Not every murder is by the book…As Sugar Springs gears up for its all-class high school reunion, Mississippi bookstore owner Arlo Stanley prepares to launch her largest event: a book-signing with the town’s legendary alum and bestselling author, Wally Harrison. That’s when Wally is discovered dead outside of Arlo’s front door and her best friend is questioned for the crime. When the elderly … crime.
When the elderly ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club start to investigate, Arlo has no choice but to follow behind to keep them out of trouble. Yet with Wally’s reputation, the suspect list only grows longer—his betrayed wife, his disgruntled assistant, even the local man who holds a grudge from a long-ago accident.
Between running interference with the book club and otherwise keeping it all together, Arlo anxiously works to get Chloe out of jail. And amidst it all, her one-time boyfriend-turned-private-eye returns to town, just another distraction while she digs to uncover the truth around Wally’s death and just what Sugar Springs secret could have led to his murder.
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I thought this was a fun and interesting cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. It held my attention from the first page until the last.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Bookstore owner, Arlo never left Sugar Springs, Mississippi, but Wally Harrison did.
It’s class reunion time and the best selling author, Wally, who could be Sugar Springs most famous alum has agreed to return and do a book signing at Arlo’s bookstore. But someone has decided to write “The End” to Wally when he is found dead.
A fun whodunnit with a “cast of characters” to make Sugar Springs a great town to visit. I voluntarily read this ARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a great first in a series book by introducing characters and the town. You do not have to go through 100 pages to find out who died but you do have to try to guess who the villain is. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. Enjoy!
The biggest reason I return to read more books in a cozy mystery series is because of the characters, and Amy Lillard does a wonderful job with writing them in Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder, the first book in the Main Street Book Club Mysteries.
Lillard really shines with Fern, Camille, and Helen, the elderly ladies in the book club that help Arlo investigate. Each one has a distinct personality with fun quirks. I love how Fern seems a bit mean, Camille is very resourceful and I could see her in a spy novel, and Helen is the perfect touch of caring that Arlo needs. And the two animals in the book, the store parrot and Chloe’s cat, add another layer of humor to the book.
The first book in a series can sometimes be awkward while the author works out the flow, and I did find that with Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder. The first fourth of the book had Arlo and Chloe rehashing the same thoughts, but once Chloe got arrested things started to pick up.
I’m not a huge fan of love triangles in a cozy and there seems to be one brewing, but hopefully Arlo picks a beau quickly… we shall see. But this is just a personal preference, may be something you enjoy, and wouldn’t stop me from reading more in the series.
And there were really unbelievable things that happened when it came to Chloe’s treatment as a murder suspect, but since it’s a cozy I was able to overlook this and enjoy the story.
I am looking forward to book two, A Murder Between the Pages, and the further adventures of Arlo and the book club ladies!
Fun new series! Charming characters with a bookshop and cafe setting. A former resident of the town is now a best-selling author and returns to town for a reunion and book signing. Unfortunately, he ends up dead outside of Arlo’s bookshop. Arlo’s best friend and co-owner, Chloe, is the prime suspect. Arlo and her book club ladies as well as her ex-boyfriend, Sam, who has returned to town, set out to clear Chloe. A great new series! I hope to read more in this series and see what happens with Arlo and Sam!
When murder doesn’t stay on the printed page…
I’ve read quite a few of author Amy Lillard’s Amish romances as well as her Amish cozy mystery series, all of which I enjoyed, so when I discovered Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Murder both the author and that catchy title caught my eye.
Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Murder is everything a cozy mystery should be. And it has all of the required elements; a business owner who knows more about murder mysteries than policework, a loyal friend, law enforcement who would prefer to do their job without amateurs endangering themselves, a crazy pet, some quirky older ladies, some possible love interests, more suspects than you can shake a stick at, and, of course, a body.
Amy Lillard has a fun mystery story that could easily be a Hallmark movie. Trust me, I love those movies! It’s a fairly light read and enjoyable. Perfect for a summer day at the beach or curling up under a fuzzy blanket in the winter. You’ll like trying to sort through the suspects and guessing the killer’s identity just as I did.
This book was what most would term a clean read but if you are super strict there are a few words and activities that may bother you a little.
If you are a cozy mystery fan or love southern fiction, check out Can’t Judge A Book By Its Murder from Amy Lillard. It’s the best of both genres…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Arlo and Chloe’s Books & More is set for a book signing for bestselling author Wally Harrison as part of the Tenth Annual All Class Reunion. Then Arlo receives a phone call that will bring that event to a screeching halt. Arlo has been summoned to the store because a dead body has been found on the sidewalk directly in front of the bookstore. The man has been identified as Wally Harrison and the death is classified as suspicious. Suicide? Murder? It looks like Arlo’s best friend and business partner Chloe may be involved.
It isn’t long before the ladies of the Friday Night Book Club decide to start their own investigation. Unable to stop them Arlo finds herself investigating too if only to keep the book club members safe. When Chloe is arrested, Arlo is given ten days to prove someone else did the job or Chloe will be transferred to a bigger jail until her trial. Arlo hopes to get a little help from an old boyfriend who is now a P.I. but he may be working the case for another client. All she knows is Chloe didn’t do it and she is going to make sure the right person is booked for murder.
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Sugar Springs, Mississippi is full of the requisite quirky characters. We are introduced to a fantastic group of core characters in this first Main Street Book Club Mystery. Arlo and Chloe own and operate the bookstore. Arlo takes care of the books and Chloe takes care of the coffee. Chloe is the mother of the deceased Wally Harrison’s son. We also meet Camille, Fern, and Helen, an elderly group of friends and the original members of the Friday Night Book Club. A spunky group of women who are ready for whatever comes their way. Then there is Chief Matthew “Mads” Keller, Officer Jason Rodgers, and Private Investigator Sam Tucker. Sam and Mads both make Arlo’s heart race. I can’t forget Faulkner, the very vocal Amazon parrot that resides at Arlo and Chloe’s Books & More. All the characters nicely fleshed out for the first book in a series but are left with plenty of room to grow as the series continues.
Like most first books in the series, the murder mystery was interesting but not as complex due to the time needed to introduce readers to the characters and setting. That being said there were some nice twists. Chloe does have motive but Arlo quickly finds others with motive too. I was able to solve this one before Arlo and Mads but found myself very entertained from beginning to end.
I love the small-town ways and feeling. The fact that the book clubbers were able to provide the meals for Chloe reminded me of Mayberry from the Andy Griffth Show. Sugar Springs is full of Southern charm and appealing residents.
This series is off to a terrific start. I see a lot of potential for these characters and the mysteries they could get involved in. Can’t wait for book #2.
Bookstore owner Arlo Stanley is preparing for a book signing event with local bestselling author, Wally Harrison when she receives a shocking phone call from the police. Wally has been found dead outside her store. To make matters worse, the police suspect her best friend Chloe is the one responsible for his death. Arlo knows her friend is innocent and with the help of her elderly book club members, she is determined to catch the real killer. Can’t Judge a Book By Its Murder is a wonderful introduction to a new series. I liked the southern small-town setting and the quirky cast of characters. Arlo was a strong, likable main character and I loved her friendship with Chloe and the book club ladies. I enjoy a good love triangle and really look forward to seeing what the author has in store for Arlo and her two potential love interests, Mads and Sam. The mystery was well-plotted and kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this humorous, easy to read cozy. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a very, very limited suspect pool and there was really only one true option for the murderer, despite a really lame attempt to bring in another suspect when the book was almost over. I was like, “Who?” and that thread was just dropped, no investigation or explanation.
There wasn’t enough interaction between the characters for me to care about them, definitely not enough for me to care about the potential love triangle (not my favorite element in a mystery, cozy or otherwise). The posse of older women seemed nice and diverse, but they could have been any age as written. The characters are realistic enough to have issues, a child out of wedlock, infidelity, etc. They aren’t all perfect (as in many cozies) except for the murderer and victim. It’s also nice the main female character isn’t escaping a recent, bad breakup and is starting life over.
There was a bit too much “church” talk for me, however, unlike so many cozy stories I seem to be reading, the main character isn’t religious and we read, more than once, why. We read about more than that more than once. There are several instances of repetition.
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I hadn’t read it (forgot I had it) when I requested the third book. Despite the weak mystery, the read was pleasant enough I am not unhappy to start the third book.
I really wanted to like this book but it just didn’t work for me. However, it had a super cute cover!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/Cb4Hm7ZKAkA
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-cant-judge-a-book-by-its-murder-by-amy-lillard-main-street-book-club-mysteries-1/
This was a nice start to a new cozy mystery series by Amy Lillard. The setting is a small town, Sugar springs, Mississippi. Arlo and Chloe’s bookstore is gearing up for a big all school reunion weekend, including a featured author book signing by former hometown author Wally Harrison.
When Wally is found dead on the street outside of the bookstore, and Chloe is arrested for his murder. Arlo and her book club of 70-somethings are determined to have Chloe set free. I did guess who the culprit was before the end of the book, but the author had a way of keeping the story going that did not disappoint. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun cozy mystery
My thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A small town prepares to welcome one of their own back, a successful author. But all their plans are disrupted when he is found dead outside a book store whose part owner was his high school sweetheart and mother to his nine year old son.
This is the first book in the cozy mystery series, Main Street Book Club Mysteries. I really enjoyed this book and the small town atmosphere with its eclectic characters. The characters were well crafted and engaging with interesting backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses. The storyline flowed easily and quickly. The narrative was told from the heroine’s point of view giving insight into their thoughts, feelings, motivations and actions. The murder mystery was well done with numerous viable suspects, lots of great clues, twists and turns and suspense. It held my interest until the very end. I especially enjoyed the character interactions and dialogue and the hint of possible romance. If you enjoy cozy contemporary murder mysteries with great characters you should like this one.
Good. Loved the book club ladies. Arlo’s two ex’s in town is well… I’m not sure. She seems to want them both or for them to both to want her… I don’t know! Confusing.
When I saw that there was a new series coming out by Amy Lillard I knew I had to have a copy. Her previous series featuring Kappy King was one of my favorites. This one didn’t disappoint me. This series stars Arlo Stanley and her business partner, Chloe Carter. Together they own Arlo and Chloe’s Books & More. Arlo was the books part and Chloe was the coffee bar, cakes, chocolate and gifts. One thing neither of them ever imagined being part of their business was a homicide smack dab on their doorstep. Wally Harrison, a local who left town and made it into the big time as an author was back home and was going to do a signing for Arlo’s store – dying on the sidewalk in front of the window display was never in anybody’s plans. But, there he is, dead and a crowd is growing. The suspect list is not growing – the police focus on Chloe and that gets Arlo to investigate. If she doesn’t, the senior members of the book club will do it themselves and who knows how that might end. Given how good old Wally tom catted around, the list should be getting longer. By the time the police start to remove the body it’s not just Chloe present – add Wally’s arm candy assistant Inna but his equally beautiful wife, Daisy. Did one of them do the deed or are there others who wanted Wally dead?
The small town of Sugar Spring, Mississippi has lots to gossip about now that Wally has come home and died. With the help of her senior citizen book club members Arlo is going to clear Chloe and catch a killer. The various characters are wonderful and Arlo is given a very satisfying mystery to unravel. Added to the mystery is a bit of romance – Arlo has two men in her life. One is Matthew “Mads” Keller, the cop on the case and the other is Sam, her former boyfriend, now a PI. There is a whole lot going on in Sugar Springs and Arlo has a very full plate.
“Can’t Judge a Book By Its Murder” the first book in the “Main Street Book Club” mystery series by Amy Lillard.
Not every murder is by the book…
As Sugar Springs gears up for its all-class high school reunion, Mississippi bookstore owner Arlo Stanley prepares to launch her largest event: a book-signing with the town’s legendary alum and bestselling author, Wally Harrison. That’s when Wally is discovered dead outside of Arlo’s front door and her best friend is questioned for the crime.
When the elderly ladies of Arlo’s Friday Night Book Club start to investigate, Arlo has no choice but to follow behind to keep them out of trouble. Yet with Wally’s reputation, the suspect list only grows longer—his betrayed wife, his disgruntled assistant, even the local man who holds a grudge from a long-ago accident.
Between running interference with the book club and otherwise keeping it all together, Arlo anxiously works to get Chloe out of jail. And amidst it all, her one-time boyfriend-turned-private-eye returns to town, just another distraction while she digs to uncover the truth around Wally’s death and just what Sugar Springs secret could have led to his murder.
I found the beginning to be a bit slow but I soon got into the story. Being as this is the first in series we need to be introduced to the characters.so this could be why.
The setting of Sugar Springs is wonderful, I always like a small town setting where almost everyone knows one another. Makes for fun and often quirky characters. I liked protagonist Arlo and her best friend Chloe as well as the side characters such as the older, feisty ladies of the book club and lets not forget the Amazon parrot!
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
I requested and received an Advance Readers Copy from Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an enjoyable start to a new series. Book store owner Arlo Stanley and the book club ladies (meddling grannies”) want to figure out who killed their famous hometown author after Chloe, friend and co-owner of the store, is arrested for his murder.
The plot was predictable yet still intriguing enough that I was totally invested in finishing the book. The protagonist is a likable character but the fun characters are the book club ladies.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Can’t Judge a Book by its Murder is a nice cozy mystery with lots of likable characters and wonderful interactions. I loved seeing that this is the start of a series since Ms. Lillard is a favorite author of mine whether I am reading her Amish stories or contemporary ones.
It was easy to be drawn into the story and try to figure out whodunit since there’s an immediate death that we’re greeted with. But is it murder and if so why, and whodunit? The story ebbs and flows with twists and turns that try to throw us off the scent. Arlo, the bookstore owner, wasn’t a favorite character of mine although she was trying to solve the case along with the police and her book club members, one of whom is a private investigator. She and her friends had a lot of access to the police station and never minded speaking their piece. I liked Chloe, her partner and tea aficionado, but she didn’t always seem to be helping herself since she’s the prime suspect, or is she? The older book club members were a hoot and added some levity to the story. Arlo’s ex boyfriends, from her high school days, rounded out the picture along with the deceased and his two love interests.
I loved the small town feel of Sugar Springs, Mississippi and the businesses as well as the setting for the story – a bookstore! Faulkner, Arlo’s bird, always had something to say whether his cage was covered or not. The ending was a little too abrupt for me but I liked how the ending was pulled together even with some loose ends. I look forward to reading more in this series and seeing if either of Arlo’s exes can win her over, or if they even want to!
Ms. Lillard is a go to author for me. I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
I believe Author Amy Lillard is magical to weave the words together of Can’t Judge A Book by its Murder. The characters are phenomenal and the storyline is delightful to read. I’m fascinated with all the different ways this mystery took me through the novel. I highly recommend reading Can’t Judge A Book by its Murder by Author Amy Lillard. This book is one of A Main Street Book Club Mystery and I’m looking forward to the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is one hundred percent my opinion
small-town, small-business, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth
Did he jump or was he pushed? Small town class reunion brings popular author and big time egoist back to the place where he was involved in a fatal auto accident and deserted the mother of his illegitimate child. But he didn’t come alone, his wife and mistress came with him. Local bookstore owner, Arlo, has worries of her own including the fact that the guy dropped down from the roof of her bookstore and landed on the sidewalk right in front! Interesting Southern cozy mystery with interesting characters.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley.
Publish your review!
The author has us on a quest to solve the murder of one of her high school class members, and with an all class reunion in town, it could be anyone.
With chuckles and sleuthing we go about looking who killed Wally, and then trying to get her friend and employee out of jail. We have a bookstore owner, the one who has a body fall out of her building, and her worker and friend accused of the dastardly deed.
We get to see the Book Club go about trying to prove the innocence of their friend.
Surprises here, or maybe not, whom is the murderer? This one will keep you page-turning and guessing!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Poison Pen Press, and was not required to give a positive review.