Ellie Alexander’s A Very Novel Murder is a charming new beginning for Annie Murray and Fletcher Hughes, the bookselling sleuths who now add private investigators to their growing list of occupations. Set in the picturesque small town of Redwood Grove, the novel combines a bookstore, a new detective agency, complicated relationships, suspicious neighbors, and a mysterious death into a classic cozy-mystery package.

The book is the first installment in Alexander’s Novel Detectives Mystery series, but readers should know that it is actually a spin-off of her earlier Secret Bookcase Mysteries. Annie, Fletcher, and many of the supporting characters already have history together. Although a new reader can follow the mystery without having read the earlier series, I think some of the character relationships would have more emotional weight for readers familiar with the previous books.

Their first case comes from June Munrow, who believes the death of her young neighbor, Kelly Taylor, was murder rather than an accident or suicide. Kelly was found drowned in her bathtub after taking sleeping pills, but Annie and Fletcher soon discover that her life was filled with secrets, complicated relationships, and suspicious connections.

I enjoyed Annie and Fletcher as a detective team. Annie’s criminology background gives her a natural interest in solving the case, while Fletcher’s love of Sherlock Holmes adds a fun literary touch. Annie’s relationship with Liam also provides a nice romantic subplot without overwhelming the mystery.

The Redwood Grove setting is another highlight. The bookstore, close-knit community, and colorful supporting characters give the story the warm atmosphere that makes cozy mysteries so appealing. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, though, and readers unfamiliar with Alexander’s Secret Bookcase Mysteries may occasionally feel as if they’ve walked into an established group of friends.

As Annie and Fletcher investigate, they uncover more than just secrets surrounding Kelly’s personal life. Their investigation exposes a drug operation and reveals that several people connected to Kelly have been hiding information. Annie eventually realizes that Kelly’s death was not as straightforward as it first appeared, and the investigation puts Annie herself in danger. I liked that Alexander doesn’t make every suspicious character guilty. In a cozy mystery, it can sometimes feel as though every person the detective interviews is obviously hiding a murder-sized secret. Here, there are several layers to what Annie discovers, including a drug-related operation, which means that not every secret surrounding Kelly necessarily explains her death. The mystery comes together while Alexander also leaves open a secondary thread involving Hal and his possible connection to Agatha Christie, providing an intriguing setup for future books.

Overall, A Very Novel Murder is an enjoyable, bookish cozy mystery with likable characters, a pleasant setting, and enough twists to keep the investigation interesting. It’s a particularly good choice for readers who enjoy small-town mysteries, bookstores, amateur sleuths, and a touch of romance.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Columbia University Press, and author Karima Moyer-Nocci for the advance reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.