Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Secrets Between the Shelves coming out February 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a new experience for me. I normally don’t read anthologies. I really love cozy mysteries! So I was excited to check this out. However, I think the stories tended to blend in with each other. I enjoyed them, but they didn’t really stand out as much as I thought. I might’ve just liked it more if there were two stories.

I enjoy picking up collections of short stories to try out new authors. I was familiar with Cynthia Hickey but also enjoyed the other authors' stories in this anthology. This book is great for cozy mystery lovers looking for a new series.

this was such a cozy read! I loved the mysteries and the vibe of all the stories. I think the plot was interesting in all of them and some plot twists were so unexpected! It was a pleasure to visit this world and get invested in the investigations and lives of the small town communities.

A Delightful Collection of Christian Cozy Mysteries. This novella collection was a fun and easy read, perfect for anyone who enjoys Christian cozy mysteries. Each story revolved around bookstores, adding a charming setting that book lovers will appreciate.

The first book was fantastic and left me eager to read more from this author. The second book had a compelling plot with a great focus on saving kids, though I found the repeated "Abby girl" nickname a bit cringey. The third book didn’t resonate with me as much since pirates aren’t my thing, but I appreciated the many heartfelt prayers throughout. The fourth story was another enjoyable read.

Since these were novellas, the pacing felt a bit rushed at times, but overall, they were engaging and uplifting. If you're looking for lighthearted mysteries with faith-filled themes, this collection is worth checking out!

Thank you NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, and Barbour Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

I have always enjoyed the cozies that Barbour publishes and Secrets Between the Shelves did not disappoint. These short stories with bookstore settings keep the reader engaged. All the stories have a light faith element and romance as all cozies need!
Cynthia Hickey is a veteran author in these novella collections and her story about a new bookstore owner finding a dead lady in her story on day two was once again my favorite. I enjoyed the romance and having multiage characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher, but all opinions are my own.

A nice collection of mystery stories that each feature a bookstore. Each mystery was fun, with a few surprises along way. These are easy quick reads with interesting characters and lovely settings, from Florida to Maine just to name a couple. Good read.

First time I've read a 4-in-1 cozy mystery novella, and it was delightful!

Each of the stories are about 14 chapters; quick and easy reads for commuting or just having a mini mystery break. Because they were shorter than regular fiction novels, the action and mystery were fast-paced so you can get right into it.

A point of difference was that each novella was written in first-person. I haven't read mystery novels from that viewpoint before, so it was a good change. While all stories had interesting plot lines and were written well to keep the reader turning the page, I personally think the first novella, Murder in the Mystery sections, needed some transition statements or "scene markers" in the form of a visual bar or line on the page. One minute the characters were doing something and by the next sentence it was a new scene or new day and no transition. It was a little clunky for me.

Overall, I think it was a great read and I was keen to keep coming back to it to find out whodunnit and what happened next.

(SPOILER ALERT)
I felt some of the romantic interests were not at all obvious. In the second novella, The Secret Passage Bookshop, there was barely a hint of a romantic interest between the main character and another, and then it was suddenly a public display of affection right in the last page. That was a surprise, but in a confusing way.

What's not to love about a bookstore? Add a mystery to go with it and you've got an unbeatable combination. Four different murders must be solved in these 4 bookshop mysteries and it looks like it's up to the amateur sleuths to do the job. As the clues begin to come together, hints of romance may be in the air. All 4 authors have done a great job with keeping me guessing until the end. See if you can figure out the whodunits before you hit that last page! I had a favorite of these 4 stories. Bet you will find one too!

What a great collection of cozy mysteries! Each novella is written by a different author, and they are all great reads. They are the perfect length for reading at the end of the day. I loved this collection and highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Secrets Between the Shelves contains four cozy bookshop mysteries written by four different authors. I found each story easy to read. I like that I get to check out the writing style of four different authors. The stories are nice, but they are forgettable. The main characters were bland and flat because they needed to be fleshed out. I liked how the stories centered around bookshops (I love visiting bookstores, but my wallet is always a little grumpy afterward). I thought the pirate themed bookstore was unique. I like to read cozy mysteries because I enjoy solving the whodunit. Unfortunately, the mysteries were lacking. I did not find them mysterious and engaging (I was not sitting on the edge of my seat quickly turning the pages to see what happened next). The final story in the collection was my least favorite. It was a predictable mystery with a baffling ending. The first novella was my favorite. It reminded me of a story by Vicki Delany (the first book in A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries). I wish, though, that the author had not included romance (the love interest lacked development and, since it is a short story, the focus should have been on the whodunit). I am glad the four tales in Secrets Between the Shelves were short, because I would not have gotten through them otherwise.

My absolute favorite type of cozy is bookshop cozies. What could be better than a cozy bookshop? Four cozy bookshops! I loved this collaboration. I didn't want it to end.

Secrets Between the Shelves is 4 Christian novellas all about bookstores which are a favorite topic of mine. Three are Christian cozy mysteries and the 4th is more of a "brozy" (a broad cozy with a few cozy elements and some elements that are not considered cozy). The first novella is Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey. Amber Swanson owns Through the Looking Glass Bookstore. Her opening gets off to a slow start because of a rumor that Amber is selling stolen merchandise. A local shopper ends up dead so Amber and her new friend Brandt Thompson, the deceased's nephew, work together to solve the murder. The 2nd novella is The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson. Abby is in the process if buying the building for The Secret Passage Bookshop. Her friend Zach Cooper is doing the renovations. There are some problems, a murder, runaway children, child abuse and child smuggling (not cozy themes in my opinion and they are a large part of the story). It is an emotionally packed story and some people will like the depth to it. The 3rd is By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly. Lily Carter is opening a pirate-themed bookshop, By Hook or By Book. There is an attempted break in and Lily meets Officer Dwayne Forgione. She meets some college students who help out at the bookshop. When someone dies in her bookshop, Lily, her best friend Penny, the students and Officer Dwayne work together to solve the murder. The 4th novella is The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk. Kelly Stephens is new to town and is in the process of opening Artistic Adventures, a store that displays and sells people's artwork and crafts. She meets Jep who along with Tilly runs the local bookstore. While Kelly is at the bookstore, a local ends up dead. Jep is a suspect but Kelly likes him. He has a sad past and that plays into the story. Jep and Kelly need to solve the murder. Overall I liked the novellas. The happy endings, the romances and the Christian aspect will appeal to cozy mystery readers. #SecretsBetweenTheShelves #BarbourFiction #CynthiaHickey #TeresaIcesLilly #MarilynTurk #LindaBatenJohnson

This book was interesting and I loved the multiple stories in this. There was some silly moments that gave me cringe moments but I did like how some stories kept me guessing and wasn't completely predictable.

I enjoyed reading these mysteries, but there were a lot of eyerolls at the cheesiness. My favorite story was the second one by Linda Bateman Johnson. That one kept me guessing. I did enjoy the faith focus in the novellas. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 when necessary.

There is quite an element of surprise with some promise of hope amidst the chaos. The author has managed to build up reader's anticipation including mystery at every turn. A delightful mystery indeed!

These stories were so easy to read, each with their bookshop cosy settings and mysteries, I loved it overall.

Secrets Between the Shelves is a collection of four cozy mystery novellas. Each takes place in a small town, but in different parts of the United States. All are based on a murder in a bookstore and have a Christian element. Some have more of a Christian influence. Though the murders take place in bookstores, the stories have little to do with where the murders took place. Most of the stories focused more on getting to know the town and people, and less to do with whodunnit. With all that said, each story was nice and enjoyable. I liked all the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone, but don't expect sitting on the edge of your seat, nail biting suspense. Also, the bookstore is just the location of the crime and nothing more. I gave it four stars for its lightness, enjoyable story, and cozy sweetness.

4 cozy mystery novellas make up Secrets Between the Shelves. All the mysteries involve book stores. In each a woman is opening a shop that is something they have been dreaming of.
Each contains elements of Christian faith. It is a lovely part of each story.
Each store is creative and the mystery/puzzle the main character has to solve is engaging.
The book was a good read. Thanks to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the chance to see how Christian book publishers do cozy mysteries.

Secrets Between the Shelves contains four cozy mystery novellas set in or around bookshops, each by a different author. If I were reviewing each story separately, there would be one three star and three four star ratings. Each story contains quirky characters and is well-plotted. Three have good character development, enough realism to keep the reader's interest, and a satisfying conclusion. I would recommend this collection of stories to fans of cozy mysteries and mystery lovers in need of a quick read. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Books via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This collection includes four cozy mystery stories centered around book shops. I really enjoyed the length of the stories. They were long enough to have a fully rounded out mystery without any unnecessary or repetitive plot points. It’s rare to rate a collection more than three stars just because there’s always going to be a weak link dragging everything down. This was ever so close to a four star read for me.

The first story by Cynthia Hickey reminded me of Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. For being significantly shorter, Hickey’s story was on par with Delany’s in terms of quality. I was pleasantly surprised. The only criticism I can give is that the protagonist's romantic interest seemed a little flat so I had a bit of difficulty buying the romantic spark. With less time to get to know characters in a shorter story this is to be expected. Three stars for this story.

I really enjoyed the second story by Linda Baten Johnson. Abby discovers a variety of mysterious things in her bookshop property that was once an escape room. This story went places I wasn’t expecting and so I will stop here because I don’t want to give anything away, four stars.

Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop in the third story by Teresa Ives Lilly sounded cheesy to me at first. Fortunately, the mystery was actually remarkably good. I really enjoyed that the suspects weren’t all your typical competitor or the unlikeable person in town. Easy four stars for this story.

The final story has Abby opening a store called Artistic Adventures next to a bookstore. This was probably the weakest story of the four. I didn’t buy the ending, the means didn’t make any sense to me. The victim was predictably the person in town that nobody likes. I will give this one 2.5 stars, however, I’m sure someone will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour for providing this ebook for review.