I have become gradually captivated by the secret bookcase series. I love the bookshop, have been increasingly drawn in by the characters and look forward to their development. It is a stand alone book but you will get so much more out of it if you read the series. It is a gentle read but one that I think is just extremely enjoyavle. I highly recommende.

Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc .

This rounds out the series and finally solves Scarletts murder. I have to say I was overall disappointed in how quick they wrapped up her story. It was hyped up and reduced to the very last couple chapters, it focused more on the new murder case. I guess I hoped for more.

Overall still really enjoyed this book, I have loved this cozy murder mystery series and am happy to hear it will be continued in a new way with the novel detectives series.

Absolutely loved this conclusion to the 6-book Secret Bookcase Mystery series. I was sorry to see it end but was thrilled to hear that the author is beginning a new spin-off series (I believe the spin off is called The Novel Detectives series).

This book is an excellent combination of Annie Fletcher and friends solving the case of a murder at a bookstore owners fair and resolving the investigation into the murder of Annie's old friend, Scarlet, years earlier. I was especially intrigued by the new book-related technology shown at the booksellers fair. Very interesting.

I love the four main characters (Annie, Fletcher Pri, and Liam). The plots, including this one, are always clever. The books are always enjoyable

Highly recommended!! I'll be looking forward to the new series, too.

I devoured this whole series! I received this ARC from Netgalley and realized it was a series and had to catch up but it didn't take me long. The characters are amazing and the mystery was done brilliantly and kept me trying to solve it til the end.

I'm a little sad this series had to end but we are apparently getting a spinoff series with these characters and I CANT WAIT!

Pick this up if you love a good mystery and great characters!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm publishing for this ARC! I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the new series...

This is the conclusion of The Secret Bookcase Series. I didn't read this series but this book was written in such a way that I could understand and enjoy without feeling like I was missing something.

Annie Murray is in the process of taking over the Secret Bookcase, a mystery themed bookstore in Redwood Grove, California. She is also partnering with her friend, Fletcher to open the Novel Investigations Detective Agency as she has just received her private investigator license. The final thing she wants to accomplish is solving the 10 year old murder of her best friend Scarlet.

This book is the combination of two different stories, but with the same group of friends. Annie and her friends travel to Santa Clara for their annual book fair where they end up investigating a murder that happens at the fair. The second story revolves around solving Scarlet's murder. Either story could be a stand alone, but they pair nicely together.

This was a nice cozy read.

So bittersweet to finally come to a close on this beautiful cozy book series! If I could choose any book to wake up in, Redwood Grove would no doubt be at the top of my list. Such a quaint little town with so much to offer. And Annie Murray is such a relatable character - lover of all the book things and the investigator we all long to be!

The final book of the Secret Bookcase series was filled with friendship, love, and sleuthing! A quick, easy read mystery accompanied by the wrapping up of Annie's years long unsolved case of her best friend's murder. It was nice to finally see justice served in Scarlet's honor.

I can't wait to see Annie continue on in her new series!

Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for the ARC and chance to give my honest opinion!

A neat finish by Ellie Alexander to this comfort mystery read.

The thing that drew me into this series was the homely feel that the book gave. The rustic setting coupled with a feeling of community made this book my go to ARC read. I am also glad that the final installment didn't have a murder in Annie's backyard. It was high time for it.

This book also concludes Scarlet's murder mystery which was included since Book 1. We have Annie who during a book convention comes across a murder. The author blends both the current crime and the Scarlet mystery. I did feel that maybe the conclusion of the murder of a tech wannabe wasn't as thrilling as it should have been. I felt that the author tried to justify both which didn't find it's effect. Even the Scarlet solution felt a bit convenient.

However, I am glad that the author concluded the series. I need to especially compliment the author on researching a wide variety of elements in her book not just mystery. I love how coffee is described through Priya or food through Liam. The added dash of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie is just icing on the cake.

Most importantly the fact that made me an avid follower of this series is the light heartedness. It doesn't have a dark convoluted feeling that most mystery books have. Characters feel real life and the overall progress of each character was wonderful especially Annie and Liam. I loved how their romance didn't overpower the story or that there wasn't any dark past. I am so excited to now read the spin off series of Annie and Fletcher.

For just the right serene conclusion, I give this book 3.5 stars.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Body at the Book Fair is the sixth and final book in the Secret Staircase Mystery Series. Annie Murray is heading to Santa Clara to attend the annual book fair as part of her job running the Secret Bookcase. But she is also going to be closer to Silicon Summit Partners. The firm that she believes to be responsible for her best friend Scarlet's death. Before she can continue her investigation into what happened with Scarlet, Annie also becomes entangled in an investigation related to the death at the book fair.

This was another great entry to this series. I really love Annie as the lead. She is smart and caring. She also has a more interactive involvement in the investigations being a licensed investigator. So you get a slightly different experience than most cozy mysteries. I also appreciate that she has an active and involved social group. Her relationship with Liam is also lovely and supportive. The mystery was interesting and had some good twists. I also liked finally getting a resolution to the series long mystery of what happened to Scarlet. We never really met her as a character but she has been very present throughout the series. I have enjoyed this series so much and was so bummed that it was finishing until I got to the end and found out we will be getting a spin off! I can't wait for the adventures in new The Novel Detectives series.

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

This is a satisfying conclusion to the series. Annie finally solves Scarlet’s murder and sets in motion the next stage of her career.

Who says bookworms are boring?

That is definitely not the case for our intrepid booksellers turned private investigators Annie and Fletcher. When the two travel to a book conference, they're on a mission to finally solve Annie's best friend's murder from a decade ago by infiltrating a corrupt tech company. They find themselves with double duty when a speaker at the conference is killed by his own technology. What ensues is a heart-pumping mystery through a book-festooned hotel and a daunting tech company.

The perfect book to end this book-lovers dream of a cozy mystery series. Those who have been along for the whole run of this series will finally get the closure they need on Scarlett's death along with Annie. The whole book conference sounds like a dream come true, and will make any bibliophile consider leaving their own job for one in bookselling just to attend a similar conference filled with bookish delights.

Both mysteries had me glued to my Kindle throughout the entirety of the book, feverishly flipping to the next page to get the next kernel of a clue. As always, Ellie Alexander writes with an inimitable heart that brings readers into the world of her Redwood Grove characters and has the ability to make readers truly feel for the characters.

I, for one, cannot wait until the debut of The Novel Detectives series in 2026.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read this, but I honestly didn’t find it to be as good as the previous books in this series. I had a hard time getting into it, probably because the first 10-12% of the book is nothing but review of the previous books. Both mysteries that are ultimately solved seemed kind of anticlimactic, too. I’m pretty sure a big part of it was the fact that it didn’t take place where the rest of the books have. I’ll still be looking forward to the first Novel Detectives book, but I’m really hoping that it will be much better than this one.

This is the sixth and final book in the "Secret Bookcase Mystery" series. The author, Ellie Alexander, has created my favorite series of the past year. I loved every book and this brings an exciting conclusion to solving the cold case of Annie's best friend's murder 10 years ago.

There is, of course, a current murder at the bookseller's convention which Annie and her wonderful
friends are all attending; they aid the local police, as usual, to find the culprit.

Annie and her bookstore partner Fletcher finally are setting up their private investigative practice, which will be the theme of the author's next series, "The Novel Detectives:. I eagerly look forward to it!

I highly recommend the entire "Secret Bookcase Mystery" series. The plots are interesting and have
kept my attention all the way to the end of each book.

I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

Another fabulous instalment in this lovely series. This time the murder of Annie’s college friend is finally solved, as well as the murder that happened at the book fair. The plots are great, but it’s the characters who keep me reading these books. A wonderfully set cosy with a big heart.

Oh my did I love this book! Did I read it in one sitting, yes. Did I finish it at 2 am? Also yes. I couldn't stop turning the pages and the writing style was so delightful. Loved the main characters and the fast-pacing. Can't wait to read the spin-off series and thank you to Storm Publishing for accepting me to read the ARC!

This was a fitting end to the series, and the ongoing puzzle of Scarlet's murder is resolved. Although, I felt it stretched the levels of credibility, clearly some way was needed to get those files and expose Logan. The way the pieces all added up over the previous books was well done. The book fair sounded delightful, however, the murder showed the grubby side of publishing,and product development. This has been a wonderfully escapist and imaginative series, but, yes, it is time for Annie and co to move on. Hopefully, the next series will be as good. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and freely review.

An excellent end to a great series. Annie and Fletcher head to a book conference which ends with them solving two murders. The resolution of Scarlett's murder is central to the series and at last Annie is able to figure out the clues to make sure the murder is solved. The best news is a spin off series called Novel Detectives is on the horizon! Excellent read!
I was given an advanced copy in exchange for a review. # stormpublishing, #elliealexander

Annie and Fletcher travel to a book sellers' conference with Priya and Liam in tow because this isn't just a work convention--it's also an opportunity for Annie to finally confront Scarlett's killer, and she knows she can't do it alone. But while at the convention, another murder occurs: a tech mogul is killed by his own device while on a panel, and it seems like foul play. Witnessing the scene firsthand, Annie is ready to provide her sleuthing skills to the police.

And we have the final Secret Bookcase Mystery at last... or do we? The end of this book reveals that we are getting a new series with our same favorite characters, focusing on Annie and Fletcher's new foray into private investigation! I'm excited to see where that takes us.

In terms of how this book panned out--I enjoyed the new mystery, at the conference, which had quite the cast of characters and an interesting murder weapon. However, the resolution of Scarlett's murder was both a bit anticlimactic and implausible. Coming out of the last book, I didn't even realize we had figured out who precisely the murderer was, and now Scarlett is planning to confront them and somehow find evidence Scarlett supposedly planted there a decade prior? It just didn't make a lot of sense. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish it was drawn-out into the spin-off series just to give it more time to develop. Still enjoyed the book and plan to read the next chapter (ha!) of the Novel Detectives, though.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

Enjoyed this one overall, but must admit to not having read the whole series in order. Might have made a difference. Still though, would highly recommend this one and author.

A great finish to the five book series. This series is different from the Bakeshop mysteries (my favorite) in there is an arc that continues through all of the books.
I enjoyed each installment and although this isn't a stand alone, Alexander is a master of catching up the reader if they are new to the series. The place the author really shines is in character development and setting. The Secret Bookshop is wonderful, Central California coast setting is perfect and I loved all of the characters. I'm happy all the loose ends are tied up and I look forward to continuing the journey with Annie and Fletcher in the new series. I smiled at the nod to the wonderful Oregon coffee from the Torte Bakeshop.

🔍 Murder, Memories & A Mic-Drop Finale

This book was everything I wanted—and more.

A Body at the Book Fair is the perfect send-off to a series that’s been one of my absolute favorite cozy escapes. Ellie Alexander doesn’t just wrap things up—she delivers closure, emotion, and one final twisty mystery that had me turning the pages late into the night.

First off, the book fair setting? Loved. It was bookish nerd heaven—full of chaotic author panels, publishing drama, and just the right touch of Agatha Christie flair. I missed Redwood Grove a bit, but the change of scenery actually worked so well, especially with Annie’s secret side mission quietly bubbling under the surface.

And that mission? Finally confronting the unsolved murder of her best friend, Scarlet? It was intense, emotional, and so satisfying. The resolution was smart and earned. It’s rare to see a cozy balance the personal stakes so well with the present-day whodunit, but this one nailed it.

Also: Annie and Fletcher. Their partnership is goals. Watching them build their detective agency together was just so rewarding. They’ve grown so much since book one, and now they feel like total pros—with heart. (Also, yes to the hint of romance still simmering in the background. It’s subtle, it’s cozy, and it works.)

This series has always had the warmest community vibes, clever plots, and just enough emotional weight to keep things grounded. And while I’m sad to say goodbye to The Secret Bookcase, I’m thrilled we’ll be getting more of Annie and Fletcher in the Novel Detectives series. I’m so ready for whatever comes next.

If you love:
📚 Bookstores
🕵️‍♀️ Sleuths with heart
🐈 Cozy mysteries that actually deliver on plot
🎭 High-stakes but low-gore whodunits

…this entire series is a must. This final book? A five-star finish. No notes. Just applause.