amateur-sleuth, family-dynamics, friendship, relationship-issues, cozy-mystery, murder-investigation

The story begins with the bookshop owner discovering a dead body stuck between her houseboat and the dock before she's even had her morning coffee. Turns out that the victim was a regular visitor to town who has recently begun asking after a town resident. Enter her own boyfriend who will be moving six hours away, the prickly police chief, the victims daughter, and a whole host of suspects. Of course the bookseller begins sleuthing! Well plotted with great characters and a positive theme.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

A Deadly Chapter by Essie Lang is a contemporary cozy mystery set in New England, I picked this up not realising it is the third in a series and although it can be read as a stand alone, I think reading the others first would have helped me to connect more with the characters and increased my enjoyment of the book. As it stands , I didn't care enough about the characters or the crime to be fully caught up in the story,
The amateur sleuth at the centre of the mystery is Shelby Cox, part owner of a local bookstore and her peaceful morning is shattered when she discovers a body bumping against the side of her houseboat. Despite being warned by the police to stay out of it, she can't resist digging a little deeper and trying to figure out the truth behind the crime. To add to her stress she is facing a tough decision about the future of her relationship with boyfriend Zack and her home life is complicated by the reappearance of a long lost family member.
As I said earlier, this book really did not hold my interest all that well. I didn't care about any of the characters, and I had had no motivation to care about the crime at the centre of the plot. I think the author could have done a little more to make the reader interested in the characters, and I also think that the protagonist needed a more personal stake in the crime being investigated, there really didn't seem to be any justification for her interest . That being said, the writing style is simple and descriptive without being overly so. I did read through to the end , but I can't say that I was surprised by the ending
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Books about bookstores and libraries are always a fun read, a comfort reading about someone who enjoys books as much as I do! This book was no exception. Shelby managed a bookstore in a lovely location, Thousand Islands. Since this was the third book in the series, I found it difficult to follow some of the prior history and characters mentioned. I would recommend reading the prior books first.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher through Net Galley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I tried to enjoy this book but never really cared for the main charactrer. I did not read the first two books in this series, so maybe that would have made a difference, I enjoyed reading about the area of the thousand islands which makes a nice setting for this story.

This is the third in the Castle Bookshop Mystery. It was my first with this author and series. There was no disconnect so it was easy to keep up with the characters and follow the mystery. Shelby the MC in the series is a spitfire and full of personality. She finds a body between her houseboat and the dock. The police aren’t fast enough for Shelby so she starts poking around to find the killer. It was a fun mystery with well developed characters.
#ADeadlyChapter #NetGalley

The third in the Castle Bookshop Mystery Series, this mild cozy mystery is a fun escape. Set in a gorgeous island location in New York one can almost feel the waves of the boat rides, shuttling people back and forth. The charming small bookstore sounds idyllic. And until a body is found next to it, the houseboat sounds heavenly.

Enter Shelby, a book seller and amateur investigator. She is surrounded by friends and her dear Aunt Edie in her small town. Shelby believes police aren't acting quickly enough in the murder case so takes things into her own hands. She and police chief Stone know each other quite well so there is no real angst between them, though Stone reminds Shelby the murder is a police investigation.

There is a long list of suspects and Shelby questions them, a bit brusque and direct at times, but feels she must. Questioning people you know can be irritating to all parties.

Shelby has a love interest and the relationship has issues of its own. Really enjoyed the twists and turns. And then another life-changing event happens...

My impression is there wasn't quite enough reaction to the murder, yet it was nice not to focus on grisly details. Cozy, fun and sweet sums it up. Those who enjoy extra mild cozies will really enjoy this series.

A very pleasant read with middle-aged characters with major roles...nicely done.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book. Much appreciated.

Shelby Cox, the part-owner of Bayside Books located in Alexandria Bay in the Thousand Islands area of upstate New York, wakes up one morning to find a body in the river on the side of her houseboat. It turns out, the man, who is not a local, has dropped into the bookstore a few times asking questions about a mystery woman and Shelby knows his daughter who needs answers. Could the mystery woman be the reason he was murdered? Shelby, against her better judgment and that of her family, friends, and the police chief, has to find out. What follows is a good mystery with some twists, turns, and just the right amount of danger and mistakes by Shelby that made it fun to read.

A Deadly Chapter is the 3rd book in the Castle Bookshop Mystery series. And, although it's the first book I've read in the series, I quickly came to like and care about the characters, especially Shelby and her wise Aunt Edie. The quaint setting, likable characters, and good plot/mystery make this cozy mystery a winner. I look forward to picking up the earlier books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Essie Lang, and Crooked Lane books for the advanced copy of A Deadly Chapter. I'm happy to provide an honest review.

Shelby Cox is on an emotional roller coaster when a long-lost relative shows up and her romantic relationship faces a crucial juncture. Plus, a murdered body is found bumping against her houseboat. There is plenty of drama to fuel this story and keep the reader interested. And the mystery is solid.

I did enjoy the fact that the local police are not happy with Shelby investigating the murder. She makes mistakes that could result in dreadful consequences; she feels bad about it but it doesn't stop her from investigating more. She had to investigate more for there to be a story but I just wish there had been a better one to get her detecting again than how it happens.

Though this is the third in a series it can be read as a stand-alone. The characters are welcoming and I would love to spend the day with them. Plus, a charming location and a lovable cat makes this cozy a winner.

I was provided with a copy of the ARC by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Shelby Cox wakes up and finds a body floating between her boat and the dock...what a way to start the day! Though she vows not to get involved in the case, Shelby can’t help herself since the man was found at her home and his daughter has asked her to help as well. What’s a girl to do? Investigate!

This is one of my favorite series. I love the setting with the small town and an island castle. Solid writing and well developed characters make for a great whodunit every time.

Had so much fun catching up with the characters and the houseboat is so cute and makes for an engaging mystery.

I enjoyed this book and it was great to catch up on how all the characters were doing, but I was super annoyed by the whole Boston thing. Only with Zack is she so insecure and it frustrates me; I won’t say more cause, no spoilers, but that subplot really spoiled my enjoyment of the rest of the story.

Description
Thousand Islands bookseller Shelby Cox is caught between a lethal rock and a hardheaded newcomer in Essie Lang's third Castle Bookshop mystery, a must-read for fans of Lorna Barrett and Vicki Delany.
Wake up on a houseboat, moored in scenic Alexandria Bay, New York. Ride the gentle waves to work at quaint Bayside Books, where you spend your days supplying literature and conversation to the charming locals and seasonal tourists. Sounds pleasant, doesn't it? Except bookseller Shelby Cox has already sleuthed two murders from Bayside Books's home base on Blye Island, one of New York State's famed Thousand Islands. And this time, mayhem knocks right on Shelby's waterside door when she finds a body lodged between the side of her houseboat and the dock, his skull shattered.
Review
I really enjoyed reading this episode in the Castle Bookshop mystery series. The characters of Shelby, Edie and Zack are well described as are the lesser characters involved in the story. A good plot in an idyllic setting with all the elements of a good cozy mystery. I didn't guess the guilty party and that is always a big plus for me. I will definitely be on the look out for more in the series.
With thanks to Crooked Lane Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC.

A sincere thank you to Essie Lang and Netgalley for providing “A Deadly Chapter” for free to be able to provide a review.

Main protagonist and amateur sleuth Shelby Cox lives the life we all dream of, to live on a boat and run a bookshop on a local island. In a castle. What’s not to love about that kind of life? Shelby is soon mixed up the slightly dangerous events of island life, in which a mystery man has been murdered. Shelby has experienced similar events in the last few years and she just cannot help but ask questions. It is part of her inquisitive nature.

A Deadly Chapter is a cozy mystery, a book in the vein of Heartbeat, with gentle characters, a mystery not easy to solve that comes to a logical and pleasing resolution, and the 3rd in a successful series with more to come. If you prefer your characters to be generally honest and kind, with no violence or swearing, then A Deadly Chapter is worth your time.

Just found another great author thanks to Netgalley! A Deadly Chapter by Essie Lang was fantastic! Shelby Cox lives on a houseboat in Alexandria Bay in upstate New York. She finds a grey haired body face down off the dock. It turns out to be a man who has been looking for a lady in Alexandria Bay. Then his daughter shows up, so Shelby asks lots of questions and problems begin arriving in Shelby's comfortable life. To add to it, her mother shows up out of the blue after abandoning her years ago. This was a great book that I greatly enjoyed.

A Deadly Chapter is the third installment in the A Castle Bookshop Mystery series set in the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York and featuring book store owner, Shelby Cox. Shelby is enjoying life on her rented houseboat with purrmate JT, running the Bayside Books annex on Blye Island and exploring her new relationship with coast guard boyfriend, Zack Griffin. That is until a mysterious thumping against the hull of her boat reveals a dead man floating in the water.

Shelby realizes that she's seen the man several times before when he's come into the bookstore to ask if she knows of a woman (an avid reader) who may have moved to town seven years ago. The man is identified as Nathan Miller, the father of her friend Hillary, and Hillary asks Shelby to try and find out what happened to her father and to discover the identity of the mystery woman.

Despite objections by Chief Tekla Stone and her Aunt Edie, Shelby begins investigating and her nosiness ruffles many feathers. A fast paced plot features the return of Alexandria Bay regular characters, a picturesque setting, the arrival of a long lost relative and a major decision regarding a romantic relationship.

I received an advanced copy of A Deadly Chapter from NetGalley via Crooked Lane Books. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

A Plethora Of Suspects.....
The third in the Castle Bookshop Mystery series finds bookseller Shelby Cox caught up in another suspicious death when she discovers a body in the water next to her houseboat. More worryingly, Shelby is convinced that she has seen the deceased before. Amidst a plethora of suspects can Shelby get to the bottom of the mystery? Enjoyable cosy with a delightful setting, a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters.

This is the third book in the Castle Bookshop series and I loved it! I’ve been to Alex Bay several times so I liked the setting and its characterization.

In this one, Shelby finds a body in the water when she’s on her houseboat, and given her knack investigating situations on her own, she looks into this one as well. Add in a theft and there’s a lot going on!

The mystery plot was well written and interesting and I really like these characters from Shelby, her Aunt Edie, her boyfriend Zach and other friends and locals. A good read for anyone who looked cozy mysteries.

It was fun returning to this series, as I've read a couple of books earlier. I liked the characters and the dynamics between them. And what is there not to like about living on a house boat with a cat, running a bookstore at a castle?

The mystery-part of the book was okay and I didn't know who the culprit was until the end.

This is one of my favorite series.,Shelby, the amateur sleuth, is owner of the Castle Book Store and she is really good. is really good. This time she finds a body in the water by her house boat. In these books you get lots of clues but don't find out until the end. Also in this book, Zach gets a promotion and asks Shelby to move to Boston with him. See what happens.

A fun cozy mystery set in Alexandria bay, New York.
Book 3 of Castle Bookshop Books.
Shelby lives on a houseboat with her cat JT during the summer. In the winter she stays at her aunt who raised hers house. She co-owns the bookshop with her aunt.
She seems to always have death show up at her door.
Her boyfriend Zach, is a coastguard investigator. Tries to keep her from sticking her nose into murder investigations.
Likeable characters, love that she lives in a houseboat, and that the bookshop is at a castle.