Series: A Book Retreat Mystery, #1
Publisher: Berkley
Released: August 5, 2014
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Rating: ★★★★½
WHO WOULD RESORT TO MURDER?
Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia is the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.
But when the winner of the scavenger hunt, Felix Hampden, is found dead in the Mystery Suite, and the valuable book he won as his prize is missing, Jane realizes one of her guests is an actual murderer. Amid a resort full of fake detectives, Jane is bound and determined to find a real-life killer. There’s no room for error as Jane tries to unlock this mystery before another vacancy opens up…
I’m always in for a treat when I read a mystery by Ellery Adams. In MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE, the first book in the Book Retreat Mystery series, Ms. Adams has skillfully crafted a fantastical world for bibliophiles, as well as a puzzling cozy mystery.
Storyton Hall is a secluded retreat for literary lovers in the hills of Virginia. To stir up interest in the resort, manager Jane Steward is hosting a “Murder and Mayhem” event dedicated to mystery fans. The fabulous week she has planned for her guests is interrupted when the winner of the scavenger hunt is murdered, and the priceless book he won from Storyton Hall’s collection goes missing.
There was so much I enjoyed about this book. Storyton Hall was amazing. I’d love to spend a week (or more) at a place that catered to readers, with access to a magnificent library, gorgeous views, delicious food, and a quaint village to explore. The fun thing about this book was that there was so much more than meets the eye with Storyton. Even the protagonist Jane is shocked to learn its secrets and how she fits in. The murder mystery and the revelations about Storyton are seamlessly woven together. I enjoyed meeting the intriguing and quirky cast of characters, including Jane’s devoted staff and the members of The Cover Girls book club.
MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE was a fabulous start to a new series, and I’d definitely recommend it to readers who love book-themed mysteries.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Book of Secrets 