The best cozy mystery series let you go live in an unfamiliar place and different lifestyle with the greatest of ease. Essie Lang fully succeeds in this with her book Deadly Chapters. Shelby Cox lives on a houseboat and works at a bookstore on a small island with a “castle,” one of several in New York, yet something I never knew before. Although Shelby has only lived in Alexandra Bay a short time, she has found her roots and footing here. She’s begun to feel secure and grounded but faces a major challenge to that soon. But even before she reaches that, she discovers a body in the water by her home.

Shelby also soon realizes that she knows the man found in the water—not by name, but as a visitor to her bookshop where he asked about finding a woman he was looking for. Then Shelby discovers that she not only knows the victim’s daughter, but that she wants Shelby to help her find out more. Chief Tekla tries to dissuade her, and events with her boyfriend and their relationship distract her. Worse yet, Shelby discovers that her mother wants to re-establish a relationship with her after abandoning her as a young child. With her support system of her Aunt and friends, Shelby plunges forward through it all.

This is the third book in the series but works well as a stand-alone book. I had not read the previous books and did not need additional background to enjoy this volume. The evocative setting is a strength of the book, helping make this a great escape to another. The multiple suspects will also keep the reader guessing both what happened and why the victim was looking for a mystery woman.

Author Essie Lang knows how to grab the reader's attention from the start. The mystery is full of twists and turns. The characters s are relatable and intriguing. I look forward to the next book in the series to see how the characters continue to develop.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Although it did not grab my attention, fans of cozy mysteries may enjoy it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This little cozy was cute and funny. The characters are adorable. There was just the right amount of suspense to keep you drawn in. This was a fast paced read. I really enjoyed it.

Shelby Cox is a bookseller on picturesque Blye Island and lives on a houseboat. One would think that her life would only be full of books and tourists, but she's also a successful amateur sleuth. She's helped the police in solving two murders, despite the reluctance of Police Chief Tekla Stone. So when a body is found lodged between her houseboat and the dock, she can't help but get involved. She's seen the victim before and he's been asking about a mysterious woman in the area. When his daughter asks for Shelby's help, she begins the investigation. But there are too many suspects and she must race against time to find the murderer, before it's too late.
A Deadly Chapter is a charming cozy mystery. Shelby is persistent in solving the mystery and calm in the face of danger. She is clever, competent and dependable. A fun and relaxing read!

I loved this book. The characters were believable. I enjoyed their various dilemas. I found myself wanting to visit the setting.. Who wouldn't like a boat ride, books in a castle and a wonderful view along the river?
I'm really enjoyed the subplots and was guessing until the end as to who committed the act and why. This is definitely a series that will be added to my must read list.

*I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have to say I was a little skeptical about reading this book because I've always had a (highly irrational..) urge to avoid cozy murders that have a cat on the front. I love cats, I love cozy murders, but somehow these covers always put me off. I'm glad to say my unfounded assumptions at least in this instance were entirely wrong and now I'm going to have to go back and read the first two books of the series.

This isn't a super bookish bookstore cozy mystery. If you really enjoy the deep dive kind of book info that's peppered throughout Lauren Elliott or Vicki Delaney's cozy murders you won't find it here - BUT I think regardless you'll still find a great amount of enjoyment in the read. It's a well-constructed small town mystery.

As with all small town cozies there are a lot of characters, but they're introduced methodically and in a slow enough (but not dragging) fashion that you can remember them as they come along.

There are a few aspects of this book that I really love. The police chief is an older woman, and a lot of the cast are older women - who are presented as active, interesting, multi-faceted people. The police detectives in this genre are almost always men, and almost always romantically entangled with the amateur lady sleuth, so this aspect is so refreshing!

The standard cozy romantic subplot is evident, but there is no love triangle (thank god.. do love triangles exist? sure! does every amateur sleuth need to be in one? god no) and there is actual chemistry between Shelby and Zack. The romantic subplot does start to overwhelm the novel in the middle to later stages (where the plot does get Very Busy), but the natural affection between the two - and the fact that the book actually hints at physical romance beyond kissing between them (another of my petty annoyances - female amateur sleuths can have sex lives! And cozy murder readers aren't all chaste people who will riot at the suggestion!) definitely makes up for it.

The writing is solid, the important characters a likeable, and the setting works really well (and I think promises the possibility of a lot of interesting plots to come).

One thing that really stuck out to me though and maybe someone can explain to me if they come across this review - do people in the state of New York use language that is more... British? From the very beginning there are scones, jam, loose leaf tea, and Aunt Edie doing a full sunday dinner with roast beef and yorkshire puddings. But apparently her home was built in the 1920s and has always been in the family. Very britishy things and something I've only encountered in books set in the US that have a specifically designated british character. Its not a peeve or anything - just a curiosity!

The protagonist lives on a houseboat in a small coastal town. Shelby works at the Castle bookshop. She stumbles on a dead body, who is Not a local.

This is a good cozy mystery novel to read.


Note: I received a free digital copy from Net Galley and the publisher Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

Shelby is back, with a dead body floating next to her houseboat. Of course she hops in, determined to be smarter than Chief Stone & solve the mystery. She charges full steam ahead, asking way too many questions & confronting people on a whim. Shelby for some reason annoyed me throughout this book--her "what should I do about Zack? Oh I know! I'll just ignore it" attitude, as well as her taking over the investigation & talking to anyone & everyone (people she hardly even knows & decides she's their best friend?), was just plain annoying. I'm hopeful the next book will take a more realistic (for a cozy mystery) approach. 2.5-3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the pre-read in exchange for an honest review

A Deadly Chapter is the 3rd book in the wonderful Castle Bookshop Mysteries cozy series. There are castles, books, family, friends, and a little romance so what's not to love! This series is pleasant (no graphic or intense scenes) and there is a lot going on to keep the reader intrigued. Shelby Cox is co-owner of 2 bookstores and she works at the one on fictitious Blye Island in the beautiful Thousand Islands in Northern New York. Her Aunt Edie runs the main store in Alexandria Bay. Shelby lives on a houseboat and finds a body floating near her boat. He isn't local but she becomes friends with his daughter so Shelby gets involved. Also, Shelby's boyfriend Zack gets a promotion and that could mean a change. Shelby's got family turmoil to deal with as well.. The characters are likable and friendly. This is a very pleasant and enjoyable cozy mystery. #NetGalley #ADeadlyChapter

A Deadly Chapter was one of the slowest most boring book that I have ever tried to read. The plot, characters, story line were all terrible. I did not waiste my time finishing this book when there are so many other cozy mysteries that are more entertaining.. I will not read any other books by Essie Lang.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books.

I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It is not a good sign when you wake up to find a dead body next to your houseboat as Shelby finds out.

She should be used to murder after solving two murders but dead bodies are just another thing. The body is not a local citizen and the police seem to be going at a snail place. Throw in the visiting grieving daughter into the mix who asks for her help.

Once again her sleuthing skills will be put to the test. A delightful cozy read.

Enjoyed this book. Got right to the murder and then I was guessing until the last 3 chapters! Fast paced and believable characters. Will definitely read more by this author.

I found this book to be a bit slow. I was constantly trying not to just skip to the ending. I like the characters, and the ending was good. I was surprised by who the killer was. #ADeadlyChapter #NetGalley

Aunt Edie and Matthew trumped the lead character, Shelby, in my books. The characters are deep and relatable and offered Shelby both support and love.

I struggled to relate to many of Sehlby's perspectives and her complicated relationship with her boyfriend,Zack,. I also couldn't understand why someone would ask a relative stranger to assist her find a murderer when the police were investigating. Her 'bull-in-a-china-shop" approach endangered innocent people. Hmmm...

There were a few twists and turns in the solving of the mystery that I am sure many readers of the cozy, murder mystery genre will enjoy.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Crooked Lane Publishers and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

I had high hopes for this book. A woman who co-owns a bookshop stumbles upon a body outside of her houseboat? This sounded like it would be a great cozy mystery. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.

There’s a lot of thinking in this novel and also telling the reader what Shelby is doing rather than describing. Also, there were many times when Shelby would think something in a conversation, then either she or the person she was talking to would say that very same thing right after. Shelby is also described as curious but it’s not convincing that she’s interested in solving the murder because of her investigative nature. It seems like she’s simply nosing around because she’s curious that a murder occurred in her town. I found myself annoyed or disinterested in Shelby half of the time.

Aside from Zach, Chief Stone, Aunt Edie, and Matthew, none of the other characters are memorable. I would say there are too many background characters in this novel and it’s difficult to distinguish between them. This is the third novel in the Castle Bookshop Mystery series, yet Shelby has to mention numerous times that she isn’t more than acquaintances with most of the other people in her town. I found all of the characters to be underdeveloped. It might be because this is the third book in the series, but I didn’t come away from the novel feeling like I knew the characters.

Overall, I wanted the mystery to be more prominent and less of Shelby’s personal life. However, I did enjoy the scenery and Shelby’s relationship with her Aunt Edie and Matthew. They both provided her with valuable insight and support multiple times throughout the novel.

Shelby Cox wakes up to find a body in the river next to her houseboat. When shown a photo of the victim, she recognizes him as a man who had visited her bookstore the day before and once before that. He had inquired about a female who had moved to the area seven years ago. The daughter of the murder victim is an acquaintance who asks Shelby to uncover her father's murderer.
In addition to her investigation, Shelby has to decide where her relationship with her boyfriend is headed when he is offered a position six hours hour and the appearance of her mother who had taken off with another man when she was a child.

Shelby Cox is back and boy is she on an emotional rollercoaster this time! Shelby has now been living in Alexandra Bay for a year and she is still helping her aunt run the two two "Bayside Books" bookstores they own together. She is also still live on her houseboat where a body is found bumping against it. Okay, I have to say this, if I was living in a houseboat and body ( a murder victim at that) is bumping against it I would move that minute! I'm just saying, that would freak me out a bit.

Shelby begins to investigate with the victim's daughter much to the dismay of the police chief. She does make a few mistakes that could have ended up deadly but Shelby persists. I swear I kept waiting for the police chief to start getting that eye tick that the chief had with Inspector Clouseau had (if you've seen those movies you know what I'm talking about.) Shelby as always is such a joy to read and take a journey to figure out what happened with.

This is the third book of the series and can easily be read on its own. I recommend going back and reading the first two because this is such a wonderful series adn the characters are so much fun.

A Deadly Chapter is the third book in the Castle Bookshop Mystery series. It can easily be enjoyed as a standalone if you haven't read the others as there isn't really too much carryover. The characters relationships continue to evolve but you're not missing too much stepping in now and they mystery/murder itself is fully contained within.

I really enjoyed the premise of having our nice cozy bookshop on the island and it being this quaint picturesque setting. I could easily imagine the setting and scenery described and readers are transported there. There's something about the small town/closed society that adds that extra element trying to figure out if the "bad guy" is someone in the community or someone who's come in from the outside. You know what they say; "Everyone's a suspect."

The pushback Shelby gets from local law enforcement gives us that element of fun because we can feel their (and her) frustration with one another. Is she making their job harder or helping point them in the right direction? Throw some family and relationship drama into the mix and that pretty much sums up this story.

I received an advanced copy of this story from the author through NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

New to me author and series which I enjoyed. Well written characters, well plotted mystery, and kept me entertained. I adored the setting and the atmosphere of the novel as well. An easy recommend for friends and family.