Picking up immediately where the previous book ended, Jane and Lachlan arena a mission to find
Jane's missing boyfriend Edwin Alcott. In the hunt for Edwin, Jane and her loyal Fin stumble across a bigger mystery which includes a dead body, along with a heartbreaking twist I never saw coming. The mystery follows Jane back to Storyton Hall, and she has much to do and many hard decisions to make. I can't say much without giving away the plot, except that from page one the story was fast paced and full of twists and turns. This book was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole book. The ending seemed almost like a goodbye, which I hope is not the case--because I feel like certain relationships need more exploring. Having said all that, this one is a must read for any mystery fan--but it should not be read as a standalone. I would give this 10 stars if I could.

I have always enjoyed this series. This book reads like it is the last in the series although the author could just be taking it in a different direction. Either way, my recommendation is don't start the series with this book. I like the characters and the setting of Storyton Hall. This would be a place I'd love to visit. or even live. The mystery kept me guessing, and some great surprises.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - Terrific series.

Wow, the surprises in this book kept me reading! Any bibliophile needs to read this series. There are so many book references, some of which made me go look for the books (is there a book that continues the Jane Eyre story -- if so, I want to read it!) Any lover of history will love the offsite setting at Biltmore Estate. It makes me want to go visit it! This is a great addition to this series, which is a must read.

Adams delivers another great mystery. I love the first setting at Biltmore Estates. Jane is attending a conference there, but is really there to track down her missing lover, Edwin. She finds more than Edwin, however. Jane receives an enourmous shock. I like the nuances of the literary history entertwined throughout the plot and what a find it would be to discover that forgotten suitcase. Adams provides a.drastic decision Jane makes as far as the future of Storyton Hall's secret library, which I found surprising and makes me wonder if there will be another book in this series.

I’ve enjoyed this series, and I’m disappointed that this book seems to be the end of it. I was also disappointed that the first three quarters of the book were so melodramatic and then the last quarter was quite slow as there was no liner a plot, just tiring up some loose ends of characters’ storylines. If you’re a fan of the series, you should still read it to see how things end!

Intrigue, mystery all wrapped up into a great must read book.

This story is about Jane finding her missing boyfriend, a dead body and a lost suitcase stolen from a Paris train station in 1922. It’s definitely a page turner. by the end of the story you want to move into Storyton Hall and live there forever. It keeps you guessing until the end. As this is book 5 of the Book Retreat Mystery Series it does leave you wondering if this may be the last book. I sure hope not as I love the characters.

A must read!!

I love this author and her other series. Once again death finds Jane. Once when looking for Edwin and then again back home at Storyton Hall. Someone from Jane’s past will also come back. The ending was a surprise but I won’t spoil your fun.
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While I consider myself a fan of Ellery Adams, I had. It yet read any of the books in the Book Retreat series and to be perfectly honest, I’m not loving this one. It could be that I got introduced on the last book, but I keep going back to the characters and plot. Current day Members I’d Secret Societies and the Knights Templar are a bit off the path of my favored genre. There also seems to be a bit of backstory that you can pick up on, but probably would do well to have read the previous stories in the series.

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.

If I could simply use one word for this book review, it would be "Wow"!

I have always enjoyed this series, and without posting spoilers it is hard to fully write my thoughts. Suffice to say, this latest offering grabbed me from the first page and did not let go.
It is a sign that it is a good book, because when I could not read it, I was thinking about it!
I strongly suggest you read this series in order, to fully appreciate it.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Ellery Adams writes superb settings. Such is her ability, a reader would love to travel to her locations and partake of the tempting offerings. If a magic travel agency appeared, I would book a trip to Storyton immediately. I would be drawn to both the public libraries, and the secret library. Who wouldn't wish to read treasures once deemed to precious to be shared with the world? Especially if Mrs. Hubbard where there to prepare your heart's delight.

The theme of war and reconciliation is stated in the opening epigraphs. Steven Crane writes of the “red animal—war, the blood swellen god. Countering E.M. Forster suggests, “if the mothres of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.” In the opening, Jane is rushing to another battle in her private war. Her task, to rescue her lover, Edwin from the dark Templars. Missing for nearly two months, Jane is convinced he is being held captive at Biltmore. The stakes are high as these men are from the same group that kidnapped her twins (Book 4). Her search for Edwin is successful in part. The other part includes a shattering find that changes everything. Compounding the event is the death of Biltmore's retired gardener and fellow book lover. Jane knows she is facing a formidable foe.

Storyton Hall is hosting another form of warfare. A group of historians have been touring the United States celebrating the centennial of the First World War. They have booked Storyton Hall for a weekend that will feature a reenactment of one of the battles. When another innocent is found dead, Jane wonders if she will ever be able to bring a peaceful resolutin to her own conflict.

This appears to be the concluding book in the Book Retreat Series. Adams is beginning a new series, The secrtm book & scone Society. I look forward to reading these new adventures.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this Kindle edition from netgally.com and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

Murder in the Reading Room is a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns. I could not out the book down. I loved the characters and the plot.

Simply love and enjoy this series, and this book is a fabulous addition, with templars and the Biltmore House. I love the characters and their relationships with each other. Fast paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat wondering how Jane would solve this one. Well done.

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams was an excellent addition to this series. If it hadn't been for the real world, I've had read this in an afternoon.

It is filled with a complex mystery that kept me turning the pages and filled me with some anxiety as to how Jane was going to win this "chess game" against this master and villainous Templar who seemed to be holding all of the answers. Jane and each of the Fins have won my heart and my admiration over the course of this series. I've said it before and I say it again, I want to move into Storyton Hall and become a permanent resident. The plot moved swiftly and the twists often scared me, for Jane, as I was reading. There was also a huge surprise twist that I never saw coming from Ms. Adams which only added to the tension of the story. I do believe that this is the last book in this series. The final chapters seemed to be tying up many story lines that have run throughout this series. I will miss this series if I have surmised correctly but I am glad for the experience of having enjoyed each book.

amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, library

***** Secret libraries, fantastic estates, legendary authors, an assistant with war PTSD, a murder mystery, and TEMPLARS! Just short of being an urban fantasy with an amateur sleuth who is the mother of twins, this one is ingenious! Can you tell that I loved it? The publisher's blurb is pretty basic but spoilers are just wrong, much as I'd like to highlight incidents.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Another delightful entry in a delightful series by Ms. Adams. Jane and all the supporting characters are enjoyable, add an adventure at the elegant Biltmore House and you can't ask for more. Hoping for more in this series.

Wonderful story. I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. I loved the book and it is quite a page-turner. I loved the characters who support Jane Steward. In this novel, Jane Steward is in for a major surprise. Jane Steward travels to the Biltmore to rescue her new boyfriend from the clutches of a villain. Lots of twists in this novel.

I started reading the book and finished the book within hours!

This series continues to provide an entertaining reading experience as well as bringing up some thought-provoking issues. Hoping this is not the final book in the series now that things are changing with the library.