Annie Murray lives in Redwood and works in a bookshop the secret bookcase .
She’s an ex criminology student and an amateur sleuth .
This is a perfect Christmas cosy mystery Annie is a great character and she has plenty of depth .
There are some lovely warm characters mixed with the seemingly “ normal” characters who are not all they seem .
A bookshop, murder and an amateur detective what’s not to love ?
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing .

Gingerbread contest in restored estate, now bookshop, provides a sensory experience to this murder mystery. Sights and smells of the holiday permeate the plot and provide nice backdrop to the plot. Characters were so interesting from deeply caring and kind to deeply flawed and scary. Would definitely read future books in this series.Thanks to #NetGalley and #AHolidayHomicide for advanced digital copy.

Ellie Alexander does it again!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC and chance to give my honest feedback

The fourth book in the Secret Bookcase series and it is such a fun series to read! I LOVE the main character Annie and her relationship with her friends in Redwood Grove.
Cozy, classic mysteries with fun banter and great character building. It is not 100% necessary to read them in order but I highly recommend it as the character relationships and story builds with each book.
I loved that this book dove deeper into Annie's past with her friend Scarlet. It left on a bit of a cliff hanger and I absolutely cannot wait to dive into the next book!!

The more books I read in this series, the more I fall in love with it. I hope there are more books coming because I would absolutely love them.

What I liked:
1. Annie’s character and her growth are so realistic and relatable
2. The development of the relationship between Annie and Liam is also realistic and not rushed.
3. The setting is so cozy and welcoming. I could escape to Redwood Grove right now
4. That it is a locked room mystery that isn’t gory or detailed. I love watching the mystery be solved without all the details

My only criticism is about pacing. I think there are parts that could be more drawn out but I also think there are parts that could’ve been faster. Again, I love this series and am happy to have read this installment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.

A holiday homicide is the latest book in the secret bookcase mystery series by Ellie Alexander. This story follows a similar structure to the previous books and is just as cosy and interesting a read as all the others. The mystery for our hero Annie to solve this time revolves around a suspicious death in the bookstore after a gingerbread baking competition, this time the murderer was more obvious and the crime easily solved but that left time for progress to be made in the unsolved case of the murder of Annie’s best friend years prior, which as a reader of this series I am glad to have gotten more information about at last but we end with more questions then answers.

I’ve been enjoying the festive themed mysteries novels and what a better way to end the year by reading one of my favorite cozy bookcase mysteries by Ellie Alexander!

This is probably my favorite book out of the series, with the holiday plot it made the story more compelling to read. As always the storyline with Annie and the crew was amazing. I love the take on social media influencers and baking. Ellie books are fun, cozy, and always keep you guessing. I was excited that Annie figured out what she wanted to do for her career path and I can’t wait to read what happens next upon her journey! Still, the slow burn between her and Liam is killing me. I want them to be a couple already haha.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to preface this by saying that I didn't realise when requesting the book that it was the 4th in the series (this is completely on me and I own that), and perhaps this is why I didn't connect to the character of Annie as much as I thought. I also found that the actual reveal of the murder was very sudden and almost a non-event, like there was no confrontation or anything, just ended very abruptly.

The premise of the book itself was a lot of fun and definitely kept me guessing - and for the most part, other than a reference to one of the previous murders, it didn't allude too much to previous books but I think if I had read them first, this might've fared better for me.

I'm definitely intrigued and will try and go back to read the previous 3 books because I need to know more about Annie and her backstory, but this was a fun Christmassy murder mystery.

Annie Murray decides to partner the Secret Bookcase with a local baker, Sugar Lester of Sweet Room, by hosting a gingerbread baking competition with Lily Hawthorne, a social media star, who is coming to town to highlight the event on her media website. All is going well until Lily ends up dead in the bookstore.

There are several people who have a history with Lily, who just happen to be in town for the gingerbread competition. I really enjoyed the holiday vibe in this book with the description of the gingerbread, decorations, and weather.

I am glad that Annie finally figured out what she wants for her future in terms of a career and I loved Fletcher’s PowerPoint with his thoughts about how they should handle their future business buying out Hal. I liked how Annie is moving forward with Scarlett’s death and not letting it consume her as much, even though she is still investigating it.

This town and the characters are delightful and I can’t wait to read more about them in future books. I am wondering about Hal because he seemed kind of sketchy at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is one of the stories in the Secret Bookcase series. It is a nicely told story about a murder that is solved with the help of Annie Murray, a former criminologist student who, after her best friend's murder, finds a life working in the Secret Bookcase. As in the previous stories, Annie Murray helps her former professor solve the case. It is entertaining reading.

Annie and her friends had another exciting case to investigate after another murder took place in her beloved bookstore workplace. Hal and Fletcher continue to be the most amazing boss and coworker anyone could ever wanna work with. And that Pri’s the best bestie a girl could ever imagine having. She always has Annie's back. Dr. Caldwell was such an awesome mentor and we finally get to find out what Annie's decision’s gonna be as far as working with her former criminology professor.

Last but most definitely not least, I absolutely love how Liam and Annie’s relationship did a complete turnaround for the better. I never like conflict with a couple and now they're super cute and solid. He surprised even Annie with how she could influence his reading choices now when she actually got him interested in mysteries.

The main case was solved and Annie's cold case concerning her old friend was getting a little bit warmer so I'm eager to see what happens next. Can't wait to read the next installment!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is one of the coziest cozy mystery series I've come across. There's a strong community, the main character has a good group of friends that are practically family, and the bookstore is on my list of fictional places I wish were real. How can I not enjoy a book set in a mystery bookstore with fun characters - especially when written by Ellie Alexander?

This was a fun mystery. A not so likable influencer drops dead in the bookstore during a heavily publicized event with a local bakery. While Lily had seemed sweet and bubbly on camera there are a number of behind-the-scenes actions that has Annie wondering just what the real Lily is like. A number of characters - local and otherwise - seem to have a motive but it takes some serious digging to figure out who would want to kill her.

I really wasn't quite sure who the killer was until Annie figured it out and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to that point. The book is full of Christmas-y cheer and a bit of suspense. I really enjoyed that there is progress being made in Annie's personal life as well as her quest to find out who murdered her best friend, Scarlet.

The fourth Secret Bookcase mystery finds Annie helping host a gingerbread baking contest. Even more exciting is that a social media famous baker is going to be in attendance. However, when the baker is found murdered, Annie finds herself investigating yet again.

This series continues to be enjoyable! You don't ~need~ to have read the prior ones in the series, but I'd really recommend it as each book really builds on Annie's life. We get a lot more development both in what Annie wants to do and with the Scarlet case. I was a little confused by the end of this one vis-a-vis the Scarlet case - it was not clear if Mark was responsible for Annie's accident that happens or not. Either way, I really look forward to seeing where this goes next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another great cozy adventure with Annie in the Secret Bookstore series. Although a participant drops dead during a Gingerbread house competition, the book still seems festive. This was a quick, fun read which works well as a standalone. But, as always for those like me who enjoy reading a series from the beginning, take the time to catch up before you read this one.

I enjoy this mystery series. I like the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing I look forward to more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun holiday cozy mystery that takes place in a mystery-themed bookshop. Lots of holiday festivities and cheer happening here!

The cover is amazing! It is exactly what I pictured Redwood Grove to look like. This is my favorite of the series so far. The characters are great. I love to see how the characters are growing and how the relationships develop. Annie and Liam have come so far and I have really enjoyed seeing them grow. That kiss-whooooo!

My favorite part of the series is the continuation of Scarlet’s murder. The ending provided so much information, but also revealed new questions. It leaves you wanting more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy in exchange for a review.

This is the fourth book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. The story is set in Northern California at the Secret Bookcase bookstore where Annie works. She has set up a gingerbread house competition to benefit the community and Sugar’s bakery.
Unfortunately, the influencer hired to promote the event and Sugar’s bakery dies. If she was murdered, why?

Annie and her friends investigate to resolve the death’s circumstances. I enjoyed the story but knew early on who the killer was. There is plenty going on in this story but I never waivered on who the culprit was.

I recommend this story. The method of death was ingenuous.

I was given an advanced readers copy and am not required to leave a positive review.

A new series from Ellie Alexander. I always worry if a new series by an author will be too similar to another…no worries here! Annie and her friends own a bookstore in Redwood Grove, CA. Annie is focused on solving the murder of her college roommate from a decade ago. In this book, a baking influencer comes to town for a gingerbread house competition and is murdered. With help from her friend, Annie solves the murder. Looking forward to reading the earlier books.

A Holiday Homicide is book #4 in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander.

The Secret Bookcase is a wonderful bookstore. Trying to keep it running requires thinking outside the box to get the store publicity and customers. This time it involves a celebrity baker who unfortunately ends up dead. I like how Annie has grown through the series. The friendships are wonderful and the mystery was interesting. I enjoyed this book and recommend it and the whole series.

Thank you to the author, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and Ellie Alexander for the delightful fourth book I had the joy of reading and reviewing in the Secret Bookcase series: A Holiday Homicide. Annie Murray and her coworkers Hal and Fletcher are surrounded by all types of lovely gingerbread houses, castles, cakes and other yummy treats but in the midst of all the wonderful holiday fun wouldn’t you know it someone gets murdered! On top of that chaos Annie has finally tracked down a person that might be able to give her some answers to help her find out who killed her friend Scarlet ten years ago if the past doesn’t find a way to kill her first.
I absolutely adore this series of Ellie Alexander’s and I eagerly look forward to each new book. She makes every character and setting so real that I start to miss them as soon as I turn the last page. Her next book is due out in February and is already on my highly anticipated list. I recommend this series to everyone who loves cozies, especially if you love ones with found families, cats, enemies to lovers, basically almost every trope lol. I really do love this series and can’t praise it enough run don’t walk! And add it to your TBR!