Madrigals and Mayhem is the fourth Cambridge Bookshop cozy by Elizabeth Penney. Released 26th Nov 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback (library), audio, and ebook formats. Regular retail paperback due out from the same publisher in Feb 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
This is
a fun and engaging bookstore cozy set in Cambridge (England). This installment
follows on from the earlier books, though it can be read as a standalone with the understanding that some character development and interrelationships will be slightly spoiled if read out of order. The characters are a mix of well rendered (protagonist Molly) and quirkily outlandish (most of the secondary characters). Some of the plot developments in the
early part of the book were a bit over-the-top, but probably not too outlandish
given the genre setting and characters.
The book's admittedly
formulaic, but it is quite well written and fun
and full of the whimsical amateur cozy vibe which keeps readers of the
genre ticking over the pages. Molly's enthusiasm and honesty are appealing and well done. There were a few
twists on the way, and cozy readers will enjoy the ending. There are tie-ins and title name-drops to antique toys and books, and readers who enjoy those hobbies will find a lot to like here.
Four stars, entertaining and full of whimsy. Fans of Ellie Alexander, Kate Carlisle, Laura Child, et. al. will be right at home. With four books extant in the series, and a fifth due out 4th quarter 2025, this would also make a nice binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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