I was glad that I received this book. It was a fun, quick and easy read. I enjoyed it very much. It’s a strong first entry for this series and I look forward to more!

I always enjoy the first books in new murder series and usually cannot wait for more. This book was no different. I enjoyed Addie and the town! Love that she is involved with books, those are my favorite. The writing was good as was the story line. I am excited to see what comes next.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I love finding new cozy mystery series. This was a really promising start to a new series with interesting characters and a terrific setting. My only issue (and it was a minor one) was the pacing. It was just a bit uneven. That said, I really enjoyed the mystery, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.

This was a fairly complex mystery that took place in one of my favorite places, a bookstore! There was even some international intrigue, possible arts/books/antiquities smuggling and everyone seemed to have secrets in Greyborne Harbor where Addie had just opened her used bookstore, Beyond the Page. It was nice that she was able to make a good friend right away that she could count on, because some of the town merchants didn't seem to trust her and thought she'd brought crime in from Boston when she came to town.

A couple of murders later, one of which is first blamed on Addie's new friend Serena, who happens to be the younger sister of handsome detective Marc Chandler, and Addie is filling out a murder board with suspects. Marc seemed incredibly patient with her compared to some detectives in stories I've read, but that added to the special cozy factor that he really liked her. I think that now she's gotten closure on her fiance's murder, maybe she'll feel she can move on, since by the end of the book, she and Marc were in a little bit better place as friends.

I'd had an idea of who did it, but honestly didn't know why, it was just a random thought that turned out to be right. In some places there was quite a bit more description or chatty dialogue than I'm used to, but it didn't really detract from the mystery and it compelled me to keep reading. I'm definitely interested in reading the next book--there was a little blurb at the end of this one that made it sound really enticing!

Addie has moved to a little New England town to open a bookstore after her aunt's death. The best present of all is the numerous first editions her aunt owned. Unfortunately, not everyone in town is appreciative of a Greybourne continuing the Greybourne legacy. One woman, in particular, the bakery owner next door, is trying to run Addie out of town. As Addie tries to figure out why the woman does not like her strange things start happening to Addie. A car tries to run her down, her new friend is arrested for murder, and "friends" from her past start acting strangely. Will Addie be able to prove her new friend is not a murderer before Addie is run out of town?

I cannot decide if I like the book or not. The mystery was very interesting but it felt very drawn out. I think because the author tried to give so much background into Addie and surrounding characters that eventually things started to get a bit muddled. Reflecting on what I have read now there are items I can't remember and I know they are important.

I enjoyed learning about the world of rare first editions and the high theft of rare first editions. I guess I never really thought about books being a high ticket item for thieves. Early editions of the Bible yes but Alice in Wonderland, nope.

Will I read the second book? The jury is still out. I will reevaluate when it publishes.

Please do not take my opinions as a reason NOT to read this book. Just use my opinion as a caution. Please read the book and make up your own opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions in the above review are entirely my own.

This cozy mystery is fast paced and the writing is clunky. I read half the book and then skipped to the last chapter to find out how it ends. I feel like I didn’t miss much in the chapters I didn’t read.

This is an intriguing cozy mystery. The storyline had lots of twists and turns and kept me reading to see what would happen next. I liked the bookshop setting. The characters’ personalities fit the story. The length was just right and the ending did not seem rushed.I liked this author’s writing style and would be interested in reading more mysteries written by her.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Lauren Elliott has started the Beyond the Page Bookstore mysteries with Murder by the Book. Addie Greyborne retired from the Boston Public Library rare books department to her great aunt's mansion in a New England town.
As she opens the Beyond the Page bookstore she mourns the lose of her fiance and father in suspicious circumstances; home and store invasions and the town's suspicions of outsiders plague her and then the bodies start to drop. Why? Lots of suspects. Surprising twists and turns.

Combine the term cozy mystery with romantic suspense and you have a pretty good description of this book. Addie comes to town because she inherits her aunt’s house. She has lost her father and fiancé in the last year. She opens a used book store. Right away she makes friends and enemies. Her shop and house are broken into, the department store owner is killed and her aunt’s lawyer is murdered. Addie helps Mark, the police chief, to put puzzle pieces together as to what is going on.
I really enjoyed this story. The book nearly got 4 stars because of the juvenile behavior of Serena, Addie’s new friend and Matk’s sister, regarding Addie and Mark starting to like each other at the beginning and middle of the book. Serena is better toward the end so I let it go and reveled in the artistry of the storyline. The author skillfully weaves together a large number of characters and story from Addie’s past and present to bring together this mystery

Likable characters, familiar theme, nice backdrop and familiar plot twists. An easy cozy to enjoy whenever you want to cuddle up with good story that's like an old friend.

very enjoyable cozy mystery!

Loved the theme of the book as well as the plot!

Excellent read for winter nights next to the fireplace! :)

Addie’s happy future is no longer in the big city of Boston. Her fiancé has been murdered and her father was killed in a car accident. Receiving an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt that she did not know, Addie packs up her life and painful memories and moves to a quiet, small town in New England. But Addie soon finds that all is not peaceful in this seaside town. Her bookstore and home is vandalized and the towns people are not as welcoming as she had hoped. “ Murder by the Book” is a fast moving book with some interesting twists.

I was pulled into this story from the beginning and it kept me interested to the end. Addie Grey has background working with rare books with the Boston Public Library and even worked in London for six months in a work exchange at the British Museum. She moved to Greyborne Harbor after her aunt died leaving her Greyborne Manor, her aunt's large estate. Addie has recently lost her boyfriend David, who was murdered and her father to a car accident so she has no family. With her love of rare books and antiquities, she opened a bookstore, Beyond the Page, selling rare books and collectibles. Her first day starts off badly when someone tries to run her down in a black sedan, her shop is broken into and later, her home is broken into. She quickly makes friends with the owner of SerenaTEA, a tea shop next door, Serena, who calls her brother, Chief of Police, Marc, to the scene. This is fast paced and it becomes obvious that someone thinks that Addie has something of value that they want. She doesn't have a clue what that would be but the culprits won't let anyone get in their way as murders start happening and someone in a black sedan follows her around even sitting outside her home. The mystery goes deeper than anyone thought, is far-reaching and bigger than one would expect. Thankfully, she has Serena and Marc to help her get through all the stressful events. This is a great whodunit, first in the series, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions stated are mine only.

I really tried to like this book but i couldn't. There were too many things thrown in at once that I could not feel any connection to the characters. The Story itself, without all the extra dialogues, addie's lip biting & the stereotypical mysteries was interesting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This new series was a really fun read, there was a lot more suspense in this book than most cozies; it all began at the very beginning of chapter one, when Addie is almost run over by a speeding car. It gets very interesting from then on and doesn't slow down...Addie is part of her brand new town's past (or is she?), plus secrets, strangers, a possible romance and more make for a great and quick read - you won't want to put this one down. The only thing missing was a pet - maybe in book 2. 4.9 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley. #netgalley #murderbythebook #laurenelliott

Not only did Addie inherit her aunts house in a little seaside town, but she bought a bookstore there as well to start her life over. Little does she know that trouble will follow her.
When things start happening around her and people start dying she starts sleuthing with the help of her friends.
I liked this story line and the characters involved with this story. I look forward to reading more in this series.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Murder by the Book

by Lauren Elliott

If you are looking for an interesting cozy mystery with lots of crimes and suspects, you will find it in Lauren Elliott’s Murder by the Book. Addison Greyborne, with a background as a researcher of rare books, inherits her aunt’s huge house and large collection of books. Some of the residents of the small town where she decides to open a bookshop are not particularly welcoming, but she finds a friend in Serena who owns the tea shop next to Addie’s bookstore and in Serena’s brother Marc, the police chief.

Addie believes her research skills are similar to those needed for a murder investigation, so when Selena is arrested for murder, Addie decides to get involved. Although I enjoyed the story, there are parts of it that just don’t seem plausible. Addie personally, her shop, and her home are targeted numerous times without anyone being able to identify the mischief makers or their motives—although mysterious vehicles are seen many times. There are also several deaths tied into the plot and a number of suspicious newcomers to the small town that no one suspects until it is too late. The storyline contains too many characters dealing in rare books one way or another for that not to be the motive. Secret compartments, a fun device, abound. Unfortunately that device is overused as is the irritating tendency for other characters to tuck a strand of hair behind Addie’s ear. Serena also overplays her interest in Addie and Marc’s relationship while she is still under suspicion for murder. In addition, I have to wonder at the number of customers the bookstore maintains day after day and at the ease with which both Addie and Selena can leave their shops unattended or closed any time they feel like it. On the positive side, there are gems of information about rare books tucked into the pages of this cozy. So, recommended? Yes. A terrific cozy? No, but since this is the first in the series, I am willing to give it another try when the next one is published.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #1 in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series

Publication: October 30, 2018—Kensington Press

I wanted to like this cozy mystery much more than I did. Overloaded with bland dialogue and overstuffed with tired mystery elements (secret stairs, hidden drawers, all too convenient character revelations), “Murder by the Book” is a lacklustre read.

Within the first few pages were introduced to a multitude of characters, a whodunnit break-in, and tragic backstory involving an accidental parental death. Too much is thrown at the reader into short a time causing a lack of familiarity with or genuine care for our main character Addie.

One of my first forays into the genre of cfozy mysteries, I was left wanting more from start to finish.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Murder by the Book is an enjoyable and slightly puzzling read. It is certainly worth recommending to die-hard cozy mystery readers and fans of series including Lorna Barrett's "A Booktown Mystery Series."

What an over the top, drama laden book! The main character, Addie, is a case study in a number of psychological issues including co-dependency. She is whiny, clingy and imposing on people who she hasn’t known for 5 minutes. Overshare does not appear to be a word in her vocabulary – but it certainly needs to be. The supposition of the story is that Addie has been in town long enough to completely make over a business property and set up a store, yet she knows no one in town – no one. It takes place in a town where no crime ever happens, but suddenly everyone is sneaky, evil, out to get Addie and – way beyond belief. And only goes downhill FAST from there!

This was a painful read. I would suggest rethinking how real people actually function in the world. This book sure isn’t it. The story is unbelievable on the whole to the point of being incredibly annoying.