A Very Novel Murder
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Fiction/Cozy Mystery
Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan—until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.
June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn't the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.
As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes.
With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case—before she gets into deep water herself?
Perfect for fans of Lauren Elliott, Merryn Allingham and M.C. Beaton, this charming cozy mystery is brimming with small-town secrets and bookish charm that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Ellie Alexander
Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over forty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.
June Munrow has her suspicions about how a young lady in her little town died. She knows the police got this one wrong, that she didn't drown accidently, there's something amiss there and she knows the perfect person to prove that she is right!
A Very Novel Murder is a well crafted cozy mystery that is certain to have you flying through the pages! Annie and her friend Fletcher have just opened their detective agency and they are excited for their first case to come knocking... that is until they hear from June Munrow. She is determined to prove that Kelly Taylor's death was not an accident. She is certain foul play is involved and she wants Annie and Fletcher to find the truth and find justice for Kelly.
It isn't quite the case that Annie had in mind for her first to solve, but she has to start somewhere. As she delves deeper into Kelly's life, the more she realizes this isn't going to be an easy case to solve. Kelly surrounded herself with some unsavory people and one of them knows the truth... Annie just has to figure out who it is!
From beginning to end this one had me completely entranced, just when I thought I had things figured out, Annie would discover something else and I'd be thrown off all over again! I really enjoyed this one, it was the perfect afternoon escape!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley request, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
ARC provided by the publisher, via NetGalley request
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