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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
BOOKED FOR MURDER is not my favored genre as it is a "cozy mystery". I'm so grateful a friend suggested it.
This is a delightful story with a full cast of characters. It has all the "trappings " of a cozy story right down to the book store cat.
I listened to this story straight through and don't regret a second of it. The narration is wonderful with the actress using distinct accents to differentiate the characters.
I absolutely recommend this even if it is on a different branch of your reading tree.
This is a delightful story with a full cast of characters. It has all the "trappings " of a cozy story right down to the book store cat.
I listened to this story straight through and don't regret a second of it. The narration is wonderful with the actress using distinct accents to differentiate the characters.
I absolutely recommend this even if it is on a different branch of your reading tree.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
United States Publication: December 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Madeline Brimley is back in Enigma, Georgia, after being gone for several years. She never thought she'd be back for good, but her Aunt Rose has different plans. Madeline is the heir to Aunt Rose's home and shop, The Old Juniper Bookstore—as long as she sticks it out for six months. Madeline's acting career has stalled, so she has nothing better to do. But someone doesn't want Madeline to take up residence in Enigma or keep the bookstore going; on her first night, a fire destroys the historical gazebo in the backyard. And that's followed by a threatening phone call. But Madeline doesn't take any of it real seriously until Tandy, her unexpected houseguest, is murdered in the bookstore while another fire set threatens to burn the whole house down. Now it's serious. Joined by Philomena and Gloria, Madeline starts digging around, trying to help the local police figure out who is setting fires and killing people. As the threesome gets closer to exposing Tandy's killer and the firestarter, Madeline's future as an Enigma and Earth residence might be in danger.
I really enjoyed Nelson's main cast of characters—Madeline, Philomena, Gloria, and Aunt Rose from the beyond. Small-town life is always quirky, so that brings color to any story. But can a small town support a series in which murders happen? It would be a small town that I would avoid for sure!
I enjoyed what is slated to be the first book in a new cozy mystery series. But this series might be just a step up from cozy, which is fine by me. P.J. Nelson is the pen name of someone with quite the professional resume: award-winning actor, dramatist, professor, and novelist, to name a few things. Regardless of who P.J. Nelson is, I have a feeling I will like future titles if this does become a series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Madeline Brimley is back in Enigma, Georgia, after being gone for several years. She never thought she'd be back for good, but her Aunt Rose has different plans. Madeline is the heir to Aunt Rose's home and shop, The Old Juniper Bookstore—as long as she sticks it out for six months. Madeline's acting career has stalled, so she has nothing better to do. But someone doesn't want Madeline to take up residence in Enigma or keep the bookstore going; on her first night, a fire destroys the historical gazebo in the backyard. And that's followed by a threatening phone call. But Madeline doesn't take any of it real seriously until Tandy, her unexpected houseguest, is murdered in the bookstore while another fire set threatens to burn the whole house down. Now it's serious. Joined by Philomena and Gloria, Madeline starts digging around, trying to help the local police figure out who is setting fires and killing people. As the threesome gets closer to exposing Tandy's killer and the firestarter, Madeline's future as an Enigma and Earth residence might be in danger.
I really enjoyed Nelson's main cast of characters—Madeline, Philomena, Gloria, and Aunt Rose from the beyond. Small-town life is always quirky, so that brings color to any story. But can a small town support a series in which murders happen? It would be a small town that I would avoid for sure!
I enjoyed what is slated to be the first book in a new cozy mystery series. But this series might be just a step up from cozy, which is fine by me. P.J. Nelson is the pen name of someone with quite the professional resume: award-winning actor, dramatist, professor, and novelist, to name a few things. Regardless of who P.J. Nelson is, I have a feeling I will like future titles if this does become a series.
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars
Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson. What a great start to a new series, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2. An atmospheric southern cozy debut, Madeline Brimley returns to the bookstore she inherited, discovering that small towns hold deadly secrets.
I did struggle through the first 25% of the story but I am so glad I persevered as it definitely got better.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story. I’m sure in the next book character development and plot will improve and I won’t be able to guess.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Booked for Murder by P. J. Nelson. What a great start to a new series, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2. An atmospheric southern cozy debut, Madeline Brimley returns to the bookstore she inherited, discovering that small towns hold deadly secrets.
I did struggle through the first 25% of the story but I am so glad I persevered as it definitely got better.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story. I’m sure in the next book character development and plot will improve and I won’t be able to guess.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Booked for Murder is your classic small town cozy mystery. It’s one of those books that never feels too serious or thrilling, but provides a cast of quirky and colorful charterers a reader can easily visualize. I can honestly say that the setting and audiobook narration made this book more enjoyable reading experience in bringing the characters to life.
The story centers around Madeline, who like many, never imagined she’d return to her hometown of Enigma after leaving years ago to pursue an acting career. But stardom isn’t always easy to achieve, and now, grieving the loss of her beloved Aunt Rose, Madeline finds herself inheriting her aunt’s quirky, well-loved bookstore and home. This leaves Madeline with more questions than answers as she steps in this new chapter of her life.
As Madeline tries to figure out her next steps, she’s reminded of how deeply her aunt impacted the community. While repeatedly asking herself “Why me?”, she sees the importance of keeping her Aunt’s Bookstore open for those in need. But returning home isn’t all sentimental memories. Fires are set, and not everyone in Enigma sees this as a homecoming. Things take a darker turn when Tammy, a local girl Madeline had recently connected with, is killed. If some people were upset with her being there, imagine them now. Grappling with Tammy’s tragic death, Madeline sets out to unveil the truth of Tammy’s murder, honor her aunt’s memory, and figure out just where she belongs.
This story is more than just a murder mystery. It’s about grief, second chances, and rediscovering the potential in where you come from. I found myself really drawn to the way this book explorers longing to be someplace else while discovering where you are isn’t that bad after all. I would 100% recommend having the audiobook to fully animate the small-town southern sayings and backhand compliments. In no small feat, the narrator captured the personality and sly humor of each character making them a little bit more distinguishable.
Though the mystery itself follows a predictable path, it’s the sense of community, found family, determination that elevates this story. Booked for Murder is a charming read that cozy mystery fans will appreciate.
The story centers around Madeline, who like many, never imagined she’d return to her hometown of Enigma after leaving years ago to pursue an acting career. But stardom isn’t always easy to achieve, and now, grieving the loss of her beloved Aunt Rose, Madeline finds herself inheriting her aunt’s quirky, well-loved bookstore and home. This leaves Madeline with more questions than answers as she steps in this new chapter of her life.
As Madeline tries to figure out her next steps, she’s reminded of how deeply her aunt impacted the community. While repeatedly asking herself “Why me?”, she sees the importance of keeping her Aunt’s Bookstore open for those in need. But returning home isn’t all sentimental memories. Fires are set, and not everyone in Enigma sees this as a homecoming. Things take a darker turn when Tammy, a local girl Madeline had recently connected with, is killed. If some people were upset with her being there, imagine them now. Grappling with Tammy’s tragic death, Madeline sets out to unveil the truth of Tammy’s murder, honor her aunt’s memory, and figure out just where she belongs.
This story is more than just a murder mystery. It’s about grief, second chances, and rediscovering the potential in where you come from. I found myself really drawn to the way this book explorers longing to be someplace else while discovering where you are isn’t that bad after all. I would 100% recommend having the audiobook to fully animate the small-town southern sayings and backhand compliments. In no small feat, the narrator captured the personality and sly humor of each character making them a little bit more distinguishable.
Though the mystery itself follows a predictable path, it’s the sense of community, found family, determination that elevates this story. Booked for Murder is a charming read that cozy mystery fans will appreciate.
Pretty Good, but Not Amazing
I just finished "Booked for Murder" by PJ Nelson, and it was pretty good! It's about this lady who owns a bookstore in a small town, and she gets caught up in a murder mystery. The plot has lots of twists, which kept me guessing.
The main character is super relatable and nice. Plus, the small town where the story happens sounds so cozy and cute. I could totally picture everything!
But, there were a few things that bugged me. The middle part of the book was kind of slow, and some of the conversations felt like they went on forever. Also, some clues were too obvious, so it wasn't as surprising as I hoped.
The writing was okay, but sometimes it felt a bit awkward. If it had been edited better, it might have been more exciting to read.
Overall, "Booked for Murder" is a decent mystery book. If you like cozy mysteries and small-town vibes, you'll probably enjoy it. It's not the best I've ever read, but it's good for a chill weekend read.
I just finished "Booked for Murder" by PJ Nelson, and it was pretty good! It's about this lady who owns a bookstore in a small town, and she gets caught up in a murder mystery. The plot has lots of twists, which kept me guessing.
The main character is super relatable and nice. Plus, the small town where the story happens sounds so cozy and cute. I could totally picture everything!
But, there were a few things that bugged me. The middle part of the book was kind of slow, and some of the conversations felt like they went on forever. Also, some clues were too obvious, so it wasn't as surprising as I hoped.
The writing was okay, but sometimes it felt a bit awkward. If it had been edited better, it might have been more exciting to read.
Overall, "Booked for Murder" is a decent mystery book. If you like cozy mysteries and small-town vibes, you'll probably enjoy it. It's not the best I've ever read, but it's good for a chill weekend read.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book frustrated me on multiple levels, and I struggled to finish it. The characters weren't very realistic and acted in very unbelievable ways on more than one occasion, which made it difficult to enjoy the story.