Book Review - Murder by the Book by Maggie Allswell - Blog Tour

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Title: Murder By The Book

Author: Maggie Allswell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 11th November 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

When an author drops dead at a book signing, has someone lost the plot enough to murder? Only Judy and her book club can solve the case!

Judy and her crime-loving book club are excited to be hosting bestselling author Milton Hardcastle at their beloved bookshop to celebrate his new novel. But the party stops dead when fellow author Rosemary is found poisoned in the ladies’ bathroom – just like in Milton’s story. In a case of murder by the book, Judy knows only her crime-loving book club can solve the mystery.

But as they learn more about Rosemary, they discover several people had motive to bring about her final chapter. Was it the subject of Rosemary’s latest book, Lady Derwent, who suspected Rosemary of having an affair with her husband? Or did Milton himself commit the crime to save his flagging career with all the publicity?

No sooner have Judy and her book club drawn up their list of suspects than another body is found in the garden of deadly plants at the local manor. Can Judy find the antidote to this poisonous plot before the killer closes the book on anyone else?

A completely gripping and hilarious new cozy mystery which will have you turning the pages long into the night, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.

It was so good to be back with Judy and the rest of her crime reading book club. It took me a couple of chapters to fully remember who they all were, but that's mainly because I'm reading another series with similar covers and also on it's third book and I'm apparently getting them confused in my mind. 

But once my head caught up to what I was reading, I was absolutely loving this and was really intrigued.  

I've been to a fair few book launches, but thankfully never one where someone is found dead in the toilets, especially not when they were about to launch their own book after the refreshments break.  But that is what happens in this, and Judy and co who organised the launch, know they need to get to the bottom of what happened. 

Rosemary who died didn't seem at all popular, but not necessarily anyone who obviously wanted her to die.  What is rather concerning is that she dies in an absolute mirror image of how the first dead person in Milton's book is murdered, with life copying fiction in a rather concerning manner. 

I was once again by Jack's romantic exploits, or rather his frequent unrequited love of unsuspecting women, but in a really lovely and not creepy way.  He really is like an excitable puppy at times, but he does also offer insight into the groups detecting on occasion.  Plus he's a great baker!  

They have a suspect list that is so long it's ridiculous, but I really wasn't sure which way to lean.  I kept changing my mind frequently, and loved how Talisha is able to get info out of the local police, while also supplying them with ideas they hadn't thought of.  

I was gripped from the start, and really enjoyed everything about this.  I am loving this author's dark side, but also can see the qualities from her romantic pen name in this too, giving a nice bit of humour, and humanity to all the characters too.   I'm already eager to read the next book in the series. 

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