Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed Murder in the Paperback Parlor (Book Retreat, Bk 2) on + 704 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Dollycas's Thoughts
I was blown away by the first book in this series, Murder in the Mystery Suite, and this one is even better.
We return to Storyton just in time for Romancing the Reader week. The hall is full of lovers of romance novels and Jane has arranged for some special romance authors to attend as well. A full week of activities is planned including a search to find the perfect model for an upcoming romance novel cover, author panels and more. The most well known author is Rosamund York. There is a little friction between her and the other authors but Jane never thought anyone would kill her. When her body is found Jane, the new Guardian of the Library, knows she has to move quickly to find the person responsible and save the reputation of Storyton Hall. She enlists the help of the Cover Girls and a few trusted members of the staff to help her target the killer and bring them justice.
Storyton Hall is a quite a place. Secret stairways, secrets passages, secret room and most important of all a secret library. It is a book lover's dream come true. The staff is unique, each person seems to have at least one secret talent. The characters are truly dynamic and escape right into your heart. As with the first book I still cannot choose a favorite.
Ellery Adams writes a story that puts you right in the room, looking over Jane Steward's shoulder, taking in all the mayhem and mystery. There were quite a few suspects and more twists than I could count.The subplots just flow perfectly through the main mystery.
This is one of those stories that you want to savor and read slowly so you do not miss a single clue or nuance but once you start reading and the mystery starts to unfold you find the pages are turning faster and faster. When you reach the end you are happy that the mystery is solved but sad that your visit to Storyton has come to an end. Then you realize you have to wait a year to return to a place you have come to love in just a little over 300 pages.
Ellery Adams is an extraordinary storyteller!
I was blown away by the first book in this series, Murder in the Mystery Suite, and this one is even better.
We return to Storyton just in time for Romancing the Reader week. The hall is full of lovers of romance novels and Jane has arranged for some special romance authors to attend as well. A full week of activities is planned including a search to find the perfect model for an upcoming romance novel cover, author panels and more. The most well known author is Rosamund York. There is a little friction between her and the other authors but Jane never thought anyone would kill her. When her body is found Jane, the new Guardian of the Library, knows she has to move quickly to find the person responsible and save the reputation of Storyton Hall. She enlists the help of the Cover Girls and a few trusted members of the staff to help her target the killer and bring them justice.
Storyton Hall is a quite a place. Secret stairways, secrets passages, secret room and most important of all a secret library. It is a book lover's dream come true. The staff is unique, each person seems to have at least one secret talent. The characters are truly dynamic and escape right into your heart. As with the first book I still cannot choose a favorite.
Ellery Adams writes a story that puts you right in the room, looking over Jane Steward's shoulder, taking in all the mayhem and mystery. There were quite a few suspects and more twists than I could count.The subplots just flow perfectly through the main mystery.
This is one of those stories that you want to savor and read slowly so you do not miss a single clue or nuance but once you start reading and the mystery starts to unfold you find the pages are turning faster and faster. When you reach the end you are happy that the mystery is solved but sad that your visit to Storyton has come to an end. Then you realize you have to wait a year to return to a place you have come to love in just a little over 300 pages.
Ellery Adams is an extraordinary storyteller!
Carol S. (waucondacarol) reviewed Murder in the Paperback Parlor (Book Retreat, Bk 2) on + 319 more book reviews
love this series about a feisty mom of twin boys who manages the family resort and just happens to be a guardian of a secret library.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Murder in the Paperback Parlor is the second installment in the Book Retreat Mystery series. The series features Jane Steward who is the Guardian of Storyton Hall. Storyton Hall is a delightful retreat for book lovers to vacation, and it also harbors a collection of secret and unpublished literature by famous authors.
Jane is busy preparing for the Romancing the Reader week which in honor of Valentine's Day will feature a panel of three well known Romance writers. The week is full of activities including a truffle workshop, Male Model cover hunt, and a Regency fashion show. The widely acclaimed Rosamund York will be in attendance much to the delight of her faithful following of readers and the dismay of the two authors who often are lost in her shadow.
When Rosamund meets an untimely death, Jane sets out with the help of her staff (the Fins), and her close friends, the Cover Girls to find her killer. It turns out that Rosamund isn't exactly who she claims and there are plenty of suspects with motive to snuff out the author.
Once again, Ellery Adams writes a page turner with plenty of twists and turns. Ellery writes such beautiful descriptions of Storyton Hall that you can picture yourself curling up in one of the many reading rooms, cooking alongside Mrs. Hubbard, practicing your self defense skills under the tutelage of the Fins, and sipping a cup of tea with one of Jane's closest girlfriends.
A delightful story and I can't wait for the third installment to see how things evolve in the Village of Storyton.
Jane is busy preparing for the Romancing the Reader week which in honor of Valentine's Day will feature a panel of three well known Romance writers. The week is full of activities including a truffle workshop, Male Model cover hunt, and a Regency fashion show. The widely acclaimed Rosamund York will be in attendance much to the delight of her faithful following of readers and the dismay of the two authors who often are lost in her shadow.
When Rosamund meets an untimely death, Jane sets out with the help of her staff (the Fins), and her close friends, the Cover Girls to find her killer. It turns out that Rosamund isn't exactly who she claims and there are plenty of suspects with motive to snuff out the author.
Once again, Ellery Adams writes a page turner with plenty of twists and turns. Ellery writes such beautiful descriptions of Storyton Hall that you can picture yourself curling up in one of the many reading rooms, cooking alongside Mrs. Hubbard, practicing your self defense skills under the tutelage of the Fins, and sipping a cup of tea with one of Jane's closest girlfriends.
A delightful story and I can't wait for the third installment to see how things evolve in the Village of Storyton.
