Lauren ElliottMurder by the Book (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery)

I mean, bookstores and mystery! The plot was intriguing and kept my interest. However, the writing got in the way. The characters were always scrubbing at their faces, winking at each other, and smirking. Note to author: "smirking" is not a desirable or pleasant trait! The book could have also used some better editing; for example, "rite" and "right" do not mean the same thing!

What an over the top, drama laden book! The main character, Addie, is a case study in a number of psychological issues including co-dependency. She is whiny, clingy and imposing on people who she hasn’t know for 5 minutes. Overshare does not appear to be a word in her vocabulary – but it certainly needs to be. The supposition of the story is that Addie has been in town long enough to completely make over a business property and set up a store, yet she knows no one in town – no one. It takes place in a town where no crime every happens, but suddenly everyone is sneaky, evil, out to get Addie and – way beyond belief.This was a painful read. I would suggest rethinking how real people actually function in the world. This book sure isn’t it. The story is unbelievable on the whole to the point of being incredibly annoying.

Addie, an unlikable character I might say, has tragic deaths in her recent past and inherits a large home and money in a small town with her last name. Somehow she doesn't remember anything about the town or of her recently deceased great aunt, but decides to move to the town and open a store of curios and used books, both rare and valuable books. Then mystery and questionable murders happen seeming to revolve around her.Problems I had with this book are many. First, she's been there for a month working all the time setting up her store, but never bothered to meet the business neighbors she's next to, but as soon as she opens her doors she is instantly bffs with one, and enemies with the other. Also she is constantly leaving the shop, when are the shoppers supposed to buy anything. Secondly, she is a self entitled know it all, rude and about as cuddly as a cactus. One minute she is attracted to the police chief, the next she is rude and rebuffs any friendly attempt from him, but gets all pissed when he doesn't hold her after she is held at gun point, plus she keeps butting into official police business. She has multiple chances to ask others about the mysterious strangers identity, or even take a photo to ask later, but she doesn't, but then the mystery would have been solved quickly. She knows someone is stalking her, lives in an isolated house, yet leaves the doors unlocked.On to the stalker, robbers book thief. These are the worst international thieves ever. They are in the area before she moves there but don't find what they want. They break in to her store and home, but only when she's there, not when she's gone from either place. They also supposedly have been in this business for several years, they just aren't good at it.Lastly, myself as a book lover, Addie recognizes a semi valuable book stolen from her store by the sticker from her shop on the cover. Nobody would place a store price sticker on a cover of a book worth something. Maybe on a jacket protector, not on the cover.Lastly, why do writers think that having a strong female lead character means she has to be rude, arrogant and know it all's? I didn't come to even remotely like her and had to force myself to finish this. To the police chief-run, run quickly away.

Couldn’t get past the feeling I was reading a Scooby book. The plot was good with a lot of suspects; but the dialogue was juvenile.Lately, I’m feeling a lot of the cozy mysteries I am reading should be marketed to Young Adults. Read 1/3 and then the end. Sorry.

It had a decent plot, but the writing was like listening to someone speaking in a monotone. I don't know who the author associates with, but I've never heard adults in their 30s talk and act as though they are 14. Between the blushes, stomping feet, sticking out of tongue, and winking, juvenile conversation and behavior, the plot sort of got lost. A little too much to believe that the main character had mutliple break ins at both business and home and tripped over several dead bodies before 53% of the book, with the ending sort like a Perry Mason episode.

I agree with a previous reviewer who called this "annoying" and a "painful read". I will not be buying the second book, and probably will not be reading the rest of this one. The characters are poorly developed and unlikeable. The setting is ill-defined, the plot rushed and the writing histrionic. The author's language skills need a lot of work - when she called a character a charitable "donator", I almost stopped reading. I love a good new cozy, but this certainly wasn't it.

While the premise was worthy, and the characters interesting, it seemed like after a while, it was all “filler”. If every few pages someone “smirks” and someone else “smirks” and someone “pushes a lock of hair behind her ear” again and again, this “could-have-been-a-page-turner” became a “let’s turn ten pages instead of one” an$ get to the end.

Meet Addie Greyborne, former rare books librarian at the Boston Public Library. After an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she never knew and the murder of her fiance, Addie moves to the small New England town that her family founded. Among the things left to her by her aunt was Greyborne Manor and a huge collection of books, many of them first editions, which prompts her to open an used book store. From opening day of business at "Beyond the Page-Books & Curios," Addie has break-ins at both the shop and home. When a murder occurs and her new best friend is the prime suspect, Addie knows the murder and break-ins are tied together.An outstanding first book in a new series. I found the characters to be well defined and relatable. The background and setting are done well. The murder and break-ins lead you on a twisted path that will keep you turning the pages and guessing right to the surprise ending. I highly recommend this book to all cozy and mystery readers. I am impatient for the next book to come out!

Loved the story line different from most murders not about love etc

I was excited to read the first in a new series Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliot features a catchy title, an interesting premise and an lots of characters who doesn't love a bookstore setting. Although I would like to know more about the town so I can picture it in my mind.The heroine, Addie, has moved to a small town in New England that was built by her ancestors following an unexpected legacy from a great-aunt. Now she hopes to start life fresh after a rash of unexplained deaths involving too many of those closest to her.The story line itself is intriguing and shows promise but I did find myself, unfortunately, putting it down a lot. It has an appealing setting, but the characters aren’t too fully realized yet and the plot is pretty straightforward. Coincidences abound throughout the book and readers should be able to figure things out along with Addie.Murder by the Book is a good first mystery and I look forward to reading the second installment Prologue to Murder available April 30th, 2019.

Nach schweren Schicksalsschlägen und einer Erbschaft kehrt Addie an den Heimatort ihrer Familie zurück. Wobei sie sich allerdings nicht erinnert, ob sie schon einmal dort gewesen ist. Ihre verstorbene Großtante hat ihr ein herrschaftliches Haus und eine Sammlung von Büchern vererbt. Addie, die bis dahin, für ein Museum gearbeitet hat, wo sie nach verlorenen oder seltenen Büchern gesucht hat. Wegen der vielen ererbten Bücher, unter denen sich auch Sammlerstücke befinden, aber auch die ganz normalen Bücher, die häufig nur einmal gelesen werden, kommt Addie auf die Idee, einen Laden für gebrauchte Bücher zu eröffnen. Schon am Eröffnungstag wird ihr kleiner kuscheliger Buchladen beobachtet und es gibt einen Einbruchsversuch.Bei diesem Roman handelt es sich um den Beginn einer Reihe um die Buchhändlerin Addie Greyborne, deren zweiter Teil bereits angekündigt ist. Um Addie, die Gründe für ihren Umzug und die Einführung in das Örtchen, welches ihre Vorfahren gegründet haben, einzuführen, lässt die Autorin etwas viel auf Addie einstürzen. Auch scheint es fast so, als zöge mit ihr das Verbrechen in das kleine Neu England Städtchen. Zum Glück lernt Addie schon am Tag der Eröffnung ihres Ladens die Besitzerin des Teeladens kennen, der neben ihrem liegt. Die beiden jungen Frauen sind sich sofort sympathisch und auch Serenas Bruder Marc, der örtliche Polizeichef, ist ein zuverlässiger Helfer. Er wird nach dem ersten Einbruchsversuch schnell gebraucht.Wegen der Ereignisse vor Addies Ankunft, müsste sie eigentlich in tiefe Depressionen verfallen. Ihr hat die Autorin etwas zu viel aus dem Vollen geschöpft. Doch schon bald gewinnt der Roman mit Hilfe der quirligen Serena und der unermüdlichen Addie. Beide haben mit den unheimlichen Begebenheiten zu kämpfen, die nach Eröffnung von Addies Laden geschehen. Wenn dann die Einzelheiten des großen Ganzen zusammen gepuzzelt werden und die Amateurdetektivin dem Fachmann in Nichts nachsteht, inhaliert man jedes weitere Kapitel mit Neugier und kommt so tatsächlich größeren Verbrechen auf die Spur und erfährt gleichzeitig etwas über eine Welt, in der Buchraritäten hochgehandelt werden.Ein sehr unterhaltsamer Häkelkrimi, der zu empfehlen ist, wenn man gerne über Buchwelten liest.

I was excited to get this, however that didn’t last long as the mystery unfolded (had so much potential) and I could focus on was how I found the characters of Addie, Marc and Serena becoming more annoying - plus the Marc and Addie’s upcoming romance dance was a subtle as a sledgehammer. An instant friendship of almost lifetime BFF quality for Addie and Serena, plus what seemed like an antagonistic relationship between Addie and Marc segways into something else that I really didn’t care for.Martha and her cronies were just as insufferable towards Addie, but we really didn’t see them that much so they were more like annoying mosquitoes that buzzed around. I would have liked to know the reasoning for this old biddies hatred of Addie because it seems like overkill, and for the author to have Serena causally conclude that it’s only jealousy because Addie is a Greyhaven is a bit lazy. But I digress, and the suspects and antagonists are just wishy washy.So... not sure that I like the main characters, the romance angle is a bit cringy, and the town nemesis, Martha, has unstated motive for her actions, but this mean old lady can muster up a group of cohorts? Ugh, give me a break.2.5 stars ⭐️

The opening pages of the book drew me in but then it got annoying. Everyone is winking at everyone else. No one seems to be tracking down the suspects in ALL OF THE NUMEROUS BREAK- INS AND MURDERS. The main characters become instant friends and more and almost everyone else in town hates the heroine. Too amateurish and way too over done.