Jen Dawson returns home to the small town she couldn't wait to leave to write the follow-up book to her first debut. In this great first in hopefully a series, Jen finds herself trying to write, trying to solve a friend's murder, and most of all trying to keep from being a murder victim.

Jen’s favourite writing spot is in her local bookstore, Ravenous Readers, and the owner, Aletha, has become a good friend. However, Jen’s woes are about to get far worse than struggling to produce a sequel to her best-selling mystery: she’s about to become a murder suspect!

I do love cosy mysteries set around the world of books (libraries, writers, bookshops, etc) and so jumped at the chance to try out this new series. There’s a lot I like here, from the easy writing style, to the rather more realistic than usual portrayal of the struggles of writing a book!

However, it had a lot of flaws, too. A lot of the mystery involves the main character overlooking some very, very obvious ‘clues’, and I’d guessed the ‘whodunnit’ from very early on. It becomes frustrating watching our ‘heroine’ bumble about and refuse to see things the reader is quite probably shouting at her about! Jen’s behaviour falls very firmly into horror movie category, where characters put themselves in danger by doing obviously stupid things, and it gets really irritating. I don’t want to give anything away, but oy: no, no, no – no sensible woman would be ignoring so many red flags from all sorts of horrible male characters! I also had to wonder about the police, swinging from too-overly familiar to professional, all ‘back off’ to allowing her to get as involved as she does.

Mostly, then, I’m a little disappointed by this book, as I was very much enjoying the (relatively) light and easy read – just not the plot relying so much on a lack of common sense. It’s not as ‘cosy’ as some I’ve read, getting quite dark at points, and avoiding the usual tropes of spending half the book on romance and pets and cake.

I think I’d like to give the series another go, if/when there’s a book 2 (assuming the author doesn’t emulate her writers-blocked character!) in the hope that the minor irks here can be smoothed out.

What a great start to a new series. Minix has written a cast of incredibly likeable characters, Jen is so funny and witty and someone I would so be friends. Additionally, the mystery plot is a well-balanced with clues, suspects and red herrings that kept me guessing till the end. I also enjoyed seeing Jen’s writing process. I also loved all the small town South Carolina vibes. This is the debut in the Bookstore Mystery series and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this literary cozy series that features a writer and eventual bookseller.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK, Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A real who dun-it! I love the way the author describes the small homey town. While the title is a little misleading the author pulls her audience in and leaves them wistfully thinking of a visit to Ravenous Readers!

This is a very enjoyable mystery. Set in a small town, it is an easy read for lovers of cosy murder mysteries.

Very enjoyable mystery. Loved especially the evocative descriptions of the small town and the main character's inner world.

Jen is a writer, hanging out in a bookstore and ends up helping solve the murder of the bookstore owner. A good start to a cozy mystery series. Enjoyed it, although did skim a bit. Creepy killer.

Cosey crime might be my new favorite having read this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Murder at the Bookstore by Sue Minix is a great start to a new cozy mystery series. What reader could resist a mystery set at a bookstore with an author being the main character?! The location and job that Jen has is a great combo, add to that well developed characters and a mystery with lots of twists, suspects, and a few red herrings and I found myself finishing this one in a day.

The way Jen went about tracking down the killer and the conclusion felt a bit darker than many cozy mysteries, but I really enjoyed it because of that. Something to help a cozy mystery stick out from others is always a good thing.

Looking forward to the next book and to seeing how Jen is able to write a book and work on a business while solving a mystery and handling two possible love interests along with a new puppy.

If you want a cozy, warm, hug of a mystery. Look no further. I feel I can’t say anymore, I don’t need to!? The title itself should make you want to read it, it’s so perfect for when you need that cozy Murder mystery fix!
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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc!

A promising new cozy crime.

The main character, Jen, is an author who writes from her local book shop, owned by her friend Aletha. When Aletha dies in a boat explosion, suspicion falls on her husband, who she was seen arguing with earlier that day.

Jen, struggling from writer’s block, takes it upon herself to investigate, much to the annoyance of the local police force and lead investigator, who happens to be an ex boyfriend.

Jen gets herself into some perilous situations and there are a few red herrings along the way to hold your interest.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

3.5 but rounded up to 4.

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book to read and review.

I have a penchant for books about books, authors and book stores so this was a must grab for me. It was a little strange in places but so are a lot of cozies. If you're a fan of this genre and, specifcally, the Booktown Mystery Series, this is perfect for you.

What an amazing start to a new series! Minix hits the ground running & we’re instantly pulled into Jen Dawson’s world. I love that she is an author & writes primarily out of the bookshop. There’s something about the character I really enjoyed, she’s very relatable but actually relatable, not just written with quirks to feign being well drawn. Her family life wasn’t ideal so you get that she’s had to be independent. You also get little blurbs of the book she is currently working on which is a charming addition.

I definitely got some Murder She Wrote vibes, not because Jen is older but by being an author, the particulars of the mystery & how it’s solved. The murder itself was quite unusual too. A tad darker than some cozies. There’s a second book coming in May & I will definitely been on the look out for it.

There's plenty of potential in this new cozy mystery and I enjoyed it as the mystery is solid and the characters are likeable.
There's a lot of twists and it kept me guessing.
I wasn't a big fan of the heroine because i liked her but hate her death wish and recklessness.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The first in the series, but backstory was mentioned in a way as to suggest at least one previous book? Our MC stumbles her way to the murderer while constantly throwing herself into danger and continually making all the wrong decisions. Some red herrings and an easily guessed murderer, but they may have set it up so you guessed the murderer right from the beginning?

A nice start to a new series. Crime writer Jen has a book contract and a. case of writer's block so she retreats to her small hometown where she befriends Aletha, owner of the local bookstore. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, Aletha is killed when her husband Tim's boat explodes! Of course, Jen and Tim both are suspects and of course one of Jen's ex's is investigating. They bond to find the real killer and along the way, Jen makes some other new friends and learns things about Aletha that she finds surprising. It's a classic cozy- and Jen's a good character. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley to review. It’s cute and cozy. It won’t wow you but it won’t disappoint either.
Jen returns to her home town. She plans to relax, drink coffee and get some help with her writing. She decided to checkout the local bookstore, hoping this will help with her writers block. When the owner of the bookstore is murdered not only does Jen find herself in trouble but she also doesn’t know who to trust.

Enjoyed this debut mystery, it was the right blend of hometown hero and interesting plot to keep the reader interested and wanting more in the series.

Murder at the Bookstore follows Jen Dawson, a mystery author who is struggling to finish her second novel. She spends the days at the local bookshop trying to shake off writer's block. Instead of finishing her book, she ends up in a real life mystery after the shop owner is killed. I found the book an easy read and although I figured out the murderer before the big reveal, it was very enjoyable.

Love a good murder mystery and this one didn’t disappoint! Loved the notion of the story and the village it’s set in! Really looking forward to the next one.