This book put me in the holiday mood! The gingerbread competition sounded amazing. The story was full of surprises. The last few chapters really drew me in and I was holding my breath reading them. I can’t wait to see what happens with the search for Scarlets killer.

I loved returning to the charming town of Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase bookstore. In this instalment Annie is hosting a Gingerbread House competition at the bookstore, and things are really sweet until influencer drops dead …

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 to come out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Storm Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

The perfect holiday cozy! Ellie Alexander has hit it out of the park again. It was great to revisit these characters, the bookstore and the town. I would recommend reading the series in order because there is an overarching cold case and we learn new clues in each book. Highly recommend!

I absolutely adore the idea of adding holiday festive vibes with mystery and thrillers. And from what I understood I think this book is kind of influenced by true crime? I am not 100% sure about this don't quote me but I found it super interesting.

Our protagonist is super smart, I really like her, she does not have the weak qualities that usually ward me off of liking a character, and she gets to solve mysteries with us along the way! We have a killer, we have unsolved murders, we have puzzles, we have mystery.
I loved the pacing of the book and I found the story easy to read.

This story does have a little romance in it but it's definitely more of a side story than anything which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this as an ARC and I cannot wait until this book is out!

Main Takeaways:
- 1st POV
- Murderer
- Thriller
- Christmas

Recommend? Absolutely

I really enjoyed this - more than I expected! It was a little strange reading it in September but it was a super cute, easy to read cosy Murder mystery that was just what the doctor ordered. I can imagine it will be perfect for people to read when it's cold outside, with a hot chocolate or gingerbread latte all cosy under a blanket. Highly recommend!

This is the 4th book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series - this is also the first one I’ve read. I was hoping the book would be an interconnected standalone like other murder/mystery novels and… I was right! There were flash backs to relationships, murders and experiences and I was able to easily understand the plot. There is plenty of dialogue in this book, making this a quick read.

We follow Annie, bookstore employee and connoisseur of mystery novels, as she solves another murder! It’s a grown up version of Nancy Drew and Great British Bake Off (or Food Network’s Gingerbread Showdown), who wouldn’t love this!

The story moves at a steady pace, with Annie, her partner Liam, and her bookstore friends uncovering secrets. Alexander strikes a perfect balance between the cozy small-town feel and hidden intrigue, making it an engaging read for cozy mystery fans. Tensions rise as the mystery continues, keeping you glued to your seat to finish the storyline!

A Holiday Homicide offers a delightful mix of warm holiday vibes, mystery, and lovable characters, making it a perfect pick for fans of the genre.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for selecting me to read this e-ARC and a special thank you to Ellie Alexander for making such colorful characters, heartwarming interactions and a healthy dash of whodunit!


*If you’re not a fan of a ton of dialogue, this may not be one of your favorite reads. Try it out if you’re open to a cozy mystery!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Unfortunately, despite my high hopes and love of cozy mysteries I could not make it past 22% read. I found the chapters to be long and daunting. Good, effective character descriptions is important but this book was too much, it felt like there was a lot of unnecessary filler in the way of character descriptions. At time I felt like the chapter was one long sentence and found it difficult to find the breaks. While this book will be for others, sadly it is not for me.

Welcome back to Redwood Grove where Annie and her friends delight us with their warm-heartedness and we join them to solve another mystery! The Secret Bookcase is hosting a gingerbread building contest and a famous baking influencer will be joining in to host. However, said influencer winds up dead on the opening day. Annie and Dr Caldwell join forces again to unravel the mystery and solve the crime. Annie also makes great strides in Scarlet's case. And, Annie and Fletcher come up with an amazing new concept for The Secret Bookcase. Once again, this story is filled with love, friendship and support along with an intriguing mystery that needs to be solved. Wonderful!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend this series. This is a good read and would be a great holiday book.Gingerbread houses and someone murdered. Annie uses her deductive skills to find the murderer.

Annie and The Secret Bookcase bookshop are hosting the first annual Gingerbread House bake off with the social media influencer Lily. Something seems off about Lily, but everyone chalks it up to the nerves of the event. Then Annie finds Lily dead on the floor in one of the book rooms. There seem to be several suspects once the police and Annie start looking. Annie is sure she can help the police, but she can't seem to concentrate as she is gearing herself up for a meeting with a man who may have information about the murder ten years ago of her best friend Scarlet. The next thing Annie knows is that someone tries to run her over as she is walking on the side of the road. Is the attempt linked to one of the murders or is it because of something else...

WOW this book was incredible. The best in the series in my opinion. We get more romance from Liam and Annie. We got more about Scarlet’s murder. And about Annie’s future at the bookstore. I do hope we get more of a glimpse into Liam’s life. I cannot wait for more.

This is the weakest of the four books in the series. I think the reason is that there is too much Annie. This might sound strange since she is the main character, but she just seemed over the top in this book. I hope the Scarlett mystery gets resolved soon.

As the holidays approach, Annie and her friends in Redwood Grove are all a part of a gingerbread competition being held at The Secret Bookcase and hosted by a baking influencer. When a murder happens at the bookshop, just as Annie is firming up plans for her future, she delves into the case to help ensure that Redwood Grove is on the nice list.

Ellie Alexander is the epitome of an author who writes characters that draw you in so much that you are fully invested in what will happen to them next. Annie Murray et al are the perfect example.

One of the things that I love about this series is the overarching mystery of Annie's best friend's murder. The murder continues to haunt her over a decade later, and is expertly weaved into the entirety of the series thus far.

I literally GASPED when I got to the latter part of the book, jabbing at my Kindle to make sure that I was in fact reading it right.

Get this book right away, and be on your *merry* way to read this utterly enthralling book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Annie's bookstore is hosting a gingerbread competition when a celebrity baker is found dead in the store. There are so many suspects- from her potential stalker to her assistant to the local baker whose beautiful piece was destroyed- there's no lack of motive.
Can Annie find a killer, while getting ready for the holidays, judging a contest and delving deeper into Scarlett's murder?

This talented author has written a cannot put down cozy mystery. Intrigue with family and friends. Red herrings kept me guessing. Even the title is intriguing. Realistic characters kept the story moving quickly. Thanks Netgalley

California, friends, friendship, amateur-sleuth, bookseller, small-business, small-town, baking-competition, romantic, unpleasant-contestant, stalker, influencer, local-law-enforcement, investigations, unpleasant-suspect, unpleasant-victims, cozy-crime, criminologist*****

It was supposed to be a lot of fun for everyone making elaborate gingerbread buildings, judging them, and publicizing the contest and the bookstore. But then there was the stalker, and the real behaviors of the influencer, and then the sudden unexpected death of said influencer. Was it a heart condition or something unthinkable? Following former criminology student/bookseller Annie Murray and her friends and love interest is a twisty good story.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
#SecretBookcaseMysteriesBk4 Avail Nov 20, 2024

In A Holiday Homicide, Ellie Alexander brings readers back to the charming world of Redwood Grove, where cozy mysteries unfold with a festive twist. As book four in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series, the story follows protagonist Annie Murray, whose quaint bookstore finds itself at the center of yet another murder investigation. This time, it’s the untimely death of a celebrity baker during a gingerbread-baking competition that sets the stage for a holiday whodunit brimming with suspense and delectable twists.

Alexander’s talent for crafting cozy mysteries is in full force here. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with clues peppered throughout, keeping readers engaged as Annie, alongside her partner Liam and bookstore friends, dives deeper into a web of secrets. Fans of the genre will appreciate the skillful balance between lighthearted small-town charm and the dark, swirling undercurrent of secrets that define Redwood Grove. The sense of community is strong, with familiar faces returning, allowing readers to feel right at home while still keeping them on their toes.

Character development shines in this installment. Annie’s relationship with Liam offers heartwarming moments that soften the more intense scenes, while her determination to uncover the truth reveals a nuanced portrayal of a modern amateur sleuth. The tension between her bookstore life and her investigative instincts creates a rich narrative that will appeal to fans who love character-driven mysteries.

With its intricate plotting, delightful characters, and holiday atmosphere, A Holiday Homicide delivers everything cozy mystery fans crave, wrapped up in a murder mystery that’s as sweet and spicy as the gingerbread competition at its core. Alexander continues to build a captivating series that keeps readers eager for more.

Another lively instalment in this delightful series. This time we are taken into the world of cooking influencers and take a deep dive into gingerbread. There is a murder and multiple suspects with good motives. The food and scenery sound fantastic, especially with Christmas themes. There is also progress with Annie and Liam, the ownership of the shop and the Scarlet backstory. Needless to say, like many others who enjoy this series, I am now eagerly awaiting the next book to see what happens next. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a chance to read and review this book.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

This was great! It’s my favourite in the series. A baking influencer called Lily chooses The Secret Bookcase to film a competition but the whole thing is thrown into chaos when she’s murdered.

I really enjoyed this, it had lovely Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes references and I love that it featured two of my favourite things ever - food and books. The descriptions of all the baked good - especially the gingerbread - were incredible. I also thought the influencer world was painfully accurate. Quite a cutthroat thing. Annie is offered a really interesting business opportunity in this too and I can’t wait to read the next book.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!