The Body in the Bookstore: A Secret Bookcase Mystery, Book 1

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 1,711 ratings

Price: 23.88

Last update: 01-02-2025


About this item

Behind the shelves of The Secret Bookcase, where the sun slants through the windows onto rows of classic crime novels, a body lies…

Bookseller Annie Murray is thrilled when the mystery-themed book festival she sets up to revive the dwindling fortunes of her workplace and sanctuary seems poised for success. But events take a shocking turn when a body is discovered hidden behind the shelves, and it’s revealed that the victim is Annie's old college acquaintance.

Determined to ensure the festival’s success and save the small town of Redwood Grove from a killer, Annie begins piecing together clues with the help of her friends. But as the list of suspects grows longer—a local boutique owner, an envious old classmate, a bitter ex-boyfriend—Annie is drawn deeper into the case.

With the aid of her old criminology professor-turned-detective, can Annie unmask the murderer before they turn her festival into a real-life whodunit?

Full of lovable, quirky characters and small-town charm, The Body in the Bookstore serves up an irresistible blend of intrigue for fans of cozy crime including Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Cozy Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars A 5 star debut of a charming new series . Great sleuth and characters
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
    This is the debut book in the charming new cozy series '"The Secret Bookcase Mystery Series" by cozy mystery author Ellie Alexander. A 5 star read ! The second book is released as well and is " A Murder At The Movies.". The author has gifted her readers with a wonderful new series that captured me from beginning to end. This is a exciting mystery you will not put down until conclusion. I loved the characters, the charming small town and the sleuth. Both books are a 5 star read. Thank you to the author for releasing both books in the series on the same day !

    We are introduced to a savvy smart protagnist Annie who lives in a fictional small town of Redwood Grove, She works in a failing bookstore named The Secret Bookcase. Hal is the owner and not sure he can keep the bookstore open when Annie has a wonderful idea to hold a town wide "mystery festival". The festival is a success drawing mystery readers in to follow clues at various businessess to try to solve mysteries. The turn out is unexpected and the bookstore's involvement is a huge success when a murder occurs. Annie has a criminalogy degree and her favorite professor is now the police detective in town and works with her on the case. They have a unsolved murder in common of Annie's best friend in college that haunts Annie as she still seeks closure in that case.

    I loved the charming small town descriptions , the murder mystery festival and the characters. This was a engaging well crafted sleuth that kept me guessing to conclusion. I look forward to reading more of this successful series. Well done to the author. ,
    Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.
  • endlessreader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic cozy
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2024
    The Body in the Bookstore kept the reader excited and guessing all the way just who the killer is. Multiple people, many valid motives, and lots of great characters. The book starts a little weird but the pace quickly increases. Great read.
  • Elizabeth Leleux
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a new series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Great sweet cozy mystery. This is my first book by this author. I absolutely love this particular bookstore. It makes you want to go see it. And the mystery festival sounds AMAZING. I really would like to attend a real one in person. All of the panels and events sound really fun. This book was great. Ready to read the next one.
  • Miss.Read.Alot
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fun cozy mystery starter
    Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
    3.25 stars
    The Body in the Bookstore, by Ellie Alexander, is the first book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series. This is an entertaining cozy mystery about an independent mystery bookshop in Northern California, owned by a semi-retired gentlemen who has all but handed the reigns over to Annie, his young protege.

    This story is set in a relatively remote small town and is struggling to make ends meet. Annie decides that as a means of helping the local economy, and increasing the bookstore’s revenue, she will host a town wide mystery festival. With plans in place for an extravagant event, she is rather shocked when a few people she went to college with show up at the festival and bring drama and chaos with them. When one of the former classmates is later found dead in her bookstore, this former criminology student begins her own investigation alongside the police. Annie has a tragedy in her recent past that she is trying to cope with, which is brought up quite frequently, and this investigation brings her struggle to light.

    I really enjoyed the side characters in this story, as well as the main character’s credentials. There was a lot of speculation, plotting and prodding, but also a number of red herrings, which was quite interesting. The Body in the Bookstore wasn’t the most gripping cozy, but I do think it’s a good start to a series and that will become more captivating as the series continues and we grow to know the characters more.
  • Sarah S Erwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great new cozy mystery series!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2024
    These are so well done – I could not stop turning the pages, finishing both of them in just a matter of days. The setting is beautiful and felt like true arm-chair travel. I’m adding Redwood Grove to my list of fictional places I’d like to visit. I enjoyed how multi-layered each mystery was and the plot twists kept me guessing until the end of each. I admire how thoughtful Annie is as she works to resolve each case and I always love it when a sleuth and a detective work together.

    While the murder mystery in each book is resolved, the mystery of Annie’s friend’s murder carries through both, and book two has a cliff-hanger that had me gasping in shock!

    The characters are great – I’m especially fond of Annie’s Redwood Grove best friend, Pri, and loved the subplot featuring her (no spoilers here!). There’s the hint of a possible romance for Annie that I’m curious to see how it might develop.

    Highly recommend that mystery lovers get their hands on this series–you won’t regret it!
  • S. Peterson
    4.0 out of 5 stars a little disappointed
    Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2024
    I purchased this book because I have read others by this author and knew she was an excellent writer.
    I was a little disappointed in this book in one area--I didn't feel I got to know the main character or the other "minor" characters. I felt there should have been more of a background on Annie, more of why she was so haunted by her friend's death. I would like to know more about who Hal, Fletcher, Pri, Liam, Caroline and Doctor Caldwell are. Hopefully, we will learn more in the second book in this series.
    The small town setting was really good--I felt I got to know the layout of the town and the town "vibe"--what the town was all about.
    The mystery was good and interesting to follow to the conclusion.
    I would recommend this book.
  • Stefanie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jessica Fletcher for the 2020s
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    Great read! Had a ball trying to figure out the guilty party. With the exception of the unfortunate and unforgivable typo in the pic (how DARE you lol), this was well-paced and well-written!
    Customer image
    Stefanie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jessica Fletcher for the 2020s
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    Great read! Had a ball trying to figure out the guilty party. With the exception of the unfortunate and unforgivable typo in the pic (how DARE you lol), this was well-paced and well-written!
    Images in this review
    Customer image

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