This is the first book in the beyond a page bookstore mysteries. I was excited to read the first in this new series by Lauren Elliot features a catchy title, an interesting premise and an lots of characters and who doesn't love a bookstore setting.

I had a hard time getting into this book in the beginning, The main character, Addie Greyborne, former rare books librarian at the Boston Public Library. After an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she never knew and the murder of her fiance, Addie moves to the small New England town that her family founded. Among the things left to her by her aunt was Greyborne Manor and a huge collection of books, many of them first editions, which prompts her to open an used book store. From opening day of business at "Beyond the Page-Books & Curios," Addie has break-ins at both the shop and home. When a murder occurs and her new best friend is the prime suspect, Addie knows the murder and break-ins are tied together.

Once I got into the book I enjoyed it but it was not my favorite. I recommend giving it a read!

Several tragedies lead Boston Librarian Addie Greyborne to move to the small New England coastal town of Greyborne Harbor. She has inherited her previously unknown great aunt’s estate including a large house and rare book collection. Addie decides to set up her own second-hand and rare books, book-shop, called ‘Beyond the Page’.

Addie has barely opened her new store when things begin to happen including nearly being run-over, a feud with her business neighbour from one side of her shop, a new friendship with her neighbour from the other side of her shop, Serena of SerenaTEA, and a burglary almost under her nose.

The action doesn’t stop there with Addie being persistently targetted at home and at work with actual and attempted break-ins. Fortunately her new friend Serena’s [handsome] brother is the chief of police…

When her friend is arrested for murder Addie decides to clear her friend’s name with or without the police’s help.

This is the first in a new series and the author’s debut. It is quite busy, with never a dull moment. The fairly complicated plot revolves around books and offers some insight into rare-book dealing. It does take a while for the main characters to catchup with the reader regarding why Addie is suffering all these events but it is an enjoyable read overall, if a little frustrating at times.

If you like crime books that don’t contain any or much swearing, mostly off the page violence and a dash of romance with the mystery then this could be for you.

I find this series addictive and varied enough that I was able to read the first three in a rush without stopping! The subject matter of each book is interesting and the small town has lots going on.

This is a joint review for the first three books in this series.  I actually read paperbacks I got at the library, but I apparently purchased book 1, Murder by the Book, at no cost from Amazon AND I got books 1 and 2 from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  Well, I guess that shows that the blurbs really interested me.

The mystery aspect (what crimes happen and why) was fairly interesting and different in all three.  What isn't good and makes me give the set of three a 2.5 star rating (just shy of a solid OK) are the characters, specifically Addie and her two beaus.  This is a mystery series, there shouldn't be so much focus on her relationships (or lack thereof).  The three of them are like middle schoolers instead of professionals in their 30's (though Simon seems the most mature).   Addie's issues with the men play way too big a role in the books taking away from the mystery.  

I read cozies because of the likable and relatable main characters and sidekicks.  This is the second series I've read recently with not so likable characters.

Even some of the mystery elements are off, especially Addie's dealings with her almost father in law in the third book, Murder in the First Edition, are strange.

Any cozy mystery with a plot that involves a bookstore plus an old mansion are my favorite combination. Why then did I have trouble getting past the first chapter? I literally started this book three times and each time found the story line flat and the characters irritating. The main character, Addie, just opened a rare bookstore and one neighboring business owner immediately hates her and the other becomes her instant best friend. What? Addie confides in her new best friend that her fiance was murdered a year ago, her dad died in a mysterious car accident after that and her recently deceased aunt left her an old mansion in a town named after her. Wait, what? Too much, too soon. Where's the grief? Someone then tries to vandalize her store then breaks into her house. She calls 911 and the cops show up without their sirens so Addie doesn't even know they are there. Addie hears the getaway car leave but the cops don't. Really? The cops search the house while Addie is still in it..."clear, clear, clear." Reads like a first draft and with some editing this could turn into something enjoyable. As is, it was too excruciating and I couldn't make it past the 10% mark.

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Great way to start off this series.  I will start by saying, I love books about books, mysteries, new friendships and budding romance.  Yes, you guessed it, this book has it all.

Addie loved her job at the Boston Public Library, where she did some biblio-sleuthing by tracking down old and rare books.  This was something that was in her blood as she soon finds out.

After receiving an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt, Addie leaves the big city and painful memories behind when she moves to a small seaside town in New England.  Moving into Greyborne Manor, her family's home, she finds that her aunt also left her countless first editions and other treasures—providing an inventory to start her own store.

When Addie's store is broken into as well as her home, she starts to wonder if her tragic past, aunt's death, and the current situations are all connected somehow.  With the help of hunky detective Marc and his sister Serena, Addie's new bff, will they be able to put this mystery together before its too late?

I have this book in both digital (NetGalley) and audio versions. The narrator, Karen White, does an amazing job.

This has a lot going for it in setting (both physical and a bookstore!), but Addie just didn't do it for me. Sometimes the set up for these cozies becomes too laborious to be believable.

A fun start to a new cozy mystery series. This is an interesting book that would be great for some popcorn style entertainment where you are wanting to escape into an easy world, which is sometimes exactly what I want to read. I always enjoy when the main character has a day job involving books, and am looking forward to how the characters develop as the series continues.

The premise of the book was intriguing, but I feel that more editing of the scenes needed to be done.  Addie constantly bit her lips, made coffee, and put her hair behind her ears.  I felt that I was reading a romance instead of a cozy mystery.  My real issue is that I like to be able to solve the mystery along with the amateur detective and that was impossible in this case.   Reads like a Nancy Drew mystery where Nancy is 30, not 18.  Just as unbelievable a plot.

Addison Greyborne (Addie) worked at the Boston Public Library when her life fell apart. Her fiance was murdered and her father died in an accident. While still reeling from the deaths, a relative died and left her money and a house in Greyborne Harbor. Addie was also a rare book expert who had worked in London assisting with cataloguing many old and rare books. When she moves to Greyborne Harbor, she opens a shop, Beyond the Page Books & Curios, and starts to rebuild her life. She meets a new friend, Serena, and tries to become part of the small town. Unfortunately, someone seems determined to put a damper on her plans. Her shop and home are broken into and she feels like she is being followed. Her new friend is arrested for killing another local merchant and Addie is determined to clear Serena's name and discover who is behind the break-ins and other bad happenings in Greyborne Harbor. Working with Serena's brother, the police chief, not only do they investigate the goings on in Greyborne Harbor, but her father's death as well.

This is the first book in a new series so the characters, the setting and backstories had to be introduced and set up. This story was a bit formulaic, but still very enjoyable. Addie and Serena strike up a friendship pretty quickly, but that is small town stuff. I liked that even though Addie is an amateur sleuth, she has some investigative skills shared by her father who was an antiquities investigator and her skills she developed while researching and validating rare books. Who would have thought being a handwriting expert would come in handy as a bookstore owner. Of course the romance angle is there with Addie and Police Chief Marc Chandler, who also happens to be her new BFF's brother. The story was fun and well-paced and the various crimes that eventually come together, were interesting. I liked the conclusion and reveal of the culprit, especially as I had not figured it out. I will check out the next book in this series and see what adventures Addie, Serena and Marc have.

I'm sometimes hesitant to read first books in a series as I find that many are so busy 'explaining' the characters that the book seems a bit dry.

I loved this book and liked how it kept my interest.  I was reading it on a flight and was a bit irritated that I was interrupted when it was time to change planes.

The characters, as well as the mystery, are interesting and I'm looking forward to see how their characters and relationships grow.

Anyone that loves bookstores and small-towns will appreciate this one!

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!  I appreciate the kindness. <3

A nice new cozy series.  Perfect for fans of the Haunted Library series!  The main character is relatable, if fairly cavalier about her personal security.  Loved reading this, it's a perfect weekend read!

This is the first b9ok I had read by this author. She has such likeable characters that immediately become like family. The plot kept you guessing. I cant wait for the next book in the series.

When Addie inherits some rare books and a huge house from a aunt she barely knew, she decides to start her life over by moving to a small New England town and opens a book store.  From day one, she encounters nothing but troubles.  The one ray of sunshine is a potential new friend, Serena.  When Serena is accused of murdering another local shop owner, Addie decides to put some of her librarian research skills to good use to track down the real killer.

Initially I found the dialogue between Addie and Serena to be a bit silly.  But soon these two young women grew on me.  I came to enjoy their young friendship.  This story was different from other cozy mysteries in that Addie actually works with the police department.  The police chief is Serena's brother and there is an undercurrent of attraction between he and Addie.

I definitely want to read more of this series.

My thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley.

When rare book expert, Addie Greyborne returns to the small New England town founded by her ancestors, she moves into Greyborne Manor, left to her by her great-aunt, and she believes she’s leaving sadness and loss behind in Boston. Along with the house, Addie inherits many first edition books and other treasures, sufficient to start her own bookstore. 

But Addie doesn’t expect the danger facing her in the little harbor town. From theft, to murder, to attempted murder, to her new friend and fellow entrepreneur Serena’s arrest, Addie discovers life in a small town can be filled with peril and mystery. Determined to get to the bottom of what’s going on, she follows the clues until she can close the book on what’s going on in the not-so-sleepy town she now calls home.

Addie Greyborne has inherited a house from a Great Aunt she knew nothing about, leaves her past as a librarian of rare items, and moves to the town of Greyborne and opens up a bookstore but it seems that there are those who aren't happy to see her.  Having had her fiance murdered, her father dying in car accident, enough has happened to her but there's more is to come.  Her "new" home is burglarized, she is nearly run over by a car, she is run off the road, but the Chief of Police is taking a personal interest in protecting her and he's cute to boot.

The mystery itself was quite complex and I felt that some of the clues were missing for the reader to solve it along with Addie.  The relationship of her "friends" also seem to move a bit too fast, but I'll be looking for the next one!

Sorry, this one did not hold my attention, not compelling enough to draw me in and derivative of man other cozies.

Title: Murder by the book
Author: Lauren Elliott   
Pg: 304
Series: Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mastery 
Rating:  4 stars 
	Murder by the Book is the first book in The Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery by Lauren Elliot. Addie Greyborne has left the Boston Public library to open a bookstore in her aunt’s home town. She just wants to forget her father’s car accident that killed him and the unsolved murder of her fiancé but pretty much in her first week in town she finds herself involved in a murder mystery. 
	A murder that her new friend Serena becomes the prime suspect and Serena’s brother’s hands as the town’s police chief is tied. He can’t help his sister he has to follow the letter of the law. So it’s up to Addie to clear her friends name and find the real killer before she becomes their next victim. 
	I enjoyed this small-town bookstore mystery. This book did indeed have all the stereotypical small-town characters but that doesn’t take away from the charm of the book. I am looking forward to the next book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery and anything else from Lauren Elliott. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.