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Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4
Proof of Murder
Bookshop owner Addie Greyborne must solve a locked-room murder in a supposedly haunted mansion to recover a priceless Sherlock Holmes original . . .
The seaside New England town of Greyborne Harbor is home to many grand estates, including the Queen Anne Victorian Addie inherited from her great aunt. Now one of those mansions is holding an estate sale, which is just what the bookshop owner needs to replenish her supply of rare editions—even if the house is rumored to be haunted. Assisting an overwhelmed insurance appraiser with the inventory, Addie discovers an 1887 magazine containing Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, which she estimates to be worth over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
But when Addie later finds the appraiser dead in the estate's private library, with the door bolted from the inside, and the priceless edition missing, it's a mystery worthy of the Great Detective himself. She's certain the death and the robbery are connected—but who, other than a ghost who can walk through walls, could have gotten in to do the deed? It's up to Addie to find the key to the crime—before she's the next one cornered by a killer . . .
The seaside New England town of Greyborne Harbor is home to many grand estates, including the Queen Anne Victorian Addie inherited from her great aunt. Now one of those mansions is holding an estate sale, which is just what the bookshop owner needs to replenish her supply of rare editions—even if the house is rumored to be haunted. Assisting an overwhelmed insurance appraiser with the inventory, Addie discovers an 1887 magazine containing Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, which she estimates to be worth over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
But when Addie later finds the appraiser dead in the estate's private library, with the door bolted from the inside, and the priceless edition missing, it's a mystery worthy of the Great Detective himself. She's certain the death and the robbery are connected—but who, other than a ghost who can walk through walls, could have gotten in to do the deed? It's up to Addie to find the key to the crime—before she's the next one cornered by a killer . . .
316 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 2020
1176 people are currently reading
6086 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Elliott
14 books1,638 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 386 reviews
April 10, 2020
In this fourth installment in Lauren Elliott's Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series, Addie Greyborne is attending an auction preview at a mansion that is rumored to be haunted. When she arrives, she finds an old family friend in charge of the auction and offers to help his overwhelmed insurance appraiser with the inventory, some of which are extremely rare and valuable books. The next morning, the appraiser is found dead and the valuable books are missing. Marc is back in town and is investigating the theft, but he's not alone. He's bought along an FBI agent, who seems to be his new girlfriend. She immediately decides that Addie is the culprit and does everything she can to prove it. Someone seems to have gone to great lengths to frame Addie, and she is determined to clear her name and find the real culprit.
I found this book to be a well-written, delightful, and thoroughly entertaining read. I didn't care much for Addie in Murder in the First Edition, however, I really fell in love with her character in this book. I thought she was witty, smart, headstrong, and I really admired her ability to think outside the box when searching for clues. The mystery was well-crafted, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep readers engaged until the last page. I really liked the haunted house theme, and the way the history of the house was woven into the present.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging, the characters interesting, and the setting charming. There are also two new characters that are sure to add intrigue to the story. I look forward to spending more time in Greyborne Harbor with Addie and the gang.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be a well-written, delightful, and thoroughly entertaining read. I didn't care much for Addie in Murder in the First Edition, however, I really fell in love with her character in this book. I thought she was witty, smart, headstrong, and I really admired her ability to think outside the box when searching for clues. The mystery was well-crafted, with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep readers engaged until the last page. I really liked the haunted house theme, and the way the history of the house was woven into the present.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging, the characters interesting, and the setting charming. There are also two new characters that are sure to add intrigue to the story. I look forward to spending more time in Greyborne Harbor with Addie and the gang.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2021
Proof of Murder by Lauren Elliott is the fourth 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 fiance, 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. Now Addie finds herself in a supposedly haunted mansion trying to solve a murder in a locked room.
I have been following the Beyond the Page Bookstore series from the beginning and it isn’t quite as quirky and humorous as I normally prefer but I have still enjoyed reading. The books started off feeling like it had a touch of romantic suspense to it as Addie got close to the police chief and worked together instead of completely on her own in most cozies. As the series goes on I keep finding myself coming back and with this fourth book of the series I would again rate it at three and a half stars.
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 fiance, 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. Now Addie finds herself in a supposedly haunted mansion trying to solve a murder in a locked room.
I have been following the Beyond the Page Bookstore series from the beginning and it isn’t quite as quirky and humorous as I normally prefer but I have still enjoyed reading. The books started off feeling like it had a touch of romantic suspense to it as Addie got close to the police chief and worked together instead of completely on her own in most cozies. As the series goes on I keep finding myself coming back and with this fourth book of the series I would again rate it at three and a half stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 4, 2020
I would like to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the fourth in the Beyond the Page book series featuring Addie Greyborne by Lauren Elliott. As in the previous three books, Elliott shows a talent for plotting a mystery with good clues and red herrings. The book features secondary characters who have been introduced in previous books, including Addie’s best friend, Serena, former flame and police chief Marc, and new romantic interest and coroner Simon. She also introduces a new antagonist for Addie, Ryley, an FBI and Marc’s current love interest.
The mystery is a locked room mystery, in an old mansion that is reportedly haunted. Addie is regularly confronted with the supposed haunted aspect of the mansion as she encounters “cold spots and wispy specters out of the corner of her eye. While she doesn’t believe in ghosts, the continued occurrences cause her to question her own skepticism.
Ryley seems to have it in for Addie from their first meeting. She pushes Marc to take Addie in for questioning almost immediately and spends most of her time sending Addie hate looks as well as making statements that indicate she is focused on finding information that will lead to Addie’s arrest and conviction.
While this mystery is well plotted and the investigations done by Addie are fairly well thought out for the most part, this is overshadowed by the quick rush to accuse Addie of the murder and the tension and negative feelings between her, Ryley, and Marc who is apparently allowing Ryley to lead him around by the nose with little or no question. It was difficult to believe that someone who just months ago was asking Addie to marry him could so completely agree with the suspicions put forward by Ryley. The negative tone between Ryley, Addie, and Marc spoiled some of my enjoyment in the book as it seemed overblown and rushed, as if Elliott was trying to manufacture tension to increase the story’s appeal. In addition, some of the back-biting and one-upping that took place between Addie and Ryley felt more like two high-schoolers than adult women who had achieved a measure of success in their life and careers.
The mystery is a locked room mystery, in an old mansion that is reportedly haunted. Addie is regularly confronted with the supposed haunted aspect of the mansion as she encounters “cold spots and wispy specters out of the corner of her eye. While she doesn’t believe in ghosts, the continued occurrences cause her to question her own skepticism.
Ryley seems to have it in for Addie from their first meeting. She pushes Marc to take Addie in for questioning almost immediately and spends most of her time sending Addie hate looks as well as making statements that indicate she is focused on finding information that will lead to Addie’s arrest and conviction.
While this mystery is well plotted and the investigations done by Addie are fairly well thought out for the most part, this is overshadowed by the quick rush to accuse Addie of the murder and the tension and negative feelings between her, Ryley, and Marc who is apparently allowing Ryley to lead him around by the nose with little or no question. It was difficult to believe that someone who just months ago was asking Addie to marry him could so completely agree with the suspicions put forward by Ryley. The negative tone between Ryley, Addie, and Marc spoiled some of my enjoyment in the book as it seemed overblown and rushed, as if Elliott was trying to manufacture tension to increase the story’s appeal. In addition, some of the back-biting and one-upping that took place between Addie and Ryley felt more like two high-schoolers than adult women who had achieved a measure of success in their life and careers.
April 22, 2020
The fourth book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series. Addie is back with another murder mystery in the quaint town of Greyborne Harbor. While helping appraise items for a local estate sale, Addie discovers a first edition of A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes novel. When Addie returns to the estate later, she discovers the appraiser has been killed and the valuable edition is missing.
A locked room mystery. Due to Addie's involvement with the appraisal, she's on the short list of suspects. Addie wants to solve the mystery to prove her innocence and find the real killer.
I've enjoyed each book in this series, and was happy to see Addie was back for another mystery. The small town setting is great, and I especially enjoy Addie's bookstore. A series worth checking out for fans of cozies.
An entertaining cozy mystery. Well paced story. Complex mystery. Interesting characters. Delightful and fun.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A locked room mystery. Due to Addie's involvement with the appraisal, she's on the short list of suspects. Addie wants to solve the mystery to prove her innocence and find the real killer.
I've enjoyed each book in this series, and was happy to see Addie was back for another mystery. The small town setting is great, and I especially enjoy Addie's bookstore. A series worth checking out for fans of cozies.
An entertaining cozy mystery. Well paced story. Complex mystery. Interesting characters. Delightful and fun.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2020
Newest Adventure Details:
Where: Greyborne Harbor, Connecticut
Who: Addie and friends
I was really excited about heading to New England, meeting Addie, and wandering through the aisles of Beyond the page (Addie’s bookstore). The auction I was going to attend with her...I could take or leave. Upon arriving I got a quick tour of the shop and met Paige (Adde’s assistant @ the bookstore), and then Addie was rushing us out the door to head to the estate sale for a sneak peek of the books. Even though auctions aren’t really my thing...I was excited to wander through the mansion, and intrigued when Addie told me the estate was supposedly haunted. We finally made it to the house...it would have been faster, but some impatient driver whipped into a spot Addie was clearly going for. After the rude encounter and finally finding a parking spot we made our way inside and headed straight to the library. This place was truly amazing! Addie was looking @ some very valuable Sherlock Holmes books, when a woman came bursting in yelling at us for being in the library. She was going on about a sign on the door, but the door was open when we came in, and the sign was hidden. The woman seemed to be not listening to explanation when an older gentleman came in to see what the fuss was about. Turns out the older gentleman Blake was a friend of Addie’s father, and was handling the estate sale. This day was a reunion of sorts...we had already run into Addie’s long-lost cousin Kalea. The angry woman turned out to be the appraiser of the sale Charlotte McAdams. Addie offered to help Charlotte with the inventory of the books for the sale. After the lady realized who Addie was...apparently Addie was well known for her appraisal of rare books @ the Boston Public Library, and the stress she was under for the sale to go well….she was happy to have Addie’s help. Well a couple things about that statement are wrong...first she wasn’t happy (she really wasn’t even grateful for the help), and two it wasn’t just Addie’s help...it was also mine and her cousin Kalea’s help. We worked for what seemed like forever. Finally we wrapped up, and went home….well actually after helping all day doing their work...we were not so kindly Dismissed. The next morning when we arrived for the auction...we greeted Blake and agreed to do a few odds/ends things before meeting up at the library to check on Charlotte and her assistant Robert. When we made our way to the library we knocked and waited for your highness to grant entry. It was silent and the door was locked. Blake had a master key...so no problem. Problem...after unlocking the door it still wouldn’t open. Blake explained that there was a bolt that could only be latched from the inside. Needless to say it was like fort knox getting into the room. We finally got the door open, but it took the maintenance guy to do it…. at first we thought the room was empty….but how could someone lock it from the inside? Then we noticed that someone was sitting in the chair, and it was turned around….anyone see where i'm going with this? Yep, the woman in that chair was dead! The woman was Charlotte McAdams the appraiser for the estate sale. Her death was labeled a homicide. Here’s a tip for you: when your ex boyfriend’s (chief of police) new girlfriend is an FBI agent...that just wants to “speed up the investigation” you get put at the top of the suspect list. We had to work fast to figure out what really happened to those precious missing books...oh and Charlotte…
My thoughts:
I have never read any of the other books in this series, and although it is a stand alone...it would have been very helpful to have read the first three first. Especially to understand that dynamic between Mark and Addie. I enjoyed the author's writing style and I thought the mystery was done well. It kept me guessing from start to finish with lots of twists and turns. The main character was witty,intelligent, and maybe a little bit stubborn at times. The secondary characters were well developed, but I will say I don’t like really mean characters (a little obstinate/cranky fine but just plain mean...no) in my cozy (and some of these characters were right at my line in the sand)...unless they are being offed….otherwise I think it takes away from the cozy vibe.
My best endorsement is to say that immediately upon finishing this book...I ordered books 1-3. It’s getting harder and harder to hide the amazon boxes from my husband. Lol.
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @ http://beachbumbookworm.com/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Lauren Elliott, and the publisher for this opportunity.
Where: Greyborne Harbor, Connecticut
Who: Addie and friends
I was really excited about heading to New England, meeting Addie, and wandering through the aisles of Beyond the page (Addie’s bookstore). The auction I was going to attend with her...I could take or leave. Upon arriving I got a quick tour of the shop and met Paige (Adde’s assistant @ the bookstore), and then Addie was rushing us out the door to head to the estate sale for a sneak peek of the books. Even though auctions aren’t really my thing...I was excited to wander through the mansion, and intrigued when Addie told me the estate was supposedly haunted. We finally made it to the house...it would have been faster, but some impatient driver whipped into a spot Addie was clearly going for. After the rude encounter and finally finding a parking spot we made our way inside and headed straight to the library. This place was truly amazing! Addie was looking @ some very valuable Sherlock Holmes books, when a woman came bursting in yelling at us for being in the library. She was going on about a sign on the door, but the door was open when we came in, and the sign was hidden. The woman seemed to be not listening to explanation when an older gentleman came in to see what the fuss was about. Turns out the older gentleman Blake was a friend of Addie’s father, and was handling the estate sale. This day was a reunion of sorts...we had already run into Addie’s long-lost cousin Kalea. The angry woman turned out to be the appraiser of the sale Charlotte McAdams. Addie offered to help Charlotte with the inventory of the books for the sale. After the lady realized who Addie was...apparently Addie was well known for her appraisal of rare books @ the Boston Public Library, and the stress she was under for the sale to go well….she was happy to have Addie’s help. Well a couple things about that statement are wrong...first she wasn’t happy (she really wasn’t even grateful for the help), and two it wasn’t just Addie’s help...it was also mine and her cousin Kalea’s help. We worked for what seemed like forever. Finally we wrapped up, and went home….well actually after helping all day doing their work...we were not so kindly Dismissed. The next morning when we arrived for the auction...we greeted Blake and agreed to do a few odds/ends things before meeting up at the library to check on Charlotte and her assistant Robert. When we made our way to the library we knocked and waited for your highness to grant entry. It was silent and the door was locked. Blake had a master key...so no problem. Problem...after unlocking the door it still wouldn’t open. Blake explained that there was a bolt that could only be latched from the inside. Needless to say it was like fort knox getting into the room. We finally got the door open, but it took the maintenance guy to do it…. at first we thought the room was empty….but how could someone lock it from the inside? Then we noticed that someone was sitting in the chair, and it was turned around….anyone see where i'm going with this? Yep, the woman in that chair was dead! The woman was Charlotte McAdams the appraiser for the estate sale. Her death was labeled a homicide. Here’s a tip for you: when your ex boyfriend’s (chief of police) new girlfriend is an FBI agent...that just wants to “speed up the investigation” you get put at the top of the suspect list. We had to work fast to figure out what really happened to those precious missing books...oh and Charlotte…
My thoughts:
I have never read any of the other books in this series, and although it is a stand alone...it would have been very helpful to have read the first three first. Especially to understand that dynamic between Mark and Addie. I enjoyed the author's writing style and I thought the mystery was done well. It kept me guessing from start to finish with lots of twists and turns. The main character was witty,intelligent, and maybe a little bit stubborn at times. The secondary characters were well developed, but I will say I don’t like really mean characters (a little obstinate/cranky fine but just plain mean...no) in my cozy (and some of these characters were right at my line in the sand)...unless they are being offed….otherwise I think it takes away from the cozy vibe.
My best endorsement is to say that immediately upon finishing this book...I ordered books 1-3. It’s getting harder and harder to hide the amazon boxes from my husband. Lol.
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @ http://beachbumbookworm.com/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Lauren Elliott, and the publisher for this opportunity.
August 3, 2020
This was Scooby-Doo if Scooby-Doo was dumb.
I understand why the plot required Addie (sorry if my spelling is off, I listened to the audiobook) be a suspect - character motivation and all that good stuff. However, when that is done at the expense of making everyone else look stupid, petty, and/or incompetent the book suffers.
The worst part is most of these issues would have been fixed had Riley and Mark focused on Kalia as the murderer. She mysteriously shows up in town at the behest of her shady collector boyfriend, finds ridiculously rare and expensive books, then disappears just as suddenly when those books go missing and when there is a murder. There is no good reason to not have her be the reason Addie is invested in the murder all while making the reader guess at whats going on.
This book was so dumb and disappointing I can't even be happy my ship has sailed. Which reminds me, why have Mark's proposal in an offhand reference instead at the end of the last book? You wasted good relationship tension that could have lead into this book. Arg! I'm so frustrated.
I understand why the plot required Addie (sorry if my spelling is off, I listened to the audiobook) be a suspect - character motivation and all that good stuff. However, when that is done at the expense of making everyone else look stupid, petty, and/or incompetent the book suffers.
The worst part is most of these issues would have been fixed had Riley and Mark focused on Kalia as the murderer. She mysteriously shows up in town at the behest of her shady collector boyfriend, finds ridiculously rare and expensive books, then disappears just as suddenly when those books go missing and when there is a murder. There is no good reason to not have her be the reason Addie is invested in the murder all while making the reader guess at whats going on.
This book was so dumb and disappointing I can't even be happy my ship has sailed. Which reminds me, why have Mark's proposal in an offhand reference instead at the end of the last book? You wasted good relationship tension that could have lead into this book. Arg! I'm so frustrated.
June 10, 2020
Although I enjoyed the new characters and interesting plot twists I was disappointed in the development of the characters. This is book four. Characters should be established at this point. Not the case. Here is why: I struggle to like the main character Addie because she is written in such an infantile way. She is always biting her lip, pouting, tapping her foot and throwing temper tantrums. Hard to buy as a sleuth. She is always blushing , quivering and squaring her shoulders. Then there is Marc. His harsh treatment of Addie is so over the top and doesn’t make sense. It’s like he is bipolar; he hates her, he loves her, let’s be friends....shaking my head. Simon as the love interest made sense temporarily but he is who she’s chosen? His character feels out of place. Needs more development. It’s like we skipped a book that wasn’t written, a whole bunch of stuff happened, the readers were left out of the loop and nothing makes sense. Marc says he understands she needs time then proposes two months later? Three months later he’s in love with someone else, but wait- no he still loves Addie, no , no, changed his mind again? Still shaking my head. It’s early enough in the series for the author to clean up the characters and connect the dots. Make Marc human, just not right for Addie. Simon needs some depth to his character. I love Serena and Paige but I feel Serena’s character is becoming ditzy and this is the wrong way to go with her character. Let’s talk about the repetitive phrases. Wow. Someone is always scrubbing their face, narrowing their eyes, putting a pod in the coffee maker, holding a “steaming” cup, squaring their shoulders and please write a character who can help Addie with that wayward piece of hair that is always being placed behind her ear.....editing needs help. I will see how the characters are written in book five. If no improvement I will not read any future books in this series.
February 8, 2020
I've been enjoying this series from the very first book and this one is as entertaining as the rest. I like Addie Grayson. She has been through a lot and has, for the most part, has come out on the other side. One of my criticisms of the last couple of books has been the love triangle. I am not a fan so I am happy to report that Ms. Elliott has resolved that issue with this installment. Once again, Addie is in the wrong place at the wrong time and discovers another dead body. That, however, is not her only surprise. Marc is back in town, with a new friend who is on leave from the FBI, and they put Addie at the top of the suspect list as the killer. Addie is even arrested. Now, she has to prove that she is not a killer and that someone is setting her up to take the fall. With the help of Simon, Addie sets out to investigate. I think Addie makes a good amateur sleuth. She is not too reckless or headstrong and she has a good eye for details. The author crafts an engaging mystery that mixes a bit of history with the present making for a terrific puzzle to solve. I will confess, I did not guess the killer's identity and thought it was a nice twist that ties everything together.
The secondary cast of characters make a return appearance, with some new members added this time around. It looks like Addie's cousin may be staying for a bit and she should shake up the mix a bit.
I enjoy this series and hope to see it continue for many more books. The author tells wonderful stories filled with interesting characters and mysteries that keep you guessing.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the author. The opinions expressed ae my own.
The secondary cast of characters make a return appearance, with some new members added this time around. It looks like Addie's cousin may be staying for a bit and she should shake up the mix a bit.
I enjoy this series and hope to see it continue for many more books. The author tells wonderful stories filled with interesting characters and mysteries that keep you guessing.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy provided to me by the author. The opinions expressed ae my own.
May 26, 2020
The bookstore crew is back in action and this time they have to figure out how a murder could have taken place in a locked room before Addie's ex-boyfriend's hotshot new girlfriend sends her up the river for a murder just to get the competition out of the way. A wonderful array of subplots woven throughout the murder plot to keep you entertained and delighted for hours! If you haven't started this series, you absolutely should as this is quickly becoming one of my "can't miss series" to read! Wonderful well rounded characters that seem so real that you can't wait to come back and visit with your old friends soon even if you want to bop one on the head every now and again...that just makes them even more real! It is really intriguing how the author weaves a main character that is a strong, intelligent female and yet vulnerable at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens in the next one!
February 26, 2020
I didn’t think I could enjoy a book more than the last instalment but Lauren hit it out of the park this time!
I have said it before that I love the main set of characters, Addie, Serena, Paige, Simon and Marc (the men who were vying for Addie's affections) and I still do but now I want to include Catherine in that list. We also had some new characters in this instalment like Blake, Ryley and Addie’s cousin Kalea some of whom I wanted to slap or scream at but they helped round out the story.
As for the mystery I loved the inclusion of the ghost story, the Sherlock Holmes novel and a locked-room murder. 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 ... I did start to suspect the villain after a clue prior to Addie but I wasn’t completely sure till the end. Ms Elliott has made me so 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.
I have said it before that I love the main set of characters, Addie, Serena, Paige, Simon and Marc (the men who were vying for Addie's affections) and I still do but now I want to include Catherine in that list. We also had some new characters in this instalment like Blake, Ryley and Addie’s cousin Kalea some of whom I wanted to slap or scream at but they helped round out the story.
As for the mystery I loved the inclusion of the ghost story, the Sherlock Holmes novel and a locked-room murder. 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 ... I did start to suspect the villain after a clue prior to Addie but I wasn’t completely sure till the end. Ms Elliott has made me so 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.
November 6, 2020
Searching for more books to stock her store before the first cruise ship docks in her town, Addie Greyborne heads out to an auction at a local so-called haunted house to survey the offerings. There, she runs into a colleague who enlists her help in cataloging the books. Everything is fine until the next morning when the woman she was assisting is found dead in a locked room. Even though this was the first I've read in the series, I did not feel the need to have read others to enjoy this one. The mystery was interesting, as were the characters and their relationships. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2020
The bookstore crew is back in action and this time they have to figure out how a murder could have taken place in a locked room before Addie's ex-boyfriend's hotshot new girlfriend sends her up the river for a murder just to get the competition out of the way. A wonderful array of subplots woven throughout the murder plot to keep you entertained and delighted for hours! If you haven't started this series, you absolutely should as this is quickly becoming one of my "can't miss series" to read! Wonderful well rounded characters that seem so real that you can't wait to come back and visit with your old friends soon even if you want to bop one on the head every now and again...that just makes them even more real! It is really intriguing how the author weaves a main character that is a strong, intelligent female and yet vulnerable at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens in the next one!
September 21, 2020
I just have to say I absolutely love this series!!!
March 29, 2020
This is the fourth entry in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott. The book is well written with characters who are well defined and who have a lengthy history with each other. I had not read any of the previous books but had little trouble in picking up on all of the relationships. The main question to be solved by the police is whether there has been a murder or death by natural causes. Addison (Addie) Greybourne is also able to point out the possibility of theft of some rare book material which gives this book a wider point of interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-galley of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-galley of this novel.
August 23, 2020
I had high hopes when I started this: New England, a bookstore--and five other books in the series I hadn't read. Addie owns a bookstore and seems to have a personal life that escaped from a soap opera. She visits a local haunted house where an auctioneer friend of her deceased father is running a house sale, finds valuable books, which disappear the next day, and the appraiser is found dead in a locked room. The police chief is back from a vacation with a lovely FBI agent who thinks Addie is a criminal (see personal life, above). Addie finds some things out but this is one of those mysteries where the murder is exposed because s/he attacks the unwitting detective. EVEN SO, I was ready to read more of them, so desperate am I for an enjoyable series. Then there was a mention of "the quarrel between he and..." and I'm out.
August 18, 2022
Somehow I missed a whole bunch of stuff between books 3 and 4. A novella somewhere I can't find it? Ummm, a proposal (not accepted), a long vacation for Mark, a budding romance with Simon? This is not how we left off.
Addy, as usual, is in the wrong place at the wrong time, finding a body and missing books almost simultaneously. Mark's new flame is a piece of work and I can't stand how she takes over the latest investigation. Completely changes Mark's personality and demeanor.
A mysterious, and gold-digging?, cousin appears after a decade of absence in Addy's life. Could she be in on the whole thing? But as all of the action happened in a possibly haunted house, could there be more of a supernatural explanation?
Not my favorite in this series.
Addy, as usual, is in the wrong place at the wrong time, finding a body and missing books almost simultaneously. Mark's new flame is a piece of work and I can't stand how she takes over the latest investigation. Completely changes Mark's personality and demeanor.
A mysterious, and gold-digging?, cousin appears after a decade of absence in Addy's life. Could she be in on the whole thing? But as all of the action happened in a possibly haunted house, could there be more of a supernatural explanation?
Not my favorite in this series.
August 5, 2020
I don't often leave reviews that disparage the book. But in this case... I read the first book in this series and although I often wanted to smack the heroine's mouth, I went ahead to read the second of the series to give the character to grow up. But she didn't. If those two men that she keeps dangling don't end up both dropping her than I have no respect for either of them. She is the most obnoxious heroine I think I have ever encountered.
July 26, 2020
With Greybourne Harbor about to become a stop on a popular cruise line, Addie Greybourne is busy preparing for the massive amounts of people who will be coming to her bookshop. She's thrilled the store is a success and is even slightly happy to be running out of books. Addie decides to look for more rare books at an estate sale at the Hill Road House, a Victorian mansion that was the scene of some unsolved murders decades ago. Now the house is rumored to be haunted and Addie's best friend Serena and assistant Paige won't go anywhere near there. When Addie arrives, she discovers her old family friend Blake's company, Edwards Auction House, is handling the sale. She also rediscovers her long-lost cousin Kalea, whom she hasn't seen in ten years, also checking out the books in the library. Addie hasn't seen Kalea in 10 years, since college and back then Kalea didn't like anything old. Apparently now her taste in old extends to men who collect antiques. The rare book appraiser arrives to declare the library off-limits as the books have not yet been cataloged. Addie offers to stay and help catalog the newly found case of books before the next day's rare book auction. When Addie discovers an incredibly rare first edition Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet, she's crazy excited. Her excitement comes to an end the next day when she discovers that Charlotte, the rare books appraiser, has died in a locked room. The day gets worse when Marc returns home with his new female friend from the FBI and they both determine the evidence points to Addie. Addie is adamant she is innocent and determined to prove it with or without Marc's help. At least Simon is supportive. Addie isn't so sure her cousin is entirely innocent as Kalea has disappeared! Time is running out. How can Addie prove someone was murdered in a locked room? Is there such a thing as ghosts?
I liked this story best of the series so far. I got really into it and couldn't figure out whodunit until the final clue. I did suspect WHO I was distracted by all the red herrings though and wasn't totally positive. Plus WHO the thief was remained a mystery. HOW was perfectly obvious and there are a ridiculous amount of plot holes in this novel! First, Addie can not ethically offer to appraise the books if she's still planning on attending the auction. Nope. Not done. Librarians don't actually appraise books. They get an outside appraiser, like Charlotte, so the seller gets an honest quote. Second, the FIRST THING the police should have done was realize the Victorian house might have secret passages. Hello, servants' passages anyone? Underground railroad? They should have first requested the plans to the house. Of course those plans are missing so then they should have searched for the passages instead of assuming the obvious. Marc shouldn't have even been on the case since Addie was the main suspect and they used to be involved. His lady friend shouldn't have been on the case because it's not her jurisdiction. She's FBI. If a library reports stolen rare books and someone is found selling those books, that's FBI. There's no way a logical detective would accuse Addie. Where/how would she sell those books? They don't even consider she might want to keep them for herself. Also, yes if Addie was somewhere outside in the village with her laptop, she would have to log in to wifi and that would show on her computer. Her IP address would change if she used a different provider even though it wouldn't show her location. The police can check that. The whole investigation was bungled and didn't make a lot of sense but I enjoyed it in the moment so read this with a grain of salt and don't overthink it.
Addie is growing on me. She's now a part of Greybourne Harbor and fitting in. Her shop is a success and she's gone through some personal growth, finally. Addie has stopped mourning David and is enjoying her close friendship with Simon. She isn't ready to take it to the next level quite yet but she's more open to the possibility than she was months ago. Part of her will always love Marc but he burns his bridges this time. They're just too different. Marc acts like a massive jerk, motivated by personal feelings yet claims he's looking at evidence. He overlooks the obvious and doesn't really bother to do much investigating. Part of him doesn't want it to be Addie but part of him does because it would justify his choice in walking away from the relationship. In contrast, Simon is supportive and loving. He knows what Addie needs and when. While he works a lot, he makes an effort to help Addie. He doesn't try to force her to fit an ideal and respects her intelligence and integrity.
Serena and Paige both annoyed me with their superstitious fears. It's just a neglected old house where people died unexpectedly. There's no such thing as ghosts and if there are, they can't hurt you. I do love how loyal they both are to Addie and how Serena chooses friendship over family. I would too if my brother kept accusing me of brewing "potions" that killed people. Once, maybe I could forgive, but twice? No way. Serena is pretty silly but she's not stupid and she'd never even unknowingly brew a tea that could kill someone. Paige's mother, Martha, has undergone such a change I hardly know her. I think she has begrudgingly accepted Addie at last, if only because Addie is good to her daughter. In spite of her awfulness in the past, Martha does love Paige and wants what's best for her daughter.
Charlotte McAdams, co-owner of the McAdams Insurance Co. has been hired to appraise the rare books. Her personality leaves a lot to be desired but I understand she's under a lot of stress and upset that the auction timeline is happening too quickly. She's a very Type A person. I was saddened when she was found dead the next morning. I was more upset she spilled tea on an antique rare book! The mystery centers around how Charlotte died since it looks like natural causes. While she wasn't a pleasant person, she didn't deserve to die.
There are several more new characters in this novel and all of them are on my suspect list. Kalea, Addie's cousin, is a young gold digger. She's dating her married boss which is incredibly unethical. He's older and taking advantage of Kalea's situation. I do feel slightly bad for her but she also makes a play for any rich man she meets so she isn't all that emotionally invested in the relationship. I wouldn't have allowed her to stay and help catalog rare books. She doesn't have the experience and she also is interested in buying something. Then Kalea disappears. Where is she while her cousin is thrown in jail? Why doesn't she call Addie? Did she steal the rare books for her boyfriend or to sell?
Blake Edwards, Addie's old family friend, is in charge of the auction. He doesn't seem to get along with Charlotte very well. They have differing agendas. Blake has the keys to the library and could have locked the room after killing Charlotte, except the top of the door was bolted and can't be unbolted from the outside. There are some little things about Blake that pinged some warning signals with me that he might not be on the up and up. He's not high on my list for murder. His nephew, Garrett, enjoys the wealth but not the work. He flirts with Kalea and then they both disappear. Did they kill Charlotte and steal the rare books together? Garrett seems like a creep to me and I put him near the top of my suspect list. My chief suspect is Robert Peters, Charlotte's assistant and as he claims "slave." He's a creepy predator with women, resents the hard work his boss makes him do but doesn't look for a new job. He had the motive and probably means, he was in the house all night and seems like the type to feel entitled to some wealth in thanks for his hard work.
Another major suspect is Philip Atkinson, a rare book broker and Addie's nemesis. He's ruthless and will do anything to get what he wants. Does that include murder? Agent Ryley Brooks from the FBI acts suspicious. She's emotionally into Marc and thus hates Addie. Ryley is way too determined to come up with ridiculous and manufactured evidence to prove Addie killed Charlotte or at least is a book thief. Her ideas are laughable but scary because she's FBI! HOW do these people actually get in law enforcement? I don't get what Marc sees in her and I think Ryley is making up stuff just to get at Addie. That is not ethical. I don't think she's a murderer though. Then there's Vera and Maggie, a mother-daughter real estate duo. Maggie is snippy and grouchy. She is rightfully concerned about her company's good name but she seems more concerned about her business than her mother. Vera is a cheerful older lady who has fallen madly in love with Art, a real estate agent from Seattle. Art is handling the sale of the Hill Road House and he has some ideas about turning it into a tourist attraction. I don't agree with that. I think he's a bit smarmy in a used car salesman way. I don't know if that makes him a murderer.
Finally, in the past, we meet the Gallagher family. Patriarch Tobias was a sleazy man even for his time and I feel VERY sorry for his wife. My heart breaks for his daughter-in-law and the male descendants all seem crazy. How do the murders in the past relate to Charlotte's death and the theft of the books, or do they at all? Perhaps it was the ghosts of the Gallaghers who did it.
I'm into this series, finally, and will eagerly read another but it had better be more plausible.
I liked this story best of the series so far. I got really into it and couldn't figure out whodunit until the final clue. I did suspect WHO I was distracted by all the red herrings though and wasn't totally positive. Plus WHO the thief was remained a mystery. HOW was perfectly obvious and there are a ridiculous amount of plot holes in this novel! First, Addie can not ethically offer to appraise the books if she's still planning on attending the auction. Nope. Not done. Librarians don't actually appraise books. They get an outside appraiser, like Charlotte, so the seller gets an honest quote. Second, the FIRST THING the police should have done was realize the Victorian house might have secret passages. Hello, servants' passages anyone? Underground railroad? They should have first requested the plans to the house. Of course those plans are missing so then they should have searched for the passages instead of assuming the obvious. Marc shouldn't have even been on the case since Addie was the main suspect and they used to be involved. His lady friend shouldn't have been on the case because it's not her jurisdiction. She's FBI. If a library reports stolen rare books and someone is found selling those books, that's FBI. There's no way a logical detective would accuse Addie. Where/how would she sell those books? They don't even consider she might want to keep them for herself. Also, yes if Addie was somewhere outside in the village with her laptop, she would have to log in to wifi and that would show on her computer. Her IP address would change if she used a different provider even though it wouldn't show her location. The police can check that. The whole investigation was bungled and didn't make a lot of sense but I enjoyed it in the moment so read this with a grain of salt and don't overthink it.
Addie is growing on me. She's now a part of Greybourne Harbor and fitting in. Her shop is a success and she's gone through some personal growth, finally. Addie has stopped mourning David and is enjoying her close friendship with Simon. She isn't ready to take it to the next level quite yet but she's more open to the possibility than she was months ago. Part of her will always love Marc but he burns his bridges this time. They're just too different. Marc acts like a massive jerk, motivated by personal feelings yet claims he's looking at evidence. He overlooks the obvious and doesn't really bother to do much investigating. Part of him doesn't want it to be Addie but part of him does because it would justify his choice in walking away from the relationship. In contrast, Simon is supportive and loving. He knows what Addie needs and when. While he works a lot, he makes an effort to help Addie. He doesn't try to force her to fit an ideal and respects her intelligence and integrity.
Serena and Paige both annoyed me with their superstitious fears. It's just a neglected old house where people died unexpectedly. There's no such thing as ghosts and if there are, they can't hurt you. I do love how loyal they both are to Addie and how Serena chooses friendship over family. I would too if my brother kept accusing me of brewing "potions" that killed people. Once, maybe I could forgive, but twice? No way. Serena is pretty silly but she's not stupid and she'd never even unknowingly brew a tea that could kill someone. Paige's mother, Martha, has undergone such a change I hardly know her. I think she has begrudgingly accepted Addie at last, if only because Addie is good to her daughter. In spite of her awfulness in the past, Martha does love Paige and wants what's best for her daughter.
Charlotte McAdams, co-owner of the McAdams Insurance Co. has been hired to appraise the rare books. Her personality leaves a lot to be desired but I understand she's under a lot of stress and upset that the auction timeline is happening too quickly. She's a very Type A person. I was saddened when she was found dead the next morning. I was more upset she spilled tea on an antique rare book! The mystery centers around how Charlotte died since it looks like natural causes. While she wasn't a pleasant person, she didn't deserve to die.
There are several more new characters in this novel and all of them are on my suspect list. Kalea, Addie's cousin, is a young gold digger. She's dating her married boss which is incredibly unethical. He's older and taking advantage of Kalea's situation. I do feel slightly bad for her but she also makes a play for any rich man she meets so she isn't all that emotionally invested in the relationship. I wouldn't have allowed her to stay and help catalog rare books. She doesn't have the experience and she also is interested in buying something. Then Kalea disappears. Where is she while her cousin is thrown in jail? Why doesn't she call Addie? Did she steal the rare books for her boyfriend or to sell?
Blake Edwards, Addie's old family friend, is in charge of the auction. He doesn't seem to get along with Charlotte very well. They have differing agendas. Blake has the keys to the library and could have locked the room after killing Charlotte, except the top of the door was bolted and can't be unbolted from the outside. There are some little things about Blake that pinged some warning signals with me that he might not be on the up and up. He's not high on my list for murder. His nephew, Garrett, enjoys the wealth but not the work. He flirts with Kalea and then they both disappear. Did they kill Charlotte and steal the rare books together? Garrett seems like a creep to me and I put him near the top of my suspect list. My chief suspect is Robert Peters, Charlotte's assistant and as he claims "slave." He's a creepy predator with women, resents the hard work his boss makes him do but doesn't look for a new job. He had the motive and probably means, he was in the house all night and seems like the type to feel entitled to some wealth in thanks for his hard work.
Another major suspect is Philip Atkinson, a rare book broker and Addie's nemesis. He's ruthless and will do anything to get what he wants. Does that include murder? Agent Ryley Brooks from the FBI acts suspicious. She's emotionally into Marc and thus hates Addie. Ryley is way too determined to come up with ridiculous and manufactured evidence to prove Addie killed Charlotte or at least is a book thief. Her ideas are laughable but scary because she's FBI! HOW do these people actually get in law enforcement? I don't get what Marc sees in her and I think Ryley is making up stuff just to get at Addie. That is not ethical. I don't think she's a murderer though. Then there's Vera and Maggie, a mother-daughter real estate duo. Maggie is snippy and grouchy. She is rightfully concerned about her company's good name but she seems more concerned about her business than her mother. Vera is a cheerful older lady who has fallen madly in love with Art, a real estate agent from Seattle. Art is handling the sale of the Hill Road House and he has some ideas about turning it into a tourist attraction. I don't agree with that. I think he's a bit smarmy in a used car salesman way. I don't know if that makes him a murderer.
Finally, in the past, we meet the Gallagher family. Patriarch Tobias was a sleazy man even for his time and I feel VERY sorry for his wife. My heart breaks for his daughter-in-law and the male descendants all seem crazy. How do the murders in the past relate to Charlotte's death and the theft of the books, or do they at all? Perhaps it was the ghosts of the Gallaghers who did it.
I'm into this series, finally, and will eagerly read another but it had better be more plausible.
Want to read
May 31, 2020A bookshop, a Sherlock Holmes original, a murder in a seaside New England town – what more is there to love in the premise of this story. Home to many grand estates, Greborne Harbor where Addie inherited her great aunt’s estate and Beyond the Page bookstore. Addie, looking for rare editions as a bookstore owner, discovers a rare book, A Study In Scarlet Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel in one of the estate sales. However, a mysterious death in the library with the room bolted from the inside of the rumoured haunted home, piqued my interest and kept my fingers turning those pages. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and a first book I have read from this author. I highly recommend this and worked for me as a standalone book.
April 27, 2020
Proof Of Murder is the fourth book in the A Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery series.
This book provides an interesting and enjoyable visit to Greyborne Harbor and its enjoyable residents.
Addie Greyborne learns that a small cruise ship line will be making a stop in Greyborne Harbor and when she hears that the long-vacant Hill Road House is having an auction, she plans on going to hopefully purchase some book for her bookstore. Addie’s clerk, Paige, and her BFF, Serena, both try and convince her to stay away from the house as it is reportedly haunted by ghosts. Addie doesn’t believe in ghosts and heads for the house. When she has signed in she soon finds that a friend from her Boston days, Blake, is handling the sale of the estate sale. She also sees her cousin Kalea who she hasn’t seen in ten years. Kalea tells Addie that she was planning to see her but stopped at the sale first. Next, Addie is introduced to Charlotte McAdams who is busy appraising the estate. Even though Charlotte appears rather cold to Addie, Addie offers, along with Kalea, to help with the appraisal of the books in the library. While appraising the books, Addie comes across a rare and very valuable set of Sherlock Holmes first edition books.
When Addie returns to the house, she finds the library doors locked and seeks out Blake to unlock the door, but it seems that the door has been bolted from the inside. Once an entry has been gained, the body of Charlotte is found. The police are called and Addie is surprised that Marc Chandler, police chief, arrives to investigate. She hasn’t heard from Chandler in two or three months and the last time hadn’t ended well. To make matters worse, he has a very beautiful FBI agent with him. The agent, before long, seems to be going out of her way to pin the murder on Addie. Addie enlists the help of her dear friend, Dr. Simon Emerson, to clear her name find the killer before any more bodies are found.
I always enjoy my visits to Greyborne Harbor, as I can always get a well-written and told story with interesting and well-developed characters. There were enough red-herrings that kept me guessing until the end.
I will be watching for the next book is this interesting series.
This book provides an interesting and enjoyable visit to Greyborne Harbor and its enjoyable residents.
Addie Greyborne learns that a small cruise ship line will be making a stop in Greyborne Harbor and when she hears that the long-vacant Hill Road House is having an auction, she plans on going to hopefully purchase some book for her bookstore. Addie’s clerk, Paige, and her BFF, Serena, both try and convince her to stay away from the house as it is reportedly haunted by ghosts. Addie doesn’t believe in ghosts and heads for the house. When she has signed in she soon finds that a friend from her Boston days, Blake, is handling the sale of the estate sale. She also sees her cousin Kalea who she hasn’t seen in ten years. Kalea tells Addie that she was planning to see her but stopped at the sale first. Next, Addie is introduced to Charlotte McAdams who is busy appraising the estate. Even though Charlotte appears rather cold to Addie, Addie offers, along with Kalea, to help with the appraisal of the books in the library. While appraising the books, Addie comes across a rare and very valuable set of Sherlock Holmes first edition books.
When Addie returns to the house, she finds the library doors locked and seeks out Blake to unlock the door, but it seems that the door has been bolted from the inside. Once an entry has been gained, the body of Charlotte is found. The police are called and Addie is surprised that Marc Chandler, police chief, arrives to investigate. She hasn’t heard from Chandler in two or three months and the last time hadn’t ended well. To make matters worse, he has a very beautiful FBI agent with him. The agent, before long, seems to be going out of her way to pin the murder on Addie. Addie enlists the help of her dear friend, Dr. Simon Emerson, to clear her name find the killer before any more bodies are found.
I always enjoy my visits to Greyborne Harbor, as I can always get a well-written and told story with interesting and well-developed characters. There were enough red-herrings that kept me guessing until the end.
I will be watching for the next book is this interesting series.
February 6, 2020
Addie Greyborne, owner of the Beyond the Page, a bookstore in the beautiful New England town of Greyborne Harbor, is heading out to an estate sale in search of rare editions of books to add to her inventory for her shop. The estate sale is being held in one of the town's grand mansions that has long been rumored to be haunted though Addie doesn't believe in things like that. When she is asked to help the appraiser with the books in the library she finds a magazine with Author Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel in it which is a very rare find and worth six figures. When the appraiser is found dead in the locked library of the mansion, and the rare find is missing, suspicion falls on Addie. Not one to sit idly by she starts an investigation of her own. Is the mansion really haunted? Who would kill the appraiser and why? And who stole the rare find? Is she putting herself in danger? Trying to investigate and dealing with her personal feelings for two men...one is the handsome police chief and the other is an equally handsome doctor, Addie has her hands full. This book is full of wonderful characters that I love and a very well written mystery that will keep you turning the pages. i highly recommend this book!
October 6, 2021
Hill Road House is haunted. Kathleen Gallagher fell down the steps and died….or did she? 🧐😳
Addie is heading to a real estate sale at Hill Road House, the most haunted mansion in Greyborne Harbor. Upon her arrival, she sees her cousin Kalea whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years. They quickly get roped into appraising and taking inventory of some of the old books -including a book estimated to be worth $150,000!! 🤑 The next morning, Addie finds the dead appraiser….in the locked library, but how?! All clues point to Addie in this one and she must quickly prove her innocence or end up in jail.
Proof Of Murder is book number 4 in this cozy mystery series and my favorite so far! There were multiple mysteries sprinkled throughout this one, TWO handfuls of suspects, and a nagging feeling that someone is always watching you. Also, the love triangle is DONE! 🥳🙌🏼
Addie is heading to a real estate sale at Hill Road House, the most haunted mansion in Greyborne Harbor. Upon her arrival, she sees her cousin Kalea whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years. They quickly get roped into appraising and taking inventory of some of the old books -including a book estimated to be worth $150,000!! 🤑 The next morning, Addie finds the dead appraiser….in the locked library, but how?! All clues point to Addie in this one and she must quickly prove her innocence or end up in jail.
Proof Of Murder is book number 4 in this cozy mystery series and my favorite so far! There were multiple mysteries sprinkled throughout this one, TWO handfuls of suspects, and a nagging feeling that someone is always watching you. Also, the love triangle is DONE! 🥳🙌🏼
March 4, 2023
Cozy mystery with infuriating main character. One of those books where you keep saying, “How could you be so stupid?” Addie, who owns a bookstore and curio shop in a small east coast harbor town, constantly thinks she is superior to everyone on the police force. She seems overly dramatic and immature. I don’t know when she works in her shop because she is always off doing something stupid. She complains about other characters and their faults but she herself is a manipulative user of others. Addie has become increasingly annoying and I have no plans to read another book in this series!!!
May 9, 2020
This was my first time reading a book in this series and I found it to be a really enjoyable mystery. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
May 19, 2020
Couldn’t even finish chapter 2. Why does every book start with Mark having nothing to do with Addie and end with him confessing his feelings? It’s book 4, develop the characters already.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2020
Another captivating and intriguing cozy, with great characters and a cool storyline. Addie is bull headed and refuse to back down, clearing herself from a murder and burglary charge, was imperitive. Although obstacles were thrown in her way by none other than her ex boyfriend's new girlfriend. Addie refuses to standby and let herself be railroaded to jail for a crime she was obviously being framed for. So she put on her Sherlock Holmes face and got down to some serious sleuthing.
April 22, 2020
Proof of Murder by Lauren Elliott is the 4th book in Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series, and another great addition. Addie Greyborne was a librarian at the Boston Public Library, working with rare books. After her fiance was murdered, and her father was killed in a car accident Addie is now living in a small town in New England where she inherited a mansion, Greyborne Manor, from her great aunt. With all the books left in her aunt's home she was able to open her own bookstore. Addie is excited about an estate sale at another local mansion so she can restock her book store. When an appraiser is found dead in a locked room, and rare books are missing, Addie is determined to get to the truth. I am shocked at Mac's behavior after being gone for several months. I enjoyed this book, with all the twists and turns, and I can not wait for the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 27, 2020
I throughly enjoy these cozy mysteries! They’re a perfect summer read, short, easy to read, and with something new developing with every page.
December 8, 2024
Best one of the series so far! Such cozy mysteries
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