Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A VICTIM AT VALENTINE’S (Book 5 of the Secret Bookcase Mystery series) by Ellie Alexander in exchange for an honest review. Annie Murray is hosting another event at the bookshop she and her fellow clerk are in the process of purchasing; it’s a Valentine’s mystery date with a mystery book and a mystery match planned in conjunction with a local dating agency. When one of the participants and part-owner of the dating agency is found dead in the garden on the second morning of the event, Annie exercises her old and new investigative skills to investigate the event participants and staff for every possible motive, opportunity, and means. Whoo! That’s a lot of work on top of her attempts to make headway into solving her friend’s murder, as well. Good Luck, Annie!

I like this book and the series. I recommend it to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring themed bookshops and special events.

#AVictimatValentines #NetGalley

This is a really good book. I fortunately got picked for an early read and throughly enjoyed it! Cant wait to read the next one.

The characters are believable, it keeps you wanting to figure out who done it, and leaves you wanting to read the next one. Everything a book should do. I would recommend it.

I screamed with joy when I got approved to read this early. And I can’t believe there is only 1 more left in the series.
Annie is one of my favorite characters I’ve read about. She has such a great support system around her and I love the side characters in this series as well.
I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but this series is a must read. I find myself trying to figure out the mystery along with Annie while reading.

I am really enjoying this new series by Ellie Alexander. This is the fifth book in the series. This series has been released pretty quickly over this last year. Annie and the crew at the Secret Bookcase have their hands full hosting a Valentine's event at the bookstore. This event features a matchmaker suggested to them by Hal's friend George, a local philanthropist who likes to promote new businesses by women. When Anne finds George dead outside the bookstore on the morning after the first day of the three day event can she and her team aid the Detective in finding out what happened to this man everyone seemed to love? When a little research gives us several suspects, can Annie narrow it down? With she and Fletcher working on their new detective agency and taking over the bookstore, not to mention more information in Scarlet's case, will they find time to get everything handled??? Come along for all our favorite characters and lots of juggled investigations! Thanks to #Netgally, #StormPublishing, and the author for the chance to read this book early. #AVictimatValentine's #ASecretBookcaseMystery #EllieAlexander #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

This book might have been slightly better, but again, I got stuck on something that felt so unrealistic and unlikely that I couldn't get past it. After discussing her best friend's murder throughout the past books and having it be what drives her, Annie puts the file in an unlocked desk, in an unlocked office, during a big event and doesn't even open it to take a peek, and leaves it there overnight! This felt crazy to me, especially after so much emphasis on her "expertise" in criminology, she doesn't think that it's important to hide/lock up papers that are left by someone who faked their own death and might have information about her best friend's murder? The other murder storyline was somewhat predictable with a little bit of a twist. I'm glad that the next book will be the last and am hopeful that we will finally get all the details and explanation about her best friend's murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

A Victim at Valentine’s is book 5 in Ellie Alexander’s Secret Bookcase Mystery series.

Annie Murray is co-owner of the Secret Bookcase bookshop, and studying to become a detective. When a popular local philanthropist is found dead on the grounds the morning after an event at the bookshop, Annie is pulled into the investigation.

This is the first book I read in this series, and although there seems to be a second mystery tying all of the books in the series together, I didn’t have any problem reading this book as a standalone.

There are lots of interesting suspects in this story, from the strange psychic, to the hungover barista in training, and Annie must aid the police in determining who the culprit is, while continuing her investigation into her best friend’s murder.

A Victim at Valentine’s was an interesting read with a good mystery, a sense of community and friendship amongst the main characters, a touch of romance ( after all it is set at Valentine’s Day), and a pair of crows to steal the show.

If you enjoy a good mystery, then give A Victim at Valentine’s a try. I enjoyed it, so will be looking to read more of the series, especially the final book to see who killed Annie’s friend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was really excited for the 5th cosy mystery from the Secret Bookcase book shop. I've been looking forward to this and I'm very lucky to read this E-ARC (in exchange for an honest review) a season early because I've thing that Ellie Alexander is brilliant at is evoking all of the best things about the season she's writing about - I read this over Christmas and now I can't wait for spring!

As it's the fifth book, the characters are developed and distinct The town is beautifully described and really sumptuous. The standout for me once again was the food and drink described, I wish I had such an incredible coffee shop as Cryptic - The red velvet hot chocolate in particular sounded incredible.

The mystery is gentle, you're not attached to either the victim or the murderer, you have enough information to work out, which on this occasion I did.
I also quite enjoyed the mystery which ones throughout the series around Annie's best friend, Scarlett's murder. In the first few books this felt like a bit of a unnecessary add-on, but I really get the senses. The series starts to draw to a close that this is going to come to a head in quite a spectacular way.

You could read this as a standalone if you wanted to and I don't think you'd miss out too much, but if you enjoy the cosy trope then it would be a good idea to start from the beginning and enjoy them all.

Can't wait for the final instalment

I loved this one. The description of Redwood Grove town is cosy, mysterious and a bit atmospheric. Characters are warm yet the death of Annie’s best friend still affects her. The murder is not only connected with the old mystery but also with the bookshop. The unthinkable things turns her life upside down. This is the most cosy and suspenseful book. Loved Fletcher’s character.
Thanks to the Publisher

3.5/5 stars - Protagonist, Annie, is now co-owner of the bookstore, A Secret Bookcase, just in time for Valentine's Day. When one of her community partners is killed, she is once again on the case to help solve the crime. Annie also receives some illuminating news regarding the murder of her best friend, Scarlet. She just might find out the truth and bring justice to her friend after all these years.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was lucky enough to get an advanced readers copy of Ellie Alexander’s latest Secret Bookcase mystery. But, as always, this opinion is my own, . Alexander is a very good writer. She has engaging storylines and adds descriptive prose than makes the reader feel that they are in the book. This adventure is based around a Valentine’s Day matchmaking weekend at the bookstore. While a murder does occur, that does not take away from Cupid’s visit. If you have not yet read this series, take the time now. You will not be disappointed.

I love this series and am always waiting for the next one to come out and this one was a GREAT COZY READ. Annie, the amateur sleuth is amazing as she always figures it out. In this one a friend of everyone, George is the victim and there are several really good suspects.There is also some extra stuff thrown in. Remember this is a bookstore Valentine's match up. I highly recommend this book. I don't do spoilers

First off a big thanks to the publisher Storm Publishing as well as to the author Ellie Alexander and NetGalley for the invite to read and review A Victim at Valentine's , as well as letting me know about this series because it checked everything off in my boxes when it comes to reading .

1: a new to me author
2: a new to me cozy mystery series
3: combines to of my favorite things criminology and books
4: pacing ( was a bit slow but I actually liked it like that ) setting ( 2 of my favoritethings a small town and a bookstore) , and even a little romance ( that didn't take anything away from the story but the pacing of it was just right )
5: characters ( that was easy to love and laugh either with or at )

Another excellent addition to this wonderful series. It's so much fun reconnecting with the characters each time, watching relationships develop and seeing how each character grows. Annie is at it again, helping Dr Caldwell solve the highly unusual murder of a well known person in the community. As usual there are plenty of suspects, twists and turns. And Annie receives more information about Scarlett's case which puts her in danger. I'm looking forward to the next book!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Ellie Alexander for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

contemporary, California, bookseller, small-business, small-town, friends, friendship, amateur-sleuth, palmistry, matchmaking, investigation, local-law-enforcement, lies, secrets, cozy-mystery, criminologist, dishonest-people, suspicion, murder*****

Former criminology student/bookseller Annie Murray is having a sales event involving a famed matchmaker. But things go rather spectacularly wrong and trying to untangle the lies/liars from simple bystanders is a monumental task complicated by events from the past. Good read.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected e-galley from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Feb 10, 2025
#AVictimAtValentines #SecretBookcaseMysteriesBk5 @StormPublishing #NetGalley @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #CozyMystery #MurderOfCrows #Murder #Matchmaker

A solid addition to this cozy series. It hits all the marks with pacing, setting, and even a little romance. This mystery was too low stakes for me, even for a cozy. I’m glad to see baby steps in the Scarlet murder plot point. Keep Liam around, but have some showing instead of telling about their developing relationship. Best for fans of the series because we’re getting more into solving Scarlet’s murder, even though this mystery stands alone.

A Victim at Valentine’s is the latest Secret Bookcase Series and is number 4 in what I believe will be a 5 part series. I have enjoyed the previous books in this series and looked forward to this one. It did not disappoint! It had a fun premise of a matchmaking event at a bookstore that goes terribly wrong for at least a few of the people involved. There is an overarching story that goes through the series that is near completion and it was interesting to see that move forward and there was a murder at the event that had to be solved also. It was not hard to see who the murderer was or where the story was headed, but it was an enjoyable read and it was fun to see how the characters figured out who the killer was. I’m looking forward to the next book wrapping up the series and I’m hoping for a happy ending for some of my favorite characters!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

The bookstore is working with a matchmaking event in this book. Annie is dealing with the details on this venture because of the local philanthropist, George. He's invested in the business and wants to see how it all works. When George turns up dead, there are plenty of suspects and Annie and friends began their deductions. This is the fifth book in this series and it continues the Scarlett story, which is closer to being solved. The characters continue to evolve and grow. I love these characters and their stories.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in return for a review.

If I could slip inside one book this year and just make it my own little world, I think this might be it.

This perfect cozy mystery centers around a murder that occurs inside of an Agatha Christie-inspired bookshop.

Annie Murray, our FMC, current manager of the Secret Bookcase Shop, and reluctant assistant to local detectives, is one of my favorite literary characters. I want to hang with her and bestie Fletcher as they uncover mysteries that involve psychics, matchmakers and competitive bookstore owners.

I give this a 5 star rating because it moved so fluidly that I just couldn't put in down. No "one more chapter" was available- I just needed to keep reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the chance to read and review this Valentines themed cozy mystery prior to it's release on Feb 10th 2025.

I loved returning to the charming town of Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase bookstore. In this instalment Annie is hosting a matchmaking event at the bookstore, but then a beloved pillar of the local community is found dead …

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Annie did..
Overall, I'm thoroughly invested in this series and excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next!

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 6 to come out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Storm Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

A matchmaking weekend intertwined with a blind date with a book at the Secret Bookcase leads to the murder of Redwood Grove’s benefactor. George is found dead on the patio of the bookstore after being warned about his “dark aura” by a psychic the night before , and Annie investigates. An envelope is left anonymously for Annie with information about her best friend’s murder; will it finally lead to the discovery of the killer? Are the two related?