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A Binding Chance
Everyone loves Teresa’s Bookstore, a cozy little store in East Tennessee.
Garnet Stone loves working there just as much as reading books. She works hard to keep the store’s nosy cat out of trouble while tidying the sales floor. But when the owner of the bookstore, Teresa, unexpectedly passes away, Garnet learns that she left everything to her niece, Jane.
Pushing aside her bitterness, Garnet busts a move to clean the store’s clutter to impress her new boss. After Jane arrives to announce the store's closure, things take a turn for the worse and another dead body is found in the bookstore.
The new sheriff believes Jane is the killer, but Garnet knows her new boss isn’t to blame. Her roots in a law enforcement family give her confidence in solving the murder, but she quickly discovers it won’t be an open-and-shut case like she had hoped.
Unusual clues point to multiple people, yet the suspects have concrete alibis. If Garnet cannot solve the perfect crime, Teresa’s Bookstore will be gone.
Garnet Stone loves working there just as much as reading books. She works hard to keep the store’s nosy cat out of trouble while tidying the sales floor. But when the owner of the bookstore, Teresa, unexpectedly passes away, Garnet learns that she left everything to her niece, Jane.
Pushing aside her bitterness, Garnet busts a move to clean the store’s clutter to impress her new boss. After Jane arrives to announce the store's closure, things take a turn for the worse and another dead body is found in the bookstore.
The new sheriff believes Jane is the killer, but Garnet knows her new boss isn’t to blame. Her roots in a law enforcement family give her confidence in solving the murder, but she quickly discovers it won’t be an open-and-shut case like she had hoped.
Unusual clues point to multiple people, yet the suspects have concrete alibis. If Garnet cannot solve the perfect crime, Teresa’s Bookstore will be gone.
- GenresCozyCozy Mystery
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2022
88 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Brimer
20 books407 followersJessica Brimer is a Tennessee native who spends most of her time writing and far more time browsing the bookshelves at her local library. Growing up, Jessica was fascinated with the mystery genre, which sparked her desire to write them. If she isn't spending time with her two kids and husband, you can almost always find her dabbling with essential oils while reading something mysterious.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 18, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book from a debut author of cozy mysteries. (She also has short stories in 2 or 3 anthologies.) I was so excited to read this book, as the author is a friend of mine. Please don't think that since I know her, that I automatically gave her five stars, though. I told her I would be honest and give a non-bias opinion in this review, and so I will.
The writing and plot is superb in this book. First, the writing was suspenseful, ending each chapter with a sentence or paragraph that made me want to immediately read the next. Her descriptions of her characters and the conversations between them, felt realistic, not made up. She used references to The Witcher, too, in the book! I laughed at some of the antics of the cats who live in the bookstore, and loved that they, too, had unique personalities.
The plot was fun, and kept me guessing the whole book through. I usually guess the killer in cozies, about halfway through, but with this book, I couldn't! I was suspicious of everyone involved, and even though that annoyed me a bit, lol, I loved not knowing who the killer was until the final reveal.
I wouldn't be a book reviewer if I didn't mention that there are a few grammatical errors in the book, but that didn't steal away my enjoyment of the reading experience at all. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out and I can dive into these characters' lives once more.
If you are a lover of cozy mysteries, cats with sass, and bookstores that are overly packed with books, then I think you should pick A Binding Chance by Jessica Brimer up and give it a try. I honestly don't think you will be disappointed!
The writing and plot is superb in this book. First, the writing was suspenseful, ending each chapter with a sentence or paragraph that made me want to immediately read the next. Her descriptions of her characters and the conversations between them, felt realistic, not made up. She used references to The Witcher, too, in the book! I laughed at some of the antics of the cats who live in the bookstore, and loved that they, too, had unique personalities.
The plot was fun, and kept me guessing the whole book through. I usually guess the killer in cozies, about halfway through, but with this book, I couldn't! I was suspicious of everyone involved, and even though that annoyed me a bit, lol, I loved not knowing who the killer was until the final reveal.
I wouldn't be a book reviewer if I didn't mention that there are a few grammatical errors in the book, but that didn't steal away my enjoyment of the reading experience at all. I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out and I can dive into these characters' lives once more.
If you are a lover of cozy mysteries, cats with sass, and bookstores that are overly packed with books, then I think you should pick A Binding Chance by Jessica Brimer up and give it a try. I honestly don't think you will be disappointed!
April 18, 2025
I couldn't get into this. None of the characters connected for me, the murder victim was so awful I really didn't care who killed her and there were multiple mistakes in the text that should have been fixed by a good editor.
This just wasn't for me.
This just wasn't for me.
December 10, 2022
A Binding Chance is the introduction to the Messy Bookshop Mysteries cozy series by Jessica Brimer. I liked the main character, Garnet Stone, whose family background is dominated by law enforcement.
Two deaths within the bookstore, first Teresa - the bookstore owner/Garnet's boss and Doris - a middle-aged store customer, has Garnet attempting to solve whodunit. She is also on a mission to keep the bookstore open.
Note: This is a satisfying and entertaining mystery that needed better editing and proofreading.
Also, A tad too much alliteration: Jane Jackson, Preston Powell, Sterling Stone . . . ?
P. S. I am looking forward to reading more about what happens with Garnet, Jane, and the bookstore. Garnet's grandparents, her best friend Megan, possible romantic interest Leo Voss, and assorted other characters are bound to keep things interesting.
Two deaths within the bookstore, first Teresa - the bookstore owner/Garnet's boss and Doris - a middle-aged store customer, has Garnet attempting to solve whodunit. She is also on a mission to keep the bookstore open.
Note: This is a satisfying and entertaining mystery that needed better editing and proofreading.
Also, A tad too much alliteration: Jane Jackson, Preston Powell, Sterling Stone . . . ?
P. S. I am looking forward to reading more about what happens with Garnet, Jane, and the bookstore. Garnet's grandparents, her best friend Megan, possible romantic interest Leo Voss, and assorted other characters are bound to keep things interesting.
October 13, 2022
Garnet Stone loves her job at Teresa's Bookstore. After Teresa dies unexpectedly, Garnet is disappointed to learn that she left the store to her niece Jane. Garnet does her best to clean up the messy store before the new boss arrives, but is devastated when Jane tells her she is closing and selling the store. A short time later things get worse when a regular customer is murdered in the store. The new sheriff is convinced that Jane is responsible but Garnet isn't so sure. The dead woman had a way of annoying a lot of people. Potential suspects all seem to have alibis - or do they? Garnet comes from a law enforcement family. Her dad is a detective who moved to Nashville and her grandpa Stone is the former sheriff in town. Stone still keeps tabs on what is happening. With help from her grandparents and her best friend Megan, Garnet sets out to find the real killer and hopefully save her beloved bookstore!
My thoughts:
This is the first book in the Messy Bookshop Mysteries by Jessica Brimer. The description of the bookstore - it's clutter, cat hair and lack of a logical sorting system is enough to make some of us run in the other direction! Like Megan, my allergies wouldn't allow me to even set foot in the store - let alone deal with the lack of organization! Garnet has some real strengths when it comes to detecting but her lack of experience does get her in a bit of trouble. Even so, she is a rather likeable character. The friendship with Megan felt real and her relationship with her grandparents is strong. There are definitely more family avenues to explore! Jane starts out as a bit of a hard ass but she does grow on you as you learn more about her.
The suspect pool shifted several times as alibis were presented and sometimes showed some cracks. The clues are complex and don't really seem to fit but Garnet is determined to find a way to clear Jane and save the store. Though I was pretty sure I knew "who done it" the ultimate reveal and takedown were well done.
There were however, several typos/errors that distracted me:
- Early in the book, Garnet states she started working at the store when she was 16 and is now 22. Yet in Chapter 5, it says she is 29?
- There were a couple of places where the wrong character name is used. Underwood is referred to as Stone and in another place Jane is referred to as Teresa.
- The plural of Doris - Doris's - is once referred to as Dori's.
- Tense and plural of a couple of words are also incorrect used.
- At least two or three places where there are words missing from sentences that make the meaning unclear. This was not a dialogue/dialect issue - just storyline text.
For me, the story in itself was quite good and would rate 4 stars. however. with a more thorough editing and proofreading the majority or the errors should have been caught, so the best I can give this book is 3 stars. I should note that I will read the next book in the series when it comes out. JMO
My thoughts:
This is the first book in the Messy Bookshop Mysteries by Jessica Brimer. The description of the bookstore - it's clutter, cat hair and lack of a logical sorting system is enough to make some of us run in the other direction! Like Megan, my allergies wouldn't allow me to even set foot in the store - let alone deal with the lack of organization! Garnet has some real strengths when it comes to detecting but her lack of experience does get her in a bit of trouble. Even so, she is a rather likeable character. The friendship with Megan felt real and her relationship with her grandparents is strong. There are definitely more family avenues to explore! Jane starts out as a bit of a hard ass but she does grow on you as you learn more about her.
The suspect pool shifted several times as alibis were presented and sometimes showed some cracks. The clues are complex and don't really seem to fit but Garnet is determined to find a way to clear Jane and save the store. Though I was pretty sure I knew "who done it" the ultimate reveal and takedown were well done.
There were however, several typos/errors that distracted me:
- Early in the book, Garnet states she started working at the store when she was 16 and is now 22. Yet in Chapter 5, it says she is 29?
- There were a couple of places where the wrong character name is used. Underwood is referred to as Stone and in another place Jane is referred to as Teresa.
- The plural of Doris - Doris's - is once referred to as Dori's.
- Tense and plural of a couple of words are also incorrect used.
- At least two or three places where there are words missing from sentences that make the meaning unclear. This was not a dialogue/dialect issue - just storyline text.
For me, the story in itself was quite good and would rate 4 stars. however. with a more thorough editing and proofreading the majority or the errors should have been caught, so the best I can give this book is 3 stars. I should note that I will read the next book in the series when it comes out. JMO
January 25, 2023
A Binding Chance, the first book in the Messy Bookshop mysteries, was so very enjoyable! The characters are likable and interesting and the mystery was really good. Garnet Stone works at Teresa's Bookstore, a used bookstore with a lot of personality, mostly because of the clutter.. Teresa died in an accident and her niece Jane shows up to sell the store. Garnet is very upset and tries to talk her out of it. Then a murder happens at the bookstore. The clues are odd. Garnet is from a law enforcement family and she, Jane, and Garnet's roommate Megan try to figure out the culprit and clear Jane. There are only a few suspects but one minute they have an alibi and the next they are a suspect again. It kept me guessing until the reveal at the very end. Garnet is an intelligent, independent main character. I liked her right from the beginning. Jane is a good character especially once we learn a little about her. Leo is a fun addition and I am sure will be around in future books. The part of the story about Regan is interesting and obviously will continue in the next book (a bit of a cliffhanger). I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next book! #ABindingChance #MessyBookshopMysteries
July 11, 2023
The protagonist, Garnet Stone, was an immediate likable and feisty character and perfect to be the lead in this book. Along with her roommate, Megan, she sets out to solve the mystery of her bosses demise. You would have to say it’s in her blood since her grandpa is the former towns sheriff and her father is a detective in another town.
The plot was cozy mystery typical. I did love how her family was law enforcement; it was unusual, and I loved it. I think the author was clever in regards to the murderer. I can’t tell you why I think she was clever as you would know immediately who the killer was. A hint of a romance between Garnet and Levi had a Shop Around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail vibe which I enjoyed.
The authors style of writing was a simple, easy passage into the world of the Messy Bookshop Mysteries.
I listened to the audio book, and I have mixed feelings about the narrator. For the most part she was ok, but I did have a hard time connecting with her. I think it was the voice changes that put me off. They just didn’t seem to work.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
The plot was cozy mystery typical. I did love how her family was law enforcement; it was unusual, and I loved it. I think the author was clever in regards to the murderer. I can’t tell you why I think she was clever as you would know immediately who the killer was. A hint of a romance between Garnet and Levi had a Shop Around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail vibe which I enjoyed.
The authors style of writing was a simple, easy passage into the world of the Messy Bookshop Mysteries.
I listened to the audio book, and I have mixed feelings about the narrator. For the most part she was ok, but I did have a hard time connecting with her. I think it was the voice changes that put me off. They just didn’t seem to work.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
July 30, 2023
I really like the characters, the setting, and the mystery but the ending was a little lack luster for me. I was really sucked into the mystery at first because there were interesting things found at the scene and later on a character even made a murder board to recap what we knew about the crime. I felt like anyone except the person that ultimately was revealed as the murderer would have been a better pick for the murderer. This book was a little unique in the main character already lived in the small town and she didn't inherit the bookshop she just worked there. The two cats Princess and Butterscotch (the owl) were adorable and I look forward to seeing more from them in future books. Book 1 did have a cliffhanger and I definitely enjoyed this book enough to continue on with the series.
September 10, 2022
This was a great debut and set up for a new series. The heroine, Garnet Stone, comes from a law enforcement family with her dad and grandfather being law enforcement legends in her small Tennessee town. What Garnet is more of a bookworm works at Teresa's bookstore. That is until Teresa dies and her niece Jane comes from New York, deciding to sell the store. Then an older woman dies in the bookstore, and Teresa's death is ruled a homicide, instead of natural causes. Jane who is new in town finds herself the prime suspect. Garnet helps her new boss to state of jail as well as try to make her see that Teresa's bookstore is worth staying open. There's also a couple of cats, and a cast of interesting Side characters.
September 10, 2022
Respect the Stone. You have to read the book to learn the meaning of this phrase, but it's well worth reading to find out! The title says it all: this cozy mystery revolves around the cluttered bookshop where our sleuth, Garnet Stone, works. The death of the shop's owner is followed by another death, and off we go! Garnet and her roommate Megan (and Garnet's grandparents) collect clues like used books! The book has a great pace and short chapters, making it easy to pick up and put down. But I suspect you'll read it pretty quickly to see whodunnit! A great read and I hope Ms. Brimer is hard at work on the next installment.
May 7, 2024
Intriguing Who-Dunnit.
Garnet's job is under threat at the bookshop where she loves working, she vows to save it from being closed and when murder hits the community where she lives, she puts on her detective hat to try and solve the case herself.
I very much enjoyed this book. Great descriptive writing which bought the setting to life. I found the Tennesse setting fascinating and really enjoyed having a peek into everyday life of the people who live there.
The characters were well portrayed, including the adorable cats - Butterscotch and Princess.
An interesting cozy crime mystery which I flew through. Highly recommended for a fab read.
Garnet's job is under threat at the bookshop where she loves working, she vows to save it from being closed and when murder hits the community where she lives, she puts on her detective hat to try and solve the case herself.
I very much enjoyed this book. Great descriptive writing which bought the setting to life. I found the Tennesse setting fascinating and really enjoyed having a peek into everyday life of the people who live there.
The characters were well portrayed, including the adorable cats - Butterscotch and Princess.
An interesting cozy crime mystery which I flew through. Highly recommended for a fab read.
March 29, 2025
I think this is a good first novel. The premise is fun and the characters are believable. My problem with the story was too many clues that you don’t understand until the very end of the book. My main problem with this book was that I wish she had had it proofread, if not by a professional maybe by a friend with an eye for grammar. There were too many places where verbs and don’t agree or where the wrong word was in the wrong sentence or it was in the wrong tense. Probably a lot of people are not bothered by those things, but I am and I can’t be alone. I’m looking forward to seeing the next one to see if any of that got corrected. I think it’s a good start on a series.
March 17, 2024
I love bookshop cozy mysteries. The title, the cover, and the blurb invited an armchair travel visit to Teresa’s Bookstore with a bookshop cat, Princess, located in Sevier Oak, Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains, and I looked forward to the visit. The twist on the inheritance factor, the setting, the characters, and the mystery of twists and turns would have sparked a higher star rating by this reviewer, but sadly, my delight diminished as each chapter I read increased the number of needed copy edits.
I will not continue reading the series of 2 books.
I will not continue reading the series of 2 books.
February 25, 2023
The book has merit and a decent storyline. However, the typos, punctuation errors, discrepancies in storyline, and like there is a book prior to this one with backstory info makes it difficult to really enjoy. For example, she uses “tell” in a sentence when it should be “until.” Or one time Underwood knocks on the door, reference is made in following pages that it was Stone. There were many typos, etc. and, hopefully, her editor does a better job second go round.
July 19, 2023
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to win a copy of "A Binding Chance" by Jessica Brimer. The novel, set in a charming bookstore in a small Tennessee town, encompasses a captivating mystery and boasts of endearing characters that are both engaging and relatable. Being a debut novel, it definitely sets the stage for an ongoing series with plenty more adventure and mayhem to come.
February 12, 2025
I was looking for a cozy and this fit the bill. It's a likeable cast of characters, the mystery plot was decent, nobody did anything ridiculously insane, and nobody was overly annoying. Plus the town and characters are distinctive and well-written enough to feel like real people in a real place. Sometimes that's all that I'm looking for in a cozy. This fit the bill.
May 10, 2025
I thought this was pretty bad. The third time the author used 's to pluralize a noun, I really had to give up reading and skim the rest. The characters are somewhat cartoonish and the rapid massive personality changes that some of them undergo are not believable. I will NOT be reading any more in this series.
January 12, 2023
I loved the setting, the characters, and the plot! So many great twists and turns to keep you guessing right up until the end. I can’t wait for book 2!
I loved getting to know all the characters in the small town. I feel like I visited there and can’t wait to go back.
I loved getting to know all the characters in the small town. I feel like I visited there and can’t wait to go back.
August 30, 2023
I enjoyed listening to this book on Audible. It reminded me a bit of Murder She Wrote. I would recommend this book to others who like cozy mysteries and small-town stories. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 25, 2024
That was a great read! Give me anything in a bookstore, especially a messy one, and I’m happy. The author paid at least, if not more, attention to character development as to plot. The result is a host of major and minor players I can’t wait to catch up with in volume 2.
April 3, 2025
OK, I did like the book. It was cute, and I might even try the next one BUT the editing drove me crazy. Not sure if the printed copy had all the mistakes that were on the Kindle version or not. So many proofreading errors. Too bad. Again, the story was good, but she needs better editors.
September 9, 2025
A cozy mystery lover’s dream!
Books, cats, and murder what more could you want? Garnet is such a lovable amateur sleuth, and the small-town Tennessee setting gave the story so much charm. The mystery kept me guessing right until the end.
Books, cats, and murder what more could you want? Garnet is such a lovable amateur sleuth, and the small-town Tennessee setting gave the story so much charm. The mystery kept me guessing right until the end.
February 6, 2023
Great start to a new series.
July 7, 2023
I loved it, but there were A LOT of spelling and grammar errors in my ebook version.
September 2, 2023
Nice easy read though I had a hard time connecting with the characters. That being said, I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
January 8, 2024
Fun read but has grammatical errors. That bothers me.
March 21, 2024
great read
A fun and twisting tale of who done it. The characters are fun and kept me intrigued. Hope you enjoy it also.
A fun and twisting tale of who done it. The characters are fun and kept me intrigued. Hope you enjoy it also.
November 11, 2025
Cute
Likable characters, books, cats, and murders. This was enjoyable. The book could have benefited from editing for grammatical errors, but that didn’t hurt the story line.
Likable characters, books, cats, and murders. This was enjoyable. The book could have benefited from editing for grammatical errors, but that didn’t hurt the story line.
May 1, 2023
A Binding Chance is book #1 in the Messy Bookshop Mysteries series, and the series is off to a great start with this fun book. The setting and the characters are on par. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story that kept me guessing right up until the end. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
May 8, 2024
A wonderful cozy mystery. It is quick to the murder and mystery. I did this as an audiobook, and the narrator did a great job. I enjoyed the voices of the characters. They seemed to fit well. Garnet definitely had a lot more self-control in certain situations than I would have! The characters were fun and entertaining. I really enjoyed Garnet snooping alongside the former Chief. It added a little more professional insight. I think the new owner, being a former defense attorney, is so smart and will have a unique way of seeing things. Highly recommend. I will absolutely continue.
I’ve changed the rating from 4 stars to 5 because it’s been a month and I still think of how great it was. How much I loved the characters and the setting. How much I’ve looked into getting the next 2 books. (but just have others before I can start them.)
Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana
I’ve changed the rating from 4 stars to 5 because it’s been a month and I still think of how great it was. How much I loved the characters and the setting. How much I’ve looked into getting the next 2 books. (but just have others before I can start them.)
Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews