This was a really entertaining book. The mystery was good and certainly kept me guessing. I liked Charley and Poe too. I’m definitely adding this series to my list and look forward to the next one.

This is the first book that I read by this author and I was not disappointed. The Prologue is concise and captured my interest. The story then switches to Charley, a successful mystery author, who is taking a break from writing and is moving back to her home town. She keeps her identity as an author secret which makes for some humorous dialogue. The characters are likeable with some amusing interactions.

This is a nice cosy murder mystery that is quick to read and enjoyable.

This is a book for someone who enjoys a slower paced storyline. The reader spends most of the book in various parts of the town meeting characters from the protagonist’s childhood. Despite engaging with several people I didn’t learn enough to emotionally invest in the main character. The lead detective is largely unlikable and I did not root for him through most of the scenes. The mystery itself was engaging and unpredictable. I wish that puzzles were more of a central theme to drive the story.

Charley Barrett needs a break from her career as a mystery writer. So she heads home hoping to relax and recharge before getting back at it. Little did she expect that she would be channeling her protagonist by trying to solve a murder right in her own hometown. Will CJ Barrett be fueling her future stories, or will a murderer end Charley’s run for good?

While, this is the first entry in a new series for this author, it is not her first cozy mystery series. She has several others that are very well written and I enjoy. So I was excited to see a new one from her and boy, am I glad that I read it! I’ve never been disappointed with a single one of this author’s books. I don’t think you will be either as she maps out a solid mystery and brings her characters vividly to life. I’m already looking forward to the next entry in this series.

Murder On the Books is the first in a new series by T.C (Toni) LoTempio and it is a really good cozy mystery. It has a different start with the Prologue being from the killer's point of view and describes what lead to the murder but you don't know who it is. The Prologue is short and isn't too disturbing. I'm glad I kept going. The characters are likeable and there was some humor in their interactions. Charlotte (Charley) is a successful mystery author but needs to take a break so she visits her friend Zane in Austin, PA. Zane was supposed to go into business with Sheila Crowder but Sheila left suddenly. Zane is opening a bakery and Sheila was going to open a mystery bookstore so Charley takes it over. While they are checking out the bookstore area, they find Sheila's dead body.. The police show up including former disliked classmate Officer Barbie Donaldson and Detective Ian Grant. Their run-ins had me laughing. I appreciated the humor to offset the situations when Charley investigates on her own. There is some chemistry between Charley and Ian. I suspected the culprit but changed my mind a couple of times. The story isn't as suspenseful as it seems at first and was enjoyable after it got going. The series has a lot of potential and I look forward to more books. #MurderOnTheBooks #ACozyBookshopMystery #SevernHouse

Charley James is a famous mystery/thriller author (under a penname to keep her identity private), but after 12 books in 10 years she is burned out and uninspired. She decides to move back to her hometown of Austin, Pennsylvania for a fresh start and reconnects with her childhood friend, Zane. She arrives just after Zane's business partner in her almost opened bakery/bookstore, Sheila bails on the business and leaves town. Charley takes it as a sign to take over the bookstore business and put down roots in Austin once again.
Unfortunately, while prepping the store Charley finds that Sheila never actually left town in is in fact dead in the basement of the store. With her friend under suspicion Charley uses what she's learned writing her mystery series to try and track down the killer. She also spends time getting to know the Philly detective helping with the case.
A fun new cozy series with lots of suspects to keep you intrigued. I did guess the murderer by the end, but I still enjoyed the read and would continue the series.
My two critiques would be that I loved Poe the cat, but it was strange that Charley kept him locked in her car multiple times. I don't think most cats would enjoy that experience. I also thought it was strange that a best selling author of a dozen books that everyone seems to have heard of, is worried about her money running out in 18months and needing to find a job. I'm not saying she should be a millionaire, but she thinks 300$ a month to rent a room is a rip off - the money talk seems a bit off.

Really enjoyed this one. A super cosy mystery with a thriller writer opening a mystery book store, a cute cat and a cuter detective. What's not to like?

Had no clue who the killer was but never tried to guess. Just enjoyed the story and the dynamics of Charley and Ian. I hope there's a sequel!

Famous mystery author Charley James, aka C.J. Barrett, is taking a break from writing after facing burnout. Returning to her hometown she gets the opportunity to take over the bookstore her childhood friend Zane’s business partner abandoned. Sheila left suddenly leaving only a note behind. Soon her body is found in the basement of the bookstore.

T.C. LoTempio’s Murder on the Books certainly lives up to its claim as a cozy mystery. The book is a fun and easy read, that requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. The mystery itself is not something innovating and new, but it is still fun. A classic whodunit that takes you from murder to stalking, missing collectibles, secret meetings and everything in between. As it is a cozy mystery there is not a lot of action and what exists is low stakes.

Most of the characters feel real and relatable, the way that Charley handles her burn out is refreshing to see in a book. But some of the characters feel flat and like they are placed only to move the plot forward. My favourite character is Poe the cat. Charley and Zane find him in the alley behind the bookstore, and he has almost more personality than Charley. All the way through the book Poe helps Charley find the clues she needs to keep working on the mystery.

It could have been a five-star read, but I feel like the relationships between the characters need to be more fleshed out and involved for me to reach that level.
If you like cozy mysteries this could be the book for you, and it is my hope that we get to see more from Charley and Poe in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A nice start to a new series that sees Charley, a mystery writer, with a mystery of her own when she finds the owner of the bookstore in a trunk! Cozy fans know that Sheila was not a nice person but to murder her? Charley thought she would be relaxing in Austin but that's not happening. This is classic cozy stuff. LoTiempio is world building here and molding the characters so it's a light read. I expect more depth in the future. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

Set in Austin had me hooked from the start for this first in a new series by best-selling author T.C. LoTempio. When Charlotte decides to take a rest from writing mystery and moves back to her hometown, where she wants to rest and relax, she reunites with her long time friend Zane. But things go crazy when Zane's business partner is found dead. Great character development and a well plotted story. Definitely a series to read! Thanks#Netgalley and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Oh my goodness what a fun cozy mystery debut in a new series. As usual, TC LoTempio has created a fun female protagonist and an adorable feline companion in Poe. However, that is where her similarities to her other books comes to a halt.

Best-selling author CJ Barrett, AKA Charlotte James, is going on a hiatus and returning to her hometown of Austin, PA from the Big Apple. She needs a change of scenery as she has finally hit writer's block. She spends time with her BFF, Zane, who is opening a bakery in conjunction with a business partner who is opening a bookstore next door, except Zane shares the news that her partner backed out at the last second and she is afraid of losing her dream bakery. Charlotte, or Charley, steps in and thinks taking over the bookstore is exactly the distraction she needs for a while. In prepping for their opening, Charlotte literally stumbles across a chest in the basement, knocking it over and out tumbles a human hand... attached to an arm, and so forth. Zane's partner didn't exactly take off, she got herself killed.

You can read the rest of the delicious plot details for yourself. Charley, a mystery writer and puzzle afficionado, wants to find out whodunit both for her curiosity and to save she and Zane's businesses. Add the charming addition of adopted stray kitty, Poe, who has a nose for finding clues and you have one crazy adventure.

Poe is clearly the star of this book. I found myself looking forward to reading it after a day at work. It is a light, cute read for an afternoon in your favorite chair in the summer sun. I highly recommend this cozy for cat lovers and cozy fans everywhere.

My thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charley James wants to escape her life as best-selling author C.J. Barrett and return to her hometown, Austin, where no one knows she writes the popular Steve Sherperd mysteries.

Her best friend Zane is opening a bakery in a building shared with a new bookstore. When the original bookstore owner, Sheila, abandons the project, Charley takes over the site. Unfortunately, Charley discovers Sheila’s body in the store’s basement in a chest.

Now, Charley and Zane are juggling the prep for the new store opening with sleuthing activities. T. C. LoTempio begins her new Bookshop Mystery series with a strong introduction to well-developed characters and a compelling story. Looking forward to the next installment.

A brand new cosy mystery series to get addicted to. I’m really eager to read more. This was a fun and cosy mystery book filled with cats and murders.

I enjoyed this book. I hope this becomes a series. A mystery author Charley moves home. She takes over opening a book store and finds a dead body in the storage room. She decides to try and figure out who murdered the person.

A real page turner of a nice cozy mystery that looks like it will be a fun series.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected e-galley on PDF from Severn House via NetGalley. Pub Date Jul 01, 2025
#MurderontheBooks by T.C. LoTempio #newseries @severnhouseimprint #cozymystery
#cozyBookshopmysteryseries #petcat #localdetective #situationalhumor #bookseller #romantic

Princess Fuzzypants here: In full disclosure, I do have a connection to the author and her books. I am the beautiful cover model and character in her Pet Shop series but I can be objective in writing reviews. Of course, there is no need to be since I absolutely adore how Toni writes us felines and her newest hero, Poe, is no exception. He is a dominant feline who not only guides his human but paw-selected her to be his. She, smart lady that she is, knew well enough to accept the inevitable.

Charley is a highly successful author who has hit a wall. She needs time away from her character and returns home where she is talked into being a partner in a book shop cum bakery with her best friend. But Charley does not want anyone to know her nom de plume. There are lots of fun bits where she is confronted with that spectre, especially when she is helping the local constabulary in finding the murderer of the woman who was going to be the partner until she disappeared. Naturally, Charley’s best friend is going to be a suspect but is eliminated when the police realize the death did not benefit her.

What is great fun is when the hunky detective accuses her of being an amateur sleuth when she is a very good amateur thanks to the research she had to do for her books. Naturally, there is going to be lots of romantic potential but it is Poe who will always be the one who wins my heart.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

This was such a fun read, filled with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I will definitely check out more from this author!

Well that was a book. A rather boring one, but not a bad one. Would I read another in this series? No, probably not. The story was predictable, the characters bland. Again, nothing actively bad, but nothing particularly good either.

This book, written by a woman about women for women? Surprisingly sexist.

Nobody seemed to care nearly enough that a woman was straight up murdered. Like oh my god. "I have to get nice fixtures for my store :)" a woman was KILLED in the basement why are you so chill

Where is Bootsie. What happened to Bootsie.

Why are there so many weirdly detailed food sections???

All this and more, in this remarkably predictable mystery where the killer is just A Guy That Showed Up That One Time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Murder on the Books by T.C. LoTempio is a delightful dive into the world of cozy mysteries. The “cozy genre” which I never expected to fall in love with, but here I am, absolutely hooked. For someone who usually craves horror and gore, discovering the comforting joy of a small town whodunit (with a bookstore setting and a clever feline sidekick named Poe) was a refreshing change of pace.

LoTempio strikes the perfect balance between charm and suspense. The mystery is engaging and satisfying without ever straying into dark or disturbing territory. The pacing is just right, and the clues unfold naturally, keeping you guessing while still maintaining the cozy atmosphere. And the bookstore setting? Pure magic for any book lover.

What really sealed the deal for me was the subtle but compelling tension between the main character and the brooding detective, the classic “will they/won’t they” energy that adds just the right amount of romantic intrigue without overpowering the plot.

With a witty writing style, lovable characters, and a mystery that delivers exactly what it promises, Murder on the Books is a perfect entry point into the cozy mystery genre, or a satisfying treat for seasoned fans. Bonus points for Poe the cat, who just might be the real star of the show.

Many thanks to NetGalley, T.C. LoTempio, and Severn House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgallery and T.C LoTempio for this ARC

I love a good cozy mystery and this was a good one,loved that the MC was a writer who was having a break from from writing yet somehow ends up getting tangled in a mystery all because she decides to help a friend out when they left in the lurch. I honestly was surprised by who the killer was as I pegged someone else. I definitely want to get the next one in the series.