Murder by the Book

Lucy Little #1

by Gina LaManna

Hello, world. My name is Lucy Little, and I'm an author. Actually, my mom thinks I'm a homeless bum with no health insurance, and my dad truly believes I'm as famous as Brad Pitt. He frequently asks me to sign napkins that he passes out like currency at the local police station where he likes to steal doughnuts. He's a former cop. That probably makes his theft acceptable. There's only one problem with this whole author career of mine, and it's that I'm not actually making all that much money from it. I like to say I have a burgeoning career; I am making a living, but it's a pretty dismal living. But that's all about to change. I've got a new game plan, a pen that's mightier than a sword--but not literally because I'm terrified of violence--and a bunch of words to put down on paper. Unfortunately, my plan gets thrown out the window the day I stumble upon a real live dead body. The next thing I know, I'm wrapped up neck deep in a murder investigation with the superhot cop who is also my ex-boyfriend. It's all fun and games until the killer starts coming for me, and then I start wondering how I can write the end when I might be next?

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Ebooks, Audiobook

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2021

About the author

Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Gina LaManna has also called Italy and Los Angeles home. After studying numbers and equations in college, she realized multiple choice tests were “just not for her” and began writing books instead. She loves cappuccino foam and whipped cream and would subsist solely on sprinkles if possible. She currently lives in St. Paul with her wonderful husband and family.

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in new series for the writer who I like a lot. I've enjoyed her other series/books and this one didn't disappoint.
It was very funny! Lots of great characters!
Lucy inadvertently gets involved in a homicide investigation as inspiration for her next book.
Little did she know the troublesome adventures that would ensue.
The ending left you wanting more. When I finished reading it, I thought, "crap! i want to see what happens next. Man...no book 2 yet..."
I look forward to continuing with future books in the series.

It was very similar to Evanovich's Plum series. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys those books.

Thank you to the writer for a preview ARC copy.

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad start to the series. The strength of the book are the quirky characters and the humor. The negative is the love triangle, especially after Lucy repeatedly says she’s not ready for a relationship. Also giving up her creation without so much as a fight 🙄🙄😒😒 yeah nope!! If the author continues this series, I hope she rectified both those issues expeditiously. While there are people who enjoy the live triangles, I’ll quit a good series because they irritate me and detract from an otherwise good series for me, especially when they drag on andonandonandonandonandon.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is an author who has moved back home after an unfortunate romance. Trying to write mystery instead of romance, she tags along with her ex-boyfriend who is a cop. This is yet another fun series by Gina LaManna. Quirky little town with filled with some wacky neighbors and friends! Looking forward to more adventures with Lucy.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Little is an aspiring romance author, with a practically non-existent list of books to her name. After she faints at her book signing, her ex-boyfriend who is now a cop takes her for pizza and while they are eating, he gets a call....there has been a murder. He invites Lucy to do a ride-along, and she decides to use what she sees as part of her next book. The only problem is, as she writes, another murder is commited, and then Lucy begins to be worried she may not make it to the end of the book.

This is the fun start to a new series starring Lucy Little....an author who lives in a she-shed at the back of her parent's property, and drives a yellow VW hippie van. Lucy is just as delightful and quirky as she sounds, and I can't wait to read more of her adventures. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, then you will want to check this one out.

[Adri Dower · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a cozy comedy mystery, this sure hit some of the boxes. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, but halfway through it lost me. I didn't like Lucy Little at all. The funniest character in the book was Birdie, and that should say a lot. The romance between Henry and Lucy, and Lucy and Kent felt forced and unrealistic. The mystery itself didn't really sit right with me. There were no bread crumbs, and the author specifically made a big deal about bread crumbs in her MC's mystery novel. All in all I'm not mad I read it, but I probably wouldn't read it again.

[Catherine Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was selected to read Murder by the Book by Gina LaManna. I've read a few of her books and wasn't planning on reading any books for review because I'm writing my own, but when I opened my email and saw the cover and if I would like to read to request it, I decided yes.

I'm so glad I did. Yes, the formula is very repeatable - girl returns home because of some trauma, lives alone, finds a body and solves a crime. But I LOVED this book. I loved that she came home to her parents, living on their property in the back, sees her hometown ex and finds a body. From a few pages in, I laughed. This book had me laughing throughout. I loved the dynamics between her mom and sister. The only thing that bothered me is she wrote a book and her current ex boyfriend stole the manuscript and published as her own and she didn't do anything about it. I would have kicked his butt.

Enjoyable, funny, and such a great first in the series. Buy the book. I definitely would have if I wasn't offered a chance to read it. I love starting new series.

[Cassaundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great series for Gina LaManna! I’m so excited to read the next and see what is in store for Lucy Little! I didn’t expect who the murderer was and I NEED to know who Lucy falls for!

***I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not disappoint! I love Gina LaManna and have read all of her books. This is a new series about an author who is moving from romance novels to murder mysteries. Characters are well developed. The book is funny and fast pasted. I listened to this one and it was great.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s a good start

I hope she gets to continue with Lucy and her family. I need to see more Henry. I need Claude to face some karma. I need more I need more elderly role models like Birdie and Yoyo to look up to.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

A good srory that moved along at a lively pace! I enjoyed the characters and the hmor. A liitle snarky along with touches of slapstick and hilarious seniors. A fun book!

[Geeah Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook.

I wish Gina had continued this series. This was sarcastic and chaotic and my type of mystery.

[Kimberly Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t love it. Loved the Magic in Mixology series! But this felt formulaic and predictable.

[Kaye H Brock · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's just too too much

The small town busybody atmosphere is just too bizarre. It's just hard to follow the story line without ignoring the ridiculous personalities of the characters and their lack of reality. Just not for me. Enough said.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say I enjoyed this but the story focused too much on the possible love interest instead of the mystery, so much so that I nearly lost interest. The near misses were just annoying and not cute, in fact I just wished they would hurry up and get together so it could go back to the investigation. I seem to be saying this a lot lately, which makes me think I might need a break from cosy mysteries for a while and it's not actually the books fault. There was a number of good points like I had no clue who the killer was, there was a lot of connection but like Lucy I couldn't make it connect to point at the killer. I liked the characters but for someone who was down on love she certainly kept thing googly eyes a lot. I liked Violet, a teenage geek that didn't care what others thought and thought she was a great character but I didn't really connect with Lucy's mother. She also had some interesting sidekicks who joined her on her sleuthing adventures in Birdy and Yoyo, who are a hoot and not what you expect. The plot idea was fun and it will be fun to see how it develops, As long as the relationship woes don't take up to much of the writing.
When Lucy suffers a betrayal in love it has her moving back home to live in her parents shed and unable to write romance novels. When an ex boyfriend suggest changing genres and try her hand a mysteries she is sceptical but he suggests a ride along with him and she gets to see her first dead body. The murder gives her ideas but it has more to do with can she solve the murder than write a book. Especially when there are more deaths and they have a striking similarity to the murderers a famous author wrote about in his pages book. A man who is visiting town and asked Lucy out on a date. Can she prove us isn't a killer by finding the real killer?
I liked the narrator. She gave the characters all there own voices making the story easy to listen too.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook)
"I don't assume anything."

My first encounter with this author. It was a free download through the Audible Plus programme, first of a new series so I thought I'd try it - I like books with 'book' or 'bookshop' in the title. But this comedy romance murder mystery was, well, let's put it this way, it was great at inducing sleep. Having said that, it could probably be transformed into one of those chick flicks with the main foolish character, a failing romance novelist, now returned to her small town to live in a shed in her parents garden (to the distress of her mother and the rest of the more successful sisters) after a disastrous relationship. An old high school boyfriend, now a policeman, suggests a change of genre - or perhaps that was the best selling visiting novelist - and she decides on murder mysteries. Which, of course, start to happen around her. The other characters in he vicinity are, put kindly, nosy busybodies obsessed with teenage romance fantasy and not one is likable. Yes, could make a great youth comedy movie if only the casting team can find a constantly clumsy, realistically sized consumers of vast quantities of coffee, cream, cake and cheese.
Unfortunately, the book was not helped by Brenda Scott Wlazlo, the narrator. Her voice was about right for the image but so slowly performed: even speeded to a 1.3 download, it still felt like treacle.
Never mind, it was a very easy, totally untaxing listen and could possibly make something more endearing if the protagonists and their antics were visual. Three stars for potential - and for helping me to sleep.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginning to a new series. It's similar in style to the Murder in Style series by this author. A young woman decides it's her job to help solve the murder. This time it's an aspiring author, who had written romance, but quickly (after seeing a murder scene,) decides maybe she'd have more success with mystery. Then she proceeds to investigate, with the help of her elderly friends and neighbors. Those same friends and neighbors bring much of the humor to the book. The Protagonist is a bit, let's just call her quirky. She is also a tad accident prone. She also has a tendency to be somewhat self-depreciating, and often makes fun of herself, but also accepts herself for who she is. Oh, and she's living in her parents gardening shed. The mystery itself isn't too complicated, and there aren't too many suspects, though that makes it all the more puzzling. It doesn't have that scene where she finally realizes who the culprit is, only it's a little too late. In addition to the mystery, there is also a romance in the making. A love triangle actually. (I'm sure this aspect will carry over into future books in the series.) It's easy to read and is a fun read. It is written from the Protagonist's POV.

[Julie Worden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series set up

Gina Lamanna’s genius is in fun series with quirky characters that romp through each story with sass (and secrets to plumb). This first book in a new series is a great set up. Her protagonist, Lucy Little, is stumbling on a major life smack down and has crawled home to take up residence in her parent’s garden shed (she-shed!).

The plot of the mystery itself is light and sort of secondary to meeting the people who populate Lucy’s world and will likely be fleshed out more significantly in future books. I can clearly see future stories entertaining her lousy ex-boyfriend Claude, a beret wearing LA writer who stole her manuscript, passed it off as his own and then ran off with the actress staring in the movie adaptation (she should have seen that coming with the beret, for reals).

Her friends are running towards the underage (the punk rock tech genius daughter of a high school classmate) or the elderly (blinged out walkers hiding tasers, anyone?). Featuring coffee and diet donuts (without sprinkles), failed stakeouts (people keep showing up to check on her, including her stake-outee) and two hot potential love monkeys to drool over, Gina Lamanna has me looking for book two, wanting to see how awkward Miss Lucy stumbles her way through another mystery….

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gina LaManna has done it again with a very promising and fun new series! Lucy Little has moved into the she-shed on her parent's property to restart her life as a romance author much to her mother's chagrin since she hasn't been successful as an author to date. When she is recuperating from fainting from what she felt was a scary book signing, her detective ex-boyfriend is there and he takes her to eat to calm down. But then gets a call that there is a murder and tells Lucy she can go along with him, she decides to change her author focus to writing mysteries. And there is another body she just happens to stumble upon. While she is investigating, could she become a target herself. Gina gives us many threads to try to pull together with great characters, laughs, a quirky main character, a hunky detective ex-boyfriend, great subordinate characters and lots of red-herrings and twists and turns you will be surprised at the end. I can't wait to see where the author takes us from here. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Bookgyrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy has returned to her home town and lives in her parents' garden shed while she tries to write books for a living. When a neighbor is killed, she tries to investigate and get first-hand research for her new book. Her ex-boyfriend from high school, cop Henry, is not happy with her sleuthing.

The main character, Lucy Little, is very likable. She is almost 30 and has had her heart crushed when her ex fiance stole her manuscript and published it as his own and then dumped her. That is also the only gripe I have with the book. She wrote a book that became a best seller and she just gave up on it?!! That did not sit right with me at all. Because - even though I really like Lucy - you are a fool to let someone get away with something big like that. But I am sure we will hear about Claude again and get some deserved revenge.

Overall it was a good mystery, not too intricate. I liked the town setting, the interactions between the characters. I hope there will be something more between Lucy and Henry.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Filled with LaManna humor, Lucy Little is the woman spurned who is trying to turn her life around while living in the she-shed on her parent's property. The fact that she's an author (with an unfortunate first book story) is a real bonus when murder comes to town! She has just switched from writing romance to trying to write a mystery, and dives right into sleuthing.

Fantastic characters from teenage to octogenarians, support---err maybe that's interfere with---Lucy's sleuthing/research. She's fearless and apparently can go twenty-four hours without sleep if needed! In spite of her slap dash beauty routine, there is no shortage of interested men. But Lucy's strong will and high self standards keep her self reliant...and there's also that participant in the unfortunate first book story who is a constant deterrent to trusting someone!

I loved the book and hope we don't have to wait too long for the next installment of Gina LaManna's newest hit series!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wouldn’t exactly say my middle name is success. If we’re playing that game, I’m going to say my middle name is wine.”

Right from the start of chapter one, I knew I was going to like Lucy Little! After her ex-fiancé steals her unpublished novel and passes it off as his own, Lucy has sulked back home and now resides in her parent’s garage (sorry, – “fabulous she-shed”). Lucy is on a mission to write her next best seller, but hasn’t had much luck with her latest romance novel. While sharing her grief with high school boyfriend/now local cop Henry, he suggests she makes a change from romance to murder mysteries, explaining that killing off characters just might be the closure she needs. Lucy rides along with Henry after a murder is committed, and is quickly pulled into a real mystery of her own to solve.

This was an enjoyable read that had me guessing up until the end. Not only did I find myself predicting who the killer was, but which of the men in Lucy’s love triangle would win her heart. Looking forward to more Lucy Little Mysteries.

Thanks to Lamanna Publishing for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gina LaManna is a new author to me. I enjoyed reading her book, Murder by the Book. Twenty-nine year old Lucy Little is an aspiring author in Minnesota. Other characters introduced in the book include her parents and 2 sisters, her editor-Charlotte, Kent Karr-famous author, Henry Bates her high school boyfriend/cop, Delany Young-a cleaning lady, and Delany's daughter. Kent Karr is having a book signing at Bertha's Books the local bookshop/cafe. While Karr is in town, two murders occur and they fit the pattern of murders in his book. So who is trying to frame him? Lucy gets involved in trying to solve the murders which leads to her being in danger. One line from the book that I especially liked is: "I'm not sure he got all the French fries in his Happy Meal." I also liked the reference to the television show, Psych! This book has interesting characters who I want to learn more about. So I look forward to reading future books in this series.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Gina LaManna has gotten me invested in a new series. I have been reading her books for years, and she is still entertaining me with her books. I love Lucy Little, she is so sassy and independent, but also a bit of a goofball. This is the perfect mix for me, and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into next.

If you like mystery stories that feature characters that are real people, as in characters that you are able to relate to, this is something that you need to check out for yourself. You will be entertained, and you will be eagerly awaiting what’s next like I am.

The author provided me with an ARC, but the opinions expressed in this review are honest and original.

[Ronni Nanney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I believe I just might have a new series/author to collect for my shelves!

Lucy Little gets jilted and has to return home in her little she-shed in her parents yard. Trying to write a love story when you don't believe in love anymore is proving to be not very financially profitable. Her igh school sweetheart convinces her to try her hand at murder mysteries, and now she finds herself in a real murder investigation!

Lucy's little quirks kept me smiling, and the way things seemed to work for her, eve when they don't, just keeps it interesting.

I was a little confused about the relationship between Lucy and her dad, but other than that, this was great! I will be buying this book and searching for number 2!

[LaLa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First,
I feel like this could have been way shorter. It was kind of wordy and too much talking with the characters that could have been left out.
I had a hard time keeping my interest in this book and felt a little bored reading it. It almost made me not want to finish the book.
I felt like there was “too much” going on or something.
It wasn’t realistic of a read, like who just randomly starts investigating and asking questions to a bunch of people and they just give out information like it’s nothing. And to just decide to be a detective and “be better” at it than the actual detective… I get that she’s writing a book but idk something just seemed off with this book. I feel like it was not really worth the read.. unfortunately.

[Stephanie Corbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another ‘hit’ from Gina LaManna, plenty of humour and intrigue, quirky characters and potential love interests to keep you on your toes… oh as well as a series of small town murders that need to be solved!

Lucy’s life isn’t quite going to plan, after heartbreak and betrayal, she is back home living with her parents, or rather in their garden shed!?! As a romance writer, she has lost her muse, so after a local murder she decides to try her hand at crime and mystery writing.

She decides to try to solve the murders to write a new mystery novel, and dives right into sleuthing. She is aided / hindered by other fabulous characters - octogenarian friends, local police and a successful book author on tour.

This is a great story that will leave you satisfied and yet still wanting more!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy, a down on her luck aspiring writer, finds herself caught up in a hometown mystery. Loved the premise of the book and how things unfold. I thought the character development was solid although a bit rushed-you find out everything there is to know about Lucy within the first chapter. The main love interest is swoony and adorable and the supporting characters are sassy and fun (2 elderly women who remind me of the sidekicks from Jana DeLeon's Fortune books). Although the book itself could've used some "breadcrumbs" as LaManna puts it, it was a fun read. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very promising start to a hopefully long series of cozy mysteries. The main character was a nice friendly person but with understandable flaws and I really enjoyed the secondary characters (they really reminded me of two certain someones in the Miss Fortune books which is a definite plus).

I am a sucker for a good cop romance storyline in my cozy mysteries and on that point this series seem to be promising. I also really liked the inclusion of the kind-of rebound guy. Lucy had been burned in love and it makes sense that she would need something a bit less intense as a palette cleanser. I hope that they can stay friends to give Lucy another author to talk to.

[Kristie Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Lucy Little Please!

This was a great read. I want more Lucy Little. The only bad thing about this book is now I have to wait for the next one. And wait I will! Gina LaManna books are so worth the wait. Lucy Little wants to be an author. She lives in her mother's She Shed while she waits to make her dream come true....a best selling author. The characters are quirky and eclectic. The story keeps you wondering who is murdering the folks in her little town. Gina's story telling will keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend Murder by the Book.

[Rachel Teasley · Rating 1 out of 5]

My husband read it first and then told me to read it because it was right up my alley. It was amazing and I couldn't put it down. I read it in one. It was getting so good then all of sudden the book came to an end, with a completely random solving of the crime that didnt fit anything. It just ended. This book had such a good foundation, it was written so well and then the ending sucked. Almost like the author didnt know how to end it or ran out of time and quickly ended everything. I was telling everyone to read this and then I hit the end and it was so disappointing.