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A review by booksamongstfriends
Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson
3.0
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 leave 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 leave 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.