Murder in the Storybook Cottage (Book Retreat Mysteries #6) by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Storybook Cottage

(Book Retreat Mysteries #6)

by Ellery Adams

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: April 28th 2020 by Kensington Books

Goodreads synopsis: 

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 . . .

***

4.5 Stars 

This is the sixth book in the Book Retreat Mysteries book series by Ellery Adams

If you are a writer (or even if you’re not), this story will bring out your inner children’s book author. All the settings in this are wonderful. And it gives you all those cozy feelings of reading in your little book nook as a kid.

I have read the previous book in this series, so I was a bit familiar with the backstory of who Jane is and what she and her friends are protecting. There wasn’t a ton of backstory given here so if you are interested in all the Templars and priceless book stuff, check out her previous books for all the intel.

I like that Jane changed her mind about her relationship with her main squeeze during all the action in the murder whodunit part of the story. The bodies of a couple of visitors to the cottage were found murdered and Jane had to figure out which of the children’s author guests might have “dun it”.

The story here was a little different since it did not figure into the precious treasure Jane and her friends are protecting. Instead the books, which were priceless, were taken from a different collection. So the whole “book” aspect of the series was still in tact.

In the Eqilogue there is mention of another one of Ellery Adams’s characters possibly making an appearance again. Not sure if that means in this series or a revival of the Books by the Bay series also written by Adams.

I loved how gently the children were treated in this series and how Jane went out of her way to make sure all her guests were safe and her employees were happy. It is a refreshing thing to see in a series.

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.