The Little Lost Library - (A Secret, Book and Scone Society Novel) by Ellery Adams (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Big clues come in small packages as North Carolina's Miracle Books owner Nora Pennington and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society attempt to solve a series of murders connected to a bibliophile's missing books . . .

When an elderly Miracle Springs resident, Lucille Wynter, arranges for Nora to deliver an order of books to her creepy, crumbling Southern Gothic mansion on the outskirts of town, Nora doesn't expect to be invited in. An agoraphobe, Lucille doesn't leave Wynter House. But when Lucille doesn't come to the door to collect her books, Nora begins to worry.

Forcing her way into Lucille's dilapidated home, Nora is shocked to find rooms bursting with books and a lifeless Lucille at the foot of her stairs. After reading a note left behind by Lucille, Nora wonders if her death was an accident. Did she fall or was she pushed by someone seeking a valuable item hidden within Wynter House? Lucille's children are clearly confident the house contains something of value, because they hire Nora to sift through the piles of books.

Nora's obsession with Lucille's collection becomes cause for concern among her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society--she's even neglecting her bookshop! But Nora does find something valuable deep inside Wynter House--a revelation about Lucille's terrible past . . . and a secret worth a small fortune. But there's someone who'd do anything to keep the truth buried amid the moldering tomes, and it's up to Nora and her friends to track down a murderer before Wynter House's lost library claims another victim . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for The Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novels

"The novel is perfect for series fans or readers who love a quaint cozy full of small-town charm. The writing, characterizations, and intricacy of the narrative allow this book to stand tall with other contemporary mysteries outside the cozy category... Adams's fans and devoted readers of this type of novel will not be disappointed, but there is also enough substance and intrigue to satisfy fans of more hardboiled mysteries. Even non-series readers can jump right in as Nora encounters her latest adventure." --Library Journal STARRED REVIEW for The Little Lost Library

"Series regulars will not be disappointed, and this entry's generosity of spirit may gain Adams new followers." --Publishers Weekly on Paper Cuts

"This has all the cozy frame elements--a charming setting, strong friendships, and plenty of scrumptious sweets--but Adams also gives readers a layered mystery that provides both backstory for Nora as well as a smart whodunit plot that will keep readers guessing. It also doesn't shy away from examining real emotions... Newcomers to the series can dive right in, and fans will gobble up every detail." --Booklist on Paper Cuts
"Red herrings abound." --Kirkus Reviews on Paper Cuts

"Readers will cheer as Nora, an endearingly imperfect protagonist, and her group of dedicated literary friends, each with their own complicated backstories, search for answers. Bibliophilic cozy fans will be in heaven." --Publishers Weekly on The Vanishing Type

"The full cozy treatment...Adams provides the red herrings, the foreshadowing, and the clues we need to pick out the murderer, and yet she turns some sharp corners that cause us to question their decisions." --New York Journal of Books

"Ellery Adams's cozy mystery novel The Vanishing Type is a testament to women's friendship--with sides of murder, romance, coffee, and baked goods." --Foreword Reviews on The Vanishing Type

"The winding path to the truth showcases both the strengths and the weaknesses of the loving sisterhood." --Kirkus Reviews on The Vanishing Type

"A love letter to reading, with sharp characterizations and a smart central mystery." --Entertainment Weekly on The Whispered Word

"Adams launches an intriguing new mystery series, headed by four spirited amateur sleuths and touched with a hint of magical realism, which celebrates the power of books and women's friendships. Adams' many fans, readers of Sarah Addison Allen, and anyone who loves novels that revolve around books will savor this tasty treat." --Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW, Pick of the Month on The Secret, Book, & Scone Society

"Ink and Shadows is a big hug of a book for bookstore lovers who have been pining to visit their favorite emporiums for the past year." --Criminal Element on Ink & Shadows

"An appetizing dish for mystery lovers who enjoy books about bookstores, small towns, and female friends." --Booklist on The Book Of Candlelight

"Adams kicks off a new series featuring strong women, a touch of romance and mysticism, and both the cunning present-day mystery and the slowly revealed secrets of the intriguing heroines' pasts." --Kirkus Reviews on The Secret, Book, & Scone Society

"This affecting series launch from Adams provides all the best elements of a traditional Mystery...Well-drawn characters complement a plot with an intriguing twist or two." --Publishers Weekly on The Secret, Book, & Scone Society

"A perfect read...four women whose divergent lives intermingle due to their shared passion for books, good food, and ultimately, friendship, become unwittingly embroiled in a murder investigation. The deep, dark secrets each of them carries provide the suspense in this admixture of cozy small-town life and perplexing mystery with the right amount of pathos to garner the reader's sympathy." --The Cape Cod Chronicle on The Secret, Book, & Scone Society

About the Author

Ellery Adams has written over forty mystery novels and can't imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on her next novel, she reads, bakes, gardens, spoils her three cats, and rearranges her bookshelves. She lives with her husband and two children (aka the Trolls) in Chapel Hill, NC. For reading guides and a list of bibliotherapy titles, please visit ElleryAdamsMysteries.com.