Such a fun book! A true cozy mystery. I loved the first book in the series, Dead and Gondola, and this one did not disappoint. I love all the main characters and thought the mystery was well thought out. It makes we want to revisit Agatha Christie

The Christie sisters are at it again - finding dead bodies. Ellie and Meg don’t mean to get in the middle of a murder investigation, but they keep showing up at all the wrong times. Hopefully this time they can clear Meg from being the main suspect before someone else gets hurt. Mystery, a cozy mountain town, books & an adorable cat. What more could you want?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Ann Claire

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.

Fun, light cozy mystery. I liked the second book in the Christie Bookshop series. It didn't pull me in quite like the first one but was still enjoyable. The Agatha Christie references were fun.

Last Word to the Wise is a cozy mystery by Ann Claire. It is book two in the Christie Bookshop Mystery series, and I would recommend reading them in order.

Summary: When Ellie and Meg got roped into their cousin’s newest business scheme (a book-themed dating service), they had no idea their first blind dates would lead to one of them being accused of murder. Can they figure out who committed the crime, or is it more than just their love lives that are doomed?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I love the quirky characters in this series, and it was such fun to revisit them for a second time. It felt like coming home, which is always the sign of a good read!

This book has a unique story line, a good mystery that keeps you guessing, and lots of bookish references, which I love.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was a great read, and I hope there will be plenty more in this series!

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

I posted this review to my Goodreads account on 1.20.23:

I enjoyed DEAD AND GONDOLA, so I was all in for another cozy mystery set in quaint Last Word, Colorado. Bookstore settings always appeal to me and it was a joy to revisit The Book Chalet, complete with its celebrity cat. The Christie sisters are likable, if not really unique or particularly memorable. Their relationship is warm, wholesome, and refreshingly drama-free. Their friends, family members, and acquaintances are also appealing, although again, none of them really stand out and a few of them—especially in this installment—blended together so much that I got a tad confused. Sam Ibarra is a nice new addition to the series' cast and I actually liked Waldon too. He makes me laugh at least. As far as plot goes, LAST WORD TO THE WISE moves a little slowly, but the book is still a quick read that had enough action to keep me reading. The killer's identity is not as obvious as I first thought, so that was a nice surprise. As with most cozies, this book is squeaky clean, with no profanity or sex and only mild violence. Always a bonus for me! So, while this series may not be the most dynamic or original, I enjoy its upbeat vibe, its bookishness, its fun setting, its appealing characters, and its intriguing-enough mysteries. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next installment.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.

Despite the murders in the series, these cozy murder mysteries about the Christie sisters, who are not related to Agatha Christie but run a bookshop and know all things Agatha Christie, are lovely. Suspenseful, thought provoking, and entertaining, this series is an overall delight. This book continues on the secrets from Dead and Gondola and has the sisters working to undercover the mystery of yet another death.

Just finished this one, it was the perfect companion on this (literally) freezing, snowy day!

This is the second in the series. I love the setting - a cozy book chalet run by the Christie sisters in a small Colorado mountain town. This cozy series is perfect for mystery lovers - plenty of Agatha Christie references as Ellie Christie investigates to solve another murder in her small town.

Don’t miss this one if you like cozy mysteries, small town murder, strong female leads, amateur sleuths, and especially a fun bookstore setting complete with a bookstore cat!

I love this cozy mystery series! Meg and Ellie Christie, along with their adorable cat named in honor of mystery queen Agatha, are once again visited by murder and mystery at their lovely Book Chalet. This time, the setup is romance, with matchmaking inspired by book preferences bringing trouble to Meg. Ellie is determined to help her sister and works the mystery with the locals and new-addition Detective Sam. The possibly budding relationship between Ellie and Sam was my favorite part! I also enjoyed the pacing, cast of characters, and the intrigue. My only gripe is that sometimes the characters got a bit boring ( Yes, Meg is nice. Can she be more, please?) and sometimes the book read more YA than adult (Ellie is 30 something?!). Other than that, I had no issues and happily devoured this one. I’m hoping for a 3rd in the series soon!

Ellie and Meg Christie are back for more bookish shenanigans and amateur sleuthing! When the sisters agree to go on a double bookish blind date they would never suspect that they would be embroiled in a murder - again! With Meg being the last person to see her dead bookish date, the sisters will have to put all of their skills to use to uncover who the killer is.

The Christie Bookshop series is fast becoming a cozy murder mystery favorite for me. This second book in the series holds even more twists and persons of interest, while still having the same great characters. If you love wit along with your murder, then this is the series for you.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I really feel like the author outdid herself in this one. I actually had no idea who had done what and there were so many axillary mysteries that made it a quick, easy and captivating read.

The only reasons that you may not want to read this is if you are looking for an intense thriller, gore or a psychological thriller. Part of the plot includes an absentee father and some difficult family dynamics that may not be for you, but I think that the author did such a great job at covering those topics while still staying true to the tone of the book and giving the topic proper justice.

Overall, I love this world that Ann Claire has built. I already want to jump back into this one so I can see how she weaved everything together. I will be avidly awaiting more books in this series and letting all of my cozy mystery lovers know about this one!

Last Word to the Wise is the second book in the Christie Bookshop series by Ann Claire. This is a delightful cozy mystery series. It is clever, captivating and feel-good, and the small town setting is ideal.

This particular story has winter themes and we get more of the two sisters and bookshop owners along with their cats, as they get hoodwinked into trying their cousin’s matching-making service. Ellie’s date is a bit of a disaster, but Meg’s seems to go quite well, until he doesn’t show up for the follow-up brunch. When he is found dead, Meg ends up topping the suspect list, and so of course, the sisters must investigate.

The bookish setting in this story is so cozy, the family is close-knit, and the ongoing stories of each of the characters is engaging. Some of the characters are admittedly rather annoying, but you always have one (or more) in your life, right? Ultimately, this is a charming, entertaining series and I look forward to seeing where things go from here.

1 cup of tea ☕️+ 1 rainy afternoon ☔️+ 1 cozy mystery 📖= the perfect way to spend the day 🥰

I just finished the latest installment in the Christie Bookshop Mysteries & it was EXCELLENT! After reading the debut last year I’ve been craving book 2 & this didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a bookish cozy with the perfect location, best cast of characters and fun mysteries then you need to pick up this series.

Thank you to @randomhouse for the advanced copy. This one is out on 10/03.

Loved everything about this book. The sister dynamic was fun to read and I loved the who done it aspect of the book. I did not guess the killer at the end.

This is a cute, biblio-dating, small-town cozy mystery/romance. The story is built around Agatha Christie mysteries, from the character names, cat name, quotes, book titles, play, and, of course, murders and other suspicious events. It offers some insight into Agatha Christie’s characters.

Lorna, a creative but pushy and self-involved woman is always hopping from one small business venture to another, be it real estate, candle selling, or now, book inspired dating. The problem is that Lorna isn’t overly interested in following all the steps required to form a successful business and is perfectly happy to cut corners. She ropes her cousins, sisters Ellie and Meg Christie, booksellers, into submitting themselves to her book matched dating. Things don’t go quite as Lorna anticipated, but that doesn’t stop her.

When Lorna goes to visit one of those she matched and finds things at his house suspiciously upturned, she calls Ellie to join her. Ellie discovers a body. And then she discovers Sam Ibarra, a handsome and intelligent Last Word police detective.

This was a nicely written and cute cozy mystery. It’s filled with an array of quirky characters. You’ll find a few surprises along the way. If you enjoy cute cozies, then this might be a good choice for you.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I'm really enjoying this series! It's funny, very bookish, has a charming small town setting, and the mysteries are decent. Looking forward to book 3!

<i>ARC Provided by NetGalley<i>

A delightful second visit to last word. There is a particular magic to the second book in a cozy series, we know the characters enough to dive right in, but while we careen along the mystery path, we get more character development and backstory. Definitely a series I'll stick with, as it hits all my favorite cozy mystery notes: fun setting, book loving characters, and a sassy, sleuthing cat.

Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

Ellie and Meg Christie agree to participate in a double blind date to support their cousin's new business endeavor. Even though the matchmaking was based on book preference it didn't go well for everyone. While Meg continued her evening with her date, Ellie was happy to escape back home on a date with her book. The next day Meg's date was found dead and she becomes a suspect in a murder. It all means only one thing - the Christie sisters are back in sleuthering.

I love Christie family and enjoy spending time wth them - whether it is a date or looking for the clues. Everything is great for me in this series - the humor, facts about Agatha Christie and the mystery of course. It gets really cozy as it all takes places in snowy winter in a small town.

I am loving this series of Agatha Christie loving sleuth sisters! The setting is so cozy; I love reading about the snow in the village that seems so quaint (minus the murder). The mystery is solid, just like in book 1, and you don't technically need to read book 1 to get book 2, but you should definitely read book 1 just because!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Grab your cup of hot chocolate, and plop one jumbo marshmallow for Meg and one for Ellie because these sisters are back for another chilly mystery! I thought this was just as fun as Dead and Gondala. My favorite thing Ann Claire does is how she mentions other mysteries in her books and gives such a sweet head nod to Agatha Christie herself. I feel like I learn more about her with each book I read. This started off with a date in the library, and ends in such a surprising way that I clapped audibly when the mystery was solved. I can’t wait to read her next one, and the cover of this fits the book perfectly. A soft snowflake of a read!

"Last Word to the Wise" by Ann Claire is a delightful cozy mystery that plunges readers into the charming world of the Christie sisters and their quaint bookshop, the Book Chalet, nestled in the picturesque Colorado mountains.

Ellie and Meg Christie, while passionate about books, are less enthusiastic about their romantic lives, which seem to teeter between disastrous and nonexistent. However, when they reluctantly agree to participate in a bookish matchmaking endeavor, their sisterly banter takes a sinister turn as Meg's promising date ends in a chilling murder.

Suddenly thrust into the heart of a police investigation, Meg finds herself as the prime suspect in the mysterious death. As secrets unravel and suspicions multiply, Ellie and Meg embark on a thrilling journey to clear Meg's name. With their sharp wit and keen intellect, the Christie sisters navigate through a web of deceit, uncovering clues buried beneath the snow-covered landscape.

The novel is a blend of romance, suspense, and clever sleuthing. The intricate plot keeps readers guessing until the final pages, with unexpected twists and a plethora of suspects. As the sisters delve deeper into the mystery, the stakes rise, and the danger escalates, making for a riveting and immersive read.

"Last Word to the Wise" is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, offering a captivating narrative filled with engaging characters, an atmospheric setting, and a compelling whodunit plot. Ann Claire crafts a story that keeps readers guessing while delivering a satisfying and surprising resolution.

I just reviewed Last Word to the Wise by Ann Claire. #LastWordtotheWise #NetGalley