a month ago
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Posted On: October 8th 2026, 10:25 am
THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP
By: Katherine Reay
Historical Fiction
🔎About the book:
Recently moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown desperately wants to create the kind of idyllic life she’s read about in her favorite mystery novels, with herself as the leading lady. But fitting in proves difficult as Gemma is more adept at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or grasping social niceties. Nevertheless, she finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman recently moved to town herself, and Ursula Beurton, who is not only the village’s best baker but an enigmatic figure who sparks controversy in the small-town gossip network.
As Gemma spends more time with Ursula, she begins to suspect all those novels are affecting her thinking. The oddities she starts to notice must be her imagination because, if not, they point to something far more dangerous than winning the local baking contest or being placed on the church committee. Could her neighbor be a real spy?
🔎My thoughts:
I’m a big Katherine Reay fan (I especially love Dear Mr. Knightley and recommend it to all who will listen). I’ve been anxiously awaiting this new release and was thrilled to receive an ARC.
The Undercover Bookshop is my favorite of hers in a long while. It started a little slow, but soon I was hooked and finished it quickly. A mystery with a hint of danger and a sweet romance; I think this is one you’ll want to add to your TBR stack.
We have the honor of welcoming Katherine to @mychapterhouse tomorrow night to talk about her new release - I can hardly wait!
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
By: Katherine Reay
Historical Fiction
🔎About the book:
Recently moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown desperately wants to create the kind of idyllic life she’s read about in her favorite mystery novels, with herself as the leading lady. But fitting in proves difficult as Gemma is more adept at solving mysteries and setting up the village’s first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or grasping social niceties. Nevertheless, she finds a friend in Peggy, a young woman recently moved to town herself, and Ursula Beurton, who is not only the village’s best baker but an enigmatic figure who sparks controversy in the small-town gossip network.
As Gemma spends more time with Ursula, she begins to suspect all those novels are affecting her thinking. The oddities she starts to notice must be her imagination because, if not, they point to something far more dangerous than winning the local baking contest or being placed on the church committee. Could her neighbor be a real spy?
🔎My thoughts:
I’m a big Katherine Reay fan (I especially love Dear Mr. Knightley and recommend it to all who will listen). I’ve been anxiously awaiting this new release and was thrilled to receive an ARC.
The Undercover Bookshop is my favorite of hers in a long while. It started a little slow, but soon I was hooked and finished it quickly. A mystery with a hint of danger and a sweet romance; I think this is one you’ll want to add to your TBR stack.
We have the honor of welcoming Katherine to @mychapterhouse tomorrow night to talk about her new release - I can hardly wait!
My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Comments (21)
a month agojenhasnoshelfcontrol
I’m about 30% and wanting to DNF because the romance is so cringey, I’m not sure if I will be able to push past it 😬
a month agoamy.morgan.1
Excited for tomorrow night and to read the book. TBR is miles and miles long 😂
a month agoarrow_reads
I’m currently reading, but not sure if I’ll have finished before tomorrow night! Excited to see you Deidre.
a month agorobertsonsreadingrecs
Seeing a lot of good reviews of this. May have to add it to my already way to long tbr.
a month agobooktrovert.in.indiana
Oh man! If I lived closer than 8+ hours, I’d be there tomorrow in a heartbeat.😍
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