Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a top travel destination for book lovers and the perfect spot for literary events. But as a children’s book publisher hosts a gathering there, some folks aren’t going to live—happier ever after or otherwise . . . Jane Steward’s resort is hopping—not only is Peppermint Press’s conference in full swing, there are also lots of families staying on the premises, bringing … their kids to events like a scavenger hunt through the Fairy Tale Forest. Then a woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood is found dead from a plot device straight out of a fairy tale—with a rare and valuable copy of Grimm’s Fairy Tales in her basket. Not long after, a second victim is killed, with yet another treasure—a volume by Hans Christian Andersen worth thousands of dollars—nearby. It looks like a big bad wolf may be lurking among the guests, and Jane can’t just wait for a handsome prince to come to the rescue . . . “Readers will find themselves wanting to live in Storyton, no matter how many people end up dead there.” —Suspense Magazine on Murder in the Locked Library Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com
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Ellery Adams is the Cozy Mystery Queen! Her novels are so easy to fall in love with! Easy to read thought provoking mysteries, intertwined with her terrific imagination, and absolute vast bookish knowledge! Each reference is like a little treasure to collect! Murder In The Storybook Cottage is a wonderful addition to the Book Retreat Mystery Series! The little village of Storyton and the lovely women that live there make it the perfect escape!
Storyton Hall is the location for Peppermint Press Children’s Book Publishers Conference. Jane Stewart believes this is the perfect time to open the resorts Fairy Tale Forest for the children of the guest. She takes her best friends on a pre-view tour of the forest only to find the body of a real-life Red Riding Hood. As in the children’s fairytale “Red” met with an unsavory character in the forest. This mysterious young lady is not a guest of the resort and Jane can not figure out why she is in one of the cabins. Jane and the Fins need to discover why this lady was found at the resort and why someone would want to kill her.
I love this series and this book is my new favorite. Every time I read one of these books, I want to visit Storyton despite the murders. Author Ellery Adams is wonderful at describing the setting. You feel as if you are transported to the resort. When I went to college, I studied elementary education. My favorite class was Children’s Literature. This conference would be one I would love to attend (second only to a mystery conference). Jane, her friends, and the Fins are wonderful characters. I love how they help one another and support each other through good and bad times. I feel as if I am reading about a group of my beloved friends. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
Murder in the Storybook cottage is an enchanting installment in this series. Set in the magical Storeyton Hall, a mansion turned book lovers resort, children and their families gather to celebrate a whimsical fairy tale of a Valentine’s day. While love may be in the air, two creative killings are afoot. Jane, Edwin, and the Fins work together with a little help to solve the murders. Ellery Adams is a master of cozy mysteries and this one will delight all the book lovers
I always look forward to the books in this series. The setting, Storyton Hall, is a paradise retreat for book lovers. In this book there is a children’s book conference taking place with authors, illustrators and publishers in attendance. Ms. Adams has such a wonderful imagination and comes up with wonderful ideas, such as a paint-off in this book, where the illustrators have 1 hour to create a painting with a theme that is chosen by two special guests that are children. The paintings will then be auctioned off for charity. And Jane is also opening a fairy tale village on the grounds of the resort for children called Storybook Village. Of course there is a mystery along with the great story that always keep me guessing. I loved the ending of this book and can’t wait for the next one!
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If ever there was a time when one needed to escape into a good book, it is now. I always look forward to trips to Storyton Hall, but this time I couldn’t get there fast enough. I felt as though I entered into a childhood literary haven complete with a Storybook Village, delicious desserts, characters coming to life in costume, and so much more. But as Sinclair reports, “Life is unpredictable. All we can do is focus on the present—the page where our bookmark rests.” If that isn’t poetry in our times, I don’t know what is.
This book is both an absolute delight full of literary treats and a compelling mystery with characters intricately interwoven. If that was not enough, the ending has an unforeseen dream come true for dedicated Ellery Adams fans.
Murder in the Storybook Cottage is the sixth in the “book retreat” mysteries by Ellery Adams. The series centers around a retreat for book lovers called Storyton Hall, located in Virginia. Jane Steward, the resort manager, is the main character and (reluctant) amateur sleuth, aided by her resort staff and her book club friends. The book club is aptly named the Cover Girls. In this installment, a children’s book publisher called Peppermint Press is hosting a conference at the resort. At the same time, Jane is opening an attraction in the woods near the hotel called Storybook Village. When the bodies of two murder victims are discovered in the woods near Storybook Village, Jane investigates.
I am a huge fan of Ellery Adams’ other book centric series, the Secret, Book, and Scone Society. I was aware of the Book Retreat series but had never read any of the books. After reading this book, I am wondering what took me so long, and also am accepting the fact that I now have TWO favorite series by one author. Jane is a very likable character, with a sense of humor and a large dollop of common sense. She has gathered a wonderfully loyal staff around her, as well as a delightful circle of friends in the Cover Girls. All of the supporting characters are well fleshed out with individual personalities. At this point, I am partial to Eloise, Jane’s best friend, and Mr. Butterworth, the resort’s butler.
The story itself is an intriguing juxtaposition of fairy tales and the real world. While investigating the murders, Jane is also overseeing weekend events for families who are staying at the resort. Events include building a gingerbread house, and a performance of the play Charlie and the Chocolate factory. Author Ellery Adams very skillfully strikes a balance between describing the light hearted fun of these events and the dark details of the murder and subsequent details the investigation uncovers. Despite the darkness of the murders, I found myself wanting to be at Storyton Hall to experience the delight of Storybook Village.
I thoroughly enjoyed this first visit to Storyton Hall, and despite not having read the previous five books in the series, I did not have a problem catching up with the story line and becoming invested in the outcome. Having said that, I would recommend that the books be read in order, since there is a recap of a couple of reveals that happened in earlier books. Most important, these books need to be read. Ellery Adams’ most appealing quality is that she firmly believes in the magical ability of books to transform, transport,and inform us. And that is perhaps the best recommendation I can give. Now if you will excuse me, I have the first five books in the Book Retreat mysteries waiting to be read. I can’t wait to catch up!
Murder in the Storybook Cottage is the sixth book in the series, but actually the first book that I have read in this series although I have read other books by this author. Whom as a child wouldn’t want to visit this magical place, I know I would have as a child. Although I hadn’t read any of the previous books I had no problem following along with the storyline, yet I am sure I will go back now and read the earlier books. Such a well written book, with an intriguing storyline. I would certainly recommend this book to others.
I recieved an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensingston and this is my fair and honest review.
I’ve read all the books in the series, and I always think the last one was my favorite until I read the next one! This is book 6 in the series, and probably my favorite so far. I always love visiting Storyton Hall and catching up with these wonderful characters. Jane Steward, the owner of Storyton Hall, is hosting a children’s book writers conference at her book-themed retreat.
When she takes her friends to see the fairy tale village they find Little Red Riding Hood dead. They don’t know who she is, where she came from, and most importantly, why someone would want to kill her.
This story is entertaining and will pull you in. A must-read for cozy mystery lovers.
I received an ARC prior to publication but the opinions are my own.
This is the 6th book in the Book Retreat series. Very enjoyable read to loose yourself for a while. The story is set in Storyton Hall Virginia , a great retreat area for book lovers. Jane is a single mother that is widowed. while hosting an advent people dressed in fairy tale clothing are getting murdered and valuable fairy tale books are going missing with each one. Jane has to solve the murders and keep everything running . a fun cozy book with a good bit of whimsical to lighten the mood.
This is book 6 in the Book Retreat Mysteries series and WOW! I always love visiting Storyton Hall, the books alone make this a place I would want to go to.
Jane is hosting a event sponsored by Peppermint Press. A children’s book writers conference.
When Jane takes her friends to see the fairy tale village they find a dead Little Red Riding Hood. Who is she? Is she part of the conference?
Guardians, dangerous books, children’s books, activities for the kids and families.
So much going on as Jane tries to find a killer or killers.
Sit back and enjoy the trip down memory lane of fairy tales, I certainly did!
I received an ARC prior to publication and decided to voluntarily review it. Opinions are my own.
I love visiting the Stewards and everyone else. It’s such a wonderful escape for me. I might be more than a bit biased as I love everything Ellery Adams writes but I don’t think so, this is a good story.
I love this series, and this book was my favorite so far. I love the characters, how they support each other, and will drop everything if needed to be there in a jiffy. Jane is a woman who does it all, has a heart of gold, protects her loved ones to the end, and is no nonsense and fierce. This book kept me engaged all the way through, and I couldn’t put it down. I love the surprise at the end, and can’t wait for the next book!
This is the 6th book in this series and I was looking forward to seeing where the author took the series after the way book 5 ended. I was not disappointed. This is an excellent cozy series and I thoroughly enjoy Ms. Adams’ storytelling. Storyton Hall is a fabulous book-themed retreat. It is steeped in all things literary but it does have a bit of a dark underside. When we last left Jane and the Fins’ she was taking steps to resolve her family’s secret to reduce the danger at Storyton Hall and for her family. Unfortunately, this time around, Ms. Seward learns that murders can occur at Storyton Hall that has nothing to do with her family legacy.
I was pulled into the story right from the start. I enjoy visiting with Jane, the Fins, the Cover Girls as well as Fin and Hem, Jane’s two sons. The characters are mature and well-rounded, and keep me engaged and coming back for a glimpse into their lives. They continue to grow and develop and I find that I enjoy watching them progress in each new book. Jane’s romance with Edwin is moving along nicely, but it does not distract from the story.
This mystery was well done. It wove grizzly murders with fairy tales leaving Jane struggling to figure out the identity of the person who killed two women in here new Storybook Village. I like how Ms. Adams has written Jane in terms of her sleuthing. She is mature, thoughtful and always keeps safety in mind without doing anything hair-brained. Given that Storyton is hosting a retreat for children’s book illustrators and authors as well as families for the opening of the new Storybook Villages, there are plenty of suspects, but the author is a bit stingy with the clues leaving the reader to really pay close attention in order to solve the mystery.
Perhaps one of my favorite parts is the epilogue. If it holds true, readers of Ms. Adams series Books by the Bay may see a return of Olivia Limoges. This time using Storyton Hall as a writer’s retreat while Michael competes in a cooking competition. I am really looking forward to the possibility of Jane and Olivia teaming up.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced review copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
cozy-mystery, romantic, library, small-town, small-business, bed-and-breakfast, fanciful, murder
This story really gives the imagination a workout! Set in a family and book oriented Bed and Breakfast during a Children’s Book retreat, there is lots of sleuthing as well as interesting book related things going on. The imagery is to die for (sorry), the dialog witty, the characters certainly are, and the plot is undeniably original. There are lots of things I think I missed because I hadn’t read any others in the series, but I still loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Bibliophile is such a polite word, but I still prefer book addict.