Cover Image: To the Tome of Murder

To the Tome of Murder

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate—and a killer on her case...

Addie's cousin Kalea is accused of murder and Addie must figure out if she really did it, or who set her up.

Was this review helpful?

I'm not sure how, but this author keeps coming up with amazing books in the Beyond the Page series. I just love the characters in this series and the town of Grayharbor, is a town I want to spend more time in!

Our regular cast of characters appear in this story of murder - this time, Addie's cousin Paige's, finance is murdered. The mystery surrounds an antique leather case, stolen books, and Paige is the primary suspect! This story is such a page turner as we try to figure out if Paige is really the guilty party, and if not, who! Along with the mystery, we continue to get to know the town merchants and all they bring to the delightful community.

I'm so excited this series keeps going and that each story keeps getting better. Ms. Elliott has a way of crafting characters you want to know, a town you want to visit, and page turning mysteries!

Was this review helpful?

"To the Tome of Murder” the 7th instalment in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott.

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate—and a killer on her case...

I really enjoyed this latest instalment in the series! I liked that we had two mysteries to solve, the murder and the stolen books. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, although I did figure out who the killer was early on it didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

Plus I liked the surprise ending and I’m anxiously awaiting to find out what happens next!

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait to read "A Margin for Murder” book 8!

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I like this series. Martha needs to quit painting Addie as the bad guy (why doesn't the town learn?) But the characters are great (yes even Martha) and I like how the different characters are moving forward in their life. Mystery did keep me guessing.

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

Was this review helpful?

Addie is on the snoop again as her cousin’s boyfriend is found dead in her dress shop. Addie sniffs for clues around town while wondering what Simon is up to and why Serena is acting out of it lately. I loved the Civil War theme the book revolves around ad the books mentioned. I couldn’t zero in on the killer until the author was ready to reveal the culprit. Big changes are announced at the end of the book for a few characters. I hope Addie gets her head on straight where Simon is concerned.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great cozy mystery with a confounding plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. I love the characters and the setting was sweetly written and made me want to jump into the pages and visit the area. What bothered me, though, was I wanted a more complete ending for the main character. It wasn't exactly a cliffhanger because the main plot was concluded nicely. It just left something hanging. I can't wait to read the next one! I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Oh Addie! Addie's decorated the bookshop with vintage books keyed to the Civil War era cooking contest in Greybourne Harbor. Everything is looking good until her cousin Kalea's boyfriend Jason is murdered. Yikes. I like this series because each one is keyed to a book - Godey's Ladies Magazine figures as well- and because of the way Addie works to solve a crime in a logical way. Her ex, Marc, isn't always happy about this (especially since he is, well, law enforcement) but they have a good relationship. Her new love interest, Simon, is supportive. It's a classic cozy where there's more to the victim than meets the eye. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a fun read.

Was this review helpful?

Addie Greybourne is determined to turn a seemingly ordinary November in coastal Greyborne Harbor into one for the books. The windows of her shop display carefully curated works by American writers, including a rare selection of traditional holiday recipes from the influential 19th-century publication Godey’s Ladies Magazine. Also, there’s the town’s Civil War-era themed cooking and baking competition, with a hefty cash prize and free publicity going to the winning dish. When she finds her cousin’s boyfriend murdered, a stunned Addie reluctantly realizes she needs to solve the murder to take the suspicion off her cousin. With so many unanswered questions surrounding the victim’s death, Addie must figure out the strange connection between a mysterious vintage briefcase, the disappearance of a first edition copy of Sarah Josepha Hale’s famous nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

I have read the previous 6 books in this series, and each one gets better and better. The coastal town is described so well that I can see it in my mind, and the characters continue to grow and develop with each book. I see that a new book is coming out next year and can't wait for it to be published as the ending left us hanging. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the latest installment in one of my favorite series.

Was this review helpful?

When your troublesome cousin is accused of murder, do you believe her guilty or innocent? The facts of the case seem to be adding up quickly against Addie's cousin, but Addie can't just let her last living relative twist in the wind. Let the sleuthing begin! If you have read any of this series yet, you absolutely should. It is an outstanding cozy mystery series with wonderfully likable characters, a fabulous bookstore to dream of and plots that will keep you entertained for hours on end. This addition to the series definitely enhances the series and may be my favorite yet. Although to be fair, I believe I say that after each book in the series that I have read and I do mean it at the time! The author just keeps weaving stories that draw me in and make me love each book more!

Was this review helpful?

This is a outstanding cozy mystery series and this next in series is one of my top 3 favorite cozies of 2021. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

We return to the picturesque coastal town of Greyborne Harbor and our favorite protagnist and top crime solver Addie . This is book 7 in the series and features a Fall Thanksgiving time theme. Addie is the owner of Beyond the Page Bookshop a successful bookstore . She receives a frantic call from her troubled cousin Kayla and runs to her only to find Kayla standing over the body of her boyfriend. Kayla is primary suspect number one to the police and Addie is determined to solve this murder and free her cousin from suspicion. She moves Kayla in with her and finds this one of her most challenging cases to solve. Her tradition of making a crime board is fascinating and helps her solve the crimes with clues the police never fine.

I loved the way the author sweeps her readers into the story. Addie is a brilliant investigator who does not suffer fools. She works with the local police officer well who she once was in love with in spite of his continued feelings for her. Her relationship with Simon is on solid ground and merging into a future. Addie has developed as a wonderful charcter over the series into someone we wish we were friends with. The sleuth includes civil war history, historical cookbooks and a wonderful antique store full of treasures. I loved this next in series that kept me turning pages to conclusion. I cannot wait for the next in series.

Was this review helpful?

To The Tome Of Murder
Lauren Elliott
4 Stars

What is it about: Addie faces several challenges in this latest adventure but most pale in comparison to the need to prove her cousin innocent of the murder of her boyfriend. As usual, Addie is the proverbial "dog with a bone," threatening to alienate her own boyfriend, the Sheriff, and a good number of the townspeople with her sleuthing.

In the meantime, what exactly is going on between Kalea and Simon? Is Serena okay? What is up with the latest transplant at the Sherriff's office?

What I thought: To The Tome Of Murder was another fun outing with Addie and company. These characters are so relatable, and Ms. Elliott has a way of pulling me into the story, to the point I find myself reflecting Addie's various moods throughout the book. It is a skill/gift few writers possess.

However, this book had an overabundance of suspects that I fear resulted in some storyline being neglected and/or rushed. For instance, the cooking competition that was the reason for much of Addie's activity is set aside, with only a cursory reference to the winner in the final moments of the book. The murder board used by Addie is there, but the fun of seeing it created as she brainstorms with friends is abbreviated. Addie was just too busy running down seemingly endless suspects that were just names on the page.

Even with the plethora of suspects, I loved the book. Yes, I figured out the who and how fairly early but not the motivation. Knowing who did it did not detract from my enjoyment, and there was the chance I was wrong. Spending time with Addie, Serena, Paige, Doctor Dreamy, and the good Sheriff is always a pleasure, or at least interesting. This book definitely left me hungry for more.

Was this review helpful?

Lauren Elliott has written another cozy mystery master piece. When a book keeps you guessing who the killer is till the last few pages you know you have found a great book. Come join Addie and her best friend Paige as they solve yet another murder

Was this review helpful?

2 stars
I don't understand the glowing reviews. It makes me wonder if we read the same book! I did not enjoy this book at all.

Was this review helpful?

Fun read which helped get me into a fall mood since it is still in the low 90's here in central Texas. The characters and story helped relieve some of the tension of moving and awaiting delivery of our possessions. The story is well plotted and written which I always appreciate.

Was this review helpful?

When Addie Greyborne responds to her cousin's frantic phone call, she finds Kalea pointing to where her boyfriend, Jared Munroe, lies dead behind the counter of her dress shop. In this seventh Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, Addie, once again, turns detective, this time, to prove her cousin innocent of murder.

Clues include a missing vintage briefcase and a list of unhappy local business owners that Jared invested in. Lauren Elliott provides plenty of red herrings in this complicated plot, along with a few twists. Visiting Greyborne Harbor gets more interesting with each adventure, and the community of familiar characters continues to delight as they grow and evolve.

Was this review helpful?

I loved visiting the quaint, coastal town of Greyborne Harbor once again. This is book 7 in the series by Lauren Elliott and I’ve enjoyed them all. This time the murder is closer to home involving Addie’s, owner of Beyond the Page Bookshop, cousin Kalea. The characters are interesting and fun and the story always contains enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Although it’s part of a series and it’s always worth reading all the previous books to have the character backgrounds, I think it works alright as a stand-alone too.
I definitely recommend this book and the entire series. I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

Another great book by Lauren Elliott!

Addie gets a phone call from her frantic cousin, Kalea but the only word she can understand is MURDER. She arrives at the shop a few minutes later and finds Kalea cowering on the floor and Kalea's boyfriend is dead.

Kalea is the prime suspect but Addie knows she didn't do it. It's up to Addie, Page and Catherine to figure out who did.

Another great read in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery collection.

Was this review helpful?

An other great murder mystery in Greyborne Harbor.,with Addie and all the characters.
Always interesting with twists,and turns.
Really enjoy the series and setting.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Was this review helpful?

This is the seventh book of the series, and Greybourne Harbor has another murder for Addie to solve.

Addie is working on the Thanksgiving display window in her bookstore when she gets a call from her cousin, Kalea. Kalea had just come down from her apartment to her store and found her boyfriend, Jared, dead on the shop floor. The police automatically assume that the murder was committed by Kalea, but she claims she was sound asleep and didn't hear anything. Although there is stuff strewed around the floor of the store, the only thing missing seems to be Jared's new antique briefcase which they had found the previous at an antique store called Time Travels.

Kalea moves into Addie's guest room, and Addie begins sleuthing to try to vindicate her cousin. A woman nicknamed Picker comes to Addie's store with Jared's briefcase trying to sell it to her, but Picker won't tell her where she got it. Simon, Addie's good friend, doctor, and coroner, takes Addie to visit Picker and Picker tells him she found it in a dumpster a few doors from Kalea's store. Addie goes back to Time Travels and finds that that the briefcase had a hidden compartment. The police don't find any clues from the briefcase.

Addie keeps working, and gradually gets some clues, but she put herself in danger!

Was this review helpful?

'To the Tome of Murder', the latest in Lauren Elliott's A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series had Addie stocking the bookstore with Civil War-era cookbooks for an upcoming baking and cooking competition with a significant cash prize. Addie's cousin Kalea is the chief suspect in her boyfriend's murder and Addie is determined to clear her name, which puts her in stressful opposition to Marc the Chief of Police and former boyfriend. The resolution of the mystery introduces a cast of characters who all could be suspects and keeps Addie busy in her investigation. There are life changes with the regular cast of characters which makes Greyborne Harbor a delightful place in which to spend a few hours. I'm still not convinced that Marc is out of the picture or Addie's heart, even though Simon is lovely. I look forward to more in the future to possible answer that question.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?