Murder by the Book (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #1) by Lauren Elliott
Review: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5 stars)
Lauren Elliott’s debut in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series, Murder by the Book, introduces readers to Addie Greyborne, a rare books specialist who inherits her aunt’s estate in the quaint town of Greyborne Harbor. Along with the estate, she also inherits a mystery—or several—when strange events and a suspicious death begin to haunt her new life as a bookstore owner.
The setup is classic cozy mystery: a bookish main character, a small town filled with quirky personalities, and a sudden swirl of secrets. Addie is meant to be a smart, capable protagonist, but the book feels a little hoppy—plot points jump from one moment to the next, and some threads feel dropped or underdeveloped. It almost felt like there should have been a prequel to explain some of the background and relationships more thoroughly. Character development, too, remains on the surface. You meet a lot of people quickly, but few leave a lasting impression or feel truly fleshed out.
That said, the concept is appealing. A bookstore setting with a touch of mystery and the promise of deeper literary intrigue is always a draw for cozy mystery fans. While this first installment didn’t quite stick the landing, it has enough charm and potential to keep me curious. I’ll try another in the series and hope it finds its footing.
There are so many cozy mysteries out there that it's easy to move on from ones that don’t fully click, but I’m still intrigued enough to give Addie and Greyborne Harbor another chance.
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