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Cranberry Creek Word Search Mystery #1
Murder Among the Stacks
A cozy mystery story combined with themed word search puzzles creates an interactive and charming whodunit experience in this fun new format that invites you to solve the case as you uncover clues.
Abby Jones has it all figured out: moving to Cranberry Creek will give her the fresh start she needs. From opening her brand-new bookstore on Main Street to learning to love her busybody landlady, Myrna, to spending her time on her favorite cozy hobby (word searches!), Abby has her hands full. But when a famous author is mysteriously murdered at her bookstore’s opening event, her new future is at stake. It’s up to Abby, with the help of some new friends, to solve the case.
Abby Jones has it all figured out: moving to Cranberry Creek will give her the fresh start she needs. From opening her brand-new bookstore on Main Street to learning to love her busybody landlady, Myrna, to spending her time on her favorite cozy hobby (word searches!), Abby has her hands full. But when a famous author is mysteriously murdered at her bookstore’s opening event, her new future is at stake. It’s up to Abby, with the help of some new friends, to solve the case.
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2025
About the author
Rosie A. Point
147 books691 followersRosie A. Point is a USA Today Bestselling cozy mystery author who loves writing about food, small towns, and cats. Her favorite books are ones you can snuggle up with under a cozy blanket on a winter's day. Born and raised in South Africa, her books are all set in small towns in the United States. She dreams of visiting the places she writes about in her books.
Rosie wants to hear from you. Whether it’s about a recipe or one of her books, you can contact her on her website. Join her reader club today!
https://www.rosiepointbooks.com/
Rosie wants to hear from you. Whether it’s about a recipe or one of her books, you can contact her on her website. Join her reader club today!
https://www.rosiepointbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
May 21, 2026
This is more of a puzzle word search workbook than a mystery novel. I thought that the word searches were going to provide clues to ultimately help you solve the murder, but that wasn't the case (except for the very last one, where you find the murderer's name). It was more mindless fun for doing puzzles.
Each 'chapter' is less than a page long (honestly just a few paragraphs), followed by a word search for themed words found in that chapter. There really is very little writing and no character development. Perhaps I would have been less disappointed if I had understood more of what I was getting into, but I definitely bought this book because of the hype I'd seen online (definitely my mistake).
Each 'chapter' is less than a page long (honestly just a few paragraphs), followed by a word search for themed words found in that chapter. There really is very little writing and no character development. Perhaps I would have been less disappointed if I had understood more of what I was getting into, but I definitely bought this book because of the hype I'd seen online (definitely my mistake).
May 14, 2026
The mystery wasn’t anything challenging, and the writing was fine. I was more here for the coziness of reading a chapter of a book accompanied by a word search and so on. I’ll definitely continue on in the series for the simple fact that this is a relaxing hobby and a fun way to incorporate reading and brain games! 👏
December 8, 2025
2.5 stars. You should be aware that this is a word search book, with a small side of story. The story is pretty basic, not written particularly well, and feels like a missed opportunity. This would have really shined if it had been a better story with longer chapters, and then the word searches could have provided clues or added to the story in some way. But they are merely just key words taken from the previous paragraph or two, which are masquerading as a "chapter." The story jumps from scene to scene with no connectivity. Conversations just end, even when there's plenty of space on the page to add more. Like I said, it feels like a big missed opportunity.
February 18, 2026
The idea is great. However, the chapters should be more detailed. The mystery was too easy. I honestly guessed who the murderer probably was when that character was introduced. To be fair, I've read innumerable murder mysteries and saw all the stereotypes going. The word searches are fun, but too many and too long. I'd love to have them as clues, but not in my opinion, almost overwhelming. And honestly, I like word searches, but not every other page for 50 one-page chapters, at 30 words a pop. Again, a great concept, but maybe 25 chapters, 2-3 pages, and then 25 more meaty word searches.
February 21, 2026
Murder Among the Stacks was a fun read that blends together a cozy mystery story with word search puzzles.
Abby Jones is ready to start over after her last relationship ended in disaster, but after moving to Cranberry Creek and opening a bookstore, life is looking up. At least it was until the famous author doing a signing at the store drops dead in the middle of the event. With the whole town convinced she's a murderer, Abby will need to solve this mystery quickly before she winds up in jail for a crime she didn't commit.
The mystery in Murder Among the Stacks was enjoyable though I did figure out who the killer was fairly early on as it wasn't hard to guess. With the store closed due to being a crime scene, Abby has all the free time in the world to devote to solving Brooke's murder and I enjoyed watching her chase leads while trying to clear her name. The story is very short so everything moves along at a pretty good pace which the short chapters definitely helped with. There were a few different suspects Abby focused on and I liked that each had their own reasons for wanting Brooke out of the picture. The ending was a bit dramatic but it fit with the overall tone of the story and I was happy with how everything turned out.
The format of this book, a story with word searches alongside it, sounded pretty interesting so I was looking forward to seeing how exactly it would work. Each chapter is one page long and is accompanied by a word search with the words being related to the chapter you just read. Then near the end of the story, there's a scramble puzzle within the word search that reveals the killer's identity. I thought that was a really neat way to make the story interactive and I enjoyed the word search puzzles. In addition to the word searches, the chapters also features illustrations with the majority being of Reggie, Abby's orange cat, and the rest being something relevant the the chapter. There are social media posts, news articles, pages from books, newspaper headlines, and more. This was a fun addition that I really liked (it helped that the cat is super adorable).
Overall Murder Among the Stacks was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Murder by Muffin, sometime soon.
Abby Jones is ready to start over after her last relationship ended in disaster, but after moving to Cranberry Creek and opening a bookstore, life is looking up. At least it was until the famous author doing a signing at the store drops dead in the middle of the event. With the whole town convinced she's a murderer, Abby will need to solve this mystery quickly before she winds up in jail for a crime she didn't commit.
The mystery in Murder Among the Stacks was enjoyable though I did figure out who the killer was fairly early on as it wasn't hard to guess. With the store closed due to being a crime scene, Abby has all the free time in the world to devote to solving Brooke's murder and I enjoyed watching her chase leads while trying to clear her name. The story is very short so everything moves along at a pretty good pace which the short chapters definitely helped with. There were a few different suspects Abby focused on and I liked that each had their own reasons for wanting Brooke out of the picture. The ending was a bit dramatic but it fit with the overall tone of the story and I was happy with how everything turned out.
The format of this book, a story with word searches alongside it, sounded pretty interesting so I was looking forward to seeing how exactly it would work. Each chapter is one page long and is accompanied by a word search with the words being related to the chapter you just read. Then near the end of the story, there's a scramble puzzle within the word search that reveals the killer's identity. I thought that was a really neat way to make the story interactive and I enjoyed the word search puzzles. In addition to the word searches, the chapters also features illustrations with the majority being of Reggie, Abby's orange cat, and the rest being something relevant the the chapter. There are social media posts, news articles, pages from books, newspaper headlines, and more. This was a fun addition that I really liked (it helped that the cat is super adorable).
Overall Murder Among the Stacks was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Murder by Muffin, sometime soon.
September 4, 2026
As others have said, this is a wordsearch book with the story on the side as a secondary element.
The chapters were far too short to be meaningful, and more like vignettes that cut off abruptly and skipped to the next thing.
It actually felt jarring to read a page and then have to do a wordsearch so quickly, it took me longer to do the wordsearches than read the chapters which weren't memorable enough to be so stop and start. I actually gave up on doing the wordsearches just to get some semblance of a linear story.
The killer reveal wordsearch was also mostly unnecessary as there was only ever one person whose name could have been revealed following the hint as there were no other letters that would correspond to another person's name so there was no excitement to filling it out to find the killer.
Overall, this book greatly suffers from it's shortness and failing to live up to it's hype and concept. If there had been longer, more memorable chapters and less word searches (This was a 50/50 split in a book that was less than 100 pages, so you really only get approx. 50 pages of story) it would have been far better and potentially enjoyable.
This had been optioned as a book for my book club previously but we weren't able to get hold of it at the time, probably a heaven send because I would have been embarrassed to present this to my friends as a book club pick.
The chapters were far too short to be meaningful, and more like vignettes that cut off abruptly and skipped to the next thing.
It actually felt jarring to read a page and then have to do a wordsearch so quickly, it took me longer to do the wordsearches than read the chapters which weren't memorable enough to be so stop and start. I actually gave up on doing the wordsearches just to get some semblance of a linear story.
The killer reveal wordsearch was also mostly unnecessary as there was only ever one person whose name could have been revealed following the hint as there were no other letters that would correspond to another person's name so there was no excitement to filling it out to find the killer.
Overall, this book greatly suffers from it's shortness and failing to live up to it's hype and concept. If there had been longer, more memorable chapters and less word searches (This was a 50/50 split in a book that was less than 100 pages, so you really only get approx. 50 pages of story) it would have been far better and potentially enjoyable.
This had been optioned as a book for my book club previously but we weren't able to get hold of it at the time, probably a heaven send because I would have been embarrassed to present this to my friends as a book club pick.
November 15, 2025
After a bad breakup with her boyfriend, Abby Jones moves to the small town of Cranberry Creek where she plans to open a bookstore. She even has a ginger cat named Reggie who loves to lie in the sun at the bookstore. Everything is going well until her first author signing takes place and the author suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances. All eyes turn towards Abby as the guilty party.
Abby is desperate to find the real killer. She has no intentions of spending the rest of her life behind bars.
This is a fun, quick mystery. It’s a great way to spend an hour or so. The problem I had with this book is the format. After each chapter (which are extremely short), there is a word search puzzle and clues to help you figure out “whodunit”.
I love word search puzzles and this could have been so much fun and unique, if it weren’t in e-book format. This type of book would have worked much better in a print version. Still, this is a good mystery and I love the interactive format, just not as an e-book. This is one time when the old fashion paper would have worked much better.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Abby is desperate to find the real killer. She has no intentions of spending the rest of her life behind bars.
This is a fun, quick mystery. It’s a great way to spend an hour or so. The problem I had with this book is the format. After each chapter (which are extremely short), there is a word search puzzle and clues to help you figure out “whodunit”.
I love word search puzzles and this could have been so much fun and unique, if it weren’t in e-book format. This type of book would have worked much better in a print version. Still, this is a good mystery and I love the interactive format, just not as an e-book. This is one time when the old fashion paper would have worked much better.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2026
Si ignoras las sopa de letras, lees la historia y solo haces el que te dice quién es el asesino. Te lo vas a disfrutar! Me encantan las sopas de letras pero hacer una después de leer una página, me estaba poniendo mala. El misterio fue bien simple pero me gustó.
3.75
3.75
August 15, 2025
Ebook ARC received via NetGalley. Many thanks!
This was my first time reading a book that combines a cozy mystery with puzzles, and wow, it was so, sooo, soooo fun!
At just about 100 pages, it’s a quick read, but it packs plenty of charm: small-town vibes, a quirky landlady, a bookstore opening, and… oh yes… a murder to solve. I loved that the puzzles are seamlessly tied into the story, making you feel like you’re actively part of solving the case. The mystery itself fits perfectly into the cozy genre ... light, engaging, and full of that amateur sleuth spirit. And, lets not forget about Sir Reginald Cattingon the Third. He is the awesome-est.
If you love word searches, cozy mysteries, and a touch of interactivity, this is such a delightful pick. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more in this format!
This was my first time reading a book that combines a cozy mystery with puzzles, and wow, it was so, sooo, soooo fun!
At just about 100 pages, it’s a quick read, but it packs plenty of charm: small-town vibes, a quirky landlady, a bookstore opening, and… oh yes… a murder to solve. I loved that the puzzles are seamlessly tied into the story, making you feel like you’re actively part of solving the case. The mystery itself fits perfectly into the cozy genre ... light, engaging, and full of that amateur sleuth spirit. And, lets not forget about Sir Reginald Cattingon the Third. He is the awesome-est.
If you love word searches, cozy mysteries, and a touch of interactivity, this is such a delightful pick. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more in this format!
September 17, 2026
This was such a fun book! Wordsearch AND cozy murder mystery. I immediately ordered the next two in the series.
November 19, 2025
4.5 stars
This is such a fun book! It includes a light cozy mystery story with fifty short chapters that end on mini-cliffhangers. The main character, Abby Jones, has moved to the small town of Cranberry Creek, Wisconsin for a fresh start. She's excited to open a bookstore, but during the grand opening event, the visiting author dies a very unnatural death and Abby becomes the prime suspect. The local sheriff doesn't seem to be looking at anyone but her, so she starts her own investigation.
Abby loves word search puzzles and uses a similar approach to evaluate clues she has gathered about Brooke's death. While Sheriff Swift is not Abby's favorite person, there is a spark between her and the sheriff's handsome deputy Nathan. The characters and plot are not complex, but the book is really fun. What makes it different is that at the end of each of the chapters, there is a word search puzzle with words related to the chapter. I'm glad I had a print copy of the book so I could work the puzzles. There are also cute illustrations, online posts, and newspaper headlines throughout the book. The identity of the killer is revealed in a fun way in one of the last chapters.
I received a gifted copy of this book from Adams Media, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is such a fun book! It includes a light cozy mystery story with fifty short chapters that end on mini-cliffhangers. The main character, Abby Jones, has moved to the small town of Cranberry Creek, Wisconsin for a fresh start. She's excited to open a bookstore, but during the grand opening event, the visiting author dies a very unnatural death and Abby becomes the prime suspect. The local sheriff doesn't seem to be looking at anyone but her, so she starts her own investigation.
Abby loves word search puzzles and uses a similar approach to evaluate clues she has gathered about Brooke's death. While Sheriff Swift is not Abby's favorite person, there is a spark between her and the sheriff's handsome deputy Nathan. The characters and plot are not complex, but the book is really fun. What makes it different is that at the end of each of the chapters, there is a word search puzzle with words related to the chapter. I'm glad I had a print copy of the book so I could work the puzzles. There are also cute illustrations, online posts, and newspaper headlines throughout the book. The identity of the killer is revealed in a fun way in one of the last chapters.
I received a gifted copy of this book from Adams Media, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
June 28, 2026
I went into it thinking it would be a bit more than just word searches and it wasn't, but that's completely my bad. So let me tell you what it's like so this doesn't happen to you too. You get a single page of story on one side and on the other you get a word search with words from the part of the story you just read. In one of the last word searches you get to unscramble letters to reveal the killer's name, and that's really the only sleuthing you get to do. All in all, it was a decent story and a good way to pass the time. I'll continue with the books eventually.
August 25, 2026
Fun, different.
Did as a couple while making dinners this summer.
The story/writing were not exceptional. However, the combo of the word search activities reinforcing story after each chapter felt fun and unique. Chapter length could have been longer.
Did as a couple while making dinners this summer.
The story/writing were not exceptional. However, the combo of the word search activities reinforcing story after each chapter felt fun and unique. Chapter length could have been longer.
October 10, 2026
I thought this book would be connected to the word searches in the book, but it really was just like a reading comprehension book for kids. The story was pretty boring, and so were the characters, which is why it took me 2 months to finish it...
February 22, 2026
I honestly just love word searches lmao
July 21, 2026
The story here is very predictable, but the idea to include a puzzle to solve between each chapter is clever and different.
July 27, 2026
5⭐️ my favorite type of book!
September 5, 2026
This was such a cute idea, but i ended up not enjoying the word searches breaking up the story so much. I thought I would like it, but I didn’t. It was a cute story, but because of the word searches there really was no character development. Again - I thought I wouldn’t mind that, but I did.
September 5, 2026
Hmm niet helemaal wat ik had verwacht. Ik dacht door de woordzoekers te maken krijg je hints, maar nee het waren gewoon woorden die te maken hadden met het verhaal. 1 hoofdstuk was 1 bladzijde en dan een woordzoeker. Dit werd wat veel vooral omdat er je verder niks kreeg, je moest het gewoon maken. Er zit 1 woordzoeker bij waar je een hint vind. Het idee verhaal en puzzel vind ik erg leuk, maar deze uitwerking vond ik minder.
September 8, 2026
Since I love the murder mystery genre & enjoy word searches, I thought this book would be a match made in heaven. Sadly, this is NOT a compatible combination...at least as currently written/presented in this particular book. The "chapters" are too short & completing the word search after reading the text breaks up the flow too much. As others said in other reviews, I would have liked more of a challenge...both in terms of trying to solve the murder mystery on my own as well as the word search revealing extra clues. Based on this experience, I won't be reading any other books in this series.
September 15, 2026
This was a fun change of pace. I love cozy mysteries, I love bookstores, and I love word search puzzles. The only thing I would change is to have the word search puzzles add to the story in some way - like add clues to the mystery. I would read/do another one of these books in the future.
September 28, 2026
The story is predictable and pretty cheesy, but it’s a cute little book and I love a good crossword puzzle.
Did Not Finish
October 9, 2026Швидко набридає, одноманітно
January 9, 2026
Enjoyed how the story and word searches were paired!
January 17, 2026
Story itself was 🤷🏻♀️ but the word searches definitely made it fun.
April 8, 2026
Not a cozy mystery person, but this was just what I needed during my recovery from surgery. A little story, a little puzzling, a perfect mix.
September 28, 2026
Cozy mystery novel with fun word search. Really enjoyed the word search. Im so old.
December 12, 2025
In this book we follow Abby, who has just opened a bookstore in Cranberry Creek. On the day of the opening, the famous author is murdered during a book signing. The book is set up so that you get one page of text and then a word search puzzle.
First of all, I thought the story was fun, though not high-quality literature. I did feel that the characters were well portrayed in the small village of Cranberry Creek. The book is beautifully designed, with lovely illustrations. Lastly, I would have liked it if there were more word search puzzles where you could actually solve the murder yourself. Now there is one word search in which you find out who the murderer is, but I would have found it more fun if we had come across clues throughout the book.
All in all, a fun palate cleanser, and I’m curious about the second book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-arc of this book
First of all, I thought the story was fun, though not high-quality literature. I did feel that the characters were well portrayed in the small village of Cranberry Creek. The book is beautifully designed, with lovely illustrations. Lastly, I would have liked it if there were more word search puzzles where you could actually solve the murder yourself. Now there is one word search in which you find out who the murderer is, but I would have found it more fun if we had come across clues throughout the book.
All in all, a fun palate cleanser, and I’m curious about the second book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-arc of this book
October 1, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ for the story itself
5 ⭐️ for the word searches and concept!
5 ⭐️ for the word searches and concept!
March 26, 2026
The mystery wasn't that great, however the mixture of the murder and the wordsearch was such a treat! Will be continuing the series 🌿
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews