This is so doggone refreshing! In this day of Cozy Mystery authors adopting a pseudonym for each of their various series, New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams, rather than adding a new pseudonym to her repertoire, is consolidating most of her various Cozy Mystery series to be under her “Ellery Adams” moniker!
Way back in 2006, J.B. Stanley started writing both the Supper Club and Collectibles mystery series. Her Collectible Mystery Series features Molly Appleby, an antiques magazine reporter. Stanley’s Supper Club Mystery Series quickly became one of my favorites. It features James Henry, an English Lit. professor who gives up his college teaching job to return to Virginia in order to move in with his aging dad. Their relationship was never close in the past, so there are some major adjustments that have to be made for both of these men. James becomes his hometown’s librarian and founds the Flab Five Supper Club. I was drawn to the series because of the dieting theme, but stayed with it because of the characters, settings, mysteries, and writing.
Back to the purpose of this entry!
Three years later, in 2009, Jennifer Stanley began writing the Hope Street Church Mystery Series. This series features Cooper Lee and the Sunrise Bible Study group.
In 2010, the Cozy Mystery arena was introduced to Ellery Adams when she published her first Books by the Bay mystery book. In 2012, the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series premiered, and in 2014 we were treated to Ellery Adams’ Book Retreat Mystery Series.
So, this is where the refreshing thing comes in!
In 2014, Ellery Adams released her Hope Street Church books (which she wrote as Jennifer Stanley), this time changing the books’ titles. She made a point of telling her readers that although the plots are the same, she has edited them so they are “crisper, cleaner, more engaging books.” (She has since then also released a new Hope Street Church mystery, with Elizabeth Lockard.)
The reason I decided to write this entry is that I recently was made aware that as Ellery Adams, she is now releasing all of the books she wrote as J.B. Stanley and Jennifer Stanley. So, for those of you who have been having a difficult time following your favorite Cozy Mystery authors’ pseudonyms, at least some of you are going to be helped in a major way!
mary kennedy says
I am so glad you featured the fabulous Ellery Adams/Jennifer Stanley! She’s my fellow Cozy Chick, an amazing writer and a great pal to all cozy authors. I love the idea that her former series have a new life and new cover, they are gorgeous! And you’re right, it’s good to find everything under one name.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Kennedy, thank you for stopping by! I just “cleaned up” her pages this morning after reading your comment about her new covers. You’re right, they are beautiful.
Rob says
You’re right Mary! The artist on those book covers literally entices you to read the books if you didn’t already know how good she is!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rob, especially those Supper Club covers: Yum!
Lisa says
Yay! That is awesome. It will reduce the number of names on my lists I take to the bookstore when I’m “hunting readables”. Lol
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lisa, I’m delighted that she has been able to umbrella all of her Cozy Mystery series.
Stash Empress says
Well that’s refreshing indeed! I can never keep track of who is who!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, at least now you’ll have two less names to remember!
Joanne K says
I think this is a great idea. When shopping for book gifts for me, my husband and daughter’s typically ask for my favorite subordinates. This will make their desire to select something they know I’m likely to enjoy so much easier. Thank you.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joanne K, I think it’s a great idea, too. I’m sorry she wasn’t able to keep the exact titles of her Hope Street books, but I’m guessing that since they have been rewritten to be better, that’s all that should count!
MMJ says
I actually saw the change one day when I was recommending the Hope Street series , which I’d read and enjoyed. When verifying publication dates, I got a bit excited when I saw new titles. I then realized the titles were “new,” but retitles of the earlier books with one new addition to the series. When I looked into things further, I saw that there was also a new entry in the Antiques and Collectibles Mystery series, which I liked more than the Hope Street series.
The only bummer for me is that both new titles are e-format only. I have nothing against that format, but I don’t really “buy” e-books. This means hoping the e-library picks them up or at some point they’re published hard-copy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MMJ, I’m glad you mentioned that you had seen a fourth book in her Collectibles series. I had missed that one!
Robin B says
In the ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES MYSTERY series, I can’t find books 4 and 5 in a paperback edition. I don’t do audible books and don’t do kindle. Do you know if these will ever be published as paperbacks?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robin, it doesn’t seem very likely – it was published by Beyond the Page, an eBook publishing company. So if they do ever reach paperbacks, it will need to be through a separate deal with a different publisher.