I was really excited about heading to New England, meeting Addie, and wandering through the aisles of Beyond the page (Addie’s bookstore).  The estate sale I was going to attend with her...I could take or leave.  Upon arriving I got a quick tour of the shop and met Paige (Adde’s assistant @ the bookstore), and then Addie was rushing us out the door to head to the estate sale for a sneak peek of the books.  Even though auctions aren’t really my thing...I was excited to wander through the mansion and intrigued when Addie told me the estate was supposedly haunted.  We finally made it to the house...it would have been faster, but some impatient driver whipped into a spot Addie was clearly going for.  After the rude encounter and finally finding a parking spot we made our way inside and headed straight to the library.  This place was truly amazing!  Addie was looking @ some very valuable Sherlock Holmes books, when a woman came bursting in yelling at us for being in the library.  She was going on about a sign on the door, but the door was open when we came in, and the sign was hidden.  The woman seemed to be not listening to explanation when an older gentleman came in to see what the fuss was about.  Turns out the older gentleman Blake was a friend of Addie’s father, and was handling the estate sale.  This day was a reunion of sorts...we had already run into Addie’s long-lost cousin Kalea.  The angry woman turned out to be the appraiser of the sale Charlotte McAdams.  Addie offered to help Charlotte with the inventory of the books for the sale.   After the lady realized who Addie was...apparently Addie was well known for her appraisal of rare books @ the Boston Public Library, and the stress she was under for the sale to go well….she was happy to have Addie’s help.  Well a couple things about that statement are wrong...first she wasn’t happy (she really wasn’t even grateful for the help), and two it wasn’t just Addie’s help...it was also mine and her cousin Kalea’s help.  We worked for what seemed like forever.   Finally we wrapped up, and went home….well actually after helping all day doing their work...we were not so kindly Dismissed.  The next morning when we arrived for the auction...we greeted Blake and agreed to do a few odds/ends things before meeting up at the library to check on Charlotte and her assistant Robert.  When we made our way to the library we knocked and waited for your highness to grant entry.  It was silent and the door was locked.  Blake had a master key...so no problem.  Problem...after unlocking the door it still wouldn’t open.  Blake explained that there was a bolt that could only be latched from the inside.  Needless to say, it was like fort Knox getting into the room. We finally got the door open, but it took the maintenance guy to do it….  at first we thought the room was empty….but how could someone lock it from the inside?  Then we noticed that someone was sitting in the chair, and it was turned around….anyone see where I'm going with this? Yep, the woman in that chair was dead! The woman was Charlotte McAdams the appraiser for the estate sale.  Her death was labeled a homicide.  Here’s a tip for you: when your ex boyfriend’s  (the chief of police) new girlfriend is an FBI agent...that just wants to “speed up the investigation” you get put at the top of the suspect list.   We had to work fast to figure out what really happened to those precious missing books...oh and Charlotte…  

 
My thoughts: 

I have never read any of the other books in this series, and although it is a standalone...it would have been very helpful to have read the first three first.  Specially to understand that dynamic between Mark and Addie.  I enjoyed the author's writing style and I thought the mystery was done well.  It kept me guessing with lots of twists and turns.   The main character was witty, intelligent, and maybe a little bit stubborn at times.  The secondary characters were well developed, but I will say I don’t like really mean characters (a little obstinate/cranky fine but just plain mean...no) in my cozy (and some of these characters were right at my line in the sand)...unless they are being offed….otherwise I think it takes away from the cozy vibe.   

 
 My best endorsement is to say that immediately upon finishing this book...I ordered books 1-3.   It’s getting harder and harder to hide the amazon boxes from my husband. Lol.   

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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Lauren Elliott, and the publisher for this opportunity.

My thoughts

Would Recommend it? Yes

Would I read more of the series? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

First time I read anything by this author , and I'm glad I picked this up,what could be be better then a bookstore own who gets in pulled into a murder case. Other thing I liked about this book was how the author used old book titles in her story as well as a creepy old house that had a spooky history to it as well. The only thing that I didn't really enjoy about the story was the love  triangles that was going on and how Marc treated Addie , as well as  the treatment that she got from the friend of his, and how one moment he was saying he was a friend and the next wasn't even listing to her or believing her at all. But thank goodness that she had Simon, because he was there for when she needed someone, other then at I found this story to be well-written, delightful, and thoroughly entertaining reading and at times I was smiling because of Simon and Addie, so much so that I want to read more of the series ans see what happens next. With that sais I want to thank NetGalley for letting me read and review it .

All In A Days Work.....
Book four in the Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery series finds bookstore owner Addie attending an estate sale in a grand old mansion. Little does Addie know that ghosts and ghouls, rare books and a dead body will be all in her days work this time. Can Addie find a killer? An enjoyable, fun cosy mystery and a light hearted read.

A bookshop, a Sherlock Holmes original, a murder in a seaside New England town – what more is there to love in the premise of this story. Home to many grand estates, Greborne Harbor where Addie inherited her great aunt’s estate and Beyond the Page bookstore. Addie, looking for rare editions as a bookstore owner, discovers a rare book, A Study In Scarlet Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel in one of the estate sales. However, a mysterious death in the library with the room bolted from the inside of the rumoured haunted home, piqued my interest and kept my fingers turning those pages. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and a first book I have read from this author. I highly recommend this and worked for me as a standalone book.

When I read the first book in the series I wasn't sure if it would be one I would be excited about. Let me tell you my first impression was wrong. I get super excited when a new book is released. I have enjoyed seeing Addie come into herself as a bookstore owner and learn to love again after the death of her husband. 

I have found myself learning new things as I read this series. As crazy as it sounds for a mystery buff like me I have not read any Sherlock Holmes novels or stories. I found it very interesting to learn about the first story in the series was released.

I have found I enjoy reading the books much more than listening to the audiobooks. I listened to a little of the audiobook for this book and the previous. The narrator is good but she doesn't fit what I think of as Addie.

All the covers in this series are absolutely gorgeous. I could look at them for hours and still find something I missed. They are true works of art.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Lauren Elliott gives us another Beyond the Page Bookstore mystery.  Addie is roped into helping review the books in a house contents auction; she stumbles over a body. What could go wrong?  Someone is trying to frame her and the girlfriend of the police is eager to follow that trail.  Is the murder house haunted?  Is a former associate stealing first editions from the mansion?  Lots of red herrings.  Enjoy.

This is the fourth book in Lauren Elliott's Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series, and I continue to enjoy it. In this outing, Addie Greyborne is attending an auction preview at a mansion that is rumored to be haunted. When she arrives, she meets up with a family friend who is running the auction. The appraisers he has hired are not finished and the auction is supposed to occur the next day. She is asked to help appraise some extremely rare and valuable books. She leaves all the information for the appraiser to enter into the computer listing, but the next morning, the appraiser is found dead, the valuable books are missing and all the information Addie left is gone. In previous books in this series, Addie is in a relationship with Marc, the local police detective, but it did not work out and Marc left town. Well, he's back and is investigating the theft, but he's not alone. Arriving in town with Marc is an FBI agent, who might be on administrative leave, and she is out to prove that Addie is the murderer, or at least the thief of the rare books. It seems she is in a relationship with Marc and is a tad jealous of Addie. Well, Addie is not taking it sitting down and is bound and determined to find the real culprit to clear her name.

I really enjoyed this well-written mystery. I like Addie, even though she can be a bit brusque. She is smart, stubborn, creative and a bit reckless. She is also loyal to her friends and willing to help them out when they need it, which is what got her into trouble in this book. The mystery was well-plotted, with just enough suspects and a few red herrings to keep readers engaged. I loved how the house became a character in this story. It was the history of the house that finally allows Addie to solve this one. There was a bit of a paranormal feel to this story as well. I enjoy the characters in this town, some are wonderful, some not so nice, but that is the way of the world. I enjoyed the ending and final reveal in this story and was quite satisfied with the ending. I look forward to my next visit with Addie and her friends in Greyborne Harbor. I recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially those involving books, bookstores or libraries.

Disclaimer:  I was given an eARC of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the fourth book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series.  It does have a bit of a different tone than the previous books but it was just as good as the previous books.  This installment does seem to have more at stake for Addie personally which did give me more of an investment in the story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys cozy mysteries.

Proof of Murder by Lauren Elliott
Book #5: Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Kensington Books
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Addie Greyborne just never seems to be in the right place at the right time.  In her twoish years in Greyborne Harbor, she’s been pulled into three murder investigations, seen her best friend accused of one of them, met two intriguing men, and been generally off kilter since arriving in town.  With hope in her heart, Addie is looking forward to a stretch of good and quiet where she can focus on her business, her growing relationship, and her burgeoning friendships.  

And then Addie arrives in the wrong place at the wrong time!

With nothing but good intentions, Addie volunteers to help an old family friend get ready for an impending local auction.  With her appraisers’ hat on, Addie sets to work and discovers some beautiful and very rare books that will surely bring a fortune at auction.  Thinking she’s done nothing but a good deed, Addie leaves the site looking forward to participating in the auction the next day.  As the next day dawns and Addie arrives at the auction site, she finds herself, once again drawn into a murder, only this time, Addie is the prime suspect. 

In months and investigations past, Addie has been able to rely on her relationship with the police chief to help her through difficult times.  This time, Marc is not only adamantly and angrily against her, but his new girlfriend seems to have a huge grudge against Addie and is looking to put her behind bars.  With few people to rely on and trust, a very hurt Addie drags out her trusty murder board and begins to put the pieces together.  

As always, the evidence and clues lead Addie down a long and winding path that takes her from the present to the distant past and through the lives of a troubled family and their dilapidated home that is now considered haunted.  What’s more, the house is the site of the impending auction and for weeks, valuable items have been going missing and is the site of the murder Addie is accused of having committed.  What Addie uncovers is a sordid tale of lechery, deceit, and murder that has left at least one person with nothing but revenge and retribution on the brain.  To be sure, Addie is up to her neck in the mess and if she doesn’t uncover the identity of the real killer, she may be spending the next several decades behind bars. 

The Bottom Line: I feel like this series has really hit its stride and I hope to continue seeing books of this quality.  As with the previous books, the mystery is suitably complicated and interesting to have me turning pages like a mad woman.  I absolutely love the combination of the past meets the present and that is prevalent in this book.  I also like all the complicated relationships currently in Addie’s life.  She is really rolling in emotions in this book and it made for a great secondary plot line that FINALLY brought out some real anger in Addie.  I loved seeing her mean side especially towards those who more than deserved it.  In all, a cozy mystery series that I have been impressed with and hope to see continue in a similar manner.

Addie Greybourne inherited Beyond the Page bookstore in this New England town of Greybourne Harbor. She also inherited a large Victorian mansion. Hill Road House is another mansion in town that has been empty for years. It is now being sold due to back taxes. It is rumored the mansion is haunted. There have been several mysterious famly deaths. Addie goes to check out the estate sale and with her cousin, Kalea Hudson, tthey are helping the appraiser Charlotte McAdams appraise books that were recently found in a bookcase. Addie finds several rare, valuable books in these. When Addie comes back the next day she finds Charlotte in the locked library dead. The rare books are missing and have been replaced by fakes. Addie is sure she has seen an apparition appear at the top of the stairs.
There are many characters in this book so it is hard to figure out who or what could have killed Charlotte. Marc Chandler, the Chief of Police, has been gone for three months studying at Quantico with the FBI. He now has a new girlfriend, FBI Agent Ryley Brookes, who is determined to find Addie guilty of Charlotte's murder and the theft of the rare books.
Will Addie find out the truth before Ryley finds enough evidence to charge Addie?
This is the first book I have read by Lauren Elliott. I enjoyed this book and will definitely read more of this series.

Another captivating and intriguing cozy, with great characters and a cool storyline. Addie is bull headed and refuse to back down, clearing herself from a murder and burglary charge, was imperitive. Although obstacles were thrown in her way by none other than her ex boyfriend's new girlfriend. Addie refuses to standby and let herself be railroaded to jail for a crime she was obviously being framed for. So she put on her Sherlock Holmes face and got down to some serious sleuthing.

This is one of my favorite bibliomystery series. Addie Grayson has inherited Greybourne Manor and owns a bookstore, Beyond the Page - Books and Curios. Things have not been easy since she arrived in town. Even though she is a descendant of the colonial founding family she has been seen as an outsider. Now she's more comfortable with her bookstore and needs to do some restocking of old and rare books. When an estate sale is to be held in one of the old mansions in town, she sees it as the perfect chance to buy some books. At the same time, a friends asks her to help out his appraiser valuing the books. Add to that the mansion is reputed to be haunted. Not a problem as far as Addie is concerned. Murder, on the other hand? That really becomes a huge problem when the appraiser is found dead in a locked room and the very valuable copy of A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle is missing. Addie connects the killing and the robbery but never in her wildest imagination did she think that she would be prime suspect number one and be arrested for the killing. Somebody is really out to get Addie thrown in prison, weaving a believable, to some, frame up. Addie better solve this case fast or her new address will be the state pen. Up against Mac and his FBI girlfriend who is certain that Addie is the killer, well, Addie's life has become very complicated.
Besides being a great mystery, it's also a locked room puzzle - all the better for this reader. The haunted house is a nice extra dimension to the mystery. There are also plenty of twists, turns and red herrings to have me glued to the page to the last sentence.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great one! I have fallen in love with the town and I like the on going characters. This is book4 and it is as good as the first three. I can't wait to read more.

Lauren Elliott 
She has certainly done it again! One of my favourite authors.
I have enjoyed this brilliant book and storyline with great characters.
Finally Addie has made her love match (the right choice).
Clever, interesting and entertaining mystery , i couldn’t put it down.
Roll on Lauren’s next instalment can’t wait.

Princess Fuzzypants here:  When Addie Greyborne attends a preview of a big estate sale, she thinks all she has to deal with are the other competition for the goodies and perhaps a ghost or two.  It seems the deserted mansion has a reputation for some terrible deaths.  When she is enlisted by a family friend to help appraise some newly discovered books, she makes some startling discoveries.
But the discoveries of the first day pale by comparison to the discovery of the second.  She finds the body of the woman she was assisting dead in the library and the finds of the day before have vanished without a trace- both behind a locked door.  That is only the beginning of the unpleasantness.  The man who proposed to her months earlier has returned to investigate the death and the theft and the woman with him seems determined to prove that Addie was the perp both of the theft and the death.  What makes matters even more painful is he seems to think she is guilty too.
Thankfully she still has her friends and new beau Simon to help clear her name and find the real culprit.  I had suspicions about the one revealed to be the killer but it took a while to figure out his connection.  There were lots of candidates for the bad guy or girl as Addie struggles to put more than one ghost to rest.
Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the fourth book in the Addie Greyborne cozy mystery series, featuring a bookshop owner/amateur sleuth.  Addie visits an old house to investigate some old books that she might want to bid on at the estate sale.  The house is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of previous owners.  After someone involved in the auction is murdered and some rare books are missing, Addie is the main suspect.  Her ex, the police chief, has just returned from a vacation with a female FBI agent in tow, and sparks fly.  I also read the first book in the series, and this one has a much more intricate plot, along with some new characters.  It was entertaining!

The bookstore crew is back in action and this time they have to figure out how a murder could have taken place in a locked room before Addie's ex-boyfriend's hotshot new girlfriend sends her up the river for a murder just to get the competition out of the way. A wonderful array of subplots woven throughout the murder plot to keep you entertained and delighted for hours! If you haven't started this series, you absolutely should as this is quickly becoming one of my "can't miss series" to read! Wonderful well rounded characters that seem so real that you can't wait to come back and visit with your old friends soon even if you want to bop one on the head every now and again...that just makes them even more real! It is really intriguing how the author weaves a main character that is a strong, intelligent female and yet vulnerable at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens in the next one!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Proof of Murder is the most confounding mystery in this series to date! With a literally locked-room mystery and a strong attempt at framing our heroine, there is no end to speculating what really happened. I love the little town New England town of Greyborne Harbor and Addie’s unique bookstore, Beyond the Page. The characters are well-defined, and most are very likable. 

Addie Greyborne inherited her aunt’s home in Greyborne Harbor. Leaving her career in appraising rare and vintage books at the Boston Library, she moved and opened Beyond the Page, where she sells new, rare, vintage, and consignment books and various curios and collectibles. Addie’s best friend, Serena, has her tea shop next door. Addie is dating Simon, appreciates her new family in Greyborne Harbor.

Addie is going to the dealer preview for an auction at Hill Road House, where a vast library of vintage and classic books is housed. Her assistant, Paige, and Serena, both try to discourage her from going as the home has been reputed to be haunted for more than 70 years when the last owners died. It has been vacant except for the resident ghost and it is now being auctioned off for back taxes. The auction company is owned by Blake, a good friend of her late father.

Addie overhears a discussion between Blake and Charlotte, the appraiser, about a newly-found bookcase of rare finds. Addie offers to help Charlotte and Blake with the appraisals. She spends the day going through the bookcase, making the exciting discovery of a few highly desirable Sherlock Holmes collectibles. She also has interesting experiences such as feeling as if she is being watched, feeling icy cold spots despite the warm day, and overhearing Charlotte and her assistant discussing more items missing from the auction inventory.

The next day, Addie and Blake try to get into the locked library, but it has been bolted from the inside. When it is pried open, they find Charlotte, with a look of horror frozen on her face, dead In her chair. Blake left to call the police, and Addie looked around the room, as the table of special books looked disturbed. She sees that the special Holmes books are missing, replaced by current-day replicas, and brings it to the attention of the police. Addie didn’t know that Marc, the police chief, had returned from classes at the FBI and a vacation. She and Marc had dated for a short time, but realized she was not ready to make a commitment to him and why. They had unhappy words before he left, and Addie hoped they could be friends when he returned.

Marc has a new friend with him, an FBI agent on leave, Ryley. Ryley seems to be markng him as her territory, and since he invited her to help with the investigation, she is bent on accusing Addie of the theft of the books and, if Charlotte was murdered, her murder as well. 

Simon, a physician, the coroner, and the man Addie is happily dating, can only find a heart attack as the appraiser’s cause of death. Ryley claims to be following the evidence and convincing Marc of the same, and Addie is arrested for stealing the very expensive missing books. When she is released temporarily after pointing out items in their crime scene photos that were inconsistent, Addie gets out her crime board to work on who is framing her.

The characters are very well-rounded. Each continues to grow and blossom in their roles. I enjoy seeing how Martha is becoming not only friendly, but funny! Catherine is a favorite as a mother figure and a friend willing to tell Addie what she sees. Simon is a great match for Addie, while I had a very hard time liking Marc this time. Especially with the traumas of recent years for Addie, watching her become a more confident woman is exciting.

Greyborne Harbor is a lovely setting. With interesting history and New England charm and a dash of the mysterious, it is a great tourist town and place to live. Plot twists keep the novel moving, as does the changing list of suspects. There were a couple that I favored but had dismissed the real culprit for lack of motive. While there were a few things I guessed correctly, overall I was quite surprised and satisfied with the outcome! I highly recommend this novel and series!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Cozy mysteries have been my comfort food during these past few months, especially the ones that are in the 4th book and beyond. I can’t visit friends in person, but I can visit them on the page!

I love a good mystery involving a locked room! You know there can only be so many ways that the mystery can be resolved so it's always interesting to see how an author puts their own twist on it. And with it being a large, old mansion (complete with its own ghost story) you know this one will have some secret hiding places too. The mystery is well done and, while I had no sympathy for the victim (she wasn't very pleasant), there was enough to keep me very interested in finding out whodunnit.

Addie's knowledge, experience and connections makes her a natural amateur sleuth and I can easily believe that she'd be able to solve a real mystery. She's currently one of my favourite cozy mystery sleuths - she's smart, capable, independent, but still flawed enough to make her relatable. Addie is one of the main reasons that I keep coming back to this series - between her and the good solid mystery, this series has been able to hold my interest.

One of the things that I didn't like was the time-jump between Book 3 and 4 in the series. When I first started reading Proof of Murder, I was so confused because the characters kept referring to events that I didn't remember reading about. This happened enough that I had to pull out the previous book and read the ending again to make sure I hadn't missed something. I hadn't. Plus, the events that happened "off the pages, between books" were HUGE events. They get explained a bit better later on in the book (much later) but I didn't enjoy being so confused for so long at the beginning.

I enjoy most of the characters in this series, but the addition of two new characters in this book will make things interesting in the next instalment - especially since I didn't care for either of them.

Also (again, no spoilers) I feel like the "new romance" that is introduced is rushed and seems like it would be a huge conflict of interest, but it's fiction, so it's ok, I guess? *shrug*

The love triangle between Addie, Simon and Marc does get resolved so moving forward things should be much smoother sailing. I definitely think she made the right choice. There were a few "conversations" that happened near the end that made me SO MAD. I wanted to punch the guy (no spoilers). And I'm so happy that Addie reacted the same way I would have. If she had acted different I would have been very disappointed in her. But she didn't. She stays true to her character and reacted exactly how I would have expected her to and I love that.

But honestly, aside from the time jump and some annoying characters, the good FAR outweighs the bad. Addie is still one of my favourite amateur sleuths and I'm looking forward to the next book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.