Today I’m participating in the Murder By Page One Great Escapes Blog Tour. In this post you’ll find information about the book and author along with my review.
About the book . . .
Murder by Page One (A Peach Coast Library Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing (March 23, 2021)
Print length: 328 pages
Digital ASIN: B08KHPBDBS
Synopsis . . . Marvey, a librarian, has moved from Brooklyn to a quirky small town in Georgia. When she’s not at the library organizing events for readers, she’s handcrafting book-themed jewelry and looking after her cranky cat. At times, her new life in the South still feels strange…and that’s before the discovery of the dead body in the bookstore.
After one of her friends becomes a suspect, Marvey sets out to solve the murder mystery. She even convinces Spence, the wealthy and charming newspaper owner, to help. With his ties to the community, her talents for research, and her fellow librarians’ knowledge, Marvey pursues the truth. But as she gets closer to it, could she be facing a deadly plot twist?
This first in series cozy mystery includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Classic Peach Cobbler.
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My review . . . After accepting the position of director of community engagement for the Peach Coast Library, librarian Marvella (Marvey) Harris trades the hectic pace of Brooklyn, New York for the laid-back lifestyle of Peach Coast, Georgia. Over the past four months, she has made a small circle of loyal friends and savvy co-workers, and discovers her librarian research skills are very effective for investigating the murder her new best friend Jo has been accused of.
When local author Fiona Lyle-Hayes is found in a pool of blood at To Be Read Bookstore before she is to sign copies of her debut novel, the police zero in on the store's owner, Jo Gomez as their main suspect. Jo and Fiona had had a minor disagreement shortly before the event began, but it hardly rose to the level of such a drastic conclusion. Still, the police are intent on quickly closing the case against Jo on the flimsiest of evidence.
Putting her best library research skills to the test, Marvey is determined to find out who framed her friend Jo for the crime and why Fiona was killed. Is this a case of revenge, jealousy, or rivalry--or something else? As Marvey asks questions and gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in the line of danger. She experiences several minor, though unusual accidents that leave her wondering if she can reveal the identity of the killer before becoming a victim herself.
Set in a quaint small Southern town, Murder By Page One introduces a spunky sleuth and a community that takes pride in its traditions, gossip, library, bookstore, and coffee shop. Protagonist Marvey is friendly, talented, and resourceful; and the cast of Peach Coast residents she interacts with is a good balance of quirky, eccentric, and contemporary folks And when she's not recommending books to patrons, planning and hosting library events, and increasing the library's reach by signing up more townspeople for library cards, Marvey is learning the local customs and phrases.
The plot features a pleasing mix of red herrings and unexpected developments, and the setting includes the type of establishments; namely, a bookstore and library, that enthralls cozy mystery lovers. The cultural clash between Marvey's direct approach to matters and the more subtle style of the town's residents adds an entertaining aspect to the story. All of these features make Murder By Page One a delightful start to the Peach Coast Library mystery series and a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre.
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About the author . . . Olivia Matthews is the cozy mystery pseudonym for Patricia Sargeant, a national best-selling, award-winning author.
Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews.
Author links . . .
Website: https://PatriciaSargeant.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPatriciaSargeant.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksbyPatricia
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/olivia-matthews
Purchase links . . . Amazon – Hallmark Publishing – Apple – Barnes & Noble – Bookshop – Fantastic Fiction – Kobo
Tour Participants . . .
March 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
March 18 – A Wytch’s Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 18 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
March 18 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – I’m All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
March 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 19 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 19 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
March 19 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT
March 19 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
March 19 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
March 19 – I Read What You Write – REVIEW
March 20 – Literary Gold – CHARACTER GUEST POST
March 20 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
March 20 – Baroness’ Book Trove – REVIEW
March 20 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 20 – Author Elena Taylor’s Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
March 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – The Book Diva’s Reads – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
March 21 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW
March 22 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST
March 22 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
March 22 – Reading Reality – REVIEW
March 22 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
March 22 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
March 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
This Blog Tour and Review post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to post a review of Murder by Page One: A Peach Coast Library Mystery. I appreciate your hosting the story.
ReplyDeleteMy absolute pleasure! I really connected with Marvey--we are both former NYPL librarians and NYU alumnae.
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