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: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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]

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.

[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

[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!

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fun story featuring Annie and Fletcher,
of the Secret Bookcase, now also with their new
Detective Agency. The Novel Detectives. What a
grand opening they will have with their first actual
case! The book took took us through an incredible,
complicated set of circumstances that would lead
them on quite the hunt. It was a well crafted crime,
and one I wish I had uncovered! This series is just
fun! Well written and with twists and turns, and
of course, a lovely,book seller always makes for
good reading. I would suggest reading this now,
because the next installment is due 21 April 26.
My thanks to Storm Publishing for the download
copy,of,this book for review purposes.

[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

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: A Very Novel Murder
Series: Novel Detectives Mystery #1
Author: Ellie Alexander
Publisher: Storm Publishers
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: January 20, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars.
Pages 254

I love ‘The Secret Staircase series’ so am almost as excited as Annie Murray and partner Fletcher Hughes are about the opening of their detective agency above Anne’s beloved bookstore.

The Novel Detectives take on their first case – investigating the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie herself – but soon find themselves on the trail of a potentially perfect murder...

Although this is Book #1 it feature the two main characters from the other series.
In college Annie Murray studied criminology and planned to pursue it as a career however when her best friend Scarlet was murder before graduation she changed plans. Although she ended up at the Secret Bookcase, she continued to search for Scarlet’s murderer and bring justice. Which she did!

Now Annie and Fletcher are thrilled to have their first client for their new private investigation agency. Caroline Miles has some addition perhaps evidence that Hal Christie may truly be Agatha Christie’s grandson, that his mother was her child given up for adoption.
But just as they begin digging through old photos and documents to try and solve this decades-old mystery, they received an urgent request to help with the case of the tragic drowning of a young surfing pro, Kelly Taylor.
So they put the decade old case on the back burner.

As Annie and Fletcher investigate Kelly’s mysterious death, they realize there’s much more to what is really going on.
When they interview June Munrow, Kelly’s elderly neighbor who is convinced that young Kelly Taylor didn’t hit her head and drown in her bath tub’. She is sure her drowning wasn't an 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.

Ms. Munrow seems to be a lonely woman and spends a lot of time checking activities in the neighborhood; she knows some of Kelly’s friends are not really friends. She tells Annie and Fletcher that need to check out well she says they should interrogate ~~
• Kelly’s landlord Harvey Wade,
her ex-boyfriend Jake Harken also
• former coach Brogan Blears as well as
• roommate Allison Irons

As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets and yes Ms. Munrow is correct about some of Kelly’s complicated relationships. In fact, everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.

When they solve the case whodunit is a surprise – not a shock!
Although Hal Christie and the fact he may be Agatha Christie’s grandson
took a backseat but it is touched upon at the end. I am sure we are going to be hearing more!

Also loved “ A Letter From the Author’ As Ms. Alexander tells us she wanted Secret Bookcase to be as real as possible so went to the very very Filili Gardens and indeed was inspired.
Since I loved the Secret Bookcase series I knew I was going to love this story. It was a quick read and I am now looking forward to next in this series A Death in the Dark.


When I read A Body at the Book Fair which was #6 and conclusion to The Secret Bookcase series. I was disappointed but was delighted as in Ms. Alexander’s “A Letter FromThe Author’ that “The Novel Detectives’ series would be launched the end of 2025. SO I was soooo pleased when I got Book #1 in the series. I loved Detectives Annie and Fletcher and was looked forward to their first case –‘Investigating Agatha Christie and the Perfect Murder’.

Want to thank NetGalley and as Ms. Alexander says -the freaking fantastic team at Storm Publishing for granting me this widget.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 20, 2026.

[Leah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s time for an honest confession. I clearly wasn’t paying attention to the author name, because I was confident it was written by a favorite author. Despite the fact that Ellie Alexander wasn’t the author I thought she was so her writing was new to me, I really enjoyed this book and will have to start working my way through the many books on her backlist.

I’m always sucked in by stories centered around a bookstore, and this one was no different. It’s also partially why I thought this was written by a different author who is familiar to me and sets her cozies in a bookstore. Lucky for me, both authors are really great storytellers!

Many different characters are introduced in the beginning of the book: Annie, the bookstore owner; Fletcher, her best friend and partner in the private investigator business; four or five employees; and Annie’s boyfriend and another couple they hang out with, along with the people Annie and Fletcher investigate. It’s a lot to process so early in the story, and there were multiple mentions of a friend of Annie’s who was murdered. Since Alexander’s writing is new to me, I didn’t realize that this was a spinoff of a previous cozy series featuring some of the same characters. This series is a standalone from the other series and I was able to understand, follow, and enjoy the story, although I think that it would be a good idea to start with the other series first.

Although the characters were brand new to me, it was really easy to like Annie. She has surrounded herself with wonderful and supportive people: Fletcher, her boyfriend Liam, Priya and Penny, and her former boss and current coworker Hal. She is serious about the private investigation aspect, and earned a degree in criminology. However, she’s been running what sounds like the coolest bookstore.

I was quickly engrossed even though I hadn’t known anything about this cozy world, and Annie and Fletcher have that easy, comfortable relationship that comes with a good friendship, and I loved seeing them interact. Watching Annie and Fletcher investigate was thrilling, and this was the first 2026 book I read that kept me glued to the page and finding more excuses to sit and read than do anything else.

The story was a fast read because of a few different factors. Short and snappy chapters always force me to lie to myself and say ‘just one more chapter’ when I have no intention of stopping until I’m forced to, a busy plot with not one but two investigations plus a busy bookshop, wonderfully well-rounded characters, and a bold choice in villain. It took me a while to figure out who it was, but there are quite a few people who were good candidates.

Looking back, the answer is blatantly obvious, with Alexander dropping clues all along the way that I missed. I like to read cozies and have read quite a few by this point, and one of the main aspects found in the genre is that a murder is investigated by people who aren’t part of law enforcement. But in this book, due to Annie’s criminology background and continued relationship with a former professor Annie and Fletcher were quickly roped into joining forces with law enforcement, which felt a bit less realistic than I would have expected.

Overall, this kicks off a new spinoff series with a bang. Rather than feeling like I missed out on a lot of information by not reading any of the A Secret Bookcase Mysteries series, and left with a desire to jump into that series immediately. It will have to wait, but I will absolutely be reading more of Alexander’s backlist titles. Liam, Annie’s boyfriend, is basically the perfect man. If only he wasn’t fictional! But aside from that, I can’t wait to see more of Annie, Fletcher, Hal, Liam, Priya, and Penny, along with the bookshop, which sounds like the coolest shop ever. I also loved the cozy (seriously, no pun intended this time) setting, with a small northern California town that residents can get around completely by foot. This book was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with a mistaken identity, and introduced me to a new favorite author.

Bottom line: A wonderful start to a new series, but you might want to start with the Secret Bookcase Mysteries first.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever had the deeply unhinged dream of running a bookstore and a private detective agency at the same time, A Very Novel Murder is basically your Hallmark-core fever dream. There’s coffee, cozy cardigans, and crime. But make it mildly sinister with a side of mid-century wallpaper and trauma.

Annie Murray, our resident bookshop owner turned detective (because sure, what else would you do after your crime degree gathers dust and your best friend’s murder spirals into a lifestyle), has officially opened up the Novel Detectives agency with her crime-nerd partner Fletcher. They're renting the upstairs of the bookstore and waiting for crimes like normal, emotionally stable people. And right on cue, a possibly murdered surfer washes up in their metaphorical inbox.

Enter June Munrow. June is an eighty-something-year-old town busybody with the obsessive energy of someone who definitely has a themed teacup collection and maybe a few unresolved suspicions about her neighbor’s landscaping choices. June insists Kelly Taylor, local surfer girl and walking highlight reel, didn’t drown by accident. The cops say “tragic bathtub mishap.” June says “murder.” Annie says “how much caffeine is too much caffeine,” then proceeds to dive straight into an investigation built on a foundation of red herrings and conveniently shady acquaintances.

Now, is the mystery compelling? Yes. Is it the kind of twisty-turny reveal that makes you scream? Not exactly. More like a “huh, okay...wait, WHAT?” followed by a slow clap. There are a lot of suspects. Like, too many. I had a whole wall going with string and Post-its and somehow still missed the obvious. But the final reveal is surprisingly grim for such a warm-cinnamon-roll of a setting, and it gave the story a darker bite I wasn’t expecting from something this aggressively cozy.

But let's talk vibes, because that’s what cozy mysteries live and die by. Redwood Grove is charming in the way that makes you suspicious of every bake sale. The bookshop, "The Secret Bookcase," is back in action and serving classic whodunit energy. There's a second, lighter side plot about possible Agatha Christie lineage (because apparently genealogy is now part of the murder board), and while it’s fun, it’s clearly being slow-cooked for the long game. It’s giving “tune in next book for more chaos” energy.

If you’re coming in fresh without having read The Secret Bookcase series, you might feel like you missed a prequel. Characters mention past cases and emotional trauma like you should already be emotionally invested, and honestly? You kind of should be. It’s not unreadable without context, but you’ll definitely feel like the last person to show up to Friendsgiving and all the inside jokes are flying over your head.

Also, Fletcher is still giving “gentle Sherlock Holmes cosplayer with a functional love life,” which I find both wholesome and confusing. Annie and Liam are clearly still in their “emotionally repressed slow burn” era, and I support them continuing to not know how to kiss properly for at least three more books.

My biggest critique? The pacing drags in places. Some scenes feel like we’re just padding time until a clue decides to make itself known. Annie’s internal monologues get a little how-do-you-do-fellow-murder-hobbyists at times, and yes, I wanted more murder-board moments and less “I felt a chill in the air and thought about grief.”

But overall? It’s a charming, soft-spoken little murder mystery with just enough bite to keep me interested. Would I start a detective agency after reading it? No. Would I move to Redwood Grove and gossip about Kelly’s shady landlord over pastries? Absolutely. Solid 3.5 stars. Cozy, twisty, slightly uneven but still worth the sleuth.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Single Person Who’s Ever Talked About Surfing

Huge thanks to Storm Publishing for the ARC and the chance to spiral into small-town chaos where everyone has a secret and apparently nobody just dies of natural causes anymore. Y’all really said “cozy, but make it suspicious.”

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie and Fletcher have officially opened Novel Detectives and they already have two clients! The first client is Hal's love interest, Caroline, who brings in a brooch she and Hal found that may lead them to discovering the true identity of Hal's birth mother. The second is a sweet LOL (little old lady) who is devastated by the death of her young neighbor and wants them to prove her death wasn't an accident.

I want to start my review by pointing out that this is a continuation of the Secret Bookcase series, not really a new series. Though you could read this book first, you won't understand any of the backstories like Annie's college roommate Scarlet or Hal's mysterious origin. In order to really get something out of this book, you would have to have read the Secret Bookcase books first.

In cozy mysteries the main characters are generally regular folks who putter around solving mysteries as an unofficial side hustle to something else. This series is a bit of a departure from that (particularly if you consider this the start of a new series) because the main character has a criminal justice background and is now a licensed private investigator who has a private investigation business. It's unique and interesting, but also makes this book read a bit more like a procedural rather than a cozy. While we do still see a bit of the bookstore, it is a rare backdrop in the story that is largely focused elsewhere.

The mystery itself in this book was the almost sole focus and I enjoyed that in some ways, it made the book more fast-paced and all we really saw was the investigation so it didn't drag. There was little or no filler and we didn't see much of any of the side stories. Possibly that was intentional by Alexander because of this being the first book in a "new" series, but honestly I missed the side stories. The old farmhouse and vineyard Pri and Penny live at, Hal's claims of being the lost lovechild of Agatha Christie, the Secret Bookcase, were all things I enjoyed in previous books. Though I like reading about the investigations, there's nothing about the Novel Detective Agency that feels cozy or draws me back. For that reason, I'm not sure I'll continue the series. Not that I don't like it, I just don't see anything here that I want to follow up with, the community or relationships or cozy settings that keep me coming back in other series like the Bakeshop series are completely missing in this new series.

Though I did like this book, I would have to steer cozy mystery fans elsewhere, like Alexander's Bake Shop series, and I'm disinclined to continue the series. Those who are more interested in a cozy that's all investigation and no backstories or little romances may prefer this to other series, but those looking for a more Hallmark vibe might be disappointed.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

I settled into this book expecting cozy comfort with a few sharp edges, and it delivered exactly that. Annie Murray opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore is the kind of life choice that feels both brave and delightfully impulsive. Before she even has time to second guess herself, her first case lands right on her doorstep. A suspicious death with far too many loose threads pulls her straight into the deep end of Redwood Grove’s secrets.

Redwood Grove itself is a character. It is warm around the edges but shadowed in the corners, the perfect playground for a gentle mystery. Everyone in town seems to know something, but no one wants to say anything, which is exactly the sort of atmosphere that makes a cozy mystery thrive. As Annie digs into Kelly Taylor’s death, the lives around her slowly unspool. Friends with complicated loyalties. A roommate whose silence rings louder than words. A landlord who treats every conversation as an exercise in evasive maneuvers. Piece by piece, the case shifts shape, and every time I thought I had a handle on things, the story nudged me back to uncertainty.

What makes the book shine is Annie herself. She investigates with intuition rather than intimidation, building trust instead of barreling through people’s defenses. Her compassion is her strongest tool. She listens. She watches. She asks questions that feel kind even when they cut close to the truth. The mystery grows from this human approach. No clue feels planted. No twist feels forced. Instead, the answers reveal themselves like they were always meant to be found, just tucked beneath the layers of everyday life.

There’s a line that stayed with me: “Curiosity is a gateway drug, and I always take a second dose.” It sums up the tone perfectly. This is a story about gentle obsession, about wanting to understand people even when they’re difficult to understand. The narrative has humor, but the real charm is its heart.

The pacing is steady and warm, never rushed, never dragging. It lets the reader wander with Annie, absorb the rhythms of Redwood Grove, and sit in the quiet moments that carry their own clues. The final reveal lands cleanly, wrapping the threads in a way that feels earned. By the time I reached the end, I felt like I had walked the town myself, picked up on its whispers, and grown oddly attached to its quirks.

As a series opener, it is strong, inviting, and full of promise. I am already ready for more cases, more small town gossip, and more time in Annie’s world. Five stars out of five.

#AVeryNovelMurder #EllieAlexander #BookReview #CozyMystery #StormPublishing #NetGalley #MysteryBooks #CozyReads #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #SmallTownMystery #BookRecommendations #2026Reads

[Ibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book by Ellie Alexander. After hearing about her cozy, bakery-themed murder mysteries, I wanted to give her new series a try.

In this story we follow Annie and Fletcher, who have just launched their private investigation firm the ‘Novel Detectives’ above their bookstore. They take on two new cases: one is a kind of secret mission to find out whether their friend, Hal could be a long-lost grandson of the famous Agatha Christie. The other case involves the death of a young surfer champion, brought to them by her neighbor June, who believes something is afoot and that Kelly was murdered.

Even though this is the first book in the series, the beginning felt more like a recap of an existing series, and I kept feeling like I was missing how they actually got here. At the same time, the characters didn’t really get proper introductions, and throughout the book many of them felt interchangeable. Some characters—like Ash and Hardy, students who work part-time at the bookstore—were introduced only to never really be mentioned again.
One thing I did appreciate, though, was that the police were helpful the entire time, which at this point is pretty rare in cozy murder mysteries.

The story doesn’t take long to get into the action. Annie goes around interviewing potential suspects, while Fletcher works more in the background. It reminded me a lot of the tv show Aurora Teagarden, with the small-town setting, bookstore vibes, a simple mystery, and Annie having a supportive group of friends.

That said, I felt there was too much hand-holding from the beginning. There were a lot of comments from Annie and Fletcher pointing out obvious lies or things people were clearly hiding. In Aurora Teagarden, Aurora talks through the case with her mom, sister, and friends—but in this book, Annie is running a private investigation business, and openly discussing case details with friends at a restaurant which just felt a bit odd.

The mention of dufferent mystery book titles, Sherlock Holmes quotes and references were fun. But there were also a lot of redundant conversations, with the same points being revisited over and over again. There were even a couple of instances where Annie asked essentially the same question back-to-back just rephrased.

The ending was fairly predictable, and I wasn’t a fan of the fact that only one of the cases was solved in this book. It was pretty clear throughout the story that one case was more prominent.

I’m sad to say that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the early advance reader copy and the chance to give my own thoughts and opinion of the book.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of sleuth Annie Murray from the Secret Bookcase mystery series, never fear. The cast seems to not only be back, but Annie and Fletcher Hughes haven't given up their bookshop duties completely. Instead, they've morphed into the Novel Detectives with an office above the bookstore as full-fledged private investigators. This book introduces their first case and, boy, it's a doozy. Just as Fletcher was beginning to chaff a bit waiting on their first official client. June Munrow, an elderly resident of Redwood Grove shows up and hires them to investigate a maybe not cold case but a cool case that Munrow is sure was murder. Not only that, but Caroline, who is dating the bookstore's original owner Hal Christie, shows up with a mystery regarding his ancestry. I won't dive into that one too much as it seems to carry over into the next book, but find it a great addition to his long time quest to prove his ties to Agatha Christie.

In any case, the maybe murder case focuses on the odd death of champion surfer Kelly Taylor. What's the likelihood of a champion surfer drowning in the bathtub? In any case, Annie and Fletcher are soon off and running to track down suspects and witnesses who might be able to help them learn more. That takes them into a world they're not familiar with and Annie finds herself in danger once again. Secrets and more secrets, not to mention tangled romances and brand sponsorship all rear their heads.

I won't go into more detail but both long time readers of the previous series and new readers should enjoy this one. It works well as a standalone and the author does a great job catching us up succinctly and quickly early on, so even new readers should quickly feel comfortable. The supporting case is fun and well-defined, especially best-friend Pri (and her endless temporary tatoos) and Liam, Annie's boyfriend. My thanks to #StormPublishing for introducing me to Annie way back when and allowing me to peek in on her progress early as the initial series has morphed into a new one but with the familiar faces we've grown to know.

[Robyn Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes have opened their very own detective agency, the Novel Detectives, above their mystery-themed bookstore The Secret Bookcase. Their first case? Surfer Kelly Taylor's elderly neighbor June Morrow has hired them to look into her drowning, as she believes Kelly was murdered. The suspects? A scummy landlord, a scorned ex, a roommate with a secret, and a coach that may have been more than just a coach. Can Annie and Fletcher solve their first official case or will their careers as detectives be over before they've begun?

I have not read a lot of cosy mysteries since I fell back in love with reading, but growing up, I loved the Murder She Wrote series and Nancy Drew books. My main focus recently has been thrillers, so at the beginning of the book, I worried that I wouldn't enjoy cosy mysteries anymore because they would feel boring. I needn't have worried. This book was so well written that I couldn't put it down, even though it was not an action-packed thriller. I loved all of the little touches, like the descriptions of the book store, the focus on Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, the community of characters, and the process of solving the crime. I really enjoyed how excited the characters were to go on stakeouts and question suspects. Their excitement lept off the page and was contagious!

When I started the book, I was worried because I hadn't read the preceding series, but A Very Novel Murder can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. I adored the setting and characters so much that I likely will go back and read the Secret Bookcase Mystery series when I have some time, but not having read the series should not turn you off of this book. If The Secret Bookcase was a real place, I'd never leave! I'm happy to give my stamp of approval to my very first read of the year. Curl up in your favorite reading place with a warm blanket and Read It!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Stavroula Kalantzis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to cozy up to on a cold winter’s day snuggled in a blanket beside a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. I lapped up this book like a cat sipping her milk and relished the story of Fletcher and Annie, a duo of novice detectives the likes of whom I have not encountered before but was immediately endeared to them by their dynamic friendship and witty dialogue. This story is not a “hard core” horror novel but rather a lighter mystery read with the involvement of several suspects each with their own personality and specific situation and the machinations of a meddling neighbour, June Munrow, an elderly frail-like woman who draws Annie into her first murder case as a Novel Detective. The author wove the key literary elements of characterization, narrative, scenery, point of view, plot lines seemingly well into the story and the pace was thoroughly balanced - not slow but not fast either. I really enjoyed the joyous community that Ellie Alexander brought forth with Liam, Pri, Penny, Hal, and Caroline - a group of supportive and lovable friends of the two detectives who I felt a kinship with. The story was mainly centred around a bookstore that Annie owned which is one of my favourite settings because I adore bookstores and as a reader, I couldn’t help but be enraptured with the goings on at Redwood Grove. A horrific and tragic situation naturally arises where the pair have to decide how to proceed in solving the problem relying on their instincts and their ability to stay the course no matter the obstacle and in the end justice prevails. With another case (involving a historic brooch belonging to Hal) brought to the detectives’ attention, Annie and Fletcher are tested again in their single-handed determination to dig into the significance and potential implications of the brooch for the involved parties. This book is for readers who enjoy a lively adventurous read with minimal theatrics and minimal goriness. I recommend it as a great introduction to reading mystery novels.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Novel Detective Agency is off to a running start. Annie and Fletcher jump right into two cases. The primary case in this first in a series is a presumed murder. Presumed that is by the victim's elderly neighbor, June. She calls Annie and hires them to look into the death of her young neighbor, Kelly Taylor. The police have thus far not determined it it's accidental or suicide, but June is convinced that she was murdered. After providing our intrepid detectives with a list of suspects, this 80 year-old neighborhood busybody keeps demanding they alert the newspapers to everything they learn. Annie holds her off, while working with her mentor Dr. Caldwell, the lead homicide detective for the Redwood Grove Police Dept.
As Annie digs into this case, Fletcher is not only assisting her, he is also researching information for the other case they have taken on. This one involves former Secret Bookcase owner and dear friend, Hal. He just doesn't know it yet. This case is one that will lap over to at least the next book in the series. Hal has always believed he is the grandson of Agatha Christie, so they are sleuthing in his past.
I was delighted to see this new series, although it really feels more like a transition series. We see the same characters and setting as the Secret Bookcase series, the big change is the addition of the Novel Detective Agency as a formal entity along with Annie and Fletcher buying the bookstore from Hal. The mystery was loaded with suspects all with a motive and opportunity. There are enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. I did find myself wondering if our detectives should not add another suspect to their list a bit before they did. My only objection to this book was that I wanted to see more of the supporting characters. If you enjoyed the Secret Bookcase series, you will like this one as well.
My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Caitlyn DeRouin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I discovered Ellie Alexander with the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series and instantly adored her writing and our main character, Annie. I read that entire series over the course of a week and was so excited when I read that Alexander would be writing a spinoff series about Annie and Fletcher opening up their detective business within the bookstore.

A Very Novel Murder is a great start to this new series focusing on The Novel Detectives. While this is a continuation of the characters from A Secret Bookcase Mystery, you can easily jump into A Very Novel Murder without having read the previous series. Alexander does a great job of catching up the reader with what they may have missed without giving the "and that's what you missed on Glee!' vibe. Annie and Fletcher are such a great pair, not only as partners in their detective agency, but as friends as well. They work so well together and have a fantastic rapport with is very enjoyable to read. The descriptions of Redwood Grove are so lovely and really transport you to the small town, and as a Northern California girl myself, I think the writing does a great job of showing how lovely Northern California is even though Redwood Grove is a fictional town.

I really liked this first case for Annie and Fletcher and the characters that we followed throughout the case. There were quite a few layers to it and some aspects of it I didn't see coming. I liked following Annie and Fletcher throughout the case as well as their investigative process. There was drama and intrigue and I think that it unfolded really well. I also liked that we got introduced to another side case that's more personal to Annie and Fletcher and that we'll likely have that as an on going plot throughout the rest of the series.

Overall this was once again a very enjoyable and well done cozy mystery from Ellie Alexander, and I'm really looking forward to continuing this series!

[Hekareadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first cozy by Ellie Alexander.

While it deviated from the traditional aspects of a cozy a little, I think that might have to do with the fact that there seems to be another series before this that is connected. This was eluded to in the book.

We follow Annie and Fletcher, who are private investigators for their firm, "The Novel Detectives." They also own a bookshop together. Again , maybe a reference to their prior novels, but I will touch on this point again. Fletcher is obsessed with Agatha Christie. Every single room in the bookstore is named after some sort of Christie reference.

Their first case is solving if their mentor and friend, Hal, is related to Agatha Christie. His girlfriend gives them a brooch that was seen on Agatha in a photograph.

Their second case is looking into the suspicious death of Kelly, brought to them by her neighbor, June. This takes up the majority of the book.

The main issue I had with the book was the relationships between Annie and Liam and Fletcher. Again, maybe missing something from the prior books, but her and Fletcher own two businesses together, spend all their time together, he knows her favorites things, takes care of her.... And Liam is, there. Annie almost dies at the end (don't even get me started on the incorrect logistics of her poisoning, it's poorly researched and executed), and Fletcher saves her. Her boyfriend? Working at his pub, full well knowing his girlfriend is almost dead, and stays at work. He owns the pub, by the way, so he could simply *close it* for the night. But no. He lets Fletcher rescue his girl, then forces Fletcher to bring Annie to the pub so he can keep an eye on her. Whatever. Liam is a loser.

A quick easy read, but nothing to write home about. Sorry. Won't be continuing the series.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Murray and her business partner, Fletcher, had opened a detective agency above the bookstore - Annie's beloved Secret Bookshelf. They had yet to have a client until the elderly June phoned, asking them to investigate the death three weeks earlier of surfer, Kelly, whose death had been deemed accidental by the police. With excitement over their first case, Annie & Fletcher set to work. Annie interviewed, while Fletcher dug deeply into people who were suspects.

Kelly's roommate was a nurse, working at the local hospital and was devastated at her death. Her boyfriend and coach were both interviewed, and Annie realised there were many secrets held by each person she spoke to. Annie's relationship with the local police officer was such that they shared information, and soon they were closing in. Liam, Annie's significant other, was concerned for her, while her good friends, Penny & Pri, were the same. Would they discover who had killed Kelly - or was it an accident as was originally thought?

A Very Novel Murder is the 1st in the Novel Detectives Mystery series by Ellie Alexander, and is a spin off from the Secret Bookshelf Mystery series, which means I caught up with old friends :) I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and anticipate a great series to follow. Annie is a strong, determined young woman, while Fletcher is a good partner - together they work well. Liam is a keeper! A great start to the new series, which I recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Abi Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, quick, and cozy mystery book, full of winter vibes. This story has lots of nods to Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and some other famous detective stories as well. The main mystery being investigated had plenty of suspects, and there were multiple red herrings. 

This isn't a continuation of a previous series, but it's clear the characters and their stories are continued on from past works by this author. I never felt like I didn't understand the story because of that, but you are missing some context for sure if you have not read her other works. 

The biggest issue I had with this story is that the main character and her life are so perfect, it's just boring to read a story about a character with no real struggles. She has the perfect life, perfect job, perfect home, perfect boyfriend, perfect friends, perfect everything. We see no flaws, she has no real problems to overcome, and there's zero character development for her. I don't think she'll be a memorable character for me going forward, because we see no growth or change in her, besides the fact that her new business is getting clients. 

My other gripe is that as amateur detectives, the amount of leeway the police were giving them in the story regarding an active case was laughable. There's no way a police department is letting people outside of the department, even if they know them or taught them, interview suspects they're actively investigating. It would have made more sense if this was a cold case they were investigating, and the police weren't actively involved anymore. 

Thank you to Storm Publishing / NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Keep your eyes out for it when it releases on 1/20/26.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie’s Do List
Qualify as a private investigator - ✔️
Find best partner in crime (solving)✔️
Buy Secret Bookcase bookstore - ✔️
Set up Novel Detectives Private Investigators - ✔️
Open for business - ✔️

Kelly Taylor was an up and coming surfing star with every chance of achieving her goal of participating in the Olympics, when she died unexpectedly. Those who knew her best are sure it was a tragic accident, but her elderly neighbour, June, isn't convinced the police investigated properly and thinks Kelly was murdered. Her determination leads her to the newly formed Novel Detectives Agency above the Secret Bookcase bookstore in Redwood Grove as owners Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes first client! Gradually, as they collect information and look closely at Kelly's friends and associates it seems June's opinion might not be too far from the truth. Someone now has the duo in their sights and with secrets about to be revealed which are to die for it looks like their first case could also be their last!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Storm Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed Ellie Alexander's previous series starring Annie Murray and was sad it was ending until I heard about the follow up series. There are no spoilers so anyone can start here and it is an engaging, fun read which has the advantage of fully formed, familiar main protagonists to engage with from the get go. In some ways the two series aren't all that different and this could easily be book six rather than book one. Hopefully, however, the slight reboot will mean lots more adventures for Annie, Fletcher et al and there were a few hints that this will be the case.

[Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kindle (ARC)
📃 254 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Storm Publishing (ARC provided by NetGalley)
Read as an ARC ahead of the January 20, 2026 release

This is classic Ellie Alexander comfort reading: warm characters, a bookstore setting that feels like a hug, and a mystery that simmers rather than explodes. Annie and Fletcher's new agency feels like a natural evolution (if you've followed their amateur sleuthing adventures before), and the supporting cast adds that delightful small-town quirkiness. The investigation into Kelly's death keeps you guessing with layered suspects and clever red herrings, though nothing felt wildly unpredictable.

A Very Novel Murder bills itself as the start of the Novel Detectives Mystery series, but it leans heavily on Alexander’s earlier Secret Bookcase series. There were relationship dynamics and backstory moments that felt like inside references I wasn’t entirely clued in on. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely noticeable if you’re new to this world.

What didn’t quite land for me was the emotional hook. The writing is solid and readable, but it never tipped into must-read-the-next-book territory. Overall, it’s a charming, low-stakes whodunit: well-written, consistently engaging, but not one that demands you binge the next installment the minute you turn the last page.

Would I Recommend it?
Yes, with a caveat! If you’ve read The Secret Bookcase series, this will feel like a seamless (and comforting) continuation.

Your Thoughts on Spin-Off Sleuthing?
Have you jumped from the Secret Bookcase series straight into this one, or are you starting fresh like I did? Drop your favorite Ellie Alexander series (or any cozy mystery spin-off) in the comments.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when I saw that the characters from the Secret Bookcase series were going to be part of this new series. Annie and Fletcher have decided to open up their own private detective agency. They are located above Annie's wonderful bookstore (which I would love to visit). These two have always loved a good mystery. If they are going to solve mysteries, they may as well get paid for it.

They have been waiting to get their first case, and it finally arrives. A local woman wants to hire them to prove that her young neighbor's death was not an accident. She believes that she was murdered, not accidently drowned in her own bathtub. They are little creeped out by how much information June has put together, but she is so distraught about Kelly's death that they want to help her if they can.

Annie and Fletcher are perfect for this case because both of them are observant, intelligent and tenacious. As they interview friends of Kelly, the case does seem to get a more convoluted. But a dog with a bone does not have anything on Annie, as she is determined to find answers. She will not give up until she gets answers.

The mystery was exciting to read as clues were dropped here and there, and the suspect pool was large. I was quite sure it was going to turn out to be a murder, but I was not sure how everything transpired. As is this author's gift, she will fool you repeatedly making you believe one thing, while that thing is actually just a red herring. This is what makes a great mystery for this reader, which in turn makes it more enjoyable to read.

This is the first in a new series, and I am so excited to see more books from this cast of characters.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.