by Cynthia Chow & Ellie Alexander
This week we’ve got evaluations of the primary 2 books in Ellie Alexander’s new Secret Bookcase Thriller sequence–The Physique within the Bookstore and A Homicide on the Motion pictures, and a enjoyable visitor put up by Ellie within the type of a letter from her foremost character. Particulars on the finish of this put up on easy methods to enter to win copies of each books and hyperlinks to buy the e book from Amazon.
The Physique within the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander
Evaluation by Cynthia Chow
Annie Murray’s plans to turn into a forensic psychologist or prison profiler ended with the demise of her finest pal Scarlet. Annie’s by no means forgiven herself for not discouraging Scarlet from pursuing leads in a chilly case, one of many unsolved mysteries assigned to them by their criminology professor. Annie believes that their recklessness led to Scarlet’s homicide, and the guilt precipitated Annie to desert her goals and as an alternative settle for a job as a bookseller in Redwood Grove, California.
Eight years later Annie remains to be working for Hal Christie within the Secret Bookcase thriller bookstore, dreaming of the way to assist promote the shop and improve on-line enterprise. Her newest inspiration is an try and market Redwood Grove as a comfortable mystery-themed city, with a Thriller Fest that might contain the entire native companies. The one holdout is Liam Donavan, the grumpy proprietor of Stag Head Pub and a person who dismisses cozy mysteries and fiction books usually. His refusal to take part appears to show smart when a really actual homicide happens within the bookstore, with clients discovering the physique within the secret bookcase room.
Kayla Minter was a imply lady former school classmate of Annie, and Kayla had come to Redwood Grove after her advertising enterprise was employed by an area retailer. Kayla was accompanied by her buddies Seth Turner and Monica Harrison, the latter of whom is an editor for one of many Thriller Fest’s authors. As Annie quickly discovers, the relationships between these three school buddies was tempestuous to say the least, with each Monica and Kayla having dated and/or damaged up with Seth in some unspecified time in the future. Annie is each thrilled and unsettled when she discovers that the investigating detective is Annie’s former mentor, because the criminology professor Dr. Caldwell was the one who gave out the task that finally might have led to Scarlet’s demise. With the assistance of Cryptic Espresso barista Priya Kapoor, Annie finds that she has not forgotten the teachings she realized as a budding criminologist, questioning suspects and persevering with their plans for the immersive Thriller Fest.
This primary within the sequence by the prolific creator is barely extra somber than her Bakeshop thriller because of Annie’s regret over her pal and obsession with fixing her homicide. That doesn’t imply that there nonetheless isn’t an incredible quantity of enjoyable, principally surrounding her coworkers and buddies on the town. Secret Bookcase proprietor Hal Christie asserts that he’s a secret descendant of Agatha Christie, whose works impressed his bookstore and his ardour for her work. Annie and Liam have a hate/love/hate relationship, with him taunting her appreciation of thriller books and refusing to take part within the city occasions. As Priya observes although, his actions are positively akin to a 12-year-old boy pulling a lady’s ponytails to get her consideration, and as a lot as Annie needs to concentrate on her investigation she will be able to’t assist however see his good-looking attraction. The charming Redwood Grove city and the comfy bookstore with a hidden studying room could have readers envious and wanting to revisit for the subsequent installment as Annie continues to pursue her lengthy investigation of an important case of her life.
You may click on right here to buy this e book from Amazon.
A Homicide on the Motion pictures by Ellie Alexander
Evaluation by Cynthia Chow
Whereas Annie Murray remains to be coping with the guilt of the unsolved demise of her finest pal, Annie is doing her finest to maneuver on as a bookseller within the Northern California bookstore The Secret Bookcase. After a profitable promotional Thriller Fest weekend, the bookstore has been contacted by a film director who needs their city of Redwood Grove to host a thriller movie weekend full of viewings of basic motion pictures and thrillers. The director Heather Hathaway additionally intends to have them host the premier of her new movie Midnight Alibi, which shall be attended not solely by the starring forged but additionally by a infamous film critic. Martin Parker’s opinions have the ability to make or break a movie’s success, and Heather needs all the things to be good for the finicky author. Sadly, Heather’s proclamations that she can be more than pleased to have him useless and unable to tank her movie make her the first suspect when Martin Parker is murdered, strangled after which thrown over a balcony throughout a strobe-light scene of the Midnight Alibi viewing.
Regardless of her diploma in criminology, Annie gave up a profession in that subject because of the overwhelming guilt and trauma after the homicide of fellow scholar Scarlet. Their professor and Annie’s mentor, Dr. Caldwell, nonetheless sees the potential in her former scholar and is doing her finest to lure Annie again. As Redwood Grove’s lead detective, Dr. Caldwell enlists Annie’s help in investigating and questioning the numerous suspects who had motives for wanting the unlikable critic useless. Heather’s nemesis and rival filmmaker Izzy arrived as a particular visitor of Martin Parker, however these additionally with the motives of needing their film to succeed embrace the movie’s producer and lead actors. The boastful critic additionally made an enemy of Rufus Wells, a film historian who turned livid when Martin dared to the touch a canister of certainly one of his priceless movie collections. So with the intention to proceed the success of The Secret Bookcase bookstore and make sure the attraction of the vacationer vacation spot city, Annie must shore up her well-honed investigation expertise to discover a very artful killer.
This second within the sequence has Annie and Dr. Caldwell each coping with the residual guilt of Scarlet’s demise, which they imagine was because of a category task to analyze a chilly case. Annie additionally has the dilemma of whether or not to just accept Dr. Caldwell’s supply to return to the criminology occupation, which Annie had thought she had put behind her. She has come to like the Agatha Christie-themed bookstore and her neighbors in Redwood Grove, even Liam Donavan, the pub proprietor who delights in teasing her for her love of the fiction books he considers to be trivial. Annie’s pal and barista Priya Kapoor has her personal storyline as she lastly meets her crush, the Double Americano buyer who may very well be the love of her life.
The combination of a Hollywood film forged and quirky native residents make this a compelling and really entertaining thriller, and its complicated lead heroine shines as she learns to maneuver previous her guilt and be open to a brand new life. A satisfying conclusion results in a brand new journey for Annie, and readers shall be wanting ahead to her subsequent case which will take her to the nation of the bookstore’s inspiration.
To: You, Thriller Lover
From: Annie Murray, The Secret Bookcase, Redwood Grove, California
Topic: Redwood Grove Thriller Fest Ticket Affirmation
Pricey Thriller Lover,
Greetings from The Secret Bookcase! I’m Annie Murray, your humble bookseller, and I’m so delighted you’ve determined to veer off the crushed path and be a part of us at our Agatha Christie-inspired bookstore. I’ve formally marked your RSVP as sure for the inaugural Redwood Grove Thriller Competition, and I can’t wait to welcome you to our charming village.
We have now an exciting weekend of whodunnit delights deliberate, and belief me, you’re in for an unforgettable expertise. This can be a totally immersive competition, and everybody in Redwood Grove is embracing the spirit—there would possibly even be a suspect or two lurking across the nook.
A couple of issues to notice as you put together in your go to:
· The Welcome Reception kicks off promptly at 7 p.m. on Friday night on the Grand Lodge. You’ll have the prospect to sip on a bloody martini, mingle with fellow thriller lovers, and rub elbows with among the attending authors. Costumes are inspired however actually not required—though my pricey colleague, Fletcher Hughes, shall be going all out as Sherlock Holmes. He’ll be the one greeting you on the door together with your tickets and competition itinerary in hand.
· Writer Panels shall be held at The Secret Bookcase and the Redwood Grove Library. I urge you to carve out further time to discover our bookstore. Every room of our English property is themed after one of many Nice Dame of Thriller’s iconic works. You may cozy up within the Sitting Room, modeled after Miss Marple’s cottage in St. Mary Mead, with a sizzling cup of tea and a freshly baked scone, or dive into the Parlor’s art-deco tribute to Hercule Poirot, the place you’ll discover an intensive assortment of true crime and noir novels. Don’t neglect to take a stroll by means of our sun-drenched terrace and gardens—and, in fact, discover the key bookcase that hides an important clue to the thriller you’ll be fixing round city.
· All through the village, you’ll discover a killer lineup of occasions, from interactive mysteries to decadent thriller dinners, murderous mixology at State of Thoughts Public Home, creator signings, cozy cooking demos, and a lot extra. I don’t wish to give an excessive amount of away, however let’s simply say…homicide win poor health be heart stage, albeit fictionally talking.
We’ve additionally cooked up a number of surprises, however I received’t spoil the enjoyable simply but! Relaxation assured, each twist and switch has been deliberate with you, our thriller lover, in thoughts.
When you have any particular lodging or dietary restrictions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. In spite of everything, we wish your expertise to be lethal good.
Yours in crime,
Annie Murray
The Secret Bookcase
Redwood Grove, California
You may click on right here to buy this e book from Amazon.
To enter to win copies of The Physique within the Bookstore and A Homicide on the Motion pictures, merely electronic mail KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by changing the [dot] with a interval, and with the topic line “secret bookcase” or touch upon this text. A winner shall be chosen September 28, 2024. U.S. residents solely, and also you have to be 18 or older to enter. If coming into through electronic mail please embrace your mailing handle in case you win. You may learn our privateness assertion right here should you like.
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Disclosure: This put up incorporates hyperlinks to an associates program, for which we obtain a number of cents should you make purchases. KRL additionally receives free copies of many of the books that it evaluations, which are offered in alternate for an sincere assessment of the e book.