Famous mystery author Charley James, aka C.J. Barrett, is taking a break from writing after facing burnout. Returning to her hometown she gets the opportunity to take over the bookstore her childhood friend Zane’s business partner abandoned. Sheila left suddenly leaving only a note behind. Soon her body is found in the basement of the bookstore.

T.C. LoTempio’s Murder on the Books certainly lives up to its claim as a cozy mystery. The book is a fun and easy read, that requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The mystery itself is not something innovating and new, but it is still fun. A classic whodunit that takes you from murder to stalking, missing collectibles, secret meetings and everything in between. As it is a cozy mystery there is not a lot of action and what exists is low stakes.

Most of the characters feel real and relatable, the way that Charley handles her burn out is refreshing to see in a book. But some of the characters feel flat and like they are placed only to move the plot forward. My favourite character is Poe the cat. Charley and Zane find him in the alley behind the bookstore, and he has almost more personality than Charley. All the way through the book Poe helps Charley find the clues she needs to keep working on the mystery.

It could have been a five-star read, but I feel like the relationships between the characters need to be more fleshed out and involved for me to reach that level.
If you like cozy mysteries this could be the book for you, and it is my hope that we get to see more from Charley and Poe in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A nice start to a new series that sees Charley, a mystery writer, with a mystery of her own when she finds the owner of the bookstore in a trunk! Cozy fans know that Sheila was not a nice person but to murder her? Charley thought she would be relaxing in Austin but that's not happening. This is classic cozy stuff. LoTiempio is world building here and molding the characters so it's a light read. I expect more depth in the future. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

Set in Austin had me hooked from the start for this first in a new series by best-selling author T.C. LoTempio. When Charlotte decides to take a rest from writing mystery and moves back to her hometown, where she wants to rest and relax, she reunites with her long time friend Zane. But things go crazy when Zane's business partner is found dead. Great character development and a well plotted story. Definitely a series to read! Thanks#Netgalley and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Oh my goodness what a fun cozy mystery debut in a new series. As usual, TC LoTempio has created a fun female protagonist and an adorable feline companion in Poe. However, that is where her similarities to her other books comes to a halt.

Best-selling author CJ Barrett, AKA Charlotte James, is going on a hiatus and returning to her hometown of Austin, PA from the Big Apple. She needs a change of scenery as she has finally hit writer's block. She spends time with her BFF, Zane, who is opening a bakery in conjunction with a business partner who is opening a bookstore next door, except Zane shares the news that her partner backed out at the last second and she is afraid of losing her dream bakery. Charlotte, or Charley, steps in and thinks taking over the bookstore is exactly the distraction she needs for a while. In prepping for their opening, Charlotte literally stumbles across a chest in the basement, knocking it over and out tumbles a human hand... attached to an arm, and so forth. Zane's partner didn't exactly take off, she got herself killed.

You can read the rest of the delicious plot details for yourself. Charley, a mystery writer and puzzle afficionado, wants to find out whodunit both for her curiosity and to save she and Zane's businesses. Add the charming addition of adopted stray kitty, Poe, who has a nose for finding clues and you have one crazy adventure.

Poe is clearly the star of this book. I found myself looking forward to reading it after a day at work. It is a light, cute read for an afternoon in your favorite chair in the summer sun. I highly recommend this cozy for cat lovers and cozy fans everywhere.

My thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charley James wants to escape her life as best-selling author C.J. Barrett and return to her hometown, Austin, where no one knows she writes the popular Steve Sherperd mysteries.

Her best friend Zane is opening a bakery in a building shared with a new bookstore. When the original bookstore owner, Sheila, abandons the project, Charley takes over the site. Unfortunately, Charley discovers Sheila’s body in the store’s basement in a chest.

Now, Charley and Zane are juggling the prep for the new store opening with sleuthing activities. T. C. LoTempio begins her new Bookshop Mystery series with a strong introduction to well-developed characters and a compelling story. Looking forward to the next installment.

A brand new cosy mystery series to get addicted to. I’m really eager to read more. This was a fun and cosy mystery book filled with cats and murders.

I enjoyed this book. I hope this becomes a series. A mystery author Charley moves home. She takes over opening a book store and finds a dead body in the storage room. She decides to try and figure out who murdered the person.

A real page turner of a nice cozy mystery that looks like it will be a fun series.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-galley on PDF from Severn House via NetGalley. Pub Date Jul 01, 2025
#MurderontheBooks by T.C. LoTempio #newseries @severnhouseimprint #cozymystery
#cozyBookshopmysteryseries #petcat #localdetective #situationalhumor #bookseller #romantic

Princess Fuzzypants here: In full disclosure, I do have a connection to the author and her books. I am the beautiful cover model and character in her Pet Shop series but I can be objective in writing reviews. Of course, there is no need to be since I absolutely adore how Toni writes us felines and her newest hero, Poe, is no exception. He is a dominant feline who not only guides his human but paw-selected her to be his. She, smart lady that she is, knew well enough to accept the inevitable.

Charley is a highly successful author who has hit a wall. She needs time away from her character and returns home where she is talked into being a partner in a book shop cum bakery with her best friend. But Charley does not want anyone to know her nom de plume. There are lots of fun bits where she is confronted with that spectre, especially when she is helping the local constabulary in finding the murderer of the woman who was going to be the partner until she disappeared. Naturally, Charley’s best friend is going to be a suspect but is eliminated when the police realize the death did not benefit her.

What is great fun is when the hunky detective accuses her of being an amateur sleuth when she is a very good amateur thanks to the research she had to do for her books. Naturally, there is going to be lots of romantic potential but it is Poe who will always be the one who wins my heart.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

This was such a fun read, filled with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I will definitely check out more from this author!

Well that was a book. A rather boring one, but not a bad one. Would I read another in this series? No, probably not. The story was predictable, the characters bland. Again, nothing actively bad, but nothing particularly good either.

This book, written by a woman about women for women? Surprisingly sexist.

Nobody seemed to care nearly enough that a woman was straight up murdered. Like oh my god. "I have to get nice fixtures for my store :)" a woman was KILLED in the basement why are you so chill

Where is Bootsie. What happened to Bootsie.

Why are there so many weirdly detailed food sections???

All this and more, in this remarkably predictable mystery where the killer is just A Guy That Showed Up That One Time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Murder on the Books by T.C. LoTempio is a delightful dive into the world of cozy mysteries. The “cozy genre” which I never expected to fall in love with, but here I am, absolutely hooked. For someone who usually craves horror and gore, discovering the comforting joy of a small town whodunit (with a bookstore setting and a clever feline sidekick named Poe) was a refreshing change of pace.

LoTempio strikes the perfect balance between charm and suspense. The mystery is engaging and satisfying without ever straying into dark or disturbing territory. The pacing is just right, and the clues unfold naturally, keeping you guessing while still maintaining the cozy atmosphere. And the bookstore setting? Pure magic for any book lover.

What really sealed the deal for me was the subtle but compelling tension between the main character and the brooding detective, the classic “will they/won’t they” energy that adds just the right amount of romantic intrigue without overpowering the plot.

With a witty writing style, lovable characters, and a mystery that delivers exactly what it promises, Murder on the Books is a perfect entry point into the cozy mystery genre, or a satisfying treat for seasoned fans. Bonus points for Poe the cat, who just might be the real star of the show.

Many thanks to NetGalley, T.C. LoTempio, and Severn House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgallery and T.C LoTempio for this ARC

I love a good cozy mystery and this was a good one,loved that the MC was a writer who was having a break from from writing yet somehow ends up getting tangled in a mystery all because she decides to help a friend out when they left in the lurch. I honestly was surprised by who the killer was as I pegged someone else. I definitely want to get the next one in the series.

This was a very nice read, the setting is super immersive and I would love to be able to visit Austin. The dialogue is forced and doesn’t come across naturally, but the majority of the story is told through narration and it is a great light mystery

If you are looking for a cozy mystery to read, look no further than Murder on the Books!
Charley James leaves New York City after deciding to take a break from writing mysteries under her pen name, C.J. Barrett. She decides to return to her hometown of Austin, a small town in Pennsylvania. Shortly after arriving in Austin, Charley meets up with Zane, her childhood friend who is a baker. Zane relays to Charley her disappointment over her friend Shelia backing out of going into business together. In a double front location Zane was going to open a bakery and Shelia a bookstore. Charley is only more than happy to take over the bookstore, but when she finds Shelia’s body in the basement of the store things take a turn. Not only does Charley find herself opening a bookstore, she also finds herself adopting a cat, dealing with a handsome detective and trying to solve the mystery behind Shelia’s death, just the way her main book character would.
Murder on the Books hits all the right marks for a great cozy mystery. Set in a small town, a bookstore, a bakery, a mix of endearing local characters, and a cat! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries! I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Thank you Severn House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"Newly retired mystery writer Charley James returns to her small hometown only to find herself amidst a real-life murder mystery in this first book in the brand new Cozy Bookshop mystery series by award-winning and national bestselling author T.C. LoTempio.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte James, better known to her mystery fans as C.J. Barrett, decides to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books.

Settling into her new life, Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane who is about to open a charming double store front. But while Zane is ready to open her café, her business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on her bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind.

Charley is more than happy to take over, but when she finds Sheila's body in a chest in the store's basement, things take a dramatic turn. Now Charley has to juggle the opening of her bookshop, a stoic but attractive Philadelphia detective, and a stray cat, all while solving Sheila's murder Sheppard-style before the killer can strike again!"

I mean, murder mystery authors do make great detectives, but also must make good investments to be able to contemplate retiring at thirty!

This was a mostly fun introduction into a new series. I like Charley, her best friend Zane and of course the charming Poe. I always enjoy when an amateur sleuth seems to have a real reason and aptitude for being curious about an unfortunate death, as a mystery writer Charley has done a lot of research and knows more then the average person. Although she is home and not writing, Charley's takeover of a soon to open mystery bookstore seems natural and when a body is found in her new location, she wants things cleaned up as quickly as possible so she can get to work! Also refreshing is that neither Charley nor her best friend and business partner Zane are really suspects. I am also happy to report that the police are actually competent, which makes it one of the flaws in this book that Charley doesn't share all she learns with them and even withholds evidence she finds. Besides that very annoying circumstance, I found this to be a good mystery with likable characters and lots of potential. I definitely look forward to more in the series. Thanks to #Netgally, #SevernHouse, and the author for a chance to read. #MurderontheBooks #TCLoTempio #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Thank you so much to Severn Valley for the ARC of this extremely cosy mystery book. I must say I really enjoyed the premise so much. Poe is the best thing in this whole story and the blossoming relationship between a woman and her new cat never fails to make me smile. It's true, kitties are a good judge of character.
The plot is engaging and the characters you meet along the way of discovering the truth behind the crime are relatable and interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good cosy mystery - especially if you love cats!

An incognito mystery writer moves back to her ol' home town to get away from all things mystery and the pressures of writing. Instead, she lands in the middle of a real-life murder mystery. She discovers her friend Zane's new business is endangered before it even opens. Business partner to-be, Sheila has gone missing, leaving Zane stretched financially. Charley/Charlotte agrees (volunteers, really) to be her new partner. While checking out the basement of the two shared businesses, Charley finds Sheila's body hidden in a chest. She didn't disappear. She was murdered.

Thus begins a brand new mystery series. I won't detail the plot but it was an interesting one with lots of twists and turns and several suspects. Enter Barbie, er, Detective Barbara Johnson, a former classmate of both Charley and Zane. Let's just say they were not friends. Fortunately, a much more interesting character soon enters, Detective Ian Grant, who seems to be in town temporarily from a neighboring town. Cozy mystery fans will see where this is going, I'm sure. Of course, Charley doesn't make things easy, sticking her nose in the case and, in general, putting herself in danger multiple times. You'd think a mystery writer would know better, huh, but finding a read dead body was new to Charley and she seems compelled to follow leads....no matter where they lead. I have to admit, I found it rather unrealistic that townspeople would open up and be so forthcoming with a virtual stranger, hometown girl or not, but, it did move the plot along quickly.

Bottom line, while I had a minor quibble, I enjoyed the book and will be looking forward to the next. .Quibble, you say? Yes. For instance, I'm a dog person and make sure my dog is secured in the car when I travel with her. Charley, in contrast, after finding a stray cat she calls Poe, simply put cat into the car free and even leaves Poe alone there for extended times. Despite this, I found myself liking her and the surrounding cast of characters. Heck, I didn't even dislike Barbie, er, Detective Johnson as we don't get much of the backstory yet. For that matter, we don't get to know even Charley well but, hey, this is the first in a hopefully long series, so that's normal. I definitely liked how the author handled the issue of PTSD/mental issues via Nancy and her service dog. I hope we see a lot more of them in future books, especially since it gave insight into Charley. Thanks #SevernHouse for this early look at a promising new series. I wonder how long Charley can keep her author status hidden. Something tells me Ian Grant will figure it out when he sets his mind to it. Charley isn't real good at hiding her unusual knowledge of murder investigations.

I saw the cover of this book and instantly requested the ARC. Murder, books, and cats? Sign me up!

Described as a cozy bookshop mystery and I felt that’s exactly what it was. There wasn’t a lot of gore or graphic details. No smut or really any romance. If you’re looking for those things, then this book might be a little tame for you. I typically like my books a little more graphic, but this was a fun lite read! It kept me interested and I breezed through. Definitely a good palate cleanser book. If there are more to the series, I definitely look forward to reading them.

**I received an advanced readers copy through NetGalley**