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Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray's first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.
June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie's home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor's recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there's more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.
As Annie delves into Kelly's life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly's complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.
With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?
Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton, this charming cozy mystery is brimming with small-town secrets and bookish charm that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
"I love this new series… meticulous plotting, the story is engaging, the mystery intriguing, and the characters memorable… This is a series that I'll look forward to reading with each new release! " NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Ellie Alexander does it again. This first book in the Novel Detective series is such a page turner. I could not stop reading it… Can't wait for the next one." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A clever, twisty mystery that kept me guessing and fully invested in the story… made me forget the world outside for a few hours and left me satisfied and smiling when the final page was turned… a charming, smart, and thoroughly enjoyable read." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved this... Annie and Fletcher make a great detective team, and the bookstore and town of Redwood Grove are as charming as ever." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let go. It reminded me why I fell in love with mysteries as a child — the kind that make you suspect everyone and race toward the reveal." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A delight... full of humor, suspense, and the charming world of Redwood Grove. This cozy mystery will keep you on your toes. Highly recommend!" NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A charming cozy mystery filled with likable characters and enough mystery to make you feel like a professional couch detective. There's twists and turns and a killer that you'll never expect." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"If Ellie Alexander writes it, I'll read it. The mystery had me audibly gasping." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn't completely guess whodunnit until Annie did… I'm thoroughly invested… I'm excited to see where the author takes these endearing characters next! I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!" NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved this!! Can't wait for the next one!" NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Very entertaining… a clever plot, lots of potential suspects [and] a nice twist at the end. Gorgeous food and wonderful friends help the story bounce along… Can I move there right now!" NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"An absolute all-nighter with a shocking ending you would never expect." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I loved this small-town cosy mystery! Wonderful… a fun and twisty story, a very solid mystery all around. I can't wait for more in the series." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The perfect book to cozy up to on a cold winter's day snuggled in a blanket beside a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Such a fun cozy mystery!! …there were twists and turns that kept me on my toes… Annie and Fletcher are appealing sleuths, and the setting of Redwood Grove makes me want to map a route for a visit." NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A well crafted cozy mystery that is certain to have you flying through the pages! …had me completely entranced, just when I thought I had things figured out, Annie would discover something else and I'd be thrown off all over again!" NetGalley review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐