Since Alicia Malone is a host on the Turner Classic Movies channel, it seems fitting that she includes her love of movies in her debut novel, Murder at the Movies. The cover of the paperback version that I reviewed has a great drawing of the front of a classic movie theater. It is modern in feeling but draws on the best of the 1930s golden era of mysteries. Not only are there scattered references to classic movies throughout the story, but Audrey Sullivan, the protagonist, moves to a small Maine island to take over her grandmother’s theater.
Liam Ross, whom no one seems to like, is killed during the grand reopening of the Starlight Movie Palace. Audrey’s hopes of making a profit seem to fade when the police insist the theater remained closed. But, since there were only seven islanders in attendance, how long could it take to solve the murder? Right?
The novel is enjoyable. The pace moves steadily enough. Audrey Sullivan is likeable as is her friend, Mia Marallo, who owns the antique store next door to the movie theater. They become close friends in short order.
Life in a Small Town
However, all is not as it seems. The local policewoman, Nora Davis, acts like a small-town cop trying to be a big-city cop, similar to Barney Fife (played by Don Knotts) in the Andy Griffith Show. In fact, Audrey thinks Nora “looked like Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch in The Wizard of Oz, ready to seize some poor, unsuspecting dog.” Mia also has a less than outstanding opinion of Office Davis. “Ignore her. She thinks she’s the reason this island is so safe, but there’s literally zero crime. Mostly, she writes parking tickets for tourists who can’t read the signs.” In other words, the Davis character is stereotypical.
Then there’s Oliver Bailey, a detective, who, mysteriously, just happens to be in town. He becomes involved in detecting the crime and seems to be of higher status than Officer Davis. No reason is given for this; presumably Bailey is with the state police, although no mention is made of that.
Initially, Detective Bailey asks Audrey to keep her eyes and ears open, to talk with people and ask questions casually. However, further into the story, Audrey and Mia find Emma Ross, wife of the murdered man, unconscious in her own home. When the authorities are called in, Bailey’s “normally cheerful face hardened when he saw them.” When Office Davis introduces Mia to Bailey, she disparagingly says, “This is Mia Marallo…Audrey’s little sidekick.” Bailey’s response is, “Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Why am I not surprised?” Sorry, but you can’t have it both ways. Bailey initially asks her to be involved, even if peripherally. He then can’t be annoyed because Audrey accidentally finds the murdered man’s wife unconscious while trying to help.
More Please
Overall, I liked this cozy mystery, originally standoffish islanders and all. Audrey and Mia make a lively, but earnest, addition to the world of mystery-solving duos. I look forward to Mia playing a more decisive role. In this outing, she was present and supportive of Audrey but could have done a tiny bit more in the way of assisting in the detection of Liam Ross’s killer. Another character whom I’d love to see more of is Detective Oliver Bailey. Also, Victor Matthews was a footnote from Audrey’s past life as a publicist in Hollywood’s film industry. What will he be doing in any further additions to the Movie Palace Mystery series? Something nice and juicy, I hope.
I received a free advance uncorrected proof of this book in return for an honest review. This novel will reach bookstore shelves near you sometime in October 2026.
Murder at the Movies: A Movie Palace Mystery
by Alicia Malone
© October 2026
Running Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.