code, SOS. Sam caught on quickly and sent Jo take the younger woman with Alva out of the room. Alva began to interact as a fully functional woman, despite her earlier appearance. Alva needed help from Jenna, and handed her what she called an addendum to her will, to process urgently before “they” succeeded in killing her. This is one of the more poignant scenes in the book, the lengths Alva went to in order to alter her final wishes. Bethany was the wife of Carl, Alva’s great-nephew and only living relative. Jenna offered a free half-hour consult to Bethany and her husband, hoping to learn more about Alva and her potential killers.
Jenna and Sam went to Alva’s home the next morning, but Alva had died. Even before her body was removed, Carl and Bethany were trying desperately to find her will.
The detective with whom they helped find several murderers was on vacation. Brad “Stinky” Pitt, the king of ill-fitting polyester shirts and suits, caught the eye and heart of Frank’s mother, Dr. Camilla Patterson. She is a brilliant, stylish, renowned surgeon, and they were taking their vacation time together. In desperation, Sam called her future mother-in-law, who volunteered Brad’s help to them to get an autopsy done. Alva, a former artist, had been poisoned.
This excellent mystery kept me engaged from the first page, and my fascination grew from there. The case had many strands to follow, and plot twists were as dramatic as hairpin curves. Alva’s addendum opened much speculation among her heirs!
A second mystery enhances the present-day murder. Sam, whose first book baby was in the world, worked on her next novel. Writing fiction helped her clear her mind. This novel has its own mystery, set in England during WWII. Stolen paintings and murder were intriguing, especially in light of Alva’s estate.
The characters are a blast to follow! Sam, Nana Jo, and their friends from Shady Acres have a long history together. Their dry wit and vague resemblance to the Golden Girls gave this reader much to laugh at. Their love for each other and for solving mysteries is a treasure and an adventure. Each of the regulars could easily step off the page to “real life”. The short-term characters, including Alva, Bethany, and Carl, are described per their roles and become easily recognizable.
There was much more going on than Alva’s murder and inheritance. Sam found herself chatting with an FBI agent, an art appraiser, and the local museum owner, as well as the two ladies hired to help Alva. I was happy to figure out one tiny section of the puzzle while Sam did the heavy lifting to put everything together. There were definitely surprises of the depth of the deceptions. I am all-in for the next mystery in this series, and highly recommend this and others in the series!
November 1, 2025
Samantha's sister Jenna is giving a workshop at the bookstore to educate people to help them make decisions regarding wills and estates. When attendee Alva signals that she needs help, Jenna ends up adding an addendum to her will and within a few short days Alva is dead. Was Alva as lucid as she seemed to Sam and Jenna? Or was her family right about her? Who stands to inherit her sizable estate? And what is the deal with her nephew?
I really enjoyed the first few books in this series. Sam is a great MC and I love her family. The "girls," as they're so disrespectfully referred to, are also very charming. I also really enjoyed the story-within-the story set in 1930's England before the beginning of World War II. But as the series has progressed I've found less and less to sink my teeth into and this was perhaps my least favorite of the series so far (I did not read book 10).
There were so many holes in this book, some of which I just couldn't get past. First, the novels Sam is writing. Those have devolved into not much more than a list of dozens of names followed by a story that is essentially nonsense because I can't keep all the characters straight. I stopped reading that part because I have no clue who is who and what's happening is not relevant to the story (it's a story all its own but I can't follow it). There were also a number of red herrings in the book. Like, a lot. So many that pretty much everything in the book kind of turned out to be a red herring which meant that almost nothing that happened in the book was relevant at all. That doesn't work for me. There have to be clues, there have to be things that happen for a reason. You know, motive. And in the end no one had motive to do anything. I know who the killer was because that person pulls a gun at the end but as I reflect on what I read I can't figure out what that person's motive was.
In addition to this, there are mistakes in this book and in this entire series that I just can't get past. The ages of the characters is one I have harped on in every review I've written. Nana Jo (Sam's grandmother) is in her 70's, Sam has gone from being in her mid-40's to being somewhere in her 30's but she was also married for about two decades and her sister has kids who are in their 20's. It doesn't work. I also found the writing clunky, misused words (ex. someone is going to "where" an outfit), awkward sentences (someone is doing something as this is happening as that is happening as the other thing is happening, or something which is this which is that). And the entire premise of the mystery turns out in the end to be completely invalid (no spoilers).
All this being said, I keep coming back to this series. While it has some major issues, it's still a pretty fun read with some memorable characters. I skipped book 10 and I am unlikely to go back and read it, I don't know that I will read any further books in the series, and while I probably wouldn't prompt someone to start this series I certainly wouldn't discourage them from doing so. In light of this, I would give this book a solid three stars.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
I really enjoyed the first few books in this series. Sam is a great MC and I love her family. The "girls," as they're so disrespectfully referred to, are also very charming. I also really enjoyed the story-within-the story set in 1930's England before the beginning of World War II. But as the series has progressed I've found less and less to sink my teeth into and this was perhaps my least favorite of the series so far (I did not read book 10).
There were so many holes in this book, some of which I just couldn't get past. First, the novels Sam is writing. Those have devolved into not much more than a list of dozens of names followed by a story that is essentially nonsense because I can't keep all the characters straight. I stopped reading that part because I have no clue who is who and what's happening is not relevant to the story (it's a story all its own but I can't follow it). There were also a number of red herrings in the book. Like, a lot. So many that pretty much everything in the book kind of turned out to be a red herring which meant that almost nothing that happened in the book was relevant at all. That doesn't work for me. There have to be clues, there have to be things that happen for a reason. You know, motive. And in the end no one had motive to do anything. I know who the killer was because that person pulls a gun at the end but as I reflect on what I read I can't figure out what that person's motive was.
In addition to this, there are mistakes in this book and in this entire series that I just can't get past. The ages of the characters is one I have harped on in every review I've written. Nana Jo (Sam's grandmother) is in her 70's, Sam has gone from being in her mid-40's to being somewhere in her 30's but she was also married for about two decades and her sister has kids who are in their 20's. It doesn't work. I also found the writing clunky, misused words (ex. someone is going to "where" an outfit), awkward sentences (someone is doing something as this is happening as that is happening as the other thing is happening, or something which is this which is that). And the entire premise of the mystery turns out in the end to be completely invalid (no spoilers).
All this being said, I keep coming back to this series. While it has some major issues, it's still a pretty fun read with some memorable characters. I skipped book 10 and I am unlikely to go back and read it, I don't know that I will read any further books in the series, and while I probably wouldn't prompt someone to start this series I certainly wouldn't discourage them from doing so. In light of this, I would give this book a solid three stars.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
November 7, 2025
It's obviously been awhile since I've read this series but I felt at home again quickly. I liked the main characters of Samantha/Sam and her lawyer sister Jenna. The supporting cast is rather large, admittedly, but I took notes as needed and found myself able to connect relationships fairly easily. Boyfriend/fiance Frank Patterson seems to be not only a marvelous baker but capable of being scary to suspects, an interesting combo, especially when you toss in Frank's friend and former military buddy, Garrett, a sniper who has done "scary things". I think that means they were super spies or Seals or something akin to national security. The only thing that seems to frighten Garrett is Irma. Nope, not telling you why. You'll just have to read the book.
As for the murder, it begins with secret code being sent via eye blinks. Before any real response can be mustered, however, Alva Tarkington is dead and her family seems to be more interested in when they'll receive their inheritance than showing any sadness over her death. The only one who seems to have cared is Isabella, who plays an important role in the story. I'm not going to detail the plot further but will say it involves family drama, lots of it, art, shady business dealings, senior sleuths, the importance of estate planning, and, oh, yeah, the FBI gets involved. And lots of food. You'll pick up lots of info on art, especially painting, including art theft and forgery from as far back as World War II. Let's just say, Sam has her hands full sorting it all out.
Bottom line, despite having obviously missed a couple books, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's quite character driven and the regulars are well fleshed out. Nana Jo is definitely a force to be obeyed, that's for sure. And let's not forget Snickers and Oreo, the two now senior cats of the story. Thanks #KensingtonPress for the early peek and reminder to me that I need to catch up on reading. I always enjoy the two-for-one concept as we get Sam's current mystery strewn throughout the current one, a real plus. Rather cool to see a bit of Winston Churchill vs Neville Chamberlain's appeasement approaches.
As for the murder, it begins with secret code being sent via eye blinks. Before any real response can be mustered, however, Alva Tarkington is dead and her family seems to be more interested in when they'll receive their inheritance than showing any sadness over her death. The only one who seems to have cared is Isabella, who plays an important role in the story. I'm not going to detail the plot further but will say it involves family drama, lots of it, art, shady business dealings, senior sleuths, the importance of estate planning, and, oh, yeah, the FBI gets involved. And lots of food. You'll pick up lots of info on art, especially painting, including art theft and forgery from as far back as World War II. Let's just say, Sam has her hands full sorting it all out.
Bottom line, despite having obviously missed a couple books, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's quite character driven and the regulars are well fleshed out. Nana Jo is definitely a force to be obeyed, that's for sure. And let's not forget Snickers and Oreo, the two now senior cats of the story. Thanks #KensingtonPress for the early peek and reminder to me that I need to catch up on reading. I always enjoy the two-for-one concept as we get Sam's current mystery strewn throughout the current one, a real plus. Rather cool to see a bit of Winston Churchill vs Neville Chamberlain's appeasement approaches.
September 4, 2025
When Jenna conducts an estate planning workshop at the bookstore, she meets Alva and her niece-in-law, Bethany. Next morning when Samantha and her fiancée Frank drop by to check on Alva, they find she is dead. Sam, Frank, Jenna and the Shady Acres girls, Nana Jo, Dorothy, Ruby Mae and Irma jump in with both feet and all of their contacts because they are certain there is murder afoot!
We meet Isabella, a young Egyptian woman who appears to be the only person in the household truly mourning Alva's passing. It seems that Bethany, her husband Carl and nurse Marjorie are just waiting to see what they inherit. Carl is extremely interested in his inheritance as it appears he is being accused of embezzlement, while Bethany just wants to know how much she can get out of the estate when she divorces Carl!
Alva and her identical twin sister Zelda were both artists. Alva was a sculptor while Zelda was a painter, so artwork was definitely part of their legacy. With Detective Bradley "Stinky" Pitt on vacation for much of the story, he hands Sam off to FBI agent Warren Brown who is a specialist investigating an art theft ring. Of course, it is Sam and the girls who figure out what is going on and are involved in the take-down of the killer.
I always enjoy a return trip to North Harbor and the chance to catch up with the Shady Acres girls, but I really appreciate that we get a two-fer with these books. Along with the mystery the gang solves, Samantha shares the historical mystery she is writing with us. It's always fun to see what Lady Elizabeth and the Marsh family are involved in as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
We meet Isabella, a young Egyptian woman who appears to be the only person in the household truly mourning Alva's passing. It seems that Bethany, her husband Carl and nurse Marjorie are just waiting to see what they inherit. Carl is extremely interested in his inheritance as it appears he is being accused of embezzlement, while Bethany just wants to know how much she can get out of the estate when she divorces Carl!
Alva and her identical twin sister Zelda were both artists. Alva was a sculptor while Zelda was a painter, so artwork was definitely part of their legacy. With Detective Bradley "Stinky" Pitt on vacation for much of the story, he hands Sam off to FBI agent Warren Brown who is a specialist investigating an art theft ring. Of course, it is Sam and the girls who figure out what is going on and are involved in the take-down of the killer.
I always enjoy a return trip to North Harbor and the chance to catch up with the Shady Acres girls, but I really appreciate that we get a two-fer with these books. Along with the mystery the gang solves, Samantha shares the historical mystery she is writing with us. It's always fun to see what Lady Elizabeth and the Marsh family are involved in as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this latest installment of the Mystery Bookshop series. This is my first time actually reading in this series, but what I love is even though it’s book 11 in this series, it stands alone so you can drop in anywhere. You don’t have to read the other 10 in order to know what’s going on. I actually enjoyed the characters so much from Nana Jo and her crew to Frank and, of course, Samantha that I think I will go back and read from the top of the series just so I can get to know these characters even more in this world. Samantha and her sister Jenna, who is a lawyer, are hosting an estate planning seminar for her grandmother’s retirement community during that time at the shop. One of the ladies attending sends out a SOS saying that her family is trying to kill her for her money. And not only does she get Jenna to amend her will, but from there, not even a day or two later, she is dead. This story for me moves pretty fast, and what I also love is that since our main character Samantha is a published author too, we get to see her writing a story within this story too. What it seems like to me and is that her story that she is writing is heavily influenced by the case that is currently happening now that she is trying to crack. As she writes to me, it’s almost as if she is solving the mystery through her writing. By the end, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear to me too, but for a minute, I was unsure of the real culprit. We get a couple of plot twists as well too. That honestly will have you rethinking everything you thought you knew. So I really did enjoy this cozy mystery and will definitely be back. Thank you to NetGalley as well as Kensington for this ARC copy.
December 3, 2025
Nana Joe volunteers Jenna to host an estate planning session for the people at her retirement community. She also volunteer Sam to host it at the bookstore. But she didn’t volunteer them for WAS being involved and yet another murder mystery.
The woman from Shady acres retirement village, who attended the estate planning session had grabbed some time alone with Jenna and express that her family was trying to kill her and that she wanted to make a change to her will without their knowledge. The next day, the woman is dead, and not long after her soul heir, her late husband‘s nephew is also found murdered. Can Sam and Jenna along with the ladies at the retirement community solve the case? Or will the killer strike again, requiring Sam and Jenna to have their own estate plans carried out?
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The author makes me feel like every book that I read is a visit with friends. Snickers and Oreo are my favorite cozy mystery puppies. I also love that the author encloses another story within each and every book. What often follows the lines of the current mystery it also provides clues and thoughts into what might possibly be the answer to whodunit.
The woman from Shady acres retirement village, who attended the estate planning session had grabbed some time alone with Jenna and express that her family was trying to kill her and that she wanted to make a change to her will without their knowledge. The next day, the woman is dead, and not long after her soul heir, her late husband‘s nephew is also found murdered. Can Sam and Jenna along with the ladies at the retirement community solve the case? Or will the killer strike again, requiring Sam and Jenna to have their own estate plans carried out?
This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The author makes me feel like every book that I read is a visit with friends. Snickers and Oreo are my favorite cozy mystery puppies. I also love that the author encloses another story within each and every book. What often follows the lines of the current mystery it also provides clues and thoughts into what might possibly be the answer to whodunit.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love visiting the Mystery Bookshop and catching up with Samantha, Nanna Jo, Jenna, Ruby Mae, Dorothy, Irma and Frank. Each book feels like I’m visiting friends and I go along for an adventure.
Each one is different. This time a seminar about getting your life in order (wills and other legal paperwork) places Sam and Jenna in the path of a death that might be murder.
Alva Tarrington asks for help at the seminar to add an addendum to her will. It’s an addendum written on toilet paper. Curiouser and curiouser. The next day Sam and Jenna go to check on Alva, and she is dead.
There is a small pool of suspects and further events narrow the possibilities even more.
I enjoyed reading the book. What makes this series one of my favorites is that there are two mysteries in one. Sam is writing historical mysteries, so each book gives the reader a trip to the past. The characters in the past are becoming nearly as dear as the cast in the book.
Each book gets better. I’m not really in favor of reading this series as standalone or out of order. The Mystery Bookstore has maximum impact read in order. I recommend getting to know Sam and her mystery crew. You won’t regret it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for access to a pre-publication copy of the book.
Each one is different. This time a seminar about getting your life in order (wills and other legal paperwork) places Sam and Jenna in the path of a death that might be murder.
Alva Tarrington asks for help at the seminar to add an addendum to her will. It’s an addendum written on toilet paper. Curiouser and curiouser. The next day Sam and Jenna go to check on Alva, and she is dead.
There is a small pool of suspects and further events narrow the possibilities even more.
I enjoyed reading the book. What makes this series one of my favorites is that there are two mysteries in one. Sam is writing historical mysteries, so each book gives the reader a trip to the past. The characters in the past are becoming nearly as dear as the cast in the book.
Each book gets better. I’m not really in favor of reading this series as standalone or out of order. The Mystery Bookstore has maximum impact read in order. I recommend getting to know Sam and her mystery crew. You won’t regret it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for access to a pre-publication copy of the book.
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Murder from A to Z" by V.M. Burns, the latest in her Mystery Bookshop series.
They're back! Samantha Washington, her fiance Frank, her sister Jenna, Nanna Jo, Irma, and the whole gang are back in full force to investigate the suspicious death of an elderly woman whose Jenna was advising with regard to estate planning. One minute, Alva is asking Jenna and Sam to witness an addendum to her Will, and then - she's dead. Her family don't seem phased at all by her passing; in fact, her nephew is downright giddy at the prospect of his inheritance! The only real mourner is her late-in-life companion.
And then, death strikes again.
The story features a deep dive into the world of art, art forgeries and 'pentimento' - covering one artwork with another, with the view towards a future revelation.
There are multiple possible killers in this excellent addition to the series; as well, historical mystery writer lets us into the creation of her latest mystery, featuring Winston Churchill. Neville Chamberlain and a traitor in their midst.
Highly recommended as is the whole series.
They're back! Samantha Washington, her fiance Frank, her sister Jenna, Nanna Jo, Irma, and the whole gang are back in full force to investigate the suspicious death of an elderly woman whose Jenna was advising with regard to estate planning. One minute, Alva is asking Jenna and Sam to witness an addendum to her Will, and then - she's dead. Her family don't seem phased at all by her passing; in fact, her nephew is downright giddy at the prospect of his inheritance! The only real mourner is her late-in-life companion.
And then, death strikes again.
The story features a deep dive into the world of art, art forgeries and 'pentimento' - covering one artwork with another, with the view towards a future revelation.
There are multiple possible killers in this excellent addition to the series; as well, historical mystery writer lets us into the creation of her latest mystery, featuring Winston Churchill. Neville Chamberlain and a traitor in their midst.
Highly recommended as is the whole series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews