What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets Between the Shelves: 4 Cozy Bookshop Mysteries
Mysteries Leap Off the Page
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Kelly moves to Florida and frequents the Bayside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Kelly moves to Florida and frequents the Bayside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?
448 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2025
23 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Hickey
464 books322 followersWebsite at www.cynthiahickey.com
Also www.forgetmenotromances.com
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She had several historical romances release through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents, and has sold close to a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, two cats, three box turtles, and two Sulcata tortoises. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.
Also www.forgetmenotromances.com
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling author Cynthia Hickey had three cozy mysteries and two novellas published through Barbour Publishing. Her first mystery, Fudge-Laced Felonies, won first place in the inspirational category of the Great Expectations contest in 2007. Her third cozy, Chocolate-Covered Crime, received a four-star review from Romantic Times. All three cozies have been re-released as ebooks through the MacGregor Literary Agency, along with a new cozy series, all of which stay in the top 50 of Amazon’s ebooks for their genre. She had several historical romances release through Harlequin’s Heartsong Presents, and has sold close to a million copies of her works since 2013. She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. You can find her on FB, twitter, and Goodreads, and is a contributor to Cozy Mystery Magazine blog and Suspense Sisters blog. She and her husband run the small press, Forget Me Not Romances, which includes some of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona with her husband, one of their seven children, two dogs, two cats, three box turtles, and two Sulcata tortoises. She has eight grandchildren who keep her busy and tell everyone they know that “Nana is a writer”.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 19, 2025
This book was a compilation of four novellas centered around bookstores. Two things straight off these mini mysteries really didn't have as much to do with bookstores as I would have thought, and two, these are Christian based stories although this was not mentioned in the summary when I requested this book. Neither of these things affected my ability to enjoy the stories but a heads-up to potential readers. Each story had a pleasant story with a small mystery, some being a bigger part of the story than others, however, these stories are definitely short on the mystery and more just nice stories. I definitely enjoyed some more than others, but they were all easy reading and pleasant enough. I would definitely explore more from several of these authors who were all new to me. Thanks to #Netgally, #BarbourFiction, and the authors for an opportunity to try them out! #SecretsBetweentheShelves #CynthiaHickey #MarilynTuck #LindaBatesJohnson #TeresaIvesLilly #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
January 18, 2025
I wish I could give it a higher rating, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. 😕
The stories were pretty good, but underwhelming and predictable. The mystery aspect of each story was, for the most part, not very mysterious. I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat or hurriedly reading the book to see whodunnit. The characters were good, but a bit bland in my opinion. The setting in each story was nice and fit well with each plot. The faith aspect of the book was a gentle reminder that God is with us always and wants the best for us, despite horrible circumstances that occur due to evil in this world or by imperfect humans. 🙏🏼
But that's all I really have to say about it. If I had to choose my favorite story, it would have to be the first one. But that one was also pretty underwhelming.
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
The stories were pretty good, but underwhelming and predictable. The mystery aspect of each story was, for the most part, not very mysterious. I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat or hurriedly reading the book to see whodunnit. The characters were good, but a bit bland in my opinion. The setting in each story was nice and fit well with each plot. The faith aspect of the book was a gentle reminder that God is with us always and wants the best for us, despite horrible circumstances that occur due to evil in this world or by imperfect humans. 🙏🏼
But that's all I really have to say about it. If I had to choose my favorite story, it would have to be the first one. But that one was also pretty underwhelming.
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
January 2, 2025
All four stories were cute and enjoyable. I loved the unique bookshop settings and appreciated that the romance part of the story wasn't crazy and forced.
February 26, 2025
These were fun! Will I remember anything about them in a year? ... remains to be seen. More than anything, they felt like reading Nancy Drew mysteries, which isn't a bad thing, necessarily. Most of them gave the vibe that they were part of a bigger series (which I don't think they were?) which gave them all an element of "did I miss something?" as I was reading. But overall, quite fun, very cozy, and I enjoyed it! 3.5 stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
January 30, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves by Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, Teresa Ives Lilly, Marilyn Turk.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Rating: Three and a half stars, rounded to four for NetGalley and Goodreads.
Language/Profanity: None in any book.
Faith: There is praying in each book, though in one it is only thanking God for food; in most there is talking about God at least once; mention of Bible reading in one; and a Bible verse in another; 'going to church';
Note: In the last book especially, it seems to be portraying 'being a Christian' as just 'going to church' and thanking God for food, and such. But it is much more than that.
Romance/Sex: In at least two there is mention of how shirts fit well on men...(not my cup of tea really); there is flirting, in the first book it is said someone is a 'gorgeous hunk of a man'; a woman wearing tight jeans; a woman (not the main character) wering skin tight tights and a sports... bra; Kisses,
Violence ect.: All of these books are murder mysteries, don't be confused by the fact that it is cozy mysteries. That doesn't mean that it will be mysteries that don't deal with murders; In a few the characters are threatened; also hit on the head;
Note: Book two deals with child trafficking.
Other: Gossiping (why does that have to always be in books?)
Part of a Series: Some of the books do conect to other books the authors have written.
Synopsis:
Mysteries Leap Off the Page
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Kelly moves to Florida and frequents the Bayside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?
Thoughts:
BOOK ONE:
Three Stars.
A well written book, but I wish it wasn't continually said how handsome, and hunky the guy is. Honestly that brought my rating down lower. The mystery was pretty good, but there was so many characters that it was hard to know who was who.
BOOK TWO:
Three and a half stars. Note: this book deals with child trafficking. As much as this dealt with such a sad topic, it was really good. It ended a happy note, and, honestly, it seemed more real than the first one. The situation those children are in is heartbreaking, and I am glad the characters got a happy ending in this book.
BOOK THREE:
Three and a half stars. This is my favorite one in the collection, as it has pirates. Sort of. The mystery was intresting, and the person I was expecting to be the one who done it wasn't, so there is that. The romance seemed way to quick for me.
BOOK FOUR:
Two and a half stars. This one was okay, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was clean, with no language or even kisses. This one was different then the others, because the bookshop did not belong to the main character, the main character was just there when the death happened.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Rating: Three and a half stars, rounded to four for NetGalley and Goodreads.
Language/Profanity: None in any book.
Faith: There is praying in each book, though in one it is only thanking God for food; in most there is talking about God at least once; mention of Bible reading in one; and a Bible verse in another; 'going to church';
Note: In the last book especially, it seems to be portraying 'being a Christian' as just 'going to church' and thanking God for food, and such. But it is much more than that.
Romance/Sex: In at least two there is mention of how shirts fit well on men...(not my cup of tea really); there is flirting, in the first book it is said someone is a 'gorgeous hunk of a man'; a woman wearing tight jeans; a woman (not the main character) wering skin tight tights and a sports... bra; Kisses,
Violence ect.: All of these books are murder mysteries, don't be confused by the fact that it is cozy mysteries. That doesn't mean that it will be mysteries that don't deal with murders; In a few the characters are threatened; also hit on the head;
Note: Book two deals with child trafficking.
Other: Gossiping (why does that have to always be in books?)
Part of a Series: Some of the books do conect to other books the authors have written.
Synopsis:
Mysteries Leap Off the Page
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Kelly moves to Florida and frequents the Bayside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?
Thoughts:
BOOK ONE:
Three Stars.
A well written book, but I wish it wasn't continually said how handsome, and hunky the guy is. Honestly that brought my rating down lower. The mystery was pretty good, but there was so many characters that it was hard to know who was who.
BOOK TWO:
Three and a half stars. Note: this book deals with child trafficking. As much as this dealt with such a sad topic, it was really good. It ended a happy note, and, honestly, it seemed more real than the first one. The situation those children are in is heartbreaking, and I am glad the characters got a happy ending in this book.
BOOK THREE:
Three and a half stars. This is my favorite one in the collection, as it has pirates. Sort of. The mystery was intresting, and the person I was expecting to be the one who done it wasn't, so there is that. The romance seemed way to quick for me.
BOOK FOUR:
Two and a half stars. This one was okay, it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was clean, with no language or even kisses. This one was different then the others, because the bookshop did not belong to the main character, the main character was just there when the death happened.
May 22, 2025
#1 Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
This mystery was fun but had a high body count. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting that. I love that it featured a woman and her grandmother as the amateur sleuths.
#2 The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
This mystery dealt with the tough topic of child trafficking. It was beautifully handled with grace and heartbreak. Well done, Mrs. Johnson!
#3 By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
This mystery was too cheesy and repetitive for my taste. I lost count of how many times the pirate theme was emphasized and how many times it was said things were “strategically” placed in the shop. Several characters also praised the shop, which of course cheapened the feel of the shop. I wasn’t impressed by the shop at all. The actual murder mystery was interesting, but it felt buried in false praise of the shop.
#4 The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
This mystery was too repetitious for my taste. There were So Many introductions that were virtually the same. Even the author seemed annoyed by it as she had a character interrupt the final one with an “I already know who you are” moment. Also, it felt like the murder mystery, which was the most interesting thing, was buried among boring scenes—I found myself skimming a lot to get to the good bits.
This mystery was fun but had a high body count. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting that. I love that it featured a woman and her grandmother as the amateur sleuths.
#2 The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
This mystery dealt with the tough topic of child trafficking. It was beautifully handled with grace and heartbreak. Well done, Mrs. Johnson!
#3 By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
This mystery was too cheesy and repetitive for my taste. I lost count of how many times the pirate theme was emphasized and how many times it was said things were “strategically” placed in the shop. Several characters also praised the shop, which of course cheapened the feel of the shop. I wasn’t impressed by the shop at all. The actual murder mystery was interesting, but it felt buried in false praise of the shop.
#4 The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
This mystery was too repetitious for my taste. There were So Many introductions that were virtually the same. Even the author seemed annoyed by it as she had a character interrupt the final one with an “I already know who you are” moment. Also, it felt like the murder mystery, which was the most interesting thing, was buried among boring scenes—I found myself skimming a lot to get to the good bits.
January 15, 2025
These books were Not 'overly done' christian (angels do not have wings, they're wingless men, btw lol) and i think pretty much Anybody who likes cozies Could enjoy this book. It's not my fave genre but i liked the Bookshop theme and two of the stories especially.
Overall this collection was entertaining. One book was pretty Serious, though, with some heavy issues i would not label Cozy at all; it was quite depressing in fact.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for this ARC, i do appreciate it :)
Overall this collection was entertaining. One book was pretty Serious, though, with some heavy issues i would not label Cozy at all; it was quite depressing in fact.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for this ARC, i do appreciate it :)
December 29, 2024
Secrets between shelves is a collection of four bookshop Christian mysteries stories that have similar elements but are totally different from each other.
Thank you Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for this ARC.
I would like to say I enjoyed reading this book a lot. I was excited to read this one since it was my first Christian book ARC ever and I'm happy it didn't let me down. I'm gonna leave here my opinion on each book individually because I can't just review them all together when they are so different and unique in their own way.
Murder in the mystery section
We follow Amber, a young woman who has just opened a bookstore and dreams of it being a success. Everything turns upside down when she hears an accusation from a customer who claimed that she was selling a book stolen from herself. Amber had bought the book online and little did she know that it contained great secrets.
One day, Amber is in the back of her store and she hears people talking and then a scream, when she goes there to see what happened, she found the body of the woman who accused her of stealing.
After the murder event, we met Brandt, the woman's nephew, who wants to help solve the mystery since he is a suspect.
There is a lot of things we learn about this “stolen” book that we found out later and it is an important part of the mystery around Mrs Peabody's murder.
The murder was pretty obvious, so I even thought it would be someone else, but it was fine. The romance had a cute development but it didn't have a decent ending, I thought it was too rushed.
Comparing to the other books, maybe this one was my favorite and the romance was the most well developed as well. I believe that's due to the fact that they spend a lot of time together throughout the book.
The secret passage book
In the second story, we begin the book with our main character in the hospital because she was hit on the head when she was visiting her soon to be new bookstore. We met most of the characters in this scene and we can already see her dynamic with them.
The mystery in this book were quite surprising, way different than I thought it would be but the reveal was too predictable
The romance was also something that didn't please me. It had no development and it seemed a little rushed at the end. I know both characters were friends and had a great relationship but we need to see a little development before we can root for them.
It wasn't a bad book, but it was my least favorite.
By hook or by book
In the third story, we follow Lily, who also have a new bookstore in town.
This story made me interested in the book again and I read this story faster than the previous one.
Lily has a pirate themed bookstore and wants to attract more clients. She has the idea of hiring a young boy to read stories while dressed in a pirate costume. Her store was almost invaded and a few days after, she finds a dead body. Apparently there was something inside a box of books she purchased online and people were trying to steal it.
The romance here was better. I found myself rooting for Lily and Dwayne, and his attempts to make jokes or ask her out in the worst timing ever was very funny to read. The mystery wasn't that hard to solve but it was enjoyable. It was a pleasant reading.
The missing chapter
In this last story, we follow Kelly, who just moved in town and is opening an artistic store (different from the previous ones who all owned bookstores). The bookstore in this story is the main character's love interest store, where the murder takes place.
The victim was a old high school rival and we can know much about her because she dies as soon as she sees Kelly. That was the strangest mystery compared to the others and it was nice to read about the resolution of this story.
I liked the romance too. I felt it was well developed and it was cute to read it.
The murder was a surprise for me, to be honest
I only wish it had a better ending. Her saying “I'm ready to dry my hair” wasn't exactly what I expected to be her answer to Jep.
Conclusion
It was a heart-warming book most of the time and seeing characters and their relationship with God was so nice to read. Especially when they prayed in moments they were feeling lost. I don't remember seeing Kelly doing this a lot but I remember reading a lot of prayers throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.
Thank you Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for this ARC.
I would like to say I enjoyed reading this book a lot. I was excited to read this one since it was my first Christian book ARC ever and I'm happy it didn't let me down. I'm gonna leave here my opinion on each book individually because I can't just review them all together when they are so different and unique in their own way.
Murder in the mystery section
We follow Amber, a young woman who has just opened a bookstore and dreams of it being a success. Everything turns upside down when she hears an accusation from a customer who claimed that she was selling a book stolen from herself. Amber had bought the book online and little did she know that it contained great secrets.
One day, Amber is in the back of her store and she hears people talking and then a scream, when she goes there to see what happened, she found the body of the woman who accused her of stealing.
After the murder event, we met Brandt, the woman's nephew, who wants to help solve the mystery since he is a suspect.
There is a lot of things we learn about this “stolen” book that we found out later and it is an important part of the mystery around Mrs Peabody's murder.
The murder was pretty obvious, so I even thought it would be someone else, but it was fine. The romance had a cute development but it didn't have a decent ending, I thought it was too rushed.
Comparing to the other books, maybe this one was my favorite and the romance was the most well developed as well. I believe that's due to the fact that they spend a lot of time together throughout the book.
The secret passage book
In the second story, we begin the book with our main character in the hospital because she was hit on the head when she was visiting her soon to be new bookstore. We met most of the characters in this scene and we can already see her dynamic with them.
The mystery in this book were quite surprising, way different than I thought it would be but the reveal was too predictable
The romance was also something that didn't please me. It had no development and it seemed a little rushed at the end. I know both characters were friends and had a great relationship but we need to see a little development before we can root for them.
It wasn't a bad book, but it was my least favorite.
By hook or by book
In the third story, we follow Lily, who also have a new bookstore in town.
This story made me interested in the book again and I read this story faster than the previous one.
Lily has a pirate themed bookstore and wants to attract more clients. She has the idea of hiring a young boy to read stories while dressed in a pirate costume. Her store was almost invaded and a few days after, she finds a dead body. Apparently there was something inside a box of books she purchased online and people were trying to steal it.
The romance here was better. I found myself rooting for Lily and Dwayne, and his attempts to make jokes or ask her out in the worst timing ever was very funny to read. The mystery wasn't that hard to solve but it was enjoyable. It was a pleasant reading.
The missing chapter
In this last story, we follow Kelly, who just moved in town and is opening an artistic store (different from the previous ones who all owned bookstores). The bookstore in this story is the main character's love interest store, where the murder takes place.
The victim was a old high school rival and we can know much about her because she dies as soon as she sees Kelly. That was the strangest mystery compared to the others and it was nice to read about the resolution of this story.
I liked the romance too. I felt it was well developed and it was cute to read it.
The murder was a surprise for me, to be honest
I only wish it had a better ending. Her saying “I'm ready to dry my hair” wasn't exactly what I expected to be her answer to Jep.
Conclusion
It was a heart-warming book most of the time and seeing characters and their relationship with God was so nice to read. Especially when they prayed in moments they were feeling lost. I don't remember seeing Kelly doing this a lot but I remember reading a lot of prayers throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.
January 30, 2025
Bookshops, mysteries, and a touch of faith? Yes, please!
These four novellas are packed with quirky characters, charming settings, and just enough suspense to keep you flipping pages faster than a bookseller restocking bestsellers. Each story brings a unique twist to the cozy mystery genre while staying true to what makes it so lovable—small towns, amateur sleuths, and plenty of intrigue.
The faith elements felt as natural as sunlight streaming through a dusty bookshop window, gently illuminating the pages. Quiet moments of truth that added depth to the mysteries. And the romance? Just the right touch, like finding a forgotten love letter tucked inside a well-loved novel.
Each story pulled me in with its own brand of charm. The mix of intrigue, humor, and faith made for an irresistible combination.
If you love bookish mysteries with a side of suspense, a pinch of romance, and a whisper of faith, this collection delivers. Just don’t be surprised if you start eyeing your favorite bookshop for secret passages—or suspicious characters!
I received a digital ARC of this book Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.
These four novellas are packed with quirky characters, charming settings, and just enough suspense to keep you flipping pages faster than a bookseller restocking bestsellers. Each story brings a unique twist to the cozy mystery genre while staying true to what makes it so lovable—small towns, amateur sleuths, and plenty of intrigue.
The faith elements felt as natural as sunlight streaming through a dusty bookshop window, gently illuminating the pages. Quiet moments of truth that added depth to the mysteries. And the romance? Just the right touch, like finding a forgotten love letter tucked inside a well-loved novel.
Each story pulled me in with its own brand of charm. The mix of intrigue, humor, and faith made for an irresistible combination.
If you love bookish mysteries with a side of suspense, a pinch of romance, and a whisper of faith, this collection delivers. Just don’t be surprised if you start eyeing your favorite bookshop for secret passages—or suspicious characters!
I received a digital ARC of this book Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.
January 3, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves by Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, Teresa Ives Lilly, and Marilyn Turk is a collection of four cozy mystery novellas. Each is unique but carry a common theme - the mysteries happen between the shelves of the bookstore. Amateur sleuths in each novella make the plot line interesting as clues begin to unravel. Fans of Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote and Agatha Christie mysteries will enjoy Secrets Between the Shelves.
Releases Feb 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Releases Feb 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 22, 2024
Secrets Between the Shelves features bookstores and mystery-a great combination for booklovers. I enjoyed each mystery and appreciate that there are four different writing styles by four authors. That's one thing I like about anthologies, there is a story for every reader. If you like cozy mysteries check out this collection. I received a free copy with no obligation to write a good review. Opinions are my own.
February 1, 2025
This is a nice collection of four short stories. All revolving around bookstores and a murder.
All four are easy to read and will keep you guessing who did it.
All four are easy to read and will keep you guessing who did it.
April 2, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves, Four Cozy Bookshop Mysteries
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey, The Secret Passage by Linda Baten Johnson, By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly and The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
This is a collection of four clean, contemporary mysteries in bookshop settings with varying degrees of elements of Christian faith.
In the first story, Murder in the Mystery Section, Amber, the owner of the local bookshop, has purchased some rare books. One of the local residents, Mrs. Peabody, claims that the books were stolen from her and that Amber has purchased stolen property. She demands that Amber return the books to her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Peabody is murdered in Amber’s bookshop and Amber is their main suspect. Mrs. Peabody’s nephew, Brandt, comes to town and wants to ascertain what was so special about the books that someone would kill his aunt for them. He and Amber find themselves working together to solve the mystery. Are the books a treasure map? And if so, what is the treasure? Will Amber and Brandt’s blossoming relationship survive the revelation? This story is fast paced and easy to read with minimal faith elements.
The second selection, The Secret passage, Abbie bought a local building where she plans to open a bookshop and also works for a local rancher, Ben. He employs troubled youths in the hopes of helping them rehabilitating them. One day when Abbie is working in the building, she is attacked. Once she recovers, she and her friend Zach begin working on the renovations. She enters the shop one day and discovers the dead body of a young girl. In the process of renovations, they discover a secret door that leads to a secret room, apparently used for runaways to take shelter in. How did runaways know about the secret room? Is someone helping them? Will Zach and Abbie develop more than a friendship while renovating the building and solving mysteries? This story is easy to read and involves a strong element of faith.
In By Hook or by Book, the third story in the collection, Lily Carter has moved back home and opens a pirate themed bookstore in honor of local folklore. Someone tries to break into Lily’s bookstore and Dwayne Forgione, a policeman who loves to tell jokes, is sent to investigate. As the story progresses, there are two murders. One in front of the local thrift store, owned by Lily’s mother’s best friend Katie and the other in Lily’s shop. The list of suspects is plentiful. What was the murdered person looking for? Will Lily and Dwayne solve the mystery? Will they forge a lasting relationship? This story has a strong element of Christian faith and is an enjoyable who-dunit.
The final story of the collection is the longest of the four. Kelly moves to town and plans to open an art shop highlighting local artists. She meets Jeb, the owner of the local bookshop reading room, who has secrets. The locals suspect he had something to do with the disappearance of his wife. The rumor is that he killed her and set his large mansion on fire to cover up the crime. There is no proof he was involved and no body was ever found. He prefers to keep the truth private. When a local woman, Bunny, dies in his shop, the old rumors emerge. Kelly is determined to discover the truth and forms a friendship with Jeb. Was Bunny’s death a result of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Will Kelly and Jeb learn to trust each other and allow their friendship to grow? Will the mysteries of Jeb’s wife’s death and Bunny’s death be solved?
This was a fun story to read, not heavy or dark, very clean with an element of faith that was not pushy or preachey.
This is from the publisher’s website:
“Mysteries Leap Off the Page
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?”
All four of these stories are easy to read with varying degrees of Christian faith involved. All are clean with no objectionable language or inappropriate intimacy.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Barbour publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
(A word about ARC books. Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.)
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey, The Secret Passage by Linda Baten Johnson, By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly and The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
This is a collection of four clean, contemporary mysteries in bookshop settings with varying degrees of elements of Christian faith.
In the first story, Murder in the Mystery Section, Amber, the owner of the local bookshop, has purchased some rare books. One of the local residents, Mrs. Peabody, claims that the books were stolen from her and that Amber has purchased stolen property. She demands that Amber return the books to her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Peabody is murdered in Amber’s bookshop and Amber is their main suspect. Mrs. Peabody’s nephew, Brandt, comes to town and wants to ascertain what was so special about the books that someone would kill his aunt for them. He and Amber find themselves working together to solve the mystery. Are the books a treasure map? And if so, what is the treasure? Will Amber and Brandt’s blossoming relationship survive the revelation? This story is fast paced and easy to read with minimal faith elements.
The second selection, The Secret passage, Abbie bought a local building where she plans to open a bookshop and also works for a local rancher, Ben. He employs troubled youths in the hopes of helping them rehabilitating them. One day when Abbie is working in the building, she is attacked. Once she recovers, she and her friend Zach begin working on the renovations. She enters the shop one day and discovers the dead body of a young girl. In the process of renovations, they discover a secret door that leads to a secret room, apparently used for runaways to take shelter in. How did runaways know about the secret room? Is someone helping them? Will Zach and Abbie develop more than a friendship while renovating the building and solving mysteries? This story is easy to read and involves a strong element of faith.
In By Hook or by Book, the third story in the collection, Lily Carter has moved back home and opens a pirate themed bookstore in honor of local folklore. Someone tries to break into Lily’s bookstore and Dwayne Forgione, a policeman who loves to tell jokes, is sent to investigate. As the story progresses, there are two murders. One in front of the local thrift store, owned by Lily’s mother’s best friend Katie and the other in Lily’s shop. The list of suspects is plentiful. What was the murdered person looking for? Will Lily and Dwayne solve the mystery? Will they forge a lasting relationship? This story has a strong element of Christian faith and is an enjoyable who-dunit.
The final story of the collection is the longest of the four. Kelly moves to town and plans to open an art shop highlighting local artists. She meets Jeb, the owner of the local bookshop reading room, who has secrets. The locals suspect he had something to do with the disappearance of his wife. The rumor is that he killed her and set his large mansion on fire to cover up the crime. There is no proof he was involved and no body was ever found. He prefers to keep the truth private. When a local woman, Bunny, dies in his shop, the old rumors emerge. Kelly is determined to discover the truth and forms a friendship with Jeb. Was Bunny’s death a result of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Will Kelly and Jeb learn to trust each other and allow their friendship to grow? Will the mysteries of Jeb’s wife’s death and Bunny’s death be solved?
This was a fun story to read, not heavy or dark, very clean with an element of faith that was not pushy or preachey.
This is from the publisher’s website:
“Mysteries Leap Off the Page
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?”
All four of these stories are easy to read with varying degrees of Christian faith involved. All are clean with no objectionable language or inappropriate intimacy.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Barbour publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
(A word about ARC books. Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.)
January 17, 2025
** “Sometimes, God allows such things so we can find out what we’re made of. Find out how strong our faith us.” **
Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, Teresa Ives Lilly and Marilyn Turk join forces to provide “Secrets Between the Shelves,” a book of four cozy bookshop mysteries.
In “Murder in the Mystery Section” by Cynthia Hickey, when the grand opening of her new bookshop Through the Looking Glass is thwarted by a murder, Amber Swanson is baffled at why and how to keep her new business afloat. But when she meets the victim’s nephew, Brandt, who promises to help her and her plucky grandmother solve the case, more and more deadly events occur.
Will the dynamic trio be able to figure out who is behind the dastardly deeds — or will they end up victims themselves?
Hickey develops some fun characters, as well as reminds us that we are stronger than we believe we are; God opens doors; the impact of secrets; and God is with us through every tribulation.
In Linda Baten Johnson’s “The Secret Passage Bookshop,” as Abby Scott prepares to open her new bookstore, she is attacked and then finds a dead body in her building.Trying to figure out why someone would be after her, and who the victim is, she finds a much darker secret happening in her quaint little town.
The author creates intriguing characters, including a brave little girl named Felicia, and questionable people who all act petty and manipulative toward Abby. Will she be able to determine whom she can trust, and who is not to be trusted? She also reminds us of the importance to care for all God’s children (“Our heavenly Father cared for His children in the most amazing ways”); and that God is constantly watching over and providing for us.
In “By Hook or by Book” by Teresa Ives Lilly, Lily Carter is opening her pirate-themed bookstore By Hook or by Book when bad circumstances visit her shop. As each situation gets more deadly, Lily turns to Officer Dwayne Forgione to help figure out what someone is searching for within her shop, and why.
The author creates intriguing characters, leaving the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who can’t. She also includes some good themes like the power of prayer for protection and clarity; and we can always speak to God about our worries.
In Marilyn Turk’s “The Missing Chapter,” Kelly Stephens is working on opening her new art supply store. When she visits the neighboring bookstore, a tragedy occurs, which stirs up her investigative tendencies. Can she figure out what happened to the local gym opener, especially since Kelly is new in town?
Turk fills her story with fascinating characters with deep histories and secrets. But she includes several great themes in her story, like the power of forgiveness; what happens when we hold grudges; and knowing when it is time to move forward.
“Secrets Between the Shelves,” which is due out Feb. 1, is a fun book filled with four little cozy mysteries all surrounding the love of books and readings. Three feature newly opened or soon-to-be-opened bookstores and one features an established bookstore with a newly opening art store. They all also remind the reader to never give up on your dreams; and remind us about the possibility of overcoming adversity.
This series of novellas is a fun read for fans of all things literary (with even a nod to Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca,” mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, as well as stories with plucky female characters.
Five stars out of five.
Barbour Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, Teresa Ives Lilly and Marilyn Turk join forces to provide “Secrets Between the Shelves,” a book of four cozy bookshop mysteries.
In “Murder in the Mystery Section” by Cynthia Hickey, when the grand opening of her new bookshop Through the Looking Glass is thwarted by a murder, Amber Swanson is baffled at why and how to keep her new business afloat. But when she meets the victim’s nephew, Brandt, who promises to help her and her plucky grandmother solve the case, more and more deadly events occur.
Will the dynamic trio be able to figure out who is behind the dastardly deeds — or will they end up victims themselves?
Hickey develops some fun characters, as well as reminds us that we are stronger than we believe we are; God opens doors; the impact of secrets; and God is with us through every tribulation.
In Linda Baten Johnson’s “The Secret Passage Bookshop,” as Abby Scott prepares to open her new bookstore, she is attacked and then finds a dead body in her building.Trying to figure out why someone would be after her, and who the victim is, she finds a much darker secret happening in her quaint little town.
The author creates intriguing characters, including a brave little girl named Felicia, and questionable people who all act petty and manipulative toward Abby. Will she be able to determine whom she can trust, and who is not to be trusted? She also reminds us of the importance to care for all God’s children (“Our heavenly Father cared for His children in the most amazing ways”); and that God is constantly watching over and providing for us.
In “By Hook or by Book” by Teresa Ives Lilly, Lily Carter is opening her pirate-themed bookstore By Hook or by Book when bad circumstances visit her shop. As each situation gets more deadly, Lily turns to Officer Dwayne Forgione to help figure out what someone is searching for within her shop, and why.
The author creates intriguing characters, leaving the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who can’t. She also includes some good themes like the power of prayer for protection and clarity; and we can always speak to God about our worries.
In Marilyn Turk’s “The Missing Chapter,” Kelly Stephens is working on opening her new art supply store. When she visits the neighboring bookstore, a tragedy occurs, which stirs up her investigative tendencies. Can she figure out what happened to the local gym opener, especially since Kelly is new in town?
Turk fills her story with fascinating characters with deep histories and secrets. But she includes several great themes in her story, like the power of forgiveness; what happens when we hold grudges; and knowing when it is time to move forward.
“Secrets Between the Shelves,” which is due out Feb. 1, is a fun book filled with four little cozy mysteries all surrounding the love of books and readings. Three feature newly opened or soon-to-be-opened bookstores and one features an established bookstore with a newly opening art store. They all also remind the reader to never give up on your dreams; and remind us about the possibility of overcoming adversity.
This series of novellas is a fun read for fans of all things literary (with even a nod to Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca,” mysteries, especially cozy mysteries, as well as stories with plucky female characters.
Five stars out of five.
Barbour Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
January 27, 2025
This is a nice set of clean cozy mystery stories. Each story focuses on a murder mystery centered in a bookstore.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. This is my unsolicited opinion. I enjoyed the four quick and cozy reads. Each are told in first person by the main character. Three are voiced by the store owner and the fourth is by the store owner across the street from the bookstore.
"Through the Looking Glass" Amber Swanson is the new owner of the store. On her opening day Mrs. Peabody accuses her of stealing a vintage book. On the second day, a murder occurs. Despite warnings to stop trying to investigate the situation, Amber continues to try and prove her innocence with the help of the victims' nephew, Brandt Thompson. Amber's grandmother is a hoot in this story.
"The Secret Passage Bookstore" The owner, Abby, is trying to get her bookstore prepped for opening. Zach Cooper is working on the reconstruction of the building.
Abby discovers a body and things get intense. There are several valuable secondary characters in this story. Ben True is a mentor who she works for at the Rocking T Ranch. Sheriff Hawthorn and he are protective of Abby in a tough sort of way. There's good humor here.
"By Hook or By Book" A bookshop in Maine with a pirate ambiance. Lily Carter just knew this would bring people to the door. College students show up to ask for work. Someone else is bringing break-ins to the new store. A police officer, Dwayne Forgione, shows up to investigate. As a reader I got a kick out of his corny jokes. Oh, a dead body shows up too. This is a good murder mystery.
"The Missing Chapter" Kelly Stephens, new owner of Artistic Adventures, introduces herself to Matilda "Tillie" Thompson the clerk and Jep Pennington, owner of Bayside Books and Reading Room. She is seeking artists to partner with for inventory in her store. She thinks this will be a good area to settle her business in. Within days she questions her decision about a great place with a death in the bookstore and learning of the missing wife of the owner. I like the diligence of Kelly when she just knew something wasn't right. Nice display of faith in this story.
I recommend this collection of stories for those who like a cozy read and good clean mysteries.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book from Barbour Books through NetGalley. This is my unsolicited opinion. I enjoyed the four quick and cozy reads. Each are told in first person by the main character. Three are voiced by the store owner and the fourth is by the store owner across the street from the bookstore.
"Through the Looking Glass" Amber Swanson is the new owner of the store. On her opening day Mrs. Peabody accuses her of stealing a vintage book. On the second day, a murder occurs. Despite warnings to stop trying to investigate the situation, Amber continues to try and prove her innocence with the help of the victims' nephew, Brandt Thompson. Amber's grandmother is a hoot in this story.
"The Secret Passage Bookstore" The owner, Abby, is trying to get her bookstore prepped for opening. Zach Cooper is working on the reconstruction of the building.
Abby discovers a body and things get intense. There are several valuable secondary characters in this story. Ben True is a mentor who she works for at the Rocking T Ranch. Sheriff Hawthorn and he are protective of Abby in a tough sort of way. There's good humor here.
"By Hook or By Book" A bookshop in Maine with a pirate ambiance. Lily Carter just knew this would bring people to the door. College students show up to ask for work. Someone else is bringing break-ins to the new store. A police officer, Dwayne Forgione, shows up to investigate. As a reader I got a kick out of his corny jokes. Oh, a dead body shows up too. This is a good murder mystery.
"The Missing Chapter" Kelly Stephens, new owner of Artistic Adventures, introduces herself to Matilda "Tillie" Thompson the clerk and Jep Pennington, owner of Bayside Books and Reading Room. She is seeking artists to partner with for inventory in her store. She thinks this will be a good area to settle her business in. Within days she questions her decision about a great place with a death in the bookstore and learning of the missing wife of the owner. I like the diligence of Kelly when she just knew something wasn't right. Nice display of faith in this story.
I recommend this collection of stories for those who like a cozy read and good clean mysteries.
January 29, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.
The premise of this book of 4 novellas is interesting as what is more fun than cozy mysteries around a bookshop. The book is an easy read with 4 different novellas with a similar theme. They all have different levels of faith elements in the stories.
Murder in the Mystery sections
Amber has just opened a new bookstore, Through the Looking Glass when there is a murder. The victim's nephew Brandt joins with Amber in trying to find out why and who. Add an interesting Grandmother and there are some fun scenes. The story follows the common formula with those investigating warned to stop. It was a fun story.
The Secret Passage Bookshop starts with Abby in hospital after being attacked in her new bookshop. She is still setting it up when all this happens. Zach is helping with renovations and helps with working out what is happening. Then a murder happens. This story was well written and does deal with some serious subjects. While a cozy mystery it goes further than most will in dealing with a serious situation. But dealt with well.
By Hook or by Book is the 3rd novella and the one I loved the most. I started and couldn't stop reading it in one sitting. I now want to read more books by Teresa Ives Lilly. In this story Lily has opened a pirate themed bookshop and has an idea to use college students dressed as pirates to read stories. She also has other ideas to increase community involvement and sales. There has been someone trying to break in and Police officer Dwayne is there to help find the culprit. Dwayne has a knack for very corny jokes. This mystery was slightly different which made it even better. I loved how it played out and if it was just this book it would be 5 stars.
The Missing Chapter is also different to the others as Kelly is opening a shop to sell local artists work on commission. She goes into the bookstore where a murder happens although it is being ruled as accidental. Kelly isn't buying it. The Story has a lot of interesting people and piecing together what may have happened is interesting to watch. I really enjoyed this story but like a few have mentioned thought it ended too abruptly. To me there are a couple of pages or scenes missing that would have ended it much better.
Overall if you like Cozy mysteries this is a good read.
The premise of this book of 4 novellas is interesting as what is more fun than cozy mysteries around a bookshop. The book is an easy read with 4 different novellas with a similar theme. They all have different levels of faith elements in the stories.
Murder in the Mystery sections
Amber has just opened a new bookstore, Through the Looking Glass when there is a murder. The victim's nephew Brandt joins with Amber in trying to find out why and who. Add an interesting Grandmother and there are some fun scenes. The story follows the common formula with those investigating warned to stop. It was a fun story.
The Secret Passage Bookshop starts with Abby in hospital after being attacked in her new bookshop. She is still setting it up when all this happens. Zach is helping with renovations and helps with working out what is happening. Then a murder happens. This story was well written and does deal with some serious subjects. While a cozy mystery it goes further than most will in dealing with a serious situation. But dealt with well.
By Hook or by Book is the 3rd novella and the one I loved the most. I started and couldn't stop reading it in one sitting. I now want to read more books by Teresa Ives Lilly. In this story Lily has opened a pirate themed bookshop and has an idea to use college students dressed as pirates to read stories. She also has other ideas to increase community involvement and sales. There has been someone trying to break in and Police officer Dwayne is there to help find the culprit. Dwayne has a knack for very corny jokes. This mystery was slightly different which made it even better. I loved how it played out and if it was just this book it would be 5 stars.
The Missing Chapter is also different to the others as Kelly is opening a shop to sell local artists work on commission. She goes into the bookstore where a murder happens although it is being ruled as accidental. Kelly isn't buying it. The Story has a lot of interesting people and piecing together what may have happened is interesting to watch. I really enjoyed this story but like a few have mentioned thought it ended too abruptly. To me there are a couple of pages or scenes missing that would have ended it much better.
Overall if you like Cozy mysteries this is a good read.
February 6, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves is 4 Christian novellas all about bookstores which are a favorite topic of mine. Three are Christian cozy mysteries and the 4th is more of a "brozy" (a broad cozy with a few cozy elements and some elements that are not considered cozy). The first novella is Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey. Amber Swanson owns Through the Looking Glass Bookstore. Her opening gets off to a slow start because of a rumor that Amber is selling stolen merchandise. A local shopper ends up dead so Amber and her new friend Brandt Thompson, the deceased's nephew, work together to solve the murder. The 2nd novella is The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson. Abby is in the process if buying the building for The Secret Passage Bookshop. Her friend Zach Cooper is doing the renovations. There are some problems, a murder, runaway children, child abuse and child smuggling (not cozy themes in my opinion and they are a large part of the story). It is an emotionally packed story and some people will like the depth to it. The 3rd is By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly. Lily Carter is opening a pirate-themed bookshop, By Hook or By Book. There is an attempted break in and Lily meets Officer Dwayne Forgione. She meets some college students who help out at the bookshop. When someone dies in her bookshop, Lily, her best friend Penny, the students and Officer Dwayne work together to solve the murder. The 4th novella is The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk. Kelly Stephens is new to town and is in the process of opening Artistic Adventures, a store that displays and sells people's artwork and crafts. She meets Jep who along with Tilly runs the local bookstore. While Kelly is at the bookstore, a local ends up dead. Jep is a suspect but Kelly likes him. He has a sad past and that plays into the story. Jep and Kelly need to solve the murder. Overall I liked the novellas. The happy endings, the romances and the Christian aspect will appeal to cozy mystery readers. I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley and Barbour Fiction and I voluntarily leave this review.
#SecretsBetweenTheShelves #BarbourFiction #CynthiaHickey #TeresaIcesLilly #MarilynTurk #LindaBatenJohnson
#SecretsBetweenTheShelves #BarbourFiction #CynthiaHickey #TeresaIcesLilly #MarilynTurk #LindaBatenJohnson
February 1, 2025
This collection includes four cozy mystery stories centered around book shops. I really enjoyed the length of the stories. They were long enough to have a fully rounded out mystery without any unnecessary or repetitive plot points. It’s rare to rate a collection more than three stars just because there’s always going to be a weak link dragging everything down. This was ever so close to a four star read for me.
The first story by Cynthia Hickey reminded me of Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. For being significantly shorter, Hickey’s story was on par with Delany’s in terms of quality. I was pleasantly surprised. The only criticism I can give is that the protagonist's romantic interest seemed a little flat so I had a bit of difficulty buying the romantic spark. With less time to get to know characters in a shorter story this is to be expected. Three stars for this story.
I really enjoyed the second story by Linda Baten Johnson. Abby discovers a variety of mysterious things in her bookshop property that was once an escape room. This story went places I wasn’t expecting and so I will stop here because I don’t want to give anything away, four stars.
Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop in the third story by Teresa Ives Lilly sounded cheesy to me at first. Fortunately, the mystery was actually remarkably good. I really enjoyed that the suspects weren’t all your typical competitor or the unlikeable person in town. Easy four stars for this story.
The final story has Abby opening a store called Artistic Adventures next to a bookstore. This was probably the weakest story of the four. I didn’t buy the ending, the means didn’t make any sense to me. The victim was predictably the person in town that nobody likes. I will give this one 2.5 stars, however, I’m sure someone will enjoy it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour for providing this ebook for review.
The first story by Cynthia Hickey reminded me of Elementary, She Read by Vicki Delany. For being significantly shorter, Hickey’s story was on par with Delany’s in terms of quality. I was pleasantly surprised. The only criticism I can give is that the protagonist's romantic interest seemed a little flat so I had a bit of difficulty buying the romantic spark. With less time to get to know characters in a shorter story this is to be expected. Three stars for this story.
I really enjoyed the second story by Linda Baten Johnson. Abby discovers a variety of mysterious things in her bookshop property that was once an escape room. This story went places I wasn’t expecting and so I will stop here because I don’t want to give anything away, four stars.
Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop in the third story by Teresa Ives Lilly sounded cheesy to me at first. Fortunately, the mystery was actually remarkably good. I really enjoyed that the suspects weren’t all your typical competitor or the unlikeable person in town. Easy four stars for this story.
The final story has Abby opening a store called Artistic Adventures next to a bookstore. This was probably the weakest story of the four. I didn’t buy the ending, the means didn’t make any sense to me. The victim was predictably the person in town that nobody likes. I will give this one 2.5 stars, however, I’m sure someone will enjoy it more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour for providing this ebook for review.
January 3, 2025
"Secrets Between the Shelves" is another wonderful Barbour Novella collection! All four stories are well written novellas, just the perfect length to give good murder mysteries with a dose of Christian faith. I liked the bookstore setting in each novella, though the last one had a male love interest as the bookstore owner, rather than the main female character (she owns a small shop catering to local artists). I can't tell you which mystery was my favorite, just that they were all equally great and engaging to me as the reader.
These books all had unique stories set in bookstores, intriguing suspects, a dash of Christian faith elements and some wonderful male romantic interests to lighten up the stories. There were also good friends found for each of the main female characters in each story. They are all set in quaint small towns as well. None of the stories were gruesome and these definitely meet the "cozy mystery" definition.
I highly recommend this collection to readers of Christian Cozy mysteries ages 16+. They are all cleanly written with some having just a bit of kissing. There are murders and danger in each of the four stories but the murders are not descriptive. The stories are not connected in any way other than the bookstore settings in 4 separate towns across the U.S. so this book could be read in 4 parts spread apart if someone wasn't able to read the entire book at once.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. The book releases 2/1/25.
These books all had unique stories set in bookstores, intriguing suspects, a dash of Christian faith elements and some wonderful male romantic interests to lighten up the stories. There were also good friends found for each of the main female characters in each story. They are all set in quaint small towns as well. None of the stories were gruesome and these definitely meet the "cozy mystery" definition.
I highly recommend this collection to readers of Christian Cozy mysteries ages 16+. They are all cleanly written with some having just a bit of kissing. There are murders and danger in each of the four stories but the murders are not descriptive. The stories are not connected in any way other than the bookstore settings in 4 separate towns across the U.S. so this book could be read in 4 parts spread apart if someone wasn't able to read the entire book at once.
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. The book releases 2/1/25.
January 27, 2025
I expected to enjoy this one more than I did, as usually I love when books have bookstore settings, and was excited to see how this would fit into the cozy mystery genre. However, I found the majority of these stories were a bit lacking, and the mysteries ended up being rushed and not plotted out as well as I was hoping for.
That being said, my favorite of the four was By Hook or By Book, and I pretty much breezed right through it. The mystery was compelling, the characters were interesting, and the plot moved at a quick pace, while still making sure everything was explained along the way. I'd probably give this particular title 4.5/5.
Overall, this was still a fun collection, and I enjoyed how each author was able to take the same plot starting point and still pen a story completely different from any of the others. I personally enjoyed last year's Barbour cozy mystery novella collection release (Death By Food Truck) more than I did this one, but it was still a cute collection with a faith foundation and sweet romances that added to the story rather than taking away from it.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries that are clean and heartwarming, then this collection may be something you want to go ahead and give a try.
Final Rating: 3/5.
Thanks so much to Barbour for allowing me to advance read and review this title!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.
That being said, my favorite of the four was By Hook or By Book, and I pretty much breezed right through it. The mystery was compelling, the characters were interesting, and the plot moved at a quick pace, while still making sure everything was explained along the way. I'd probably give this particular title 4.5/5.
Overall, this was still a fun collection, and I enjoyed how each author was able to take the same plot starting point and still pen a story completely different from any of the others. I personally enjoyed last year's Barbour cozy mystery novella collection release (Death By Food Truck) more than I did this one, but it was still a cute collection with a faith foundation and sweet romances that added to the story rather than taking away from it.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries that are clean and heartwarming, then this collection may be something you want to go ahead and give a try.
Final Rating: 3/5.
Thanks so much to Barbour for allowing me to advance read and review this title!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.
February 1, 2025
This was a great book. Four different stories by four different authors. Each story was different, but each contained a murder and excitement. I enjoyed reading this book.
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
Amber opened her dream book store/tea room. The second day in business, a patron was discovered dead among the books. What follows is mystery, a treasure hunt, and more murder. Not to mention, the handsome nephew of the first victim to help her try to solve everything. This was a great story that kept me guessing.
The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
Before Abby can open her bookshop, there is a murder, a secret passage is uncovered, and a mystery child is found. There are many twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed reading this story.
By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
Lily finally gets to open the bookstore she always wanted. But between the break-ins, murders, and suspicious people lurking about, she might not be able to stay open. I loved the pirate theme of the story.
The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
Kelly moves to town to open up an art store. She visits the bookstore where she witnesses a woman’s death. She gets to know the handsome bookstore owner and together they investigate. I enjoyed reading this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to write a review
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
Amber opened her dream book store/tea room. The second day in business, a patron was discovered dead among the books. What follows is mystery, a treasure hunt, and more murder. Not to mention, the handsome nephew of the first victim to help her try to solve everything. This was a great story that kept me guessing.
The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
Before Abby can open her bookshop, there is a murder, a secret passage is uncovered, and a mystery child is found. There are many twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed reading this story.
By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
Lily finally gets to open the bookstore she always wanted. But between the break-ins, murders, and suspicious people lurking about, she might not be able to stay open. I loved the pirate theme of the story.
The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
Kelly moves to town to open up an art store. She visits the bookstore where she witnesses a woman’s death. She gets to know the handsome bookstore owner and together they investigate. I enjoyed reading this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to write a review
November 21, 2024
Secrets Between the Shelves brought 4 interesting stories to readers seeking light murder mysteries.
What better place to unravel these stories than quaint small town shops.
Sticking to historical romances this is my first mystery read in a while and I must say it was a riveting change of pace!
Starting strongly with 'Murder in the Mystery Section' I was captivated by the 'Nancy Drew' style of the book.
An unfortunate murder, hidden secrets, and an untold story await the reader!
I was a little concerned with the main characters inclination to chatter when nervous in 'The Secret Passage Bookshop'.
However, I am happy to report I quickly warmed up to her character and the gripping storyline!
'By Hook or by Book' was a fun read with a different angle than the other stories, it was a great addition to this compilation.
I will say that I did not feel as enthusiastic about 'The Missing Chapter'.
Although it had a great plot twist towards the end, the story lacked the depth of getting to know the main character well.
The character felt a bit hollow as the story was a bit too quick to introduce a myriad of characters within the first turns of the page.
I rate this book 4 of 5 stars because it was overall a really fun read!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What better place to unravel these stories than quaint small town shops.
Sticking to historical romances this is my first mystery read in a while and I must say it was a riveting change of pace!
Starting strongly with 'Murder in the Mystery Section' I was captivated by the 'Nancy Drew' style of the book.
An unfortunate murder, hidden secrets, and an untold story await the reader!
I was a little concerned with the main characters inclination to chatter when nervous in 'The Secret Passage Bookshop'.
However, I am happy to report I quickly warmed up to her character and the gripping storyline!
'By Hook or by Book' was a fun read with a different angle than the other stories, it was a great addition to this compilation.
I will say that I did not feel as enthusiastic about 'The Missing Chapter'.
Although it had a great plot twist towards the end, the story lacked the depth of getting to know the main character well.
The character felt a bit hollow as the story was a bit too quick to introduce a myriad of characters within the first turns of the page.
I rate this book 4 of 5 stars because it was overall a really fun read!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2025
First time I've read a 4-in-1 cozy mystery novella, and it was delightful!
Each of the stories are about 14 chapters; quick and easy reads for commuting or just having a mini mystery break. Because they were shorter than regular fiction novels, the action and mystery were fast-paced so you can get right into it.
A point of difference was that each novella was written in first-person. I haven't read mystery novels from that viewpoint before, so it was a good change. While all stories had interesting plot lines and were written well to keep the reader turning the page, I personally think the first novella, Murder in the Mystery sections, needed some transition statements or "scene markers" in the form of a visual bar or line on the page. One minute the characters were doing something and by the next sentence it was a new scene or new day and no transition. It was a little clunky for me.
Overall, I think it was a great read and I was keen to keep coming back to it to find out whodunnit and what happened next.
(SPOILER ALERT)
I felt some of the romantic interests were not at all obvious. In the second novella, The Secret Passage Bookshop, there was barely a hint of a romantic interest between the main character and another, and then it was suddenly a public display of affection right in the last page. That was a surprise, but in a confusing way.
Each of the stories are about 14 chapters; quick and easy reads for commuting or just having a mini mystery break. Because they were shorter than regular fiction novels, the action and mystery were fast-paced so you can get right into it.
A point of difference was that each novella was written in first-person. I haven't read mystery novels from that viewpoint before, so it was a good change. While all stories had interesting plot lines and were written well to keep the reader turning the page, I personally think the first novella, Murder in the Mystery sections, needed some transition statements or "scene markers" in the form of a visual bar or line on the page. One minute the characters were doing something and by the next sentence it was a new scene or new day and no transition. It was a little clunky for me.
Overall, I think it was a great read and I was keen to keep coming back to it to find out whodunnit and what happened next.
(SPOILER ALERT)
I felt some of the romantic interests were not at all obvious. In the second novella, The Secret Passage Bookshop, there was barely a hint of a romantic interest between the main character and another, and then it was suddenly a public display of affection right in the last page. That was a surprise, but in a confusing way.
January 29, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves is a faith-based cozy mystery anthology with four novellas by four different authors.
The four mysteries are:
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
By Hook or By Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
All four mysteries are different stories with different characters in different cities. The common thread is that all four stories are mysteries set in bookshops. There is a pirate-themed bookshop, a rare bookshop/tearoom, a bayside bookshop, and a bookshop with a secret passageway.
Each novella contains between 11 and 14 chapters and can be read in one sitting. The mysteries aren't overly complex, but they are all entertaining and worth a read. All four writers are talented and do a good job of structuring the mysteries and offering glimpses into their characters and bookshops.
The stories contain some faith-based content but they are not heavy-handed or preachy.
I would recommend Secrets Between the Shelves to readers who like cozy mystery novellas, clean reads, and faith-based reads.
I got a free ARC of this book from Net Galley and Barbour. All opinions are my own.
The four mysteries are:
Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey
The Secret Passage Bookshop by Linda Baten Johnson
By Hook or By Book by Teresa Ives Lilly
The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk
All four mysteries are different stories with different characters in different cities. The common thread is that all four stories are mysteries set in bookshops. There is a pirate-themed bookshop, a rare bookshop/tearoom, a bayside bookshop, and a bookshop with a secret passageway.
Each novella contains between 11 and 14 chapters and can be read in one sitting. The mysteries aren't overly complex, but they are all entertaining and worth a read. All four writers are talented and do a good job of structuring the mysteries and offering glimpses into their characters and bookshops.
The stories contain some faith-based content but they are not heavy-handed or preachy.
I would recommend Secrets Between the Shelves to readers who like cozy mystery novellas, clean reads, and faith-based reads.
I got a free ARC of this book from Net Galley and Barbour. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2025
As someone who loves a good bookstore-based mystery, this collection of novellas was right up my alley. I was excited to receive this ARC, and the concept of four different cozy mysteries all centered around new bookshops in different settings—from a tearoom to a pirate-themed shop—was a fantastic idea from authors Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, and Teresa Ives Lilly.
This book is a perfect example of what makes the bookstore mystery sub-genre so enjoyable. Each novella does a great job of creating a charming atmosphere and introducing a likable protagonist. It's a quick, easy read that's perfect for when you want a light, cozy escape.
However, because these are novellas, the plots felt a bit basic. The mysteries themselves were pretty straightforward, and there wasn't a lot of time for the kind of intricate plotting and red herrings you find in a full-length novel. While I loved the settings and the premise of each story, the mysteries weren't particularly compelling.
Overall, it's a solid collection for anyone who, like me, loves cozy mysteries set in bookstores. The book delivers on its charming premise, even if the plots themselves don't offer a lot of surprises. It’s a great read for a quick dose of cozy fun.
★★★☆☆
#SecretsBetweenTheShelves #CynthiaHickey #LindaBatenJohnson #TeresaIvesLilly #ARC #BookReview #Bookstagram #CozyMystery #BookstoreMystery #Novella #MysteryCollection
This book is a perfect example of what makes the bookstore mystery sub-genre so enjoyable. Each novella does a great job of creating a charming atmosphere and introducing a likable protagonist. It's a quick, easy read that's perfect for when you want a light, cozy escape.
However, because these are novellas, the plots felt a bit basic. The mysteries themselves were pretty straightforward, and there wasn't a lot of time for the kind of intricate plotting and red herrings you find in a full-length novel. While I loved the settings and the premise of each story, the mysteries weren't particularly compelling.
Overall, it's a solid collection for anyone who, like me, loves cozy mysteries set in bookstores. The book delivers on its charming premise, even if the plots themselves don't offer a lot of surprises. It’s a great read for a quick dose of cozy fun.
★★★☆☆
#SecretsBetweenTheShelves #CynthiaHickey #LindaBatenJohnson #TeresaIvesLilly #ARC #BookReview #Bookstagram #CozyMystery #BookstoreMystery #Novella #MysteryCollection
February 25, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Secrets Between the Shelves coming out February 1, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber's new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop's future is questionable. Lilly's pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop's floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife.
This was a new experience for me. I normally don’t read anthologies. I really love cozy mysteries! So I was excited to check this out. However, I think the stories tended to blend in with each other. I enjoyed them, but they didn’t really stand out as much as I thought. I might’ve just liked it more if there were two stories.
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber's new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop's future is questionable. Lilly's pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop's floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife.
This was a new experience for me. I normally don’t read anthologies. I really love cozy mysteries! So I was excited to check this out. However, I think the stories tended to blend in with each other. I enjoyed them, but they didn’t really stand out as much as I thought. I might’ve just liked it more if there were two stories.
January 18, 2025
4 bookstores, 4 stories, 4 murders, lots of mayhem!
1. Murder in the Mystery Section - Imagine opening a new bookstore & tearoom and finding a dead woman on the floor! Amber finds herself involved in a real life mystery that involves more than scones and murder.
2. The Secret Passage Bookshop - Abby buys a run down building to turn into a bookstore. While looking the building over, she gets bopped in the head. As the mystery develops, the bookstore and her very live is threatened. Follow this mystery of books, secret passages & tacos to find out more.
3. By Hook or by Book - Lily makes her dream come true of owning a bookshop in Maine. When a dead pirate is found in her bookstore, it threatens more than just the store.
4. The Missing Chapter - Kelly opens her store and witnesses a very suspicious death. Can she prove the bookshop owner next is innocent?
Lovely short stories of murder, suspicion & books! All are well written, with characters you can relate to. I received a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.
1. Murder in the Mystery Section - Imagine opening a new bookstore & tearoom and finding a dead woman on the floor! Amber finds herself involved in a real life mystery that involves more than scones and murder.
2. The Secret Passage Bookshop - Abby buys a run down building to turn into a bookstore. While looking the building over, she gets bopped in the head. As the mystery develops, the bookstore and her very live is threatened. Follow this mystery of books, secret passages & tacos to find out more.
3. By Hook or by Book - Lily makes her dream come true of owning a bookshop in Maine. When a dead pirate is found in her bookstore, it threatens more than just the store.
4. The Missing Chapter - Kelly opens her store and witnesses a very suspicious death. Can she prove the bookshop owner next is innocent?
Lovely short stories of murder, suspicion & books! All are well written, with characters you can relate to. I received a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.
January 23, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves is an impressively constructed collection of four engaging novella mysteries by four very talented authors. The common thread is that each story features a murder that occurs in a quaint bookstore. The storylines are unique with no connection in content to the other stories. All the stories are well-written with mystery that drew me in quickly and kept me guessing to the end. Whatever the location—Arkansas, Wyoming, Maine, or Florida—authentically sketched settings transport you to the scene and help you visualize the story. A dash of sweet romance and inspiring faith add interest to the narratives. All in all this is a very light, entertaining cozy mystery novella collection, and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 1, 2025
Secrets Between the Shelves contains four cozy bookshop mysteries written by four different authors. I found each story easy to read. I like that I get to check out the writing style of four different authors. The stories are nice, but they are forgettable. The main characters were bland and flat because they needed to be fleshed out. I liked how the stories centered around bookshops (I love visiting bookstores, but my wallet is always a little grumpy afterward). I thought the pirate themed bookstore was unique. I like to read cozy mysteries because I enjoy solving the whodunit. Unfortunately, the mysteries were lacking. I did not find them mysterious and engaging (I was not sitting on the edge of my seat quickly turning the pages to see what happened next). The final story in the collection was my least favorite. It was a predictable mystery with a baffling ending. The first novella was my favorite. It reminded me of a story by Vicki Delany (the first book in A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries). I wish, though, that the author had not included romance (the love interest lacked development and, since it is a short story, the focus should have been on the whodunit). I am glad the four tales in Secrets Between the Shelves were short, because I would not have gotten through them otherwise.
February 17, 2025
A Delightful Collection of Christian Cozy Mysteries. This novella collection was a fun and easy read, perfect for anyone who enjoys Christian cozy mysteries. Each story revolved around bookstores, adding a charming setting that book lovers will appreciate.
The first book was fantastic and left me eager to read more from this author. The second book had a compelling plot with a great focus on saving kids, though I found the repeated "Abby girl" nickname a bit cringey. The third book didn’t resonate with me as much since pirates aren’t my thing, but I appreciated the many heartfelt prayers throughout. The fourth story was another enjoyable read.
Since these were novellas, the pacing felt a bit rushed at times, but overall, they were engaging and uplifting. If you're looking for lighthearted mysteries with faith-filled themes, this collection is worth checking out!
Thank you NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, and Barbour Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
The first book was fantastic and left me eager to read more from this author. The second book had a compelling plot with a great focus on saving kids, though I found the repeated "Abby girl" nickname a bit cringey. The third book didn’t resonate with me as much since pirates aren’t my thing, but I appreciated the many heartfelt prayers throughout. The fourth story was another enjoyable read.
Since these were novellas, the pacing felt a bit rushed at times, but overall, they were engaging and uplifting. If you're looking for lighthearted mysteries with faith-filled themes, this collection is worth checking out!
Thank you NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, and Barbour Fiction for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews