I just couldn't get into this book but for others it's worth the read. This was a great series and there's a few surprises at the end. I hope you'll enjoy this book. Don't let my review determine your reading experience. I enjoyed all the others in this series and so will you.

I just finished A Body at the Book Fair, and honestly, I had such a fun time reading it. Annie is one of those characters you immediately root for—smart, determined, and just the right mix of nosy and brave. Her love for Agatha Christie and her bookstore, the Secret Bookcase, makes this series feel like a cozy hug for any mystery lover.

The book fair setting was perfect—full of quirky authors, rivalries, and just enough chaos to make a murder feel right at home. When a fellow book industry insider turns up dead, Annie can’t help but dive into the case, even while quietly pursuing answers about her best friend Scarlet’s death from ten years ago. I loved how the two mysteries were layered without getting muddled. It kept things interesting and added some real emotional stakes.

The banter between Annie and Fletcher is one of the highlights of the book. Their friendship and crime-solving chemistry are so natural, and Fletcher’s dry wit balances Annie’s intensity perfectly. I also appreciated that the suspects weren’t one-dimensional—it kept me guessing right up to the reveal.

I’m giving it four stars instead of five because the pacing lagged just a bit in the middle, and a few characters at the book fair blurred together for me. But overall, it’s clever, warm, and well-plotted—everything I want in a cozy mystery.

If you love small-town charm, bookish settings, and amateur sleuths who don't give up, A Body at the Book Fair is a must-read. Can't wait to see where Annie’s detective agency takes her next!

This is the only novel by Ellie Alexander that I've read. It was fun and a quick read. I found the storyline interesting but somewhat simplistically written. Because I was missing lots of details from the previous books in the series, I didn't feel the same urgency as the characters in resolving the mystery. The ending was a bit rushed, especially for a book that culminated so many preceding events/titles. The hints of romance felt a bit unsophisticated for the ages of the characters.

Annie and Fletcher, owners of The Secret Bookcase, are off to a Book Fair excited to be attending author panels and vendors booths to peruse books and gifts for their Bookshop.
But Annie is most excited knowing that she is going to have a chance to finally prove who killed her former best friend Scarlet But neither Annie nor Fletcher could be prepared to also be involved in a murder at the Book Fair. Two murders to solve for these newly minted detectives.
The author gave her readers a nice tie up with the ending of this series and the good news is she’s writing a spin off with Annie and Fletcher as they are opening their own detective agency called Novel Detectives. I look forward to reading the new series. I received an EArc from the Netgalley and Storm Pulishing. This review is my honest opinion.

Ellie Alexander is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. From the very first page, I was hooked—I couldn’t put this book down until I reached the end! In this latest installment, Annie and Fletcher are one step closer to launching their detective agency, and Annie edges nearer to uncovering the truth behind Scarlett's murder. I love how this series continues to build intrigue while deepening character development. I can’t wait to see what’s next for these sleuths!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This was a good mystery. Annie is setting up her private detective business with Fletcher. She now has her bookstore and detective agency in one, The Novel Detectives. When attending a book fair, one of the presenters gets murdered. Annie is on the case helping the police, while still trying to find her friend Scarlett's murdered. A good read.

Many thanks to Netgalley for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


What a perfect book to end the series with and the perfect beginning for the spin off series. Annie Murray is attending a book convention and is finally going to get justice for her best friend Scarlett. At the book convention there is a murder one that Annie sees while watching a panel for a new Headset that is supposed to bring books to life but instead causes the death of the creator that lots of people want dead. Annie is on the case with the help of Fletcher, Pri, and Liam. Once Annie finds the killer she goes to the offices of the company responsible for Scarlett’s death and finds the evidence that Scarlett left her in a way that only Annie would understand. This book is so cute and a perfect cozy. I will be purchasing this book once it releases and will be eagerly awaiting the spin off series.

Fitting Conclusion..
The sixth and final entry into the Secret Bookcase Mystery series finds Annie content in her Agatha Christie themed bookstore as well as being on the brink of a new chapter in her life. However, she is still seeking answers in respect of the one unsolved case that haunts her. Will she ever find them and will the new case that falls in her lap distract or assist her quest? Another enjoyable outing with a well crafted cast of characters, a firm sense of place and a solid mystery at its heart. A fitting conclusion to the series.

LOVED the conclusion to this series! Also thought it was a pretty slick idea for a spin-off to come with the conclusion of one 'chapter' in Annie's life opening up to the 'next chapter' with a new focus series.

I wish a bookstore like Annie's really did exist. Themed rooms? English gardens? Old house? Tea and the trimmings? Happy sigh. Now - that isn't to say A Body at the Book Fair is so tame. No, there's definitely murder! With the obligatory red herrings, which we can't forget. Ms. Alexander planned things out very well so two mysteries are solved concurrently over the course of the story. It's just good writing. Love the relationship between the various characters of Annie's 'team' and her 'found family' after the loss of Scarlett.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

Annie and Fletcher attend a book fair where Annie is in the audience when a tech guy dies on stage. She takes command of the situation until local PD arrives and then teams up with the detective to help solve the murder. She also has plans to confront who she believes killed her best friend, Scarlet.
I've been a fan of this series since book one and am happy to see that this won't be the last that we see of the Redwood Grove PI's.
Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Fantastic wrap up to the series and my favorite

Annie and Fletcher, new proprietors of the Secret Bookcase, leave Redwood Grove to attend a book conference in Santa Clara. But that’s not all. Liam and Priya are coming to help follow up on evidence in the case of Annie’s friend Scarlet’s murder, a lead that just happens to also be in Santa Clara. The newly minted detective (Annie just passed her private detective exam) and her friends get more than they bargained for when one of the speakers at the conference dies on stage during a panel chat.

This book was all kinds of fun. It was a twofer on the mystery front: in addition to the stand alone mystery, the book nicely wraps up the overarching mystery surrounding Scarlet’s death. Both storylines had enough room to breathe, and there were some very lively characters. While it wasn’t in any way a fish out of water story, it was interesting to see how the characters behaved when taken out of their natural habitats. The book fair was a very fun venue for a mystery and a nice change of pace from Redwood Grove. Don’t get me wrong; RG is a favorite fictional place, but I live near Santa Clara and it’s always fun to see stories set in real places near me. The Silicon Valley/high tech flavor was fun too; I recognized a lot of it in my bones, but I’m looking forward to going back to RG in future books.

This is an honest review based on the book provided by NetGalley and Storm.

A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander offers a charming and cosy mystery set in the delightful town of Redwood Grove. Annie has found solace running her Agatha Christie-themed bookstore, The Secret Bookcase, and is on the verge of launching her own detective agency. Yet, the shadow of her best friend Scarlet’s unsolved murder ten years ago still lingers.

When Annie attends the annual book fair in Santa Clara, she is determined to uncover the truth about Scarlet’s death, convinced the powerful investment firm Silicon Summit Partners is involved. But the plot thickens when a murder occurs right at the fair. The suspect list reads like a who’s who of the literary world — from a celebrity author with a hidden agenda to a rival with a grudge, and even a kindly grandmother chasing her bookstore dream.

With her loyal partner Fletcher by her side as the perfect Watson to her Holmes, Annie races to solve the mystery before another life is lost. This clean, fun-filled cosy mystery is full of clever twists and will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

I found it a thoroughly enjoyable and lighthearted read, perfect for fans of mysteries that feel like a warm hug with a side of suspense.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is yet another terrific installment in the Secret Bookcase series. The usual characters, Annie, Fletcher, Hal, Liam, Pri, and Dr. Caldwell, are all featured and the story is really wonderful. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but I won't state why because I don't like spoilers in reviews. This story revolved around Annie and Fletcher's trip to the California Booksellers Convention and their subsequent plan to get into Silicone Summit Partners to finally find the answers to who killed Annie's best friend, Scarlet. There, of course, ends up being a death at the convention that Annie and Fletcher need to solve ... solving one murder just isn't enough for one book, is it?! The insight into the world of bookselling, publishing, and the book technology industry was quite interesting to read about ... I commend Ellie Alexander for doing research on the wide world of books and bringing it all to her readers in this delightful tale. There is a lot of action, a lot of information, a lot of wonderful food, a lot of coffee, and a lot of suspense in this story ... the only thing that wasn't included is .... What was in the envelope!?! I'm hoping the next book contains that information!

This is the last book in the series, though the ending implies there will be a spinoff series with Annie & Fletcher having their own detective agency. We finally get the answers that Annie has been seeking throughout the entire series regarding what happened to her best friend, Scarlet, and why she was murdered. This happens while on a trip to a book fair, where Annie helps to solve another murder. I found many of Annie’s interactions with police to be far-fetched, while always using her degree in criminology as an excuse for their support of her involvement. I’d say to enjoy this series, you have to have a willing suspension fo disbelief that goes further than most other cozy mysteries.

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

3.5/5 This was a nice cozy mystery read. While I haven't read the other books in the series it was easy to catch up as the author does recap details from the prior books. The characters were all likeable and the two different mysteries going on were interesting. Overall a good read. Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is the last book in the Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. Although, it is apparently leading into a new series with the same characters, who are now running a bookstore and private detective agency. I mostly enjoyed this book and it was nice to have everything wrapped up in the end, but I have to say this book had some fairly unbelievable things happen in it in order to lead to the conclusion. It felt very unrealistic by the end. I also feel like it if you stripped away the descriptions of food and bookstores/displays there would be very little to this book. If you are a fan of Ellie Alexander you will enjoy this book, but if you are looking for a complicated mystery to solve this might not be for you.

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

This was my first introduction to Annie Murray and her world, and honestly, it worked perfectly as a standalone. I was drawn in right away by the setting—there's just something irresistible about a mystery unfolding at a book fair, surrounded by authors, fans, and more than a few secrets. The murder itself was intriguing, but what really surprised me was how layered the story felt, especially with the added thread of Annie investigating her best friend’s cold case. Even without knowing her full backstory, I connected with her quickly—she’s sharp, grounded, and easy to root for. The mix of literary charm and suspense kept the pace moving, and by the end, I wasn’t just satisfied with the mystery—I was curious to go back and read the earlier books. It’s a great entry point if you’re new to the series.

The last book in the series and the first time I've read any! Still, not too hard to understand the background and characters and general a fun, cozy, twisted book. I look forward to starting at book one.

This is the first book I have read in this series, not realizing it was part of a series when I was approved for it on NetGalley. However, this didn’t seem to affect my reading experience. A Body at the Book Fair is a cute, cozy murder mystery. The new tech that was demonstrated at the book fair to enhance readers experience was interesting and something I could see being developed in the future. Some of the clues surrounding the murders seemed to be improbable and the story felt a little rushed, as two murders were being solved in less than 300 pages. Overall, I enjoyed this read and plan to start the series from the beginning at some point in the future.

Rating 3.5/5 stars.

I’m sad the series is over but happy it’s continuing as part of a new series starting in 2026. The final chapter in the series nearly wraps up the mystery of what happened to Scarlet, while Annie also solves another mystery. Now I’m ready for the Novel Detectives.