A Peach Coast Library Mystery: Book 1
Publication Date: March 23, 2021
If you love Hallmark mystery movies, you’ll love this cozy mystery with humor, intrigue, and a librarian amateur sleuth. First in a new series.
Marvey has just 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. Her new life in the South is taking some getting used to…and that’s before the discovery of the dead body in the bookstore.
When one of her friends becomes a suspect, Marvey sets out to solve the murder mystery. She manages to persuade Spence, the wealthy and charming newspaper owner, to help her investigate. With his ties to the community, her talents for research, and her fellow librarians’ knowledge, Marvey closes in on the truth. But could she be facing a deadly plot twist?
MURDER BY PAGE ONE is the first book in the PEACH COAST LIBRARY MYSTERY series and I can’t wait to return to the small town of Peach Coast, Georgia. The hominess and southern gentility were center stage and made me feel like I was there. Getting to know the residents, the businesses, and the lay of the land was comforting. This cozy mystery had amateur sleuths trying to get justice for bookstore owner, Jo, where a murder was committed. All fingers point to Jo, but should they?
Marvey, the recently transplanted New Yorker, works at the library. She and her cat are both homesick but she seems to be making friends and settling in. Spence, is her partner in crime in trying to solve the mystery but is he hoping for more? He grew up there and is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the local newspaper that is owned by his family along with other businesses in town. Who holds a grudge against Fiona, the newly published author who is murdered before the book signing? There’s a lot of small-town drama, sides being chosen, and not a lot of action by the local police.
There is a depth to the characters and we get to know the townspeople a little at a time. There’s a nice flow to the story and a lot of twists and turns as fingers keep getting pointed at various residents. There are secrets, accusations, friends and family, lots of Southern speak and phrases I had never heard before, good food, get-togethers, gossip, clues, suspects, truths, and lies. There is nice closure with a surprise twist at the end. The recipe for peach cobbler, which was an important part of the story, is at the back of the book. It’s a nice addition and the recipe seems so easy, I might have to give it a try.
Ms. Matthews is the mystery pen name of Patricia Sargeant. Both are new to me authors and I plan to add some of their books to my TBR pile.
Olivia Matthews is the cozy mystery pseudonym for Patricia Sargeant, a national best-selling, award-winning author. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal, and RT Book Reviews. For more information about Patricia and her work, visit PatriciaSargeant.com.
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Thank you so much for featuring Murder by Page One on your blog. And thank you for taking the time and trouble to post a review. Very best wishes for continued success with your blog. – Patricia Sargeant / Olivia Matthews
You are most welcome! Best of luck and continued success in all your wonderful books!