I love these new series! 3rd installment- we find Annie trying to clear her friend's Peggy's name when Peggy's neighbor is murdered at her fundraiser dinner party. Everyone is acting squirrely- from the hired group of local actors to a local land developer. It's up to Annie and her friends to solve the murder before they themselves fall prey to a ruthless killer.

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

The third Secret Bookcase mystery finds Annie investigating the death of a man at a murder mystery dinner party. He was not the "victim" and is actually murdered. Her friend Pri's girlfriend, Penny, is a suspect so she is working to clear her name.

I'm really enjoying this series! We didn't get as much movement with the Scarlet long story arc but we did get a little sprinkles of things to come in future books. We are also getting more with Annie and Liam's relationship. I'm excited to see where this series goes next! It is an easy to read cozy series for anyone looking for a new series.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So far, this one has been my absolute favorite. Who hasn't wanted to go and have a good time at a murder mystery dinner party? It sounds like loads of fun to me, well, without the body that is lol. Annie is really flourishing, being able to use her forensics training to help out the police to catch killers. The fact that she is so trusted shows just how gifted she is in this field. I know she has to make a decision as to which she will be choosing either forensics or the bookstore. Even I don't know what I would pick if I was in her shoes.

This mystery has also seemed to be the most fun to date. All of the secrets floating around this little town makes it so very interesting! And speaking of interesting....Annie and Liam, I love those two together. Even as much as they fight it, you can feel the tension between them. They just work so well together even though they got off to such a rocky start. But sometimes, as I know from experience in my own life, those you started off not liking, usually end up being the most invaluable friends.

The red herrings were great, everywhere you looked there was a new clue. This one was just so much fun. I enjoyed myself greatly. I love this series very much and I can hardly wait until the next book. I started this series on a lark, and I am so glad that I did. It's a really refreshing series and it has so many surprises in it to keep it fun. I recommend this book and all the rest of the series.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Ellie Alexander for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒚

2.75

Such a cute cozy mystery, that is 300 hundred pages perfect for catching up on your reading goal.

The author writing was magical weaving in funny slightly cringey comments that made me simile. Like calling your cat professor plum.

What I appreciate with Ellie was her ability to develop the story and the characters without taking away from the mystery. Although the story wasn’t anything groundbreaking, the escapism that the author provides was my takeaway from this book. The description of the town and the book store she worked in really created this mystery and cozy feel.



𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔

One thing- Annie deserves so much better than Liam I hate him so much- he was such an argumentative character. And just because he starts reading a mystery to impress Annie does not redeem him, I think the author should introduce a new love interest for Annie character in the next book to avoid the misery she would be in if she dated Liam.

Saying this I did start this series mid way through so I have missed lots of character development between Annie and Liam.

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕

Overall the premise of this book was nothing new, it was entertaining to read and follow along with. I enjoyed the little twist at the end of each chapter to keep me going.

The mystery was decent, I wasn’t really reading for the mystery rather the vibes the book gave. And I definitely was giving fall.

At one point of the book we changed the focus on an old case, that Annie best friend was involved in, but after that mention it wasn’t really discussed, now whether this was leading into the next book or touching on the last book, I don’t really know but to me it felt really out of place and unneeded.

Would recommend to anyone in the mood for a cozy mystery, nothing to take home about.

Thank you NetGalley for spending me the arc for a honest review.

I got to start reading this book series as arcs and i fell in love with all the characters and the world that Miss Ellie Alexander has created. This book is my favorite so far out of the series. We have romance and mystery and found family. Three of the best tropes combined together. This series is for sure a more cozy mystery. I love that we have all the subplots through out the books and i am so eager to read all of the books in this series. I would recommend for everyone to read this series right now!!!!

Diving into an Annie Murray mystery feels like coming home!

Annie Murray and her Redwood Grove friends are at it again in this upbeat, fast-paced cozy mystery! Annie's best friend Pri has a new love interest, Penny. Penny has recently moved to the area after purchasing a treasured historical estate. It has been quite the extensive project and funds are running low. In comes Annie to help with fundraising since she is known to organize some amazing events (Read books 1 and 2 to catch up on Annie's event planning ;) ) In record time they throw together an epic murder mystery dinner held at Penny's estate. Before the "mystery" part of the dinner can commence, a real murder takes place. As the details unfold it is evident the estate holds answers that may just solve this case.

I've loved all of the Secret Bookcase mysteries but this one might be my favorite! Once the mystery got started the pace was quick and the anticipation was high. The "locked door" aspect of it lasted longer in this mystery which I really enjoyed. Also, Annie seems to be doing more of the investigative work independently rather than with law enforcement - maybe the next book she will be a P.I. or even join Caldwell's team? Hope to see more Hal and Fletcher in the next book as well.

This was the first book in the series I have read (I know, out of order, bad me!) but it read just fine as a standalone. I loved the Clue vibe it had going and the characters were interesting. Definitely going back to read the others in the series.

Thank you Ellie Alexander ( @ellie_alexander ), Storm Publishing ( @stormbooks_co ), and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read Death at the Dinner Party early (comes out September 30, 2024).

Bookseller Annie Murray helps host a murder mystery dinner party, but the murder turns out to be real! It’s a case of who done it that turns into a treasure hunt.

I could not put this book down! I really love Annie—although I wanted to shake her a few times to make her aware of clues right in front of her. But in the end, she had everything put together just right.

I really like how this new series is coming together and look forward to reading more of Annie’s adventures in Redwood Grove (and maybe beyond).

#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley #ElliieAlexander #StormPublishing

Who doesn’t, like a cozy mystery? I love them especially when they are written by Ellie Alexander.

Annie and her friends Pri and Penny are throwing a murder mystery dinner. They are trying to make money to help Penny refurbish the historic Wentworth property she just purchased. Everything was fine until Curtis starts making a big ordeal. He is Redwood Groves town grouch until he wasn’t, He was murdered before the dinner really got going. Who could the murderer be? There were so many people who disliked Curtis. Plus both Curtis and Penny were under pressure to sell their properties.

We are then taken by Annie and friends on the long trail of finding the murderer. Getting into secret tunnels and finding out family secrets. There is also mention of the Wentworth family treasure hidden somewhere. As Annie gets closer she puts herself in more danger. Will they succeed in finding the killer, Will Annie also decide what her life journey will look like.Will Liam be included in it?

I have been hooked on Ellie Alexander’s books since I won one of her books. Since this is book 3 in a series I have already downloaded the other books. So thank you NetGalley and Storm for the ARC. Thank you Ellie Alexander for another wonderful mystery adventure. I look forward to Annie and her friends next mystery.

This is another excellent book in the Secret Bookshop series. Annie is the centre and the hero of the murder mystery and uses her training to hold people to account and to move the discoveries forward slowly and easily. The friendships that underpin the murder are great and the running of the bookshop is a great backdrop to all that happens. The perpetrators are many and they get debunked one by one by Annie in her soft and non intrusive way. The violence is gentle and makes this a light hearted tale that is easy and pleasurable to follow. Hunting down family treasure and secret passages is an adult Famous Five book for me and all the better for it.

Annie's thrilled to be helping with a fund-raiser murder mystery dinner. The food is ready (and delicious), the actors are ready to perform, a storm seems to roll in as if on cue causing the lights to flicker, there's a deceased guest at the end of the table...wait, What?!? That was certainly not in the script. Annie has to switch her party hat for her sleuther's cap and hurry to figure out whodunit before her friends are accused.

Excellent third book in the series. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop until I was done. I enjoyed the mystery, the twists, the characters, and the lovely book cover. I can't wait to read what Annie decides for her future....

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I would recommend this book. It part of a series that I also enjoy. It starts with a poisoning at a mystery dinner. Which leads to more mystery.

Death at the Dinner Party was a lovely third installment in this delightful series. I can’t wait to read the next one.

This is my first book by the Author. It was enjoyable, the story was well written and the characters interesting.
It read well as a stand~a~lone, though being a third in the series likely means I missed out in character
development. The fundamentals are well done here. We have mystery, a murder and a bookshop.
And, possibly a budding romance. I also love the fictional coastal California town, which with the lovely bookshop,
reminds me of my town…. I think the bookshop will be very important in the next book, but who knows ?
I recommend this book to everyone~it’s that good!
My thanks to Storm Publisher via NetGalley, for the download copy of this book for review purposes.
This book will be avaioable 30 September 2024.

What I really like about this series, where Annie Murray coordinates events for a bookstore in Northern California:
The Northern California setting with descriptions of redwoods and life somewhat close to the ocean
The small town closeness of the residents
The friendships and collegial relationships
The discussion of classic mystery authors, notably Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

What I am starting to dislike after the 3rd book into the series:
The local murder that takes place is not as riveting anymore (someone always gets murdered at the planned event)
The very slow progress on the overarching larger mystery of who killed Annie’s college best friend
The very slow development of the potential romance with Liam, local restauranteur
The very slow decision making of Annie’s future? Should she see work with Dr Caldwell as a detective? Stay with the bookstore? Open her own detective agency?

Will i read the next in the series? Of course. The writing is good, and I care about some of the characters, but I think more action is definitely called for with the next installment.

I love this series so far! I read this in one sitting. This time we have a murder mystery fund-raising dinner, arranged by Annie, which is being held at the old Wentworth farm that Pri's girlfriend, Penny, has purchased and is renovating. There's the perfect 'dark and stormy night' to set the scene for the murder mystery. As for the murder, well, it's a guest instead of the actor who ends up dead. Annie teams up with Dr Caldwell again to help unravel a case, with plenty of suspects who have a reason to want that person gone.
I think one thing I enjoy about this series, apart from the great characters and beautiful setting, is the mutual respect between Annie and Dr Caldwell. It makes a nice change from the over-protective hunk or rude ass detective sometimes seen in murder mysteries. A really enjoyable, quick read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Death at the Dinner Party. This series is becoming one of my new favorites very quickly. It has a premise that is quite different compared to other cozy mystery series I read... mainly that the protagonist has training in criminology and is seen as an asset to the local police detective instead of being treated as a nuisance. Annie is a great character and I'm happy to see how her friendship with Liam is evolving. The murder mystery was very interesting and I like how it tied in with the town's Wentworth family mystery. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

The events coordinator at the Secret Bookcase, Annie Murray, has organized a murder mystery-themed dinner party at the newly renovated historic Wentworth farmhouse. The property has garnered enduring rumors of secret passageways concealing a fabled fortune in gems and gold, attracting widespread interest and leading to sold-out tickets. Annie was introduced to the new owner, Penny Shurr, through her friend Priya (Pri) Kapoor. Costly renovations have caused Penny's depleted savings, and significant improvements are still needed on the property's exterior, including the orchards, vineyards, and farming equipment. The women have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the upcoming dinner party and fundraising auction for experiences in Redwood Grove.

It's another irresistible visit to a small town in Northern California. A mystery-themed bookstore hints at a unique architectural element called the Secret Bookcase, along with an owner's genealogy that could link to an ancestry connection to Agatha Christie. As a fellow enthusiast of mysteries and small-town events, I find these elements particularly engaging. This time, there are two events before Halloween: an offsite fundraising dinner party on an eerie and stormy night, adding to the atmosphere with links to the town's history, and a children's story time celebration at the bookstore. The author's descriptive writing not only creates vivid images of delectable menus for dinner and story time refreshments but also infuses friendship and romance in the characters' lives that sparkle with humor, respect, and looking out for one another. What history and/or mystery buff can resist an investigation that might finally answer rumors from the 1800s?

Reviewer’s Note: The author’s website shares: "This series is a love letter to the mysteries that shaped me and is inspired by the real-life Mystery Festival we launched in Ashland, OR in 2023." You can be assured that this reader plans to visit Redwood Grove for the next event! I hope you will too!

Thank you to Ellie Alexander, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel.

Annie Murray’s friend Penny is financially struggling to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Annie is intrigued by the beautiful property and the rumors about the Wentworth family fortune hidden on the property. Anxious to help her friend, Annie hosts a mystery-themed dinner party. The evening begins ideally, and everyone enjoys themselves until Curtis Wright, a neighboring troublemaker and bully, drops dead at the table.
It seemed that someone had poisoned his food. Curtis, who had been pressuring Annie’s friend Penny to sell her land to him, was the likely target. Annie, fearing for Penny's safety, launches into a frantic investigation to clear her friend's name. Her quest leads her into a labyrinth of family secrets, dubious business transactions, and concealed passages in the ancient farmhouse.
When Annie discovers the truth, her life is in danger when the killer comes after her. She is trapped with no escape. Will this be the end for her?
This is another of Ellie Alexander’s riveting, nonstop, edge-of-the-seat page-turners that will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping revelation.