As part of the long-running series featuring the first book of various Cozy Mystery series, mostly recommended by site visitors, today I’ll be discussing The Secret, Book & Scone Society, the first entry in the Secret, Book & Scone Society Mystery Series.
Having been badly burned years before, Nora Pennington has more than her share of experience with serious trauma, and she uses her experience to run Miracle Books, a bookstore that specializes in finding the right book to help others suffering trauma or other pain help recover. This establishment is right at home in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, a small vacation town that caters to many looking for physical or emotional healing.
When a man who had been about to come to Nora’s to find a therapeutic book turns up dead on the train tracks, the sheriff is very quick to come to the conclusion of suicide – too quick for Nora to be comfortable. Nora isn’t the only one who finds Neil’s death suspicious, and together with them they form the Secret, Book & Scone Society, determined to discover if there was a more sinister reason for Neil’s death.
It quickly turns out that the dead man, Neil, has a number of reasons someone might want to see him out of the way. Not only had he hinted to Nora that he had a guilty conscience, he also has a number of ties to the town, including being involved in the development of a new subdivision that would replace a section of rambling countryside with tight-packed houses – unpopular in a tiny town that bills itself on the scenic countryside surrounding it.
There’s definitely a different sort of energy around the Secret, Book & Scone Society than in most Cozies. Generally speaking, Cozies are about a relaxing and easy atmosphere, but this particular book focuses far more on how the past can sometimes be painful and the necessity of slow healing. When the book opens, Nora is intentionally isolated, even though she has lived in the community for years, and only through discussions with the rest of the Society does she gradually open up to forming friendships again. This can be a refreshing change for some, but I can also see how it wouldn’t necessarily be the book for every Cozy fan.
Also, as I have mentioned before, I really appreciate when a book gets to the actual mystery quickly – and this book certainly does that, with the mysterious death being announced at the end of the first chapter.
This isn’t the first book series I’ve discussed by Ellery Adams – you can also read my thoughts on the Books By the Bay Mystery Series. She has also written the Book Retreat Mystery Series, the Books by the Bay Mystery Series, the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series, and others, often under other names such as J. B. Stanley, or Jennifer Stanley.
As always, if you want to read more of these brief discussions of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that I’ve written in the past, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page.
Linda says
I very much appreciated the two ( or three?) in this series that I have read. It’s a step up from some of the formulaic cozies.
And on a different author-
phew! The Charlaine Harris Grave set is not even a cozy, is it?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I wouldn’t say so – but genres are always very subjective.
anna b says
This is one of my very favorite series. The characters are lovely and deeply human, the setting is perfection, and the mysteries are complex. Highly recommended!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anna, I certainly agree!
Shirlygene G. says
I have enjoyed The Secret Book & Scone Society series & I am looking forward to more in this series. I am interested in buying books from another of Ellery Adam’s series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirlygene, there are certainly plenty of other series to pick from!
Kit Irwin says
I was delighted to recognize this as a book I’ve already read. Your summary really captured the book and brought it all back to me.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kit, thanks! I’m glad that you feel it really captured the book’s essence.
Teresa Springer says
I really like this series and I agree that you don’t have to wait for the mystery to begin. I find the writing to be beautiful. I love that the members of the society aren’t perfect. And, I love the idea of a friendship group that encourages, communicates, and shows such courage.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Teresa, it definitely does a lot of things differently than most Cozies, which can be a good thing!
Marianne says
I really like this series, too. The characters are interesting and Nora, in particular, very appealing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marianne, I certainly agree!
Jill Sirignano says
Love both Secret Book series and Book Retreat series I wish there were more books coming in the Book Retreat series
Jill S
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jill, it would definitely be nice, but I can also appreciate an author bringing out new series occassionally.
Shirley says
I love this series. I am in book 4 and have 5 & 6 arriving any day. Book 7 is coming in October. I love this author and will read another series when I complete book 6. I also enjoy Joanne Fluke – her next book is in July. I have not missed any of her books. She comes to Phoenix every year on day of release for a book signing and Facebook chat at our book store.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirley, that certainly sounds like a good event to look forward to!
Shirley says
Yes it is. When she comes what ever the pie or cake she makes it and we it a glass of nonalcoholic champagne. It Isa great night lots of fun and laughs
Patti says
This is an excellent series. It just gets better and better!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Patti, I’ll have to keep reading it when I find the time!
Deb P. says
I have read The Secret Book etc series and I loved it. I have also read some of her other series too….I liked them but not better than The Secret Book etc series. When I saw this email….I thought at first
it was about a new Ellery Adams book..😊
I read a variety of mystery authors, some are cozy authors some not….
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Deb, I also read a variety of books – or I did, before the site sort of took over my reading list.
Claudia Moorefield says
I am fairly new to cozies. One series I absolutely love is Vickie Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mysteries – I’ve read all of them. Also like her Tea by the Sea and Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen series. As for the last, it’s a clever idea to locate the series in “America’s Christmas Town.” I’ve just started the Gilded Newport mysteries by Alyssa Maxwell and am fascinated by the period detail – and of course the appearance of the uber rich Vanderbilts. Cozies are a terrific change from my usual non fiction reading.