canadianbookworm's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-bookshop-murder.html
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Bookshop Murder is the first book in a new bookshop cozy series by Merryn Allingham. Due out 26th July 2021, it's 256 pages and will be available in audio and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
I love small-town cozies, historical mysteries, and light British crime. This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. It's capably written with an intelligent and appealing young bookstore owner investigating a murder which occurred in her bookshop. The plot arc is quite linear. Flora and Jack, a local recluse author who functions as her Capt. Hastings, seem to go directly from point to point with very few distractions or false clues. The action does move resolutely forward, and it never drags, so although simple, it's an enjoyable and engaging read. There is no bad language or triggering content and the climax and denouement were satisfying and included a few twists I didn't see coming.
Four stars. This is an enjoyable historical bookshop cozy. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Bookshop Murder is the first book in a new bookshop cozy series by Merryn Allingham. Due out 26th July 2021, it's 256 pages and will be available in audio and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
I love small-town cozies, historical mysteries, and light British crime. This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. It's capably written with an intelligent and appealing young bookstore owner investigating a murder which occurred in her bookshop. The plot arc is quite linear. Flora and Jack, a local recluse author who functions as her Capt. Hastings, seem to go directly from point to point with very few distractions or false clues. The action does move resolutely forward, and it never drags, so although simple, it's an enjoyable and engaging read. There is no bad language or triggering content and the climax and denouement were satisfying and included a few twists I didn't see coming.
Four stars. This is an enjoyable historical bookshop cozy. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
itsmissylexie's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Flora owns the All's Well bookshop in Abbeymead. When a dead body is found in the shop, Flora sets about to solve the mystery. She enrols the help of Jack, the village crime writer.
The book was quite slow in places and it had the potential to have so much more to the story. I did like the characters and the build up of suspense to the end.
Hopefully the rest of the series gets better.
The book was quite slow in places and it had the potential to have so much more to the story. I did like the characters and the build up of suspense to the end.
Hopefully the rest of the series gets better.
chasingholden's review against another edition
4.0
The Bookshop Murder is the first book in a historical cozy fiction series. In this book we meet Flora Steele a young bookshop owner who dreams of being somewhere else other than in Abbeymead running the book shop that was her Aunt's she''s barely getting through the days until one day, to her surprise, not only does she meet the Famous but reclusive crime writer Jack Carrington but Jack stumbles upon a dead body laying on the floor of her bookshop. When the medical examiner gives the official cause of death it doesn't quite sit right with Flora; Worse than that her shop is going down hill fast as the community catches wind of the murder. Desperate to uncover the truth of how this young man died she enlists the help of the hesitant crime writer, dragging him along as she investigates with the goal of clearing her shops negative image.
The beginning is cute, though the prose is at times a bit clunky the majority of the story is a smooth ride. The plot unfolds at a decent pace, the characters evolving as the story progresses, becoming more loveable as the pages flip by. Though it's not completely historically accurate it is a sweet, cozy, and entertaining read.
In the past I have avoided cozy mysteries such as these in favor of the more hard crime horror cases, mistakenly believing that I'd quickly become bored with a book like this. While I can't honestly say I now prefer this sweet literary trend, I can say without a doubt I have changed my mind and will certainly be waiting for the next book in Merryn Allingham's series.
If cozy mysteries are your thing, this book rates around a 4 out of 5. You won't be disappointed in The Bookshop Murder, of that I am positive.
Thank you to netgalley, publishers, and Merryn Allingham for an advance e-copy of this book for me to read and provide my honest, unprompted opinion's. I'm happy to say this was another good book hitting shelves very soon!
The beginning is cute, though the prose is at times a bit clunky the majority of the story is a smooth ride. The plot unfolds at a decent pace, the characters evolving as the story progresses, becoming more loveable as the pages flip by. Though it's not completely historically accurate it is a sweet, cozy, and entertaining read.
In the past I have avoided cozy mysteries such as these in favor of the more hard crime horror cases, mistakenly believing that I'd quickly become bored with a book like this. While I can't honestly say I now prefer this sweet literary trend, I can say without a doubt I have changed my mind and will certainly be waiting for the next book in Merryn Allingham's series.
If cozy mysteries are your thing, this book rates around a 4 out of 5. You won't be disappointed in The Bookshop Murder, of that I am positive.
Thank you to netgalley, publishers, and Merryn Allingham for an advance e-copy of this book for me to read and provide my honest, unprompted opinion's. I'm happy to say this was another good book hitting shelves very soon!
frannieman's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
2.0
⭐⭐⭐ -- Annoying lead character
This book was okay. I really liked the setting and the time period. I don't think I have read many "cozy" type mysteries set in the 50s. I also enjoyed the mystery and really liked Jack. However, and this was a huge issue for me...I could not stand Flora. OMG, I am sorry for saying this, but she was an obnoxious, know it all moron.
This book was okay. I really liked the setting and the time period. I don't think I have read many "cozy" type mysteries set in the 50s. I also enjoyed the mystery and really liked Jack. However, and this was a huge issue for me...I could not stand Flora. OMG, I am sorry for saying this, but she was an obnoxious, know it all moron.
stacylmoll's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book, as I am on a UK book kick. However, I wasn't sure about one set after WWII, but I can't wait to read the next one. I wonder where the two main characters will end up! This was not as fast paced as other books series that I am familiar with, but the story and its twists were just as exciting. Well worth your time to start and stay with Flora Steele.