Devi Nair
Edition: 📚 Read as a book 📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx.) 🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter ARC provided by NetGalley 📅 Published: January 23, 2026 Genre: Cozy Mystery
Murder by the Book is an intriguing concept: four amateur sleuths, one bookshop murder, and a puzzle laid out for them by the deceased manager. In theory, it’s a perfect setup for a cozy, page-turning mystery. And the actual unraveling of the murder? Solid. The clues are clever, and the resolution itself is satisfying.
Where the book falters for me is in the execution. Told from four different perspectives, each member narrating their side of the investigation, the story loses some of the intimacy and suspense that comes from following a single sleuth. Instead of building a connection with one character, I was bouncing between four different viewpoints, and it got confusing. By the end, I also struggled with the motive behind the murder; it didn’t resonate, and left me feeling slightly disconnected from the emotional stakes.
Overall, it was a decent read. If you love puzzles and classic cozy tropes, you might enjoy the ride. For me, though, it wasn’t compelling enough to return for the rest of the series.
Would I recommend it? The mystery itself is fun and clever, but the multiple perspectives diluted the connection I crave in cozy mysteries. A good one-off read, but I won’t be following this series.
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.
Edition: 📚 Read as a book 📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx.) 🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter ARC provided by NetGalley 📅 Published: January 23, 2026 Genre: Cozy Mystery
Murder by the Book is an intriguing concept: four amateur sleuths, one bookshop murder, and a puzzle laid out for them by the deceased manager. In theory, it’s a perfect setup for a cozy, page-turning mystery. And the actual unraveling of the murder? Solid. The clues are clever, and the resolution itself is satisfying.
Where the book falters for me is in the execution. Told from four different perspectives, each member narrating their side of the investigation, the story loses some of the intimacy and suspense that comes from following a single sleuth. Instead of building a connection with one character, I was bouncing between four different viewpoints, and it got confusing. By the end, I also struggled with the motive behind the murder; it didn’t resonate, and left me feeling slightly disconnected from the emotional stakes.
Overall, it was a decent read. If you love puzzles and classic cozy tropes, you might enjoy the ride. For me, though, it wasn’t compelling enough to return for the rest of the series.
Would I recommend it? The mystery itself is fun and clever, but the multiple perspectives diluted the connection I crave in cozy mysteries. A good one-off read, but I won’t be following this series.
Originally posted at www.viewsshewrites.com.