Release May 30

Continuing the BY THE BOOK MYSTERIES Series, Tamara Berry's newest small-town Washington State novel personifies all I turn to Cozy Mysteries to find: gentle humor, heartwarming characters, tension and Suspense, a slow build romance or two, heartfelt humans acting realistically even when that means experiencing grief, greed, envy, and sometimes murderous intent; plus a strong female protagonist who is three-dimensional and not a paper-doll cutout. This Series offers a Suspense author [now hopeful bookseller], who is also a Mama Bear of an adolescent daughter, and who has a cringeworthy mother who readily elicits groans. Here she faces off to a suspected serial killer, a driven true-crime podcaster, a dour sheriff changing personality, a failed grand opening, and money-laundering on a large scale.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery series with more of an edge and a bit darker than the numerous other ones in this genre, By the Book Mysteries by Tamara Berry, is a series you should check out.

The main character, Tess, is a thriller writer which is what gives this series a bit more grit. She’s not as naive as other amateur sleuths, and it shows especially when she (or her daughter) are trying their hand at lock picking or getting out of being tied to a chair… all in the name of research, of course!

Berry really shines in her character development. Gertie, Tess’s daughter, is inquisitive, fearless, and really interested in murder and all that goes along with it. We meet Tess’s mother, who is even more feisty than Tess, and the love interests of Sheriff Boyd and the undercover agent add a fun dynamic to the books. I’m rooting for the younger agent, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens. We also get some great interactions with the town grump, Edna, and I hope we see a lot more of her.

Another great book in the series, and one that I highly recommend.

Murder Off the Books , written by Tamara Berry is the third installment in one of my favourite mystery series, By the Book mysteries.

I simply love this author's writing style. She has another series which was also one of my favourite series.
She has such an easy, uncomplicated and enjoyable way of writing that I can't help but fall in love with.

There is mystery, humor, bit of romance and everything is so well packed and highly entertaining. These are comfort reads to be enjoyed in every season and every time you feel like treating yourself.

The characters are engaging, realistic and just quirky enough not to be too much. There are reccuring characters and they constantly develop and grow as the series continues.
The mysteries are fun and amusing, plainly presented and satisfactorily wrapped up. Certain things need to be taken with a grain of salt but that's what makes them so fun and entertaining.

I am always eager to take a look at this publisher’s titles. There are always good cozy mysteries to be found.

Here is the third title in Tamara Berry’s series. Her protagonist has stirred up trouble even as she solved her previous cases. Now, she wants to feel accepted in her community but, of course, a new murder comes her way and troubles follow.

I really enjoyed that the book’s protagonist is a writer and bookseller. That added to the fun of this read for me. I also liked the story’s setting and all of the characters who surround Tess. Her mother has a prominent role here.

This book is recommended to those who enjoy a fun mystery without much gore. Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Another fun and wild adventure in Washington state and this time Tess had her mom to contend with along with her usual entourage. I've always loved Gertie's character--she's like fifteen going on twenty-five, lol. She might've had to share the comedy spotlight with her Grandma Bee this time but I'm pretty sure Gert didn't mind. The two got along pretty well and even Tess managed to put up with her mom's spontaneous visit, so the last thing Tess needed was for her mom to be the prime suspect in a guy's murder. And he happened to be the much younger guy Bee was seeing along with being a probable multi-killer.

The showdown was a crazy one and Tess had help from a very unexpected person, but together they defeated Zorg, I mean the perp. ;) I've always known Tess would've liked to date the sheriff but she wasn't real sure how he felt. There was a cute but kinda sad side story that Victor's sister told Tess, although everything worked out nicely and I was beyond happy with the ending! I'm excited for the next book now!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Murder off the Books is the third book in Tamara Berry’s cozy mystery series By the Book mysteries, and this next installment did not disappoint. This book once again follows Tess, who is getting ready to open her bookstore, but it really flops when more pressing issues arise like a body and Tess, once again, is at the center. She needs to do something fast before her bookstore dreams become a nightmare.
I love this series and this newest book was an awesome time with plenty of twists. The characters are all so interesting and fun with a lot of different dynamics going on. There is a little hint of romance sprinkled in, which I am having a really good time with, and the love hate feelings going on between them is great and adds a lot of banter and pent-up frustration. If you love bookmobiles, mystery podcasts, jealousy, a sexy grumpy sheriff and a thriller author who always finds trouble, I would really recommend this book and definitely check out the whole series. I enjoyed it so much!
I received an advanced ebook, via netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

I love this series. This was another great installment. The characters are awesome and funny. I love Gertrude''s sass and meeting Tess's mom, Beatrice, was just the icing on the cake! She blows in to town, bringing her young boy toy with her, on the guise of supporting Tess and her bookstore's grand opening. Said boy toy may also be a murderer, preying on older, rich women. When he ends up dead Beatrice becomes the main suspect.

I'd like to think that if I was a famous crime writer and kept stumbling upon dead bodies I would use those in my novels, so I love the fact that Tess bases her books on some of her own experiences. The Harrow women are hilarious and find themselves in one disaster after another. These books make me smile and laugh and I can't wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun cozy mystery story. This is a favorite series among myself and my cozy mystery-loving friends. I cannot wait for more books in this series.

I would like to thank Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this ARC of Murder off the Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tess, a thriller author, is opening her own bookstore. When her mother shows up uninvited to the grand opening with her new boyfriend who was a suspected murdered, things get strange.

This book was so much fun! This was fast paced and had so many twists and turns. I normally wouldn't have picked this book up based off the cover but I'm glad it was sent to me. I rated this four stars because it was easy to get some of the details mixed up making it hard to follow at times. I am so excited for the next book now! What is going to happen with detective Gonzales?!

Murder Off The Books is the third book in the By The Book Mysteries series by Tamara Berry.

Tess, a crime author, and her young teen daughter, Gertrude(Gertie), have decided to make Winthrop, Wash., their home. The cabin Tess inherited from her grandfather has been renovated, and the hardware store where bones had been found under the floor has been turned into an independent bookstore that is about to have its grand opening.

The evening before the grand opening, Tess is shocked by the arrival of her mother, Bernadette(Bea) Springer. While Tess, Gertie, and Nikki, undercover FBI agent and driver of the local library’s bookmobile, are having dinner at the local hotel, Bea’s boy toy, Levi Parker, arrives and joins them for dinner. Gertie is quick to point out that he is the person who is suspected of killing three wealthy widows. She quickly points out that she has seen him on various murder-podcast fan boards. Tess’s first thought is that Parker is after Bea’s money, and then he will kill her. Parker’s body is found the following day dead from what will be learned is poisoning.

But now Tess has to worry about her mother becoming the prime suspect in Parker’s murder. Tess, Gertie, and Nikki will set off to find the killer so that Bea’s name can be cleared. They will find that there are several possible people. There’s Neptune, a podcaster, the producer of her podcast, and an author staying at Tess’s, who claims to be an article about her and others.

The story is well-written, plotted, and has plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end who the killer was. The characters are well-developed, believable, and believable and seem like old friends. The series is alight-hearted cozy, giving the reader a few chuckles and laughs. I particularly enjoyed Gertie. She is intelligent, funny, and particularly helpful to her mother and others around her. The book read at a good pace and was hard to put down.

I’m looking forward t the next book in this humorous series.

if you're craving a mystery with a side of small-town charm and a heap of heartwarming family moments, "Murder Off the Books" is an absolute must-read! Trust me, you won't be able to put it down.

Okay, I have to talk about this series for a sec because it's like a delightful mashup of "Gilmore Girls" and "Psych". Can you imagine the awesomeness that would ensue if these shows got together and wrote a book? Well, I feel like that's exactly what you get in the "By the Book" series! It's the perfect blend of quirky characters, small-town charm, witty humor and mysteries that will keep you flipping those pages like there's no tomorrow.

In this third installment, we reunite with the brilliant author, Tess Harrow, as she tries to win over the lovely town of Winthrop after unearthing not one, but TWO long-forgotten murders. Tess hatches a genius plan to combine her newest book release with the grand opening of her own bookstore. Smart move, right? All is going to plan until she is greeted with a surprise visit from her mom, with her new beau, Levi Parker.

Turns out the charming beau, has some skeletons in his closet—namely, a connection to the deaths of three elderly widows! This time it’s Tess’s daughter Gertie sounding the alarm bells. Unfortunately, it's a little too late, and Levi winds up pushing daisies. Now, Bernadette is in the hot seat, and our fearless author is on a mission to prove her innocence amidst a cascade of suspicious coincidences. It's a race against time, people!

The family dynamics are off-the-charts amazing in this book! You've got Tess, her mom Bernadette, and her whip-smart daughter Gertrude. The way they interact and support each other through thick and thin will warm your heart and put the biggest smile on your face. It's the kind of family you wish you were a part of! I’m telling you Gilmore Girls!

Murder Off the Books by Tamara Berry is the third book in the By The Book Mystery series and introduces author Tess Harlow's mother into the scene. Tess has planned a huge event for her bookstore's grand opening and the launch of her latest book, but it could be upstaged by other events going on in town. Tess's mother, Bee, is just as dramatic as Tess, and becomes a suspect for murder when her young "companion", a man suspected of killing rich, older women, is murdered himself. Complicating things is another visitor to the town of Winthrop, Washington - true crime podcast host Neptune Jones who is also determined to prove that Bee is a killer.

In this book, as in the prior two, Tess's teenage daughter Gertie so often comes across as more mature than most of the adults. This is a fun series with unique characters, excellent dialog, and plenty of humor. Tess and Victor, who is the town's sheriff, have had a connection from the very first book, but find it hard to admit their feelings for each other. However, others can see the spark between them even when they don't. This installment is entertaining with a lot to love about the ending that makes me eager to read the next book when it comes out. However, the first book in the series (Buried in a Good Book) is still my favorite.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Tess is opening her bookstore and has invited everyone to come. Her mom shows up with an accused killer following her. With a murder about to happen, Tess informs the sheriff, but by morning it's too late. Now a podcaster is taking the spotlight and Tess is their to keep up on the murder. A fun read with great characters. The pace of this book is just right and the story is filled with snarky moments. Book three is just as fun as book one!

The best part of this book is the relationships. The romance part progresses nicely. The relationship between Tess and her mother is complicated and at times felt hopeless, but it wasn’t. It was not a one note relationship and I appreciated seeing the highs and lows.
The mystery was good and Tess does some good sleuthing. The solution was not what I expected and I’m not sure if I like it. But I don’t hate it either.
Tess starts her book store, but is never there. I know that is a trope that several people don’t like, so I don’t know if the author is poking fun at it or not. So that distracted me. This one didn’t strike me as funny as the other one, but that might just be me.
So overall, I liked the character development, but I’m not sure about the overall plot/ life developments for Tess.

This book is a really cute and cozy mystery. This book is the third in the series. It reminded me of Murder She Wrote but they hate her instead of likening her.

Tess is just trying to sell her books and make a living all the while trying to avoid death that seems to follow her everywhere.

There are twists and turns but overall this is a quick book. If you love cozy mysteries this book is for you.

I just love the characters in this series! Tess and Gertrude are so much fun and I love how they interact with each other. I also loved getting me meet Grandma Bernadette and getting some much-wanted and loved the insight into one of my favorite Sheriffs.

In Murder off the Books, Tess is getting ready for the grand opening of her new bookstore, and throwing a murder-themed party to celebrate. When her mother pops into town with a notorious suspected murderer in tow. Tess fears her mother is Levis's next victim, thankfully... or maybe not as Levi is found murdered, With all the reporters and a famous podcaster already in town it's a race to figure out who killed Levi and make sure the right person goes down for the crime.

This story was so fast-paced as we are trying to figure out alongside Tess who the killer could be, and how she's going to prove it once we've zeroed in on a suspect. There were twists and turns around every corner, and it kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. We get some great moments with Tess and the Sheriff and they make some great progress in their relationship which made my heart go pitter-patter.

This has quickly become one of my favorite cozy mysteries and I can't wait to see what could possibly happen next!

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Murder Off The Books, By the Book Mysteries #3 by Tamara Berry from Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press in order to read and give an honest review.

is an incredibly fun, fast-paced mystery, replete with twisted red herrings, quirky, multi-faceted characters, a touch of romance and plenty of humor

Murder Off The Books is the third entry in the By the Book Mystery series by Tamara Berry and being a fan of the series, I was thrilled to be able to read and review it.

I love this series for many reasons, one of which is the humor that is seamlessly combined with a fast paced, complex, and intriguing mystery which really keeps you guessing until the very end.

In this book Tess Harrow, our protagonist and NYT best-selling Thriller author is getting ready to promote her newest release Fury Under the Floorboards as well as the launch of her new books store The Paper Trail! The whole gang is back and working to help make the grand opening celebration a success, especially when a reporter is set to interview Tess for an exclusive article. As busy as she is Tess and her daughter Gertrude get a surprise visit from Bernadette, Tess’s larger than life, high maintenance mother. Although happy to see her it puts a wrench in Tess’s plans but when Bernadette’s notorious alleged serial killer boyfriend Levi Parker, who is said to prey on wealthy widows, is murdered proving her mother’s innocence takes center stage. Life seems it could not get more complicated add in the onslaught of press including a famous podcaster Neptune who has her sights set on Sheriff Victor Boyd, Tess has more than mere complications plaguing her life. When clues lead in all directions from money laundering to cyber-crimes and another murder takes place Tess is determined to find the killer before they find her. In her normal fashion Tess recruits her quirky cast of characters to help her get to the bottom of the murder before the case against her mother gets stronger and before the body count goes up.

Murder Off The Books is an incredibly fun, fast-paced mystery, replete with twisted red herrings, quirky, multi-faceted characters, a touch of romance and plenty of humor. In my opinion this book is a quirky, fun cozy, and I can’t wait to read more in the series. I highly recommend it.

I feel like it's not common to have a third in a series keep the same intrigue and interest as the first two, but this series continues and doesn't seem to skip a beat! Another unique story line and another witty adventure for Tess and Gertie, this one action packed from beginning to end.

After wrapping up her most recent book, Tess is hosting a party to celebrate. Her mother comes with a younger strapping gentleman on her arm, however he's suspected of murdering three other women! Famous murder podcaster in tow to report on all the tea, Tess finds herself in a little competition as a body is found and she can't help but do her own investigating. Was it Levi, and if so, is her mom in danger?

I loved the adventure in this one along with some new characters to mix things up a bit. However, the core characters remain and we see their stories and relationships continue to play out. This is one that can be read as a standalone, however is best read in the series as the background of the characters continues through. This is a perfect summer read for mystery lovers, would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review! Already looking forward to book four!

Murder Off the Books is the third book in Tamara Berry's entertaining By the Book Mysteries.

Tess is a best-selling thriller writer who recently relocated to a small Washington town with her teen daughter, Gertrude. On the eve of the grand opening of Tess's bookstore, her mom Bee shows up with a much younger man in tow, the notorious Levi, who is connected to the suspicious deaths of three wealthy widows. Everyone wonders if Bee has lost her mind. Then a true crime podcaster covering Levi arrives and jumps into the fray. When Levi is murdered, all eyes turn to Bee as the prime suspect, and Tess works to clear her mom's name.

I love this series, and the newest one did not disappoint! Berry's writing pulls you in from the opening scene, and the story, humor, and characters keep you engaged. One of my favorite things about cozy mysteries is the world-building. Berry has crafted one I love to visit with a rustic and charming setting populated with quirky and memorable characters. As a thriller writer, Tess has lots of ideas about murder, and she's smart and curious, so seeing her get involved in a case is always fun. And we are getting to know several characters better, like the hilarious Edna and Gertrude, who is always pitch-perfect. Bee is a great addition to the cast, and I hope we see more of her. The sparks flying between Tess and Sheriff Boyd in their will-they-won't-they add swoony romantic tension. Clever and layered, the mystery is solid and skillfully plotted with several red herrings that kept me guessing. Berry's books are always enjoyable to read, with humor ranging from sarcastic one-liners to over-the-top situations and scenes, and I highly recommend them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. I loved it!

There's a lot going on in this book ans Tamara Berry delivers another entertaining and well plotted cozy mystery. I had fun, laughed, enjoyed Tess and Gertrude's antics.
This is one of my favorite writer and this was a delighful read.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine