annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
A Margin for Murder is the 8th cozy bookshop mystery by Lauren Elliott. Released 26th April 2022 by Kensington, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, as are the earlier books in the series.
All of the mysteries in this series are self contained and as such work well enough as standalones. The characters' interrelationships have developed over the course of the books, so there will be some missing backstory, but the author is adept at giving the necessary information, so readers who choose to pick up this one first won't likely experience any problems with keeping the story straight.
For lovers of very light bookstore cozies with romance/drama, it's a good fit.The author is adept and prolific and the book is peppered with background info about bookselling, books, and general insider knowledge about the writing and publishing industry.
All in all, it's a diverting and readable cozy mystery with a whimsical ensemble cast. Some of the plot setups and developments are a bit over the top, but I strongly suspect that's a big part of why bookshop cozies are wildly popular. A strong suspension of disbelief is required. The language and content are chaste and perfectly safe for commute or work reading.
Four stars. The author is a talented and capable storyteller, and almost everyone loves bookstore cozies.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.