Murder Moves In: A Novel

by Ellie Alexander

A fresh start in a picturesque seaside town turns deadly when a journalist and her husband uncover that their charming neighbors—and the entire community—are hiding secrets worth killing for.

Agatha Christie meets The Americans.

The charming seaside town of Santa Maris, with its eucalyptus trees, clusters of California wildflowers, and the calming swells of the Pacific Ocean, seems like the perfect place for a new start for Finn and Harper James. They are immediately charmed by the quaint downtown, sweeping views of aquamarine waters, and miles of untouched Redwood trails. What’s even better is that the entire neighborhood welcomes them with open arms.

Maybe this move is exactly what they both needed. Harper’s career as an investigative reporter for the LA Times blew up in her face when she made a grave error trusting the wrong source, and Finn’s next assignment is…well, complicated. His mission is help his wife settle into her new career path and find his missing asset—stat! Oh, and don’t blow his cover.

As they move in and begin to make Santa Maris feel like home, Finn and Harper realize that there are watchful eyes everywhere in the neighborhood, and maybe things aren’t quite as cozy as they seem. Ruth Palmer, a retired judge who lives across the street, insists she has a story that is sure to pull Harper out of her funk and make national headlines. Ruth is convinced that Keelie and Dan Vanderholm, the previous tenants of their new house, were murdered. The authorities just can’t find the bodies.

Harper’s investigation into the death of the Vanderholms and Finn’s search for his missing asset begin to intersect in ways they could never imagine and lead them both to discover serious secrets lurking in their sweet new town. Between suspicious activities at the research lab on campus, where Harper’s been hired to teach journalism, a recently released convict with a vendetta for revenge, and shady activity at the house next door, everyone has something to hide.

This move was supposed to bring them closer, not drive them apart. But when another murder occurs, they realize that if they can’t solve this case together and get their stories straight, murder might be about to move in on them.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 12, 2027

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—
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Reviews

[Jennifer]

This was my first book by Ellie Alexander, and I really enjoyed it!

I love a good small-town mystery where everyone seems perfectly nice but you just know somebody is hiding something. Harper and Finn move to Santa Maris for a fresh start, and let's just say they definitely didn't move into the quiet little neighborhood they were expecting.

I really liked Harper and Finn and especially enjoyed getting both of their perspectives. There was always something going on, the pacing kept me interested, and I flew through this one wanting to figure out exactly what was happening.

It has the feel of a cozy mystery but with a little more suspense and danger, which I really liked. It wasn't super dark or heavy, but there was enough mystery and tension to keep me invested.

This is the beginning of a new series, and I'll definitely continue with it. I need to know what happens next!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Tamara]

Thank you NetGalley.
I’m sitting here waiting for the next book in the series to be released and this one hasn’t been released yet.
This is a great cozy mystery to read for the fall. The action starts on page one and gives you a lot to look forward to in the second book.
My favorite interactions were between Finn and Jimi. I hope to see more of this in the following books. I don’t want to say too much and accidentally spoil something so I’m going to stop now.

[Sam]

Murder Moves In had the most perfect pacing. Every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. Finn and Harper’s storylines were equally as interesting. I need the next book out immediately to find out what happens and this one isn’t even out just yet! Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.

[Julianne Harkleroad]

Someone close has been deceiving [redacted] the whole time 🤯☠️🤭

Ellie Alexander steps out of the pure cozy murder mystery genre and into suspenseful murder mystery in her brand new series starring journalist Harper James and het husband, FBI desk-worker Finn.

Relocating to the small town of Santa Maris, after an emotional job loss, Harper and Finn quickly become "the couple" who moved into the missing Vanderholms' house. Everyone has something to say about the mystery and theories to add- but could any be steeped in truth? While Harper gets her feet back under under her, regaining confidence on her new post at the local university, Finn works from home and explores their new neighborhood. Their idyllic move turns dark when a woman close to them is found dead. Their individual investigations reveal hidden secrets that lead to a criminal who will do anything to protect their plan. Was moving to Santa Maris the first nail in their coffin?

Be prepared to yell, "OMG FINN!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING?!? YOU'RE GOING TO BE XXXXXX!!!", then have your mouth drop open over the betrayal reveal! Ellie Alexander did not miss with this fabulous beginning! I already can't wait for the sequel and wonder if Harper will be as beloved as Sloan and Jules!

Troupes: dual POV, fresh start house, amateur sleuth, secret identity, red herring, betrayal, big reveal
Spice: 0/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 3/5 👀
Triggers: murder, shooting, chased with a gun

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Misty (Red's Romance Reviews)]

Finn and Harper James are looking for the perfect place to start over, they need some place where no one knows them and where they might be able to add a little quiet to their very hectic lives... and Santa Maris might just be the place! Or maybe not...

The pages of Murder Moves In hold the story of a couple that were looking to find a neighborhood that would bring them a little peace and maybe a few new friends too. But as they settle in and start to meet the neighbors they start to realize that things are not quite as they appear to be. Some of the neighbors are nice and some of them are hiding things... the murderous kind of things. Right away Harper is excited to uncover all the secrets and put pen to paper and create some new stories...much to her husbands dismay.

Finn is supposed to be solving the case and having her hanging around and poking her nose into things is sure to cause problems for them, and that is the complete opposite of what this move was supposed to be for them!

I really enjoyed this cozy and suspensful tale, it was engaging, highly entertaining and a little funny here and there too. From the get-go the pages had me intriguied and wanting to find all the answers to my questions... and boy what a journey they took me on! I really hope there are more adventures for this couple, as they were quite the entertaining pair! Highly recommend this one for cozy mystery readers, it's a perfectly penned who dunnit!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Joan Jordan]

Harper, a former newspaper journalist, and Finn, and FBI agent, move to a small, Northern California town for a fresh start. Some of their neighbors behave oddly and pretty soon, the couple learns that there are big secrets centered around the research lab at the college where Harper is now a professor. When an elderly neighbor if found dead at the foot of her stairs, did she lose her balance, or was she pushed? What did she know about the other neighbors and their possible involvement in the high-stakes research at the lab?

I've read and enjoyed a cozy mystery series by this author, and this book is well written also. The characters are thoroughly developed and act in believable ways. The descriptions of the college campus and lab, plus the surrounding forest and the neighborhood, make it easy to picture each location. I didn't realize that this is intended to be a series, so there are some loose ends to leave the reader wondering about certain characters. I would have been happier had the book tied everything up with a nice bow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa Turner]

Murder Moves In by Ellie Alexander is such a fun genre mashup a cozy mystery with just the right dash of spy thriller to give it a little extra kick.

I loved how Alexander takes everything I enjoy about a cozy—the charming atmosphere, intriguing cast of characters, and satisfying amateur-sleuth energy and mixes in espionage elements that make the story feel fresh and a bit more adventurous. There’s plenty of mystery to unravel, along with enough twists and suspicious behavior to keep me guessing without losing that comforting cozy feel.

The spy-thriller elements were especially fun and added some unexpected tension and intrigue. It’s still very much a cozy mystery at heart, but with a slightly more high-stakes edge that made this one stand out.

Overall, Murder Moves In was an entertaining, clever read and a great choice for cozy mystery fans who wouldn’t mind a little espionage mixed in with their sleuthing. A solid four stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Murder Moves In is expected to be published January 12, 2027.

[Jeanna Medlin]

Once I saw Murder Moves In by Ellie Alexander, I knew I had to request a copy! I really enjoy her Secret Bookcase Mystery series, so I was excited to see what she had in store with this new series.

While Murder Moves In is still a cozy mystery—with a devoted FBI husband and an investigative reporter wife navigating a recent career change—it has a more thrilling pace than Alexander’s Secret Bookcase Mystery series. The story was full of suspense, engaging from beginning to end, and sprinkled with some funny interactions between the characters.

I found myself wanting to read “just one more page” to see what would happen next and, of course, to uncover the answers. It was a great combination of cozy mystery and a little extra thrill, making it a fun read for anyone who enjoys their cozy mysteries with a bit more suspense.
I’m already looking forward to the next installment and seeing where Finn, Harper, and their adventures in Santa Maris take us next!

3.75 stars

Thank you to Ellie Alexander, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

[Jenn]

FBI agent Finn and new journalism teacher Harper have moved to Santa Maris for a new beginning. But Harper doesn't know that Finn is there to search for a lost asset. Soon Finn finds that they're both investigating the same thing, but he can't share with Harper and it's starting to take a toll on their marriage. But when a death occurs, things get even more serious.

This isn't a cozy mystery. Yes, Alexander writes tons of cozies. Yes, the cover looks like a cozy. But this is a domestic suspense. However the writing style is still in the cozy arena, so this makes for some weird reading. And what is up with Alexander lately? She had two great series going and all the sudden she's started a ton more, some related. Some seem to only be out digitally and some are in hard copy. A lot of the series seem to have the same cover design type. It's all very confusing and kinda makes me want to give up on them all. 👎

[Kimberly Michel]

This book was a great read! Harper and Finn have just moved to a new, smallish town named Santa Maris in California. Harper is a disgraced journalist who is getting a fresh start at the local college as a professor. Her husband, Finn, is an FBI agent doing... well, who knows for sure, but Finn. They move into a house whose previous tenants went missing. The next-door neighbor thinks they were murdered. And the other new neighbors are just weird.

This book was a spy novel meets cozy mystery. I generally enjoy both of those genres, so this seemed like a great book to pick up, and I was not disappointed. It had a picturesque setting, fun characters to root for, and a good mystery to solve. I have never read this author before, but I will definitely be checking her out going forward.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books, for an advance copy of this book.

[Debbi]

As a fan of the author it was fun to see her stretch in a new direction. Although this isn't a hardcore mystery, there are sinister elements at work. Harper, a journalist and Finn, an FBI agent move to a small Northern California college town. The intention is a new start, but life gets complicated when the lab at the university comes under investigation. A whistleblower disappears, a neighbor is murdered and Finn and Harper work independently to unravel the case. In the cozy tradition there is no sex or graphic violence only an extra helping of suspense.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy.

[Cozybooklady]

I enjoyed reading this debut book by one of my favorite authors.
Harper & her husband Finn have just moved to a small town, where something strange is going one.
Finn is an FBI agent, and when one of his assets goes missing, he is desperate to find her.
Harper is a journalist who had the unfortunate experience of a bad source When her new neighbor tells her she's got some information that will help her career, Harper becomes involved in the same investigation as her husband.
The twists and turns are outstanding in this book and I look forward to reading more in this series.

[Katy Cannon]

I love Ellie Alexander and will read anything she writes! If it's a spy noir, heck yes! I loved the characters in this! Finn and Harper were both coming off bad experiences really. They are full of self doubt, but confident in their abilities. It definitely helps when this idealist town turns into a nightmare of a convoluted plot. They have to put their skills to the test while remaining completely incognito! It was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat! I cannot wait to see what comes next!

[Ann]

Finn and Harper have moved to Santa Maris for a fresh start. Harper is in disgrace as a journalist for trusting the wrong source and Finn just wants to help her get started again. His job is complicated and works for the government. The house they buy was sold because the previous owners were murdered. He's investigating their finances and she's looking for the murderer. When their investigation collide there is something sinister going on.

[Monica]

A new series by one of my favorite mystery writers. The premise is more suspenseful mystery than cozy mystery. A couple moves to the California coastal town of Santa Maris, where their neighbors seem friendly but are hiding secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Randi Cooper]

Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy

I really enjoyed this book. The twists and turns were a little predictable but I enjoyed it still. The writing was good and the story flowed well. The characters drew me in so I was invested in their life and the outcome of the story. It was a fun read perfectly timed for fall

[M. J. Baker]

Ok read. High paced and lots of action. Ok characters.

[Jaime]

This was a good book about a couple that moved into a new house and sets about solving the mystery of the couple that lived there before. Interesting characters and fun plot.

I received an early copy through Netgalley but all opinions are my own.