Tag: Seabreeze Bookshop

Title: A Vow of Murder
Author: Penny Brooke
Series: A Seabreeze Bookshop ‘Cozy Mystery #7
Location: Somerset Harbor, Massachusetts
Main Character: Rue
Other Characters: Diana, Jeanne Marie, Elliot, Elizabeth, Angela, Mark, Belinda, Sargeant Mott, Andy, Felicia, Clinton
Pets: Golden Retriever named Gatsby & 2 cats, Oliver & Beasley
Rating: 5

A Vow of Murder is the seventh book in the Seabreeze Bookshop Cozy Mystery series, and it certainly lives up to expectations. Ms. Brooke crafts a captivating and engaging story from the very first page.

Rue Collier finds herself entangled in yet another murder mystery when she is invited to a cake tasting, only for one of the wedding guests to end up murdered. With plenty of suspects and unexpected twists, Rue, along with her loyal dog, Gatsby, set out to find a killer.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries featuring well-developed characters, intriguing plots, and a touch of small-town charm, you will love this book. of course, I love Gatsby, the Golden Retriever, who adds a delightful touch to the story. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating mystery filled with twists and turns to catch a killer.

Happy Reading!

Title: A Map of Murder
Author: Penny Brooke
Series: Seabreeze Bookshop Cozy Mystery series #6
Location: Somerset Harbor
Main Character: Rue
Other Characters: Eloise, Greta, Andy, Dennis, Melanie
Pets: Rue’s dog Gatsby and her cats Ollie & Beasley.
Rating: 4

A Map of Murder is a great addition to the Seabreeze Bookshop series. Set in the quaint town of Somerset Harbor, the story revolves around Rue Collier, who partners with the local library to organize a literary scavenger hunt during the Merchants Guild Spring Fling. However, the event takes an unexpeted turn when a body is discovered at the antique shop, and Rue finds herself entangled in a murder investigation.

I really enjoyed the small-town atmosphere of this book and the characters are well developed and interesting. with a plot that keeps you guessing. Rue is a great protaganist and is deteremined to discover the truth behind her friend’s murder. The mystery has enough twists to keep the reader engaged.

Some readers might find the pacing a bit slow in the beginning, and a few secondary characters could have been more developed. Despite these small issues, A Map of Murder is a thoroughly enjoyable read and will appeal to cozy mystery fans.

Overall, this book has an engaging plot with a charming setting, and well-crafted mystery. If you’re looking for a cozy read with a touch of intrigue, this book is definitely worth picking up,

Happy Reading!

• Title: A Photo of Murder
• Author: Penny Brooke
• Series: A Seabreeze Bookshop Cozy Mystery #3
• Genre: Cozy Mystery
• Takes Place: Somerset Harbor, Massachussets
• Main Character: Rue
• Other Characters: Elizabeth, Andy, Marguerite, Heather, Beth, Joe, Max, Brenda, Elise
• Pets: a Golden Retriever name Gatsby, a Cat named Oliver & a Cat named Beasley
• Stars: 4

“I Slept in Room 282 at the Kingfisher Inn.
“And I Lived to Check Out.”

This is the 3rd book in the Seabreeze Bookshop series and it is another quick read and a good little cozy mystery.

It is the off season in Somerset Harbor and Rue is dividing her time between running her Gran’s bookshop & running a local event, Martinis in the Garden. While Rue is busy with her event, her friend Elizabeth is gathering old photos from the families in the area for an exhibit.

It is a busy time and everything is going great until it all comes to a crashing halt when Rue’s friend and owner of the local Inn, Marguerite, is found murdered in the haunted room #282. Between ghostly spirits, and a ghost hunter there is a lot of activity at the Inn which is interfering with the homicide investigation. Rue, being the amateur sleuth that she is, is convinced that the local police are going in the wrong direction to find the murderer so she does her own investigation. Could some old photos hold some clues as to who could have wanted Marguerite dead?

I enjoyed this mystery. There were several possible suspects & it takes the reader on some twists & turns with some surprises until the killer is revealed.

Happy Reading!

• Title: A Murder of Murder
• Author: Penny Brooke
• Series: A Seabreeze Bookshop Cozy Mystery #2
• Genre: Cozy Mystery
• Takes Place:  Somerset Harbor, Massachusettes
• Main Character: Rue
• Other Characters: Andy, Elizabeth, Allie, Brian, Adriana, Rob, Roger, Regina
• Pets: Golden Retriever named Gatsby and a Cat named Oliver
• Stars: 5

“Sometimes in the past lie all the answers to the present.”

After the first book in this series, I almost didn’t read this one but I am so glad I did.

We visit with Rue again and her friend Elizabeth . Elizabeth is working on project and is asking if anyone has any old letters that she can use in her project. Allie, a friend of Rue’s, brings a letter written by her mother before she passed away. When Allie is found dead and it is discovered that she died the same way her mother did, Rue starts to believe that there must be a connection. Could the letter that Allie’s mother wrote hold some answers to this puzzle? When someone else in town dies in the same way, it throws some additional suspects to the mix. Will Rue, amateur sleuth, help her private detective friend find the killer before someone else is killed.

This book was a fast read that kept you guessing through the entire book. I love the twists it takes the reader on while trying to solve a murder. I am so glad I decided to continue with this series and I am looking forward to book 3.

“when you see a bluebird, that means things will be okay.”

Happy Reading!

• Title: A Page Of Murder
• Author: Penny Brooke
• Series: Seabreeze Bookshop Cozy Mystery #1
• Genre: Cozy Mystery
• Takes Place:  Somerset Harbor, Massachusettes
• Main Character: Rue Collier
• Other Characters: Elizabeth, Andy, Jules, Anna, Renee, Rachel
• Pets: a golden Retrieve named Gatsby & a bookshop cat name Oliver
• Stars: 3

“There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away”
Emily Dickinson

In book one of the Seabreeze Bookshop series Rue has moved to Somerset Harbor to take care of her Gran’s bookshop while Gran is traveling in Paris.

Rue is getting settled into her new role as manager of the bookshop, when an old friend comes in. Her friend Anna (who owns the bakery next door) buys a few books but seems uneasy and nervous about something. As Rue is closing up shop and Leaving she sees cop cars parked next door. To her shock, Anna is found murdered shortly after leaving the store. She was stabbed to death.

Could Rue be withholding some evidence as to who may have killed Anna? Could a killing from the past have anything to do with this murder? Could a special recipe be a motive for murder? 

I wish there had been a little bit more of character development. I just didn’t get that cozy feeling that I usually get from a book that makes me want to live in that small town. There are a few suspects for this murder, but I did feel like the killer was obvious from the start. I was hoping I was wrong since it was so obvious. There was an additional twist at the end but it still wasn’t a huge surprise. I liked this book, but I do wish there had been a few more surprises with twists & turns.

“you have to read the whole book to understand the plot.”

Happy Reading

• Title: Secrets in the Bookshop
• Author: Penny Brooke
• Series: Prequel Seabreeze Bookshop #0
• Genre: Cozy Mystery short story
• Takes Place:  Somerset Harbor, Massachusettes
• Main Character: Rue
• Other Characters: Rue’s Gran Linda. Elizabeth
• Pets: a Cockerspaniel named Elsie (Nell)
• Stars: 5

“Long Live the written word”

This is a short story prequel to the Seabreeze Bookshop Series. I received this book free by subscribing to the author’s newsletter. I am givig this review voluntarily and it has nothing to do with receiving it for free. I was not asked to do a review. The only way you can get this book is by subscring to her newsletter. You can also get this book for free (at this time) by clicking on the book photo and going to the “subscribe to Penny Brooke’s newsletter” page.

Rue has come to visit her Gran in Somerset Harbor Massachusettes. Her Gran owns the local bookstore and Rue has a lot of fond memories of visiting her Gran over the years.

There are several little mysteries in this short story. Where did the Cocker Spaniel come from who keeps hanging around the bookstore? What secret is Gran keeping from her granddaughter? What is the importance to Gran’s necklace?

This is a sweet story of the bond between a granddaughter and her Gran. It is a great book to prepare the reader for the journey of this series. I already love the characters and how the granddaughter wants to help her grandmother. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series to learn more about these characters.

“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs”

Happy Reading!