I was really excited to read this historic mystery and it did not disappoint. The WWI period was portrayed as though the author had been there and I felt as though I was there! An excellent mystery that kept me guessing. Really hoping for another installment in what I hope will be a long-running series.

Murder in the Bookshop is the first book in a historical cozy series by Anita Davison. Released 22nd Aug 2023 by Boldwood Books, it's 274 pages and is available in hardcover, 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 and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, Murder in the Library, is also currently available on KU.

This is an engaging and well written historical cozy set in 1915. Protagonist Hannah is working in her Aunt Violet's bookstore when her friend is found dead. Because of the unwavering incompetence of the constabulary, she's drawn into trying to figure out what happened herself to clear her name and find justice for Lily-Anne.

The plotting is tight and well engineered and without obvious holes. The author does a good job with the period dialogue and characterization. The writing is clean and there is no bad language or on-page objectionable content. There are several threads, including espionage

The denouement and resolution were twisty and satisfying with some unexpected surprises.

Four stars. This is definitely one for historical cozy fans. There are 2 books extant in the series with a third out in 3rd quarter 2024, and a fourth in first quarter 2025.

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

This was a new-to-me author in the mystery genre and I really enjoyed her writing. I saw that this is the first book in a series, so I'll definitely be looking for the next one.

This is my first mystery by Anita Davison. I found it to be a solid read and very well-written. The pacing was good, as I was never bored. I liked most of the characters, although I think a little more background and development would have been good, especially for Hannah, the MC. I didn’t love Aunt Violet, who seemed wishy-washy. I’d rather Hannah solve mysteries on her own. The mystery wasn’t easy to figure out and solved satisfyingly enough.

I’m not entirely sure the WWI background allows this to be a “cozy mystery,” as it was heavier than I’d expected.

This book kept my interest and I hit through it quickly. Im interested enough to check out the next in the series and will decide whether to continue it from there.

Princess Fuzzypants here: 1915 London. WWI is not turning into the gay romp that many expected when war was declared. In fact, London is being plagued by aerial bombing from zeppelins. Women, who still cannot vote, have taken over many of the jobs that were once the domain of men but misogyny is alive and well. Hannah is running her aunt’s bookstore in Covent Garden much to the chagrin of her mother. She is going to have a series of challenges that no one could have anticipated.

She has taken control of the shop only to have her best friend murdered during the night in her shop. Hannah discovers the body and is considered a person of interest. It is only when it becomes clear there are more intrigues afoot that she is no longer the prime suspect. In fact, she is in the cross-hairs of some very dangerous people. But it is those closest to her that she will discover are far from innocent or benign.

The book takes the reader into the world at that time with fascinating characters, scandals, espionage and murder. Hannah does not know whom to trust except for one loyal and unwavering friend who could and should be so much more. The story kept me turning the pages wanting to know what would happen to Hannah and her delightful feline companion. Five purrs and two paws up.

A wonderful, cozy mystery that is perfect for those who enjoy the WWI time period and London as a setting. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A nice entrant into the cozy murder-mystery genre. WW1, a bookshop/literary twist, and a cast of characters that should develop nicely, this is a fun, enjoyable but not too taxing read. Will be interesting to see if, as the series progresses, it can hold the attention. Good stuff.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

Murder in the Bookshop is a fun cozy mystery perfect for fans of quirky characters and independent women. Hannah Merrill and her aunt Violet Edwards are strong female characters determined to live their lives beyond the constraints of society. Against the backdrop of pre-war London, Hannah is determined to manage aunt Violet’s bookstore despite the criticism of nearly every person in her life. Women just don’t do such things, but Hannah and Violet are blessed with family wealth and property to fund such “indulgences.” And Hannah is determined to prove that she is more than up to the task. Unfortunately, a murder in the bookstore at the onset of her new endeavor derails her plans and sets in motion an investigation with and without the help of the authorities. With lots of false starts and welcome surprises, Murder in the Bookshop held my interest and made me chuckle from start to finish. I love the characters and look forward to seeing what else they get into as the series continues..

This WW1 set mystery is everything! I couldn't put it down! This was one of the best WWI time mystery books I have liked. I can't wait for the next book!
I just reviewed Murder in the Bookshop by Anita Davison. #MurderintheBookshop #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I enjoyed this book. It was surprisingly colourful given the dark time it’s set in. The descriptions, characters and the murder investigation brought so much colour and intrigue that kept me reading. The mystery itself has so many surprises and secrets in it, and the addition of a possible spy in the midst of it all was a bonus and fitted the time period perfectly.

I liked Hannah, she was what I like in a character, strong, opinionated, considerate, kind and a bit blind to the obvious. Aunt Violet was interesting and appropriately scandalous and a bit of a breath of fresh air from the societal rules and expectations of that time.

This is a solid detective story. It’s got a good investigative team in Hannah and Aunt Violet and I hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of them.

I loved this first book in a new series. I enjoyed the historical aspects, and the addition of a bookstore are right up my alley. The storyline was expansive, and I didn't see the victim or killer coming. I can't wait to learn more about Aunt Violet's life, and see where Miss Merrill goes in the future!

The start of a new series and I love getting in at the beginning. This is a story set in 1915 London in a bookshop so what's not to like. But when Aunt Violet finds her dear friend Lily-Anne dead in the middle of the bookshop, this is not what she how she thought her life would pan out.

And so starts the Aunt Violets attempt to crack the case and find out what happened and who dunnit! This is such an entertaining read with not only the crime aspect but with a since of humour as well which helps to lighten the mood a little bit.

I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the story. It flowed well and was easy to read but still had the storyline and suspense I needed to keep it interesting. A book I enjoyed and look forward to see what comes next from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Und hierum geht es auf deutsch: wir sind im Jahre 1915 in London, der erste Weltkrieg ist seit einem Jahr im Gange und hat schon seine Spuren hinterlassen. Hannah Merril, aus sehr wohlhabendem Hause, emanzipiert sich gerade von ihrer Familie und ist nach London gezogen, in ein Haus, das ihre Großmutter ihr vererbt hat. Ihre Tante Violet nimmt sie unter ihre Fittiche, und Hannah arbeitet in Violets Buchladen in Covent Garden. Violet ist Anhängerin der Suffragetten, und somit ist der Ton eigentlich schon gesetzt: Tante und Nichte sind eigenwillige, moderne Frauen.
Eines Morgens, kurz nachdem Hannah die Geschäftsführung im Buchladen übernommen hat, findet sie morgens eine Leiche im Verkaufsraum vor. Ihre beste Freundin Lily-Anne, Mitglied der Londoner High Society, wurde ermordet.
Zeitgleich findet Hannah in ihrem Laden codierte Nachrichten in Form von erotischen Postkarten, die auf deutsche Spionage hindeuten. Hängt das mit dem Mord zusammen? Hannah und Violet beschließen zu ermitteln, und ich kann schon jetzt sagen: es wird spannend!
Mein Leseeindruck: ich war begeistert. Das war mal ein richtig gut geplotteter Krimi, wirklich spannend bis zum Schluss, eingebettet in eine historisch interessante Ära. Für mich kam das London zu Zeiten des WW1 sehr gut und authentisch rüber. Der Erzählstil war sehr bildhaft und flüssig, mich hat es abgeholt. Der Roman ließ sich gut weg lesen, ich war gefesselt.
Mit Violet und Hannah hatten wir zwei starke Heldinnen, mit denen ich mitfiebern konnte. Die beiden waren einerseits intelligent und selbstbewusst, andererseits aber auch Kinder ihrer Zeit, und sich den Problemen ihrer Zeit sehr wohl bewusst. Da waren oft auch ernste Untertöne, und das machte die Protagonisten sehr sympathisch. Ich fand es immer faszinierend, wenn den beiden bewusst wurde, welch außergewöhnliches Leben sie eigentlich führen, indem sie alleinstehend ohne Mann über sich selbst entscheiden, und wie sehr sie damit auch ihre Familie und Teile der Gesellschaft brüskieren.
Ja, das war ein richtig guter Roman. Einer von denen, wo wirklich alles gepasst hat. Guter Stil, sympathische Cast, glaubwürdiges historisches Setting, gut konstruierter Fall mit einer coolen Mischung aus Krimi, Gesellschaftsroman, Familiengeschichte und vorsichtig angedeutenden Lovestories. Was will man mehr. Ich warte jetzt auf die Nachfolgebände 😊.
Danke an den Verlag und Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar. Es war mir ein Vergnügen!

A cosy mystery thriller with a lot more fun and frivolity than suspense. An easy read but I won't be reading any further books by this author. An okay read but not for me.

Following Hannah Merrill’s life as the proprietress of a bookstore and niece to the brilliantly eccentric Aunt Violet, Anita Davidson brings readers into World War I London with a new mystery and a murder to solve -- the murder of Hannah’s friend Lily-Anne in Hannah’s own bookstore! Davidson’s characters are the star of this novel, remarkable for any book but especially so for the first novel in the series. Hannah, Violet, and the rest of Davidson’s cast of characters are dynamic, lively, and come with fully established backstories -- some happy, some tragic, some yet unknown. Hannah’s bookstore, of course, plays a major role in the story as a powerful setting and a secondary character, and it adds to the “cozy mystery” atmosphere of the novel. With a premise and mystery that sounds like it came from a game of Clue -- Lily-Anne, with the knife, in the bookstore -- Davidson’s actual plot and mystery tie Hannah and Violet to the world around them which continues to grow more dangerous as World War I rages across the continent. The first novel in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet series, Murder in the Bookshop is a fantastic start to this new series.

I loved this delightful new cozy mystery featuring a young society girl and her suffragette aunt. It is set in London during September, 1915. Hannah Merrill is delighted to be running her aunt’s bookshop. Aunt Violet always seems to have lots more to do than help Hannah in the bookshop.

We are introduced to Archie, who works as a stock boy in the bookshop. Monty Carstairs, Darius Clifford, and Lily-Anne Soames are all friends from Hannah’s past. Anita Davison does a fantastic job of giving us great descriptions of the different characters in the book. In addition, the author educates us about World War I London without being pretentious.

The mystery commences when Hannah is shocked to find her best friend, Lily-Anne, dead in the bookshop one morning as she arrives for work. Hannah feels compelled to find the killer because she does not quite trust the police to not pin the murder on her.

I received this Advanced Reader’s Copy from Boldwood Books. It is an excellent entry in the historical mystery category. I gave it 5 stars. I look forward to more in this series.

Murder in the Bookshop was a delightful read!

I enjoyed the characters in this book, even the ones I truly disliked. All were well written and the wrap up/twist was unexpected! My only slight dislike was a little romantic item near the end of the book. As is such with Historical mysteries.

I was excited about this cosy mystery immediately when I saw the title – and what a fabulous setting for a murder Aunt Violet's dusty bookshop is!

Returning from a brief summer visit at her well-off parents in the countryside, Hannah Merrill is happy to be back at her Aunt Violet's where she's been staying. With her fiancé killed in the war, her parents and elder married sister want her home, as it's unseemly for young ladies to live by themselves. So Violet's place offers Hannah a safe, independent place, though her aunt's outspoken Suffragette views are not universally liked.

Visiting Violet's bookshop which she's started to manage with the help of family friend, Monty (for it must be a man who is in charge!), she realises that Monty had let the place slip in. Books in array, dust everywhere, and mice crawling over the shelves. Then she discovers a set of saucy image cards – with a dark secret hidden inside one card. A message in German!

Irritated, she sacks Monty on the spot and thinks nothing more of it. But when she returns the next morning, she finds her best friend Lily-Anne dead in the locked bookshop. Lily-Anne had been looking for her, but why come to the shop after hours when she must've known Hannah was on her way home?

When dashing Inspector Farrell makes it sound like she is a suspect, and Lily-Anne's husband accused her, Hannah decides she must do her own digging to exonerate herself and find out what really happened to Lily-Anne. But she doesn't expect the surprises she uncovers in her best friend's life...

When she finds herself under attack in the bookshop, and she knows time is of the essence. Unbeknown to the inspector, Hannah and Aunt Violet begin to look into Lily-Anne's past – something that has a profound effect on those Hannah has considered friends.

Murder in the Bookshop is a fabulous whodunit. Clever, fast-paced, and with plenty of suspects. Hannah is a very likeable heroine, and Aunt Violet is simply adorable. Outspoken, direct, unfazed.

Hannah's friends are also an interesting bunch, and as her suspicions grow, she's in for a surprise. Their circle is typical upper class of the time, with the matching views. Hannah's and Violet's own views reflect a changing society that struggles to accommodate women in independent positions.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Bookshop, reading well into the early morning hours. It pulls you into the intricate plot and doesn't let you go. If I could have read it in one sitting, I would have done. A brilliant plot with some clever twists!

I think I've found a new favourite series. I can't wait for the next instalment. Highly recommended!

A good first installment of a new mystery series, set in London during WWI. Hannah is working in her Aunt Violet’s bookstore, rejecting the usual lifestyle for a woman in her social class. When her best friend Lily Anne is found dead in the shop, suspects include Hannah and her Circle of friends. Add in German spies, bombs dropping and love interests for both Hannah and Aunt Violet, and the result is a really good mystery. Recommended, and looking forward to the next one on the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I love cozy mysteries but this is my first one from Davison. I liked the plot and Davison's writing style. Hannah is a strong woman, willing to operate her aunt's bookstore at a time when women were not thought capable of doing so. Hannah's aunt Violet is a kick. I like her attitude. She was part of the suffragette movement so Hannah had a good role model. Working together, they make good amateur sleuths.

The historical setting of early WWI is done well and I like the character development. I think Hannah has great potential and I'll be looking for the next in the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.