Booked for Murder by P.J.Nelson
Release: December 10, 2024
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: NetGalley
Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads
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In this atmospheric southern cozy debut, Madeline Brimley returns to the bookstore she inherited, discovering that small towns hold deadly secrets.
Madeline Brimley left small town Georgia many years ago to go to college and pursue her dreams on the stage. Her dramatic escapades are many but success has eluded her, leaving her at loose ends. But then she gets word that has her beloved, eccentric Aunt Rose passed. Also she’s left Madeline her equally eccentric bookstore housed in an old Victorian mansion in the small college town of Enigma. She arrives in her beat-up Fiat to claim The Old Juniper Bookstore, and restart her life. But Madeline is faced with unexpected challenges. The gazebo in the back yard is set ablaze. And a late-night caller threatens to burn the whole store down if she doesn’t leave immediately.
But Madeline Brimley, not one to be intimidated, ignores the threats and soldiers on. Until there’s another fire and a murder in the store itself. Now with a cloud of suspicion falling over her, it’s up to Madeline to untangle the skein of secrets and find the killer before she herself is the next victim.
About the Author:
PJ NELSON is the pseudonym of an award-winning actor, dramatist, professor, and novelist (among other many other professions) who has done just about everything except run a bookstore.
He lives in Decatur, Georgia.
Booked for Murder Review:
Moreover, it was fascinating to watch Madeline learn that appearances can be deceiving. We see Madeline question herself as she gains new insights into the people around her, leading to a refreshing shift in her perspectives. However, her reluctance to trust Billy and her attempts to do his job sometimes got on my nerves.
Gloria was undoubtedly my favorite character. Her snarky humor, wisdom, and calm demeanor made her incredibly endearing. The depth of characters like Philomena, David, Billy, and Bo added a layer of connection and authenticity to the story.
Also, the author’s love for the theater is evident through the numerous references made by Madeline and the other characters. While I’m not a theater enthusiast, I enjoyed reading these references and felt they enriched the story.
My only criticism is that the author occasionally included excessive details that slowed the plot. Although I didn’t expect a cozy mystery to be fast-paced, some sentences felt overly descriptive and could have been more concise.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed “Booked for Murder” and look forward to revisiting Madeline and the residents of Enigma in future installments.
