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Austen and Arsenic: A Bumblewood Bookshop Cozy Mystery: Book One
Hazel has found the most charming town in New England.
She’s also found a whole lot of trouble.
When Hazel Bytheway’s car breaks down during an October road trip to Canada, she finds herself stranded in the quaint town of Bumblewood, Vermont. She only plans to stay long enough for repairs, but she soon falls in love with the town’s charming bookshop. Its owner, Mary Anne Higgins, is friendly and welcoming and makes Hazel feel at home immediately.
But when a murder happens inside the bookstore and the killer can’t be found, Hazel’s detour suddenly becomes a full-blown investigation. The handsome but no-nonsense Detective Graham Whitaker is determined to find a suspect—and Hazel and Mary Anne are at the top of his list.
With her future on the line and the killer still at large, Hazel decides she’ll have to solve the case herself, because in Bumblewood nothing is as peaceful as it seems. And if she’s not careful, she might become the next victim.
She’s also found a whole lot of trouble.
When Hazel Bytheway’s car breaks down during an October road trip to Canada, she finds herself stranded in the quaint town of Bumblewood, Vermont. She only plans to stay long enough for repairs, but she soon falls in love with the town’s charming bookshop. Its owner, Mary Anne Higgins, is friendly and welcoming and makes Hazel feel at home immediately.
But when a murder happens inside the bookstore and the killer can’t be found, Hazel’s detour suddenly becomes a full-blown investigation. The handsome but no-nonsense Detective Graham Whitaker is determined to find a suspect—and Hazel and Mary Anne are at the top of his list.
With her future on the line and the killer still at large, Hazel decides she’ll have to solve the case herself, because in Bumblewood nothing is as peaceful as it seems. And if she’s not careful, she might become the next victim.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2025
Loved it
Just the right amount of mystery, angst and interesting characters. Looking forward to the next book! Highly recommend this cozy
Just the right amount of mystery, angst and interesting characters. Looking forward to the next book! Highly recommend this cozy
October 13, 2025
A Great Murder Mystery by Emily Wren
I love this book, it is amazing. My first Emily Wren book. The characters are all very different, but interesting people. The mystery was well written and intriguing. The ending was very exciting and I didn't see it coming, just the way I like them. A great cozy mystery. Anxiously waiting for book 2.
I love this book, it is amazing. My first Emily Wren book. The characters are all very different, but interesting people. The mystery was well written and intriguing. The ending was very exciting and I didn't see it coming, just the way I like them. A great cozy mystery. Anxiously waiting for book 2.
October 14, 2025
This was a quick read cozy mystery and I loved it! Of course, being an Austen fan, the title alone drew me in. I am so glad it did. I enjoyed watching Hazel and her attempts to solve the mystery while the detective tried to convince her to butt out. I definitely recommend this on!
January 7, 2026
Not bad. If it weren't for stilted dialog and clunky phrasing, it might rate a 4. Not fabulous, but not bad for the genre.
We never do learn why Hazel chose Canada, why she gave up on the dream of being a literary agent and what the disconnect with her previous boss was about, why she had a car in New York City, and lots of little things that could have rounded out the story more fully, but the characters we meet are believable and may well morph into real people later in the series. Still, I was not entranced enough to go get the 2nd book.
We never do learn why Hazel chose Canada, why she gave up on the dream of being a literary agent and what the disconnect with her previous boss was about, why she had a car in New York City, and lots of little things that could have rounded out the story more fully, but the characters we meet are believable and may well morph into real people later in the series. Still, I was not entranced enough to go get the 2nd book.
February 28, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ This was a cute little cozy murder, mystery that I got a couple months ago and I enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the whodoneit vibes. I did guess the murderer off the bat but I still enjoyed it. Theres small town vibes, murder, bookshops, fall festivals, friendships, new beginnings, a meet/cute(well I think so anyways...we will see what happens in the next book). I look forward to reading the next book, oit this year sometime. Yeah if you like cozy mystery I would recommend this.
December 7, 2025
I liked this little novella more than I thought I would. I look forward to seeing how book 2 is and how the story continues. Nothing too much on the edge but a nice wholesome mystery.
I actually never guessed who killed Rose and Vincent while reading. Nice delivery.
I actually never guessed who killed Rose and Vincent while reading. Nice delivery.
October 9, 2025
A cozy fall mystery complete with a cute bookstore.
January 19, 2026
Bookstore and Murder Mystery
What’s fun read. You can’t go wrong with murder mystery based in a bookstore. I can’t wait to read more of these.
What’s fun read. You can’t go wrong with murder mystery based in a bookstore. I can’t wait to read more of these.
Did Not Finish
July 16, 2026DNF @ 33%
September 27, 2026
Cute cozy mystery book that makes me want to book a trip to Vermont in the fall.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews