The Bookshop Murder

Flora Steele Mystery #1

by Merryn Allingham

Join Flora Steele – bookshop owner, bicycle-rider, day dreamer and amateur detective as she tackles her first case!

Sussex, 1955: When Flora Steele opens up her bookshop one morning she’s in for the surprise of her life! Because there, amongst her bookcases, is the body of a young man, with a shock of white-blond hair. But who was he? And how did he come to be there?

Determined to save her beloved bookshop’s reputation and solve the baffling mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer.

The unlikely duo set about investigating the extraordinary case, following a lead across the sleepy village of Abbeymead to The Priory Hotel. When the hotel’s gardener dies suddenly, and they find out their victim was staying there, Flora’s suspicions are raised.

Are the two deaths connected? Is someone at the hotel responsible – the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress?

As the trail of clues takes Flora and Jack all over the village itbecomes clear there’s more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead…

But does Flora have what it takes to uncover the truth – or will her amateur sleuthing put her in harm’s way?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Historical Fiction, Cozy

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2021

About the author

I was born into an army family and spent my childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave me itchy feet and in my twenties I escaped an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.

I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where I've lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.

I've written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance - sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events.

My latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing ever louder. Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, and explores themes of family, love and loss.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a new cosy series set in a quiet, English village in the 1950's. Our main character is Flora Steele, a smart and determined young woman who owns and runs the local book shop.

The mystery begins when Jack Carrington whilst visiting the shop, discovers a dead body behind the shelves. The police dismiss it as natural causes but Flora has reason to think it might be murder, and she and Jack unite to try and solve the case themselves. I liked the added touch of Jack being an author of mysteries himself.

I found myself enjoying this book very much. Unlike some cosies it never became silly or farfetched. Jack and Flora made a great team and worked their way logically through all the possibilities. The ending was quite tense and even a bit scary! I am looking forward to more books in this series.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Natalia R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham. Set in the 1950s, our protagonist Flora owns a bookshop in the sleepy little English village of Abbeymead. Not much happens in her beloved village - that is until one morning when the body of a young man is discovered in her bookshop. The police conclude that he died of a heart attack, but something just isn't sitting right with Flora. How could a fit and healthy young man suddenly die of a heart attack? And why was he in her shop hours after the closing time? Determined to get to the bottom of things, she enlists the help of a handsome and reclusive crime writer named Jack Carrington. Together, they discover that their little village has plenty of secrets.

A fun and intriguing mystery that kept me engaged and guessing until the reveal. Flora and Jack made a great team and I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops and what new cases they'll be working on in future installments. I hope there will be a second book soon because I really enjoyed my visit to Abbeymead. The villagers were interesting, the English countryside setting perfect and rich with history (I hope the town's history will play a role again), and I adore the era that this series is set in. If you're a fan of historical cozy mysteries, I recommend giving this first in a new series a try.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bharath · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story piqued my interest – a dead body found in a bookstore. I liked the characters and the descriptions of the village where it is set (Abbeymead), though the story had more potential.

The bookstore – All’s Well is owned by Flora Steele who inherited it from her diseased aunt. The dead man Kevin Anderson was discovered by a customer, writer Jack Carrington. Kevin was visiting from Australia and was staying at the Priory. On the face of it, the death seems the result of a heart attack but why would Kevin break into a bookstore of all places is a mystery.

The incident makes the financial situation of the bookstore worse, already being precarious. Flora seeks Jack’s help in finding out what could have led to this curious and tragic death. As they begin their enquiries, there is further tragedy in the village.

The suspense does hold went into the end sections. The amateur sleuthing engaged in by Flora and Jack lacks sophistication of articulation and style is more like a mystery novel for early teens. The story also had greater potential, though it is a nice (somewhat slow) read. Hopefully the next story in the series will be deeper.

Thanks for Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[give me books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Takie meh. Nie wywołała u mnie żadnych emocji, zagadka nie była jakaś super wciągająca, zwroty akcji dosyć płaskie.

[Marta Demianiuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ależ to było nudne i bez polotu. Doczytałam tylko dlatego, że chciałam sprawdzić, czy moje przypuszczenia co do rozwiązania sprawy się potwierdzą. Okazało się jednak, że autorka wybrała takie rozwiązanie, że jestem jeszcze bardziej zawiedziona, niż gdybym rozwiązała sprawę w połowie książki.

Nie pasuje mi też język bohaterów do czasów, w których dzieje się akcja. To kolejny z elementów, który odebrał książce klimat, jakiego można było się po niej spodziewać.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flora Steele had inherited her bookshop from her beloved Aunt Violet after nursing her for three years during her illness. She’d been her surrogate mum since Flora was six years old and her parents had died. Her dreams of travelling were put on hold, but she loved the bookshop, its delightful smells and at least she could travel vicariously. But the morning she found a dead body at the rear of the shop, her life changed.

Jack Carrington was a crime writer and something of a recluse. He lived not far from Abbeymead and Flora delivered books to him on her faithful bicycle, Betty. He was soon enlisted by Flora to help solve the mystery of the dead young man, whom the police said died of a heart attack. But when another local died, it had the townsfolk on edge. Flora and Jack needed to solve the mystery before someone else died…

The Bookshop Murder is a great start to a new cosy series – Flora Steele Mystery #1 – by Merryn Allingham and is also the author’s debut. An intriguing mystery with plenty of twists, much bafflement and light entertainment in this little village by the sea which is set in the 1950s. I’m looking forward to #2. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ -- Annoying lead character

This book was okay. I really liked the setting and the time period. I don't think I have read many "cozy" type mysteries set in the 50s. I also enjoyed the mystery and really liked Jack. However, and this was a huge issue for me...I could not stand Flora. OMG, I am sorry for saying this, but she was an obnoxious, know it all moron. 😂 It started with the whole going to look for a cake that had been thrown out by the hotel TWO WEEKS earlier. Then searching the room for CRUMBS of said cake so the police could test for poison. From crumbs. In a hotel room. Two weeks later. I just never could get past that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Sussex 1955. This is the introduction of Fiona Steele, bookshop owner, and amateur detective as she investigates her first case.

Opening up the bookshop one morning, she and another customer find the body of a young man next to a broken into window. She recognizes his white-blond hair as belonging to a gentleman driving a fireman-red car .. that nearly ran her over.

The medical examiner comes back with findings of a heart attack .. although he was young, and his medical records showed no problems whatsoever.

Flora decides that there had to be more than what they know. Enlisting the help of Jack Carrington, a crime writer, and the customer who was in the store with her, to solve the case and learn the truth.

What starts as questioning one or two people leads to more people. Fiona and jack find that there are many secrets in their small village. And then there's another death.

Are these cases connected? Who would want these men dead?

The more they investigate and the closer to the truth they get, the more danger they face ...

This is a cozy mystery set in a small village full of all sorts of residents .. some are quirky, some are flirty, many are secretive, and some are downright dangerous. It's well written with likable characters. And being an avid reader, how could I not reach for book with BOOKSHOP in the title? The ending was fast, and largely unexpected.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

[Mozaika Literacka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niezwykle tajemnicza, klimatyczna i zabawna, jednocześnie dość prozaiczna i nieco przegadana – historia spisana z myślą o koneserach klasycznego kryminału. Merryn Allingham śmiało wkrada się w otchłań przedmiejskiej senności lat pięćdziesiątych ubiegłego wieku, tworząc w niej nie tylko szczelnie zamknięte środowisko, ale też niepowtarzalną aurę małego angielskiego miasteczka. Tu zbrodnia nieuchronnie staje się wydarzeniem roku, szczególnie ta zagnieżdżona trupem w rodzinnej księgarni, okazuje się też przepustką do niespodziewanych wrażeń. I chociaż trudno doszukać się tu wyrafinowanych zwrotów akcji, z pewnością można zaznać czytelniczej satysfakcji.

[vvenika.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ciekawa i wciągająca. Żałuję, że tak ciekawe rozwiązanie zagadki zostało zdradzone w zbyt banalny sposób.

[shubiektywnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gdyby była trzecia część, już bym jej słuchała 😆 Czekam!

[Kinga (oazaksiazek) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75
Patrząc na opinie moich instagramowych/goodreadsowych znajomych, zastanawiam się, co ze mną nie tak, bo dla mnie ta książka była świetną rozrywką 😅

Zacznę od tego, że słuchałam jej w audiobooku, więc nie wiem, czy podczas czytania w papierze też bawiłabym się na niej tak dobrze.

Poczułam się tak, jakbym czytała klasyczny kryminał, który nie jest skomplikowany, ale jednak jest po prostu przyjemny w odbiorze i stanowi dobrą odskocznię od codzienności.

Sprawa kryminalna jest prosta, ale jak dla mnie opisana w przystępny, nieskomplikowany sposób. To taki kryminał lekki, dobry dla osób dopiero rozpoczynających przygodę z tym gatunkiem. Jest dużo książek, klimatu małego miasteczka i postaci, gdzie każdy każdego zna.

Jedyne co mi nie pasowało to główna bohaterka, której nie polubiłam jakoś szczególnie, bo pcha się tam, gdzie niepotrzeba. Jest młoda, nieco naiwna i odważna aż za bardzo. Z góry wiadomo, że wszystko, czego się nie podejmie, na bank jej się uda.

Nie jest to literatura najwyższych lotów, w Polsce zbiera słabe oceny, ale ja bawiłam się na niej naprawdę dobrze.

[julka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Na początku było źle, potem było lepiej, a potem było niewiadomo co. Czy spodziewałam się zakończenia? Raczej nie. Czy była zaskoczona? Nie za bardzo. Pierwsze 150 stron było jak męczarnia. Autorka zrobiła taki chaos w pierwsze 20 stron, że nie wiedziała co zrobić z głównymi bohaterami.

Flora: O mój boże on nie żyje!!! Co my teraz zrobimy!?!?! To na pewno morderstwo.
Policja: śmierć naturalna.
Flora: No coś wy! *pije herbatę* Sama to odkryję z moim niezwykle tajemniczym pisarzem kryminałów Jackiem!

Wyjaśnienie sprawy średnio mi się podobało. Lektura napisana wygodnie dla czytelnika, czyli jeden z największych plusów. Flora irytująca, a Jack nijaki. Spodziewałam się zupełnie czegoś innego. Mogło być lepiej, mogło być gorzej.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited cozy series I will continue reading. Flora supported her aunt's bookshop until her death and then had to keep on by herself using her own dwindling funds. She was brave or brazen enough to seek help from the town's visiting crime writer who had managed to stay away from social interaction in the town until Flora made her appeal for his assistance.

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

The Bookshop Murder is the first in the Flora Steele series of cosy mysteries set in 1950s England. In the book, we meet Flora Steele, a twenty-five-year old, who has inherited a bookshop, the All’s Well, and a cottage from her aunt, Violet, in Abbeymead, Sussex. Flora lost her parents early and was more or less brought up by Violet (after a brief period with her parents’ friends). Now, at a time just a few years after the war, things are difficult for the shop, and Flora’s dreams of travelling the world (or at least some of it) have to be put on hold.

Out delivering books in the village one evening, Flora is nearly run over by a speeding red sports car—one let out to guests at the Priory, once the manor house, now a hotel run by a Vernon Elliot who has purchased it. The driver’s fair hair is all she notices. But that is what helps her identify him when his body is found in her own bookshop the next morning by reclusive author J.A. ‘Jack’ Carrington who lives in the village (he is only in the shop because the boy who usually runs his errands is home sick).

The police are called in but quickly dismiss the matter as a natural death; they are also not much bothered by the fact that the young man, Kevin Anderson, seemed to have broken into Flora’s shop just before he died, for nothing was taken, after all. But Flora is not entirely convinced, for there was no reason why a twenty-one-year-old, healthy young man should die that way. Letting the matter alone doesn’t help her for rumours soon begin to spread around the village of ghosts and ill presences in her shop and what little custom she had begins to disappear entirely. She realises that unless she can prove that this was the work of a human hand, she might well lose her business. She convinces Jack Carrington to join in and the two begin to investigate.

They find precious little to work with. Kevin was a relation of the man who inherited the Priory from the owner, Lord Templeton, and who had sold it to Vernon Elliot. His stay at the expensive Priory seems to have been sponsored by his relative and all of it relates to a legend surrounding the house. While Flora and Jack feel this screams ‘Enid Blyton’, they still attempt to look into it, talking to older staff still working at the Priory or living in the village. Even though they find little, they are attacked and another death takes place, once again appearing to be a natural one. Is there any truth behind the legend? Will Flora and Jack get to the bottom of the mystery?

This was a quick, pleasant read for me and was good fun even though it wasn’t one that blew me away so to speak.

The mystery, while it didn’t have many twists and turns, was an interesting enough one (the murder weapon, in particular), and while the legend did have that Enid Blyton touch (as the characters themselves note), it was done nicely enough with a basis in books—a riddle to solve, certainly but no complicated codes and ciphers which one usually finds when old books are involved.

The police’s attitude did surprise me though since it felt like they were much too eager to brush their hands of the whole matter and dismiss it as a natural death even though the evidence was far from clear cut. And would they really dismiss a break-in, when the possible culprit is found dead, however natural it appears? That one seemed a little hard to digest.

I had actually requested the book because of its setting in the 1950s and the author has included elements--from references to music to the shadows of the war, and the difficulties people were living through at the time. But the language in the conversations felt at times a little too modern-day.

The two main characters were quite likeable even though Flora does act a little too recklessly at times, and I wouldn’t mind seeing what they got up to next.

3.25 stars from me.

[Marika_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Pulek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5
Bardzo przyjemny cosy-kryminał do wysłuchania w dwa dni, w zasadzie nic specjalnego, ale też nie było jakichś irytujących mnie wątków oprócz może elaboratu z pełnym przyznaniem się do winy na koniec, który trochę mnie ubawił. Na plus małomiasteczkowy klimat, dobre zbalansowanie sfery obyczajowej i głównej fabuły kryminalnej, sympatyczni i niegłupi bohaterowie. Jedynie humoru mogłoby być też trochę więcej :) Na pewno będę kontynuować.

[Miku · Rating 1 out of 5]

Flora Steele prowadzi własną księgarnię i próbuje wiązać koniec z końcem. Pewnego poranka kobieta znajduje ciało mężczyzny i decyduje się rozwiązać zagadkę, żeby uratować swoje ukochane miejsce. Do pomocy woła sobie Jacka Carringtona, który jest autorem poczytnych kryminałów.

Chciałam mieć dobre zdanie o tej książce.. ale no nie mogę. Zacznę od tego że fabuła jest prowadzona w bardzo naiwny sposób i w ogóle nie przypomina czegoś co mogłoby dziać się w rzeczywistości. Wyobraźcie sobie że jesteście właścicielami księgarni i pewnego poranka znajdujecie ciało jakiegoś obcego mężczyzny. Pierwsza reakcja to pewnie szok, sprawdzenie stanu człowieka, policja, karetka. Ja nie wpadłabym na pomysł, żeby zaangażować swojego losowego klienta (akurat w postaci autora powieści kryminalnych) do pomocy i będziemy sobie tak stać nad zwłokami i sobie dywagować o możliwościach skąd się to ciało tutaj wzięło. Jak już stworzymy kilka teorii spiskowych to wtedy sobie na chilloutcie zadzwonimy po policję, a przy okazji sobie pomarudzimy, bo księgarnia będzie z kilka dni zamknięta. Priorytety drodzy państwo, priorytety. Tak wyglądają pierwsze dwa rozdziały, ale karuzela dopiero się rozkręca. Flora uważa, że skoro facet zmarł w jej księgarni to ona odkryje dlaczego to się stało, a skoro akurat autor poczytnych kryminałów był na miejscu to on jej pomoże w tej sprawie. Naciągane jak nie wiem co, ale dobra - to jest do strawienia, wiele prostszych kryminałów tak popycha fabułę. Jednak zaraz nam zostaje zaserwowana bardzo głęboka myśl Carringtona i tu cytat: "Czemu dla rozrywki nie zająć się tą sprawą". I tak sobie jedziemy dalej, my jako czytelnicy już doskonale domyślamy się kto za wszystkim stoi, ale wszyscy bohaterowie książki dalej niczego nie wiedzą. Tworzą się kolejne dziwne teorie, które można bez trudu obalić, a my z każdym genialnym pomysłem czujemy coraz większe znużenie.

Gdzieś widziałam, że z każdym kolejnym tomem jest tendencja wzrostowa. No to prędzej czy później to sprawdzę.

[Kiiki.Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wyobraźcie sobie, że macie księgarnie, a któregoś dnia zaglądając pomiędzy regały od góry do dołu wypełnione książkami znajdujecie… zwłoki młodego mężczyzny, który do środka włamał się oknem.

Nie znacie go, jest przejezdnym, choć wcześniej o mało Was nie potrącił. A na dodatek na Wasze szczęście, jako klient zawitał pisarz kryminałów. On się zna na rzeczy i na pewno pomoże nam rozwikłać zagadkę tajemniczej śmierci jeszcze za plecami policji! No bo wiecie… bo reputacja księgarni, ilość klientów po tym wydarzeniu dramatycznie spadła, a biznes ratować trzeba!

„Morderstwo w księgarni” bo to o tej książce właśnie mówimy to pierwszy tom serii z Florą Steel (ah mega się cieszę, że jest to seria!!), który zapowiada się naprawdę obiecująco. Czy można o kryminale napisać, że był bardzo komfortowy? Mam nadzieje, że tak bo ja czytając tę książkę naprawdę czułam się bardzo komfortowo. Momentami przeskakiwałam na audio, które również jest bajeczne.

Intrygująca tajemnica, wciągająca zagadka kryminalna, książki, dużo książek (!) i ludzie, którzy zabójstwa znają tylko z teorii, a są zdeterminowani żeby rozwiązać obecną zagadkę. Czego chcieć więcej?!

Ah, a na dodatek jeżeli jesteście fanami Agathy Christie to myśle, że polubicie Florę i jej perypetie!

[Elizabeth Hillebrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read This Book!!!!

I am in love with this book!!! Everything about it was amazing. The story, the pacing, the main characters, the side characters, the setting and the little bit of romance that's there as well.

This book was something I needed right now and I want to read every book in this series right now!!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good!

[alicja · Rating 1 out of 5]

flaki z olejem

[Atalántē · Rating 4 out of 5]

Przyjemny cosy kryminał, polubiłam głównych bohaterów, ale nie mogę zrozumieć dlaczego od razu nie przejrzeli tych książek, które były w księgarni Flory, dla mnie nie ma to sensu. 3,5⭐

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the sleepy town of Abbeymead in 1955, Flora Steele, a young bookshop owner, is shocked when the reclusive crime writer Jack Carrington discovers a dead body in her old store. The police call it a natural death, but Flora is doubtful. When rumors spread about the bookshop being haunted, Flora starts to lose her business and savings.

Having no one to call her own after Aunt Violet’s death, Flora is determined to unearth the mystery behind the death. After all, how can a healthy young man die of a heart attack? Why was he in her bookshop, and when did he even enter?

Flora enlists Jack’s help to get to the bottom of the mystery, only to stumble upon more deaths in the process. Why are people related to the Priory dying, and why is the new owner not bothered about it?

The list of suspects keeps changing, and Flora is even determined than before. How can she let the killer get away? So what if the police are least interested?

The Bookshop Murder is the first book in the series and an engaging cozy mystery set in Sussex. Flora is a 25-year-old single woman, running her deceased aunt’s bookshop (now her own), All’s Well. She has a simple and routine life with the dreams of traveling the world to keep her company during the lonely days.

Jack is a recluse who had no choice but to step out to collect his books from All’s Well when the boy running errands falls sick. He discovers a dead body during his visit to the store, and there starts the story. Torn between writer’s block and the unexpected feeling to help Flora, Jack teams up with her to solve the mystery.

The book stays true to its genre and gives us an enjoyable mystery to solve. It’s neither complicated nor silly. Flora and Jack balance each other rather well. Neither of them is always right or wrong. They have their strengths and weak points.

As the first book in the series, the story gives us quite a bit of detail about the lead characters’ pasts. This adds to the character arc. The subsequent books are likely to have a budding romance between the leads, and yeah, I’m looking forward to it.

The case is solved in this book, and we have a definite ending. Picking it up as a standalone, and you’ll still enjoy it.

Overall, The Bookshop Murders is an engaging book with books, deaths, and amateur sleuths. Don’t expect much except for a nice little crime, and you’ll enjoy it more.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheBookshopMurder #NetGalley

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1950s in the village of Abbeymead, Sussex, the Bookshop Murder has bookshop owner Flora Steele and reclusive crime fiction writer Jack Carrington join forces when the dead body of a young man, a guest at the village's Priory Hotel, is found in Flora's bookshop, in the rare books section. The police dismiss the death as a result of a heart attack but Flora is not so sure and is determined to find out the truth when the news and corresponding gossip threatens to derail her bookshop business. When a few days later a local gardner, who is employed at the Priory Hotel, is also found dead in a similar manner, Flora and Jack are convinced that something is dangerously amiss. As they investigate they slowly uncover secrets that are held in the Priory Hotel, secrets of a Tudor era treasure hidden by the original owners of the Priory estate during the reign of Henry VIII.... a treasure worth killing for.

The Bookshop Murder is the first book in a brand new cozy mystery series and I simply breezed through the book and enjoyed it. Well written and entertaining, I really liked the banter and teamwork between Flora and Jack and since it's based in the 1950s, the sleuthing is all pure brain work. I look forward to reading more of the series and seeing how far things go for both the protagonists.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Merryn Allingham for the e-Arc of the book.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham is the first book in a new historical cozy mystery.

A smoothly paced plot with likable characters, a legend regarding buried treasure, the murder of a tourist to Abbymeade and only a few suspects to investigate kept the plot interesting. It was somewhat slow due to introductions of the main characters and their backgrounds as well as the Abbymeade inhabitants but the twists as Flora and Jack investigate kept the story moving forward. All in all it was an entertaining mystery.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[antonina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75⭐️ KOCHAM FLORĘ I JACKA I ELI ZA TO ŻE MI POLECIŁA.
bardzo przyjemna książka, super bohaterowie ale niestety trochę przewidywalne zakończenie 😭

[agata · Rating 3 out of 5]

przyjemna książka na jesienny wieczór, ale nic poza tym

dam szansę kolejnym częściom bo całkiem szybko się czyta i klimat Anglii z lat 50 idealnie mi pasuje na te długie wieczory

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I wanted to read something cozy, light and immensely enjoyable. And I picked an cozy mystery author about whom I had never heard of.

Flora Steele, a young woman who owns and runs the local book shop in a quiet, English village in the 1950's. She is smart and determined in her life. When a mystery book writer Jack Carrington visits Flora's bookshop, he finds a dead body behind the shelves. The police dismisses the case as "death by natural causes" but Flora suspects foul play. Flora and Jack come together to get to the bottom of this mystery. It was a bit tense in places and also scary which kept me at edge.

If you're a fan of historical cozy mysteries, I recommend giving this first in a new series a try.
Happy Reading!!