A Very Novel Murder

Novel Detectives Mystery #1

by Ellie Alexander

Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.

June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.

As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.

With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?

Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton, this charming cozy mystery is brimming with small-town secrets and bookish charm that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, American

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website at: http://www.elliealexander.co/ or following her on social media—
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_alexa...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliealexande...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elliealexande...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliealexand...
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/elliealexan...

Reviews

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

January 20th: Happy Publication day!! I am a day late reposting for that🤦🏼‍♀️. Whoops! 🎊🎊🎊 this book it out now!

7/10: 3.5⭐️’s rounded up, I think? So badly wish for half stars…first whine of the new year!! I feel so inaccurate sometimes when I am really set on ‘this is a half star book’, rounding either way doesn’t seem right.
Thoughts to come.
(1/2/26)

This is the first book of a series, but apparently has a continuation of at least the main female character (so I am guessing several secondary characters as well) in a different series. You don’t have to read that series first; but I think it would have been helpful to me for character background and development.

Accident, suicide, or murder (isn’t that the name of some crime tv show?)? That is what Annie and Fletcher, owners of Secret Bookcase and their new detective agency, Novel Detectives, are hired to figure out. Nosy neighbor, June, hires them to find out what happened to Kelly, up and coming surfer, who was found dead in her bathtub.

A lot of things felt familiar from reading/listening to other cozy mysteries with bookstores or libraries as a main hub for the crime solvers. It felt like pieces of other cozies put together. The ending was a bit obvious to me. The main characters were very likeable and I wish I had known about the previous series ahead of time and read/listened to those first. I finished this book a couple of days ago and was leaning towards rounding up, but now, I think I am headed towards rounding down. All of those familiar pieces felt too familiar, I guess, to really stand out for me. 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts are my own. I love the read aloud option.

Rating and thoughts posted: 1/3/26

Publication date: January 20, 2026.

Reposted for publication date (a day late 🤦🏼‍♀️): 1/21/26

[Heather Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie and Fletcher have their own detective agency in this new series, but if you didn’t meet them in the Secret Bookcase books, you can easily jump in here. This small town cozy mystery satisfies. It has the lengthy environmental descriptions of rooms, food, etc that you’d expect. I wished for a faster setup to start the solving, but maybe that’s because I already knew everyone. I like that Hal’s backstory will be woven through future books because the supporting cast is charming. All set for the next one!

I received an arc from NetGalley

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander is the first book in the Novel Detectives Mystery series. Annie Murray and her partner Fletcher have openned their detective agency above their mystery bookstore, the Secret Bookshelf, and are hired by their elderly neighbour June to investigate the death of young champion surfer Kelly, who drowned in her bathtuib after ingesting sleeping pills, and who June believes was murdered. This is a spin off the Secret Bookcase series, and it is nice to get reacquainted with the characters. They are also looking into an Agatha Christie related mystery for their former boss Hal who believes he may be related to her. Fletcher is a huge Sherlockian scholar and fan and it was interesting in how Sherlock Holmes quotes and methods played into the mystery. An interecting and fun mystery.

[Chelsey x · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive this ARC as I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret Bookcase Mysteries series and was intrigued to see how Annie and Fletcher got on with opening their own detective agency.

I rated this book 4.25 🌟 . I find this authors writing to be so descriptive and it felt like I was in Redwood Grove with them all (and oh my goodness did I really want some of the food they were eating!). I really enjoy the romance between Annie and Liam - it definitely adds to the story in my opinion.

Spoilers:

I am usually pretty good at figuring out the mysteries but I didn't figure this one out until the same time Annie and Fletcher did which I enjoyed (it can be boring always knowing who the killer is fairly early on!). I loved that the author wrote a book with this person as the killer, it is something I have not seen before and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I can't wait for the next in the series and to be trying to figure out whatever mystery they have to solve next alongside them! I enjoyed the backstory with Hal as well and assume that will continue into the next book!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pallavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

objectively not a great book, but a 5 star read for me :-)

[Kassyreadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: A Very Novel Murder

Author: Ellie Alexander

Synopsis: Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.

June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.

As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.

With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?

Review: While browsing online I stumbled upon this wonderful book with the coziest cover! I had to pick it up! I’m so glad I read this when I did! Despite the fact that it is a spin off series it didn’t deter me from reading it! I found this incredibly charming and intriguing! I loved the twists and turns that happened! I was very surprised when the killer was revealed! The crime was very well thought and I couldn’t guess who it was! It was so delightful and I’m excited for the next book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book!

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love an Ellie Alexander mystery! Yes, she writes cozy mysteries, but her mysteries are always so good and pack a nice little punch. It is nice to be back in Redwood Grove with Annie and her friends. I've been following Annie since the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series and it is nice to see how far she has gotten. Just like all the others, I enjoyed this cozy mystery. This one was different, but still great and I cannot wait to see where Annie goes next!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for this read!

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate giving books bad reviews, but some things are just bad. For me this book was one of them.

Look, I get that this is a cozy and there are some aspects you understand and accept with the genre, but when the main character is trying to start a private investigation business - even in a small town - you expect SOME professionalism.

So when the main character goes out for dinner with her boyfriend and and several other friends immediately after meeting with a new client and proceeds to share every detail of information the client provided about the case with her friends in the restaurant I was out.

I don't care how small the town is. Even if everyone in town knows about the death you're looking into, repeating everything your client told you to your friends over dinner in a restaurant is just not okay. Any interest or respect I had for the main character her vanished with that scene.

I'm moving on.

[Lori Leaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new spinoff off series, The Novel Detective. I have not read the original series but had no problem getting to know the characters, even if I didn’t know their full history.

The main character Annie has opened up a new private detective agency with her friend Fletcher. Their first case is from an elderly lady who is positive her neighbors accidental drowning was no accident.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters and setting. The victim, Kelly, had a lot of suspicion connected to her which made the investigation interesting, especially as the culprit and Novato’s were revealed. Overall it was good with multiple mysteries going on but I just don’t love it as much as I do the authors other series.

[Dede · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of this series. I loved the characters and the storyline. I thought it was well written as always by Ellie Alexander. I liked that it was set with books! I would definitely recommend this book.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The synopsis sounded like it would be a good read but sadly for me I didn’t find it gripping enough to fully engage with the book and found myself more skim reading it to get to the more interesting/relevant parts.

[Unfiltered BookTok✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouuu, this was a twisty and cozy little whodunnit it. Definitely enjoyed it. I love how this is so typical for serial killers to infuse themselves into the investigation but because the suspect is an old lady you would never guess that it’s actually her. Plenty of other suspects and motives. Loved this!

ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had such a good time with this one! I was easily pulled into this clever, twisty mystery that kept me guessing and fully invested in the story. The writing was warm and inviting, and the pacing struck a perfect balance between intrigue and character interactions. Even though I suspect these characters have appeared in at least one earlier book, I never felt lost. This author gave just enough detail to make me feel at home in their world. I found myself genuinely caring about what happened to them. The romantic relationship added a sweet layer to the story.



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I did feel like there was a flood of characters introduced early on. There were so many names and faces that I occasionally had to pause to figure out who was who. Once I adjusted, though, it added to the richness of the story rather than detracting from it. By the time the plot hit full stride, I was completely absorbed and caught myself laughing at the quirky moments, racing through the twists, and marveling at how cleverly it all came together.






This book made me forget the world outside for a few hours and left me satisfied and smiling when the final page was turned. Overall, this was a charming, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable read.


Single POV
Safe very light on the romance
Triggers touches on the possibility of drug use/sales

[Giada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, this book has one of the coziest covers I've seen in a while, and that was enough to make me want to request an early copy. Also, if you mixed a bookstore, a small town, and a mystery, I'm sold. The premise sounded really promising, and I went into it genuinely excited.

If I had to describe the essence of the book, I’d say it reminded me a lot of Murder, She Wrote mixed with Aurora Teagarden, two shows I absolutely love. The book leans heavily into descriptions, and for the most part, that worked for me. It felt very atmospheric and cozy, especially the bookstore setting, which again I adored. Honestly, working in a place like that feels like a dream.
The small-town setting was also really charming. Annie has a sweet circle of friends and a supportive (and handsome) boyfriend, and everything about her life feels picture-perfect.
The mystery itself was enjoyable to follow. There were a few interesting twists, even if some parts were a bit predictable. I did like the open ending (the murder is solved, don't worry), and it definitely made me curious about what comes next in the series.
The only downside for me was realizing too late that this is a spin-off of another series. I could feel that history while reading, especially when past cases or relationships are mentioned. I kept wishing I had that context, because I would’ve loved to see how certain friendships and dynamics were built from the beginning.
At the end, it’s very much a “curl up with a blanket” kind of mystery book. And, if you’re a reader who enjoys Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, give it a try.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Some of my favorite quotes:

"There was something innately special about being a tiny part of a reader discovering a new book that would hopefully transport them to a far-off corner of the world or help them uncover an untouched part of themselves in the pages."

"I'd always believed that books have the power to create points of understanding in ways that nothing else could. Opening pages yellowed from the years, and venturing into an author's head was the only time we ever had an opportunity to see things from someone else's viewpoint. If that wasn't magic, I didn't know what was."

"You couldn't judge a book by its cover, or a reader by the book."

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Very Novel Murder is the first entry in a new series by Ellie Alexander, a spin-off of her Secret Bookcase one. I wasn’t aware of this until I was a few chapters in, but I didn’t have any trouble following it. In this new chapter, Annie Murray and her friend Fletcher have achieved their dream and opened a detective agency above their mystery-themed bookshop. When an elderly lady asks them to look into the apparent accident/suicide of a young and promising surfer, they must emulate their favorite fictional detectives and put their little grey cells to work to uncover the truth behind it.

This is a cozy mystery by numbers and has all the elements you’d expect from this kind of book: a likeable main character, a quirky setting, and a bunch of suspects who all could have done the dirty deed, helped along by a couple of red herrings per chapter. It’s a fun, fast-paced mystery, perfect for reading between heavier books or during a cold autumn/winter day, wrapped in your favorite throw and with a cup of your favorite hot drink. But while it was entertaining and kept my attention, it’s best not to think too hard about the plausibility of the crime or the motives behind it, as they’re flimsy at best.

All in all, it’s a decent cozy read that pays homage to some mystery classics by Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie (I can’t wait to see where that plot arc goes) and a perfect introduction to the Secret Bookcase world.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, we are off and running in this new series by Ellie Alexander, the Novel Detectives series, I need to be honest, I have no idea why this is a new series because it takes off where the Secret Bookcase series ended with literally no changes in setting, characters and intention. Yes, Annie and Fletcher are now "officially " open as private investigators, but they still are running the bookstore and investigating as much as they did in the past. Anyway, after a couple of weeks officially open, the duo get two cases to start their business in ernest. This book concentrates on the one where an elderly lady believes the young woman who she has befriended and lives across the street was murdered not dying in an accident and she hires Annie and Fletcher to get her answers. This tale has an interesting twist and definitely had me turning the pages. The second mystery looks like it will continue through a couple of books. I was glad to be able to spend more time with Annie, Fletcher, and the whole gang. Thanks to #Netgally, #StormPublishing, and the author for an opportunity to read! ?#AVeryNovelMurder #NovelMurderMysteries #EllieAlexander #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Novel Murder is a spin-off of Ellie Alexander’s Secret Bookcase series. It features the same characters and setting, but focuses on Annie and Fletcher as they open their very own detective agency above the bookshop.

As soon as they are officially in business, Novel Detectives lands two new investigations. One is looking into a brooch with links to Agatha Christie herself and the second is reevaluating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a young surfer. I was incredibly invested in this main case. It involved numerous suspicious suspects and tons of clues to sort through. I loved Annie’s investigative techniques and how she worked alongside the local police department in an amiable way. I was completely blindsided when the culprit was finally revealed and creeped out over the discovery in the victim’s apartment.

I’d recommend at least reading the first book in the Secret Bookcase series to get better introduced to these characters and their back stories. Especially since it involves the assumed revelation of Hal’s birth mother and Annie often references the death of her dear friend that is explained in more depth there.

I look forward to watching this series rapidly grow - the next three books all come out this year with a release in April, July and October!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life.

[Joyce De Bruin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book you follow Annie and Fletcher. The newly own the secret bookcase (a bookstore) and started their own agency named the detective agency. They get approached by a sweet old lady named June. June wants to hire them to investigate the murder of June’s neighbour, Kelly. Kelly has been found dead in her bathtub and the police thinks it’s suicide. But June is convinced she was murder and she wants Annie and Fletcher to figure out who the murderer is.


At the first part of the book it’s was a little to slow paste for me. It wasn’t that that made the book bad it just felt like it took me a long time to get to the ‘good’ part. There wasn’t a lot happening but once the paste got picked up I was really enjoying it. I had a gut feeling about the ending but I wasn’t 100% sure and I wasn’t totally right. I do wish we saw more of the other investigations they had, it was put on the background a lot. Other than that it’s a really good book!

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Murray has opened a detective agency above her bookstore. Her first case is when June Munrow, a resident of Redwood Grove, comes to Annie and is convinced that Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the accident everyone believes it to be. June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth. Can Annie find the truth before she winds up in deep water?
This was a great cozy mystery. Annie is a wonderful amateur sleuth who combines her intelligence, observations and charm to get to the truth behind the mystery. I like how she uses and works with the police when they are needed in a situation. The bookstore setting is one of my favorites and that is one of the many reasons that I will be reading more of the series. The plot was also very intriguing, and I was surprised at how the mystery was solved. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a new series by Ellie Alexander and she is off to a good start. When I heard the Secret Bookshop series was at its end I was disappointed. I was fond of Annie and Fletcher and the assortment of characters in Redwood Grove. It's great to get to meet them again at their new detective agency, Novel Detectives. Spin offs don't always work, I thought I might miss the bookstore but Alexander expertly weaves it into this new chapter of Annie and Fletcher's life.
The mystery revolves around a young professional surfer who drowns in her bathtub. It's deemed an accident or perhaps a suicide. The case is getting cold until an octogenarian neighbor calls Novel Detectives convinced that the surfer, Kelly was murdered. Things get complicated, but the team is successful in solving their first case. I look forward to book two.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Storm publishing for providing an advance reader copy

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

​This novel is truly a hug in a book, set against a glorious backdrop that feels instantly welcoming.
Transitioning seamlessly from the Secret Bookcase series, Annie and Fletcher have officially launched their Novel Detectives agency, and their debut case is a gripping one.
From the moment June, a distraught neighbor shares the tragic loss of a local surfer, the duo dives into a world of meticulous investigation. ​
Rich with themes of loyalty and frienship, the story balances a winding trail of red herrings with a fascinating secondary mystery regarding a friend’s heritage.
The ending is wrapped up as neatly as a classic Sherlock Holmes box set tied with a bow.
For fans of cozy mysteries, this is an absolute must-read!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was EXACTLY what my brain wanted to read this week. The ultimate cozy feelings with bright and fun characters. I love that they are turning their sleuthing experience into a career and they are so good at it. The PI office and the cozy bookstore with its Agatha Christie themes and it's fun events really sounds like the most lovely place. I also love how supported June feels here by her friends and boyfriend. She is also so compassionate and handles everything quite delicately. I so enjoyed this sleuthing adventure (both stories) and was SHOCKED by the ending!

Note: I really LOVED the audiobook and the voice matched this character perfectly, bringing the coziness and charm!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t a huge fan of the previous series that had these characters as they never felt quite fleshed out in that series and I just never connected. This one, however, finds them coming into their own, and it was much easier to follow and connect to Annie. The mystery was well-paced and had just enough suspects to keep you guessing, though I had my suspicions early on. I enjoyed this first in the series and the one case that will likely stretch over several books. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the review copy.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book
Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.

Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton, this charming cozy mystery is brimming with small-town secrets and bookish charm that will keep you turning pages late into the night.

[Hannah's Biblioblurbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the Secret Bookcase series, so you KNOW I had to jump back into Redwood Grove with Annie, Fletcher, Hal, and the whole crew 📚✨

Ellie Alexander = cozy queen 👑 The characters are so lovable, and Redwood Grove?? Literally a book lover’s dream town 😍

And this plot?! Probably my favorite of hers 👀 Even though I guessed the “whodunnit,” it didn’t even knock a full star off because the journey was just that good 🙌💕

[Linda W. Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

(read via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

This book felt like a warm hug. Cozy mysteries aren’t something I have a lot of experience with, but I can see the appeal after reading A Very Novel Murder. I could picture everything so clearly; the settings, the weather, down to what the characters were eating. I predicted the twist earlier on, but still enjoyed the journey to the reveal. Also, I wish I had The Secret Bookcase near me; it sounds like an absolute dream.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Another excellent cozy mystery by Ellie Alexander! I was so excited to get back into Annie's universe and be solving more mysteries. I was able to listen to this in one shot (the narrator is great in my opinion) and it kept me hooked. Looking forward to book 2 in April!

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Novel Detectives series picks up where the Secret Bookcase series leaves off while giving the core characters room to change and grow. These are my favorite series by the prolific Ellie Alexander.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this author several times in the past, curious about her bookstores connected to mystery sleuthing. This is the first in a new series although the characters are carried over from her long-standing “A Secret Bookcase Mystery” series. What’s not to love about this particular novel? The bookstore and new detective agency is set within a large English-style estate in a small town in northern California. Everything is in walking distance with food and friends celebrated. Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes are partners; she has a criminal investigation background, and he is a Sherlock Holmes expert, a duo marked for success. The descriptions of the bookstore and its commitment to the community are everything I admire about independent bookstores.

Two parallel mysteries drive the novel. One is connected to the owner of the Estate, Hal, who believes he is the long-lost grandson of Agatha Christie (sigh,) and the other, the death of a young rising surfer star. The death of Kelly Taylor is filled with suspects with secrets, motives, and worse.

Finally, the close group of friends meet several times a month for specialty grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. What Annie served at the end of the case inspired me to try: choices of Muenster and Havarti cheese, thinly sliced pears, apple chutney, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, spinach on sourdough bread served with tomato basil soup and chocolate chip cookies. You’re welcome.

[Ashley Sprotberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first cozy mystery and I have to say I loved it! I love a story that has to do with a bookstore and the novel detectives is the best PI office name especially given that it’s above a bookstore. Easy read and just a comfy read!