Murder in the Reading Room

Murder in the Reading Room is a riveting cozy mystery. I thought the story was well-written and it moves along at a quick pace. Murder in the Reading Room is the fifth book in A Book Retreat Mystery series, and it cannot be read alone. This series is best read in order and each book is better than the previous. Ellery Adams’ has an engaging writing style, and I was quickly engrossed in Murder in the Reading Room. Jane Steward is a widow with two rambunctious boys. She manages Storyton Hall as well as being the Guardian to the secret library. Jane is lucky to have her aunt and uncle on the premises as well as her trustworthy and protective staff. The characters are complex and continue to evolve as the series progresses. The Fins and the Cover Girls are delightful secondary characters. I like seeing the relationship between Eloise Alcott and Landon Lachlan progressing. The setting of Storyton, Virginia is beautiful (especially in the fall). Storyton Hall is a masterpiece and it is filled with books along with paintings, statutes and other unique items (I want to move in). The mystery is complex and multifaceted. I love it when I am surprised in a mystery, and Murder in the Reading Room has one fabulous and shocking turn of events. There were several great phrases in this book, and it was hard to pick my favorite. I ended up choosing “I think a book is like a good climbing tree. They both yearn to be touched.” I enjoyed the book referenced sprinkled throughout the story which included Maisie Dobbs, Anne of Green Gables and various works by Hemingway. Murder in the Reading Room is my favorite book in A Book Retreat Mystery series. Murder in the Reading Room is a captivating cozy mystery that will have you staying up until the wee hours to finish it.

Jane Steward is on her way to North Carolina to the Biltmore Estates where she believes her boyfriend Eric may be hidden. She is officially on a trip to learn more about luxury hotel management but she is really there to look for secret passages and clues to where Eric is hidden. While visiting one of the gardening staff Jane believes she may have found someone who can help her until he was found dead in his reading room. Jane not only finds Eric but she a lot more than she is expecting. When they return to Storyton Hall the mysteries continue, can Jane find the answers? I was so excited to read this book. This is one of my favorites series and this book is my new favorite in the series. Storyton Hall is a reader and book lovers dream. I would love to have a location like Hall to visit in real life. Jane her family, friends, and guardians are wonderful, interesting characters that make me smile while reading about their lives and the different events that are being celebrated at Storyton. The mystery is well written with a steady pace and several twists and turns along the way. I recommend this book to fans of Ellery Adams, cozy mysteries, and book lovers. I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

boring.another tale of a better than thou female judging everyone. and the secret library .SO stupid"protecting " no more like HOARDING stuff that doesn't belong to them.cant feel bad that greedy people wanted it and endangered their lives for pretentious status will not be reading any more.i had to force self to finish it