Storyton Hall is beginning to break ground on a new addition - the Walt Whitman Spa. However the earthmover reveals a surprise - a body is buried in the old garden. Jane is a bit relieved to find that it not really a body, but a skeleton over 100 years old. There is also a book buried next to him, an extremely rare British cookbook in rather poor shape. When the knowledgeable book restorer is sharing information about the rare tome, he suddenly collapses in the library, dying in seconds. Jane and the Fins must figure out how the deaths are linked and what the murderer was after before something worse happens.

The Book Retreat Mystery series is rather interesting. It is by no means a typical cozy mystery. It's like Murder, She Wrote meets Indiana Jones. It is definitely unlike any other cozy series I have read!

While excavation takes place at Storyton Hall for a luxurious spa, a skeleton and a badly damaged book are discovered. Jane and the Rare Book Society members try to discover what the book is, especially because no writing has survived over the years. Using a special technique, Jane finds the book might have been a collection of recipes, but some might be deadly. When one of the book society members dies, Jane has fears for the book and her library.

This was a great cozy to read on a snowy weekend. Books, tea and mystery all come together in one satisfying read. I'm looking forward to more from Storyton Hall!

Another lovely literary adventure from master storyteller Ellery Adams. Jane, single mom, resort manager, and guardian of a treasure trove of hidden books must solve a complicated mystery before time runs out. I love this Book Retreat series, each time I read one, I wish I could "book" my own vacation to Storyton Hall. Sadly, the only way to visit this fictitious resort is through the pages of Adams novels, which I will return to again and again for literary comfort and adventure.

Excited to begin the excavation for the new luxury spa at Storyton Hall, Jane and the twins are shocked when the bulldozer unearths an unidentified skeleton and tattered remains of a book, wrapped in cloth and stored in a padlocked box. But as experts attempt to identify the human remains, Jane seeks advice from rare book experts, currently at Storyton Hall for a convention. And when murder hits too close to home, Jane realizes she needs to get to the bottom of this mystery before danger appears at her own doorstep. This was a really enjoyable read, from the various clues, suspects and motives, to the interesting details provided during the convention. I loved the Word Search game, as well as the typesetting class, detailed in the story. As Jane gets more comfortable in her role as Guardian, her relationship is solidifying with the Fins, as well as with the Cover Girls. I also like that she still has time (as do the other staff at Storyton Hall) to spend with her twin boys, both for recreational as well as educational purposes. I look forward to the next book in this series...especially with the teaser at the end of this book. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley.

I'd not read this series before so I found myself sorting out the large cast of characters early on- but the story carried me through. I'd love to visit a resort like Storyton, spa or no (although a spa is always a plus.). Jane and her kids Fitz and Hem have a good, if busy life, at the resort. The discovery of bones and a book of deadly recipes lead to murder! This is a nicely done cozy that book lovers will especially enjoy because of the periodic literary references. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Another delightful installment in am amazing series! So many twists and turns that left me wanting more. I only wish Storyton Hall was real so I could visit, minus the murders of course.

Once again the Storyton Hall is hosting an unusual and interesting conference group. This time antiquarian and rare book dealers are meeting, relaxing and reading while Jane's dream of a spa is breaking ground. The foundation digging stops when her son's Fitz and Hem spot a skeleton in the dirt. Why is the dead man with rickets and TB buried in what used to be the rose garden and why was he buried with a box containing a book? This mystery is only the beginning of puzzles that Jane and the Fins need to unravel in this fourth book in the series. This is another interesting story with a twist at the end that leaves the reader ready for book number 5. I read this ebook courtesy of NetGalley.

Murder In The Locked Library is the fourth book in the A Book Retreat Mystery series.

I love this series and have been a fan of Ellery Adams writing for a number of years. I am very happy that this series has found a new publisher and hope that there will be many more to come. I would say that this is best one in this series so far. Truly, a series for book lovers, what with all the different libraries at Storyton Hall and the very knowledgeable staff who are eager to serve their guests.

The one the thing that Jane Stewart has felt that Storyton Hall has needed is about to come to fruition, that being a spa, which will be named the Walt Whitman Spa. Heavy equipment is in place and excavation is about to begin and Jane’s twin sons, Hem and Fitz couldn’t be happier. They have front row seats to watch the earth mover jockey into position, lower its claw begin the excavation work. After just a few buckets or dirt are removed, Fitz and Hem get the equipment operators attention to stop digging as they have spotted a skull and some bones fall from the last load. Sheriff Evans shuts down the site and is able to get an anthropologist, Dr. Celia Wallace, to come and collect the remains of the unknown victim. Also found with the bones was a box containing a mysterious book that appeared to be a cookbook. From the book and a couple coins that were also found, Wallace feels that the body had been buried since the 1800’s.

The Robert Harley Rare Book Society is having their annual meeting at Storyton Hall, as the bones are being discovered. Jane enlists the help of Bart Baylor, leader of the society, to find more of the history of the book and hoping that it might provide information about the person whose bones had been found. When Baylor returns his finding, he is able to relay that it is indeed a cookbook whose recipes had tainted foods used that caused many deaths. He also reports that there had been a fire at the publisher and all the books had burned, but the author had received 5 copies. Baylor proceeds to put on a pair of latex gloves to tell more of the history of the book, he experiences severe breathing difficulties. Thinking that he was having a reaction to the gloves they administer an epi-pen, but to no avail.

Jane and her staff, Sinclair, Sterling, and Lachman must sort through what information they have learned who was buried at Storyton Hall and who wanted Baylor dead. When there is another death they are sure that these recent deaths are indeed related to the bones that had been dug up.

Ellery Adams is a wonderful storyteller and this is a well-plotted story with a believable cast of well-developed characters. I would love to live in the village of Storyton and be able to visit with the residents all the time.

I can’t wait for the next book in this exciting series.

Murder in the Locked Library is the fourth book in Ellery Adams’ Book Retreat Mysteries. This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I felt a little lost, but enjoyed the intriguing mystery. There were enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning, and kept me guessing until the reveal.

Jane Steward is the guardian of Storyton Hall, a resort in Virginia, which draws book lovers from all over the world to read and enjoy time in the hotel’s book themed rooms. Fitzgerald and Hemingway, Jane’s twin sons, are watching the team of workers who are breaking ground for a spa when they notice the earthmover had uncovered a skull and bones. Not only were bones discovered, but there was also a tin containing a damaged book. They bring in an anthropologist to identify the bones, and since Storyton Hall is hosting the Rare Book Conference, Jane enlists the help of five members of the Robert Harley Society to help identify the book. Bartholomew ‘Bart’ Baylor, a renowned book restorer, is one of those attendees and when he collapses and dies, the hunt is on to determine who killed him. After a second person is murdered, Sheriff Evans makes an arrest, but Jane feels someone else is responsible and as the guardian, she is duty bound to find out who murdered two people and to protect Storyton Hall and the people and treasures housed within its walls.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

#Netgalley #MurderintheLockedLibrary #CozyMystery
Once again Ellery Adams has a great series! I love this series. Murder in the Locked Library brings Jane back with a new mystery to solve. I really enjoyed this one. I hope to see Jane back soon with a new mystery!

Another enjoyable story about Storyton Hall. This had me hooked from the very first page. Jane and her sons are a delight and it's wonderful to read about people who enjoy books as much as I do. Having two mysteries to clear up, one from a long time ago & one much more recent leaves Jane and the Fins very busy investigating & getting to know their guest. The ending was unexpected and leaves you breathlessly waiting for the next book to save Edwin. #MurderInTheLockedLibrary #NetGalley

When excavation begins for the foundation of the newest addition to Storyton Hall, a luxury spa that Jane hopes will bring in more guests, a skeleton – and the disintegrating remains of an old book – are dug up, so all plans are put on hold. Jane and the other Fins are unable to identify the book, which they feel is a key to the identity of the skeleton, so they turn to the Hall's current guests, who are participating in a Rare Book Conference, to help solve the puzzle. When one of the present-day guests meets an untimely end, though, everyone feels a sense of urgency to identify the old book and figure out how the old mystery is connected to the current one.

This is the fourth book in the Book Retreat series, and I've enjoyed each book more than the previous one. I would love to spend a vacation at Storyton Hall and meet Sinclair, Butterworth, Jane and the rest of the staff. It would be hard, though, not to reveal that I knew their real occupations and the treasures hidden in the depths of the Hall :) There are numerous potential suspects in this story, but it was hard to take most of them seriously. That said, the identity of the villain was a total surprise, never on my "bad guy" radar at all. I hope the next book in the series picks up on the comments made at the end of this one, as I would like to see where that story line might go.

A very good and solid mystery full of twists and very entertaining. As I didn't read the previous instalments I had some problems in placing the different roles and groups but no problems in understanding the relationship amongst the different characters.
It's well written, there's an interesting cast of characters and it keeps you hooked since the beginning.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books

When the team of workers breaking ground for the new spa dig up a shovel full of bones, Hem & Fitz are the first to notice.
The discovery of the bones leads to an investigation, which involves an old book and family rivalry.
Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams will take you on an exciting adventure that will keep you looking over your shoulder!
's. Adams writes a clear, concise story, while creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind, providing the opportunity to escape into the story.
Reading a book by Ellery Adams is always a great experience.

Murder in the Locked Library is a cozy mystery by Ellery Adams. It is book four in the The Book Retreat Mystery series. I wish I'd know about books 1-3! I really enjoyed this read.

Jane Steward is the guardian of Storyton Hall - an elaborate book get-a-way retreat located in Virginia. Books aficionados from all parts of the world travel here to read and enjoy time in the book themed rooms of the hotel. This year, they are hosting the Rare Book Conference and as cozy mysteries go - we have a murder. However, it's not exactly as it seems - the first dead body turns up via her twin's (Fitzgerald and Hemingway) discovery of a skeleton in what is soon to be the Walt Whitman Spa. But it's not just a skeleton - it's been buried with a rare book, one that only members of this type of conference would be able to reveal. As one dead body begets another, the reader is taken on a literary journey to catch a killer.

Murder in the Locked Library is one of the first cozy mysteries set in America I really enjoyed. While I played a little catch-up not reading the first three books, I was able to completely immerse myself in the characters and setting created by Ms. Adams. She writes her mysteries with enough red herrings to keep the pages turning, and I didn't know who the killer was until the very end. I'm impressed. I loved the literary themed hotel and wish this existed in real life! Her book club pals are wonderful, her hotel employees are top notch, and the family members are lovable. I have every intention of reading the first three books in this series along with other writings of Ms. Ellery.

Murder in the Locked Library earns a solid 🍷🍷🍷🍷from me. The only element keeping me from that fifth glass of wine is the ending after the killer is apprehended drug a bit for me. But other than that - an EXCELLENT READ!

For more about her and her other works, visit her at: http://www.elleryadamsmysteries.com/index.html

This book was as well written and as entertaining as the previous Book Retreat mysteries. Jane and all of the Storyton Hall characters are very well portrayed and could be your next door neighbor. Jane accepts and takes her duties as the Guardian very seriously and when a skeleton is unearthed in the excavation for the new spa the adventure begins!

wow I couldn't put this book down. I have read all other books in this series and this is one of the best.
The secrets of storyton hall is passed down to Jane Stewart as the guardian of rare books and writings as well as running the retreat for book lovers.
I love all her friends and all the village characters and how they rally round when needed. .
What a wonderful story full of twist ,turns and intrigue as well as secrets .
I highly recommend this book ,I would definitely start at the 1st book as it will give you information of people at the hall and what roll they play .
Thank you for letting me read and review this book .

I’ve said it before and I’ll gladly say it again: Ellery Adams is the best in the business. Her world building and relationships are spectacular. If you’re a cozy mystery fan and you’re not reading Ellery Adams, go to the library, check out one of her books and read your heart out.

Once again Ellery Adams expands the cozy genre by weaving strong thriller threads into the fabric of her latest Book Retreat Mystery, Murder in the Locked Library.

Jane Steward has been named the Guardian of the secret library* of rare books hidden within Storyton Hall, the resort that Jane manages. Her twin sons, Fitz and Hem, spot the bones of a body while watching a construction crew prepare the site for a new addition to the resort. In addition to the bones, a “time-ravaged” book is found in a box by the bones. An anthropologist is called to help identify the gender, and possibly the identity, of the bones.

In the meantime, Storyton Hall is preparing for The Rare Books Convention and Jane suggests that maybe one of the experts attending can help identify the book which may provide clues to whose bones they found. The sheriff agrees, and Jane solicits the help of the Robert Harley Rare Book Society who meet with Jane privately to examine the book. The next day, Bart Baylor, president of the Robert Harley Rare Book Society, comes to Jane and requests a private meeting so they go to the first-floor library. Bart explains that the book is quite possibly a book entitled The Devil’s Recipes because the recipes were thought to be “hazardous to the public’s health.” He also adds that the ink on the pages is not washed away but instead hidden and can be restored by a simple chemical process. At that point Bart experiences an allergic reaction and his Epi-pen is administered. Unfortunately, Bart dies within minutes.

Now there are bones to identify, an active death to investigate and well devised red herrings to distract. Ms. Adams has crafted a multi-layered story that combines elements of a cozy mystery with those of a thriller. At the core is the richly drawn community that make cozies feel so comfortable while trying to solve the mystery. Throughout this adventure Ms. Adams pulls in interesting thriller threads like: the story behind the bones and book; or the backgrounds of the men who serve in various functions at Storyton Hall while insuring the security of the secret library; or the covert sect that Edwin, the Templar and man she loves, represents.

Her characters are convincing. Dialogue is realistic. The pacing is steady but easily pushes the reader through the story. Bottom line: Ms. Adams conceives intriguing plotlines, writes engaging stories and literally takes the reader on a suspense filled adventure.

*“A treasure trove of rare, invaluable, controversial, and potentially dangerous books…. collected since man first began recording the human narrative.” – Murder in the Locked Library