What do you think?
Rate this book
Ashbrook Bookshop #1
Down the Rabbit Hole
The FIRST in a BRAND NEW cozy mystery series!
Alice Taylor has plenty on her hands with menopause, her bookshop, her ex-husband, her fighting children, and her daughter leaving for university, so the last thing she needs is a murder to solve.
But that's precisely what happens when she falls down the rabbit hole in search of a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland that she sold after it was accidentally donated to her shop. When the buyer of the book, Trevor, turns up dead, Alice vows to solve the mystery for the sake of Trevor's wife, and Alice's best friend, Minnie.
With old and new faces lurking around the sleepy town of Ashbrook, Alice isn't short of suspects, but who would murder for the sake of a book? As her life starts to resemble the wacky world of Wonderland, can Alice solve Trevor's murder before it's too late?
Alice Taylor has plenty on her hands with menopause, her bookshop, her ex-husband, her fighting children, and her daughter leaving for university, so the last thing she needs is a murder to solve.
But that's precisely what happens when she falls down the rabbit hole in search of a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland that she sold after it was accidentally donated to her shop. When the buyer of the book, Trevor, turns up dead, Alice vows to solve the mystery for the sake of Trevor's wife, and Alice's best friend, Minnie.
With old and new faces lurking around the sleepy town of Ashbrook, Alice isn't short of suspects, but who would murder for the sake of a book? As her life starts to resemble the wacky world of Wonderland, can Alice solve Trevor's murder before it's too late?
- GenresCozy MysteryCozy
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2018
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 21, 2018
Getting even
A good, quick read but with a nice twist. Must admit that the culprit took me by surprise. However the characters need a bit more work to make them really come alive.
Divorce had been hard on all of them and she had prepared this meal as a send off for her youngest who is leaving for university the next day. She really didn't expect the meal to end with an irate friend knocking on her door about a book he had donated to her bookshop. Putting that aside she tried to make the best of the hours left with her daughter. Now that she has gone she goes to talk to the person that bought the book only to find his body. Who killed him? Illicit affairs, a well known antiquarian, another body and another book missing are all wrapped up in a fast read that you will fly through.
A good, quick read but with a nice twist. Must admit that the culprit took me by surprise. However the characters need a bit more work to make them really come alive.
Divorce had been hard on all of them and she had prepared this meal as a send off for her youngest who is leaving for university the next day. She really didn't expect the meal to end with an irate friend knocking on her door about a book he had donated to her bookshop. Putting that aside she tried to make the best of the hours left with her daughter. Now that she has gone she goes to talk to the person that bought the book only to find his body. Who killed him? Illicit affairs, a well known antiquarian, another body and another book missing are all wrapped up in a fast read that you will fly through.
December 25, 2018
For her first book Ms. Amber did a good job. The story was easy to follow and a quick read. I'm interested in reading additional books that follow these characters to watch them evolve.
November 26, 2018
I’ve fallen in love with cozy mysteries and this new series is no exception. I am fascinated with Alice and her dysfunctional family. I like the dynamic between the divorced middle aged couple, their grown children and perhaps entering the dating world. Plus, she owns a bookstore! I mean it’s just pulling at all of my heartstrings. The mystery itself was nicely woven together with lots of parts to untangle. Really not predictable and that made the story and suspects flow nicely toward the unveiling of culprit. A fun read.
November 23, 2018
Fascinating, Puzzling, and Scary
I enjoyed reading "Down the Rabbit Hole" from beginning to end. The setting is delightful. The characters and their development and interaction crew me into the story As an observer, which I really like, and the pace is perfect. I especially was surprised to discover the murderer and didn't know until Alice realized. A great success. Congratulations, Evelyn!
I enjoyed reading "Down the Rabbit Hole" from beginning to end. The setting is delightful. The characters and their development and interaction crew me into the story As an observer, which I really like, and the pace is perfect. I especially was surprised to discover the murderer and didn't know until Alice realized. A great success. Congratulations, Evelyn!
November 20, 2018
Loved this book! A really good start to a new cozy series.
November 23, 2018
Great read
Cant wait for next book in the series. I would highly recommend this book. Leaves you guessing who did it.
Cant wait for next book in the series. I would highly recommend this book. Leaves you guessing who did it.
January 10, 2019
Down the Rabbit Hole is the first in the Ashbrook Bookshop cozy mystery series from author Evelyn Amber - a pseudonym for author Agatha Frost. It follows middle-aged bookshop owner Alice Taylor as she stumbles upon the body of her best friends husband and attempts to solve the mystery of a priceless copy of Alice in Wonderland that has gone missing.
Having recently read the first in Agatha Frost’a Peridale Cafe cozy mystery series I was sure that I was going to love this one. But - oh dear - there is just no comparison between the two! Amber’s series debut is much less polished, with the Kindle version littered with grammatical errors (the most annoying of which being ‘led on the bed’ when a character was - presumably - ‘laid on the bed’) and the story never really took off for me. The mystery seemed second to Alice’s family woes - ex-husband Gordon and his midlife crisis, sulky Lucas, and daughter Holly embarking on life at university. It was more padding to fill the pages than actual story, when the mystery itself could have been solved in half the time.
Usually I try not to end a review on a negative note but unfortunately I’m really struggling to find anything positive to say about this book. It will not be a series I continue with, I’m afraid. But don’t let this put you off Agatha Frost’s Peridale Cafe series - a much better series in my opinion.
Having recently read the first in Agatha Frost’a Peridale Cafe cozy mystery series I was sure that I was going to love this one. But - oh dear - there is just no comparison between the two! Amber’s series debut is much less polished, with the Kindle version littered with grammatical errors (the most annoying of which being ‘led on the bed’ when a character was - presumably - ‘laid on the bed’) and the story never really took off for me. The mystery seemed second to Alice’s family woes - ex-husband Gordon and his midlife crisis, sulky Lucas, and daughter Holly embarking on life at university. It was more padding to fill the pages than actual story, when the mystery itself could have been solved in half the time.
Usually I try not to end a review on a negative note but unfortunately I’m really struggling to find anything positive to say about this book. It will not be a series I continue with, I’m afraid. But don’t let this put you off Agatha Frost’s Peridale Cafe series - a much better series in my opinion.
August 6, 2019
This book is quintessential cozy. I enjoyed it, especially as the first in a new series. Other reviewers have said the main/recurring characters could use more development, and I tend to agree to an extent--but I hope and assume that will be coming as the series rolls out.
The setting (small town Britain, bookstore and cafe) are classic cozy charm. The protagonist is easy to identify with (it probably helps that I'm about her age). And the mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing!
I do agree (somewhat) with comments about typos and missing words. "Poirot" was misspelled, and that almost seems unforgivable in a mystery. But I hope that Ms. Amber takes this feedback and gets one more proofread done on her future books. It wasn't distracting enough for me to take me out of the story or knock off a star. I still count this as lovely new series entrant!
The setting (small town Britain, bookstore and cafe) are classic cozy charm. The protagonist is easy to identify with (it probably helps that I'm about her age). And the mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing!
I do agree (somewhat) with comments about typos and missing words. "Poirot" was misspelled, and that almost seems unforgivable in a mystery. But I hope that Ms. Amber takes this feedback and gets one more proofread done on her future books. It wasn't distracting enough for me to take me out of the story or knock off a star. I still count this as lovely new series entrant!
March 17, 2019
Stunned me. Was not expecting THAT person to be the murderer! Thank you, Evelyn Amber. It's been a long time since I was stunned.
Plot was well done. Alice owns a books store in a small town in England. Her friend Barry donates a box of old books, which she resells. One is a rare edition. This is the only problem I personally have with the novel. Alice, as a book store owner and a book lover herself, should have realized the book was valuable. That said, those who do realize its value, want it. One wants to pay off debts. One collects rare antiques. One wants to escape a sad marriage. One wants to escape a murder. And poor Alice. She finds herself in the middle of everything as she discovers the truth almost too late.
Plot was well done. Alice owns a books store in a small town in England. Her friend Barry donates a box of old books, which she resells. One is a rare edition. This is the only problem I personally have with the novel. Alice, as a book store owner and a book lover herself, should have realized the book was valuable. That said, those who do realize its value, want it. One wants to pay off debts. One collects rare antiques. One wants to escape a sad marriage. One wants to escape a murder. And poor Alice. She finds herself in the middle of everything as she discovers the truth almost too late.
Read
July 8, 2023A delightful read.
Having read the books that Evelyn co-wrote with Agatha Frost I felt I should give this a go. It was a charming light hearted murder, so to speak with some great characters. Nice concept and very quirky. I liked the main character of Alice and the parallels with Alice in wonderland, interesting concept. I never like to divulge much except it's do with first editions of rare books and infidelity. Through in some humour and away you go. My only one criticism would be on the proof reading and editing as there were some moments when I had to re-read a sentence to make it make sense! Other than that, enjoy. I look forward to reading the next one when I can find it!
Having read the books that Evelyn co-wrote with Agatha Frost I felt I should give this a go. It was a charming light hearted murder, so to speak with some great characters. Nice concept and very quirky. I liked the main character of Alice and the parallels with Alice in wonderland, interesting concept. I never like to divulge much except it's do with first editions of rare books and infidelity. Through in some humour and away you go. My only one criticism would be on the proof reading and editing as there were some moments when I had to re-read a sentence to make it make sense! Other than that, enjoy. I look forward to reading the next one when I can find it!
December 12, 2018
Okay
Overall the book was okay. There were a few editing and spelling errors but that might be the e-book version, I also thought it was weird for the term high school to be used instead of secondary school. I feel like the plot was decent, but the main character didn't really participate in solving the murder she just went on with life and discovered the murderer on accident. It was a quick read but I didn't enjoy it enough to contribute the series.
Overall the book was okay. There were a few editing and spelling errors but that might be the e-book version, I also thought it was weird for the term high school to be used instead of secondary school. I feel like the plot was decent, but the main character didn't really participate in solving the murder she just went on with life and discovered the murderer on accident. It was a quick read but I didn't enjoy it enough to contribute the series.
July 14, 2020
A very nice book to read with a hot choc and some biscuits. Some people have picked up on slight spelling mistakes and yea some grammatical errors but this really does not take anything away from the story.
I would have liked more character development however I really do feel the story copes just fine without it.
It's a shame there won't be another book although from speaking with Eve, it isn't totally out of the question.
I would have liked more character development however I really do feel the story copes just fine without it.
It's a shame there won't be another book although from speaking with Eve, it isn't totally out of the question.
May 13, 2020
Nice twist
Nice twist to the ending. But can someone please check the editing? There were a few very minor faults made such as the word "led" instead of "lay". Annoying, but not stopping me from looking forward to the next book.
Nice twist to the ending. But can someone please check the editing? There were a few very minor faults made such as the word "led" instead of "lay". Annoying, but not stopping me from looking forward to the next book.
February 9, 2019
Fabulous
Love this story love the characters and this is another brilliant cost mystery which is my absolute favourite genre can't wait for a second hope Alice is in the next
Love this story love the characters and this is another brilliant cost mystery which is my absolute favourite genre can't wait for a second hope Alice is in the next
March 2, 2019
Adorable
Adorable mystery that has a great mix of modern day and references to some great classics! I really enjoyed it!
Adorable mystery that has a great mix of modern day and references to some great classics! I really enjoyed it!
March 26, 2019
Despite the odd mistake possibly missed during the books edit, the writing was brilliant.
I read this in a day and really did enjoy it.
I read this in a day and really did enjoy it.
October 1, 2019
A decent cozy, I enjoyed the literary ties to Alice in Wonderland, I thought those were spot on. I just didn't connect to the characters and felt the overall story a bit far fetched.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews