A cozy, rather predictable mystery, as is usually the case from Hallmark. A terrific setting and a librarian sleuth are the positives; the slow pace and repetitive statements would be the negative.

Marvella - Marvey - moved to the small Georgian town of Peach Coast to be a bigger fish in the pool of librarians than she could manage in her native New York. She's settling in well enough, armed with a notebook to scribble down all of those Southern-isms like 'hissy fit' and 'madder 'n a cat in a bag' (I may have made that one up). She's got a best friend in Jo, and another in the town's most liked, richest son, Spence (no spoiler at all, but I spy romance in future books!). If only her poor cat, Phoenix, wasn't so unhappy, life might be pretty perfect.

Until, that is, a book signing at Jo's store goes tragically awry. But her biggest problem isn't the drop off in customers, spooked by a murder on the premises, but that she's being fingered as the top suspect!

I really liked the slight slant on the usual cosy mystery set up in that Marvey is very clear that she doesn't expect to solve the murder, but only wants to make the obnoxious deputies consider anyone else as a likely suspect. Her librarian training - and friends - help her dig into some of the town's gossip and dark secrets, resulting in plenty to choose from. But is poking her nose in putting Marvey in danger?

I wasn't wholly won over by all the 'Southern charm' on display - it felt a bit too much like a stereotype in places - but as a cosy mystery this ticked all the boxes. Logical set up (ie makes sense for the character to be getting involved in an investigation), local charm, good friends, large side story about a pet. It even manages to avoid the heavy romance element that so often puts me off - although as I said at the beginning, I could detect hints that it might come in later instalments. And I'll be happy to give those a go, as this was a sweet and fun read.

A new cozy mystery series with a librarian or bookseller as the protagonist? Sign me up!
Already looking forward to the next one, as I enjoyed the southern setting very much!
Thanks so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc.

This is a cozy mystery set in a small town Georgia. It was an interesting read and had some characters that you will like and some you don’t. At the local bookstore there is a book signing event and one of the featured authors was found dead. The book store owner Jo Gomez is accused of the crime. Jo’s friend Marvey who works at the towns library decides to help find out who really killed Fiona Lyle-Hayes.
There were a lot of suspects and I didn’t really figured out who it was till almost the end of the story as to who the killer was which surprised me.
Even though this was a okay read I feel some of the extras the author wrote in the storyline could have been left out and the storyline would not have dragged on.
Cassandra H.
I voluntarily read a ARC of this book from Netgalley and this review is of my honest opinion and thoughts.

Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews is a debut novel in what is to be a Peach Coast Mystery Series.

Marvey is a newly transplanted New Yorker in a small town of Peach Coast. She is delighted with the town, its residents and how different everything is from her home town. She is especially enthusiastic about her work as a librarian.
Her new best Jo runs a bookstore in which a prominent citizen and a book author is murdered. Jo immediately becomes a suspect in a murder investigation led by a incompetent and close minded detective. At Jo's plea she agrees to ask some questions just to provide police with possible new suspects. Together with another close friend, three of them set out to help the police.

What I really appreciated in this book is how reluctant and concerned Marvey was to get involved. Faced with difficult situation she consents to help out. That seemed to me very realistic and believable, a manner in which most people would act if faced with a similar position.
There were several remarks that seemed a bit foolish, mostly peoples reactions to some things. I also thought that it was quite ridiculous that she didn't understand most of southern expressions. That she needed to write them down and have them explained to her. It was a bit too much in my opinion.
I also felt that the ending was somewhat rushed, I wanted a longer explanation of why and how murder was done.
I felt that detective narrow mindedness was overplayed, even for a possibly bigoted person. Especially one being a detective investigating a murder.
Mystery itself was well done. I liked the bookstore and library setting. I feel that there might be a bit of romance happening in the later installments.
Overall a good start to a new mystery.

This was the first book in a new series. It was ok but I felt like it dragged on quite a bit trying to set the scenes and characters. I think this could be a good series though, I enjoyed the main characters dialogue and of course, the mystery.

Olivia Matthews brings us to the town of Peach Coast. We are introduced to Marvella Marvey Harris who moved from New York City to become the library's new director of community engagement. Both her and her cat Phoenix are getting used to small town life where you start every conversation with small talk. Marvey manages to ask everyone she talks to if they own a library card and her patrons praise her choice of book recommendations luring them back to the library every time. The mystery starts when Marvey is at a book signing with her friend Spencer Holt whose family is the richest one in Peach Coast and Jolene Gomez who owns To Be Read, the bookstore where the event is taking place. The fifth member of the signing seems to be missing until they find her body in the storage room. The police seem focused on Jo while Marvey and Spence start investigating on their own to clear their friend's name. There are plenty of suspects and motives going around, but the police seem focused on their friend. Will they find the evidence needed to clear their friend?

Olivia Matthews invites us into the town of Peach Coast, Georgia. We meet the townspeople and get to know them as well as see that Southern charm and way of living that is so vastly different from city life. You get to follow Marvey, Jo, and Spence as they try to solve the case. I enjoyed seeing Marvey collecting Southern phrases as she encourages all those she meets to get a library card. You feel as if you are right there with them and want to see what they do next. I look forward to the next adventure with Marvey and her friends.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for this privilege.

: I adored all the book references and the fact that the main character was a librarian, because I work at a library and had worked ten years in a bookstore. I liked the mystery and had fun as Marvey tried to help her friend (bookstore owner) track down the truth about who committed this crime. I liked tagging along with Marvey as she tried to find her place in this new community she just moved to. She knew that the community was looking for a fast arrest she had hoped…" their fear did not compromise their objectivity.”

I agree with this book quote, “one of the greatest joys of being a librarian: being around books and introducing others to the joys of reading.” (and to authors they've never heard of before)

I was pleasantly surprised to see the author included the recipe for Classic Peach Cobbler. It would be a wonderful thing to include in your book club meeting as you discuss this intriguing story with characters and a town you will want to hang out with and with. This is the first book I have read by this author it won’t be the last.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Good start to a new series. The characters are fun and ones that I enjoyed spending time with. The mystery, because it was the first in the series, tended to unravel very slowly. I felt that there was a lot of time "world building" so there was very little going on for parts of the book that made it drag for me. I found the comparisons of north vs. south in etiquette to be informative and funny. I will read the next in the series.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#MurderByPageOne #NetGalley

This is a good first in a series book. I found the characters interesting and liked the town of Peach Cove. Marvey, the MC, doesn't go it alone and uses her friends and connections to help solve the mystery. I look forward to more in the series and finding out if Marvey & Spence get together.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder By Page One by Olivia Matthews is a great cozy mystery that is the first book in a new series: A Peach Coast Library Mystery. It is a great start to what I expect will be a fun and entertaining series.

I really liked the southern feel of the book as it takes place in the small, quaint town of Peach Coast, Georgia. I also liked the concept of the fish out of water aspect with the main character, Marvey Harris, whom is a fairly recent transplant to small town life from Brooklyn. I also love anything that has to do with the library and/or book themes, so this was right up my alley.

I loved the murder/mystery plot involving Marvey’s friend, Jo, and the cast of characters that joined forces to help exonerate her and find the culprit. I really liked the addition of Spencer Holt, the reporter from the local paper. While I was able to figure out the culprit, there were still plenty of suspects to go around, and a few surprises sprinkled within.

The cast of wonderfully developed characters give the author plenty of material to use for future books, and I really am looking forward to seeing how relationships and plot lines develop.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Hallmark Publishing for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/23/21.

MURDER BY PAGE ONE – OLIVIA MATTHEWS
PUBLISHED BY HALLMARK PUBLISHING
PUB DATE 23RD MARCH
PLOT- Marvey Harris moves from NYC to Peach Coast Georgia to be the new director of community engagement at a local library. She has just about settled in when her new best friend Jo becomes a murder suspect. Marvey with the help of Spence Holt, the publisher of the local newspaper, are determined to clear Jo’s name as the suspect and give the local detectives info about other suspects who could have motive for the murder.
The way Marvey begins to solve the mystery takes you back to the Nancy Drew days. It is so well described that you feel as though you are watching a movie. The research which a librarian is well versed with makes her compelled to clear her friend’s name.. the twist in the end keeps you hooked throughout!
Murder by Page one is a very enjoyable fast paced cosy small town mystery. A good choice if one wants a light mystery read for this spring break.
Thanks to Hallmark publishing and netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

"Murder by Page One” the first instalment in A Peach Coast Library Mystery series by Olivia Matthews set in the small town of Peach Coast, Georgia. What a great start to a new series! I really enjoyed this story, and meeting Marvey, Spence and Jolene as well as the rest of the library staff. I love Phoenix her grey tabby cat who hasn’t quite adjusted to the move from New York to Georgia.

The mystery is interesting, well plotted, and a few twists. Overall this was an entertaining, fun easy read.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I am looking forward to future books in this series.


I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can definitely see this becoming a series! The cute little town of Peach Coast sounds like a place I’d love to be a part of. I feel like the main characters could’ve been a little more detailed. I wanted to know more about them. Just some more background information. The storyline flowed really nicely till the end. The end felt a little rushed and could’ve taken a couple more chapters.

What a wonderful start to a new series. This is a well written cozy mystery that will keep you turning the pages. I look forward to the next book. If you like Hallmark Mystery's you will love this book. Thank you Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A lively cozy mystery debut that’s a delight to read. The story would make a great Hallmark TV Movie with its picturesque town with friendly people setting.

The novel is full of southernisms; dedicated employees at the Peach Coast Library; and a few dastardly gossips and/or villains. Marley Harris, the protagonist, has two good friends who always have her back—Jo, owner of To Be Read Bookstore; and Spencer Holt—publisher of the Peach Coast Crier. Also, all the Library employees stand behind Marvey. So when Jo becomes the #1 suspect in the slaying of a new author; Marvey’s friends rally around to help sort out the good guys from the bad guys, and the truth from the lies.

“Ma’am, do you have a library card?” is the question that builds the patron list, and I loved it every time it was asked! 😊. I thought this cozy story was a great debut with an excellent cast of characters I look forward to re-visiting in future stories. Recipe included.

I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

This was a well-written whodunit with a comfortable tone that immediately drew me in from the introductions of Marvey, her friends Jo and Spence and the other characters they encountered. The author did a fine job in telling this story with a small suspect pool, but it was the clues that were uncovered that kept me in the game trying to figure out what was going on. When I thought I had an inkling on the suspect and motive, the author changed directions which gave me pause, because that meant the killer was hiding in plain sight. With visually descriptive narrative, every scene appeared to me like I was watching a movie, along with engaging dialogue and a wonderous backdrop that oozed southern charm. When all was said and done, the book left me with a yearning for more adventures with Marvey, Jo and Spence. This was a nice debut, and I can’t wait for the next one in this delightfully charming series.

Marvey Harris moves from NYC to become director of community engagement for the Peach Coast Library in Peach Coast, Georgia and brings her cat Phoenix.

As Marvey settles into this charming Southern village, she begins making friends, starting with Jo Gomez, owner of the bookstore, To Be Read, and Spence Holt, “local celebrity” from the area’s wealthiest family.

The pace picks up when newly published author and accountant Fiona Lyle-Hayes turns up dead in the back room of Jo’s bookshop just as a book signing event is starting. Jo becomes the leading suspect and asks Marvey and Spence to find proof that clears her.

Olivia Matthews produces a fascinating mystery as her series debut for Peach Coast Library Mysteries. She creates engaging characters and relationships. She explores diverting twists and red herrings as she maintains a steady pace. And her portrayal of Marvey’s relationship with her gray tiger tabby cat adds warmth and humor to the story. Murder by Page One is a strong beginning to a delightful new author to the cozy genre.

A very enjoyable read! It's a story about a murder, but also about friendships and what we would do for our friends. It was fun to get to know the characters, each important to the storyline. The author has a very eloquent but fun writing style. The descriptions of people, places, and things make you feel a part of the story, and make you chuckle in the process. I'm looking forward to the next installment already!

My only "criticism" (which isn't really a criticism at all!) is that there was a lot of talk about chocolate covered peanuts, which I am now craving, but I gave up candy for Lent!

I found the story cute and an easy read. However, I didnt feel like I really connected to any of the characters so it fell a bit flat there for me. Still enjoyable just not exactly a book I fell in love with.