I found the title, Dead and Gondola, curious. To me, gondolas are the traditional Venetian boat. So one of my surprises reading Dead and Gondola was that a gondola is a lift in a snow resort area. And that misunderstanding actually helped me really dig into the setting of a Colorado town, a quaint bookshop, and a murder. Ellie and her sister Meg help their grandmother run the bookshop. Their last name of Christie is used as a foil for so many subplots, including solving said murder.

I was about to ask Ms. Claire if she would consider a sequel when I learned that Dead and Gondola is the first in a series. Yea! I can't wait to learn more about Ellie, Meg, and the rest of the cast of characters. Great book you won't want to put down!

BOOK REVIEW: Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire
Series: Christie Bookshop Mysteries | Book 1
2022 Publication Date: November 1

⭐️⭐️⭐️️

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2022

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP:
Eventually the clues — and the truth — will emerge...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
The Christie Bookshop Mysteries — A Compelling Cozy Mystery Series Debut
In the first book of the Christie Bookshop Mysteries series, we are introduced to the Christie sisters — Ellie and Meg — who own and operate a cozy little bookshop called The Book Chalet.

When a mysterious visitor to their shop dies under suspicious circumstances, the sisters call on their literary hero, Agatha Christie, to help them solve the case. Using all they've learned from reading Christie's novels, they each transform into an amateur sleuth and set out to discover the killer's identity before they strike again.

I love a good cozy mystery, and this one did not disappoint. The characters are endearing and relatable, the plot is intriguing, and the setting is simply charming. I also appreciated the nod to Agatha Christie in both the characters' names and the plot of the book. As a fan of her work, it was enjoyable — and nostalgic — to see her influence throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dead and Gondola, the first book in the series. Ann Claire did an excellent job of creating likable characters that I easily got invested in. I also appreciate that each mystery is self-contained within each book, so you don't necessarily have to read them in order. That being said, I expect readers will get more out of the series if they start with Book One... Let's see as the series continues to develop!

Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries particularly the cozy mystery genre with a literary theme.

What is a Cozy Mystery?
For those who may not be familiar with cozy mysteries... This genre often avoids graphic violence although with vivid depictions of the circumstances of the story. And often allows readers to exercise their own sleuthing skills within a relatable setting, such as a small hometown with familiar local characters. Who knows? You may find your own private investigator "life begins" moment via reading cozy mystery!

As for me, I will definitely be reading more in this series... And I look forward to supporting Ann Claire as a new author!

Curl up with this cozy mystery on a rainy day and see for yourself!... ✨😎✨

Pages: 323
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Cozy Mystery
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Colorado (US)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Maid by Nita Prose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TV Series: Miss Marple

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
If you're a fan of Agatha Christie's novels, then you'll love the Christie Bookshop Mysteries by Ann Claire.

In this cozy mystery series debut, we start with a dead body discovered on the gondola. It turns out to be a mysterious bookshop visitor from the book club meeting earlier that evening, compelling the Christie sisters — Ellie & Meg who are the second-generation owners of the adorably cozy bookshop and mystery bookstore, The Book Chalet — and their cat, Agatha, to call on all they’ve learned about solving mysteries from their favorite novelist, Agatha Christie, as they each become an amateur detective.

All while they are suspected of being the only witness of the murder... much to their surprise.

And along the way, this puzzling murder propels dark secrets and inexplicable events to come to light from even the most unlikely of suspects in their seemingly quiet village. With "who is the prime suspect" rotating rapidly from suspect to suspect.

Clocking in at just over 300 pages, Dead and Gondola is a quick and enjoyable read that left me eager to see what Ellie, Meg, and Agatha will get up to next.

If you're looking for your next cozy mystery series to cozy up with, I highly recommend giving the Christie Bookshop Mysteries a try.

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• Cozy mysteries with a literary theme can be an enjoyable and satisfying reading experience.
• Characters that readers can relate to are key to creating an engaging mystery story.
• Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it is possible to use the knowledge you have to solve a problem... Just like Agatha Christie.

BOOK QUOTE:
"It's a perfect day to read..." — Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This is the first book in a new cozy series set in Colorado. Two sisters run a historical bookshop and it just so happens that their last name is "Christie." They are not related to Agatha Christie, but they wish they were and also love mysteries. The bookshop houses a cat named Agatha also. This is a fun story with some quirky characters which make it quite enjoyable to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a pleasant cozy mystery - nice people, centers around a book store and people who love books, and especially people who love to read mystery novels. El comes home to Colorado, to work with her sister Meg in running the family bookstore - and this is something that she is delighted about (not one of the "I'm forced to come back to the hometown" scenarios). Almost immediately, a strange man crashes a book discussion group at the store, then is promptly murdered.

Of course, the Christie sisters are compelled to try to solve the case, with the help of their grandmother and Meg's teenaged daughter. They actually choose to cooperate, at least somewhat, with the new police chief in town. It's a pleasant book, I found it to be a good book to curl up with on a rainy, wintery looking day, and I enjoyed it. Assuming that more books come along in this series, I'll certainly read them.

Another sweet cozy mystery full of snow! This book was a perfect winter read with lots of mysterious intrigue. I really enjoyed the Agatha Christie connection as well.

I don’t usually pick copy mysteries for my reading fare but I had a feeling about this one when it crossed my radar. I was reminded of the early Louise Penney mysteries set in Three Pines and the interesting characters that we got to know better over time and volumes. I do hope there will be follow-up books. We had a thick layer of snow on the ground here and I wasn’t going anywhere. Time to see if my hunch paid off.

The bookstore is the heart of the events. People come to ski and grab a book to read on their downtime. The shop has thrived in a ski resort over the years, staffed by members of the Christie family and their cat Agatha, and they specialize in the mystery genre.

I didn’t pick up on it right away but the author liberally sprinkles the adjective “fluffy”throughout the book. I started making a note of them: fluffy slippers, fluffy blankets and snow flakes, the phony’s fluffy winter coat, Gram knitting a fluffy hooded sweater, fluffy Siamese cat, and I could go on but I won’t. I found myself laughing out loud. It had to be deliberate and it upped the fun value. Did I mention this is a fun read? Expect to be entertained. Sit by a big winter as the flakes fly and read away.

Sometimes, you just need to escape to a cozy mystery. If the setting is a book shop and there is a cat and the shop owners like to think they are descendants of Agathe Christie, well, what more do you need?

When a mystery man shows up at the bookshop during the book club meeting, and then later drops dead, the Christie family starts sleuthing. There is a local police force too, and they are no slouches, but no one gets into solving mysteries like avid mystery readers. Agathe Christie fans will be tickled by all the references to her books. Mystery fans will enjoy watching Ellie and Meg track down all the clues. And for those that prefer not to know the ending at the beginning – there will be lots of surprises in store.

Dead and Gondola delighted me. Cozy mystery fans – read this one!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Ellie Christie has recently moved back to her small hometown in Colorado to help her sister Meg run their family’s well known historic bookstore. She’s so excited to be returning home to the store filled with endless books, hours of cozy reading, mysteries a plenty and her favorite little feline the grumpy Agatha. When a man is found dead on the gondola the Christie sisters are thrust right into the middle of a murder investigation. They have no other choice but do what their favorite literary character Miss Marple would do and solve the crime.
Dead And Gondola is a cozy mystery chalked full of mystery and Agatha Christie vibes. I breezed right through this one and enjoyed every minute of it. As someone who loves Agatha Christie this one was a solid hit for me. I loved the wintery, small town setting where everyone knows everyone and one snowstorm can cut them off from the real world. I also simply adore it when characters are really bookish and quite addicted to reading and books. This says it’s the first in a series and I absolutely can’t wait to see what the Christie sisters get into.

Dead and Gondola was the perfect cozy mystery novel for this late fall/early winter season! I loved the setting at an Agatha Christie themed bookshop! This was very fun and charming and kept you guessing at whodunnit. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Ellie Christie has recently moved back to Colorado to run her family’s historic bookshop. Only accessible by ski gondola, the Book Chalet is a book lovers paradise but when a man is found dead on the gondola, the town shuts down and panic sets in. Ellie realizes he was a visitor in the shop, leaving behind an Agatha Christie novel.

In pure Miss Marple fashion, Ellie sets out to solve this mystery before another murder takes place. “A fair-play plot, vivid characters, fascinating facts about Dame Agatha, and an intelligent and appealing protagonist make this a winner.”

Tucked away in a small mountain town at the top of a gondola is the Book Chalet, bookshop and current home to Ellie Christie. Ellie is glad to be home, running the family bookshop with her older sister, Meg, and reading plenty of mysteries. During a weekend bookclub, a séance predicts a death, a stranger interrupts the proceedings, and after a man is found dead on the gondola, the tiny ski town is filled with potential suspects.

What a cute, wintery, cozy mystery! At times it felt a little slow, but overall it was just a very charming murder mystery, set in a picturesque ski town. With plenty of nods to Agatha Christie’s famous novels, this is a fun read for any fan of a murder mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I'll take a cozy book any day, but ultimately, this felt a bit too cozy. I think you have to be in a very specific mood in order to fully appreciate this one. Nevertheless, these characters were sweet and likable, with a mystery I actually cared to see through all the way - which has been tough for me lately! Looking forward to #2.

Such a cute cozy mystery! The Christie sisters, their Gram, Meg’s daughter Rosie, and a cast of friends in support made this book fun and easy to read. The mystery had some twists and red herrings but it felt like a lighter mystery overall. Can’t wait to read book 2 in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Dead and Gondola is a fun read. Ellie Christie goes back to her hometown in Colorado to open a bookstore and ends up with a murder mystery on her hands. Inspired by Agatha Christie (no relation) Ellie and her sister Meg put on their detective caps to find the murderer.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a delightful cozy mystery, set in the Colorado mountains where the most popular form of transportation is a gondola or snowshoes. The Christie sisters are the fifth generations of the Book Chalet and big fans of Agatha Christie. There is a wonderful cast of quirky characters and a cat named Agatha. I found all the references to Agatha Christie very interesting. When a murder occurs in the gondola below the one the Christie sisters are in, they decide to investigate as it seems that the characters involved have something to do with the bookstore. It was a good book to settle down with under a blanket with a hot drink! I look forward to the next book in the series!

Also reviewed on B&N under 1IrishEyes430 and Kobo under IrishEyes430

I enjoyed this cute cozy mystery set in the town of Last Word, CO. My one complaint is that the book felt a bit long as I did find it to drag a bit in the middle - but overall this kept me guessing more than most cozy mysteries do and I look forward to reading the next in the series!

Dead and Gondola
By Ann Claire
Dead and Gondola is a cute, adorable little “who done it”. Set in the picturesque Colorado town of Last Word, we meet Ellie Christie and her sister, Meg. Devoted Agatha Christie fans, the siblings run The Book Chalet, the adorable family-owned bookstore. In this town, you’ll find your typical small-town characters as well as a few mysterious ones. The plot is a bit slow for a quarter of the book and I found Ellie’s interest in the case a little confusing. Very little violence and a few red herring thrown in, I found myself losing interest in the beginning. Luckily the pace does pick up and I found the conclusion to be satisfying.

I enjoyed this book until about halfway. I felt that when I saw I had hit the halfway mark, we should have been much further along in the plot then we were and I still had 50% to go. When I got to 75% I was exasperated because the book could have been over already and yet there was 25% left to go.

I felt this author tried too hard to be funny and the main character came off as pathetic as opposed to this seasoned traveler and book lover she was supposed to be. The whodunit was clever but as I said, it took so long to get the reveal that I was fed up with the book at that time.

There are a lot of unnecessary red herrings and extraneous plot bits that can be edited out. I hope that happens in the final product. I would not read another book if this becomes a series.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this series debut. The Christie sisters are charming additions to the cozy mystery genre, with their bookshop high in the Colorado mountains. This is rather standard fare for a cozy, with a bit of Agatha Christie lore thrown in. I look forward to seeing how this series develops, since it has a great setting that opens up a lot of possibilities for future books.

*Thank you to Random House/Ballantine, Ann Claire, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/dead-and-gondola/

“An active imagination was an occupational hazard of a life with books.”

In Ann Clair’s debut, Dead and Gondola, the protagonist is a young bookseller in the small town of Last Word, CO, a small hamlet. As with most cozy mysteries, there is a grandma wearing velour tracksuits, a pair of sisters, lots of crazy characters and tons of red herrings. It is a very welcome diversion from the dark mysteries I am used to reading.This book is a cute and warm diversion from dark suspense thrillers. When I looked up the definition of a cozy mystery, this one fit the bill perfectly, because everything about it is cozy and they all seem to be amateur sleuths.

Ellie Christie has just come back to Last Word to manage the family bookstore, The Book Chalet, with her sister, Meg. In fact, she will live in the small studio above the store. They are aided by their grandmother and Ms. Ridge. Ellie and Meg’s parents have retired and gone off to travel, leaving their daughters in charge of the bookstore. The Book Chalet is the very definition of cozy, with aisles of overstuffed bookcases stacked up to the ceiling and cozy little nooks and overstuffed chairs for people to sit and read. A heated glass porch overlooks the vistas of Last Word and the gondola that goes up and down the mountain, transporting skiers and snowboarders to their destination. They even have a Book Club meeting once a week, comprised locals which include a gossip columnist, a poet cowboy and a retired film star. What could go wrong? Murder.

The mystery begins when then their weekly book club meeting starts with one of their members holding a Ouija board, stating there will be a seance. Ms. Ridge, their trusty assistant, does not like this at all. She goes into the kitchen to make coffee and never returns. When the door rings to announce a customer, Ellie goes to welcome them and discovers that Ms. Ridge is missing, as well. There is no customer. When the intruder returns the next day, he has questions. But he also leaves his satchel behind. Meg and Ellie do not know how to find him so they go through his bag and discover a lot of post-it notes, but also a first edition of an Agatha Christie novel, written under a pseudonym, which is very valuable. When they see the stranger boarding a gondola to go down the mountain, they chase after him and end up in the gondola behind him. But the gondola stops almost near the bottom. When the stranger didn’t get out, they found him stabbed in the back. But how? He was by himself!

I really enjoyed this book. Though, sometimes with so many characters, it is hard to keep them straight. There were also several mysteries happening at the same time; who murdered the stranger? Where is Ms. Ridge?. Though with a great cast of crazy unique characters, it was a lot of fun. And who doesn’t want to live in a book chalet, next to a chocolate shop. This is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read more!