Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson features a wonderfully rich narrative that seamlessly transitions between the past and present, showcasing the complexities of life.

Booked for Murder is book #1 in the Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery series by P. J. Nelson.

I thought the premise of this book was interesting. Madeline Brimley is an actress who is at an age where she isn’t getting many roles. Her aunt passes away and leaves her bookstore to Madeline. She goes back to claim her inheritance and the trouble starts. Unfortunately, I found Madeline to be an unpleasant character who makes questionable decisions. She has a bad attitude towards police and fire. I suspected the killer early on but enjoyed all the small town secrets. I will read the next book because the ending gave me hope for Madeline.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I really enjoyed “Booked for Murder” by P.J. Nelson. I enjoyed Madeline Brimley as a spuny bookstore owner and fearless amateur sleuth returning home after years away from Enigma, Georgia. Great local color in a small-town in south Georgia with fun and quirky characters and a great bookstore set in a Victorian house. Interesting twists and turns in the story wit some unpredictable characters. I hope this is a series, because I couldn’t put this down and I miss the characters and town already. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

I really loved this book! It’s a really fun first book in what seems to be a new series. Madeline inherits her aunts bookstore and moves home. It’s been 17 years since she left the small town. Is everything the same? Is anyone what they appear to be? I couldn’t put this one down!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for my advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

The night she moves into her late aunt's bookstore (with her tail between he legs feeling like a failure) someone tries to scare her into abandoning her inheritance with a fire and a threatening call. Then the first murder happens.

This book didn't end up impressing me much. It was well written and had interesting people and suspense, but somehow it didn't do "it" for me. I wish I could identify why. Maybe because it felt like the kind of cozy mystery that has a punny reference to food in the title? I wonder if I had unreasonable expectations or if I was just in the wrong mood? I wish I had enjoyed it more, because it had all the elements that I usually enjoy. Just not this time.

I am so curious to see what the mystery will be in the next book. How is such a small town going to be embroiled in so much mystery and controversy? Also why do I feel like there is a love triangle on two in the making?

Anyways, in this book our main character goes back to her TINY hometown to run her aunt's book shop after her aunt passes away. On her first night, the gazebo in the backyard is set on fire and our main character starts to get some threatening calls telling her to leave town. Fast forward maybe one or two nights to madeline waking up to her front door on fire and a young woman dead! This leads maddy on a quest to find out who murdered Tandy - and why.

There are so many secrets in this town and no one is what they seem at all. At times I did find Maddy acting a little. I don't know. She acted like what kids expect grown ups to act like - kind of obtuse or judgemental if you will. As someone who is closer to madeline's age than Tandy's I did not much care for that but that's my own issue I suppose.

One last funny comment, I don't know if I could make it in that town because jazz is not my thing-haha.

Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson is a delightful cozy mystery that introduces readers to a quirky bookshop owner, who unexpectedly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. Set in a small, picturesque town, the novel is packed with charming characters, a touch of humor, and, of course, plenty of literary references.

The mystery unfolds at a good pace, with enough twists to keep readers engaged, while the bookshop setting adds a cozy, welcoming atmosphere to the story. Nelson does a great job balancing suspense with lighter moments, making this a perfect read for fans of cozy mysteries and bibliophiles alike.

This book is perfect for those that are looking into a quick whodunit.

Booked for Murder is a cozy small town mystery, where we follow Madeline as she makes her way back to Enigma, Georgia. She has inherited her aunt's bookstore after her untimely passing, and as she makes the transition to her new life in Enigma, things aren't as simple as she thought they would be. Upon her arrival in Enigma, Madeline begins receiving threats - phone calls and even arson. When a young lady is murdered at the bookstore, Madeline has had enough. She has no idea who is targeting her or why, but she is determined to get to the bottom of it.
This read is a cozy mystery, with mild suspense and just enough drama. Although there are a few slower moments in the book, the overall story was well-developed, and the mystery of it all kept me invested enough to see it through. This book is the first book to the Old Juniper Bookstore Mysteries series, so I'm excited to see what happens in the next book!
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and P. J. Nelson for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC. I loved this cozy mystery and read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

Booked for Murder by PJ Nelson is a delightful and atmospheric cozy mystery set in the heart of the South. Madeline Brimley is a charming protagonist, full of wit and determination, who makes an engaging guide through the quirky small town of Enigma. The Old Juniper Bookstore, with its Victorian charm and dark secrets, is the perfect backdrop for this twisty tale.

Nelson weaves a story filled with colorful characters, unexpected plot turns, and just the right amount of suspense. The slow-burning mystery keeps you guessing, and the Southern charm adds a layer of warmth to the darker moments.

A promising debut for fans of Southern cozies with a hint of danger—I'll be keeping an eye out for the next Madeline Brimley mystery!

Thank you PJ Nelson, Dreamscape Media, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

P.J. Nelson's new mystery series opens with a bang (not literally). Madeline is returning to her hometown to take over the old house and bookshop that belonged to her aunt. It appears someone has been in the house and the outside gazebo is on fire! Madeline wants nothing to do with the house or bookshop, but it appears someone wants to driver her out of town. Due to a wacky clause in her aunt's will, she is unable to just rid herself of the house, so she decides to stick around and let it play out. But then, there's a murder that may have been intended for her! She teams up with the most unlikely of characters to solve the mystery of who wants her out of town and possibly dead.

The characters are certainly quirky, giving readers several laughs and leaving them wondering just how smart they are by jumping into a murder investigation without the proper authority. Madeline is a strong heroine figure even if she seems to be a fish out of water from the big city back to the rural south. Her partners trying to solve the case are a female priest, who is also attempted to being driven out of town, and the professor companion of her aunt.

Booked for Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery that is a quick read. I look forward to more entries to this new series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

DNF.

I ended up leaving this book as a DNF about 10 chapters in. I even tried to skip ahead a few chapters to see if could grab me and just couldn't. I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately for me it was not only too slow, but kind of boring.

I just could not get pulled into the book. It came off more juvenile than adult, especially in the beginning. The characters were kind of boring, especially the main character just coming off with no care for anything. Barely seemed to care about her aunt's death, the inheritance and even the fire and threatening phone calls. Lack of detail in parts and overall just wasn't for me.

If you are new to my blog, I review my books as if I had a blind date with the book.
Our first meeting:
I got this book from NetGalley – so thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Cover Story:
This cover is colorful and because the subject is books, I probably would have picked it up to check it out. So, I think the cover is effective for me.
First line:
October can be a summer month in South Georgia.
Not sure this is a great pick-up line, but it does set the scene well.
Beverage suggestion:
Since it’s set in the south, I would suggest sweet tea.
Getting to know the book:
The story is told in first person. The main character is Madeline Brimley. She is an actress who drives an old Fiat. She inherits her aunt Rose’s home and bookstore in Enigma Georgia. The bookstore is part of the large older two story with a porch big enough for five Bentwood Rockers. She notices the gnats as soon as she steps out of her car.
That was an example of the descriptive detail I liked about this book. It felt like you were there swatting the gnats too. The description and the dialogue for the quirky southern characters was great.
Madeline had grown up in Enigma but hadn’t really planned to move back. Her career had stalled so she figured it wouldn’t hurt to come home and make a new start.
Shortly after she arrives, there is a fire in the gazebo in the backyard. She meets the new fire chief who I thought might be a romantic interest.
Madeline’s aunt Rose had been an actress in New York City. Madeline’s last few years had been spent in Atlanta as an actress.
Rose’s best friend Philomena Waldrup shows up after the fire and she eventually introduces Madeline to the local Episcopal Priest – Gloria Colman.
After a second fire and a dead body, Madeline receives a few telephone threats telling her to leave. Of course, she doesn’t. Madeline, Philomena, and Gloria decide to catch the killer.
There are a couple of other story lines woven into this story. The writing style is enjoyable, and it feels like you are in Georgia.
The characters are well developed, and the story is believable. At least as believable as most cozy mysteries are. The story flowed naturally to an acceptable conclusion. I didn’t guess who the killer was until the end.
My rating:
Flirtation with possibilities – might not keep forever but highly recommend.
This is the first book by this author for me, but I would be interested in reading more.

This was a quick cozy mystery and I was able to get through it in one day. I liked the characters and the book had good flow start to finish. Madeline was a horrible detective but I think it added extra charm to the overall feel. The whodunnit mystery kept me interested in the plot. I think this will appeal to readers looking for a lighthearted mystery with a small town atmosphere.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the review copy.

P.J. Nelson’s Booked for Murder features Madeline Brimley, who returns to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia when she inherits her Aunt Ruby’s Victorian mansion that acts as a bookstore on the first floor and a residence upstairs.

The premise is good. The arc of the mystery storyline is well developed, but the pace is uneven. As with most cozy mysteries, there is plenty of “hometowny” detail that readers either enjoy or find annoying. The cozy details were fine for me, but the frequent references to acting and how that gave Madeline skills to get through the various scenes was overdone for me.

I enjoyed Gloria, the priest of the nearby church, Philomena, who was Aunt Rose’s long-time friend, and David, the handyman. There is a lot of darkness for a cozy mystery, and overall, it is handled well. Some of those secondary storylines add needed red herrings.

Booked For Murder is atmospheric and laced with unique characters. There is something for everyone in this trilogy starter.

This was a cute cozy mystery and a start to a promising new series. This book follows Madeline an actress who inherited her aunts bookstore and house. When Madeline returns to the small town strange fires and threats start happening , then a murder happens leaving Madeline to figure out who did it so she is not the main suspect. This book was fun fast paced cozy mystery I enjoyed the writing and the pacing. The main character got on my nerves a little with how fast she would jump to blame people. This book was the start of a cute cozy series and cannot wait to read the next in the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This novel was one I was really hopeful for however it fell flat for me. From the beginning the novel moved quickly however there was not a good and catchy beginning. I felt like I was thrown into a small town where I didn’t really know anyone and lacked getting to know anyone throughout. I did like the premise of the novel, and the small southern town mystery cozy vibe, but overall would not recommend this one, however this may be a completely loved book by many!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the ARC opportunity!

OBSESSED. One word. Not enough meaning.

This book is the epitome of greatness. I love the characters. I love the setting. I love the plot. I really can’t think of anything I do not like about this one.

Madeline is an actor trying to find her way in this big world returning to her hometown due to her Aunts passing. Said Aunt owned a bookstore in this small town that brought the people & drama together.

If you are looking for murder, fun, book love, found family, and so much more, this one is for you.

Solid Premise but Fell a Bit Short

I was intrigued by the premise and expecting a gripping mystery. While the storyline had potential and some twists kept me turning the pages, I felt the pacing was uneven, and certain parts dragged. The characters had moments of depth but didn’t fully resonate with me, which made it hard to stay invested.

That said, the small-town setting was atmospheric, and the mystery had a few surprises that I didn’t see coming. Overall, it was a decent read but didn’t completely hook me. If you’re a die-hard cozy mystery fan, you might enjoy it more than I did!

Madeline Brimley could not wait to leave the small town of Enigma, Georgia for an acting career in New York. After quite a few years of struggling to find her niche, she returns to Enigma following the death of her Aunt Rose, who has left Maddy her bookshop housed in an old Victorian mansion. The bookstore on the first floor, and living quarters upstairs should work well for Maddy. Of course, Aunt Rose left some stipulations as to what Maddy can and cannot do, but oh well. On the first night back home, the gazebo out back catches fire. Maddy attempts to put out the fire herself, and she refuses to report the incident to the police as she believes them to be inept. She receives threatening phone calls and it is not until her part-time young helper dies in a fire, this time in the bookstore part of the house,that Maddy realizes she may need help to survive. Her Aunt Rose's dear friend, Philomena, is both a help and a hindrance. Add the female priest to the mix and we have quite a crew to either solve the murders or muddy the waters even more.