Wanted to like it. It's fun to read/listen to books about books but this wasn't one I would continue. The audio wasn't good. ( )

As soon as I read the blurb for Trouble on the Books, I knew I had to read this cozy mystery! Who could resist a cozy that involves a bookshop....in a castle....on an island? Not this reader!

Shelby Cox is taking a break from her editing job to help her Aunt Edie recover from knee replacement surgery. Shelby now owns half of Aunt Edie's business, Bayside Books. They are opening a new location on Blye Island, one of the Thousand Islands. Excited about tourist season and the shop in Blye Castle, Shelby is working to get the shop ready for the first day of tourist season. A difference of opinion with the volunteer coordinator regarding the bookshop's inventory puts a damper on her joy....which later turns into full-blown panic when the woman is found murdered in a grotto on the island. Soon, the local and state police (and even the Coast Guard) are involved in the investigation. The local police think the castle caretaker is the culprit....but Shelby suspects it has something to do with the island's history of smuggling. Can she prove Matthew Kessler didn't kill the cranky volunteer coordinator?

I enjoyed this first book in the new Castle Bookshop cozy series. The setting is awesome! The characters are fun and quirky. I like Shelby as a main character. She admits her faults (not really liking people, etc) and works through them. She's intelligent and determined. The side characters are engaging and likable. This book didn't rush the mystery, giving time to slip in some character development to start the series off right. I found the side plot about Shelby's past and her mother just as interesting as the murder mystery. Add in a sprinkle of romance, and it makes for a nice start to a new cozy series!

I enjoyed this book. I will definitely be reading more of this series!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

Essie Lang is a former mystery bookstore owner and has crafted an entertaining cozy mystery in a setting which is picturesque in my mind as per her descriptions. I moonlighted multiple times over the years and all the positions were fun especially working in a bookstore. To think of Shelby Cox becoming a co-owner of Bayside Books and being the "lead" at the store's second location in the majestic castle on nearby Blye Island sounds quite blissful although I'll only wish for her position on days of smooth waters as she replaces Boston's traffic jams with ferry rides. As Shelby has returned to her hometown of Alexandria Bay, nestled in upstate New York's Thousand Islands region she is renting a houseboat and I can easily picture myself on the houseboat with the cat who has adopted her just as easily as I can envision myself enjoying Minnie Hamilton's houseboat docked in Chilson, Michigan in the "Bookmobile Cat Mystery Series" by Laurie Cass. Hmm. East Coast or Midwest? Decisions, decisions, decisions. Delightfully as a reader I can live on either houseboat and enjoy visits with JT or Eddie.

It's a delightful series opener as there are friendships and romances that can continue to evolve. I'm also curious as to whether JT will ever travel on the ferry to accompany Shelby to work as Eddie enjoys his rides on the bookmobile with Minnie.

As a former copy editor when there are missed edits a part of me cringes particularly when the author gives appreciation to authors, relatives, and beta readers for multiple readings prior to publication. Perhaps next year I'll change my mind but over the years I have continued to lower my ratings by one star for errors that distract my enjoyment as a reader. This is a glaring error example:

Trudy had left a message late the afternoon before that there was a box of new books that needed to go over to the castle. If it wasn't too cumbersome, Shelby would take the box with her. If it needed more muscle, she'd leave it for Cody...She tried lifting it. She could manage.

"How's Edie doing?" she asked Trudy once she'd tried lifting the box and decided to leave it. ( )

Trouble on the Books by Essie Lang
Book #1: Castle Bookshop Mystery Series
Source: Purchase
Rating: 2Ā½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book is the setting. Itā€™s hard to dislike a setting that involves a lovely island locale, and old castle, and a couple bookstores. I wish as much thought and effort had gone into the plot and the characters as was put into the setting. In truth, it is the description of the setting(s) which is very clear and interesting that kept me reading this book more than the plot and characters. I found the plot to be somewhat flat and many of the characters to be unrealistic and ill-defined. In general, cozy mysteries, especially those involving a bookshop keep me hooked and speed-reading, but the failures in the characters and plot had me plodding through this book and it took me an extended amount of time to get through it. With that being said, I always take into account the first-in-a-series status of a book and feel I should give the series, especially one in such a lovely location a second chance. ( )

Shelby Cox's aunt has had a knee replacement and needs help during her recovery so Shelby takes a ,leave of absence from her job and returns to Alexandria Bay to take over the new Book shop opening in Blye Castle. She isn't thrilled with the head of the volunteers, Loreena Swan, but when Shelby finds Loreena dead, she feels a need to find out who is the murderer.

This was the start of a new series, and I love books that are set in libraries or bookstores. I can just see myself there. Having the bookstore in the castle just adds another dimension to the story. I think that the characters were okay but can see where there is room for development. Will look for the next one, hopefully soon. ( )