Publishable By Death (St. Marins Cozy Mystery #1) by A.C.F. Bookens

Publishable By Death (St. Marins Cozy Mystery #1) Reviews

• 
  Louie the Mustache Matos

  Publishable by Death is the second book that I have read by A. C. F. Bookens, and I loved this one. Clearly, Bookens is a bibliophile of the highest order. This novel is evidence of that claim. Here, Bookens begins Harvey Becketts adventures in a new milieu distinct from the original San Francisco storyline that introduced readers to Harvey. Harvey has moved, and opened a bookstore business in St. Marin the likes that I have rarely seen. I would wish to go to her fictional bookstore with space to lounge and snack, a pet-friendly place your dog is welcomed. So what if occasionally there is a murder in the back room or the backyard. So what that the lead reporter is a major witch with a b. (It is a cozy, so no swearing allowed.) This is among the best cozy mysteries that I have ever read. It was fun, and quick-paced. I found myself envying Harvey’s circle of friends and her business acumen. I loved this book. I believe most bibliophiles will, too.
• 
  BWT

  DNF 25% No rating.
  
  I'm not going to lie, I picked this up because the MC is 44, a woman, opening a bookstore (my own personal dream), and includes a cozy murder mystery.
  
  On the surface this should work for me, but it's not. I don't know if it's my mood, but the story is annoyingly transparent, somewhat boring, and definitely not grabbing enough of my attention to continue at this point. However, because it could be my mood that's making this a disaster I'll put a pin in it and possibly, maybe, return to it later.
• 
  Shawn Smucker

  The coziest of mysteries. Bookens creates a town we'd all love to live in, characters we want to be our friends, and a mystery that keeps us guessing until the end.
• 
  Heather Legge

  I love a good cozy mystery but sometimes they get predictable and a bit boring. Not so with this one!!! I couldn’t put it down and I literally could not figure out the mystery until it was actually spelled out. That’s a huge win!! The characters are so real, their descriptions so well written, I felt like I was there. I could picture them and picture the small town. This books truly took me to another place and in my opinion, that makes it deserving of 5 full stars! I cannot wait for the next two in the series!!
• 
  Elaine

  FREEBIE
  
  It was ok. I knew who the murderer was before the ending, so no surprise for me. 3☆
• 
  Carin Winkelman

  For a while I had been thinking to give the genre of 'cozy mysteries' a try.
  In theory this book sounded quite lovely: a middle aged bookstore owning amateur sleuth in a quaint town with quaint people. What's not to like?
  
  After reading it however I am glad the book was free on my Kobo. It is just so ... bland. The story, the characters, the mystery, there's just no 'there' there.
  
  Everybody is just so ridiculously nice and helpful it's like even the men are Stepford wives. The main protagonist, who of course has a man's name, cries over everything. She's not even really a sleuth, she's just nosey and at the end does not even solve the crime (a neighbor does). Not that there's a lot of crime solving going on. Things just kind of happen while our protagonist hosts dinner parties, game nights and spring fairs and has incredibly cringy 'humorous' (not!) conversations while eating cinnamon rolls with her cookie cutter friends.
  
  A thing that really irked me was how our 'sleuth' keeps claiming how introverted she is while she is pretty much socializing the whole damn time and is never ever alone and always reaching out to people herself as well. Enjoying books doesn't make you an introvert.
  
  Also, this novel is trying overly hard to tell us how woke and politically correct our protagonist is, a thing that should just be shown, not emphasized by moralistic lecturing to the reader.
  
  Even after all the above I cannot say it's a bad book, it reads easily and I do see the general 'cozyness' of it all, but it's definitely not for me. Two stars.
• 
  Lisa

  In this debut cozy mystery, one of the characters says: "I just want to read books that capture my attention, let me feel like I'm among friends, and give me a chuckle at the sleuth's complete inability to walk away." ACF Bookens has given us that kind of book. Harvey Beckett opens a bookstore in St. Marin's, Maryland, and on opening day, she finds a body in the storeroom. The amateur sleuthing that follows is just what I would expect from a cozy mystery: a cast of unforgettable characters, mishaps, and feeling like the town is a place you know or want to visit. I can't wait to read more of Harvey Beckett's adventures, and I now want to go back and read the prequel that sets up her move from San Francisco to St. Marin's.
  
  I read an advance copy of the book from the author. Review reflects my honest opinion.
• 
  ☼Bookish pam in Virginia☼

  
  I'm interested to see what the next book is like; to see if it's a bit less saccharine and perhaps a bit more believable. As it is PUBLISHABLE BY DEATH is frothy, mind distracting, fun. The author does a good job of fleshing out the community, and one need not worry that there is anything inside that isn't pc. Puppers abound. And the odd cat.
• 
  Geordie

  Harvey Becket is opening up a bookstore/cafe in small-town Maryland, and the culmination of her long-term dream is derailed when a woman is murdered in the back of her store.
  
  I gosh-darn wanted to like this book. The characters are pleasant and well-fleshed out, the writing is good. I really wanted to like it, damn it.
  
  So, problem one with the book, the editing is awful, and sheer nonsense happens constantly, but the writer, editor, beta-readers, etc, never seem to notice. The first (of plenty) examples to come to mind; after the murder, Harvey's best friend finds an umbrella in the store that neither of them recognizes. Harvey wants to show the sheriff, who is LITERALLY JUST OUTSIDE THE STORE, but her friend talks her out of it. The next day she tells the sheriff, who PUTS HIS HANDS ALL OVER THIS PIECE OF EVIDENCE, and tells her that NOT telling him was the right choice, because the killer might have seen him leave the store with it, and realize he had found it. How would the killer not realize that anyway, having left the umbrella behind??? And, if that's so, wouldn't it have been better for the sheriff to take the umbrella away immediately, in the night, instead of later, in broad daylight? And eventually we find that the umbrella was not just left by the killer, it WAS the murder weapon. How can anyone kill somebody with an umbrella? Why did the sheriff not treat it like serious evidence, but just picked it up and said 'eh, probably no fingerprints'??? Hey, guess what. The umbrella is the murder weapon, but it is actually NOT a clue. Because it never becomes relevant to solving the murder. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. The book is just full of poorly thought-out happenings. One of the suspects was widowed in the 1950s. Later, someone mentions that her husband ran a gas-station from 1923 to 1953... Was he thirty years older than her??? Or is she now a hundred and ten??? When a deputy is murdered, Harvey arranges a street fair in her memory. In a single week! And without consulting the deputy's family at all!!
  
  As the book moved on there were two other annoying problems. First, that the book is clogged with friends of Harvey who help her with the mystery. She actually has eight allies throughout the book. EIGHT. Not counting the sheriff (whose warns her not to get involved, while simultaneously feeding her evidence for no logical reason). And two dogs. That is TOO MANY side characters who are not involved in the main plot. Why do you need eight people backing you up on your sleuthing? Second, while the book starts with a nice feel of challenge - can Harvey fit into this little town? can she keep her bookstore running in a harsh economy, with the specter of murder hanging over it? - this eventually disappears in favor of total wish-fulfillment. Everything goes right, business is awesome. and five times a chapter someone comes up and coos over how awesome Harvey is. Ugh. I prefer some stakes, really.
  
  What could have been a slightly saccharine, lop-sidedly edited bit of fun comes to a total crash with the book's awful conclusion. While trying to get clues, Harvey overhears an argument between two people in town. She goes to talk to one of them, who flat out says; "Hey, the person I was arguing with was the killer." WTF? Surely, this is a cunning ruse to trick Harvey into suspecting the wrong person? Nope, it's totally true, and all Harvey's sleuthing becomes pointless as a minor character just up and solves the case for her. Harvey is then confronted by the killer - a cliche I hate, but hey, at least this means Harvey is going to outwit the killer and win out in the end, right? Wrong. Her dog jumps on the killer, and then her love-interest comes to the rescue, and alacazam, the mystery is solved with Harvey doing NOTHING. The book would have ended the same if Harvey had been a dish-towel. There was a constant feel of see-sawing back and forth throughout this book, between serious and goofy, but I was gliding along with good humor until the end which I positively HATE.
  HATE!
  I can't stand a mystery that ends with the main character having no impact on the resolution! Why did I read this book? Nothing that happened was of any relevance between the murder and the murderer being caught. NOTHING. I am actually angry. If someone writes a "mystery" and the solution just happens, regardless of what the main character does, that's not a mystery. Not buying any more by this author, don't encourage anyone else to do so either.
• 
  Dallass

  Give me more!
  
  I bought this on a whim, and for 99¢, I wasn’t expecting much. However, this book really surprised me. The main character, Harvey, is just about to open her new independent bookstore when a victim has audacity to be murdered in her back room. How rude!
  
  But, Harvey just can’t let it go, and so begins this delightful cosy mystery that revolves around the running of the bookstore. We learn more about the characters, and the history of the old gas station that Harvey,and her friend Marti, have converted into her dream shop - although the history of the building has some darker parts that make for uncomfortable feelings.
  
  This was well written, well paced, and the characters were not just stereotypical cookie cutter characters that are all alike. The murder mystery itself was not your typical fare, and the motive, well, lets just say that it wasn’t what I thought it would be. If I had any complaints it would be the small police presence throughout, but perhaps that will improve in subsequent books.
  
  A fun read for anyone, especially for those who have worked in a bookstore, or wanted to work in a bookstore.
  
  4 stars ⭐️
• 
  QNPoohBear

  Kindle freebie. All opinions expressed in this review are all my own and not affected by the giveaway.
  
  Warning #1: This book is very modern and timely. It deals with the tough topic of racism past and present and all that entails. There's one same sex couple. If all that bothers you, don't read this book!
  
  Warning #2:
  Trigger warning for people who lived in the South in the Jim Crow era or who had family that did or might be upset by the things that happened at that time. You have been warned... MAJOR plot spoiler ahead This book contains a story of a garage that was featured in the Green Book for Black motorists to find safe places to stay for a night. The garage owner, a black man, was married to a white woman and killed by the KKK.
  
  Harvey, a slightly plump 44-year-old recent divorcee, is opening a book shop in quaint St. Marin's, Maryland. She's excited and nervous for opening day. She's plunked all her savings as well as her best friend Mart's money into this adventure and she's determined it will be a success. If reporter, Lucia Stevensmith has anything to say about it, Harvey's shop is not at all what it needs to be and will be a failure. Everyone says to ignore Lucia because she always rubs people the wrong way but it's especially hard for Harvey to ignore Lucia when the woman turns up dead in Harvey's shop storeroom just minutes before opening day! Sheriff Mason and Deputy Williams are on the case and opening day can go forward as planned but being nosey and a crime fiction fan, Harvey thinks maybe she can figure out some clues the police can't. Her snooping puts her in danger which has some benefits, including walks home with handsome mechanic Daniel Galena and his canine pal Taco. It's love at first sniff for Taco and Harvey's rescue hound Mayhem. Will it be the same for Harvey and Daniel? First she has to survive running a brand new shop, her friends meddling and solve a murder! Can she figure out who the killer is before it's too late?
  
  I loved the idea of this mystery. Who doesn't love bookshops? I also love dogs so this sounded like a win-win for me! However, I found the writing really bland and simplistic. The author is a lazy writer who feels the need to describe every character by their race. Seriously? That's not only lazy, it's rude. How do you know a person's race? (Someone actually tells Harvey that). I loved the dogs and the shop/café more than the plot. The mystery was good but ended up dark. I thought I knew who the murderer was but then I thought it couldn't be that person and turned my attention to someone else. I was right the first time. I stayed up late to finish it and see what happened.
  
  I wanted to love Harvey but we just didn't click for some reason. Maybe it's because she's had a cat longer than a dog so she hasn't become a full on dog mom yet? Maybe it's because we don't read the same books? Or maybe it's because she's nosey and doesn't have a good reason to investigate. I adored Mayhem, her Black Mouth Cur puppy. Mayhem is an adorable bundle of energy who loves to cuddle up on the cozy dog beds in the shop with her best new pal Taco. Aslan, the cat, is more snooty and wary of the puppy. He's overfed and super spoiled.
  
  The secondary characters don't really stand out but I enjoyed them for the most part. Mart, Harvey's best friend, is a wine consultant and an extrovert. She's fun and crazy and says things Harvey, as an introvert, never would. Mart sets herself up as matchmaker for Harvey and Daniel. Rocky, the shop's only employee, runs the café selling her mother's amazing baked goods. She's fun, eager to please and easy going. Her Mama shows her love with food. Woody, the town woodworker, is as true a native St. Marin son and neighbor as ever lived. I don't need to know he's a white man of about 70 though. Daniel Galena, from the garage up the street, is apparently as handsome as he is kind. There's an instant attraction between the two and the romance progresses pretty quickly. Daniel is a southern gentleman, protective and caring. He's a doting dog dad to Taco, the Bassett Hound. Taco is even more adorable than Mayhem. He's lazy and goofy. It took Harvey and Daniel long enough to put their lovable hounds to good use. Cate, an artist, and her husband Lucas, director of the Maritime Museum, are a great couple but way too extroverted and friendly for my taste. Why isn't Harvey more suspicious? I'm sure Lucia panned the museum and Cate's art. I don't trust friendly people but they do have a mini-Schnauzer, Sasquatch, so they must be good people. Marcus, a young skateboarding enthusiast and major bookworm, is a good kid but what happened to him? Why is he hanging out outside the shop or inside doing odd jobs for Harvey? Why isn't he in college where everyone thought he was supposed to be. Why did he use two rolls of paper towels in the shop bathroom? Walter and Stephen, Harvey's friends from San Francisco are a hoot. They're a stereotypical gay couple and serve as the sidekicks to Mart when looking after Harvey and teasing her about Daniel.
  
  Lucia, the victim, was about as nasty as they come. She purposefully wrote provoking stories to get readers' attention. She didn't care that she was downright rude in some cases and incredibly wrong and racist in others. If it brought attention to her work, she was all for it. In her mind there's no such thing as bad publicity. Although she didn't deserve to be murdered, she won't be mourned by the majority of the townspeople or readers.
  
  Sheriff Mason, a Black man, knows how to do his job. He's intelligent and wise. Mason has a zero tolerance policy for racist or hate speech or acts of any kind. ZERO! He's well aware of what his family went through in the past and is trying his hardest to make sure that will never happen again. With a competent and intelligent female deputy, Deputy Williams, Mason can solve the case. I like them both and appreciate the good cop portrayal. Mason warns Harvey off investigating because it's dangerous and he's right to do so.
  
  There are three suspects: Elle Heron, a farmer who runs a farm stand near Harvey's shop. Apparently she's a force to be reckoned with and can be rather snippy at times. I didn't get that impression and I rather liked her. She was friendly and helpful every time Harvey spoke with her. I hope she's not a murderer. Max Davies, owner of the pseudo-French restaurant Chez Cuisine, is a better choice. He's argumentative, had a huge beef with Lucia and seems suspicious to me for trying to warn Daniel off Harvey. What's up with that? If your escargot is chewy, ask the reviewer what you can do that would make it tastier for their palate. Ask diners what they think and adjust accordingly, don't get angry and kill the reviewer. Divina Stevensmith, Lucia's mother, is the third suspect. She's an incredibly talented paper artist and rather quirky. Why is she trying to get into Harvey's storeroom when they first meet? Why does she disappear when Harvey wants to help her find books? She's rather suspicious but I don't see her killing her own daughter. Why would she do that?
  
  The back of the book includes a list of Harvey and Marcus's favorite books. I haven't read any of them and I'm not too interested in reading even the cozy mysteries. Harvey and I have very different taste in literature. I didn't enjoy this well enough to want to read more of the series.
• 
  Esther Filbrun

  What a great mystery, with a sweet small-town feel! I don’t know how else to describe it. I love mysteries, but I often try to not read too many, because I don’t like having to always stay up at all hours of the night reading because the book is a thriller. Those books have their place, and a very important one in my reading diet, but sometimes I just need a lighter, easier, restful story. And if a mystery can be paired with an interesting and relaxing read, I’m game.
  
  I love books set in smallish towns, where the characters all become good friends and help each other. This one had so many different fun little businesses in it, especially the bookshop, which I fell in love with. I’d love to visit this place if it were real! Besides the setting, the mystery was also well-done. Just enough red herrings to keep us guessing, just enough advances (or not!) to keep the story moving along without getting too bogged down. And the writing style, while not the most amazing I’ve ever seen, was still good.
  
  There were some parts I felt could have been perhaps over-emphasized; racism and different “races” of people (white, African American, Asian, etc…) were a big deal in here, and there were a couple of gay characters. These are, of course, up to the author’s decision to include or not, and I did find the history surrounding the Green Book fascinating. But for my tastes, these did feel somewhat overdone—and for that, I can’t give it a full five-star rating.
  
  If you’re looking for a good cozy mystery, and don’t mind the things mentioned in the last paragraph, check this book out. It’s not a Christian book, but I’m sure some would enjoy it anyway.
  
  I was given a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
• 
  Donna Hartley-Nelson

  I want to move to St Marins!! This book had some secret magic that had me completely lost in the world of st Marins, with the cool people and stories. I am caught up in small town chatter and gossip and mystery solving.
  No dull moments here, I could almost taste the latte and smell the new books.
• 
  Supriya Sudarshan

  Expected a plot with the twist, but the characters were lovable.
• 
  Johanna

  3.5 ⭐️ everything I love in a cosy mystery: bookshops, doggos, small town vibes and a murder, all of which unfolds like a good old episode of Murder She Wrote. I've officially found a new cosy mysteries to enjoy!
• 
  Kathy McC

  Cozy mysteries are my guilty pleasure! This one had a little historic fiction thrown in, hence the four stars.
  It was a great book to read on my lunch hour.
• 
  Karin

  I loved the delightfully drawn characters and felt right at home in St. Marins. Can’t wait for the next one.
• 
  Roxx Tarantini

  Murders, puppies, and coffee . . . the perfect team!
  
  As you settle in to read Publishable by Death you will encounter "your people".   Bookens' characters are amiable and engaging.  The community of St Marin's is a picturesque town that draws you in like one of their own.   That murder comes to this close knit community is almost unthinkable.   And Harvey is determined to help Sheriff Mason solve it.   The history she discovers almost incidentally, adds a depth to the story that makes it hard to put down.   So I didn't.   I read it all in one sitting.  I think you will too!   A truly engaging read, I can't wait for book two!
• 
  Jean

  Thoughtfully Cozy
  
  ACF Bookens' St. Marins series warms my heart. It deals with real-life issues. It also offers the fun of spending time with friendly characters and the twin puzzles of who done-it and what foolhardy act will put Harvey in danger this time. In addition this particular book has a variety of suggestions for what to read next. When you need to immerse yourself in something comfortable and yet thoughtful check into ACF Bookens.
  
• 
  Shelly Mendenhall

  I loved this book! The characters were engaging. The story line provided plenty of description of setting/time/space without dragging on and on. I was captivated to find out who dun it during the entire read and was not disappointed when I got to the end. Bravo! Can't wait for the next books in this series. Well done Ms. Bookens!
• 
  Jess

  Published by Death is the first in the series. Anastasia Lovejoy Beckett otherwise known as Harvey opens a bookstore in an old gas station. An obnoxious reporter, Lucia Stevensmith, interviews Harvey and then turns up dead in Harvey’s store on opening day. Harvey tries to find clues to solve the case and clear her business. This book has interesting characters, good pace and kept me reading til the end. I would definitely recommend it!