I'm happy to see that there are already two more books in this series, with another to be released in November. I enjoyed the first very much. It combined the best characteristics of the cozy mystery with what I call "not-so-trashy trashy novels" -- romances with strong heroines who are passionate about their work. In this case, Molly Kimball is passionate about books, having worked as a librarian in her native Vermont. When her mother receives a request from British Aunt Violet to help run the old family bookshop in Cambridge, England, the two leap at the chance, even though Molly's mother has heretofore been silent about her British family.
Molly's delight at being in Cambridge, surrounded by books, is tempered when, during a literary festival, a local woman who is part of the small community around Magpie Lane is found murdered in Violet's back garden. Molly's curiosity and stubborn need to find the truth lead to excitement and, finally, the true killer -- and there's romance as well. Highly recommended. ( )

When American Molly Kimball and her recently widowed British mother move to Cambridge to take over the running of a bookstore that's been in their family for generations, the last thing they expect is to get caught up in a murder investigation. But within days of their arrival, someone dies near the bookstore, and Molly's great aunt, who invited them to England, is the prime suspect. Now, amidst trying to help the bookstore get back on its feet, learning about and meeting members of her previously estranged family, and getting to know the good-looking guy who works next door, Molly is determined to clear her aunt's name.

Overall, the book was decent. The plot drags in some places, and the mystery seems a little watered-down to me, which is certainly not what you want in a book from this genre. I liked most of the characters, though Molly herself is sort of "meh," in my opinion. The bookstore and the community around it were a lot of fun to read about. Aunt Violet's friends are a little on the bizarre side, and I had a difficult time pinning down what age anyone was supposed to be. I can figure it out with some math, but a lot of the characters act similarly to each other, so it was difficult to imagine age differences between some who I assume should have been in different generations.

I don't go into a cozy mystery expecting to figure out whodunit by the end, though that doesn't stop me from speculating. I have a tendency to take things at face value and get too caught up in the red herrings. The resolution to this mystery wasn't a total surprise to me, though, even while I didn't expect it to go that way simply because it felt so bland. The resolution to the mystery and motivation behind it seemed weak, like much more effort went into setting up this location and cast of characters for future stories than into making the mystery interesting. That's my opinion, however, and it's not enough to keep me from being interested in the continuation of this new series, due to how much I liked the setting and characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me a copy of this book to review. ( )

Molly Kimball and her mother Nina get a chance to change their lives when they are invited by Nina's aunt to come help run the family bookshop in Cambridge, England. The recently widowed Nina and the soon-to-be unemployed Molly are both eager for the change.

They arrive and find that Thomas Marlow Manuscripts and Folios is in need of a refresh. It has been in Nina's family for hundreds of years by Nina's Aunt Violet is having problems keeping the business going. Violet secured a loan from another cousin but cousin Clive is not putting pressure on Violet to repay the loan or he'll sell the bookshop to a big box bookstore.

Molly has the idea of playing into the Cambridge book festival by hosting a poetry reading by one of Violet's college classmates who has become a famous poet. In fact, the whole college crew has gotten back together including Mytle who is a near neighbor of the bookstore and who was never much liked by any of the group.

When Myrtle is found dead in the garden during the reading, Violet becomes a prime suspect because she was stabbed with one of Violet's pink knitting needles. But many of the other college friends and some of the various neighbors also have reasons to want Myrtle dead.

Molly is determined to find the killer to clear her great-aunt's name. Along the way she uncovers a number of secrets and even solves a very old murder that had been passed off as a suicide.

This was an entertaining story with an intriguing set of characters. I liked the budding romance with bike shop owner Kieran. I also like Molly's new adopted cat Puck. Fans of cozies will enjoy this story which has it all: great setting, cute pets, and a new romance along with an entertaining mystery. ( )

I loved this cozy mystery in England chock full of books, a cute boy neighbor and a couple of cats. And I didn’t solve the mystery before the reveal so it was a delightful surprise. I am for sure interested in reading the next installment. ( )

The last 6 months since the loss of Derek Kimball have been difficult for his wife, Nina, and daughter Molly. Molly has continued to work as an assistant librarian, but Nina hasn’t written a word of poetry as her husband, a literature professor, was her muse. A letter from Nina’s Aunt Violet has returned the twinkles in her eyes as she asks her daughter if she’d like to move from Vermont to Cambridge, England, and take over the family bookshop. That sparkle begins the adventures of life with Aunt Violet at Thomas Marlowe — Manuscripts & Folios. A homecoming for Nina and for Molly introductions to relatives she’s never met and some she never even knew she had.

I loved this cozy! The storyline weaves relationships between aunt, niece, and great-aunt, mother and daughter, sister and brother, cousins, and friendships, old and new, including a former MI6 agent. As the history of the bookshop unfolds, it highlights family dynamics. Molly’s social media creation of "Poets in the Wild" glitters as it illuminates British poets and historical places of Cambridge.

The mystery began at a poetry reading in a new event room at the bookshop. The suspect list became even longer with the ease of access with multiple doors to the bookshop and living quarters. As part of Molly’s sleuthing, she reads a woman’s diary. The author used the placement of the diary readings very effectively to reveal further insight into the past.

All who love felines, especially those who have introduced a new arrival to their residence, will enjoy the descriptions of Clarence and Puck and as Clarence adopts one of Puck’s habits at mealtimes. Adding the romantic sparks beginning in Molly’s and Nina’s lives and many possibilities for the next adventures in Cambridge. I can’t wait to read more! ( )