Book Name: A Victim at Valentine's
Author Name: Ellie Alexander
Pub Date: Feb, 10, 2025
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NetGalley and Publisher: Thank you @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for the ARC!

Description:
In the cozy town of Redwood Grove, Annie Murray’s Valentine’s Day plans are upended when a cherished community member is found dead in her Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop. With a wide range of suspects, including an eccentric psychic, a rival bookseller, and even a professional matchmaker, the case becomes increasingly complex.

As Annie delves deeper, she uncovers connections to the unresolved tragedy of her best friend’s death, which still casts a shadow over her life. With Valentine’s plans with the charming Liam on hold, Annie must use her sharp instincts to unravel the truth before the killer strikes again.

This delightful cozy mystery, filled with romance and intrigue, is perfect for fans of Tonya Kappes, Lauren Elliott, and Ellery Adams.

My Thoughts:
Unputdownable cozy mystery! This was such a fun read i couldn’t get enough!
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the Agatha Christie connection, and it did not disappoint. Ellie Alexander has created a captivating world in Redwood Grove, and Annie’s Agatha Christie-themed bookshop is a dream come true for mystery lovers.

I especially loved the touch of whimsy with Annie’s crow companions they added charm and an unexpected layer to the story. The characters are richly drawn, the suspects intriguing, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very last page.

The blend of romance and mystery was perfectly balanced, and Annie’s relationship with Liam was heartwarming without overshadowing the gripping plot. The ties to Annie’s past added emotional depth, making this more than just a surface-level whodunit.

If you love cozy mysteries with clever twists, endearing characters, and an ode to Agatha Christie, A Victim at Valentine's is a must-read. Ellie Alexander has nailed it with this utterly addictive and delightful book.

#AVictimatValentines #NetGalley

Using books to make a love connection is a bookworm's perfect match. We meet Victoria, who may be perfect for Fletcher....or may be a killer. Jekyll and Hyde the bookstore crows provide some entertainment and a bit of ominousness when needed. I hope they'll continue to play a role. Along the way we learn more about Liam and Dr. Caldwell, plus a major lead in Scarlet's murder. Looking forward to seeing how that wraps up in the next, final book.

Another home run annd so enjoyable! I do everything Ellie Alexander writes, her books are just fun easy reads that take me away to another world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

This was a pretty good book. I haven't read those that came before this one, but everything was still easy to understand, and I didn't feel lost. I'll probably go back and read the first four anyway because I liked these characters. The story was good, the murder was well done, and the twists were fantastic. This is a very good cozy mystery with good characters and good story.
The only thing I didn't really like and got a little bored with was the whole crow thing. I won't say much about it, but it was a little weird at times. Other than that, great story.

This is a good Valentine’s Day themed cozy mystery. As much as I have enjoyed reading the series, I am ready for it to end. Annie has a couple of TSTL moments throughout the book. I look forward to reading the final book when it is released.

A Victim at Valentine’s is an absolute delight for cozy mystery lovers! Set in the charming town of Redwood Grove, this fifth installment in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series delivers a mix of suspense, small-town charm, and a touch of romance.

When a local icon is found dead on Valentine’s Day, Annie’s sharp mind and love of mysteries are put to the test. I loved that she has a degree in criminology, it makes the investigation more realistic. How nice that she also owns a bookstore. The colorful cast of suspects, from a quirky psychic to a rival bookseller, keeps the intrigue alive. I wouldn't have minded more details regarding the bookstore. On the bright side, we have matchmaking for book lovers, a coffee corner, and a lot of twists and turns.

This one did not hit for me. It had a good idea in the story line and the characters were well thought out but I saw the clues and the ending before I got to the end but it got me out of a reading slump which was awesome so thank you for that. But I do want to read more books by this author

Another home run I love everything she writes . They are just fun easy reads that take me away to another world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Cute Valentine's read with a mystery twist! Annie runs a bookstore and is hosting a love match weekend for locals. The vibe of the bookstore is spot on for Valentine's Day. When a local man is found dead, she goes into detective mode to solve the case.

So cute, just in time for Valentine's! I didn't read the others in this series, but the author does a great job at filling you in. Cute little cozy read just in time for Valentine's.

This book is another winner for the Secret Bookcase series. Over the course of the series, we have come to know a cast of quirky characters who make Redwood Grove sound like a charming place to chase down killers. Unfortunately, with more information forthcoming in the Scarlett story line, it feels like we are moving toward a conclusion that will leave us sad to see this bunch go. This is a book that takes place at Valentines day with another fun event planned with the style Annie has become known for in the series. Since, it is a book about love, we see Annie and Liam's connection deepen with some hard truths and new love for Fletcher. Also, new, this book added a few more non-human characters who ultimately have a handle in solving the puzzle. I won't spoil how crows help save the day but I will say their inclusion and personalities were unique to this story.
The mystery was more suspenseful than action packed but the author did a nice job of reeling the audience in. As I read, I found myself developing my own theories which were wrong. It was fun to go with Annie as she developed and rejected multiple theories herself. Along, we her, the author helped us move toward the crow assisted conclusion to one story. That is a long way of saying there were plenty of red herrings. The suspense blended nicely with the Valentines theme both giving Annie time to watch and question her suspects. The Valentines event also sounded a touch suspenseful as books were used to help make the Storybook matches for the town folk.
Overall, this was a fun book. I anxiously and sadly await the next. We know the next book will bring us answers about Scarlet's story but it will also be time to say goodbye to this fun crew and the awesome events the authors uses as the backdrop for murder and suspense.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion !

A murder mystery Valentines day? Sign me up! Although I haven't read the first few Secret Bookcase mysteries, it was easy to follow along Annie's story and discover how she would assist with solving the case. I loved the cast of characters, and especially love the psychic thrown in! The writing made me feel I was a part of this small town and even with what seemed to be murders left and right, I would love to visit this town and just partkae in their antics. Super cute and cozy mystery read just in time for Valentines day!

I really enjoyed this installment in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries! I thought I had predicted the twist at the end of this one, but the truth threw me for a loop and felt more believable. I'm just sad that it seems like the next book will be the last in this series!

A good cozy mystery series. This one has the book store allowing a dating matchmaker to offer some events over Valentine's Day. Finding a body on the front porch on the second morning was not part of the plan. Good story and enjoyed it, along with the running murder mystery from others in the series. Would recommend.

A Victim at Valentine’s in the 5th in the Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. In this outing, the main character, Annie, is putting together a matchmaking weekend event at the fabulous bookstore that she runs with her close friend, Fletcher. They are also close to launching the detective agency that they will run out of the store. Plus, there is the murder of her best friend from college that has been a running thread throughout the series.

This series has all of the proper cozy elements: amazing food and drink, a stunning setting in a cute town near the Pacific Ocean, likable characters who are generally supportive of each other and are developing further over time, an adorable pet. decent but not impossible to solve mysteries, and an in with the local police that allows information to pass freely.

But, and I can’t put my finger on just why, this series just doesn’t resonate with me in the same way that the author’s bakeshop mysteries do. Admittedly, I have only read a couple of the Secret Bookcase books, and I liked this one more than #2 in the series but think it may be the best friend backstory that puts me off. For something that seems to have impeded Annie’s life in such a big way, there doesn’t seem to be much progress with it, and she doesn’t seem to make it a priority.

Still, this book, which can be read as a standalone, will likely appeal to a lot of cozy readers. Overall, it is well written and a fun setting to spend some time in.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARK.
3.5 stars

Annie is not having a good run up to the big V day. She has found a body in the bookshop! A very well liked member of the community.

The suspects are varied and plentiful. The characters are so well done in this series and it looks as if any of them may have done the deed.

Annie is helping, of course, and may have to put her own romantic plans on hold to catch this killer!

Always a pleasure.


NetGalley/ Storm Publishing February 10, 2025

A Fateful Turn..
The fifth outing in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series finds Valentine’s Day taking a fateful turn in Annie’s Agatha Christie inspired bookshop. With a local personality found very dead indeed, Annie pulls out all the stops to help the authorities find a killer - although she doesn’t expect the sheer amount of suspects that soon come tumbling out of the woodwork and a possible link to a crime close to Annie’s heart. Another engaging instalment to this series with a likeable protagonist, a colourful cast and a swiftly moving plot with a solid mystery at its heart.

This was a strong fifth entry in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series, it had that element that I enjoyed from the first four books. The concept was well written and worked with the overall feel of this. I was invested in the mystery going on and how the characters were used in this universe. Ellie Alexander has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.

This is the fifth installment in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries and what I would consider cozy mystery plus. It has all the elements of a cozy plus a darker, intriguing mystery in the background.

The newest installment takes place at Valentines weekend where Annie Murray and the crew at the secret bookcase are hosting a matchmaking event. Love is in the air until George, a local philanthropist, is murdered. Seeming to be an all around good guy, it’s shocking to Annie that anyone would hate him that much, but she once again agrees to help her mentor Dr. Caldwell solve the crime.

With her friends Pri, Fletcher, Penny and her adorable love Liam, Annie is determined to solve the case. The only downside to this mystery is the quick resolution and plot twist that seems to come and go with little fanfare. However, that’s the only downside and I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery.

In the background is the ongoing mystery to solve the murder of Annie’s best friend Scarlett in college that still haunts her to this day. This has been an ongoing plot point and we finally get some answers. Per the author, the next book An Unconventional Murder will be the final installment in this series and I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy. All opinions described are my own.

I received a free copy of, A Victim at Valentine's. by Ellie Alexander, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book five in A Secret Bookcase Mystery series. A dead body has been found at Annie Murray's bookshop. Annie has a mystery to solve. This was a nice cozy mystery.

This was another good book in this series. It was full of surprises and kept me guessing to the end. I really enjoyed this series and wish I could actually go to this bookstore, I can’t wait to read the next one