I was looking forward to reading a light hearted detective novel; but this was too thin. The characters were so thinly drawn I couldn't distinguish between them. Descriptions were scant or non existent. There was no sense of place at all, I wasn't sure for for a while where the story was set at all. It also seemed to use a previous crime as back story, I didn't know whether this was a previous novel of the author's.
Overall, a let down.

It was and easy and so-so read. Nothing really jumped out at me that would make me thing it would be memorable but it will appeal to readers

I did not finish - I have tried reading this book on multiple occasions and just could not get into it.

Even though this is not book one in the series you don't need to have read the first one before this, I didn't and could follow everything very easily as the first chapter goes back over what has happened in the previous book and explains who every one is.

I loved the book, and the way the locations were described made it so much easier to visualise what was happening and where..

The book is a brilliant cosy mystery book akin to Agatha Chrsitie, and it kept me guessing all the way through to the end.

A great tale with a colourful cast and picturesque settings. An intriguing mystery with plenty of twists. A very enjoyable read.

This is book two in the Cozy Gift Shop mystery series. I recommend the first in series as both in series are highly enjoyable cozy mystery reads. You do not need to read the first to enjoy this second in series.
In this edition our protagonist is Vicky who is living in a small town of delightful characters. She owns and manages her country gift shop specializing in authentic British goods. She attends a reading of a famous British crime writer and is looking forward to meeting her and having her book signed by the author. While attending she is notified by a friend of a murder and she is off and running to help solve the crime. She has a talent for finding clues and promises to help find the suspect before another murder occurs.
This is a delightful series, full of warm wonderful characters and great clues . I enjoyed it as much as the first in series. I highly recommend this series for your cozy mystery enjoyment.

This is the epitome of a pleasant cozy (murder aside!). Vicky and her friends (including, wisely, Cash) make a good team to solve the not too twisty murder of an unlikeable visitor to small town Maine. This might put you in mind of Murder She Wrote but Vicky is younger and spunkier. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You could easily read this as a standalone- and I know I'm going to look for the next one in the series.

Light and entertaining, Grand Prize Murder combines colorful characters with a twisty, puzzling plot that kept me glued to the book. This is the second book in the Country Gift Shop series (can be read as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading the first one in this series!) and I loved returning to Glen Cove and Vicky's adorable gift shop. What really sets this apart from other cozies is that the clues are little teasers that pulled me in and kept me reading. I would've loved it if the scavenger hunt was a bigger part of the story, it would've been a great way to introduce more of Glen Cove, giving me a better sense of the place. I liked that Bella was herself a cozy mystery author, sort of like a truth-meets-fiction moment, and I loved how how the scavenger plot was a cozy mystery within a cozy mystery. Cute! And I loved the little plot twist at the end of the book, it really capped off a great mystery.

Overall, a great mystery and a cute little series and highly recommended for cozy mystery fans.

A great cosy murder, mystery. Enjoyable characters and an enticing storyline. Lots of twists and turns and brain teasers and a surprising conclusion. Quick, enjoyable read.

I'm always a bit nervous when I read a book by a 'new to me' author and also the second in the series. I shouldn't have been nervous about either. I did not feel confused and wonder 'what I missed' in the first book. She provides a nice summary to characters but no spoilers. I like the setting and the characters felt more developed than I expected in a second.

There is enough description to enable me to visualize the setting but it doesn't detract from the story line. I found her style of writing easy to read and this is a book that I didn't want to put down. I'll definitely be going back to read the first one in the series.

Grand Prize: Murder! by Vivian Conroy is the second book in the Country Gift Shop Cozy Mystery series. While it is not necessary to read the first book, it is helpful. Grand Prize: Murder! takes place immediately after Dead to Begin With. Vicky receives a special gift from the city for her help solving a mystery. Rather than calming down, life gets more hectic as cozy author Bella Brooks arrives for a book signing at Vicky's gift shop. Mysterious people seem to have flocked to Glen Cove and one ends up dead. To keep Bella our of jail and save her shop's reputation, Vicky must find the real killer. My return visit to Glen Cove was just as nice as the first.

Well-written book which has me eager to check out other books in the series. The ending was, of course, not expected but it's a lovely little read for lovers of 'cozy murders'.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Country Gift Shop series written by Vivian Conroy. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

This is the second story in the series but I can honestly say that you don’t need to have read the first to enjoy and appreciate this one - I haven’t read the first one yet! It is a delightful, cosy murder mystery - sounds a bit strange describing anything to do with murder as cosy but this really does feel like that. It all takes part in a small town of Glen Cove where the permanent residents all know everyone else and Vicky Simmons is something of a cross between Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher but younger!

The opening chapters fill in any pertinent background information about previous events in which Vicky Simmons played a key role in solving a murder mystery. Vicky owns the Country Gift Shop which specialises in selling British related items, including books. Whilst in England, Vicky had met the British crime writer, Bella Brookes, and she has agreed to sign copies of her books at the start of her book tour of the area. However, when a friend rings Vicky to say she’s discovered a dead body in her conservatory Vicky is going to need all her wits about her to discover the perpetrator without becoming the next victim!

The story is a lovely easy but enthralling read. The characters are brought to life within the pages of the book and the scenarios brilliantly portrayed so the reader can easily imagine events. Vicky and her team of amateur sleuths use their knowledge of the town, the people in it and their common sense to help support the town sheriff’s investigation into the murder. There’s banter between Vicky and the Sheriff, Cash, plenty of twists in the plot to keep readers guessing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’ll certainly be looking out for other books by this author in future!

I requested a copy of this via NetGalley and this is my honest review after reading it.

Enjoyable cozy. Loved the inclusion of the cozy author, especially in the contest. Nice small town setting and clever shop. I look forward to reading the next one in this series.

Cozy mystery - quite enjoyed this but not as good as others I have read

Gift shop owner Vicky Simmons has her hands full investigating the murder of a suspicious stranger at a posh local party. Meanwhile a popular author is in town for a book signing gala. What secret is she hiding? Would she kill to protect it?

This is an odd cozy, somewhat awkwardly written. Would even the greenest amateur sleuth go interview a major suspect before the police department arrived?

Thank you, Net Galley, for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm disappointed that I didn't like this very well. I've read all of Vivian Conroy's cozies and have liked all of them. I don't know what it was about this one but I just wasn't interested in it. I think it seemed a little rushed and the characters really bothered me this time. Vickie even got on my nerves! She was telling Cash, the sheriff, what to do about the investigation at one point and I just wanted to slap her and ask who she thought she was!! I don't know, this mystery just didn't work for me. It doesn't mean that I will stop reading Vivian's books, I do like her as an author. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite of hers.

**Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. (less)

Grand Prize: Murder! by Vivian Conroy is an excellent story.

When cozy mystery author Bella Brookes flies into town for a book signing, things take a wild turn when murder is involved. The well loved author is the prime suspect and some dirty rumors begin running rampant.

Getting involved isn't an option for Vicky Simmons. The rumors could bring down her quaint shop dedicated to everything England.
Asking questions is one of the things Vicky does best and as she sets out to find the answers, she finds herself face to face with the murderer.

I really enjoyed this story. The plot was well thought out and I loved the idea of a coy mystery author being the prime suspect. This book should be at the top of everyone's TBR list.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

4 1/2 stars
I really enjoyed Vivian Conroy's latest book in the Country Gift Shop Shop Series. Grand Prize: Murder brings back Vicky Simmons, the owner of the British-themed gift shop in a small Maine coastal town. She is hosting a well-known cozy mystery writer, Bella Brookes, whose books are set in England, at the shop. To promote the book signing, Bella is holding a scavenger hunt with a grand prize trip to England. The whole town is involved in the hunt, and then the murders start. Vicky and her friends feel they have to solve them to keep an innocent suspect out of prison.

I liked seeing the characters from Glen Cove again. It felt a little like catching up with friends. The plot in this book was very strong and the ending was not predictable at all, which makes a mystery a lot of fun to read. I think this book is an improvement over the first in the series.

I appreciated the summary from the the first book at the beginning of the first chapter. It reminded me who the characters were, and it would be helpful for anyone who started reading with the second book in the series.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, and I highly recommend it. If you haven't read her first book, Dead to Begin With, I'd read that too.