Author: Ellery Adams
Published: January 26th 2021 by Kensington Books
Format: eBook, Hardcover 304 Pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Secret, Book, & Scone Society #4
By the end of the book, I was wondering if Ellery Adams was trying to reach a bit too far by tossing in triggers to grab attention and then trying to tie them all up with a neat bow to let the reader know that all is right and fair in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Unfortunately, that bow didn’t sit well with me since it didn’t quite encompass the off behavior of the pastor’s wife, and I felt that part of the story just died with no conclusion.
Nora Pennington, the owner of Miracle Books, is contemplating a new window display when she decides to center on strong heroines. After a confrontation at the store, a local women’s group takes offense and starts a campaign to besmirch the shops in town that don’t live up to their definition of family values. With the crusade in full swing, new business owner Celeste is feeling the brunt since she is a bit too new-age for the pearl clenching crowd.
Nora is the overprotective type, and when pages of an old book appear on her doorstep, followed by a body behind her house, Nora can’t help but get involved. Unfortunately, this won’t be the only body found that will have the people of Miracle Springs talking. Both she and the local police need answers, yet Nora was unprepared when an old friend knocks on her door - a friend that knew her from before.
Ellery Adams does try to tie up all the loose ends – there are just too many. There is a great deal thrown at the reader in the last few pages, but if you have been following along, most of it rings true. There is an out of the blue confession that doesn’t make sense since nothing alluded to it during the previous three hundred pages, so I don’t know how that will sit with readers. Overall, the book is a well-intended continuation of the series -- I just would have preferred more cohesiveness.
Nora Pennington, the owner of Miracle Books, is contemplating a new window display when she decides to center on strong heroines. After a confrontation at the store, a local women’s group takes offense and starts a campaign to besmirch the shops in town that don’t live up to their definition of family values. With the crusade in full swing, new business owner Celeste is feeling the brunt since she is a bit too new-age for the pearl clenching crowd.
Nora is the overprotective type, and when pages of an old book appear on her doorstep, followed by a body behind her house, Nora can’t help but get involved. Unfortunately, this won’t be the only body found that will have the people of Miracle Springs talking. Both she and the local police need answers, yet Nora was unprepared when an old friend knocks on her door - a friend that knew her from before.
Ellery Adams does try to tie up all the loose ends – there are just too many. There is a great deal thrown at the reader in the last few pages, but if you have been following along, most of it rings true. There is an out of the blue confession that doesn’t make sense since nothing alluded to it during the previous three hundred pages, so I don’t know how that will sit with readers. Overall, the book is a well-intended continuation of the series -- I just would have preferred more cohesiveness.
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