"Death at the Dinner Party (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #3)" by Ellie Alexander starts off like a classic dinner party murder mystery with Annie helping to host a fundraiser party for the vineyard that a friend of hers has been trying to restore. It was supposed to be a murder mystery dinner party but then it got a little too real. The man who owns the farm next to Annie's friend, a has been a bit of a pill to her, collapses just before the actor who was going to pretend to die could take their death scene.

Annie is still considering her options. Should she take the offer to work with the police. Should she start her own private investigation work. Or, should she stick with the bookstore with the option of some investigation work? Unfortunately, this doesn't really get answered even in this book. Same with any real progress on the death of her friend from college.

We do get some progress on Annie's relationship with Liam. At least now they're starting something. No more of the denial about how she thinks he feels about her. He actively helps her in the investigation as well. Hopefully, this keeps progressing and doesn't take a step back any more.

Book 3 in the series. It is so fun to catch up with Annie and her friends. Pri and her girlfriend Penny are hosting a murder mystery dinner to help raise funds to continue renovating Penny's old farmhouse. The local paid actors are getting ready to start the game off m, but a guest dies first. Who could have killed him?

Annie and her friends once again are tasked with finding a killer. Annie really can throw a killer event. For a small town there sure is a lot of murder all of a sudden. We continue to get more subplot into Scarletts murder and Annie and Liams budding romance. This one one found Annie and Pri in a dangerous situation with Liam coming to the rescue.

Looking forward to book 4
5 stars

This is the third book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series set in the small town of Redwood Grove, California. Although the mystery itself would work as a standalone, I think this one will be more enjoyable if you read at least one of the prior books. The first two books have more details about the characters and knowing them better will make this book more fun to read. The main character, Annie Murray, is a bookseller who is an excellent event planner who also studied criminology in college. She and her best friend Pri have planned a mystery theater dinner party to raise money to help save Pri's girlfriend's farm. Even before the main course is served, instead of a faked death as part of the play, one of the guests dies for real.

I enjoyed seeing Annie investigate the crime, but I wish there had been more scenes at the bookstore. The mystery dinner party setting is fun, but it is unfortunately cut short by the crime! Small steps were taken in Annie's potential romance with Liam, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for them. This series has an overarching mystery of the death of Annie's friend Scarlett. Not a lot of progress is made on that front, but it looks like there is a possible lead for Annie to follow up on in the next book. This book was a quick read that seemed a bit rushed at the end, but has me eager to read book 4, which comes out in November.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Storm Publishing, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Summary
Review of "Death at the Dinner Party"
Enjoyed the small-town coziness and diverse characters; everyone is a suspect.
Fast-paced, page-turning book with detailed descriptions of the dinner party decorations.
Rooted for Liam and Annie; their sweet banter is endearing, Liam is the book hero.

I loved this book! I thought it was the best in the series so far. Annie Murray is a wonderful FMC who I relate to in many ways. I love the little side plots that have continued throughout the series and keep me excited to continue reading as more books are published. I also love the small romance subplots that are slowly developing through the course of the series. Ellie Alexander really knows how to bring her readers back for more. I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Annie Murray and the gang are back but they can’t seem to get a break when it comes to murders in their small town of Redwood Grove. Death at the Dinner party was a great installment to the Secret Bookcase Mystery series and is now my favorite out of the other books. The storyline, plot, and characters were amazing! I loved that the author kept the original characters in this book as well. The story takes place at the vineyard Penny bought in the previous book. Annie and Pri decided to help Penny raise money to restore the historical Wentworth farmhouse by throwing a murder mystery themed party, but little did they know that someone was actually going to get murder that night 🫣. This was a great cozy mystery and I’m really starting to love this series a lot

Side note: the slow burn between Annie and Liam was killing me 😩 I’m so eager to see how things progress with them. Liam instantly became my favorite character in this book. He does everything he can to help Annie with her investigations and definitely supports her. Their banter is soooo cute as well 🥰 In book 4 they better become a couple or I’m going to be so upset 🤣😭 I can’t take the slow burn anymore!

Another great installment in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series.

Annie has organized an event to help her friend Penny literally ‘save the family farm’ from the financial issues Penny is having.

Hostile neighbor Curtis Wright drops into the dinner and after upsetting everyone manages to get himself murdered.

Annie has to jump in and investigate in order to save her friend Penny from being unjustly taken in.

There is a lot of twists and turns, cuddles with Prof Plum, romance and clues solving Annie’s best friend Scarlett’s murder.

I really am enjoying the direction this series is going.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this ARC. All opinions are my own.


#DeathattheDinnerParty #NetGalley

Another adventure for Annie and company, A dinner theater murder mystery. With Liam catering, Annie organizing, Pryia planning and Penny hoping to raise money, the mystery dinner was in full swing when the wrong person is actually murdered. Now Annie must draw on her skills to help figure out what went on and who wanted the victim to die. Lots of drama and intrigue in this story. Each book fills out these characters more fully. Love the love interests of both Annie and Pryia. I love that each book ends with a cliff hanger that leads you to the next book in the series. Well written and plotted. Can't wait for the next one!

Love a good whodunit! I absolutely also love this series. I kept saying last chapter and I'm going to bed and when I got there I kept going because I had to find out whodunit!

This was such an enjoyable cozy mystery! In this book the main character Annie and friends host a murder mystery dinner fundraiser. Unfortunately during the dinner an actual murder occurs. I loved the setting of a historic farmhouse that was being renovated. It provided the backdrop for a locked room mystery & creepy atmosphere with a stormy evening. This book takes place before Halloween and is a perfect fall book to add to your list.

3 Stars
One Liner: As cozy as it can be!

Annie Murray plans an elaborate mystery dinner to help her friend Penny (Priya’s girlfriend) raise funds to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Penny already spent all her money on the place and will have to sell it if she doesn’t have more funds.
The dinner starts with Curtis Wright annoying the actors and soon falling dead at the table. With a storm raging outside and a long list of suspects inside, Annie needs to find out who the killer is. However, she soon realizes that there’s a lot buried in the past. The killer is determined to keep their identity a secret.
The story comes in Annie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
So… it’s settled then. The series will continue to be a super light cozy mystery. Not that I mind since I read this when I wasn’t feeling great but followed the plot and guessed the killer.
The settings are the highlight of this series. Since the book is themed around Halloween, we get storms, power outages, old buildings, damp basements, etc. Quite atmospheric, I say!
There’s a list of characters, though some don’t reappear, making it too easy to guess the outcome. Even Dr. Caldwell has a limited role, which I don’t mind. After all, this is Annie’s book.
Things are better between Annie and Liam now, though methinks she is crushing a little too much. But okay. At least, he is no longer acting like an idiot.
There’s a slight development in the overarching case (Scarlet). Not enough to make me happy but progress nevertheless. The next book should have something significant (I hope so).

To summarize, Death at the Dinner Party is a light cozy mystery of less than 250 pages and can be read in a single sitting if you have the time. I will continue with the series and will soon read the next book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

It sounded like a super fun adventure to Annie as far as helping her friend’s girlfriend throw a murder mystery dinner party at her old farmhouse as a fundraiser. But like all good mysteries, there had to be a storm trapping everyone inside and of course a murder. It was a good thing Annie had a criminology background or she probably would’ve fallen apart like her pal Pri almost did. I knew her mentor was gonna be really proud of her once the police made it there.

I’m loving how things have changed for the better between Annie and Liam and I’ll be eager to see things progress. And I just love that sweet Hal! What a great guy who runs the bookshop but he’s more like a grandpa to Annie and Fletcher than a boss. Annie’s really blessed to have such a great work family. The showdown was a little scary, in a human way of course but with a little help and some perseverance, Annie and Pri lived to sleuth another day. I can’t wait to read the next book which is Christmas themed!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I really enjoy this series. I loved the murder mystery dinner party theme. I love the MC, Annie. She is someone who you want to be friends with. I would definitely want her to help me with any investigative needs. Liam is becoming one of my favorite characters. I remember in the first book I was not sure about him. The comments from Liam to Annie put a smirky smile on my face. I was jumping up and down inside rooting for Annie. I like how the story of Scarlet and the cold case is woven in between. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

I love this series. In this book Penny buys the Wentworth property and is struggling to finance the restoration and Annie suggests a mystery dinner. .
The night of the dinner, it just starts , when Curtis Wright drops dead at dinner. They call for emergency vehicles to get there but the road is blocked. Annie, the amateur sleuth has a degree in criminology and studied with Dr. Caldwell takes charge. They have to move the body first, so the dinner can continue and after that the sleuthing begins. After a couple hours the emergency vehicles get there a long with Dr. Caldwell and here staff.
See what happens and see how it ends. A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY.

Annie Murray to the rescue once again! As Annie and her friends plan a murder mystery dinner to raise money, everything seems to be going to plan. Until there's a real murder. Annie once again takes us all on a thrill ride to solve the murder, have coffee at Cryptic Coffee, and luxuriate in the Secret Bookcase. I can't say enough good things about Ellie Alexander and her wonderful cast of characters. Read this book!

I thought this was another good addition to this series.
It’s fast moving and kept me guessing to the end.
The characters have all grown as the series goes on. I can’t wait to see what Annie gets into next.

Annie’s friend Penny needs to raise money to restore the farmhouse she just purchased, and Annie convinces her to host a murder mystery dinner party. Everything goes well until one of the dinner guests drops dead at the table. Everyone in the group had reason to dislike the man, but the police zero in on Penny as their primary suspect. Annie and Pri are determined to clear her name.

This author is one of my favorite cozy authors, and this series is quickly becoming a favorite. I like Annie and her friends – and her cat, Professor Plum :) – and I like the relationships that are developing as the series progresses. I loved the idea of having local actors involved in the dinner party, and having a murder mystery dinner party at Halloween. Although Annie has a degree in criminal justice, I still have a hard time accepting that she is given so much leeway during the investigation, even if the lead detective is her old college professor.

The murder victim was not very well liked, so there were plenty of suspects to think about. Many of the motives were similar, so that didn’t help much in narrowing the field. I didn’t figure out who the actual culprit was until just before the confrontation scene, when it was hard to put the book down. The motive was not quite what I’d expected, but it made sense.

I have an ARC of the next book in this series, and I’m eager to read it to see how Annie, Pri, Liam and the rest celebrate the holidays.

Ellie Alexander’s Death at the Dinner Party delivers a delightful blend of charm, suspense, and classic cozy mystery appeal. Set against the backdrop of a historic farmhouse and filled with plenty of small-town intrigue, this installment from The Secret Bookcase series offers everything fans of cozy mysteries crave: an eccentric cast of characters, a puzzling murder, and a determined amateur sleuth with a knack for stumbling into danger.

The story centers around Annie Murray, an affable character with a passion for books and a knack for hosting. When her friend Penny expresses financial worries about restoring the Wentworth farmhouse—a local property steeped in history and rumors—Annie seizes the opportunity to throw a murder mystery-themed dinner party at the picturesque location. With its mysterious aura and whispers of a hidden fortune, the farmhouse provides the perfect spooky setting for the party. What starts as a fun, immersive evening soon takes a darker turn when Curtis Wright, a local landowner notorious for bullying the townsfolk, drops dead at the dinner table.

Alexander crafts an intriguing mystery with just the right amount of suspense. Curtis’ death is instantly suspicious, and while Annie didn’t add arsenic to her carefully curated menu, it quickly becomes apparent that someone did. The question is: who? The story unfolds with a slow burn of clues and red herrings, pulling readers deeper into the web of secrets surrounding Curtis’ demise and the Wentworth family history. Every guest at the dinner party seems to have a motive for wanting Curtis gone, especially Penny, who was under pressure to sell her land to him.

Annie’s involvement in solving the crime feels natural, driven by her loyalty to Penny and her need to clear her friend’s name. What follows is an engaging investigation where Annie must navigate not just the recent crime, but also uncover long-hidden family secrets, shady deals, and even secret passageways in the historic home. Each revelation brings her closer to the truth, but also closer to danger as the killer becomes more desperate to protect their identity.

The small-town setting is vividly brought to life with Alexander’s writing, and fans of the cozy mystery genre will appreciate the warm, community-driven backdrop that contrasts with the murder mystery at its heart. The quaintness of the town adds charm, but it also hides layers of darkness, including old grudges and shady business dealings, which make for a more intricate plot than a simple whodunit.

Alexander’s signature style shines through with well-placed twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Just when you think you’ve figured out who the killer is, another clue throws everything into question. The pacing is steady, with enough intrigue to maintain the tension without becoming overwhelming, making it an ideal read for fans who enjoy a slow-building mystery with satisfying payoffs.

The strength of Death at the Dinner Party lies not only in its clever plot but in its characters. Annie is a relatable and likable protagonist—sharp, curious, and loyal, but not without her moments of vulnerability. The secondary characters, from the guests at the party to the town’s locals, are richly developed, each with their own distinct personalities and potential motives for murder. Curtis Wright, though only briefly alive in the story, casts a long shadow, and the exploration of his relationships with others provides key insights into why he was such a universally disliked figure.

Final Thoughts:
Death at the Dinner Party is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery, filled with intrigue, layered secrets, and just the right amount of danger. Ellie Alexander has crafted a captivating story that will keep readers engaged, with well-placed clues, quirky characters, and a suspenseful plot that unfolds beautifully. Fans of the genre will love the charming small-town atmosphere and the twists that keep them guessing until the final reveal. If you enjoy mysteries that mix a lighthearted tone with a compelling investigation, this book is a deliciously satisfying treat.

I'm really enjoying this series! The mystery in this one was good, but I find myself quite invested in the other big picture storylines in this series - Scarlett's death, Annie's career path, the romance between Annie + Liam, etc. I really love Ellie Alexander's writing style and find her series to be some of my favorites in the cozy genre. Thank you so much to the publisher and author for this ARC - can't wait for the next one!

Easily another good one to add to my locked room murder obsession.
This was also more cozy then uh traditional thriller murder mystery but I love those too.

What I loved about this, is it was cozy but serious, the author didn't make our FMC some silly twit who makes some real dumb choices and has to dig herself out of them.
This is cozy meets dark thriller, if that's even a thing.

I need the next one, this pleased my little Agatha Christie heart.