A first for me by this author. I found the story enjoyable, and the mystery well done. I'll be n the lookout for more books from V.M. Burns.

This is a delightful book and the perfect cozy debut for this new series.
The Plot is Murder is the First book in the new "Mystery Bookstore Series. "
This has great characters, very intelligent writing and a wonderful sleuth. The author has written a brilliant cozy series here that will appeal to all cozy mystery readers. I loved the addition of the poodles which appeal to all animal lovers. Bookshop owner Samantha has opened her dream bookstore in North Harbor Michigan after the death of her husband. She bought the bookstore from a difficult shady realtor who turns up dead . Soon she is on the sleuth and solving the crime with the help of some delightful elderly friends.
I loved everything about this book ! I look forward to the next in series with great anticipation. The writing is great, the book is fast paced and the characters are a perfect fit. The author sets the perfect story for the next in series.

I have often had the dream of owning a mystery bookshop. A dream nurtured by stores like Otto Penzler's and the old mystery bookshop on New York's upper westside. For me, it will not happen but for Sam it does. In this book, she opens a shop while turning her hand to amateur detection. Sam needs to solve the murder of an unlikable victim who died outside her door. Sam is most ably assisted by her Nana Jo and Nana Jo's friends. This book is a pleasant cozy to while away some time on a cold winter night.

V.M. Burns debuts a new cozy Mystery Bookshop Murder series with The Plot is Murder. A small town mystery bookshop owner has to find who murdered a shady realtor to protect her family and business. Meanwhile she is writing a first mystery novel which is played out in parallel with her own story. Interesting conception. Look forward to next novel.

Samantha Washington is a young(ish) widow, and uses the insurance money plus sale of her now too-big home to fund the dream she and her beloved husband shared: opening a mystery book store. She’s giving up teaching to run the store and also pursue her own dream of writing a mystery book – the bulk of which we get to read interspersed through the ‘real’ mystery, which begins when Sam’s much-loathed realtor is found dead in her new back yard.

I guessed the ‘twist’ very early on, but this is still a charming enough read. I did like the supporting cast of octogenarians, Sam’s grandmother and her friends, who are a spritely lot largely responsible for the sleuthing that takes place. It’s nice to see older characters in general, really, although they are balanced with a few teenagers, too.

In terms of the writing style, this was very easy to read. I was a bit irritated by the running gag of the sweary-grandmother constantly having coughing fits, and also thought that the MC’s two dogs are given distracting lines of focus when totally unnecessary. Minor things overall, though.

The book-within-the-book device is a nice touch, but to be honest the writing of these parts isn’t particularly strong – probably as it’s ‘supposed’ to be, in terms of the story, but I did find the American-writing-British-toffs a little… hmm.

Overall, this served its purpose and I was genuinely looking forward to curling up with it over a few evenings. That’s a pretty good recommendation for ‘fluff’.

Following the death of her husband, Leon, Samantha Washington has opened her very own mystery bookstore, a dream that she and her husband shared. She had promised him she would quit her job as a teacher and see the dream become reality with the insurance money she receives from his death, and this book begins with her final preparations for opening day.

Oh, and a murdered man in her garden!

There were a lot of characters in this book so that may be why none of them felt entirely fleshed out. Samantha played fifth wheel to her Nana Jo and Nana Jo's friends (and all their familial connections) when it came to investigating the murder of her realtor, Clayton Parker. The elderly ladies were sparky and bright and added a good comedic lift to the story. Samantha herself was a bit flat, but I think this may be because she is grieving for her husband, so recently deceased.

The mystery within the mystery threw me off a little bit because although it was written as an English murder mystery set in 1938, I'm not sure if the author has ever actually been to England. The dialogue was far too modern (and American) in places, and reduced a family of peers to sounding like commoners. Gentlemen wear Savile Row suits, not Seville Row (I hope the editors corrected that one before publication!). And the wet carpet in the library clue was ridiculous.

Outside of that, it was a very gentle mystery, where not a lot happened and with characters being brought in randomly to create some interest/excitement before fading away. The investigating police officer, Brad 'Stinky' Pitt, didn't participate much in the investigation and once the murderer was identified and caught, it took him 40 minutes to arrive!

The premise of the story is good and I hope, once all the first book roughness has been smoothed out, that the series will continue to bloom. Ms Burns has good ideas and a good writing style and, much like waiting for actors to find their place in their characters in a new series, it just needs some time to settle into a comfortable routine. It's a bit too 'nice' for me, but this book and series will be a hit with many others!

The cover of this book hooked me at first, and the story kept me hooked until the end. This first in the series had everything, a beautiful setting, characters that you genuinely feel you have known for years, and a mystery that just grabs you and refuses to let go. This was a brilliant start to what looks to be a fun and engaging series.

The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns is the first book in the Mystery Bookshop series. Recently widowed Samantha is opening a mystery bookstore. When the crooked realtor who sold her the property winds up dead in her yard, Sam finds herself in a real murder mystery. She sets out to solve it with help from her grandmother and other senior women from a nearby retirement village. Sam is also an aspiring writer, and her British cozy mystery is sprinkled throughout. This did not bother me but some may find it annoying. The book is a wonderful start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing how the characters develop as the series progresses.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

What a darling book!! I really enjoyed the story and the characters are such fun. Sam is starting a new life after the death of her beloved husband. She is going to live their dream and open a mystery book store. Her Nana and nephews are there to help. However, there is a bump in the road when a shady real-estate agent (from whom she bought her building) is killed in her backyard.

I love the characters, and that's what they are. Nana has lots of friends that are ready to sleuth. There is the one who flirts and swears like a sailor, another who has family wherever they go and can impart information, one who knows everyone and chats in the bathroom, and then there is Nana and her gun. Sam is also a want-to-be writer and throughout the book there are bits of her novel. So you get two mysteries for the price of one! This is a delightful story and I would definitely read another by this author.

V.M. Burns created a cozy masterpiece with this book! When reading through this book I was so excited and just wanted more! I absolutely loved the characterisation in this book. I loved how the main character(Samantha) went sleuthing with a group on senior citizen ladies! These ladies were a hoot and could out party me any day! I just loved Nana Jo and how she was described as “all of the Golden Girls” wrapped up in one! Her group of friends that her and Samantha tagged along with made me laugh out loud.

I have been in a reading slump lately but was able to gobble this book up regardless of my mood. I also enjoyed how the main character was a writer and took us on another adventure. I felt both stories were well written and I couldn’t wait until I went back and forth to the other one. I can’t wait until I get to read more of V.M. Burns’ works! I definitely recommend this fun and light cozy!😊

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Who doesn’t love a mystery within a mystery?

Samantha Washington has lost her husband and she is a little apprehensive about following her dreams on her own. She has purchased an old warehouse and turned it not only into her home but the lower level is now her mystery bookstore. That was her first dream, the second is to become a cozy mystery author. She not sure if she will let anyone read it, but she has started a story set in England about two sisters, their suitors, and a murder. She can escape into her writing when the real world gets to be a little too much. That’s exactly what happens when her realtor is found dead in her backyard. She had hoped the only murders she would uncover would be within the pages of the books on her shelves or those she wrote about in her own mysteries. Now the police believe she killed someone in real life, especially after reading her manuscript. She now needs to solve both a fictional murder and a real murder? If she doesn’t, all her dreams could go up in smoke.

I really like Samantha. She is courageous enough to follow her dreams while still grieving for her husband. She has a warm and helpful attitude, both in the way she treats her customers but even more so by who she hires to work with her at the bookstore. She has a clever imagination that shines in her writing. And she is a strong woman, who I believe takes after her grandmother. She also has two lovable dogs.

Her grandmother, Nana Joe, moves right in when she fears Samantha may be in danger. She is a spunky woman and comes with a group of friends that will have you laughing out loud. Don’t take these Senior Sleuths for granted. They have connections all over town and they try to help Samantha figure out who killed the wayward realtor. I wish I had half their energy.

Ms. Burns has created a very eclectic group of characters. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and their dialogue was top notch. She also created an interesting group of characters for Samantha’s cozy mystery.

Both mysteries are very well written and nicely plotted. At first, I was a little unsure about the second story interrupting the first, but it then hit a nice rhythm of back and forth and flowed naturally. I suppose each story could be called a novella by their length, but neither felt rushed or like anything was missing. I hope they both become long-running series.

Both the setting in Michigan and England were well presented. From the floor to the ceiling in the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore to the gardens outside Marsh estate, all were easily envisioned in my mind.

This is V.M. Burns first cozy mystery and she is off to a fantastic start. It is hard enough to write one story full of twists and turns but she gives us two. I want to get to know all these characters better and am excited to see what kind of trouble they get into next. Read Herring Hunt will be released April 24, 2018.

I thought this was a great first installment of a new series! Sam just lost her husband and is fulfilling their dream of owning a mystery bookstore alone. As in all cozies, the murder of a well-respected, yet not well-liked man happens in Sam's courtyard. The sheriff suspects her, as he finds a copy of the cozy mystery Sam is writing, and notices similarities between the fictional and real-life murder. My favorite character was Nana Jo, Sam's grandmother, who is loving, yet feisty as can be. Nana Jo and her friends like to drink and gamble and sleuth - they offer to help Sam find out who the real killer is. The killer was a surprise to me, but I had an idea of the 'why' regarding the murder.

The Plot is Murder is a terrific mystery. I found the book to be well written with a great plot and a cast of quirky characters. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a great murder mystry.

This was a book within a book! The main character was writing a mystery and as a reader you read along as she was writing. At first I really thought I wasn't going to like that, but I ended up actually enjoying both stories. In the main story there was a gaggle of old ladies that, while a bit unbelievable with their clothing choices, were adorable as characters even though I thought they stole the show from the main character in many scenes. In fact looking back at it I remember that group of ladies much more than I do the main character. Overall I found this an enjoyable read and a good start to a new series.

The Plot is Murder was an entertaining, but rather thin cozy mystery novel. The debut novel features Samantha Washington, an aspiring novelist and recent widow who is opening a mystery bookstore in her hometown. The main mystery is interlaced with snippets of the historical mystery novel Samantha is writing. Unfortunately, both of murder mysteries are thinly written and not very compelling to read. Samantha spends more of the novel shuttling around her grandmother and friends than actually doing detective work. It was a short read, but might have benefited from some extra length and depth.

This was one of the best books I've read all year. Sam was wonderfully written but her grandmother along with her friends are even better. The author was even able to do something other writers struggle with write two mysteries at once and make them both appealing. The mystery is solid yet not complex it's the nana jo and her friends that will have you coming back for more.

I liked the book within the book and the secondary story is what kept me reading it quickly, in fact I was 85% done before I knew it. I liked the mystery, the grandmother and her friends and the fact Sam didn't go out of her way to put herself in danger.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

The Plot is Murder by V.M Burns is the first book in A Mystery Bookshop Mystery series. Samantha “Sam” Washington and her husband dreamed of owning a mystery bookstore. Before Leon passed away, he made Sam promise to carry on with their dream. Sam is just days away from opening Market Street Mysteries (not the best name) and has already started her second dream of writing a British historical mystery. After enjoying her last day of teaching, her family and friends throw her a party. The next morning when Sam lets her dogs outside, she finds Clayton Parker, the listing agent for her brownstone, dead on the patio. Detective Brad “Stinky” Pitt is assigned the case and he quickly zeros in on Sam. Nana Jo (not your average senior citizen) moves herself in with Sam (to keep her safe). Nana Jo has little confidence in Detective Pitt’s ability to solve the case. She rallies her friends (the Sluething Seniors) and Sam to investigate the victim’s death. Can they uncover the killer before he (or she) strikes again?

The Plot is Murder is not what I expected. I discovered that over half the book is taken up with the manuscript being written by the main character (Sam). I did not enjoy these sections and felt they detracted from the story. There is a mystery in the manuscript that is simple. I would have preferred the author had centered the story around the mystery bookstore (who wouldn’t love a mystery bookshop in their neighborhood). I did like most of the characters especially Nana Jo. She was feisty, smart, and very active. I admit that she overshadowed Sam in the story (and I hope to be half as active when I am her age). I wish the author had fleshed out Sam as much as she did Nana Jo. I found the detective to be cliched and overdone (the name, attitude, how he got the job). I am giving The Plot is Murder 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery has some good components. However, the guilty party can be identified early in the story (one tiny detail gives it away). I kept hoping for a twist so I would be surprised. The majority of readers will figure out the solution long before it is revealed. The investigation is light with most of the work done by the Sleuthing Seniors. I was never fully drawn into The Plot is Murder. With the book divided into two, I feel the author did the main story a disservice.

The perfect cozy to read on a cold, wet weekend. From the cover to the story blurb, I was hooked. Usually I shy away from mysteries that have two story lines going but this was the exception. It worked very well. Each shift in point of view kept me hooked. It was hard to put down.
Samantha is a new widow and she is honoring her late husband by opening a mystery book store. It had been her dream and he wanted her to make it happen. On top of that, she decides to try her hand at writing a period mystery. While all that is going on in her life, a real murder lands in her own back yard. The police start looking at her as a suspect and she decides to avoid a stay in jail. Who knows so much about her work in progress that it is intruding into the fresh mystery at hand?
I will definitely be reading the next entry in this series - may there be many of them.