Ellie Alexander has done it again! I've read all the books in The Secret Bookcase Mysteries series, and this final book leaves you wanting more! While the killer for the our heroine Annie's best friend Scarlett is finally revealed, you're left wondering what else is in store for The Novel Detectives? Hopefully, we'll find out in the future, because I cannot get enough of Annie and her found family! Nevertheless, this was the perfect ending to the series!

Special thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I enjoy visiting with these characters and that they move forward in there lives. The setting is great and I'd love to find such a town.
The mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to the next series with these characters.

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

What a great series to follow from beginning to end! Ellie Alexander has such a talent for drawing you into the characters, the location, and the story. I highly recommend this series and would strongly encourage it be read in order. Way to go, Ellie, and I can't wait to see where you take readers next!

“A Body at the Book Fair” is the very well done sixth and final book in Ellie Alexander’s Secret Bookcase Cozy Mystery Series (fortunately there is a spinoff series in the works). While this book could probably be read on its own, I highly recommend reading this series from the beginning especially as this book finally wraps up the mystery of Annie Murray’s best friend’s murder. The conclusion to that mystery is a satisfying one and had me on the edge of the seat as Annie confronted the killer (kudos to the way Alexander handles this and did not make Annie a Too Stupid to Live main character). In addition to this mystery which has run the course of the six books, there is also another murder at the Book Fair that Annie, coworker Fletcher, best friend Pri, and boyfriend Liam investigate. This was also well done with just the right amount of suspects to keep readers guessing whodunit. All in all, a successful ending to a great series and I look forward to the spinoff series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Book six in the Secret Bookcase series is both the finale and the launching point for the spin-off series, ‘The Novel Detectives.’ Fans of the books will be pleased to see two mysteries front and centre with the resolution of the ten year old murder case of Annie Murray’s best friend Scarlet. This book is set primarily at a book fair in Santa Clara rather than Redwood Grove which seems like a juxtaposition for murder and mayhem but Alexander’s skillful writing adeptly combines both with just the right amount of intrigue. I am still not sure how Annie and Fletcher managed to return home after the conference with bookish merchandise despite all of the investigating that was afoot, but they somehow managed to do both.

I found the discussions about tech in the book world interesting. The possibility of Virtual reality being available to readers - to show the setting and characters of a book - is definitely something that some readers may find intriguing and would be helpful for those readers with aphantasia (when your brain doesn’t create mental pictures as part of your thinking or imagination), but this isn’t a tool I would personally use as I have a very active imagination that creates worlds and pictures for the words an author paints.

With the return of Fletcher, Pri, Liam, and appearances by Hal, Caroline, Penny, Victoria, and Dr. Caldwell, this cozy mystery sets the stage for the Novel Detectives to work their magic. This book was everything I wanted it to be - and I can’t wait to hear what mysteries Annie and Fletcher tackle next!

This book is very much in keeping with the author’s style. A lot of fun in the telling, low stakes investigation, and the ending was satisfying. I feel like it would have made more sense to me had I read the previous books in the series. I wish that the investigation was more of the focus, rather than the other investigation.

The characters were written well, and the vibes were chill.

This was a great conclusion to the series! The murder in this book was wrapped up nicely, and I was so happy to see Annie and team finally conclude Scarlet's mystery. I can't wait for the spin off with Novel Detectives to spend more time with Annie and all of Redwood Grove!

I loved watching Annie's growth as a PI, and the dynamic as she, Fletcher, Liam, and Pri collaborate. Their individual strengths and witty banter as they team up against Scarlet's killer is a highlight of the story. The book fair setting introduces new quirky characters and potential suspects from the cutthroat literary world, providing an entertaining backdrop. I'm eagerly awaiting Annie's next adventure in Novel Detectives!

If you're a fan of charming cozy mysteries, particularly those with an intelligent amateur sleuth and an intriguing long-running mystery, then the A Secret Bookcase Mystery series is definitely one to pick up. While the individual mysteries can be enjoyed as standalones, I highly recommend reading the series in order to fully immerse yourself in the mystery of Scarlet's tragic past.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: June 16, 2025

Thank you Ellie Alexander ( @ellie_alexander ), Storm Publishing ( @stormbooks_co ), and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read A Body at the Book Fair (out now).

Annie and her friends are headed to Santa Clara for an annual book fair…and to finally find her friend, Scarlet’s, killer. But while at the book fair, a tech bro is murdered and Annie is asked to help investigate.

This is Alexander’s final installment of The Secret Bookcase Mysteries, and it wraps up the six book mystery of Scarlet’s murder in addition to its own mystery. Luckily for us we will still get to read about Annie and friends when Alexander’s Novel Detectives series begins.

Annie is so smart and courageous. I love her friends and the relationship she developed with Liam. I’m so glad this series is continuing in a different way and hope to see all the characters back.

#ABodyattheBookFair #NetGalley #EllieAlexander #StormPublishing

Annie is so close now to discovering her friend's killer that she uses a book fair as a reason to return to the area. However of course there is a murder at the fair and now she is also caught up with that having gained her PI credentials. Great story which incorporates all aspects of both the recent murder and the historic one well. Good pace and a great page turner too.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

Love Ellie Alexander and the way she writes a mystery. An amazing ending to an amazing series!! Cannot wait for her next book

was a great ending to the series. I’m hoping we’ll see our protagonist in a new series as she moves on in her life. But this was a great ending and totally satisfactory.

Ellie Alexander is one of a handful of cozy authors, who really know how to spin a tail, create suspense, and bring their characters to life. Every. Single. Series! No matter which one of her books you pick up, you will not be disappointed.

If you have never read a book by this author? Shame on you! But here’s a chance to fix that no matter where you start each book seems to refine as a standalone. I’ve started several of her series in the middle and went back and read the others and was just fine.

Enjoyed this book. Its a good addition to the series. Annie goes to a book fair where she helps to solve a murder. She finally hopes she has evidence to solve Scarlet's murder .

I have read many of Ellie Alexander’s stories they are well written and easy to read. This story takes place at a book fair where they end up finding a dead body and they have to find the real killer. I would recommend to everyone.

I loved this series....so much so that I was sad to find out this is the final book in this series. After some googling, I read that another spinoff series is coming from this so I'm excited for that.

We finally learn the details surrounding Scarlet's death (which I've been wondering about throughout this series) so I was happy to get answers regarding that. Redwood Grove always produces the best mysteries. I absolutely enjoyed this. I read this super quickly because the way Ellie writes the characters and the twists makes it so easy to just binge these books in one sitting. Look forward to the next series!

Annie and Fletcher have travelled to a convention for booksellers. The convention has barely started and someone is killed. Annie is ready and able to help solve the murder. Not only are they there for the convention, but also to see about solving Scarlet's murder. It was nice to finally have a resolution to Scarlett's death and how great that Annie solved the mystery.

When I found out this was the last book in the series I was a bit upset. I've been enjoying this series a lot. While this series is over, Annie and Fletcher will still be around in a new series called Novel Detectives that is out in 2026.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

The 6th and final book in the Secret Bookcase series of cozy mysteries. It's always sad to come to the end of a great series, but Ellie Alexander wraps up all the loose threads, and Scarlet's killer is brought to justice. With Annie opening her detective agency, maybe this will be the next series to launch?

4.5/5 ⭐️
In the sixth and final installment of this series, Annie is finally able to solve the mystery of the murder of her best friend Scarlett. Before that though, she finds herself drawn into the murder of a tech mogul at a book convention.

I was so sad when I read in the synopsis of this one that is was the final in this series because I've really, really enjoyed it. However, good news - there is going to be a new series about Annie and Fletcher as private detectives! I was thrilled at the end when I saw that blurb about the new series. The mystery in this one wasn't perhaps as good (but just slightly) as others in the series because part of it was resolving the Scarlett storyline. It was still a good conclusion to this storyline, and a perfect way to launch Annie into her next series! Can't wait for that one to come out!!

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

Everything that Ellie Alexander writes is gold A Body at the Book Fair is no exception. I love this series and these characters. I can’t wait to read what they get up to next in The Novel Detectives.

This book concludes The Secret Bookcase series with a bang! Lots of chills and thrills will find the reader on the edge of their seats. Great characters, solid mystery and lots of twists and turns! I highly recommend!! Thanks #Netgalley and #StormPublishing for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.