Book Review - The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

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Title: The Book Club Murders

Author: Maggie Allswell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 22nd May 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the month: she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens when more murders come to light. Can Judy and her book club take matters into their own hands in a twist no one will see coming? And as the lines between fiction and reality blur, can they catch the murderer with their own killer plot?

An utterly addictive and hilarious new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

I was delighted when I learned that Tracy Bloom had a new book out and was excited to see how her change of genre, and pen name would unfold. 

Well I have to say she is as talented at cozy crime as she is with rom coms based on this book. 

Once I got to grips with the characters, and there are a fair few members of the Serial Killer's Book Club, I was engrossed in this mystery. 

As a group of people that love a whodunnit, they soon found themselves in one of their own making.  At least when Judy comes across a dead body (that was unrelated to her funeral director work), she is adamant that poor Wendy was murdered and not as the police think, a suicide. 

And she and her friends decide they would like to find out more about Wendy and see if they can solve it. But things take some unexpected turns, and two storylines are connected in a way I wouldn't have guessed.  

I really enjoyed getting to know Judy, Sarah, Helen Kerry, Jack and Talisha, and seeing Judy whizz about on her mobility scooter was great fun.  As was deciphering her text messages! 

It was a gripping mystery, I was interested in seeing just what would happen, and there were moments when I laughed out loud. 

And the ending took me a bit by surprise too. I'm already keen to read the next book in this series. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.