As much as I love Ellie Alexander's writing, the ending felt a bit rushed. I wanted to know more about the history and the possible hidden rooms. I also wanted more of a backstory on the new characters.
Even though this one was a miss, I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Annie Murray and her best friend, Pri Kapoor, are busy getting ready for a mystery dinner event they are planning for Pri's girlfriend, Penny, to raise money to continue renovating her historic home. The events Annie plans always seem to be planned to the tiniest detail so that nothing goes wrong, but fate always intervenes to take the event from perfect to tragic, and this dinner party is no exception when one of the guests is murdered. Why was this person murdered? Does it have anything to do with the missing fortune of the Wentworth family who owned the house that Penny lives in and many other properties in Redwood Grove before disappearing in the 1800s? Can Annie figure out what happened so that her former teacher and now Redwood Grove police chief, Dr. Caldwell, can make an arrest? Will Annie and Liam address the obvious tension between them? Read this terrific cozy mystery to find out the answers to all these questions. This was another really entertaining, well written book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I'm already looking forward to reading what happens next for everyone in Redwood Grove.

* I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I love anything that Ellie Alexander writes. They are just such wholesome,fun light mysteries set against picturesque towns with quirky and nuanced characters.

This series is really hooking me - the stakes feel a little higher, the predicaments a little more panicky and the romance that is blossoming is just sooo satisfying.

(Ellie Alexander - break the mold and write a romance novel, please!)

This book was a closed room mystery which is always fun - I kind of wish the entire book was while they were stuck there, but that might no longer be cozy.

All in all really excited to keep reading these!

The premise of this book was promising with the idea of a murder mystery dinner turning sideways and actually becoming a murder mystery. The cozy fall vibes were optimal and the mystery was heightened by the weather and eeriness of its original setting. However, this book ended up disappointing me. I came into this book expecting it to be a one-room concept where everything takes place within the Wentworth home. When it left the building is when I think the story really lost me.

The first half of the book was fine, your standard cozy mystery formula. A good introduction to the characters and a good plot set up. There were a lot of moments at the start that made you want to learn more about the character dynamics and why some actions were motivated.

I think, after the setting left the mansion, it started becoming more description heavy and less character action. There were a lot of explaining of things that I felt didn’t add to the story, nor make build up the cozy atmosphere (i.e. explaining what an ARC is). I semi DNF’d it around the 160page mark and just skimmed to find out what happened because I felt like I was reading so much useless description.

There were also a lot of moments that I felt were awkward, unreasonable, and at times inappropriate. I am by no means against romance subplots in mysteries, but there’s a time and place. For example, the moment between Liam and Annie after freeing Ophelia just felt weird… like someone JUST got murdered and y’all might kiss? Also, I didn’t realize this was a series so the overarching Scarlet subplot that I guess is strung throughout the series felt oddly placed and a bit forced into the story.

Overall, I wanted to like this book but just felt it would have been better as a one-room/building mystery. I do give props to the author for their talent to set the scene for optimal cozy fall vibes, that was very apparent throughout the book. I do appreciate the opportunity to have read it and am thankful to the publisher for sending me a copy.

Cosy murder with our Annie, of Bookseller fame, currently organising a murder mystery dinner party at the infamous Wentworth farmhouse recently bought by one of her friends. The party is to try to raise funds to renovate the old property. Two people are determined to buy the farm and one drops dead over the soup, not quite the 'murder' planned for the event. Plenty of twists and turns, Secret passages, evil doings, everything you can imagine. A fund, light read and back to being a bit too twee again, at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy

De.ath at the Dinner Party is the 3rd book in A Secret Bookcase Mystery. It takes place in the town of Ridgewood Groves in northern CA. There are two parts to the story. One is the murder of Curtis and the other is the death of Annie's roommate in college that is carried throughout all three of the books. Annie Murray is the main character who works as a manager at the Secret Bookcase book store. it is owned by Hal. Priya (Pri) Kapoor is the baristra at the Crypik Coffee Shop and best friend of Annie. Penny Shurr owns Westworth Farm that she has been renovating the house and grounds. She is also Pri's girlfriend. Since it has cost more than she realized and has gone through her savings. Annie had suggested that Penny put on a mystery dinner in her house. The dinner is planned the weekend before halloween. They have hired the Redwood Curtin Players to put on the mystery play. Liam Donovan who owns the Stag Head Pub is doing the food. The house is decorated and set up for the mystery dinner for 50 guests. There is a large storm happening.

Curtis Wright owns the farm next to Penny's and is interested in buying her orchards. Patrick Zimmerman is a real estate developer who is also interested in buying Penny's farm as well as Curtis's to put up a housing deveopment. Both he and Curtis don't like each other. Curtis arrives early and wants to talk to Jeff, one of the players who is the chef in the play. They have words. Ophelia is the director of the Redwood Curtin Players. The diners arrive inspite of the rain. Trishelle Wilder is one of the guests. She use to live in Redwood years ago.

The diners are seated at the table along with some of the players. Curtis and Patrick each sit at the end of the table. Suddenly a player jumps up and says there is a spider in her wine. (This is not part of the script). Wine is spilled on Trishelle's dress. She goes to the buffet for napkins. Liam and Jeff bring in the soup to serve. One of the players who is suppose to be the victim stands llingup Curtis sudden collapses. He has died from poison similar to the script. Patrick accuses Penny of poisoning Curtis. They call 911 and are told trees are down so it will take the police sometime to get there, Liam suggests that they move the body. It is put in the pantry in the kitchen.

Annie had been a student at college in the class that Dr. Campbell taught and is now the police chief. She has helped her with the solving of murders. She decides to take over until the police arrive. Annie and Liam decide to continue serving the dinner. They will need more chairs so that they can keep everyone in the diningroomO Annie and Pri go into the basement to get them. While there they see footprints in the muddy floor going to the wall. Before they go into the basement they go into the desk to get the key they find a vital in the drawer. It could be the one that the poison is in so they keep it there for the police.

Patrick and Trishelle want their phones which is in the library. While there they hear Ophelia calling from the ladies room. Annie gets Liam to help open the door. She tells them someone locked her in. While in the basement Patrick and Trishelle go outside. When Annie realizes they are missing she goes outside. She finds Trishelle on the porch barefooted but Patrick is not there.

Dr. Campbell arrives and asks Annie to tell her what all has happen. After telling her she takes Dr. Campbell to show her the vital but it is no longer there. She also tells her that Patrick is missing. The construction crew come and fixes the wires so the electricity goes back on. Later Annie finds Patrick at top of basement stairs. He said he had been looking for down wires. He tells her that Curtis was in foreclosure and that he was working with the bank to own the farm which he now did. Because of this he had no reason to kill Curtis. Ophelia was upset with Curtis because he had told her that he would no longer be supporting the theatre.

This is where the story takes off but is too much to put all on paper. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy with Annie and Pri deciding to help solve the murder, secret tunnels, the Wentworth treasure, disappearance of Natalie Thompson. The story takes a surpising ending with who the killer is and why Curtis was killed.

Annie is torn to whether she will be with Dr. Campbell as a police woman or take over the book store that Hal would like to leave to her and Fletcher when he retires. She would like to continue helping Dr. Campbell solve the murders and still be manager of the store.
Also her relationship with Liam and where it is going.

I really enjoyed this series and look forward to the 4th book to find out some of the answers Annie is looking for.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Arsenic In The Entree..
The third outing in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series and a murder mystery themed dinner party takes a very real and very deadly turn. With arsenic in the entree and the catering gone to pot, Annie needs to act to save the day, not to mention saving her friend Penny from incarceration. With a pacy, frothy plot populated by a cast of eclectic and well drawn characters in a well imagined small town setting, this is another enjoyable and entertaining instalment to this series.

Yet another hit from Ellie Alexander! This is very quickly becoming one of my favorite series, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!!

Sadly I don’t think I will be a fan of this series. The characters didn’t really come to life, or interest, for me and the plot seemed a little too weak. The rather sickeningly sweet romance was cringing in the she falls for the bloke she hates line and made the storyline and main character worse for it. In the end I didn’t really care who the murderer was or why they’d done it as it all seemed badly put together.

What can go wrong at a simple dinner party to help Penny finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse?

Well, plenty goes wrong. A slap, some dirty looks, and yeah, a murder.

The suspect list is pretty long, and this one did have me stumped, lots of moving pieces and people with motive.

I was pleased to see a relationship moving along as well.

There used to be a little more of a hint to the Scarlet story line, and I’m excited to see where that takes us in book 4.

While overall this is a good series this one just - I don't know didn't seem right. Now that's just me and I'm sure others out there will love it.

Death at the Dinner Party, the third in a series by Ellie Alexander is another coup of enticing combined mystery and entertainment.

Annie from The Secret Bookcase in Redwood Cove, California and her friend Pri from Cryptic Coffee had teamed up with Liam Donavan from the Stag’s Head to hold a dinner for 50 people.

It would be held in the Wentworth Mansion on property that Pri’s new girlfriend Penny now owned. The dinner would be a fundraiser to update the mansion.

Some of the Redwood Grove players were going to perform a murder mystery skit after dinner.

But unfortunately one of the dinner guests dropped dead during the dinner, and Annie, who was trained in criminology, thought he was poisoned.

Since the police were detained by downed trees because of a storm raging outside, Annie took charge until the police arrived. She had previously been asked by the chief town detective to join her team.

Annie told all the guests to stay together in the dining room and Annie and Liam put on gloves and moved Curtis’ dead body into the pantry.

The rest of the book has a lot of twists and turns in Ellie’s usual style and you’ll never guess who the killer is. The novel is a delight to read.

I wish I could get into this book. I liked the idea of the book and the characters were well thought out but the story felt a little to slow for me. But will try more of her books.

Thank you, NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Ellie Alexander for this ARC.

This is the 3rd book in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries. It seems like this series is only getting better and better. I feel like I'm getting to know more about Annie and her friends. I'm really getting attached to these characters.

This book was setting was a dinner mystery where one of the guests ends up being murdered. I enjoyed the setting and the fact that the suspects were all interesting characters to begin with and each had their own motive. I did not guess who the murderer was which made this book more interesting for me. It keep me guessing. I also felt the setting made the mystery more intriguing. I could picture everything so vividly. The author really made me feel like I was there.

One of the things I enjoy about this series is that we get a 2 for 1 with it, not only are we involved in the murder that just happened but we are also involved with Annie investigating her best friend's murder that happened years ago. In each book, we are given more clues about that murder. I need to know what happened to Scarlett!!

I think is a must read for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

Love this series of books! The characters are great, the settings are spectacularly described and the murders are gentle yet intriguing!
nothing not to love about the third installment in the secret bookcase series- looking forward to more!

Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Ellie Alexander’s Death at the Dinner Party via NetGalley.

I have devoured the first two books in this series and was delighted to be chosen to read an advance copy of the third installment. I was hoping to get more answers regarding Annie’s best friend’s murder and it seems we are moving in that direction. I love that this series has a romance or two to follow, and it seems slightly darker than Ellie’s other series’, which I think makes it even more intriguing.

I can say definitively that Annie’s experiences are getting better (and more harrowing) with each installment and I’m so eager to read the next one!

Annie helps her friends Pri and Penny plan a murder mystery dinner but when an actual murder takes place, Annie gets to work finding out what happened. A perfect read for the Halloween season. Loving this new series by Ellie Alexander!

Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander

Another wonderful book by Ellie Alexander! This is the third book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series and it was a very enjoyable read. Ms. Alexander has a wonderful ability to create communities in her books that would be wonderful to live in or at least visit. The towns are cozy, friendly and full of wonderful characters. Redwood Grove, the town in this series, is no exception. I also love that there is an overarching mystery that has carried through all three books and will be continuing in future books. There is a murder to solve in each book, but also a long term mystery that keeps building in each book. The murder was fun to try to figure out and a book with a hidden treasure and rumored tunnels is always fun! I recommend this series and anything else Ellie Alexander writes. I haven’t been disappointed yet!

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read the first two books in this series, which are fun, but this one is my favorite.

Redwood Grove is a charming town filled with quirky establishments employing interesting characters. It’s a perfect setting for a cozy series. Visiting it is like taking a mini literary vacation.

This vacay centers around a murder mystery party, a fundraiser in support of and taking place in an old mansion. The estate was built by one of the community’s founding families and has fallen into disrepair, along with the agricultural land surrounding it, and has become the target of developers who want to buy and subdivide the land for a housing development. The current owner recently purchased the estate and wants to keep it intact while restoring it.

Add in possible buried treasure, a murder mystery party with an actual dead body and a dark and stormy night, and you’re all set for a night of confusion and sleuthing reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters, both recurring and new to the book, and the mystery kept me guessing. The characters were interesting without being caricatures, and the ending was very satisfying.

I’m looking forward to my next trip to Redwood Grove.

I was really excited to get an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. 


This is the third Secret Bookcase mystery based around the life of the former criminology student and current bookseller and her life in the quintessentially Californian town of Redwood Grove. If you're after a hard hitting detective novel, you are in the wrong place, this is as cosy as they come, and the book is unashamedly so, the murder is not gruesome, the love interest is not racy, everything is gentle and comforting. 


You could start here if you wanted to in terms of understanding the narrative but you wouldn't see the development and it would be a shame to miss that. 


By far the best thing about these books are the descriptions of the businesses involved in the books, this has built up over the series into a really rich and inviting world. They really capture I want to go the Secret Bookcase for which the series is named. 


The story in this book is very similar in terms of structure to the first two, but the same can be said for every episode of Murder She Wrote and that's no bad thing. It might be wise not to binge the series one after another like I did, for that reason

Overall, another enjoyable experience of escapism and I'm looking forward to the next visit soon.