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Three Reasons You Should Read This Hallmark Cozy Mystery:
- Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews is a cozy romance with a bookstore twist – with lots of references to books and book covers for literature lovers to enjoy.
- We are given a good cast of potential murderers – and they all have some motive and opportunity – which will keep you guessing until the end.
- Marvey is a great character with such a fun and curious personality, you will love solving crimes with her.
About Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews
Title: Murder by Page One
Author: Olivia Matthews
Series: Peach Coast Library Mysteries #1
Genre: Hallmark Cozy Mystery
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?
My review of Murder by Page One:
Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews pits the librarian and bookseller of a small town against a murder. Marvey the librarian is determined to clear her book-seller friend’s name when a local author turns up dead in her store room during a book signing. The police want to wrap the case up quickly and think she’s the obvious suspect, but they can’t give a motive for why she would have done it.
Marvey digs in and enlists the help of her friends and fellow librarians to help. Throughout her investigation, she finds out that not everyone is what they seem at first, that small town gossip mills are often wrong, and to never rule anyone out at the beginning. I was a little disappointed that the library and research didn’t play into the story too much. They really relied on talking to townspeople at the beginning, and it was a mess of conflicting information for everyone. In the end, a vital piece of research turns the tide though.
The friendships and community (especially the library employees) really stood out in this book. The way everyone banded together to help really showcased how close they had become since Marvey moved into town. It was also a good introduction to the town and its residents. I think there is a lot of potential here for some great mysteries going forward.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
