Dru’s Short Musing:
When a dead man is found in her theater on opening night, Audrey begins an investigation to save her business.
If you are a movie buff, you will enjoy this evenly paced whodunit with nods to classic movie references throughout. The writing and comfortable tone made this an easy read. The author did a great job in presenting this mystery with enough intrigue and suspense, I could not put this book down. The red herrings within kept me engaged and when I thought I knew who was responsible, those twists and turns pointed me in another direction. Boasting a likeable and yet quirky cast of characters, secrets, and a small-town atmosphere, this was a charming entre into the cozy mystery genre.
Series: A Movie Palace Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 6, 2026
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | Hachette/Running Press
Book Synopsis:
A Hitchcock movie screening turns fatal when a recent transplant to New England discovers a dead body on opening night of the movie palace she’s just inherited. A thrilling first entry in a cozy mystery series by Turner Classic Movies host Alicia Malone.
When Audrey Sullivan moves to Pine Island to take over her family’s theater, the Starlight Movie Palace, following the death of her grandmother, not everyone is thrilled with her arrival. A mysterious note is left at her doorstep telling her to return to L.A. While she’s a little spooked, Audrey is all the more determined to make opening night a success. But when the movie ends and the lights go on, there’s more than popcorn to clean up …
Liam Ross, a wealthy and ruthless real estate developer, is found dead in the theater. The local police insist on shutting down the Starlight until they complete their investigation. With the theater’s future on the line, Audrey takes it upon herself to solve Liam’s murder. But in a town where everyone is a suspect, where does she begin?
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.