BOOKED FOR MURDER by P. J. Nelson is a LibraryReads selection for December 2024 and received a starred review from Library Journal. This murder mystery is entertaining but a little disjointed, including multiple fires, a stabbing, threatening phone calls, and accusations of drug dealing. The main character is Madeline Brimley who has just inherited a Victorian house and bookstore in Enigma, GA, the small town where she grew up but left for the lights of New York almost twenty years ago. As noted, there are several traumatic events, and Madeline also struggles with reconciling her memories with the changes that have occurred. For example, she keeps repeating how she doesn't have faith in the local cops (just because she used to babysit the policeman?). Instead, she relies on support from her aunt's dearest friend, Dr. Philomena Waldrop, and Enigma's new Episcopal priest, Gloria Coleman, in order to investigate the murder. Taking unnecessary risks, Madeline confronts more than one suspect, but, of course, her efforts soon point to the killer … or do they?

I love a cozy mystery, especially one that’s a Southern mystery. Unfortunately this book fell a little flat for me. The writing of how Southern people act felt a little incorrect. The pace felt off from the very beginning of the story. I really wanted to love this cozy and pushed through to the end, but I was not fulfilled unfortunately. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this digital copy.

Another cozy mystery in the books! This book definitely kept me on my toes.

There were alot of triggers so please look into that if you haven't already.

This was well written for being a debut novel! There wasn't a point more I questioned anything or had to go back to re read. There was points were it was a tad slow but still understandable.

This book was a fun cozy mystery. The book starts off quickly with a murder to solve. I really enjoyed all of the characters and trying to figure out who was involved. The author did a good job of making it seem like there was several potential suspects. I did find the plot to be a little slow to progress though.

Could not get into. I didn’t feel connected to the characters or interested in the story. Cute concept, though!

This was such a cozy, fun mystery. I loved the story of how she came into possession of the bookstore and all her discoveries.

Booked for Murder is an entertaining southern cozy by P.J. Nelson set in the small town of Enigma, Georgia. Madeline has returned to the town after years away because she has inherited a house and bookstore from her aunt. However, shortly after moving in, a gazebo in the backyard is deliberately set on fire and she receives a threatening phone call telling her to leave or else. Then a young girl she befriends is murdered in the house and Madeline sets out, with the aid of two friends, one old and one new, to uncover the murderer.

I quite enjoyed this tale although it is a bit dark in places for a cozy. Still, it moves at a good pace with well-drawn characters and mostly likeable characters. If I have any criticism, it would be that I did find some of Madeline’s decisions and actions unrealistic but, that aside, she makes a strong and resourceful main protagonist. The mystery is interesting with plenty of twists and turns red herrings that kept me guessing and it ends on a satisfactory note. I will definitely be looking to read more of Madeline’s adventures in Enigma in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

I love cozy mysteries, and I love stories where people come back home. This was a wonderful combination of both, Madeline comes back home after she inherits her aunt's bookstore, only to be dropped into a dangerous mystery. Madeline learns about herself, her aunt, and her home. Books like this are the reason I keep reading cozies.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

I loved getting to know Madeline, Gloria, Philomena and the Old Juniper Bookshop in this wonderful cozy mystery.I enjoyed finding out about the small town of Enigma, Georgia and many of its secrets. I loved all the twists and turns as Madeline goes about solving the murder and trying to survive. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This was a quick and fun story. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to people who enjoy more cozy mysteries! It wasn’t anything super unique, but fun nonetheless.

I started this out with a doubt but by the end I really liked it. It’s not as simplistic as a lot of cozy mysteries are . This is the first in a series and the story ended with lists of loose ends to gather up in subsequent books. I look forward to book number two.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.
3.5⭐️

Sometimes I just love a good cozy murder mystery and this one hit me right where I was hoping when I picked it up.

Sometimes going "home" is hard, especially after the death of a loved one and a lukewarm acting career which never fully took off in the way Madeline hoped. After years of trying her hand at acting in Atlanta and getting some pretty decent roles on stage and screen, Madeline finds herself the inheritor of her Aunt Rose's house/ bookshop in Enigma, GA. She knows the bookshop well as she grew up helping her aunt and being like a shadow to her aunt, learning music and literature.

Upon Madeline's return, she enters the home of her aunt and soon finds the gazebo in the backyard ablaze and a mysterious caller threatening her on the phone. Determined to stick it out, she opens the bookshop and finds a kindred spirit in a local college student. However, all heck breaks loose when fire strikes again and the college student is killed while Madeline is sleeping upstairs.

It's one suspect after another, but can Madeline keep her head and her accusations from destroying her friendships? I thought it was a well done mystery even if it had it's flaws. I was intrigued by the story and flew through to find out who-dun-it, in the end. I found it well worth the read

Thank you to NetGalley, P.J. Nelson, and St. Martin's Press for the ebook. I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery set in a charming small-town bookstore. The story unravels deep-rooted family secrets and a thrilling mystery, filled with unexpected twists and turns. With some storylines still left unresolved, I’m hopeful there will be more to come!

I received an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this mystery story. Set in an interesting small town with some unusual characters, it kept me puzzled until the end. Highly recommend!

Madeline has just inherited her aunt’s house and book store. When she arrives at her aunt’s house, she is bombarded with memories. But then she smells smoke. Someone has set the gazebo on fire. Madeline soon realizes she may have an unforeseen battle on her hands.

Madeline figures out real quick that everything is not going to be as she remembers it from her youth. Right off the bat she begins to have threats and then someone is murdered in her new home. This sends her and a couple of her friends on the hunt for a killer.

All of these characters are wonderful. I loved Madeline and all the cast. And believe me, it is a group of southern folk and they will keep you on your toes!

I enjoyed this tale. It is full of drama, great setting and it is just an all around good who-done-it.

Need a good southern mystery…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This is exactly what you want it to be. It's a cozy mystery and I really enjoyed the audiobook for this. I will say that I wasn't quite sure where it was going to go because they made it seem like so many were at fault but I wasn't that shocked when it was revealed. However I really did enjoy my time listening to this!

Links to come!

A robust, fun to read mystery. This story is well written with interesting characters that took some surprising twists and turns. A quick worthwhile read. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

3.5 Stars. Found Madeline a little irritating. But I really enjoyed Gloria the female "priest" and could have used more in the romance side of the story. A quick, entertaining read with a little bit of a predictable ending.

“Enigma didn’t feel like home, exactly. It never had. The bookshop was comfortable, but it wasn’t home either. Nowhere was. Maybe that’s why I’d been so at ease on tour…If you don’t have a sense of home, then you can’t feel any discomfort at being away from home.”

I liked this start to a new cozy mystery series. Madeline is an intriguing character, a little lost and rough around the edges, but still likable and relatable. I thought it was interesting how her background in theatre influenced her thought processes and her investigation style, like her ability to remember spoken conversations almost verbatim. The town of Enigma is simultaneously charming and a little off-beat. I liked getting to know the townsfolk, especially Gloria. The mystery itself was engaging. I’ll admit that I wasn’t emotionally prepared for that death, but I understand why it had to happen for the story to move forward.

Side note: I love National Wildlife Refuges and it gives me great joy whenever I stumble across mention of one in a book. I haven’t personally been to the Okefenokee NWR in Georgia, but I know multiple people who have and they all say it’s a lovely spot for a swamp. It was fun to read about Gloria’s childhood there.

"Booked for Murder" presents a promising premise but ultimately fails to deliver a compelling mystery. While the setting and concept are intriguing, the plot is predictable and lacks the suspense needed to keep readers engaged. The characters, including the protagonist, feel flat and one-dimensional, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. Dialogue can be clunky, and the pacing is uneven, with some scenes dragging on unnecessarily. While the book attempts to blend humor with intrigue, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. Overall, it’s a forgettable read that doesn’t offer enough to stand out in the crowded mystery genre.