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Betrayal is Penned in Ink: An Irresistible Tale of Bookish Betrayal
Murder, Manuscripts, and a Nose for Trouble in Cedar Brook
When a famous editor keels over at a book signing with a poisoned pen and cryptic note in hand, bookshop owner Felicity Dawson’s quiet life in the literary town of Cedar Brook takes a deadly detour.
Once a bestselling author, Felicity now prefers tea over thrill—until the police suspect she’s hiding more than bookmarks behind the counter. With the help of Olivia—her neurodivergent assistant and an aspiring journalist with a sharp eye for detail—Felicity dusts off her sleuthing skills.
Their leads? A mysterious wine bottle, a ghostwriting contract gone wrong, and a quote that keeps “Every murderer is somebody’s friend.”
Throw in a foxglove-loving socialite, a shady editor with a scandalous secret, a café full of whispered theories, and a golden retriever with a nose for trouble—and Cedar Brook turns out to be anything but cozy.
If Felicity doesn’t solve the case soon, her story might end up shelved… permanently.
When a famous editor keels over at a book signing with a poisoned pen and cryptic note in hand, bookshop owner Felicity Dawson’s quiet life in the literary town of Cedar Brook takes a deadly detour.
Once a bestselling author, Felicity now prefers tea over thrill—until the police suspect she’s hiding more than bookmarks behind the counter. With the help of Olivia—her neurodivergent assistant and an aspiring journalist with a sharp eye for detail—Felicity dusts off her sleuthing skills.
Their leads? A mysterious wine bottle, a ghostwriting contract gone wrong, and a quote that keeps “Every murderer is somebody’s friend.”
Throw in a foxglove-loving socialite, a shady editor with a scandalous secret, a café full of whispered theories, and a golden retriever with a nose for trouble—and Cedar Brook turns out to be anything but cozy.
If Felicity doesn’t solve the case soon, her story might end up shelved… permanently.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2025
Spoilers.
Spoilers
Spoilers
This was a cover buy for me. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I think I love the blue and brown/gold/bronze colours - mostly because they remind me of Ravenclaw House.
This story involves a writer named Felicity Dawson and her college bound daughter Olivia who have moved to the small town of Cedar Brook (Probably in Washington state - because Seattle is just a short drive away) to make a new start.
Both are avid writers. Nothing published yet, but they did get involved in some kind of scandal. Olivia is also neuro-divergent and has a service dog named Rusty.
Felicity has opened a new shop called The Shelf and Scribe Bookshop. As part of the opening celebrations she has invited a famous author named Malcolm to a Book signing. Sadly he dies of Poison during the signing. Right in front of everyone. He was drinking a glass of wine.
To make things worse, it seems that the same scandal that Felicity and Olivia were previously involved with, has followed them to Cedar Brook. While felicity falls apart, Olivia sets about solving the mystery to keep her mother out of jail. There are 3 suspects. Felicities close friends, Vivian and Charlotte and Malcolms publisher Maxwell.
This is a debut novel, and it was actually very well written. The cover alone deserves 5 stars. The only reason I knocked this down to 4 stars, was because I spent the first few chapters being quite confused between Malcolm and Maxwell. Those 2 names sound alike to me, and I had trouble differentiating between them.
If one of those mens names had been different - and not started with an M or an N - I probably would have had no trouble and hence this book might have received the full 5 stars.
Spoilers
Spoilers
This was a cover buy for me. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I think I love the blue and brown/gold/bronze colours - mostly because they remind me of Ravenclaw House.
This story involves a writer named Felicity Dawson and her college bound daughter Olivia who have moved to the small town of Cedar Brook (Probably in Washington state - because Seattle is just a short drive away) to make a new start.
Both are avid writers. Nothing published yet, but they did get involved in some kind of scandal. Olivia is also neuro-divergent and has a service dog named Rusty.
Felicity has opened a new shop called The Shelf and Scribe Bookshop. As part of the opening celebrations she has invited a famous author named Malcolm to a Book signing. Sadly he dies of Poison during the signing. Right in front of everyone. He was drinking a glass of wine.
To make things worse, it seems that the same scandal that Felicity and Olivia were previously involved with, has followed them to Cedar Brook. While felicity falls apart, Olivia sets about solving the mystery to keep her mother out of jail. There are 3 suspects. Felicities close friends, Vivian and Charlotte and Malcolms publisher Maxwell.
This is a debut novel, and it was actually very well written. The cover alone deserves 5 stars. The only reason I knocked this down to 4 stars, was because I spent the first few chapters being quite confused between Malcolm and Maxwell. Those 2 names sound alike to me, and I had trouble differentiating between them.
If one of those mens names had been different - and not started with an M or an N - I probably would have had no trouble and hence this book might have received the full 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Chris Madison gave me the gift of reading again. I devoured every line of this small-town mystery, and I’m already hoping for the next one!
January 4, 2026
A gripping, emotionally charged read
Betrayal Is Penned in Ink by Chris Madison is a powerful story that pulls you in from the first pages and doesn’t let go. Madison’s writing is sharp and immersive, blending suspense with raw emotion in a way that feels both intense and authentic. The characters are well-developed, flawed, and believable, making their choices—and the consequences of those choices—hit even harder.
What really stands out is how the author explores betrayal, trust, and the lasting impact of secrets. The pacing keeps the story moving, while the emotional depth gives it weight beyond a typical thriller or drama. Each chapter adds another layer, keeping you guessing and invested until the end.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with tension, heart, and unexpected turns, this book is absolutely worth reading. I highly recommend it and look forward to seeing more from Chris Madison.
Betrayal Is Penned in Ink by Chris Madison is a powerful story that pulls you in from the first pages and doesn’t let go. Madison’s writing is sharp and immersive, blending suspense with raw emotion in a way that feels both intense and authentic. The characters are well-developed, flawed, and believable, making their choices—and the consequences of those choices—hit even harder.
What really stands out is how the author explores betrayal, trust, and the lasting impact of secrets. The pacing keeps the story moving, while the emotional depth gives it weight beyond a typical thriller or drama. Each chapter adds another layer, keeping you guessing and invested until the end.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with tension, heart, and unexpected turns, this book is absolutely worth reading. I highly recommend it and look forward to seeing more from Chris Madison.
October 10, 2025
After planning a book signing at their bookstore. Felicity, Olivia and Rusty begin investigating when the famous, author, editor and mentor falls ill. Was it murder? If so who was at fault? Can they figure it out?
April 23, 2026
This book needs a good editor. A paragraph in Chapter 5 that was repeated in Chapter 6. There was no explanation of Olivia's behavior, or why her dog was alert to any sign of stress. Reference was made some difficulty Felicity had in Seattle, but no explanation.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews