Love is in the Salt Sea Air–and So is Murder!Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village’s only mystery bookstore, the Crow’s Nest, is both flattered and bemused when he’s invited to the annual Marauder’s Masquerade, the best and biggest social event of the season in the quaint seaside village of Pirate’s Cove, Rhode Island. The … Island. The event is hosted by the wealthy Marguerite Bloodworth-Ainsley—a descendant of the famed pirate Tom Blood.
Ellery doesn’t even know Mrs. Bloodworth-Ainsley—nor, it turns out—does Mrs. Bloodworth-Ainsley know him. But Marguerite’s son, Julian wants to know Ellery. Julian, handsome, rich and engaging, is a huge mystery buff. In fact, he’s bought quite a few books at the Crow’s Nest bookstore, but never quite worked up the nerve to ask Ellery out.
As his relationship with Police Chief Carson seems to be dead in the water, Ellery is grateful for a little flattering attention from the village’s most eligible bachelor, but any hopes of romance hit the shoals when Julian is accused of murdering his mother’s unlikable second husband during the Masquerade’s annual ghost hunt in the family’s spooky cemetery.
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I enjoy every addition to this series. There is something special about how Josh Lanyon creates a comfortable murder mystery. This one had a little dash of creepy that left me worried about Ellery’s self preservation skills. Fortunately, he still has Police Chief Carson’s attention.
I like the continued pirate theme, and the mystery attached to Pirate’s Cove’s history. I keep wondering how Ellery’s appearance in Pirate’s Cove might be connected to the crime spree in this small community….
The narration is nicely done, and I can’t wait for the next book.
One of those books that you plan to only read a chapter before bed then next you know you’re on the last chapter.
Ellery has an ideal job at the Crow’s Nest bookstore which is the only place in town to find mystery books and after two murder investigations under his belt, he’s a pro at solving mysteries. The story is decked out in pirate finery with the whole town themed in piracy and the upcoming ball is no exception. Now Ellery gets a chance at some romance with a mask, a pirate costume, and a handsome bachelor that actually seems interested in him. The ball adds a touch of Cinderella to the plot. If Cinderella was filled with piracy, murder, and a nosy sleuth. Jack doesn’t want him to investigate another murder, but Ellery can’t quit his curiosity and this lands him into just a bit of water. But as he dives into this new mystery, he seems to get a chance at getting closer to Jack in a way that he’s been hoping for. The writing is witty, clever, and charming, driven out of the voice of Ellery and the characters that surround him. The romance elements shine through and you’ll find yourself rooting for the complex dynamic of Jack and Ellery.
On the surface, Julian is everything that Ellery hoped for. He’s a regular prince charming and seems to reciprocate interest, but Ellery’s thoughts still seem to venture to Jack. Though that relationship has been a tangled web since the beginning. The connection with Jack is at the core of his drama, frustration, and tension that creates a charming mystery that has the undercurrent of romance. The story opening a side of vulnerability to the chief that allows a chance to get to know the character on a deeper level. Their connection is at the heart of the story and adds a sweetness that is addicting with every page making you want to know how they’ll end up.
Lanyon has a talent for witty and entertaining characters that fill Ellery’s life. Nan, Dylan, and Nora create a unit for him that acts in the vein of “mother hens” that take care of him, support him, encourage him, and even give him advice on his love life. They’re also a great source of gossip about the town that comes in handy for his investigation and create a family unit that helps to ground him in the community. The characters make you feel like part of the story and make you want to take your own trip into the town to shop at the Crow’s Nest, don a pirate’s costume, and eat at the Salty Dog.
Loved every second of this mystery and can’t wait for the next one!
Rating 4.5
This is the third book in the Secrets and Scrabble series. This has been a wonderful addition to the cozy mystery series. I love the characters in this series, not just the main characters, but the whole island has some wonderful characters that make up the cast of the book. The story is fast paced and hard to put down. Such a great series, I can’t wait for the next installment.
situational-humor, verbal-humor, island-life, small-business, small-town, romance, family-dynamics, friendship, LGBTQIA, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth*****
First off, I have never read anything by this author before but I liked it so very much that I bought the first two in series on audio before I had even finished this one. And not because it couldn’t stand alone, either, but because this one was so good! It truly follows all the cozy criteria and has a great plot, fascinating characters, and laughs. It also has a police detective, a bookshop owner and former professional TV actor named Ellery (like Ellery Queen mystery writer!), a frenetic puppy named Watson (is there any other kind?), and the Silver Sleuths (but no covid).
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you!
This was the best of the three, and luckily the series continues. All the things I like about Lanyon’s work appear in this book, just slightly “lightened” by the cozy mystery genre. This one was wittier and more tongue-in-cheek, with bookstore owner Ellery taking stupid risks and even daring to flirt with another man (a crazy, rich youngster) in front of his quietly fuming police chief love-interest. Their relationship deepens in this book, even though Lanyon can only express it in subtle strokes. It is a satisfying ending. Other highlights include Watson, Ellery’s manic puppy, and a decidedly creepy scene in a mausoleum.
Ellery has low impulse control despite his intelligence and nerdiness. He is not quite as lovelorn and intense as Adrien English, but he’s on the way there. I hope the series continues for a long time. There will be another installment in May. Grateful to NetGalley and the author for my ARC.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Mystery at the Masquerade” is wonderful. I’ve loved each and every single one of the books in this gripping cozy mystery series, but I think this one was my favourite.
This time around Ellery, our favourite failed screenwriter and actor turned bookseller with a knack for solving murder mysteries (and for getting conked on the head), has to deal with a Masquerade, hidden tunnels and crypts, a tangle with Pirate’s Cove oldest and most prestigious family, and Jack Carson, who can’t make up his mind about whenever he and Ellery should remain just friends.
I loved every single bit of it. Ellery shines, as always: one of the things I love most about amateur sleuths stories (and Josh Lanyon’s in particular) is the MC’s tendecy to casually happen upon murder scenes and corpses without even trying and the results always leave me doubled over in laughter. Ellery is no different but he actually does try to be careful at times, so that was refreshing to see: one of the things I adore about him is his reluctancy to actually act like an amateur sleuth, even though fate (and half the village) are convinced he is. I also loved Jack quite a lot too. I won’t spoil, but you’ll see some new sides of him and get some insight into his heartbreaking past. He and Ellery have tons of chemistry, a delicious slowburn romance, and a lovely friendship: I cannot wait to see what will happen next. The other characters were equally lovable and wacky as usual, but Nora deserves a special mention: I love her, so damn much.
The murder mystery at the core of this book was gripping and twisty and very interesting and the atmosphere was even more pirate-y than the previous books. I loved it.
I’m so looking forward to reading the next installment.