A Beyond The Page Bookstore Mystery Book 11
Author: Lauren Elliott
Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
ISBN #: 9781496753342
Kensington Cozies
368 Pages
$8.99; $7.99 Amazon
September 30, 2025
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As bookstore owner Addie Greyborne shares the loving lesson of The Gift of the Magi, the spirit of the season falls prey to a thief and a killer...
There's no place like the seaside Massachusetts town of Greyborne Harbor for the holidays, and there's no better feeling for Addie than donating to the lighthouse museum's Twelve Days of Christmas charity fundraiser. Of the dozen books she'll be offering as prizes from her Beyond the Page Books and Curios shop, the most special volume is a first edition of The Gift of the Magi imported from England -- signed by O. Henry! Addie receives an unexpected Christmas bonus when the book is hand delivered by visiting Detective Inspector Noah Parker, whom she met in England, and has been daydreaming about ever since.
But on the night Addie delivers the book to the museum. someone posing as one of Santa's Little Helpers swipes it -- and the rest of the charity gifts. As if the theft wasn't bad enough, a body is found on the rocks outside the lighthouse, believed to be murdered. Now, it's up to Addie to connect the clues, find stolen goods, and catch a killer -- in order to usher in a Happy New Year...
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After being left at the proverbial altar, Addie Greyborne retreated to England for a year to recoup and decide what to do with her life. She left her bookstore, Beyond the Page Books and Curios, in the capable hands of her manager, Paige. But the year has ended, and Addie has returned home, eager to welcome the upcoming Christmas holiday and Paige's Christmas Day wedding.
Then she receives an unexpected and surprising visit from Detective Inspector Noah Parker, whom she butted heads with during her time in England. She's not going to let him know how this has shaken her, since seeing him again has taken her breath away. But he delivers a special book for her from the owner of the bookshop she worked for there -- a signed edition of The Gift of the Magi -- and she's going to donate it to the local museum for charity.
When she shows up at the museum she meets one of Santa's Elves who seems to be putting the donations into boxes, and tells her to just add her donations to everything else. Barely questioning it, she does so, then discovers later that everything has been stolen, and the elf is nowhere to be found.
To make matters worse, a dead body is found the next day on the cliff by the lighthouse. Who is the man? Is he connected to the burglary? But when it turns out to be someone who's connected to a friend, and local police chief Marc Chandler is removed from the case, she has no help. At least until Noah Parker is temporarily assigned to the murder case. But the DA and the mayor want it solved quickly. With only one suspect in line for it, Addie has to work fast, and behind the scenes. Will she be able to find a killer before her friend is jailed? Or will everything go terribly wrong and she won't be able to help at all...
This is the eleventh book in the series, and I must say that it is my favorite to date. I am glad that I decided to continue reading this series after one book disappointed me (not going to say any more about that!). While I am glad to see Addie back home in Grayborne Harbor, I miss her friends she left behind in England. But she didn't leave all of them -- Detective Inspector Noah Parker is on holiday, and he's helping with the murder case. Her feelings for Noah are confusing, and she wants to see him and not see him, if that makes any sense.
With Marc off the case, everything needs to be hush-hush or both Noah and Marc will permanently lose their jobs, leaving Addie to do as much as she can by herself. She's also trying to manage her store and keep Paige from going crazy with a mother who's turned into a Motherzilla. Paige also needs her help if her wedding is to go off nicely; Addie's in a pickle and knows it.
Looking for clues, she's pretty much on her own and what she can glean from both Marc and Noah, which isn't much. She's positive the suspect is innocent, and trusts her gut instinct, which is more than not right. However, knowing it and proving it are two different things.
The book kept me interested throughout, and I loved the fact it takes place during the Christmas season. (That's just because I love the holiday, myself). Anyway, watching Addie take what she has and put it all together at the end is the best part of the book. This woman is intelligent, unflappable, and able to take care of herself in a pinch. She can also think on her feet. and that's the best kind of amateur sleuth. It makes Ms. Elliott's books are wonderful; with a taut storyline and a climax that's worth waiting for.
I will not say any more about the book in order not to spoil it for anyone (I don't think I've given any spoilers so far!) I will say I loved the intrigue, Addie's actions and her thinking, and the way the book ended. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Lauren Elliott's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/lauren-elliott/
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