| Title | : | The Bookshop Murder (Flora Steele #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 |
| Publication | : | First published July 26, 2021 |
The young man with the shock of white-blond hair lay spread-eagled on the floor, surrounded by fallen books. His hand reached out to the scattered pages, as though he was trying to tell her something.
But who is he? How did he come to be killed in Flora’s ordinary little bookshop? Flora finds out he was staying at the Priory Hotel, and when the gardener suddenly dies in its beautiful grounds only a few days later, she is certain that something untoward is happening in her quiet village by the sea.
But are the two deaths connected? And is someone at the hotel responsible – the nervous cook, the money-obsessed receptionist, or the formidable manageress?
Determined to save her beloved bookshop’s reputation and solve the murder mystery, Flora enlists the help of handsome and brooding Jack Carrington: crime writer, recluse and her most reliable customer.
As the unlikely duo set about investigating the baffling case, guilty faces greet them at every door. And they soon realise there’s more than one person hiding secrets in Abbeymead…
The start of a brand-new murder mystery series featuring bookshop owner Flora Steele and crime writer Jack Carrington. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will love this perfect cozy murder mystery novel. An utterly addictive story that will have you guessing until the very end.
The Bookshop Murder (Flora Steele #1) Reviews
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
⭐⭐⭐ -- 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** -
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.
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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. -
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. -
This was surprisingly good!
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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. -
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
I'm a bit fussy when it comes to cosy mysteries. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them - if they are done right - but there are so many that are a bit hit or miss for me. So it was with tentative steps I ventured into Abbeymead and THE BOOKSHOP MURDER...and I loved it! I felt like I had stepped back in time to St Mary Mead or even Kembleford, however Flora Steele is a lot younger than Agatha Christie's Miss Marple or that of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown.
The first in a new cosy mystery series set in Abbeymead, Sussex in the 1950's, THE BOOKSHOP MURDER is just that - a murder that takes place in a bookshop! But how? And why? That is the question Flora Steele finds herself asking once the shock of the discovery has worn off.
1955 in Abbeymead, a village in the lush countryside of Sussex, and Flora Steele owns and runs the All's Well bookshop she inherited from her late aunt Violet, as well as a cosy thatched cottage in which she now lives. Having been orphaned relatively young, her father's sister Violet returned from her overseas travel to take little Flora in and raise her as her own. Violet herself had come into an inheritance when Flora was still young and thus using those proceeds to purchase the All's Well and a cottage in Abbeymead. Violet was well-known and well liked within the village so it was no surprise that the little church was bursting at the seams for her funeral when she passed after a two year long battle with inoperable cancer, leaving Flora the bookshop and the cottage.
At 25, Flora had plans to travel the world but when her aunt fell ill, those were shelved for her to remain and take care of her. After she passed, it seemed the least she could do was continue the running of her bookshop as a legacy. And she had a somewhat successful business of regulars perusing and purchasing tomes for their pleasure or, for some, reference. One such customer was a reclusive writer J.A. Carrington who had taken up residence in a dilapidated house some five years earlier. It wasn't until he deigned to visit the little shop to collect an order he had placed that Flora met the man behind the name, known locally as Jack.
It is upon this visit that the mystery begins when Flora descends the cellar steps to collect Jack's order. Upon her reappearance to the counter, she finds him gone only to reappear seconds later with news of a grim discovery. He insists she needs to take a look and there in the rare and second hand books section her aunt had lovingly began, she finds the body of a young man sprawled between the shelves. The police are called at once but the local bobby refers it to Brighton as a suspicious death is outside of his remit. However, the police soon dismiss it as natural causes whilst contact with the deceased's relatives have him repatriated to Australia before Flora can prove otherwise.
It isn't long before the rumour mill has begun with tales of the bookshop being haunted with ghosts and ill presences, deadly poisons and a load of superstitious nonsense somewhat damaging that soon begins to affect her business. With this mind, just as soon as Flora has recovered from the shock, she rides up to Overlay House on her faithful bicycle Betty (cue image of Father Brown on his trusty two wheels) and knocks on the door in a way that Jack would know she means business. Discussing the problem at hand and the likelihood of murder, she enlists Jack's help who acquiesces somewhat reluctantly to help solve the mystery.
The amateur investigation leads the pair to the Priory Hotel, once home to Lord Edward Templeton from a long line of Templetons, before he died leaving no known relatives until a distant cousin from Australia was tracked down. The cousin, Reggie Anderson, had no desire to take on an old rambling manor house and sold it to the current owner Vernon Elliot, a scarecrow of a man. Flora found it interesting to note that the dead man found in her bookshop's name was Kevin Anderson, late nephew of Lord Templeton's distant cousin down under. Was his visit to do with the now hotel? And if so, why had he broken into her little bookshop? Only to die there?
Then they discover a legend that surround the old manor house known locally to villagers though none can really attest to its validity. Still with the legend in mind, Flora and Jack dig deeper to uncover its truth...or untruth as the case may be. Either way, someone appears to believe in its legitimacy, a powerful motive for murder should it be true. And then despite finding little to go on, they are attacked one early evening by a crossbow which is soon followed by another death, once again seemingly a natural one. But was it really? Is there any truth behind the legend? And can Flora and Jack unravel the mystery before they too fall foul of a murderer?
THE BOOKSHOP MURDER is a quick and enjoyable read that was good fun and leisurely paced. It was easily read in just over 5 hours and is definitely one of the best cosies I have read, having enjoyed my time in Abbeymead as well as with Flora and Jack who are equally likeable.
The plot itself, as well as the characters, give a certain nod to Enid Blyton as well as a touch of Agatha Christie. In the midst of crime thrillers that flood the market today, and even some that consider themselves cosies, wrought with language and sexual themes I feel doesn't belong in this genre, it is a refreshing change to go back in time to a cleaner, simple outlook on life as it were. I love my thrillers and get my fair share of the abovementioned themes which have their place but in cosies I like to step back in time to something different and refreshing.
A fantastic start to a promising new cosy series, THE BOOKSHOP MURDER is an intriguing mystery rife with twists and village village gossip. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters therein. Flora and Jack made a delightful team as they worked their way logically, even illogically at times, through their ensuing theories. The ending is fraught with tension and, for me, reminiscent of Father Brown though it worked well in this particularly little mystery.
Thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery and the beginning of a promising new series, THE BOOKSHOP MURDER is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Frances Evesham, Midsomer Murders and Father Brown.
I would like to thank #MerrynAllingham, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBookshopMurder in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at
https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/. -
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 -
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!! -
The Bookshop Murder is the first instalment in the Flora Steele Mystery series set in the picturesque village of Abbeymead, Sussex in 1955. Flora Steele was raised in the sleepy village of Abbeymead after her parents passed away in a car crash when she was only 6 and she became an orphan. Her compassionate and beloved Aunt Violet owned a bookshop in the village known as All’s Well; Flora took a keen interest in the business and began working there when she was young. Now 25-year-old Flora has inherited the shop after Violet’s death after a 3-year struggle with illness. She has dreams of travelling but the bookshop is much too special to her to let it go yet and she adores the cottage she was left so her plans are put on the back burner. For now, she is satisfied with traversing the globe vicariously through stories. One morning reclusive crime writer Jack Carrington visits the shop to collects some books he ordered and discovers a dead body at the back near a broken window. Even though the 21-year-old deceased, Kevin Anderson, had seemingly broken into the shop but not stolen anything, the police dismiss it as a naturally occurring death.
But Flora isn't so quick to believe that a healthy young man would just suddenly drop dead, and when the shop starts to lose business due to rumours and gossip about dark and ghostly presences within, she decides to take action to investigate. Anderson, an Australian, turns out to be the nephew of the owner of The Priory hotel who then sold it on to current owner Vernon Elliot. She convinces Jack to help her investigate and they run across a local legend about possible buried treasure hidden in the hotel grounds. They end up in some precarious and perilous situations and one of the hotel’s gardeners drops dead while tending to the shrubbery. Can Flora and Jack find out the truth about what happened and restore the business to its full glory? This is a compelling, captivating and entertaining cosy mystery with a great mix of intriguing mystery, local legend and lighthearted frolicking, all set in a resort town by the sea. There are plenty of twists and turns, a plethora of suspects and motives, and a superb protagonist. Flora is feisty and intelligent and the dynamic between her and Jack is a solid and interesting one. Highly recommended. -
In this book we meet Flora Steele a young bookshop owner who dreams of being somewhere else other than in Abbeymead. The death of a stranger in the bookshop shocks the village, but the cause of death doesn't sit well with Flora. She enlists the help from a crime writer recluse called Jack Carrington. The two of them set out to find out the truth.
So this is my first netgalley read and I really enjoyed it. It was such an easy read and not too heavy, like some dark thrillers can be. I loved the village setting and the build up of the story.
I really liked Flora and Jack as characters, they always bounced off of each other and they were just likeable people. You could slowly see their relationship blooming and I can't wait to see what happens next.
The book gave me Agatha Christie/Poirot vibes the whole way through but I enjoyed that. A classic storyline but i still kept trying to guess how it would end.
I will definitely be reading more books written by this amazing author and would recommend this book to others.
Can't wait to read more about Flora Steele. -
I picked this up since I love books and I thought a mystery around a bookshop should be good.
I enjoyed the setting and the idea of an old bookshop which has been handed down through the family. However, I did not connect with the main character (honestly I found Flora annoying) and I confess I skimmed through much of it. Perhaps it was just a personal reaction so I hope that doesn't prevent others from trying this book out. -
I really enjoyed this first book in the Flora Steele Mystery series set in idyllic village named Abbeymead.
The title and book description piqued my interest as any bookworm loves a bookshop so the fact that a murder takes places in the one in this story, well I had to find out more.
If you love a good old murder mystery without the blood and gore, then this is the perfect read. More so if you like to play detective. I enjoyed the pairing of young Flora who has recently started running the bookshop on her own after her aunt's death and Jack, a recluse crime writer. They seem an unlikely pair but it works really well and I for one hope that Jack will be in future books helping Flora.
The Bookshop Murder is a must for readers who love murder mysteries by the likes of Agatha Christie. An engaging read that will have you hooked from beginning to end! -
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical cosy, from the wonderful sense of place to the dynamic between bookshop owner Flora and author Jack, who team up to solve the mystery. The story kept me guessing and there was plenty of drama on the way. A great start to a new series.
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4.25 stars
One day, a young bookshop owner comes to work only to find a customer waiting for her and a mystery man, dead among her bookshelves. No big deal, right? Just call the cops, and… Nope! Eager for adventure, Flora Steele somehow convinces her customer, writer Jack Carrington, that there is something fishy about this man’s death and decides that they should investigate it, of course! After all, the police seem to think this is an open and close case. Death by natural causes, boom.
I loved this book. Flora is the ultimate amateur sleuth; she is fearless, funny, determined, and defiant. I had a lot of fun trying to solve the mystery with her. The Bookshop Murder is a cozy, heartwarming fast read. It felt like Sooby-doo meets Agatha Raisin. I am here for it!
The main characters are delightful, and Allingham’s depiction of village life was everything I imagined it’d be. The Banter between Flora and Jack was very wholesome. I understand this book is set in the 50s, but I often caught myself forgetting it until I was reminded again. This book is one of those reads that could be set at any time because as it feels timeless, the focus is on the characters and plot; I love mysteries set pre-technology, and even though The Bookshop Murder hit all the spots, I hope to get more of the 50s atmosphere in future books!
I will be checking the next book in the series!
Disclaimer: I first read it as an ARC. In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Merryn Allingham, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Bookshop Murder (A Flora Steele Mystery Book 1). -
*Thank you Bookouture (via Netgalley) for my review copy*
The Bookshop Murder was a great read! The protagonists are both amateur sleuths – a librarian/bookshop owner (Flora) and a crime writer (Jack). They had enough connection with the murder (at Flora’s bookshop) to justify why they would get involved in the investigation, which I always like.
The book set in 1955, and I enjoyed getting a peek at English village life at that time, with the impacts of the war still being felt.
Flora and Jack’s friendship was also fun to see develop, from their first meeting at the start of the book to them starting to admit to a mutual admiration later on. This is the first book in a planned series, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their friendship continues to grow – I’ll definitely be picking up book 2! -
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Bookshop Murder' by Merryn Allingham.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Merryn Allingham, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 26th July 2021.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Flora Steele Mystery' series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover and gripping sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will love this perfect cozy murder mystery novel' . I am a huge fan of Agatha, Faith and Joy so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 30 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Gloucester, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in Gloucester on many occasions including this year so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Flora Steele ad Jack Carrington. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
This book was very well written and I do believe some research went into it as everything linked correctly in with the era it was set in which was 1955. It is a real bug bear for me when I read a historical novel and the author hasn't done their research and gets basic information mixed up so well done Merryn!! It was very well written and I found the synopsis and the cover fitted the storyline perfectly, The descriptions were great and it really felt as if I was in the story.
Well I must say what an explosive start to what promises to be an addictive series!!! The storyline was very interesting and quite fast paced. It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead characters but those surrounding them too. Well I'm extremely happy to say that this was definitely not a problem in this case!!! I absolutely loved the fact that the main character (Flora) owned a Bookshop and a lot of the mystery was surrounded by books too. There is just something about a book where there is a lot of emphasis on books for me and this book was packed with them!! I really enjoyed that it was set in the past and the storyline really suited that. It really is a nice cozy mystery that will keep you guessing throughout. At no point did I suspect who was doing what or why so another huge well done there Merryn!!! I have read many a mystery and find that I am working out the killer/perp quicker every time and there's nothing worse than working out who did what when your need even half way through a book. Not only is this quite a suspense and action filled mystery but there was just the right amount of quirkiness, laughter and attitude to give it a nice mix!!! A fun, addictive, unputdownable cozy crime mystery.
I am really invested in the characters and really enjoyed Flora and Jack and their fantastic and quirky personality!!! In fact all of the characters had their own individual personalities which worked really well with each other. I am definitely looking forward to meeting Flora and Jack again and some more of the villagers. The community was really close knit which is realistic in small communities and I enjoyed getting to know them.
Congratulations Merryn on an absolutely fantastic start to what promises to be an absolutely epic series!! I am really looking forward to see what Flora and Jack get up to next!!!
Overall an addictive perfect mix of mystery, crime, suspense and quirkiness which kept me turning the pages late at night!! An explosive start to a new series!!!
Genres covered in this book include Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Murder Mystery and Crime Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Helena Dixon, Agatha Christie, Dee MacDonald, Fliss Chester and anyone looking for a historic cosy mystery!!
256 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Flora just can't seem to catch a break. After university, Flora yearns to travel and explore with her boyfriend. But her Aunt Violet, who raised Flora after the tragic death of her parents, is diagnosed with cancer, requiring care.
After her death, Flora keeps their bookshop, All's Well, afloat - until a dead body is found.
Rumors start ruining her business - Flora decides to take the matter into her hands after the police rule natural death.
Forcing the town mystery writing recluse, Jack, into helping her, Flora uncovers a family legend containing a priest hole, family jewels and hidden clues. Desperate to save her aunt's business, Flora with Jack's help investigate further, including the sudden death of her good friend's father.
This is a great start to a new mystery series. The ending pulled the plot together, as well as the foundation for a great next book. -
What's not to like about an English village mystery that takes place ten years after World War II and concerns a bookshop? That's what I thought, too, when I picked up Merryn Allingham's very first Flora Steele mystery, The Bookshop Murder. As I began to read and the pages turned, it got even better. Buried treasure? A priest hole? Secret passages? Definitely my cup of tea.
Allingham puts us right in the era with little details like Flora delivering books by bicycle and the fact that meat had come off rationing only the year before and people still felt eating it was a wicked indulgence. Flora's Aunt Violet, who left her the bookshop, lost her fiancé in World War I and raised Flora after a car accident killed her parents. (How many parents have lost their lives due to car accidents in crime fiction I wonder?) The village also plays its part in the story by spreading all sorts of scandalous gossip and whispers of gruesome doings and haunted bookshops. The coup de grâce involves a bus driver in a neighboring village, but I'll let you find out for yourselves what he did.
The mystery is a good one, and so is the setting, so... what about the characters? Any traditional or cozy mystery worth its salt has to have characters that readers can care about. The Bookshop Murder rises to the occasion in this, too. Flora is intelligent, hard-working, and even though she seems to know how to get her own way, her life so far has been one of doing for others and putting her own dreams aside. Once she decides to enlist the help of mystery writer Jack Carrington, the story shifts gears and becomes even more enjoyable to read.
Jack has his own past that readers have to learn about. He's decided to shut himself away in a house outside the village, and he's hired a young boy to deliver food and books so he doesn't have to deal with anyone else. That is until the boy becomes ill and Flora decides a mystery writer is the perfect person to help her solve a crime. Watching the two work together and become used to each other bodes well for future books in the series.
If mysteries reminiscent of Miss Marple and Miss Seeton are your favorites, then by all means get your hands on a copy of Merryn Allingham's The Bookshop Murder. It has all the hallmarks of being the start of a beautiful reading relationship.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) -
It's 1955 in Sussex and as the "All's Well" bookshop opens for the day Flora Steele never expected to find a dead body. Who is this person? In the small village of Abbeymead Flora usually recognizes everyone even if the individual is not a regular customer. The police seem content with an explanation that only creates rumors in the village and rumors become Flora's angst as she loses her customer base. Flora's determination triggers an idea that the village recluse and crime novelist would make the ideal investigative partner. It's simply the best sleuthing pair I've met in a long time!
The character development, the dialogue, the chemistry that the reader felt even before the characters heightened this reader's delight, and the descriptive language that amplified all visual creations during the reading experience."Shuffling through fallen leaves and watching the shifting pattern of light and shade filter through thinning branches, she (Flora) was entranced. The trees all around had lifted their heads to a new warmth, their autumn dress of red and gold glowing in the sun’s afternoon rays, and somewhere a bird sang out its joy at the beauty of the day."
I was entranced. I was entranced from cover-to-cover!
I also loved the investigation without the police presence as it was unique eliminating law enforcement personnel reminders to keep out of the investigation and amateur sleuths constantly defending their actions. The history and mystery also provided distinctive elements giving our sleuths fascinating research to acquire facts that would add pieces to the puzzle to weave into interviews.
Algorithms have received negative reviews in many facets of digital life and the criticism is important for our awareness and correction. However, I'd also like to praise the use of algorithms on Amazon as with use of various browsing categories (e.g. Based on your reading, Inspired by your browsing history, Kindle Unlimited Based on Your Reading, New based on your author interests) I have been introduced to authors/series/titles that I may never have discovered independently. My kudos for the algorithms related to novels led me to "The Bookshop Murder" and I loved it!
Don't miss a visit to Abbeymead! I can't wait to spend more time in this village!! -
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Bookouture.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
A bookshop owner in a quaint English town finds her life change when a body is found murder in her shop. He was found surrounded by books with his hands out like he was trying to tell her something.
But who he was a mystery as he was a stranger in town. Then the gardener at the place he was
staying is then found dad. What is the connection between the two of them or was it just coincident?
Our bookstore owner will find the connection as she will solve the case. A promising new series start with a charming sleuth. -
How could I resist a book with the title 'The Bookshop Murder'?! However, I have to admit that it was the front cover that originally caught my attention as the cobbled hill pictured on the front is Gold Hill (also known as Hovis Hill) in my home town of Shaftesbury. The novel is actually set in Sussex rather than Dorset but although there are mentions of nearby towns, Abbeymead itself is an archetypal English village and the ideal setting for a cosy mystery.
I tend to read darker crime fiction but every so often I enjoy a lighter read and The Bookshop Murder fitted the bill perfectly. Introducing Flora Steele, it's a fabulous introduction to what I hope will be a successful series, particularly if Jack Carrington continues to feature alongside her. A cosy mystery with a period setting is bound to attract comparisons to Agatha Christie and fans of her Tommy and Tuppence characters will find much to enjoy here.
Set in 1955, Flora is the owner of the All's Well bookshop having been left it by her beloved Aunt Violet who also raised her after the tragic death of her parents when she was a young child. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that although she treasures the shop, her loyalty to her aunt and her sense of duty have cost her dearly. Flora is a bright, charismatic young woman who once longed to travel but circumstances have meant she is tied to a business that is barely staying afloat. Then a body is discovered in the bookshop which leads to whispered gossip about strange happenings there and people become reluctant to shop there. Flora realises she has to find out why the healthy young man died so suddenly. The police and pathologist are happy to accept that it was an unlikely heart attack which killed him but Flora isn't so sure and her suspicions are shared by reclusive crime writer, Jack Carrington.
Although this is an intriguing murder mystery, it's also an engaging character driven novel and the two main characters are both likeable people with interesting back stories which meant I was as fascinated by them as I was by the whodunnit. Flora is intuitive and impulsive whereas Jack is more measured and objective. They make a great team and I loved their growing friendship and hints of a romantic spark between them. There are, of course, a number of potential suspects around the village and although it's obvious that the dogged amateur detectives will eventually uncover the truth, it's immensely entertaining following them as they get to that point. There are moments of danger too and though I always knew that things would work out, the change in tension works well and I was glued to the pages waiting to find out what would happen.
The period setting allows for some lovely little details such as Jack's enthusiasm for ham sandwiches, due to meat still being a novelty following years of rationing. It also means Merryn Allingham can explore what postwar life was like, particularly for women; as Flora notes they proved their worth during the war but are now being pushed back into the kitchen and the nursery. Flora wants more and as the ending of the novel suggests, it looks as though she may just get what she wants. More gentle murder mysteries are perennially popular and even though this is just the first Flora Steele case, I'm already willing to state that I would love to see it televised. The Bookshop Murder is a truly captivating cosy mystery and I thoroughly recommend this delightful book. -
It's 1956 and Flora Steele is just opening the bookshop she and her aunt had developed together. Times are hard; England is still trying to recover from World War II. Flora has her own difficult recovery to accomplish too. Her aunt's illness and death had meant that Flora had to delay her dreams to travel and see new places.
Flora's first customer of the day is recluse Jack Carrington who is a man who writes crime novels. This is the first she has seen of him despite him living just outside the village for five years. He usually sends an errand runner to pick up the books he orders. After Flora finds his books in the basement and goes to find him in the quaint old shop, she discovers that he has discovered the body of a young man back in the stacks.
Flora had seen him before when he almost ran her and her bicycle off the road the previous day but has no idea why he would have been in her closed shop and certainly no idea why he might have died there. The police are quick to write the death off as a heart attack which seems unlikely in a twenty-one-year-old and fit looking man. When rumors start to spread that there must be something wrong with her shop and business, which hadn't been brisk. slows to a trickle, Flora decides that her only option is to find out how the young man died and clear the reputation of her shop.
Flora recruits Jack since she believes that a crime writer would be a useful partner in solving a crime. Since Jack is having difficulty with his current book and finds Flora intriguing, he agrees. Their investigation leads to the new hotel in town which used to be a stately home. The dead man was staying there.
The investigation runs into roadblocks, takes strange turns, and turns dangerous when Flora and Jack are shot at with a crossbow and the former gardener also dies in a suspicious accident. Flora and Jack begin to think that the murder has something to do with a legend of buried Tudor treasure.
There are a number of suspects and a number of interesting characters in the story. This is the first book in a series. It was narrated by Charlie Norfolk who did a good job making the various characters unique. -
The Bookshop Murder is the first book in a historical cozy fiction series. In this book we meet Flora Steele a young bookshop owner who dreams of being somewhere else other than in Abbeymead running the book shop that was her Aunt's she''s barely getting through the days until one day, to her surprise, not only does she meet the Famous but reclusive crime writer Jack Carrington but Jack stumbles upon a dead body laying on the floor of her bookshop. When the medical examiner gives the official cause of death it doesn't quite sit right with Flora; Worse than that her shop is going down hill fast as the community catches wind of the murder. Desperate to uncover the truth of how this young man died she enlists the help of the hesitant crime writer, dragging him along as she investigates with the goal of clearing her shops negative image.
The beginning is cute, though the prose is at times a bit clunky the majority of the story is a smooth ride. The plot unfolds at a decent pace, the characters evolving as the story progresses, becoming more loveable as the pages flip by. Though it's not completely historically accurate it is a sweet, cozy, and entertaining read.
In the past I have avoided cozy mysteries such as these in favor of the more hard crime horror cases, mistakenly believing that I'd quickly become bored with a book like this. While I can't honestly say I now prefer this sweet literary trend, I can say without a doubt I have changed my mind and will certainly be waiting for the next book in Merryn Allingham's series.
If cozy mysteries are your thing, this book rates around a 4 out of 5. You won't be disappointed in The Bookshop Murder, of that I am positive.
Thank you to netgalley, publishers, and Merryn Allingham for an advance e-copy of this book for me to read and provide my honest, unprompted opinion's. I'm happy to say this was another good book hitting shelves very soon!
