Helpful Score: 2
This was a very well laid out book. I liked the characters and I loved the bookshop/scone shop and secrets to boot idea. I loved the reference to books to the customers that would come in. The book had some good humor too. As far as the mystery goes, I didn't figure out the killer until it was revealed in the end. I was on a different track. I thought one of the secrets revealed by each one of the ladies was gonna be the whammy. It would have been cool if it had. This was a beefed up cozy and I really enjoyed it!
The Secret, Book and Scone Society is the first in the new Ellery Adams series set in the small town of Miracle Springs, NC. Nora Pennington is the owner of Miracle Books, she possesses the ability to listen to your stories and match you up with the perfect book to help ease your troubles. Hester Winthrop owns the Gingerbread House, she will listen to your story and create a one of a kind scone just for you that somehow helps soothe your pain. June Dixon works at the Miracle Springs Thermal Pools, the mineral springs are well known for its healing reputation. Estella Sadler owns the Magnolia Salon and Spa, she has the eye for makeovers that will allow you a new start on life.
The four women all have a secret that is holding them in the past, all are virtual loners unwilling to trust. When travelling businessman Neil Parrish meets his death in front of the local train, the Sheriff dubs it a suicide. But, the four women through chance encounters with Neil feel that there is something more to his death and they find themselves drawn together in an effort to solve the crime.
Much more than a cozy, this book will draw you in from the first page. A murder that needs to be solved, a tangled web of evil that involves a few of the prominent locals, and the heartwarming personal stories of each of the four women make for thought provoking read.
The four women all have a secret that is holding them in the past, all are virtual loners unwilling to trust. When travelling businessman Neil Parrish meets his death in front of the local train, the Sheriff dubs it a suicide. But, the four women through chance encounters with Neil feel that there is something more to his death and they find themselves drawn together in an effort to solve the crime.
Much more than a cozy, this book will draw you in from the first page. A murder that needs to be solved, a tangled web of evil that involves a few of the prominent locals, and the heartwarming personal stories of each of the four women make for thought provoking read.
The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams is the first book in Miracle Springs, North Carolina series. Nora Pennington owns Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. The town is known to be a place of healing and Nora is known locally as a bibliotherapist. A man in the park wishes Noraâs help, so she suggests that he pick up a comfort scone from Gingerbread House and come to her shop. Before he can get to Nora for assistance, Neil Parrish is found dead on the train tracks. When the police rule it a suicide, Nora along with Estella, June and Hester form The Secret, Book and Scone Society. Their purpose is get the truth about the man's demise. They delve into Neil's life to uncover what could have gotten him killed. They knew he came to town ahead of his partner's and he was wrestling with a problem. When the four ladies meet to discuss what they have uncovered, each member of the group reveals the secret that brought them to Miracle Springs. These four women band together to get justice for one man and find themselves embroiled in a corruption scandal. The best thing to come out of this is four lone woman find friendship, love and acceptance.
The Secret, Book and Scone Society is well-written and engaging. My attention was captured right away with Nora's description. I found the four main characters to be personable yet flawed from life's tragedy. They were fleshed out and given lifeâvery realistic. Each one is unique. There are also some characters (namely Sheriff Todd Hendricks) that readers will really dislike and wish to maim. I did not like how the police treated women in this book (I know it was part of the story, but it was offensive). I liked the description of the town, the Gingerbread House, Nora's home (it is in a red train caboose) and, most especially, Miracle Books. My rating for The Secret, Book and Scone Society is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The book contained more cozy elements than mystery. I was hoping for a more complex whodunit (like is Ms. Adams Murder in the Mystery Suite). I did like the authors use of misdirection in this book.
The Secret, Book and Scone Society is well-written and engaging. My attention was captured right away with Nora's description. I found the four main characters to be personable yet flawed from life's tragedy. They were fleshed out and given lifeâvery realistic. Each one is unique. There are also some characters (namely Sheriff Todd Hendricks) that readers will really dislike and wish to maim. I did not like how the police treated women in this book (I know it was part of the story, but it was offensive). I liked the description of the town, the Gingerbread House, Nora's home (it is in a red train caboose) and, most especially, Miracle Books. My rating for The Secret, Book and Scone Society is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The book contained more cozy elements than mystery. I was hoping for a more complex whodunit (like is Ms. Adams Murder in the Mystery Suite). I did like the authors use of misdirection in this book.
