Devi Nair
đ§ Listened in audio đ˘ Narrated by Ellen Quay âą Duration: 9 hours đˇď¸ Publisher: Storm Publishing đ Published: 20 January 2026 đ˘ ARC provided by NetGalley
So, I did something this time that I rarely do usually! I ended up reading A Very Novel Murder twice, in a time span of a few weeks, and that second read made all the difference.
The first time around, this book felt like a slightly awkward series opener. While itâs marketed as the start of the Novel Detectives Mystery series, it clearly builds on characters, relationships, and history from The Secret Bookcase Mysteries. Reading it without that context left me feeling like Iâd missed a few important emotional beats, especially when it came to Annie, Fletcher, and their established dynamics.
So I went back and read the entire previous series first, and on the second read, this book clicked into place beautifully. The relationships made sense, the character growth felt earned, and the decision to open a detective agency felt like a natural evolution rather than a sudden leap. Annie stepping fully into the role of âofficial sleuthâ is far more satisfying when youâve seen how much amateur investigating led her here. Listening to this one in audio format brought out a new warmth, too. Ellen Quayâs narration gives the characters texture and tone that adds to the Redwood Grove charm.
The mystery itself remains a steady, engaging cozy with good pacing and a solid unraveling of clues. It didnât suddenly become edge-of-your-seat suspense, but it did become more emotionally rewarding. This time, instead of feeling neutral about where the series was heading, I found myself genuinely curious to see how the characters, and the agency, continue to grow.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, but only after reading the earlier series. Without that background, you might miss some of the emotional layering that gives this one its heart. If youâve followed Annieâs journey from the beginning, this is a charming continuation youâll appreciate even more.
First impressions vs. re-reads: do they change your rating? Sometimes a second look flips the whole narrative. Have you ever revisited a book that clicked better after reading its earlier stories?
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.
đ§ Listened in audio đ˘ Narrated by Ellen Quay âą Duration: 9 hours đˇď¸ Publisher: Storm Publishing đ Published: 20 January 2026 đ˘ ARC provided by NetGalley
So, I did something this time that I rarely do usually! I ended up reading A Very Novel Murder twice, in a time span of a few weeks, and that second read made all the difference.
The first time around, this book felt like a slightly awkward series opener. While itâs marketed as the start of the Novel Detectives Mystery series, it clearly builds on characters, relationships, and history from The Secret Bookcase Mysteries. Reading it without that context left me feeling like Iâd missed a few important emotional beats, especially when it came to Annie, Fletcher, and their established dynamics.
So I went back and read the entire previous series first, and on the second read, this book clicked into place beautifully. The relationships made sense, the character growth felt earned, and the decision to open a detective agency felt like a natural evolution rather than a sudden leap. Annie stepping fully into the role of âofficial sleuthâ is far more satisfying when youâve seen how much amateur investigating led her here. Listening to this one in audio format brought out a new warmth, too. Ellen Quayâs narration gives the characters texture and tone that adds to the Redwood Grove charm.
The mystery itself remains a steady, engaging cozy with good pacing and a solid unraveling of clues. It didnât suddenly become edge-of-your-seat suspense, but it did become more emotionally rewarding. This time, instead of feeling neutral about where the series was heading, I found myself genuinely curious to see how the characters, and the agency, continue to grow.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, but only after reading the earlier series. Without that background, you might miss some of the emotional layering that gives this one its heart. If youâve followed Annieâs journey from the beginning, this is a charming continuation youâll appreciate even more.
First impressions vs. re-reads: do they change your rating? Sometimes a second look flips the whole narrative. Have you ever revisited a book that clicked better after reading its earlier stories?
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.