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Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #3
Murder in the First Edition
Addie Greyborne is preparing for the holidays at her bookstore in seaside New England--but a winter storm is coming, in more ways than one . . .
Addie's getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she's got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to donate. Her former colleagues at the Boston Public Library have confirmed that its worth runs toward the high five figures, which should help with the new pediatric wing. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who's in charge of the auction.
Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa's office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman's dead body. What she doesn't find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor'easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan's past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people's motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books . . .
Addie's getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she's got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to donate. Her former colleagues at the Boston Public Library have confirmed that its worth runs toward the high five figures, which should help with the new pediatric wing. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who's in charge of the auction.
Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa's office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman's dead body. What she doesn't find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor'easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan's past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people's motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books . . .
315 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 24, 2019
1258 people are currently reading
4208 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Elliott
14 books1,639 followersLauren grew up devouring the entire Nancy Drew series and then graduated to Victoria Holt, Agatha Christie, Barbara Erskine, Lynn Kurland, and Michael Crichton to name a few of her favorite authors. When it came time for post-secondary education, journalism seemed like the logical choice as she had written for as long as she could remember. Soon after graduation, while working for a small publication, she discovered that reporting wasn’t what fueled her writing passions. As someone with an additionally strong background in professional theater who had the love of storytelling and captivating and holding an audience, her fiction-writing career began to take center stage.
Lauren Elliott’s new Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series promises to keep readers guessing right up until the last chapter. Plot twists and an array of colorful characters make for page turning, whodunit adventures filled with suspense, mystery, murder and just a touch of romance.
Lauren Elliott’s new Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series promises to keep readers guessing right up until the last chapter. Plot twists and an array of colorful characters make for page turning, whodunit adventures filled with suspense, mystery, murder and just a touch of romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 509 reviews
September 13, 2019
It is really unfortunate that Addie is such an unlikable lead in this series. 👀 The writing, pace, and mystery were all very good in this book. 👍 The small town setting is charming. ❄ It was suitably festive. 🎄 The secondary characters are great.👤👤👤 I quite like both Simon and Marc. 👤👤 However, I don't understand why either of them would be interested in Addie. 😠 Like I mentioned above, she is honestly one of the most obnoxious leads I have ever run across in a cozy mystery series. 🔪 And that is saying something because "cozies" are known for annoying and unlikable lead characters. 😂 Honestly, a small part of me thinks David staged his own death to get out of having to marry her. 😂
That said, I doubt three books into a series the author will change the way she writes Addie, so I'll have to mull over if I can get over my dislike for her enough to continue on with this series. 👀
September 14, 2019
Addie Greyborne is donating an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol for a charity auction. When she goes to drop off the paperwork, she finds the woman in charge of the event dead and the valuable book missing. Addie is convinced that the woman's death is connected to the missing book and with the help of her best friend, Serena and her two love interests, Simon and Marc, she sets out to uncover the truth. I liked this book. The beautiful Christmas setting, coupled with a winter storm makes this a perfect read for December. However, I didn't care too much for the main character, Addie. She came across as a bit arrogant and seemed to enjoy playing with the emotions of her two love interests. I really liked her best friend, Serena, and was more interested in her than I was, Addie. The plot is complex, well developed, and the author provides plenty of red herrings. The pacing is slow in the beginning but once the story picked up halfway through, it did manage to keep me guessing until the end. The premise of the fourth book sounds really interesting so I will be giving this series another try. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 7, 2019
Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott is the third book of the cozy Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. Each book of this series contains it’s own mystery to solve so they could be read as a standalone or in any order. However, one would get to know the characters better reading the series in order with some character development carrying over book to book.
In the first book of this series, Murder by the Book, readers were introduced to Addison Greyborne who had returned to her hometown, a small New England town that had been named for her ancestors back in Colonial times. Addie had been still recovering from the murder of her finace, her father dying in a tragic accident and then had found out a long lost aunt had also died but left her whole estate to Addie.
Addie’s inheritance had given her the opportunity to start over and continue to work with books after leaving her job at the Boston Public Library. With her aunt having so many rare books in her collection and the funds to open a shop Addie decided to open Beyond the Page bookstore despite not everyone in town being overly welcoming. And now Addie finds herself investigating yet another murder when she had tried to donate a rare book to a charity auction and the organizer is found dead and Addie’s book is missing.
Having followed the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries from the beginning I think honestly my rating has dropped each time. The series had a little bit of a romantic suspense vibe to it with Addie being flirty with local law but now it’s moving into love triangle territory so that is frustrating since the characters aren’t my normally quirky cozy variety so I had enjoyed the slight twist to the romantic genre. Along with that though I felt the mystery seemed to get a little buried in the middle and started to lose my interest making the story drag some.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the first book of this series, Murder by the Book, readers were introduced to Addison Greyborne who had returned to her hometown, a small New England town that had been named for her ancestors back in Colonial times. Addie had been still recovering from the murder of her finace, her father dying in a tragic accident and then had found out a long lost aunt had also died but left her whole estate to Addie.
Addie’s inheritance had given her the opportunity to start over and continue to work with books after leaving her job at the Boston Public Library. With her aunt having so many rare books in her collection and the funds to open a shop Addie decided to open Beyond the Page bookstore despite not everyone in town being overly welcoming. And now Addie finds herself investigating yet another murder when she had tried to donate a rare book to a charity auction and the organizer is found dead and Addie’s book is missing.
Having followed the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries from the beginning I think honestly my rating has dropped each time. The series had a little bit of a romantic suspense vibe to it with Addie being flirty with local law but now it’s moving into love triangle territory so that is frustrating since the characters aren’t my normally quirky cozy variety so I had enjoyed the slight twist to the romantic genre. Along with that though I felt the mystery seemed to get a little buried in the middle and started to lose my interest making the story drag some.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
January 5, 2020
Christmas Cozy Mystery → 3.75 Stars → Bookstore owner Addie Greyborne has donated a very rare & expensive 1843 copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to the hospital's charity auction. When the organizer of the auction dies suspiciously and the book goes missing, Addie sets out to solve the crime despite a snowstorm barreling down on Greyborne Harbor.
The mystery was solid and complex, and I loved the New England bookstore/seaside setting. I can't resist a good fictional snowstorm, especially with some danger mixed in. Addie was a so-so character, but her best friend Serena was a delight. I enjoyed the mysterious return of Addie's almost father-in-law. Something I didn't care for was the love triangle between Addie and her two men. No, no, no. Just make a decision.
Overall, MURDER IN THE FIRST EDITION was a pleasant holiday mystery that made me want to read the first two books in the series. Borrowed from the library.
The mystery was solid and complex, and I loved the New England bookstore/seaside setting. I can't resist a good fictional snowstorm, especially with some danger mixed in. Addie was a so-so character, but her best friend Serena was a delight. I enjoyed the mysterious return of Addie's almost father-in-law. Something I didn't care for was the love triangle between Addie and her two men. No, no, no. Just make a decision.
Overall, MURDER IN THE FIRST EDITION was a pleasant holiday mystery that made me want to read the first two books in the series. Borrowed from the library.
September 9, 2019
This is the third in the Beyond the Page Bookstore mystery series by Lauren Eliott and follows much the same type of activities as those earlier in the series that have Addie, protagonist, determined to find the murderer. In this book, Addie has donated a valuable rare book to a charity auction and discovers almost at the beginning that the book is missing and the chairperson and organizations coordinator has been murdered. To add to Addie’s activities, the father of her deceased fiance has shown up in town, triggering old suspicions and resentments on Addie’s part. He has never been fully forthcoming about his activities and his life, and Addie pus all her pieces of information together and determines he is the prime suspect in the murder.
Addie’s lif is further complicated by being torn between two handsome men, both of whom have expressed an interest in her. First there’s Simon, a doctor who was introduced in the last book, and second Marc, the town sheriff. Unfortunately, a slip of the tongue on Addie’s part during an intimate kiss with Marc in the last book has put a strain on their relationship. Meanwhile, Simon is pursuing her in a charming manner.
Addie’s best friend, Serena, who also happens to be Marc’s sister, is helping her try to unravel the mystery and perhaps find the missing book. Meanwhile, Addie keeps receiving threats that if she continues trying to solve the murder, she will be sorry. Add to that the dropping in and out of her almost father-in-law, and his suggestion that she back off from the investigation since it may prove to be too dangerous, and Addie’s resolve is strengthened, not diminished.
This is another fun, light cozy that is a combination of mystery and romance. The book moves at a steady pace and there are sufficient clues and red herrings to make it entertaining. The real murderer isn’t difficult to figure out, nor is the hinted mystery of Addie’s almost father-in-law. It’s an easy book to pick up for a few minutes read, put down, then pick back up again when you have a bit more time. It would be an excellent book for an airplane read or to take to an office where you anticipate a wait because it is easy to read and follow while being entertaining at the same time.
Addie does come across as a bit younger than she is written to be. Having had a serious relationship with a man for over five years as well as being a college graduate, it might be expected that she could juggle romance a bit easier than she does. Her angst and confusion between the two men seems more typical of a teenager or young 20 year old than a more mature woman.
This is an entertaining series, in part because the secondary characters are well written and are evolving along with Addie. I look forward to learning how she proceeds with her next adventure. My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Addie’s lif is further complicated by being torn between two handsome men, both of whom have expressed an interest in her. First there’s Simon, a doctor who was introduced in the last book, and second Marc, the town sheriff. Unfortunately, a slip of the tongue on Addie’s part during an intimate kiss with Marc in the last book has put a strain on their relationship. Meanwhile, Simon is pursuing her in a charming manner.
Addie’s best friend, Serena, who also happens to be Marc’s sister, is helping her try to unravel the mystery and perhaps find the missing book. Meanwhile, Addie keeps receiving threats that if she continues trying to solve the murder, she will be sorry. Add to that the dropping in and out of her almost father-in-law, and his suggestion that she back off from the investigation since it may prove to be too dangerous, and Addie’s resolve is strengthened, not diminished.
This is another fun, light cozy that is a combination of mystery and romance. The book moves at a steady pace and there are sufficient clues and red herrings to make it entertaining. The real murderer isn’t difficult to figure out, nor is the hinted mystery of Addie’s almost father-in-law. It’s an easy book to pick up for a few minutes read, put down, then pick back up again when you have a bit more time. It would be an excellent book for an airplane read or to take to an office where you anticipate a wait because it is easy to read and follow while being entertaining at the same time.
Addie does come across as a bit younger than she is written to be. Having had a serious relationship with a man for over five years as well as being a college graduate, it might be expected that she could juggle romance a bit easier than she does. Her angst and confusion between the two men seems more typical of a teenager or young 20 year old than a more mature woman.
This is an entertaining series, in part because the secondary characters are well written and are evolving along with Addie. I look forward to learning how she proceeds with her next adventure. My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 30, 2019
I don’t think this should be read as a stand-alone or out of order, which I did. It’s set in December but not really holiday themed.
Addie is REALLY unlikeable. I don’t know how Marc or Simon deal with her. She’s wishywashy about her romances - which she thinks are just friends. *face palm* At times it’s painful to read. It’s ridiculously repetitive and I can’t imagine reading multiple books where it’s like this.
She’s not very good at crime solving either. She was all over the place. The same thing was discovered over and over, the plot was totally stalled, through most of the book. And then all of a sudden everything is solved.
Won’t read anything else in this series but finished to find out whodunnit.
Addie is REALLY unlikeable. I don’t know how Marc or Simon deal with her. She’s wishywashy about her romances - which she thinks are just friends. *face palm* At times it’s painful to read. It’s ridiculously repetitive and I can’t imagine reading multiple books where it’s like this.
She’s not very good at crime solving either. She was all over the place. The same thing was discovered over and over, the plot was totally stalled, through most of the book. And then all of a sudden everything is solved.
Won’t read anything else in this series but finished to find out whodunnit.
November 24, 2019
3.5 Stars
Murder in the First Edition was another delightful installment in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series.
Addie Greyborne is busier than ever with her bookstore now that the holiday season is underway. When she finds a rare 1843 copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in her attic, Addie knows it’s the perfect thing to donate to the hospital’s upcoming charity auction. But when Addie arrives at the hospital to deliver the appraisal paperwork for the book, she finds her book missing and the auction organizer, Teresa Lang, dead. After Addie begins her own investigation, she receives several threats to stop looking. Refusing to back down, Addie is in a race to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.
The mystery surrounding Teresa’s death was a good one as initially we have no idea if it was murder or an accident. Addie however is convinced it is murder, and that her book was stolen, so she promptly begins investigating. I like how Addie trusted her instincts more in this book as she has good ones. That’s not to say she doesn’t follow some dead end leads, but where would the fun be if she figured everything out on the first try? I thought the ending of the book, and Addie figuring out who was responsible, was very well done. There’s just enough suspense to keep things interesting and I completely bought into the reasoning behind the crimes.
Addie’s character is where I had issues with the previous two books and while I did like her more this time around, some of the issues I had with her before still happen in this book. Addie dislikes being told what to do, so when she is told to quit investigating she obviously doesn’t. I understand her still investigating, I mean that’s what makes this a cozy, but what I don’t like is the fact that Addie lies about it. Addie does get better about how often she lies in this book, so it wasn’t as much of an issue as the previous book, but it does still happen. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen at all in the next book as it’s a character flaw I can’t get past which is an issue when it’s the main character.
The love triangle between Addie, Marc, and Simon continues in this book and I disliked it as much as I did in the previous book when it was introduced. At one point, I thought we were going to get resolution on it only for the author to switch things up at the end and keep it going. I don’t have a clear preference for either of the men, but I hope Addie picks one of them in the next book just to end the triangle. A new character is introduced in this book, Jonathan Hemingway, the father of Addie’s late fiancé. Jonathan and Addie have some issues, primarily due to Jonathan’s womanizing ways which I also found to be irritating. I’m not a fan of men who are able to charm their way out of anything when it’s clear they don’t have good intentions.
Murder in the First Edition is the best book in the series thus far and I definitely think each book improves upon the previous one. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, Proof of Murder, releasing next year.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Murder in the First Edition was another delightful installment in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series.
Addie Greyborne is busier than ever with her bookstore now that the holiday season is underway. When she finds a rare 1843 copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in her attic, Addie knows it’s the perfect thing to donate to the hospital’s upcoming charity auction. But when Addie arrives at the hospital to deliver the appraisal paperwork for the book, she finds her book missing and the auction organizer, Teresa Lang, dead. After Addie begins her own investigation, she receives several threats to stop looking. Refusing to back down, Addie is in a race to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.
The mystery surrounding Teresa’s death was a good one as initially we have no idea if it was murder or an accident. Addie however is convinced it is murder, and that her book was stolen, so she promptly begins investigating. I like how Addie trusted her instincts more in this book as she has good ones. That’s not to say she doesn’t follow some dead end leads, but where would the fun be if she figured everything out on the first try? I thought the ending of the book, and Addie figuring out who was responsible, was very well done. There’s just enough suspense to keep things interesting and I completely bought into the reasoning behind the crimes.
Addie’s character is where I had issues with the previous two books and while I did like her more this time around, some of the issues I had with her before still happen in this book. Addie dislikes being told what to do, so when she is told to quit investigating she obviously doesn’t. I understand her still investigating, I mean that’s what makes this a cozy, but what I don’t like is the fact that Addie lies about it. Addie does get better about how often she lies in this book, so it wasn’t as much of an issue as the previous book, but it does still happen. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen at all in the next book as it’s a character flaw I can’t get past which is an issue when it’s the main character.
The love triangle between Addie, Marc, and Simon continues in this book and I disliked it as much as I did in the previous book when it was introduced. At one point, I thought we were going to get resolution on it only for the author to switch things up at the end and keep it going. I don’t have a clear preference for either of the men, but I hope Addie picks one of them in the next book just to end the triangle. A new character is introduced in this book, Jonathan Hemingway, the father of Addie’s late fiancé. Jonathan and Addie have some issues, primarily due to Jonathan’s womanizing ways which I also found to be irritating. I’m not a fan of men who are able to charm their way out of anything when it’s clear they don’t have good intentions.
Murder in the First Edition is the best book in the series thus far and I definitely think each book improves upon the previous one. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, Proof of Murder, releasing next year.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
September 23, 2019
Addie Greyborne is back for book three in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott. Addie donates a valuable book to a local charity auction. When Addie discovers the organizer of the event is dead and the donated book is missing, she investigates to discover who could be behind the murder and theft.
I've read the first book in this series, Murder by the Book, but haven't yet read the second book, Prologue to Murder. As with most series, this one is probably best read in order. This third book can be read as a standalone though.
I enjoy Addie's book store and the small town atmosphere. This is one of my favorite settings for a cozy mystery. The fact that the mystery revolves around a missing book only adds to my enjoyment. The mystery involves Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, and proves to be a valuable item for the local charity auction. Addie uses her knowledge of books to find the book thief.
The mystery is a standalone from the previous books, but Addie's personal story continues. In this book, she is reunited with someone from her past - her late fiancé's father. She doesn't really trust him, and this plays a big part of the story. Plus, Addie has a couple of local men interested in her, but she's having a hard time moving on and starting a new romance.
A delightful cozy mystery. I enjoyed this book, and plan to go back and read book 2 in the series. This is a cozy mystery series I look forward to keeping up with. Good for fans of cozies who enjoy bookish themes set in a small town.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read the first book in this series, Murder by the Book, but haven't yet read the second book, Prologue to Murder. As with most series, this one is probably best read in order. This third book can be read as a standalone though.
I enjoy Addie's book store and the small town atmosphere. This is one of my favorite settings for a cozy mystery. The fact that the mystery revolves around a missing book only adds to my enjoyment. The mystery involves Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, and proves to be a valuable item for the local charity auction. Addie uses her knowledge of books to find the book thief.
The mystery is a standalone from the previous books, but Addie's personal story continues. In this book, she is reunited with someone from her past - her late fiancé's father. She doesn't really trust him, and this plays a big part of the story. Plus, Addie has a couple of local men interested in her, but she's having a hard time moving on and starting a new romance.
A delightful cozy mystery. I enjoyed this book, and plan to go back and read book 2 in the series. This is a cozy mystery series I look forward to keeping up with. Good for fans of cozies who enjoy bookish themes set in a small town.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2019
Christmas is in the air and Addie Greybourne is pleased to donate a first edition of A Christmas Carol (I wantttt!!!!) for a charity auction. Her former colleague has appraised the book at around $60,000 which should bring enough money to help renovate the children's wing of the local hospital. Addie is not so thrilled when her late fiance's biological father blows into town in the wake of an impending storm. Jonathan Hemingway has a habit of appearing briefly and disappearing quickly, often with a woman, and leaving his family brokenhearted. Addie is prejudiced against Jonathan but she is glad to see him again. It's like seeing the ghost of David, whom she can't seem to let go much to the dismay of Marc and Simon. Addie is unhappy when Jonathan seems to charm her father's old friend Catherine. Catherine is swept off her feet and Addie fears the older woman will end up with a broken heart- again. Addie is also surprised to learn Jonathan and Teresa Lang, a hospital administrator in charge of the charity auction, are old friends. When Addie visits Teresa's office to hand off the appraisal papers, Addie is horrified to discover her friend's lifeless body crumpled at the foot of the stairs and even more upset that the book has gone missing! The police are not convinced the book has been stolen or that Teresa has been murdered. Angry, Addie decides to solve the mysteries on her own!
This was not the best mystery I've read. I stayed up late reading it but it turned out rather predictably. I was surprised at how far the crime actually spread and everyone in involved. Unfortunately, Addie's love problems take up too much space making the novel super long.
Addie annoyed me greatly in this novel. It's not the men who are the problem Addie, it's you. She can't let go of the past and be in the moment. I feel sorry for Marc and Simon. Addie also goes overboard with trying to solve the mystery and pin it on Jonathan. When Marc tells her to stay out, when Jonathan warns her off and even when a threatening message is left on her murder board she persists. She was told the crime was too big for her to solve and yet she digs in her heels and gets stubborn whenever anyone tells her no. I don't like heroines who act childish. I'm as stubborn as they come but seriously, I don't want to get killed. The police seem like they were doing their jobs but they can't share certain information with Addie since she's a civilian. What I did like about Addie is her relationship with Martha. I enjoyed that development and it seems they are coming to an understanding... slowly.
I think Addie is compatible with both Marc and Simon but Simon would be a better match. Marc is the police chief and that limits what he can and can't do and say in front of Addie. His inability to see in anything except black and white makes him an excellent cop but a bad boyfriend. He's too stubborn and proud for me. Simon too is also very proud and his rebound is not cool. Simon seems more thoughtful and has more of a sense of humor. He's the one making Addie breakfast in the morning but Marc knows Addie's moods like his own. (He also has the amazing Serena for a sister to help him learn what's going on).
Thank goodness for Serena! Now she has Zac she's not so annoying. She's still bubbly and fun but she's more grounded that Addie in this situation. Addie is blinded by her prejudice of Jonathan and Serena is feeling her brother's pain. Serena behaves sensibly without breaking the girl code. Catherine is a grown woman and can handle herself. If she gets hurt, it's on her. Addie worries too much. None of what happened to Catherine in the past is Addie's fault and nothing that happens in the future is Addie's fault either. Paige seems to be working out well. She loves to talk so that makes her a great saleswoman. She seems to be able to balance her mother and Addie well. Serena's boyfriend Zac is fun. They make a cute couple.
Teresa Lang doesn't get much page time. She seems like she was a sensible businesswoman who got the job done and did it well. Patrick, her assistant, is not so efficient. He seems in over his head with the charity auction and trying to find the missing book. When a snowstorm derails plans he panics and it takes Addie to give him the solution. I find something about his manner unpleasant. He doesn't seem very bright. Crystal, his assistant, is as dumb as a brick. She's kind of obnoxious and whiny. I think they're involved the crime somehow but are unwitting dupes because neither seems that bright. Jonathan Hemingway is Addie's chief suspect. He's certainly suspicious, ducking out to buy cigarettes and not coming back; staying during the storm when he claimed he was leaving ahead of it and just his mysterious lifestyle. Which side IS he on?
I question the author's knowledge of New England and also charity auctions. New England snowstorms don't usually close airports and highways. Flights may be cancelled and delayed but the airport doesn't close. I haven't heard of snowstorms shutting down highways- just stay off the road emergency vehicles and snowplows only. Nor'easters happen all the time. We're New Englanders. We panic ahead of the storm, talk about it a lot and then forget it by next year. Yes we do have mafia and they do come to small towns. No surprise there.
As for charity auctions, wouldn't the decorations be donated as well as the prizes? Wouldn't the board have to authorize spending, cancelling, postponing, whatever? Can a foundation really go broke just from one missed event?
This was not the best mystery I've read. I stayed up late reading it but it turned out rather predictably. I was surprised at how far the crime actually spread and everyone in involved. Unfortunately, Addie's love problems take up too much space making the novel super long.
Addie annoyed me greatly in this novel. It's not the men who are the problem Addie, it's you. She can't let go of the past and be in the moment. I feel sorry for Marc and Simon. Addie also goes overboard with trying to solve the mystery and pin it on Jonathan. When Marc tells her to stay out, when Jonathan warns her off and even when a threatening message is left on her murder board she persists. She was told the crime was too big for her to solve and yet she digs in her heels and gets stubborn whenever anyone tells her no. I don't like heroines who act childish. I'm as stubborn as they come but seriously, I don't want to get killed. The police seem like they were doing their jobs but they can't share certain information with Addie since she's a civilian. What I did like about Addie is her relationship with Martha. I enjoyed that development and it seems they are coming to an understanding... slowly.
I think Addie is compatible with both Marc and Simon but Simon would be a better match. Marc is the police chief and that limits what he can and can't do and say in front of Addie. His inability to see in anything except black and white makes him an excellent cop but a bad boyfriend. He's too stubborn and proud for me. Simon too is also very proud and his rebound is not cool. Simon seems more thoughtful and has more of a sense of humor. He's the one making Addie breakfast in the morning but Marc knows Addie's moods like his own. (He also has the amazing Serena for a sister to help him learn what's going on).
Thank goodness for Serena! Now she has Zac she's not so annoying. She's still bubbly and fun but she's more grounded that Addie in this situation. Addie is blinded by her prejudice of Jonathan and Serena is feeling her brother's pain. Serena behaves sensibly without breaking the girl code. Catherine is a grown woman and can handle herself. If she gets hurt, it's on her. Addie worries too much. None of what happened to Catherine in the past is Addie's fault and nothing that happens in the future is Addie's fault either. Paige seems to be working out well. She loves to talk so that makes her a great saleswoman. She seems to be able to balance her mother and Addie well. Serena's boyfriend Zac is fun. They make a cute couple.
Teresa Lang doesn't get much page time. She seems like she was a sensible businesswoman who got the job done and did it well. Patrick, her assistant, is not so efficient. He seems in over his head with the charity auction and trying to find the missing book. When a snowstorm derails plans he panics and it takes Addie to give him the solution. I find something about his manner unpleasant. He doesn't seem very bright. Crystal, his assistant, is as dumb as a brick. She's kind of obnoxious and whiny. I think they're involved the crime somehow but are unwitting dupes because neither seems that bright. Jonathan Hemingway is Addie's chief suspect. He's certainly suspicious, ducking out to buy cigarettes and not coming back; staying during the storm when he claimed he was leaving ahead of it and just his mysterious lifestyle. Which side IS he on?
I question the author's knowledge of New England and also charity auctions. New England snowstorms don't usually close airports and highways. Flights may be cancelled and delayed but the airport doesn't close. I haven't heard of snowstorms shutting down highways- just stay off the road emergency vehicles and snowplows only. Nor'easters happen all the time. We're New Englanders. We panic ahead of the storm, talk about it a lot and then forget it by next year. Yes we do have mafia and they do come to small towns. No surprise there.
As for charity auctions, wouldn't the decorations be donated as well as the prizes? Wouldn't the board have to authorize spending, cancelling, postponing, whatever? Can a foundation really go broke just from one missed event?
September 15, 2019
Christmas is coming to the charming New England seaside village of Greyborne Harbor. Addie Greyborne, protagonist and proprietress of Beyond the Page Bookstore has donated a valuable 1843 edition of Dickens', "A Christmas Carol" to the hospital foundation for their holiday gala auction. When she visits Teresa, the gala's coordinator, she finds the book missing and subsequently, Teresa's dead body. There's a bit of alcohol on Teresa's breath but was this really an accident or was foul play involved? Regardless of all the warnings she receives from her ex-beau Chief of Police, Marc Chandler, and Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her deceased fiancé, David, Addie cannot seem to keep her nose out of the investigation. She does, after all, have a vested interest in the whereabouts of the book she has donated.
This third book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series is charming and well written. Author Lauren Elliott, has deftly crafted a whodunit with twists, turns and many a red herring. The frigid nor'easter storm which howled out of the pages was fierce and beautifully devised such that it gave me shivers. The snowball fights were a nice touch of comic relief. As much as I wanted to, I did not love Addie's character. She's willful yet indecisive and can dangle the emotions of friends at the end of a stick. The supporting cast is, frankly, much more charming and I loved their interaction with one another as well as their grace with Addie. I look forward to reading other stories by this author and of a more mature Addie within this series.
I am grateful to Kensington Publishing for having provided a free ecopy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
This third book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series is charming and well written. Author Lauren Elliott, has deftly crafted a whodunit with twists, turns and many a red herring. The frigid nor'easter storm which howled out of the pages was fierce and beautifully devised such that it gave me shivers. The snowball fights were a nice touch of comic relief. As much as I wanted to, I did not love Addie's character. She's willful yet indecisive and can dangle the emotions of friends at the end of a stick. The supporting cast is, frankly, much more charming and I loved their interaction with one another as well as their grace with Addie. I look forward to reading other stories by this author and of a more mature Addie within this series.
I am grateful to Kensington Publishing for having provided a free ecopy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
March 25, 2022
This is my third book in the cozy mystery series and now I have mixed feelings about it. Do I enjoy the characters? Yes, but a couple of them are starting to aggravate me. Do I enjoy the storyline? Yes, but can we move on in the main character's relationships now? Halfway through I was thinking this would be where I end the series and then the story ended and I thought, "But what if they move on in book four and then I'd never know it?!?" So, I guess I'll be reading book four. 🤣
November 30, 2019
Full review to come
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I was surprised by how much I liked it. I'm new to the whole cozy mysterie genre, and I'm happy I tried this Christmas version out.
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I was surprised by how much I liked it. I'm new to the whole cozy mysterie genre, and I'm happy I tried this Christmas version out.
October 19, 2019
It is Christmas time in the seaside village of Greyborne Harbor and Addie is busier than ever in her Page Bookstore. When she finds a rare & valuable copy of 1843 edition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in her attic she decides to donate it to the hospital foundation for their holiday gala auction.
When Addie goes to visit Teresa, the Gala's coordinator things quickly become complicated. When Addie arrives at the hospital with the appraisal certificate she finds the book is missing, and Teresa is dead. The police believe that Teresa merely drank too much and fell to her death, but Addie feels like there is much more going on here, and can't help but get to the bottom of it. After Addie begins her own investigation, she receives several threats but refuses to back down.
I enjoyed the love triangle between Addie, Marc, and Simon in this book. I did not read the first two books so I wasn't sure if this had been going on for quite some time, but it was written as if it has been. I found myself rooting for both men in every scene as neither one is painted as a bad boy. We were also introduced to Jonathan Hemingway, the father of Addie’s late fiancé. Jonathan and Addie have some issues, primarily due to Jonathan’s womanizing ways and Addie still dealing with her own ghosts.
Addie is an interesting protagonist and there are plenty of quirky side characters to keep the books interesting. The mystery progressed at a nice pace with plenty of suspects and twists to keep my attention. This mystery was a bit complex and I found myself continuously changing my 'who done it' opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
#MurderInTheFirstEdition #NetGalley
When Addie goes to visit Teresa, the Gala's coordinator things quickly become complicated. When Addie arrives at the hospital with the appraisal certificate she finds the book is missing, and Teresa is dead. The police believe that Teresa merely drank too much and fell to her death, but Addie feels like there is much more going on here, and can't help but get to the bottom of it. After Addie begins her own investigation, she receives several threats but refuses to back down.
I enjoyed the love triangle between Addie, Marc, and Simon in this book. I did not read the first two books so I wasn't sure if this had been going on for quite some time, but it was written as if it has been. I found myself rooting for both men in every scene as neither one is painted as a bad boy. We were also introduced to Jonathan Hemingway, the father of Addie’s late fiancé. Jonathan and Addie have some issues, primarily due to Jonathan’s womanizing ways and Addie still dealing with her own ghosts.
Addie is an interesting protagonist and there are plenty of quirky side characters to keep the books interesting. The mystery progressed at a nice pace with plenty of suspects and twists to keep my attention. This mystery was a bit complex and I found myself continuously changing my 'who done it' opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
#MurderInTheFirstEdition #NetGalley
November 9, 2019
I was so excited to read this book because it fit my interest of bookstore-themed cozies, and got good reviews, but I was so disappointed. In my opinion, this was a mediocre cozy mystery. The characters weren't developed enough for me to get a feel for them and try to relate to them. I realize that this is the third book in the series, but the author didn't give me enough background information to envision these characters. The plot was far fetched. There was an over-use and incorrect use of the verbs bolt and dashed throughout the book. This reminded me of a situation when my elementary school class learned new "strong verbs" to include in their writing, and they got so excited to use the new words that they used them too much and often used them incorrectly.
My personal favorite cozy mystery authors are Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle, Leslie Meier, Ellie Alexander/Kate Dyer-Seeley, B. B. Haywood, Peg Cochran, and Amanda Flower. I enjoy reading books by these authors because of the attention to details in their books. Their books are well-researched. I can tell they have a lot of knowledge about the topics they are writing about. Whenever I read a new cozy mystery I compare the quality of the writing to the writing of these authors. This book couldn't come close, so I had to give it only two stars.
My personal favorite cozy mystery authors are Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle, Leslie Meier, Ellie Alexander/Kate Dyer-Seeley, B. B. Haywood, Peg Cochran, and Amanda Flower. I enjoy reading books by these authors because of the attention to details in their books. Their books are well-researched. I can tell they have a lot of knowledge about the topics they are writing about. Whenever I read a new cozy mystery I compare the quality of the writing to the writing of these authors. This book couldn't come close, so I had to give it only two stars.
December 6, 2019
I really struggled through this. One of my biggest pet peeves in cozy mysteries is when the main character, who is not in law enforcement in anyway, feels their entitled to information that they have no business receiving and this sums up Addie in a nutshell. She is entitled, arrogant and constantly complains that information is not being shared with her by the police chief. She's also shockingly inept and seriously lacking critical thinking skills. I rolled my eyes several times throughout the book when she came up with a ridiculous reason as to why two people were in the same place at the same time.
I also found the love triangle to be ridiculous and juvenile. Love triangles are pretty standard in most cozies I've read, but reading this I felt like I was back in high school. Plus Addie's obliviousness was just head scratching.
There were just so many issues with this and it made for a disappointing read.
I also found the love triangle to be ridiculous and juvenile. Love triangles are pretty standard in most cozies I've read, but reading this I felt like I was back in high school. Plus Addie's obliviousness was just head scratching.
There were just so many issues with this and it made for a disappointing read.
September 22, 2019
I've enjoyed this newer series from its beginning, and this installment is no exception. I think it's especially good, because it takes place at Christmas. I have to admit that Addie gets on my last nerve sometimes, but that's just part of her charm. She's like a big kid sometimes, but has a heart of gold and would do anything for those that she loves. She makes me dizzy with going back and forth between which guy she likes, and I usually end up just as confused as she is, but I will say that I'm still Team Marc ;) I'm just going to have to be more patient I guess! I loved that her almost father-in-law was included in this book, Jonathan Hemingway. He's a mysterious older guy with a real eye for the ladies who makes me think of a cross between DiNozzo Sr. and Richard Castle's father. Who wouldn't fall for his charm? Addie's friend Catherine definitely fell for him. I hope we get to see more of him!
I'd had an idea of who the killer was, but it was fun to see it play out. The showdown was a little bit nail biting, but Addie seemed to be somewhat in control when Marc and the officers showed up. I loved the comparison to A Christmas Carol (which was the featured book in this story) that Serena gave Addie's life. At the end, she finally saw what her young friend and a wise older friend were trying to tell her earlier. The ending was super festive and sweet. I'm pretty sure I know who she's leaning toward and hope that she stays leaning that way!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
I'd had an idea of who the killer was, but it was fun to see it play out. The showdown was a little bit nail biting, but Addie seemed to be somewhat in control when Marc and the officers showed up. I loved the comparison to A Christmas Carol (which was the featured book in this story) that Serena gave Addie's life. At the end, she finally saw what her young friend and a wise older friend were trying to tell her earlier. The ending was super festive and sweet. I'm pretty sure I know who she's leaning toward and hope that she stays leaning that way!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
November 24, 2019
I was very happy to win a copy of this book and had high hopes for my adventure with it. This was my first experience reading a book from the "Beyond the Page" series, so I have no opinion of the series overall. However, after reading this book, I can honestly say I won't be in a hurry to read another one in the series. On the "pro" side, I felt that I knew what was going on in the series despite not having read the other books and the book was easy to get back into after having to set it down for awhile. The mystery itself had the potential to be really good - it is what I found compelling in the first place. My dislike stems from the rest of the book, which feels, as a whole, like repetitive, childish filler instead of a strong multi-book story line. To me, the characters themselves are a huge part of the the issue. I found them two-dimensional to the point that they are slightly better than stereotypes and the main character Addie acts like a child. Then there is the constant "leave the detecting to the pros" and other mystery staple type high jinks that don't work well the way they are used here. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing read, although, in its defense, I was compelled enough by the mystery to finish it.
September 12, 2019
I just couldn't get past the writing style here. For instance, there seemed to be a million ways to smile--they formed on lips, tickled the corners of a mouth, graced lips, touched the corners of a mouth. Honestly, it felt like a book written using AI. It was all very stilted and weird feeling, and the writing style was so distracting that I couldn't actually read the book.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2019
First off can I just say wow! The third installment in the series is even better than the last, now the long wait till book four... Addie Greyborne is preparing for the holidays at her bookstore in seaside New England—but a winter storm is coming, in more ways than one . . . Addie’s getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she’s got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to donate. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who’s in charge of the auction. Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa’s office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman’s dead body. What she doesn’t find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor’easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan’s past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people’s motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books . . . I love the main set of characters, Addie, Selena, Paige and not to mention Marc and Simon (the men vying for Addie's affections). We had some new characters in this installment but they helped round out Addie's support system/family and make everything feel so real. Did I mention I'm team Marc... As for the mystery it was full of twists, turns and plenty of red herrings which made this a story I did not want to put down nor end ... it was like when you finish watching a movie and want to know what happens next to the heroine or people in the story however mundane that might be. Ms Elliott has made me invested in the lives of these characters and Greyborne Harbor. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Cozy mysteries. I would like to thank the author and Kensington Books for the Advance Readers Copy I requested and received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 7, 2020
Addie is so immature that it's ridiculous. I hate love triangles, and in this case I can't imagine why these two men are even still interested in her given how she acts around them. The most ridiculous thing to happen in the book is when the police chief decides to do Addie a favor by moving her stranded car from the police station lot to her store (which is pretty much across the street, by the way) but doesn't have the key--so he breaks into the car and hot wires it! Um...doesn't that pretty much destroy the ignition? Is this really doing someone a favor since now she has to get it fixed? Although, apparently not since she never took it to a garage but was somehow miraculously able to drive it. I also get really annoyed when cozy mystery characters spend next to no time actually working at their places of business. You own the shop! Don't you think you should maybe show up to work now and then? I think I am done with this series.
September 26, 2019
Murder In The First Edition is the third book in the A Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery series.
The local hospital is having a Charity Auction to raise funds for the pediatric wing and Addie Greyborne has donated an 1843 edition of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. She had sent the book to authenticated and has just received the certificate, which she hopes will mean the book will sell for even more than first thought. She heads for the hospital to give Teresa, chairperson for the auction, the certificate. She decides to take the stairs and when she enters the stairwell she comes across the lifeless body of Teresa. She first heads for Teresa’s office only to find the book is missing.
She wants the book found so that the auction will benefit from its sale and of course, she wants the murderer found too. But Chief of Police, Marc Chandler has been rather aloof and cold towards her lately and she’s sure he won’t be sharing much information about the investigation, so she figures that she will have to depend on her own sleuthing.
Addie is surprised when she gets a visit from her late fiance’s biological father, Jonathan. Jonathan has a reputation for appearing out of nowhere, romancing a woman and heading back out of town. He soon goes to the top of the suspect list when Addie learns had me might have been the last person to see Teresa alive. But she soon discovers that there are a few others that need to be checked out.
This was an easy story to read which moves at a nice pace. Most all of the characters from the previous books, also make an appearance in this book. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end.
I will be watching for the next book in the series.
The local hospital is having a Charity Auction to raise funds for the pediatric wing and Addie Greyborne has donated an 1843 edition of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. She had sent the book to authenticated and has just received the certificate, which she hopes will mean the book will sell for even more than first thought. She heads for the hospital to give Teresa, chairperson for the auction, the certificate. She decides to take the stairs and when she enters the stairwell she comes across the lifeless body of Teresa. She first heads for Teresa’s office only to find the book is missing.
She wants the book found so that the auction will benefit from its sale and of course, she wants the murderer found too. But Chief of Police, Marc Chandler has been rather aloof and cold towards her lately and she’s sure he won’t be sharing much information about the investigation, so she figures that she will have to depend on her own sleuthing.
Addie is surprised when she gets a visit from her late fiance’s biological father, Jonathan. Jonathan has a reputation for appearing out of nowhere, romancing a woman and heading back out of town. He soon goes to the top of the suspect list when Addie learns had me might have been the last person to see Teresa alive. But she soon discovers that there are a few others that need to be checked out.
This was an easy story to read which moves at a nice pace. Most all of the characters from the previous books, also make an appearance in this book. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end.
I will be watching for the next book in the series.
August 11, 2019
I've been a fan of this series from the first book and think that this third installment is an excellent addition. Addie finds herself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, discovering another body and once again putting her on the suspect list. This time around, Addie's almost father-in-law Jonathan arrives in town just before the murder happens and a valuable book is stolen. The mystery was complex and Ms. Elliott had me guessing almost the entire time. The way she had Addie make a case on why so many people could be the culprit had me second-guessing myself the entire time. I did not fully guess the entire resolution but thought the mystery was well done and wrapped up nicely.
The characters are growing and continue to develop with each new story. The secondary characters added to the story and often times will say something that causes the light bulb to go off for Addie. Relationships are progressing nicely and friendships are taking a bud and growing. The only hesitation I have is the focus on Addie's love life and the love triangle with Marc and Simon. However, I have it on good authority from the author that this will be wrapped up in the next book so I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I think once that storyline arc is complete the mystery will once again become the primary focus with the romance storyline in the background.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the author.
The characters are growing and continue to develop with each new story. The secondary characters added to the story and often times will say something that causes the light bulb to go off for Addie. Relationships are progressing nicely and friendships are taking a bud and growing. The only hesitation I have is the focus on Addie's love life and the love triangle with Marc and Simon. However, I have it on good authority from the author that this will be wrapped up in the next book so I am looking forward to seeing what happens. I think once that storyline arc is complete the mystery will once again become the primary focus with the romance storyline in the background.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the author.
October 27, 2019
Addie Greyborne is excited about the upcoming charity auction for the hospital. She is donating an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, valued at over $60.000.00. When she goes to drop off the paperwork, she finds the woman in charge of the event missing. As she leaves, she finds her body at the bottom of the stairs, dead. Where is the valuable book? Was this an accident or a murder? Addie is convinced that the woman's death is connected to the missing book and she is unable to keep her nose out of the investigation. With the help of her best friend, Serena she tries to put clues together and of course, eventually puts herself in danger.
I have been enjoying this series and liked this book. The Christmas season, even with a winter storm, makes this a good seasonal read. I did find Addie a bit annoying in this story. She is waffling between Mark and Simon and was rather rude to them throughout this story. I do like her best friend, Serena, and was happy to see her playing a larger role in this story. Throw in Johnathan, the father of her dead fiance and you find out a bit more about Addie's past. The plot is complex, which held my interest well. This is a well-written story with a lot of great characters. The mystery was well done with a lot of red herrings that had me changing my mind about what was going on several times. The reveal was very well done and had me sitting up to follow along. I will read more in this series as this series makes me think and entertains at the same time.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karen White. I did enjoy her narration. She has good expression and intonation to bring the story to life. What I did not like was that I could not picture the characters as she read this story. Her voice does not seem young enough for the characters in this story and she sounds a bit harsh. I will probably read the rest of this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I have been enjoying this series and liked this book. The Christmas season, even with a winter storm, makes this a good seasonal read. I did find Addie a bit annoying in this story. She is waffling between Mark and Simon and was rather rude to them throughout this story. I do like her best friend, Serena, and was happy to see her playing a larger role in this story. Throw in Johnathan, the father of her dead fiance and you find out a bit more about Addie's past. The plot is complex, which held my interest well. This is a well-written story with a lot of great characters. The mystery was well done with a lot of red herrings that had me changing my mind about what was going on several times. The reveal was very well done and had me sitting up to follow along. I will read more in this series as this series makes me think and entertains at the same time.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karen White. I did enjoy her narration. She has good expression and intonation to bring the story to life. What I did not like was that I could not picture the characters as she read this story. Her voice does not seem young enough for the characters in this story and she sounds a bit harsh. I will probably read the rest of this series. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
February 23, 2021
The third book in the series A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery. I can honestly say I am never disappointed with this series. I am absolutely captivated with each page I read.
Addie’s dead fiancé father made a visit but she was not happy seeing him. Everything that was happening, she wanted to point the finger at him. What she thought he was in the beginning was shattered when she found out who he really was.
Addie has to choose between Marc and Simon but she is so confused. After being kissed by both, she is non the wiser on who she wants to be with.
As always, I try and figure out who the killer is. Not this time. I got it wrong!
Loving this series!!
Addie’s dead fiancé father made a visit but she was not happy seeing him. Everything that was happening, she wanted to point the finger at him. What she thought he was in the beginning was shattered when she found out who he really was.
Addie has to choose between Marc and Simon but she is so confused. After being kissed by both, she is non the wiser on who she wants to be with.
As always, I try and figure out who the killer is. Not this time. I got it wrong!
Loving this series!!
November 4, 2019
A cozy mystery set in Greyborne Harbor, bookshop owner Addie donates a first edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to the local hospital charity auction. When the charity organizer suddenly dies and the book disappears, Addie immediately suspects murder and is determined to find out who did it and why.
The book is set in a small town during Christmas time which gives a cozy feel to the novel. The plot draws you in early on and I found myself interested in what happened to Teresa, the charity organizer. However, I did find the writing distracting and as the story progressed, the mystery became more and more convoluted to the point where I became uninterested. I do think fans of the series will enjoy it and it’s very festive for this time of year. However for me, unfortunately, it lost my interest at about the halfway point.
Thanks to the Kensington and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The book is set in a small town during Christmas time which gives a cozy feel to the novel. The plot draws you in early on and I found myself interested in what happened to Teresa, the charity organizer. However, I did find the writing distracting and as the story progressed, the mystery became more and more convoluted to the point where I became uninterested. I do think fans of the series will enjoy it and it’s very festive for this time of year. However for me, unfortunately, it lost my interest at about the halfway point.
Thanks to the Kensington and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2022
As they say, you can’t judge a book by its cover. The cover of this book is what drew me to it. I love to read holiday themed books at this time of the year and the cover is perfect. Unfortunately the cover was the only thing I liked. Plus the author seemed to forget it was to be Christmas themed thru most of the book. I disliked the entire cast of characters, Addie, the main character, in particular. The writing was awful. So much repetition, Overuse/misuse of verbs & adjectives... Not to mention a convoluted plot, solutions that made no sense. I can’t even begin to explain all the reasons I consider this to be one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I rolled my eyes thru the entire thing and if it weren’t for my annoying need to finish a book once I start it, would have put it down after the first chapter
June 14, 2019
LOVED it!!! I am soo happy with this series and where it is going. I think Addie is finally letting some of her grief go and is now facing the challenge of which man to choose. The story kept you guessing as to whodunnit and how they did it. I was definitely surprised with the murder weapon and the killers. Well done Ms. Elliott! Can’t wait for the next one!!!
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2020
It was just too corny for me. I couldn't stand how Marc and Simon kept touching that woman's face! Truly terrible writing. She came across as about 13 years old, so immature and annoying. The actual police force seemed to be run by idiots and she thinks she can just do whatever she wants involving the investigation. Also, I was hoping for a cozy Christmas mystery, and this was not festive at all.
September 9, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty intensive mystery, a little more intense than I usually like my cozies.
I didn't really have sympathy for the mc until the reveal about her fiance, then a lot of things made sense.
This one was very well written, just not my cup of tea.
This was a pretty intensive mystery, a little more intense than I usually like my cozies.
I didn't really have sympathy for the mc until the reveal about her fiance, then a lot of things made sense.
This one was very well written, just not my cup of tea.
January 2, 2020
I am done with this series. The main character is such a pain. The rest of the cast act like a bunch of overgrown toddlers.
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