Book Review: “Puzzles and Premieres” (Magical Mystery Book Club #10) by Elizabeth Pantley

“Puzzles and Premieres” (Magical Mystery Book Club #10) by Elizabeth Pantley (2025)

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction

Page Length: 285 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

This book club does more than read their books – they are absorbed right into the story to become the amateur sleuths! To exit the book and get back home, they need to solve the mystery and reach The End.

In this journey, they travel to a mountaintop ski town to experience the enchanting setting of a famous film festival. They’ll meet movie stars, producers, and directors. They’ll watch a film premiere, go skiing, and eat at fancy restaurants. It’s all very glamorous and exciting – until a famous actress disappears.

The book club is on the case! They discover clues in the most unusual way – by putting together enchanted jigsaw puzzles.

As usual, the club finds plenty of time to enjoy the unique setting of their journey, as they put together the mystery – one puzzle piece at a time.

Review:

If you enjoy stories with:

• A Whodunnit Mystery
• Magical Moments
• Talking Furry Friends
• A Tight-Knit Group of Friends

Then you are sure to indulge in the pages of Puzzle and Premieres. While this is the first book I have read in the series, you do not need to have read the prior books to enjoy this novel. Each installment in the Magical Mystery Book Club series is easy to follow along with and I had no issues jumping right into the club’s latest adventure.

Pantley’s writing is immersive and detailed which makes for a solid world-building in this novel (and is key to any book with lots of fantasy elements). I thought the idea of a cozy mystery book club that literally gets to solve the mystery by being transported into the story was so fun. The reading experience felt so whimsical as you are transported to a snowy small town hosting a film festival. You get to experience the glitz and glamour of film events while also enjoying snow-themed sports and activities. I loved the cozy moments where the book club huddles up to solve the jigsaw puzzles within the inn to gather clues and most of all, enjoy each other’s company. Paige and the club members feel like a tight-knit family rather than just a book club that meets up occasionally.

I also enjoyed the fact that the Inn Paige owns travels with the group and that book club members can stay in their forever book if they choose to. It makes the story feel more intimate and allows the characters to grow with the progression of each mystery they take on. The change of settings allows you to truly get lost within the pages of this cozy series, and I would recommend it to any mystery reader that appreciates a dose of fantasy on top of suspense elements.

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.