Bookstore owner and author, Jen, is trying to write her next book, without much luck, and figure out why she keeps hesitating about finding a house with her boyfriend, police detective Eric. Then her friend, Ingrid tells her that her boyfriend, Marcus, and his two young daughters are missing after a weekend camping trip. When Marcus' burned out car is found with a body of a man inside is found full panic starts. The girls are no where to be found. And the High School principal was found shot dead in what appears to be an accident. But the more Jen looks into everything they seem to be connected, especially when the body in the car is proven not to be Marcus...

Number 7 in the series but read fine as a stand alone. Jen is caught up in a murder and subsequent disappearance. She is dating Eric a detective also working on the case. Alongside trying to solve the case she owns a book store and is writing a detective novel. Her dog and new kitten feature and there is quite a lot of reference to food preferences. The story is pacy and keeps you engaged.

Murder’s the Word by Sue Minix
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is book 7 in The Bookstore Mystery series, and even though you will get the most from the book if you have read the previous 6 books the mystery is a standalone. Personally I’ve read all 7 books in the last month 😂 as I love a good mystery series.

This is a small town murder mystery book, with a good balance of small town goings-on and murder mystery investigating. I feel like Jen is growing as a person and the change is for the good even if she is still making some slightly dodgy decisions. I love Savannah and Casper 🐶😺I feel a book is always better if there’s a dog in it, and in this case, a cat too.

As a British person I love some of the words and phrases Ingrid comes out with, and her having to explain them to Jen and the gang.
I’m looking forward to reading more book in the series.

I received a gifted ARC of this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books.
This is my honest review.

Thank you so much for letting me read this book I loved it. I’m going to tell my book club about it. I loved the characters and the plot.

5/5 stars: This is Minix's seventh entry in Bookstore Mystery series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery set in South Carolina. Featuring a mystery author and bookstore owner as she finds herself turning sleuth after the local high school principal's killed in what's supposed to look like a hunting accident and the beloved local veterinarian almost immediately becomes the police's main suspect. Knowing he's innocent she's determined to track down the clues and find other suspects in order to clear his name, despite juggling her personal life, struggling to finish her third book before it's deadline and drumming up sales for her store. When a friend and his two daughters go missing while camping in the same area the principal dies in, she fears the two events might be connected. She'll have to work fast to save the threesome and stop the killer before it's too late.

With plenty of twists and turns, Minix has masterfully a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Witty and tons of fun, Minix's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.

• For animal lovers: MC has an adorable German Shepherd and sweet rescue kitten.
• Includes the MC's writing journey.

While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder at the Bookstore. Minix's a favorite author and I'm so glad to see this new entry; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK | Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Life is getting a bit serious for bookshop owner, Jen Dawson. She is struggling with her next book, has become mum to a white kitten, and has been looking at houses with boyfriend and local detective, Eric O'Malley, so they can move in together!  What she isn't doing is investigating anything remotely criminal any longer! So, when she hears of the death of a school principal she is saddened but resolute - until she learns who the main suspect is and suddenly she's back in the thick of things! Then another body is discovered and everything becomes far more serious and it's a race against time to find out who's responsible.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Avon Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. It's been two years since the 6th book in this series was released and I'm delighted to see there'll be two new titles released before the end of the year. This is fast paced and tense at times but the humour is still there, and the scene in Jen's kitchen is brilliant. There were a couple of stretches to reality but I was so happy to be back in Riddelton that it didn't really spoil anything.

My first encounter with Jen and here menagerie. This is a deceptive cosy mystery type story, in that it is cosy, yet with a more serious side to the story too. I don't know if this is normal for these books, but I'm intrigued enough to find out more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the reading copy.

Murder's the Word by Sue Minix
I finished this one around 2am this morning because it was soooooo very good!
I absolutely adored the setting. The bookstore was described so well that I could practically smell them books lol.
I enjoyed sleuthing and solving the puzzle with Jen and of course getting to know her.
Lots of twists and turns that we never see coming which is what made it interesting of course.
My favorite thing is I love that it's told from Jen's point of view. It makes the story more interesting and definitely more connection to the characters.
I wanted to add that I thoroughly enjoyed Savannah and Casper. Their antics made me laugh because that's just what animals do. Especially when it comes to food laugh out loud. That sad eyed puppy dog look I sometimes think they're human too!
Even I could practically smell the bacon cooking. Yummy!!
I laughed at the way Jen described herself in the mornings. I could just picture it perfectly. At least she's honest lol.
This is a book that will have you laughing and crying at the same time too! Oh my! This story really made my day but it sobered me up in other parts too like what happened to the towns veterinarian. He didn't deserve that at all!.
Secrets always come out sooner or later don't they? Especially in a small town?
Jen will NOT let you put her story down until she says you can.
Can they find the two missing girls before it's too late?
Y'all just have to pick up this book to find out!!
I'm giving this story 5 stars just because I enjoyed it. Its definitely a page turner.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Poor Jen, all she wants to do is run her bookshop and write her next book. But life has other plans, as it usually does. When the local high school principal is murdered, Jen finds herself looking into yet another murder in her hometown. Can she solve the murder before she becomes the next victim?

This is a great series. I’ve read several and missed a few and still followed along just fine. So if you are worried about this not working as a stand alone, I don’t see it as being a problem. It is a solid and enjoyable read.

The pace really builds as the book goes along, from a disappointing slow start to a brilliant, nail biting crescendo of an ending. Having read previous books in the series, it was satisfying to see relationships developing. Jen can be frustrating at times, she tends to go it alone when really she should call for help! All in all, a great read, and I’m looking forward to more books in this series.

Murder’s the Word by Sue Minix the 6 instalment in the "A Bookstore Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 7!

I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and Ravenous Reads Bookstore. I like the main cast of characters Jen, Charlie, Lacey, Eric, Ingrid and of Savannah the German shepherd. Jen is trying to navigate having writers block and looking for a house with Eric and her commitment issues.

In this instalment the high school principal is murdered and then Marcus, and his two young daughters go missing after a weekend camping trip! Now Jen has to investigate right, she can’t just sit idly by why her friend is missing…

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

I enjoyed reading this book. It has all the components I appreciate in a good cozy mystery.
The author does a wonderful job describing the town, which made it fun to read.
The characters are vividly portrayed and make this book truly stand out.

Mystery writer, and part-time bookshop owner, Jen Dawson, is once again struggling with writer’s block. And as if that isn’t bad enough, her relationship with police detective, Eric, is under increasing strain as they butt heads over finding a house to buy together. At least she’s managing to keep her promise to stop with the amateur sleuthing, a hobby that has put her into danger more than once. Still, when the high school principal is murdered, it’s hard not to be shocked – especially when the town vet is prime suspect.

She might yet have stayed on track, until her friend Ingrid comes to her, frantic, that her boyfriend Marcus seems to have disappeared on a camping trip with his two young daughters. There’s no way Jen can’t try to help with that! But the more she looks, the more the two cases seems to have in common – but, how?

I’m having slightly mixed feelings about this seventh volume in the Bookstore Mystery (not that the bookstore features much at all these days!) series. On the one hand, it’s definitely back on form after a slightly shaky book 6. On the other, there are a few events and scenes here that, in my opinion, push this quite far out of the ‘cosy’ in the genre. Without giving spoilers, there are some really quit traumatic scenes that were definitely not light reading!

So, marks for being a very readable mystery, but definitely go in prepared for less ‘cosy’ than you’d think.

There’s also a bit of a post-mystery ‘epilogue’ kind of thing, that seemed to suggest both more books in the series, and also the introduction of a new element that’s about to hit us – what a tease!

I enjoyed this cosy mystery, which has all the elements the cosy genre should.
The main character, mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jen, is relatable and likeable. And her adorable dog and new kitten, who are never far from her side, soon become characters in their own right.
While I found the plot less cryptic and intriguing than I normally look for, the author's easy to read writing style kept me involved and turning the pages.
This is Book 7 in Sue Minx's Bookstore Mysteries series and I will now definitely be checking out sleuth Jen's earlier investigations.

Charming, clever, and thoroughly enjoyable. I had fun trying to piece together the clues and loved getting to know the characters along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I have been waiting for more of this series and am happy to say this book didn't disappoint! Jen gets herself involved in another mystery/murder when she helps look for her missing friend Marcus and his daughters. As with all books in the series the mystery in this one can be a stand alone but the benefit of reading the entire series is that you can meet the characters and see their development and relationships grow from book to book. A fun and cosy series that is exactly what I need when I read it. Is it too soon to hope for another book?

I always enjoy returning to this series, and this latest mystery didn’t disappoint. Watching Jen get pulled back into sleuthing after trying to retire made for a fun setup, and the bookstore atmosphere remains one of my favorite parts of the series. The mystery kept me guessing, and I loved spending time with these characters again.

This latest in the series (also enjoyable as a standalone) sees Jen struggling with her novel, managing her bookstore, and thinking about her future with Eric, a detective who wishes she would not do any more investigating. But investigate she must when there's a murder that was staged to look like a hunting accident, a disappearance, and the discovery of a body in a burnt car. It's a classic cozy with good red herrings (and pets!). Those who have been following along will be pleased with Jen's growth as a person (and character). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARc. A good read.