Great start to this new cozy mystery series featuring a retired thriller writer who discovers the body of a real murder victim in the basement of her new bookstore.

MURDER ON THE BOOKS is the first book in veteran author Toni (T.C.) LoTempio’s excellent new "Cozy Bookshop Mystery" series and combines many of my favorite cozy mystery themes: a bakery, bookstore, a writer as the amateur sleuth, an engaging store cat, and an initially grumpy potential love interest. When thriller author Charley James, known as CJ Barrett to her leagues of fans, returns to her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania, she’s in dire need of a vacation from her fictional world of intrigue, mystery, and murder. But when she finds out her best friend since childhood has been left high and dry by her new business partner right before the grand opening of her own bakery, she gladly steps into the void to take up the reins of the partner’s bookstore, which shares the bakery’s space (and the expenses). However, before much progress is made toward getting the bookstore ready, Charley discovers the body of Zane’s former partner stuffed into the trunk in the bookstore basement; she hadn’t left town as her hasty note had indicated. But when the police start eyeing Zane as their best suspect, Charley must put her detective mindset back in place and find the real murderer and clear her friend’s name.

Charlotte “Charley” James is the likable main character and a successful novelist going through a spot of writer’s block. A failed romance on top of her burnout has led her to return to her hometown, hoping the comfortable, familiar surroundings and old friends will heal her soul and rejuvenate her spirit. Naturally, while some things have stayed the same, others have definitely changed, including the transformation of one of her high school classmates from prom queen to local cop and soon-to-be thorn in Charley’s side.

The murder is discovered early in the story, so the focus of the book is mainly on the investigation, with world-building happening organically. Officer Barbara Donaldson is not at all secure in her role and compensates with unnecessary power plays directed toward Charley and Zane. The detective-in-charge on loan from Philadelphia, Ian Grant, starts out as a big ol’ jerk but quickly does an about-face once he’s gotten to know Charley better. Even with his rough start, I still rooted for them to develop a relationship.

I loved that Charley blatantly uses the town gossips to obtain information and to catch up on what’s going on in their little town. There are few secrets these ladies don’t know about, and Austin has the typical small-town vibe where everyone knows you, your family, and what everyone is up to. I also enjoyed the anthropomorphic cat, Poe, and his antics.

The story progresses quickly, and the grand opening deadline is breathing down the women’s necks; so much is riding on the businesses proving to be successes and soon. While there are some alternate suspects besides Zane, the resolution may still come as a surprise, and it makes sense. The story was entertaining, the characters engaging, and I was immersed in Charley’s debut story from start to finish.

I recommend MURDER ON THE BOOKS to cozy mystery readers, especially those who enjoy bookstore or bakery settings, writers as amateur sleuths, and fun romantic subplots.

Murder on the Books is a great start to T.C. LoTempio’s new “Cozy Bookshop Mystery” series.

Thirty-year-old Charlotte (Charley) James is burnt out and needs to take a break from writing her popular Steve Sheppard mystery series – a series she writes under the pen name C.J. Barrett. Leaving New York City, she moves back to her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania to wind down, recuperate, and maybe come up with some new ideas for her books. And no one here knows she’s C.J. Barrett. It’s a true chance to breathe.

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Image Source Severn House
Charley reunites with her long-term friend and baker Zane, who is in the process of opening a charming double storefront of a bakery and bookstore. Unfortunately Zane’s business partner Sheila unexpectedly departs town, bailing on the bookshop and leaving nothing but a note behind. Charley, though, is more than happy to take over – this is just what she needs. But Charley’s joy doesn’t last long when she finds Sheila’s body in a chest in the store’s basement. The police question Zane and Charley is determined to solve this crime to protect her friend and their new business.
What follows is a fast paced mystery with lots of twists and turns. This story certainly has cozy details and is set in a small town full of interesting characters, but it also has a little bit of thriller vibes as readers race with Charley to find the killer before they strike again. I found my heart beating faster as I tore through the pages.

It was fun to see Charley use what she’s learned as a mystery writer to solve this crime. She takes some scary risks, despite warnings from the handsome Detective Grant. I adored Poe, the stray cat she rescued. And seeing Zane and Charley reunite was charming – they have a strong friendship that picked up as though no time had passed. Secret codes play a part in this mystery, and while I can never figure codes out, I do enjoy the hunt for the reveal.

The town of Austin was a great setting for the mystery. Charley spent time reintroducing herself to the shops and characters of Austin and truly settling in.

It’s so much fun to get in on the beginning of a strong new cozy mystery series, and I look forward to reading more about Charley and her adventures.

I'm a big fan of Toni LoTempio's books and it's exciting to read the first in a new series. I fell in love with the characters immediately, and to me that's a sign that I'm going to read the book in one or two sittings! When mystery writer Charley Barrett leaves Manhattan and returns to her home town, there are plenty of surprises in store. Things get off to a rough start when Sheila, her partner, bails out and leaves town. Worse, Sheila is later found dead in the basement of a shop she was going to open with Charley. Charley jumps in to investigate the murder and of course, has the help of a cat! Cats figure prominently in Toni's books and this is one of the reasons I enjoy them so much. Five stars, a must read!!

Charley James is giving her author alterego a break. She has writers block and needs to get away from New York for a while. She heads to the town she grew up in and to see her BFF. When she gets there, she finds out that Zane, her BFF has been let down by her business partner and steps into the breach. Then she discovers the body of said business partner and life gets very complicated.
Enter Detective Grant. Charley encountered him when she first arrived and he didn't seem impressed. Combined with Office Donaldson, or Berbie as she was known at school, things aren't looking good.
A fun read that is easy to whizz through.

I received an ebook of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder on the Books is the first in the Cosy Bookshop Mystery series. It features Charley (Charlotte), her friend Zane and her newly acquired pet cat Poe. A mystery writer on a break and living incognito - Charley return to her home town of Austin and goes into business with her childhood friend Zane. Zane's business partner has left her high and dry so Charley takes on a lease for a Bookstore run in conjunction with her friend's bakery. However before the bookstore can open murder darkens its doors! Charley is determined to use her mystery writer knowledge to help solve the murder and get her bookshop up and running. Along the way she encounters Detective Grant - the surly, yet attractive out of town cop consulting on the case and also her high school nemesis, turned police officer "Barbie" Barbara Donaldson.

As the first in the series this book does a good job of establishing the town setting and introducing, who I assume will become regular characters.
All in all a quick enjoyable read, hitting al the cosy mystery requirements.

I’m going to kick off my review of T.C. LoTempio’s Murder on the Books by quoting an author, Kim Hays. “The plot sounds quintessentially cozy: heroine’s return to hometown, meet-up with childhood friend, decision opening a shop. Cue cat and descriptions of baked goods, plus a useful policeman and the dead body of someone we barely know. Next the friend will be accused of murder. However, if the characters are appealing, it may turn out to be a good book.”

Kim nailed it. The only thing she missed was the heroine’s high school enemy who is now a police officer, and is still jealous and dislikes her. Other than that, Kim has the entire plot right.

In Murder on the Books, bestselling thriller author, C.J. Barrett (Charley) takes a break from her career and moves back to her small hometown, Austin, Pennsylvania. When her best friend, Zane Adams, bemoans that her business partner, Sheila Crowder, said something came up and she can’t open the bookstore that was to accompany Zane’s bakery. Charley steps up and says she’ll take over the bookstore. But, before they can open, Charley finds Sheila’s body in a trunk in the basement. Two police officers show up to investigate, One is Charley’s high school enemy. The other is the handsome Detective Graves, a visiting homicide detective from Philadelphia.

Because of the murder investigation, Charley has time to poke around to try to find a killer, since Zane is convinced she’s on the top of the suspect list. She also has time to adopt a cat, Poe, and annoy someone who doesn’t want her to investigate.

So, yes, Kim Hays nailed the entire plot. However, she’s also right. I liked the characters, especially the cat, Poe. This made it an enjoyable book with all the tropes of the first in a new cozy series.

4.5 stars

Charlotte ‘Charley’ James… aka bestselling thriller writer C.J. Barrett (but don’t let that slip because she’s been keeping it under wraps all these years)… does what any author does when they suffer from writer’s block. She trades the hustle and bustle of NYC for her small Pennsylvania hometown and opens a ‘mainly’ mystery bookstore next door to her best friend’s new bakery. Okay, so maybe that’s not what most authors do but in this case I’m glad it’s what author T.C. LoTempio had Charley do in Murder on the Books because we get this delightful new series out of it! I loved Charley right away and easily embraced her as a new fictional friend, and the more we get to know her, the more I liked her. Her inner circle includes her BFF Zane (she makes a great sidekick and I hope we get to explore her character more in future books) and new rescue cat (with a big personality) aptly named Poe, and I enjoyed the support they provide for Charley.

Speaking of enjoying Charley’s relationships… can I talk about Detective Ian Grant for a moment. He gives off a bit of a Mr. Darcy vibe and I’m here for it. Especially when it becomes clear that he’s attracted to Charley and whew, somebody bring me my fan. These two spark and sizzle with romantic tension that stole my breath a couple of times and had me wishing they could hear me if I hollered, “KISS HER ALREADY!” In fact, if they don’t get to kissing in the next book, YOU might hear me hollering that at them anyway haha. (Although, based on Ian’s comments at the end of Murder on the Books, I don’t think I’ll have to wait too long for that first smooch.)

The mystery has lots of intriguing layers that unfold at the perfect pace and kept me on my armchair-sleuthing toes. Zane’s business partner Sheila skipping town may have been advantageous for Charley, who was feeling a bit at loose ends with newly-acquired time on her hands, but that didn’t mean she wanted to find Sheila’s body in the basement. What’s a mystery writer to do except try to solve the case too? And if the lead detective happens to be competent too AND super swoony, all the better. I had a suspect in mind right away and believed it was going to be this person right up until Charley proved it wasn’t. My second ‘I’m sure it’s this person’ theory went about the same way, but I finally started connecting the right clues about the same time Charley did. Not only did trying to figure out the murderer hold my attention, but so did exploring all the nuanced facets to the victim. LoTempio made Sheila a complex character in her own right, and I enjoyed sorting through all the layers.

Bottom Line: I’ve really enjoyed the books I’ve read so far by T.C. LoTempio, but I think this new Cozy Bookshop Mystery series may end up becoming my favorite. Murder on the Books was a lot of fun and everything I want in a cozy mystery. The aforementioned murder had me all over the map as far as people I suspected to be the killer, and I kept pace with Charley as she put the clues together. Speaking of, I immediately loved protagonist Charlotte ‘Charley’ James and all the various layers that make up her character including ‘bestselling thriller author C.J. Barrett’, an identity she’s successfully continued to keep secret … for now (though I think swoony Detective Grant at least suspects something). The small town mystery bookstore setting, Charley’s friendship with BFF (and now business partner) Zane, her adorable new rescue cat Poe, and yes the romantic tension sparking between her and Ian Grant – all of it has me eager for more books to come!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

MURDER ON THE BOOKS by T.C. LoTempio
The First Cozy Bookshop Mystery

Burn out and a case of writer's block cause Charlotte (Charley) James to turn her back on New York City and life as bestselling author C.J. Barrett, much to the dismay of her agent. Deciding on an extended stay in her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania Charley is delighted to spend time with her good friend Zane. When Charley learns Zane's business partner left abruptly she offers to take over the bookstore portion of the business allowing Zane to open her dream bakery. But when a trip to the basement leads to the discovery of a body and Zane becomes a suspect, Charley puts her mystery knowledge to use while getting closer to the grumpy and taciturn detective on loan to the town.

I really enjoy when the protagonist of a mystery happens to be an author of mysteries and such is the case in the first Cozy Bookshop Mystery. Not only that, she's going to own a bookstore! It's fun seeing the insider knowledge come out, but what makes it even more fun in this book is that hardly anyone knows that Charley is an author. I can't wait for people discover the truth and I have a feeling she won't be able to hide this fact from Detective Grant for long. I love the dynamic of high school acquaintances grown up and forced to deal with each other for better or worse and it's especially fun to see Barbie as a police officer and watch her attempt to rise in the ranks while keeping her man hunter ways. The addition of Poe is delightful and I hope Charley pays attention to his opinions of other characters. I appreciated how the mystery played out, especially the ending.

A smart protagonist, an intriguing detective, and a lucky black cat make MURDER ON THE BOOKS a delightful series opener. I can't wait to see the new shops flourish and watch Charley and Ian get cooking, both literally and figuratively!

Sorry, this was a DNF for me. The main character's childish arrogance was a turn off--very hard to root for and lacking in depth as well as adult intelligence.

This was a nice cozy mystery in a new series. Charlie returns to her hometown and through a series of events decides to open a bookstore with her friend. The body of the previous owner is found. There is a bit of romance in the book between Charlie and the detective from Atlanta. I found that to be hard to swallow as when we first see him he is very rude. I wouldn't have even given him a thought. It is a light read and a fast read. I will be interested in how the author does the next book.

Charley James has decided to retired (for now) from her successful mystery writing career and move back to her hometown. Charley reunites with her old pal Zane and is excited for Zane's new bakery to open up. Zane has gone into a double store-front business with Shelia, who is opening a book store. When Charley finds Shelia murdered and stuffed in a chest in the bookstore basement, she decides to use her skills from mystery writing to try and solve the case. This was a really good cozy! I really liked the characters, and am very interested to see where Charley's relationship with Detective Grant goes. This hint of romance to come will keep me reading, and I would also like to see what happens when the people in her hometown find out she is really a very popular author they know as C.J. Barrett. so I really hope this will be a series!

Are you looking for a new low-stakes mystery series and do you love bookshops and talks about pastries? This may be the new series for you.

Charley is taking a sabbatical from writing and returning to her hometown to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Only her best friend, Zane, knows she is the best selling author C.J. Barrett, so she is able to retain a level of anonymity while trying to settle back into a low key routine, Her return to Austin also means running into people from her past as well as old crushes and high school rivals.

Zane shares that her business partner, Sheila, has vanished leaving only a text message saying she is skipping town. This leaves Zane in a bit of a lurch with the landlord as the paperwork has been signed and most of the renovations are fairly close to being done. Charley decides this venture is right up her alley and takes up the mantle of being Zane's business partner and starts the work to finish renovations on the shop to get it ready for opening. However, while the electrician is there, Charley stumbles into a box and finds the remains of Sheila.

The mystery begins as Charley's mystery writer instinct encourages her to want to unravel the mystery. She also thinks the Detective on the case is a bit grumpy but kind of cute. Overall, it's a good mystery with some decent suspense and ending. I think I will read more about this mystery bookshop and it's new owner to see what else happens in this sleepy town.

Unfortunately I found this book hard to immerse myself in. Perhaps cozy mysteries are not for me but I felt like I read alot of pages with not much happening that was relevant or was a little slow for my personal tastes.

This just wasnt for me and I think my final rating comes down to personal likes and dislikes in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for providing eARC.

Love:
What could be more cozy than a mystery about a bookstore, cafe/bakery, and a cat named Poe! The pacing kept me turning pages WAY past my bedtime. The side character (best friend- Zane) and law enforcement officer (potential love interest) were fun, flushed out characters.

Didn’t Love:
How predictable the story was - but it did add to the coziness!

Overall:
I can confidently recommend this book. Great start to a new series and cannot wait to see how the characters grow!

Murder on the Books by T.C. LoTempio

Successful mystery writer Charley James returns to her quaint hometown while struggling with writer's block, only to find herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery - side note, as someone who comes from a small town, I find it hard to believe that no one in town knows she's a famous author but with disbelief suspended.

Zane had been about to open her bakery in one half of a double-store front with her buisness partner Sheila, until Shelia leaves town suddenly, leaving only a note. So within days of her arrival, Charley is set to open a bookshop, having been talked into it by longtime friend, Zane. While getting the bookshop ready to open, Charley discovers Sheila's body in the basement.

There's a slow burn romance included, adding to conflict and adding both tension and lightness to the plot. I think you'll like this book if you enjoy cozy mysteries, that include bookshops, bakeries or with a touch of romance ... or if you enjoy books that have a cat with main character energy (for example The Widows' Guide to... series by Amanda Ashby)

Thank you to Netgalley and Severn for this ARC.

Thumbs up.

Body Count = 1

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I really like this author and have enjoyed their other series. I like the characters and the setting. Mystery did keep me guessing, I hope for many more in this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

I wanted to like this one, but just somehow never connected to the characters or the writing style. It felt a little more romance-centered than I expected, given the description, and that is not a category of book that I typically seek out. The mystery elements felt overshadowed by the banter and push for romance, and that turned me off. There's nothing wrong with a focus on either element, it just wasn't for me.

Murder on the Books was a fun, cozy mystery with a charming bookstore setting and a lovable cat sidekick. The plot was light and enjoyable, though a bit predictable, and the amateur sleuthing stretched believability at times. Still, it was a pleasant read overall. Solid 3 stars.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

What happens when a bestselling author of a long-running series gets burned out/writer’s block and relocates to her hometown? First, her agent freaks out. Then, not being independently wealthy, there has to be a plan.

Well, C.J. Barrett (Charley James) needs a break after 12 years and 15 books she has written in her Steve Sheppard mystery series. She decides to head home to Austin, Pennsylvania, to figure things out. Yes, her agent freaked out because she said it may take a year or more before she will be ready to smash out another book. She also plans to keep her writing career as C.J. Barrett a secret. The last thing she needs are fans asking about her next book.

She quickly meets up with her friend, Zane, who tells her that her plan of opening a bakery/cafe in a double storefront with Sheila Crowder’s bookstore is falling apart. Sheila suddenly left town, leaving Zane with few options. Charley needs something to do, so she offers to take on the bookstore side of the business. She then finds out Sheila didn’t leave town when she finds her dead body in a chest in the store’s basement.

Charley can solve a murder; she has done it several times in her books, but Detective Grant and Officer Donaldson would prefer she leave the case to them. But that isn’t going to happen. Charley is going to follow each and every clue to “assist” Detective Grant throw the book at the killer.

I really enjoyed meeting the characters in this first Cozy Bookshop Mystery. Charley needed a break from writing mysteries and had the courage to say so. Her curious nature and all she has learned penning mysteries make her a very capable amateur sleuth. She stole my heart when she adopted Poe, a large black cat with a white spot on his nose and white under his chin. Zane is a great friend. She opens up her home to Charley and Poe while continuing to work full-time at another bakery until her bakery is ready to open. Charley is surprised that Barbara Jeanne Donaldson is a police officer. In high school, she was called Barbie, like the doll, never a blonde hair out of place, fashion model figure, usually found on the arm of a football jock. She is a competent officer. Rumor has it she is trying to become a detective. With the murder, she calls in Detective Ian Grant from Philadelphia to help with the case. When he arrives, it is easy to see that Officer Barbie has a crush on the tall, dark, and handsome detective. Charley is also a little smitten. All the characters have room for growth as the series continues.

Ms. LoTempio has plotted out a marvelous mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Charley can’t help but to get involved in the case, taking some sizeable risks with only Poe and sometimes Zane for backup. We do meet some interesting residents of Austin, each added to the story in meaningful ways. There were literally puzzling clues that brought new things to light, and I found that very entertaining. I wish Charley had been more open with Ian. She did try, but was frustrated when her calls went to voicemail. Her desire to check things out on her own with her frisky feline leads to an A-ha moment at the wrong time and place. Who knew a copy of The Stand by Stephen King could come in so handy?

Murder on the Books has set this series off to a fine start. There are engaging characters with ample room for growth, a great home base in Austin that brings the history of the characters, a puzzling mystery that keeps everyone on their toes, and you can’t go wrong with a small-town bookstore and bakery as a place for people to gather. I have enjoyed everything I have read by this author. T.C. Lotempio doesn’t disappoint. I can’t wait for the next book in what I hope will be a long-running series.

This cozy mystery ticks all the boxes cozy mystery fans have come to expect. Small town atmosphere, friendship, amateur sleuthing, murder/mystery to be solved, potential love interest and a furry sidekick. This is a well written, entertaining series debut!