Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to preface this by saying that I didn't realise when requesting the book that it was the 4th in the series (this is completely on me and I own that), and perhaps this is why I didn't connect to the character of Annie as much as I thought. I also found that the actual reveal of the murder was very sudden and almost a non-event, like there was no confrontation or anything, just ended very abruptly.

The premise of the book itself was a lot of fun and definitely kept me guessing - and for the most part, other than a reference to one of the previous murders, it didn't allude too much to previous books but I think if I had read them first, this might've fared better for me.

I'm definitely intrigued and will try and go back to read the previous 3 books because I need to know more about Annie and her backstory, but this was a fun Christmassy murder mystery.

Annie Murray decides to partner the Secret Bookcase with a local baker, Sugar Lester of Sweet Room, by hosting a gingerbread baking competition with Lily Hawthorne, a social media star, who is coming to town to highlight the event on her media website. All is going well until Lily ends up dead in the bookstore.

There are several people who have a history with Lily, who just happen to be in town for the gingerbread competition. I really enjoyed the holiday vibe in this book with the description of the gingerbread, decorations, and weather.

I am glad that Annie finally figured out what she wants for her future in terms of a career and I loved Fletcher’s PowerPoint with his thoughts about how they should handle their future business buying out Hal. I liked how Annie is moving forward with Scarlett’s death and not letting it consume her as much, even though she is still investigating it.

This town and the characters are delightful and I can’t wait to read more about them in future books. I am wondering about Hal because he seemed kind of sketchy at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is one of the stories in the Secret Bookcase series. It is a nicely told story about a murder that is solved with the help of Annie Murray, a former criminologist student who, after her best friend's murder, finds a life working in the Secret Bookcase. As in the previous stories, Annie Murray helps her former professor solve the case. It is entertaining reading.

Annie and her friends had another exciting case to investigate after another murder took place in her beloved bookstore workplace. Hal and Fletcher continue to be the most amazing boss and coworker anyone could ever wanna work with. And that Pri’s the best bestie a girl could ever imagine having. She always has Annie's back. Dr. Caldwell was such an awesome mentor and we finally get to find out what Annie's decision’s gonna be as far as working with her former criminology professor.

Last but most definitely not least, I absolutely love how Liam and Annie’s relationship did a complete turnaround for the better. I never like conflict with a couple and now they're super cute and solid. He surprised even Annie with how she could influence his reading choices now when she actually got him interested in mysteries.

The main case was solved and Annie's cold case concerning her old friend was getting a little bit warmer so I'm eager to see what happens next. Can't wait to read the next installment!

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

This is one of the coziest cozy mystery series I've come across. There's a strong community, the main character has a good group of friends that are practically family, and the bookstore is on my list of fictional places I wish were real. How can I not enjoy a book set in a mystery bookstore with fun characters - especially when written by Ellie Alexander?

This was a fun mystery. A not so likable influencer drops dead in the bookstore during a heavily publicized event with a local bakery. While Lily had seemed sweet and bubbly on camera there are a number of behind-the-scenes actions that has Annie wondering just what the real Lily is like. A number of characters - local and otherwise - seem to have a motive but it takes some serious digging to figure out who would want to kill her.

I really wasn't quite sure who the killer was until Annie figured it out and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to that point. The book is full of Christmas-y cheer and a bit of suspense. I really enjoyed that there is progress being made in Annie's personal life as well as her quest to find out who murdered her best friend, Scarlet.

The fourth Secret Bookcase mystery finds Annie helping host a gingerbread baking contest. Even more exciting is that a social media famous baker is going to be in attendance. However, when the baker is found murdered, Annie finds herself investigating yet again.

This series continues to be enjoyable! You don't ~need~ to have read the prior ones in the series, but I'd really recommend it as each book really builds on Annie's life. We get a lot more development both in what Annie wants to do and with the Scarlet case. I was a little confused by the end of this one vis-a-vis the Scarlet case - it was not clear if Mark was responsible for Annie's accident that happens or not. Either way, I really look forward to seeing where this goes next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great cozy adventure with Annie in the Secret Bookstore series. Although a participant drops dead during a Gingerbread house competition, the book still seems festive. This was a quick, fun read which works well as a standalone. But, as always for those like me who enjoy reading a series from the beginning, take the time to catch up before you read this one.

I enjoy this mystery series. I like the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing I look forward to more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun holiday cozy mystery that takes place in a mystery-themed bookshop. Lots of holiday festivities and cheer happening here!

The cover is amazing! It is exactly what I pictured Redwood Grove to look like. This is my favorite of the series so far. The characters are great. I love to see how the characters are growing and how the relationships develop. Annie and Liam have come so far and I have really enjoyed seeing them grow. That kiss-whooooo!

My favorite part of the series is the continuation of Scarlet’s murder. The ending provided so much information, but also revealed new questions. It leaves you wanting more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for a review.

This is the fourth book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. The story is set in Northern California at the Secret Bookcase bookstore where Annie works. She has set up a gingerbread house competition to benefit the community and Sugar’s bakery.
Unfortunately, the influencer hired to promote the event and Sugar’s bakery dies. If she was murdered, why?

Annie and her friends investigate to resolve the death’s circumstances. I enjoyed the story but knew early on who the killer was. There is plenty going on in this story but I never waivered on who the culprit was.

I recommend this story. The method of death was ingenuous.

I was given an advanced readers copy and am not required to leave a positive review.

A new series from Ellie Alexander. I always worry if a new series by an author will be too similar to another…no worries here! Annie and her friends own a bookstore in Redwood Grove, CA. Annie is focused on solving the murder of her college roommate from a decade ago. In this book, a baking influencer comes to town for a gingerbread house competition and is murdered. With help from her friend, Annie solves the murder. Looking forward to reading the earlier books.

A Holiday Homicide is book #4 in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

The Secret Bookcase is a wonderful bookstore. Trying to keep it running requires thinking outside the box to get the store publicity and customers. This time it involves a celebrity baker who unfortunately ends up dead. I like how Annie has grown through the series. The friendships are wonderful and the mystery was interesting. I enjoyed this book and recommend it and the whole series.

Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and Ellie Alexander for the delightful fourth book I had the joy of reading and reviewing in the Secret Bookcase series: A Holiday Homicide. Annie Murray and her coworkers Hal and Fletcher are surrounded by all types of lovely gingerbread houses, castles, cakes and other yummy treats but in the midst of all the wonderful holiday fun wouldn’t you know it someone gets murdered! On top of that chaos Annie has finally tracked down a person that might be able to give her some answers to help her find out who killed her friend Scarlet ten years ago if the past doesn’t find a way to kill her first.
I absolutely adore this series of Ellie Alexander’s and I eagerly look forward to each new book. She makes every character and setting so real that I start to miss them as soon as I turn the last page. Her next book is due out in February and is already on my highly anticipated list. I recommend this series to everyone who loves cozies, especially if you love ones with found families, cats, enemies to lovers, basically almost every trope lol. I really do love this series and can’t praise it enough run don’t walk! And add it to your TBR!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Honestly a 3.9/5(rounded to 4)

As always my review is spoiler-free.

This is my least favourite book in the series so far and I am a sucker for Christmas. So I REALLY did try to like it. But I saw the killer from a mile away. The list of suspects wasn't strong enough to kick you off the trail.

Annie and her posse are growing stronger and stronger as characters (with their wants and arcs) with each book.

It wasn't the main plot that left me wanting more. The mystery of Scarlett's death is what will bring me back to this series. And this book gave me A LOT about Scarlett's case that I did not anticipate which is why I've rated it 3.9. Otherwise, it's a 2/5

Will I recommend this as a stand-alone? Nope. As a series? Yes, but I will mention that Book 4 is not that great. Am I waiting for the next book? Heck yes. I need to know what the heck happened to Scarlett just like Annie.

Ellie Alexander is one of my auto-read/buys, but I have not read the previous 3 books in this series.

For this mystery, you can read this as a standalone. However, when Annie speaks of her friend Scarlet as well as her relationship with Liam, things begin to get a little muddy. Not much as the author is very good about giving enough information, but I believe a reader who begins at the beginning wouldn’t have any confusion.

One reason why I hadn’t started this series was that I had heard the mysteries are wrapped up quickly, with no actual chase. Normally I do not like the amateur to put themselves in harm’s way, but I also want to see the journey. In this case, the parts about Scarlet seemed to be the journey, whereas Lily’s murder felt like snapshots. One minute she’s there, and the next Annie is finding her deceased. I would have liked more. More about Lily and Becca, more about celebrity baking, and the fact that recipes are not protected.

Overall, I rate this novel 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Life in Redwood Grove was good, Ann Murray was working at The Secret Bookcase bookstore, an enchanting place with themed rooms, rooms where you could loose yourself in Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie etc or gaze over the beautiful English style garden.
Ann was a criminology student, that is until her best friend Scarlet was murdered and her world fell apart, Ann had never come to terms with loosing her soulmate, even more so because the killer had never been found, something that Ann was determined to rectify.
Ann loved working at the quaint bookstore and along with colleague Fletcher and owner Hal, she did everything that she could to entice customers. Christmas was coming and it was an ideal opportunity, Ann had various events planned but the main one was the live appearance of social media baking influencer, Lily Hawthorne, Lily had thousands of followers and a demonstration in the Secret Bookcase would definitely draw the crowds.
Ann had decided on a ginger bread house competition, Lily would build her own magnificent structure. Lily was a hit, everything was going swimmingly..............until it wasn't, Ann was horrified to find a body in the bookstore and it would take all the detecting skills of Ann and Dr Caudwell, her old criminology lecturer, to solve the murder. Suspects were coming out of the woodwork, each with their own motive but who was the guilty one ?
This is a delightful cosy mystery that had me guessing to the end, I hadn't read the previous books but I easily picked up the story, there is a theme running through the series that will obviously continue into the next book.
I loved the authors description of the bookstore, I loved the diverse characters, I loved how Ann's role is gradually changing and I loved the gentle romance between Ann and bar owner, Liam. I look forward to reading more about The Secret Bookcase.
Thank you so much to Storm publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is my own opinion.

"A Holiday Homicide (A Secret Bookcase Mystery #4)" by Ellie Alexander is very gingerbread holiday themed at the beginning then picks back up the holiday theme at the end. We get several chapters dedicated to the mystery specific to this book and a good few chapters to the end dedicated to the overall series mystery.

I'm a little bit at the point where I want the overall mystery solved. I have a couple of theories about what's going on there. In this book it seemed like more happened towards that investigation but at the same time it didn't really feel like it got anywhere.

The book specific mystery was around the death of a baking influencer. There were a good couple of suspects. However, I totally called it with this one. It was an interesting story though.

We are back with Annie and the gang as they get ready to host a gingerbread house contest in their bookstore, hosted by a famous influencer and the local baker.

I have already fallen in love with this small town in the previous books, and I love the Christmas vibes and how everyone participated in making gingerbread houses for the contest. And I love Annie, all her friends, and the bookstore itself.

Each book in the series has a murder to solve, while also having a thread throughout them all of a past case involving the death of Annie's roommate Scarlet. I'm not the biggest fan of Scarlet's case but I think it's concluding soon so I can look past it as I enjoy the other cases Annie is involved in, as well as the cast of characters in this adorable small town.

I can't wait to see what happens in this series next, especially with the decisions that Annie and her Fletcher have made with their new endevor!

A cozy mystery book to kick off the holiday season.
Annie is back to solve a murder. A celebrity baker is found dead and of course Annie is back on her detective vibe.
This was an enjoyable read, I wish it was more of Annie and Liam love story but it’s not a romance book so I can’t expect too much.

I love the thrill to finding out who the killer is.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my arc copy.