A Body at the Book Fair is the sixth and final book in The Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. And it was brilliant, in my opinion! In each of these books is a mystery that Annie and her crew of friends works to solve, as well as the over-arcing mystery of her BFF Scarlet’s unsolved death in college.

This book sees Annie and Fletcher attending a book fair in a nearby town. And best of all, it will put Annie on the spot to visit Silicone Summit Partners, who she has discovered played a role in Scarlet’s death.

I have truly enjoyed this series. From the interesting characters to the delightful setting of Redwood Grove (someplace I’d love to live!), I have been hooked since the first book. I am so happy that Ellie Alexander will be writing a spin-off series featuring Annie, Fletcher, their friends, and, of course, the Secret Bookcase, her beloved Agatha Christie-themed mystery bookstore. Besides owning and running the Secret Bookcase, Annie and Fletcher are starting their very own private detective agency.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and leave my honest opinion.

These are a great series of books - a bookseller/private detective pair, with a mission to get to the bottom of a cold case affecting one of them. Don't read this if you are hungry - there are a great many descriptions of snacks and meals, I did wonder how they managed to fit the day job in! Apart from that well placed, and easy to enjoy.

Annie and Fletcher are excited to attend the big book fair. Now that they are co-owners of the bookstore and about to launch their Novel Detectives, they are looking for lots of great ideas. Plus, with the help of Liam and Pri, Annie is hoping to confront Scarlet’s murderer and make him pay for his crimes. Before she gets a chance to do that, she is confronted with another murder. A narcissist with the “next big thing “ is electrocuted by his own ground breaking device. Was it just an accident or did someone tamper with the headset and plot his demise.

Annie becomes friends with the local detective handling the case. I love the way this series rewards her hard work and expertise and the police, rather than ignoring or worse undermining her, work together to a common end. And after a number of false leads, Annie does twig when she catches the killer doing something. That then opens the field to the real challenge. After ten tough years, will Annie be able to collect the evidence that will put the killer of her best friend behind bars.

It is not going to be easy and there is going to be danger but she and Liam and their friends work together and get the job done. The end of the book sets up where the stories are going to go in the new series, Novel Detectives. I am looking forward to seeing where that will go. Four purrs and two paws up.

I enjoyed the previous books in the series and was looking forward to the conclusion. However, this last book in the series was a disappointment. Annie's involvement with the police during the investigation was a bit far-fetched which many time that kind of element is common in a cozy mystery. This time it seemed a bit more far-fetched than usual. I really wanted to know what information Scarlet had found that had resulted in her murder but SPOILER ALERT - that's never revealed. What a let down. This was three stars instead of two due to the supporting cast of characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc.

I have enjoyed every single one of these books. In fact, I was seriously sad to see that this was the last one of the series. But then, you get to the end of the book and see that this has actually spawned a new spinoff series! Yay!!!! That made me genuinely happy. I have really come to love Annie, Pri, and all the other characters so much.

I love the bookstore aspect of it and it getting also turned into a P.I. office, well, who can say no to that? The mysteries are always really good and interesting. This one was no different. I really enjoyed the tech aspect of this one. Because we are facing a lot of new technology when it comes to reading so it makes sense to be able to put that in there. Like for example, I love my Kindle because I like to lay down and read. I can make the font big, so I don't need my glasses. Yes, I cheat lol. But seriously though, the feel of an actual book in hand is something I will never willingly give up, so I make sure, and I read regular books to.

I thought the headset idea was an interesting one although, I am not sure if I could ever see myself using something like that. However, using that in a mystery was a very cool way to keep things modern and new. I admit that I went back and forth as to who I thought was the killer. In the end, it ended up being the one I thought it was but man, you just almost had me fooled lol.

A great book. A wonderful mystery full of red herrings and I loved the fact that Scarlett finally got her justice.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Ellie Alexander for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

BOOK: A BODY AT THE BOOK FAIR
AUTHOR: ELLIE ALEXANDER
PUB DATE: JUNE 2025
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REVIEW- 2.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I didn't read the first book in the series, but I liked the next three books. However, my interest reduced as the series came to an end. Everything just seems rushed and the mystery plot line not well developed.
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I feel like this book would have been much better if it had concentrated on Scarlet's murder case alone. Scarlet's case had been a large part of this series and it deserved to be more than a back burner like it was here. It was rushed and the culprit was caught in a couple of days and the evidence Scarlet found was not revealed. At the same time, the murder case here was really dry. I felt Annie didn't put much effort, the suspects just opened up to her with little prodding. It was disappointing to me. For me, everything about the last book in this series was rushed and it was really disappointing.
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There's a new series with Annie's new detective agency, Novel Detectives. But, I think I've had enough of Annie and friends.

Another great story but I am sad to say goodbye to the awesome bookshop team and setting- if only the bookshop really existed!

A Body at the Book Fair is the gripping conclusion of The Secret Bookcase cozy mystery series. As they prepare to officially take over the Secret Bookcase, as well as open their new detective agency, Annie and Fletcher head to Santa Clara for an annual book conference. Annie can't wait to mingle with other book lovers and learn about all the new technology geared towards readers. In addition to attending the book fair, Annie is also determined to solve her best friend's murder - a case she has been investigating for the past decade. When one of the panelists is discovered dead at the conference, Annie realizes that she now has two murders to solve. Unfortunately, the victim has a long list of enemies, and Annie can't afford to be too distracted from her ultimate goal of solving Scarlet's death.

All the books in The Secret Bookcase series are fun-filled, warm, and intriguing. The characters are absolutely delightful. I've really enjoyed the development of Annie's relationships, especially with Liam and Fletcher. In this last installment, Annie finally solves Scarlet's murder. Throughout the series, the author does a fabulous job of keeping the reader interested in this overarching mystery while also being invested in each book's specific mystery. The town of Redwood Grove is charming, and I so wish that there was a real-life Secret Bookcase! I'm excited to hear that there is going to be a spin-off series that focuses on Annie and Fletcher's new detective agency. I will definitely be diving into that series!

(3.75 stars)
A Body At The Book Fair is the sixth and final book in the Secret Bookcase Mystery series. Like each of the other books, there’s a separate mystery here plus the conclusion of a mystery that has spanned all six books. Because of that overarching plot, I’d recommend reading the series in order or at least reading the two before this one first.

Annie Murray has a criminology background but has been working at a mystery-themed bookstore in a small town in Northern California for several years. She has been trying to solve the case of the murder of her best friend, Scarlet, for the past ten years and we finally get to see her succeed.

I actually was more interested in the rest of the book. Annie and her co-worker Fletcher are attending a booksellers conference and a death takes place there, during a tech presentation in front of a large audience. There’s a lot of discussion about new book-related technologies (virtual reality and more) and an interesting (to me) discussion about book auctions where publishers vie for the opportunity to publish a particular book with a lot of buzz.

I’ve enjoyed all the main characters in this series: Annie, Fletcher (a Sherlock Holmes aficionado), Priya who runs a coffee shop, and Liam, who runs the local pub. Fletcher and Annie are getting ready to start their own private investigation business, Novel Detectives, and by the end of the book they have all the certifications required to do so. That would be in addition to their roles at the bookstore, apparently. Looks like there’s going to be a spin-off series!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A big fan of this series, always good to see in my catalogue of books to read. I can’t believe this is the last in the series - I shall miss Annie but look forward to any forthcoming books.

Finally there was closure on Scarlets death after 10yrs alongside a new murder case.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

It hasn’t been long since Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes became co-owners of an Agatha Christie-themed bookstore, and as the new business owners of the Secret Staircase they are attending the California Booksellers Convention in nearby Santa Clara. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network with their fellow booksellers, as well as meet new publishers and authors. One of the featured programs is also a presentation of the new wave of e-readers, several of which are not only intuitive but have their own virtual reality platform. It quickly becomes heated when the moderator, as well as the two presenters Andrew Fox and Victor Moore, begin talking over and arguing with one another about who has the best technology. When Andrew Fox drops dead while demonstrating his innovative Headset, Annie immediately knows that it was more than an accident and guards the scene in order to help the arriving detective. Annie’s input is considered more valuable than the usual “amateur” detective since she and Fletcher are newly licensed private detectives with their own company, not to mention her having a degree in criminology and a high recommendation from her professor. What Annie and Fletcher soon learn is that Andrew Fox accrued a long list of enemies, ranging from the store owners he shafted to those whose tech he is accused of stealing.

At this point, Annie has fully embraced her new career as a private investigator, working with the police as advisors and using her unofficial status to infiltrate and cozy up to suspects. Annie is pretty brazen about her questioning, confident with her degree in criminology and secure that she has police backup. Ironically, now that she and Fletcher are full co-owners of the bookstore this installment has them away from the Secret Staircase and instead exploring the book convention. This allows for an engaging exploration of the book publishing business, with editors competing for authors, authors battling for publishers, publishers desperate to create buzz, and tech creators fighting to be the first on the market. It allows for an ample number of suspects, motives, and opportunities for murder, all which has Annie shuffling her list of possibilities. Lingering in the background is the murder that started it all, namely that of her best friend Scarlet. The trauma from the murder derailed Annie’s plans to become a criminologist, and only now has Annie allowed herself to resume that career and the investigation into Scarlet’s death. Annie now knows the who, she just needs to get the evidence to prove it. That involves an undercover operation that has Annie up close to the person she knows had Scarlet killed, a man who knows Annie’s intention and may be luring her into a trap. At least Annie’s boyfriend Liam has her back, and keeping her friends and the police informed will give her a layer of protection that makes the risk worth taking. This new direction away from the bookstore is a fun introduction to what will be a new series, one focusing more on Fletcher and Annie’s private detection business than the daily running of a bookstore. There can never be enough exploration of books and the world of bibliophiles though, and here’s to hoping that there will soon be another entry in the Secret Staircase mystery series and its unique mystery-themed collection.

While this isn’t my favorite series by this author, it has grown on me, particularly since the cold case has really heated up. As this is the last in the series, I knew that the cold case would be wrapped up so I was anxious to see how it would all end. What a disappointment! I tore through the first half of this book and the current mystery, all the while waiting for Annie’s meeting with the major player in Scarlet’s disappearance only to be met with one implausible and ridiculous scenario after another. The ending was wrapped up way too quickly for as long as it was drawn out and the methods to get the information were unbelievable. What information did she get? We don’t ever find out. This does set up the next series nicely and I will hope for better with that one.

This is the final installment of the Secret Bookcase Mysteries – although don’t worry, we’ll get a spin-off, The Novel Detectives series. This time around, Annie and Fletcher are in Santa Clara for a book fair and Liam and Pri are coming along too. It just so happens that the fair is near the company that Annie blames for her best friend, Scarlet’s, death, ten years ago, and Annie has a plan to get the evidence she needs. While we do get some background info on the cold case, this one probably works better if you’ve read others in the series. Of course, there’s also a murder at the book fair. One of the presenters is killed by his own VR device, and Annie is there when it happens.

The book fair sounds amazing and makes me want to go to a bookish event soon. The two mystery plot are balanced well. We have several suspects for the current murder – the dead man was not a nice guy or honest businessman. I didn’t really love how the solution to Scarlet’s case played out, but I’m glad it’s resolved. I’m not a huge fan of over-arching mysteries in my cozies.

The characters are fun to spend time with and it’s a light read. I’m looking forward to catching up with Annie and her crew again.

A Body at the Book Fair is the final book in Ellie Alexander’s A Secret Bookcase Mystery Series. Annie is just days away owning The Secret Bookcase and opening a detective agency with her friend Fletcher. But before she can turn the page to this new chapter, she must finally bring her best friend Scarlet’s killer to justice.

A book fair in Santa Clara brings Annie closer to the investment firm tied to Scarlet’s death. However, her visit takes an unexpected turn when a panel participant is murdered right in front of her, forcing Annie to juggle solving this new mystery while staying focused on bringing Scarlet’s killer to justice.

The only aspect I didn’t love was that most of the story takes place outside of Redwood Grove. I’ve always felt that setting can become as vivid and essential as any character. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was happy to see Annie finally achieve justice for Scarlet. I’m definitely looking forward to following Annie’s next adventures in the upcoming spinoff series, The Novel Detectives.

A fantastic ending to a wonderful series. I love Annie and the main cast of characters, plus the bookish settings! What's not to love? The ending to the overarching mystery was satisfying. I definitely recommend reading this series in order.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This series is truly just a ton of good fun! I’ve really enjoyed reading it and am delighted that the characters will continue on in another series! Changing the setting from the bookshop brought out a new side to the story, which is always interesting. I’m glad that the Scarlett storyline is wrapped up. Alexander managed to pull things together nicely in a dramatic but solid fashion. The individual case was well done and interesting even though it wasn’t the sole center of the novel.

What a great addition to this series! We finally get the answers we have been waiting for with Scarlett’s story line. I’m guessing this one is wrapping up this series and I think Ellie Alexander did a wonderful job tying the story up. We’ve been given hints of there being some what of a spin off series and I can’t wait!

Ellie Alexander has done it again! I've read all the books in The Secret Bookcase Mysteries series, and this final book leaves you wanting more! While the killer for the our heroine Annie's best friend Scarlett is finally revealed, you're left wondering what else is in store for The Novel Detectives? Hopefully, we'll find out in the future, because I cannot get enough of Annie and her found family! Nevertheless, this was the perfect ending to the series!

Special thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I enjoy visiting with these characters and that they move forward in there lives. The setting is great and I'd love to find such a town.
The mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to the next series with these characters.

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

What a great series to follow from beginning to end! Ellie Alexander has such a talent for drawing you into the characters, the location, and the story. I highly recommend this series and would strongly encourage it be read in order. Way to go, Ellie, and I can't wait to see where you take readers next!