If you like “bookish” books, you’ll probably like Murder Off the Books. Tess has moved with her precocious, teenage daughter Gertie to an inherited, dilapidated property. In this book she is opening a bookstore and holding a release party for the her latest book on the same day. Tess is a mystery writer who finds herself all too frequently involved in murder investigations.

Tess has a surprise guest: her mother arrives for a visit at the same time a lothario arrives in town. He has been cleared of charges of murdering wealthy women, but Tess is afraid her mother will be next. Another visitor to the town is Neptune Jones, a very popular mystery podcaster. Why is she in little Winthrop, and why does the handsome sheriff invite Neptune to stay with him when he is quite brusque with Tess? It’s hard times for Tess when tourists flock to Neptune and a crime scene instead of Tess’ grand opening. She fears for both her mother’s life and the threat of her mother being arrested for murder.

Although the characters and setting are important, the mystery plot is the star and it is quite complex. Even Tess’ friends who are undercover FBI agents wonder if their case and the newest murder in town are somehow related. As sometimes happens in cozy mysteries, no sooner does the suspicion fall on one particular character, than he gets added to the RIP list. My favorite situation in the book is when Tess has to resort to hiring her elderly neighbor as a very temporary employee. My policy is “no spoiler” reviews so you’ll need to read this fun cozy mystery to find out how things work out with the new hire, the gruff sheriff, Tess’ FBI friends, and her mother.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #3 in the By the Book series

Publication: May 30, 2023—Poisoned Pen Press

Memorable Lines:

Back in Seattle, she’d gone for months at a time without talking to her neighbors, her whole life a careful balance of curated appointments and spaced-out drinks with friends. Here in Winthrop, she couldn’t go five feet without running into someone she knew, owed a favor to, and/or had accused of murder at one time or another.

There was a reason she had thirty-five million downloads every month. Listening to her speak was like being dipped in a vat of chocolate before getting toweled off with crushed velvet.

“I’ve never known two people so whip-smart…and so determined that no one find out about it. Your grandfather hid his intelligence in a cabin in the woods. Your mom hides hers in irreverence.”

"Murder Off the Books" by Tamara Berry is a delightful blend of mystery and humor, serving up a thrilling narrative with a side of laughs. Berry crafts a clever plot with twists that keep readers guessing, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone that makes the pages fly. The protagonist's quirky charm and the cast of eccentric characters add depth and entertainment to the whodunit at the book's heart. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy a good chuckle with their suspense.

Murder Off the Books is the fantastic third book in the By the Book Mysteries series. This is a well done cozy mystery and it kept my attention throughout the whole story. I highly recommend this series if you're a fan of cozy mysteries.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Tamara Berry

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Murder off the Books is the third book in the By the Book Mysteries series and it feels like a finale but at the same time it feels like the door isn’t fully shut on Tess, her daughter and her detective doppelgänger aka Sheriff Boyd. This book is suppose to be a celebration of the opening of her new bookstore and the release of her next book but all of that is overshadowed when Tess’s mom shows up bringing her notorious younger boyfriend with her. When her mom’s boyfriend is found dead and a popular podcaster shows up and inserts themselves into the investigation, Tess knows something is off and her wheels start spinning.

Personally, Tess and Sheriff Boyd still need to figure out where they stand with each other and FBI Jared is still trying to throw his hat in the ring. Ivy and Nikki are good friends for Tess to have. I hope this isn’t the end of the series but if it is, I like the way it ended.


Thank you publishers and netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

<b> Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review.</b>

3.5 stars

This is a cozy series that I can 100% see myself rereading. I love Tamara Berry's writing style, the humor and playful absurdity that find their way into each plot, and the consistent character development. With that said, this particular title was my least favorite in the By the Book mystery series to date. I think it strongly has to do with how many new characters arrived on the scene in order to make the plotting work, not only Tess's mother but the many podcast/journalism-related characters as well. It made the setting very busy, just as I felt like I was feeling familiar with the town and its characters with books 1 and 2.

I can very much understand the author's choice to use podcasting as a narrative device because that is a platform growing ever more popular in true crime/thriller circles. As Tess is a thriller writer, it fits that she would have a mystery that might mix her up in one. It just wasn't as well-executed as I would have liked it to be, and compared to how strong Buried in a Good Book (book (#1) and On Spine of Death (book #2) which both received 5 stars from me.

On that note, this remains a strong cozy mystery series, and I will definitely be reading more books published by Tamara Berry in the future whether it be part of the By the Book series or a new one!

Murder Off The Books by Tamara Berry is book three in a cozy little mystery series that has grown on me and has wormed its way into my heart!

After attempting to dive straight into the series with this book, I quickly changed my mind after only reading the first couple of pages; I simply needed the back story that I knew reading them in order would provide. Yes, they are written in a way that provides some information from the previous book(s), but I highly recommend reading the By The Book Mysteries in order. Nuances are picked up upon, as well as a full understanding of the characters if done this way!

I love how main character Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertrude keep finding themselves at the center of various murders in their small town. It's enjoyable to watch Tess insert herself into the investigations, and see the reactions as the cast of small-town characters interact with her meddling ways! Each book has introduced new characters that keep the stories unique and interesting. The plots are equally outlandish while somehow remaining practical!

BURIED IN A GOOD BOOK: Purely a fun and cozy mystery! I loved how the plot always kept me on my toes!

ON SPINE OF DEATH: I'm falling in love with Tess and her quirky self! Also, the romantic tension has me on the edge of my seat!

MURDER OFF THE BOOKS: I love the progression the overall plot and character arcs are making as the series begins to wrap up! Gertrude is stepping into her own light!

The By The Book Mysteries are truly now a comfort read of mine!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the complimentary copy to read and review.

A good ole murder mystery was the perfect read to cozy up to. I highly recommend for all cozy mystery fans! I really liked this one, and I finished it in one day. It was such a fun and delightful read, and the characters were so well written. I love this book so much.

Erma Bombeck meets Agatha Christie in a small Oregon town with both quaint and quirky characters. This is the third and best one so far. A possible serial killer lady’s man who targets mature ladies with healthy bank accounts has become Tess‘s mom’s boy toy. Tess finds out when her mom makes an unannounced arrival that coincides with Tess’s open house for the recently converted bookstore where the new Detective Gonzalez novel will be launched. Such comedy of mysterious errors as a hunk of money shows up with the hunk of sushi tuna at the same time as the reporter who requested to interview Tess. My favorite part of the whole book was when Tess was both indignant and hurt because Neptune Jones had been asked by Sheriff Boyd to stop by for glass of “desk whiskey”. You see Tess had never been offered the bottom drawer drink. The back and forth between Tess and well, everybody, makes you laugh out loud. A few red herring to go with that tuna, a little bit of a love triangle, a cameo from Wingbat the hacker, and a little bit of peril added for good measure. You will not be able to put this one down or keep a straight face. Looking forward to the next one!

Jumping into "Murder off the Books" was a mixed experience for me. While I appreciate the creativity behind the plot, the execution had elements that detracted from my overall enjoyment.

Firstly, believability is often flexible in the realm of cozy mysteries, but this narrative stretched it a bit too far for my taste. Though I can usually suspend disbelief, there were moments where the plot felt too contrived (Feds wanting to destroy evidence? Come on...).

I also couldn't connect with the characters. It didn't help that this was the 3rd book in the series (I try not to jump into series halfway through) so I kind of felt like an outsider trying to piece together the history and dynamics of recurring characters. Unfortunately, the humor also didn’t resonate with me and the mystery wasn't interesting enough to make me eager to turn the pages.

I did enjoy the book store opening and I love a good podcaster involved in a mystery (hello, Only Murders in the Building!) so there is definitely potential here for this book to find the right audience.

While "Murder off the Books" might find its audience with some cozy mystery enthusiasts, it wasn't a perfect fit for me. I would recommend new readers to perhaps start with the first book in the series so you get to know the characters and the storyline properly.

Murder Off the Books is the third book in the By the Book cozy series by Tamara Berry. Released 30th May 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun ever-so-slightly gritty small town cozy with an intelligent female protagonist it's easy to identify with and root for. There are the requisite small town eccentric characters aplenty, and protagonist Tess' plan for trying to improve her reputation with the local townies by -not- getting involved with murder and crime for a while goes badly awry when Tess' mom shows up with her new boyfriend in tow, and he winds up murdered in short order (oops!).

I love small-town mysteries and bookish mysteries and this one combines both. The plot is often over the top, believability-wise, but still well within the constraints of the genre, and won't break readers' suspension of disbelief. The author is adept with description and dialogue and I loved Tess' interactions with her teenaged daughter a lot.

Four stars. Definitely worth a look for fans of bookish small-town cozies. It works well enough as a standalone, but with three books out it would also be a good candidate for a weekend mini-binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Author Tess Harrow is preparing for the grand opening of her bookstore and the release of her newest thriller. Her event is overshadowed by yet another murder in their smalltown. A man linked to several suspicious deaths is found deceased the night before her party. Tess can’t help but get involved with the investigation when her own mother becomes one of the suspects.

Murder Off the Books is the third book in the By the Book Mysteries series. It could be read as a stand-alone but I would highly suggest reading the series in order. While it does have plenty of thrilling moments this cozy mystery is also full of humor.

The banter between Tess and the Sheriff is always top notch. Gertrude is still my favorite character in this series. She’s always willing to jump right in and help no matter how wild the situation is. The plot for this one is strong and there are just enough twists to keep readers guessing until the very end.

I've enjoyed every book in this series and they have great readability. I hope there’s a book four (and more) in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the eARC of Murder Off The Books! All opinions in this review are my own.

I am always a fan of cozy mysteries set in a bookstore in a small town! Murder Off The Books is the third book in the By The Book series featuring thriller writer Tess Harrow. It was easy to pick up despite not reading the first two books.

I was immediately drawn in when an accused serial killer comes to town and starts spending time with her mom. When a famous podcast host also comes to town and tries to cozy up to the man that Tess has her eyes on, she starts to get involved in this whole mess.

I want to go back and read Tess's previous adventures! I am already looking forward to her next one!

This book had interesting characters and great character development! Tess was quirky, yet relatable and a great sleuth! I loved the little bit of romance with Sherriff Boyd and how he steered her in the right direction as far as clearing her mother's name as a suspect was concerned! Definitely a great cozy mystery!

I read the first two books of this series last year and reviewed them then. If I had read them closer together, I would have put all the reviews next to each other. The main advantage of that is that it makes more sense, given the narrative window. The time in the book series is passing in smaller increments than the time between the release of the actual books. Most of the time, that is usually the case, but it makes sense to mention it here.
Our leading lady moved to a remote location, her grandfather's old cabin, with her daughter and ended up uncovering a body straight away. At the heels of the discovery and her writing a book about the situation, she finds herself with another discovery in the second book.
Finally, in this third installment, she has big plans for the new bookshop she has been working on since the previous case. That situation is more than a little complicated when her slightly distant mother ends up in town with a man following right behind. This man is notorious and has a whole podcast following him around. With all of this, the bookshop starts to pale into the background, much to the frustration of the central character. Her romantic life is getting a little complicated as well.
Tess finally rallies around and sets her sights on figuring things out before her mother is sent behind bars. Ignoring all the distractions that keep coming her way (to some extent), Tess diligently gathers evidence and keeps thinking about things as she figures things out a little too late.
I liked the plot and the people. I especially enjoy the camaraderie amongst the people in the town and the matter-of-fact method of dealing with things. I would highly recommend this series to fans of the genre. I also look forward to whatever might be up next for our author and her family.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I just love these characters so much, I can't get enough of their crazy antics. I don't think I've ever been so enamored by a cozy mystery series before. I love how much these books make me laugh and how much they shock me every time. If you're looking for the perfect small town cozy mystery books, please give this series a try, you won't be disappointed.

This is such a fun series! The mystery was so fun and well plotted. I love the characters and all of their antics. I missed some of the entertaining banter between Tess and Sheriff Boyd in this one, but I still enjoyed this book so much. I cannot wait for book 4!

Turns out this series isn't for me.

Tess's choices and her personality irritated me.

I'm not a fan of love triangles.

The characters, in general, don't have many complexities.

Lots of cozy mystery readers will love this series, but I'll be moving along now.

DNF

Tess’ mother always has to be the center of attention, and this is still the case for Tess’s latest book release which she planned to coincide with the grand opening of her new bookstore. When a famous podcaster arrives and garners everyone’s attention, all of Tess’ customers abandon her at the blink of an eye. But when a man accompanying Bernadette (Bee, better known as Tess’ mom) ends up dead, and Bee becomes the prime suspect, Tess jumps in to find the killer.

It doesn’t take long for Tess to find herself involved in another murder investigation, nor does it take long for Sherriff Boyd to do his best to keep her out of it. Tess has a lot on her plate this time around, she worries about her teenage daughter, her mother, her shop that has no customers, and her feelings for the Sherriff that won’t go away, and now have expanded to include jealousy. Add in a murder or two and she has hit an all-time high of worry. No matter what else may be going on, she is determined to catch the killer and clear her mother but doing so puts a target on her back. Suspects are plentiful, and so are the motives. It takes everything Tess has to unravel the crime and unveil the killer.

The addition of Murder off the Books to the series helps build on a firm foundation of mystery, mixed with personal relationships and human growth. The story is delightful with just enough intrigue and action to keep you turning the page. Readers love Tess, Gertie, Victor, and even Bee. The bookshop is a wonderful addition, and the ending will leave readers smiling and craving the next installment.

Murder mystery author Tess Harrow and her daughter Gertrude are opening a bookstore. They plan a grand opening event that happens to flop because of a murder. Tess's mom is the primary suspect, but a popular podcaster is also on Tess's radar. Can her crush, the town's police sheriff, solve the case? And will Tess help or get in the way?
The subplot of potential money laundering didn't really go anywhere, which is unsatisfactory. But maybe that plot gets resolved in future books.
The angst of "does he like me or does he not?" grew old.
Gertrude is a shining star of this book. I'd love to see her character developed more.
Even though this is the third book of the series, I jumped right in. The author did a good job of incorporating past story lines so I could understand what was happening.