Read time: 5 minutes
Edition: 📚 Read as a book
📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx.)
🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter
ARC provided by NetGalley
📅 Published: January 23, 2026
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
When the manager of The Quaint Bookshop is found dead among the shelves, the four members of the store’s cozy crime club take it upon themselves to solve the murder. Each handpicked by the manager, they’ve been given secret clues to unravel the truth. Drawing on their favorite fictional detectives, the club members navigate secrets, motives, and red herrings to catch the killer, proving that sometimes, a team of amateur sleuths can give the police a run for their money. But in this game of wit and mystery, no clue is too small, and no reader too harmless.
Let’s talk… Murder!
Murder by the Book is an intriguing concept: four amateur sleuths, one bookshop murder, and a puzzle laid out for them by the deceased manager. In theory, it’s a perfect setup for a cozy, page-turning mystery. And the actual unraveling of the murder? Solid. The clues are clever, and the resolution itself is satisfying.
Where the book falters for me is in the execution. Told from four different perspectives, each member narrating their side of the investigation, the story loses some of the intimacy and suspense that comes from following a single sleuth. Instead of building a connection with one character, I was bouncing between four different viewpoints, and it got confusing. By the end, I also struggled with the motive behind the murder; it didn’t resonate, and left me feeling slightly disconnected from the emotional stakes.
Overall, it was a decent read. If you love puzzles and classic cozy tropes, you might enjoy the ride. For me, though, it wasn’t compelling enough to return for the rest of the series.
Would I recommend it?
The mystery itself is fun and clever, but the multiple perspectives diluted the connection I crave in cozy mysteries. A good one-off read, but I won’t be following this series.
Book Recommendations Based on This Read:
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – cozy mystery with a single, lovable sleuth team.
- A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette – fun amateur detective mystery in a small town.
- The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood – classic cozy vibes with sharp wit and strong characters.
- The Bookshop Mystery series by Juliet Blackwell – bookshop settings + cozy sleuthing.
- One for the Books by Kate Carlisle – bookish mysteries with heart and clever plotting.
Which book made you binge?
Did a multiple-perspective mystery ever work for you, or did it leave you wishing for just one point of view?
Book Links:
Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal
Indiebookstores.ca
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