A Novel Detectives Mystery

What readers say

Readers enjoy the Novel Detectives books for their bookish small-town setting, where Annie, Fletcher and their friends run a detective agency out of a Redwood Grove bookstore and lean on classic-mystery know-how. Fans praise the cozy atmosphere and food, likable leads, methodical teamwork, a scene-stealing dog and twists that often surprise, and some call the third book the best yet. Common criticisms are that newcomers miss context from the earlier Secret Bookcase books, slow or wordy openings, a big cast, a running side mystery that pulls focus and the odd guessable culprit, and most reviews so far come from early readers of a new series.

Best for: Readers who want gentle, bookish whodunits with a team of friends and like starting a series near the beginning.

Summary of public reader reviews, updated November 2026.