This cozy mystery introduces the reader to Addie Greyborne, who left her job at the Boston Public Library upon inheriting the estate of a great aunt she has no recollection of every meeting. She moves to the coastal Massachusetts town of Greyborne Harbor, which was named for ancestors in colonial times. Addie is hoping this fresh start will help her recover from the murder of fiancée and her father’s tragic death in a car accident, both of which were never investigated to Addie’s satisfaction. Soon after Addie arrives in Greyborne Harbor, she decides to open a bookstore, Beyond the Page, but she immediately becomes the victim of a series of break-ins at her imposing Victorian home and the bookstore, plus people begin turning up dead. Addie seemed younger than her thirty-something years as she becomes entangled in unraveling the mysteries along with the chief of police, Marc Chandler, with whom there is sexual tension throughout. A few too many cliches for my liking, but, overall, it was an action-filled plot that kept me reading. ( )

I read a later book in this series in the past and decided to read others in the series.

Addie Greyborne receives an inheritance from an aunt she doesn't remember and decides to open a used bookstore. Addie's background is working with rare books (as did her late father and late husband).

Unfortunately, trouble seems to have followed Addie to her new home. Luckily, her new friend Serena has a brother who's the chief of police. Together, the three of them unravel several seemingly unrelated mysteries. ( )

Three stars is being very generous.
Is this considered a cozy mystery? If so it is my first one, and likely my last.
This book is at least 100 pages too long considering the story. The ending/ explanation is completely far fetched, and worst of all the lead character Addie is the most annoying female lead I have ever read. It almost like a guy wrote this book.
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Cozy mystery set in a fictional New England seaside town. Addison Greyborne returns to the town after inheriting a house. Turns out she is part of the town's founding members. She opens a book store with the stash from the house and immediately comes under attack. Then her new friend is accused of murdering a town leader and her brother, the sheriff who is, of course, rapidly falling in love with Addison, has to investigate. The book history was interesting but the plot was a little transparent.

Addison Greyborne worked at the Boston Public Library until a year ago, but then her life fell apart. Her fiance was murdered and her father died in an accident. While still reeling from the deaths, a relative died and left her money and a house in Greyborne Harbor. She opened her own shop, Beyond the Page Books & Curios, and started trying to piece her life back together again. Someone seems determined to put a damper on her plans. Her shop and home are broken into and a dark car seems to be following her. Just as she makes a new friend, that friend is arrested for killing another local merchant. Addie is determined to clear Serena's name and discover who is behind the break-ins and other bad happenings in Greyborne Harbor.

Murder By the Book is a great start to a new cozy series! I do wish they had chosen a more creative title for the book though. There are SO many mysteries with the same title. It's been done before.....1000 times. The story line is a bit trope-y too.....mysterious, unknown relative leaves money and property to main character and bad things happen. But, I enjoyed the characters and the background theme of a book and curio shop. The story was entertaining and the mystery plot engaging enough to hold my interest. So, I forgive the tropes.....

I wish the small town I live in had a shop like Beyond the Page. I would be there all the time!! :)

A second book in this new series, Prologue to Murder, will be out in 2019. I will definitely read more of this series!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )