‘A Body at the Book Fair’ by Ellie Alexander

Published by Storm Publishing,
2 June 2025.
ISBN: 978-1-80508992-7 (PB)

Annie Murray runs the Mystery Bookshop in the town of Redwood Grove. Still haunted by the murder of her best friend Scarlet ten years ago, she is now on the brink of launching her own Detective Agency.

She heads for their annual book fair at Santa Clara, looking forward to meeting fellow booklovers.  She also has a secret mission as also there will be the powerful investment firm whom she is certain had a hand in the death of her friend. But before Annie can get close to those she suspects, an industry colleague is murdered. In such a large place, the suspect list is long. High on the list is a celebrity author with a suspicious agenda, a rival with a grudge. 

Partnered by her co-worker, business partner and long-time friend Fletcher Hughes acting as Watson to her Holmes, they set out to find the killer. 

Meanwhile. Hal Christie, the previous owner of the bookshop still clings to his obsession that he is the long-lost son of Agatha Christie. 

Following his retirement from the bookshop Hal has settled with a lovely lady, who unbeknown to him has retained Annie and Fletcher’s services to investigate the possibility that Hal could be Agatha’s son.

So, whilst running the bookshop Annie and Fletcher now have three cases to pursue. Can they solve the death of their colleague?  Will they finally bring Scarlet’s killer to justice? And will Hal finally discover if he is the son of Agatha Christie. 

I have read and enjoyed all the earlier books in this series.  Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Ellie Alexander is the bestselling author of more than forty cozy mystery novels. Her books have been translated into Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Japanese, reaching readers worldwide. She is the founder of the annual Ashland Mystery Festival and a frequent guest at library programs and author events throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, including the popular Northwest Authors series and independent bookshops across the region. A proud Pacific Northwest native, Alexander now lives in Sunnyvale, California.