Member Reviews
Marvey is settling in to life in Peach Coast and looking forward to her parents’ upcoming visit. The library summer program kicks off and during clean up Marvey finds a piece of paper that has four names on it. When two of the four listed persons die, Marvey gets serious about protecting the remaining people on the list. One of the two is Spencer.
Marvey is a great character and I like her, but she was a bit over the top in her protection of Spencer. Her mental conversations weren’t honest with herself. She mislead her parents until she was forced to own up to the path she was taking. However, her deep care for those around her shines through and is made known at the end once the culprit is apprehended.
The story is sweet and flows well. I enjoyed reading Murder Out of Character.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to early copies of the ebook..
I definitely get the cozy Hallmark movie vibes from this book. It's liked it was made for the small screen. I was able to envision this story playing out and I am also partial to the setting being in Georgia. It was a quick read I would say works well for the Fall season.
I gave it 3.5 stars
MURDER OUT OF CHARACTER is a small-town cozy featuring a librarian who's recently moved to Peach Coast, Georgia from Brooklyn.
It's really easy to be a fan of main character Marvey -- she's passionate about encouraging people to use the library, makes book-themed jewelry as a hobby, and buys peach cobbler for a different coworker each day (to please both them and its baker). She also was quick to make a few close friends in town; in this book, she becomes involved in a murder investigation when she's worried one of them may be the next target.
The second in a newish cozy series by Olivia Matthews (the pen name for Patricia Sargeant), MURDER OUT OF CHARACTER can be read as a sequel or standalone (backstory from the first book, MURDER BY PAGE ONE, is filled in well).
I have read the first book in this series Murder by Page One and was excited to get an advanced copy for this next book in the series. This book allowed us to get to know the main characters more and I felt the story had more depth than the first book. The book follows Marvella who has moved from New York to take a job at the Peach Coast library as director of Community Engagement. When 2 residents are murdered and her friend possible love interest( maybe in books to come ) may be in harms way she puts her sleuthing skills to work. The characters are likeable and I’m hoping for more books in future. This book falls in the Cozy Mystery Genre.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own. I would recommend this book to friends and family and my book clubs. It’s a great fun read perfect for delving into after a long day or after reading an intense book prior .
Marvey, still adjusting to life in Peach Coast, Georgia, is at a library fundraising event when she comes across a list of four names. One is the name of someone who recently died and who may have been murdered. Another is Spencer Holt, the handsome newspaper owner who's become one of Marvey's best friends.
The four people appear to have nothing in common other than living in Peach Coast. Spencer dismisses the list at first, but before long, he has to admit he may be in danger. As Marvey prepares for a visit from her parents, can she, Spencer, and their intrepid librarian friends stop a killer bent on long overdue revenge?
Read in one sitting really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing
I just reviewed Murder Out of Character by Olivia Matthews. #NetGalley
Marvey is fairly new to Peach Coast but has fit right in during her short time in town. A fundraising event at the library where she works has Marvey finding a list of four names. The first name on the list is of someone who has recently passed away and has her wondering if the other people on the list could be in danger. Her continued persistence may just be what is necessary if there is a killer on the loose.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for allowing me an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #HallmarkPublishing #MurderOutofCharacter
Welcome back to small town USA, Peach Coast, Georgia, where once again we find city girl Marvey, Marvey has yet to adjust to small town life and colloquialism. Yet again she is in the middle of a murder/mystery. Can she keep her parents from coming to Peach Coast, while trying to solve the murder of two friends and save the life of two?
Love the small town vibe with the library as the backdrop
Thank you to Netgalley, Olivia Matthews, and Hallmark Publishing for the ARC of Murder Out of Character, above is my true and honest review.
#Hallmark #Librarian #Mystery#Netgalley #Cillasbookmaniacs #MamaToni'sBookNook
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I enjoyed this story because the setting appeals to me. I love the idea of a small town library and its impact on the community. Marvey is fundraising and getting things accomplished for her library and making a name for herself. The mystery was interesting but I felt it dragged a little bit. There's something that doesn't sit well with me with this series and I can't quite figure out what it is. It might be the overly cutesy and somewhat inauthentic interactions with the characters. The party at the end seemed over the top and unnecessary. Other than that, this was a good read and I will continue with the series.
Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook and reader copy of Murder Out of Character by Olivia Matthews in exchange for an honest review. This was a quick and fun cozy mystery taking place in the south. It is the second book in the series, but I was able to still enjoy it without reading the first book. The main character Marvey is a librarian, which is what drew me to it. I thought the book was enjoyable and interesting, a good read.
Loved this story! The characters were easy and fun to follow along in the book. A fun cozy mystery you will enjoy!
Marvey and team are back! Two well liked community members have suddenly been murdered, and Marvey found their names on a list after a library event. Also on the list? Spencer's name.
I did find it a bit of a jump to "this list must be a list of a serial killer!" instead of "hey, are these connected?" Overall the mystery worked well and I continue to enjoy Peach Coast as a setting. The mystery works well to connect the reader to the town and its people. I will happily continue to recommend this series, it's a great one for readers looking for contemporary cozies with realistic characters.
Murder out of Character is the second book in the Peach Coast Library Mysteries by Olivia Matthews. In it, Marvey and her librarian friends are shocked when two people in their small town are murdered and it looks like there is a serial killer in Peach Coast. When Marvey finds a list that looks like a hit list, she is shocked to find Spence Holt, her good friend (and maybe something more??) on it. When it looks like the deputies aren't taking her concerns seriously, she sets off to find the killer and keep her friend safe. This book was a lot of fun. I laughed out loud several times and even shed a few tears (happy ones!). I would definitely recommend this book! you will enjoy it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
I was happy to get a copy of #MurderOutofCharacter from #NetGalley to review.
Olivia Matthews has written a complex and imaginative mystery centred around a serial killer, but just because the stakes are raised with each victim and potential victim, it doesn't mean that viable suspects don't abound. In fact, Matthews keeps you guessing throughout, making for a page-turner of a book.
The story is well-written and the pages feature what is likely the prettiest chapter divider I've ever seen - a staggered pile of books with a pair of reading glasses perched atop it.
I did find the plethora of characters introduced in the first chapter - almost as many as in fantasy novels - to be intimidating as a person who hadn't read the first book. And while the book stands quite well on its own, I did find it to have far too many details on the clothing and hairstyles of characters in particular, for my tastes. By the halfway point of the book, I was just skimming these sections as I didn't feel they added any value to my reading experience.
Overall, however, this is a well-crafted and intriguing mystery and I recommend it.
Although Murder Out Of Character is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However I did find that some background was missed for characters, which was probably in the first book.
I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery but I did find that it started a bit slow and so I spent more time reading the book then I normally would. I did find that I was disappointed by the romance in the series as it was very slow and didn't finish in a satisfying way.
I would recommend reading this if you enjoy a cozy mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
'Murder Out of Character', the second in Olivia Matthew's Peach Coast Mystery series was enjoyable. I loved the ambiance of the small town in Georgia and getting to know the inhabitants. Recently transplanted New York librarian Marvey is a likeable character, albeit not as self aware as she could be for her age as evidenced by her sometimes childish and repetitive language relating to why she insists on involving herself in solving a murder. I was humored by her family interactions that included her devoted parents and brother. I feel by the surprising end of the book Marvey might be inching towards understanding her feelings for Spence, which was a welcome development for me. I can't wait for more!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I thought this was a fun cozy mystery. I did not read the first book so I was a little bit in the beginning keeping all the characters straight. Marvey is a fiercely loyal friend. She, along with her band of librarians and some close friends help the police solve some murders in her small town. I really liked all the quirky characters in the book. I was hoping for a little bit more with the developing romance between Marvey and Spence. Overall I thought it was a great way to spend a couple days, trying to solve the mystery.
Happy to see this 2nd in the Peach Coast Mystery series. The main character Marvel has settled in Georgia after her move from NY.. If you are a lover of Hallmark Mysteries you will love this series. The mystery is solid, their are signs of promise of a new romance and librarians are featured....perfect for all cozy mystery affectioniados
. My only con was the level of parental involvement for Marvey's age. I hope the series does continue and/or be on the Hallmark Mystery channel.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Hallmark Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. It publishes on 9/13/22
Thank you NetGalley for this book. It’s my first Hallmark book. It kept me entertained trying to solve the mystery of who did it. It started a little slow but further into it the pause picked up. I didn’t get to read the first book but I’m going to have to look for it. I look forward to the next in the series.
Took me awhile to get to this, but finally! This is the second of the series featuring librarian Marvel Harris. I will clarify you don't have to read the first to understand or enjoy this entry. You miss some character background info, but its not a deal breaker.
It follows the standard formula for a cozy mystery. I liked the first one and this was a solid entry in the genre. Be advised it's not a complex mystery---thats the nature of the genre. So if you're looking for something edgy, thrilling and intricate. This will not be for you. If you like the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries shows, this will be up your alley. A quick read.
This book is a quick easy read, though I must admit it did not excite me as much as some other books have. I recommend this book to read on a flight or beach.