Ellery Adams never fails to deliver and this is an excellent story, well plotted and engrossing.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Murder and fairy tales come together in this cozy mystery. A family Valentines event is marred by a murder of an unknown woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood. Jane and her staff must work to see if the murderer is a guest at the inn while entertaining families and children.

The epilogue hints at the next book in the series and I cannot wait to read it!

Storyton Hall is an estate that’s been turned into a resort. It’s hosting a children’s book publishing event and proprietress Jane Steward would like nothing better than to have it go off without a hitch. Unfortunately for her and 2 of her guests, murder comes calling. A woman dressed as Little Red Riding Hood is found murdered and then another woman is murdered and staged to look like the Snow Queen. Who is committing and staging these Fairytale murders? Can Jane, her friends and staff, along with the sheriff, figure out the clues before someone else winds up dead?

I liked this book. It’s the newest entry to the “Book Retreat Mystery” series. I’ve never heard of the series before, but I saw the blurb for it on Netgalley and asked for an advanced ARC so I could check it out (for my review, of course!). Not having read any of the other books, there was enough backstory provided that I got the gist of what had gone on previous and was able to understand what had happened before this book.

I’ve been reading quite a few “cozy mysteries” as of late and I’m kind of getting burnt out on the pretentiousness of some of them. It seems like so many of them (to me) go over the top in letting you know that the characters have money, can do whatever they like, are gourmands, top of the line everything, etc. This book however, did not do that. It was so refreshing! Yes, Jane is living and working in her ancestral home, but there’s no brand names thrown about, no gourmet meals all the time, just her working to keep her family business going. She’s also the Guardian of a secret library. I’ll need to read the rest of the series and find out more about that. I wish this was an actual place. The way Storyton hall and the Village are described, it made me want to go there and visit myself. I love books and fairytales and a place that’s all about them? How cool is that?! I’d be in heaven.

If you like to read cozy mysteries, this book is worth taking a look at.

“Murder in the Storybook Cottage” by Ellery Adams the 6th instalment in the "Book Retreat Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and have been slowly buying the whole series.

I found myself enjoying the story, I love the premise of a town and hotel devoted to reading. The way it’s described I feel like I’m there with them. One of the things I love about this series is the characters you have Fins, Templar, but the whole town is like one big family. I want to be a Cover Girl and be part of their book club.

The mystery was interesting and well plotted, the idea of a fairy tale murder was good and I did not suspect the killer till Jane did.

My favorite quote from Murder in the Storybook Cottage was in the epilogue when Eloise answers Jane by opening her copy of “The Great Alone“ to a page marked by a sticky note and read, “‘Some people have family photos or home movies to record their past. I’ve got books. Characters. For as long as I can remember, books have been my safe place.’”

I liked the hint at the end of the book that two characters from one of Ms. Adams' other series are going to make an appearance at Storyton Hall maybe in the next book. I look forward to seeing how Olivia and Jane get along.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

A bit tame if I do say so, it's intriguing with mild excitement. Jane's sleuthing needs more to desire, she and her staff act like they are the ones in charge instead of the Sheriff and his deputies. A mild yet interesting cozy.

Murder in the Storybook Cottage is the sixth book in the Book Retreat series. Jane Steward is hosting a children's book conference at Storyton Hall when two murders are committed and a "Fairy Tale" killer is on the loose.

It is always a pleasure to read a book by Ellery Adams because her stories are so descriptive. When reading about Storyton,, I feel like I am visiting the Greenbrier, only with book themes. Ms. Adams really makes the scenery come alive - from the drinks served at the All Colors Cocktail Party to the costumes and decor at the Alice in Wonderland tea to the experiences of the Golden Bookmark Winners. As a reader, I can really imagine myself submerged into the Storyton community.

This book is a true nod to the Grimm's twisted fairy tales. The story keeps you on edge. I would never have guessed the resolution to the two murders. I like how Jane and the Fins work so well in conjunction with the Sheriff.

I can take or leave Jane's relationship with Edwin. I am not too invested in their relationship. I prefer Lachlan and Eloise and was delighted in how their relationship moved forward in this book.

My favorite part of the entire book was the hint that two characters from one of Ms. Adams' other series are going to make an appearance at Storyton sometime in the future. I look forward to having Olivia's world merge with Jane's world.

I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Can I please visit Storyton Hall? Because despite the number of murders happening there it sounds utterly delightful.
Another great instalment in one of my favourite cozy series. Pretty good whodunnit, amazing events happening at Storyton, delicious sounding food and drink, a pretty lovely romance, and characters I'm actually invested in. Perfect reading for these uncertain times.

What could be more fun that a children's book conference at Storybrook Hall!!! Jane and the Covergirls, her book club friends, are so excited to meet their favorite authors and book artists as well as to see all the delighted children, but something sinister is lurking around the grounds of the hall. Someone is killing seemingly random women with old fairy tale themes. Jane and the Fins must work overtime to keep the children safe and catch a killer or two. Meanwhile, several of the Covergirls are also finding their relationships heating up! I love the multi-layered plots that not only entertain, but draw you in and help you feel connected to the characters. This author weaves characters that are very realistic and charming that you feel as if you are meeting up with old friends rather than stepping into a story. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book and oh how I wish Storybrook Hall was a real place so I could plan a vacation there!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I didn't realize this is part of a series. I can't wait to read the others in this series. I enjoyed this author as well. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams is an edifying cozy mystery that is so churning with personality I hardly know where to start. Jane, the heroine and amateur sleuth (although less amateur than many) operates a small resort, which is entirely book-themed. She loves on the grounds with her twin sons and lovingly brings the love of books to many. At the first mention of Guardians/Templars I was hooked, although the connection was not the brunt of the story. See and her friends have a book club, the Cover Girls, that comes together for far more than discussing books. They are the backbone of Jane's life, always available to assist, to support, and to babysit. Storyton is a wonderful little town that Adams has constructed as the setting for this wonderful series. Very much book-themed as well, which is why Storyton Hall has thrived.

Shortly the main business of the guardians will come to an end when the ancient volumes they hold in trust will be disbursed, but this is a secondary plot. The main plot, of course, is a murder, a planned murder, and a clever one at that. But where had this victim even come from? She was not a registered guest. Jane handled it all with aplomb and grace and not a sole knew what was happening until she saw fit to tell them. And the local police welcomed, no, sought, her assistance in solving the case. A refreshing change. I love this book. It was challenging and different. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Murder at the Storybook Cottage from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #murderinthestorybookcottage

Princess Fuzzypants here: I enjoy this series with its combination of spies and Templar-like characters, a hotel and town devoted to books and reading and a secret library that has a guardian to protect it from the bad guys who want the treasures it holds. There is the family- Jane and her twins, Hem and Fitz, her mysterious beau, the Fins who protect Jane and the library and an assortment of other characters who are charming and slightly whimsical. It is always a joy to catch up with what it happening in their world.
They are hosting a Children’s book convention and a gathering of families to delight any young reader. It has been prepared to the final touches but the discovery of a body of a woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood is just the beginning events that will throw a pall over the festivities. The second killing proves beyond a doubt that someone is seeking revenge and using book themes to exact it. Who would be so black hearted to do such things with children around? And then threaten Jane’s two boys?
There are red herrings galore amongst the candy and sweets. They hide the real villains and the motives so the reader is left guessing in a very effective way. But Jane and her friends are on the hunt and they will not stop until justice is served. Just the right touch of whimsy with mystery and a little bit of romance too.
Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the 6th book in the Book Retreat Mystery series. I've read them all and they get progressively better with each book. The characters are vibrant and every book seems likes visiting old friends. The story revolves around different book fairytales, and the book is a great afternoon read.


Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I enjoyed this one much more than the previous one. It's not nearly so over the top and out there, now that they're slowly supposed to be dismantling the collection. I still find the Edward storyline silly, but at least it's a bit minimized in this one.

All in all, I love the setting, the town, and the idea of the series, I'm just still a bit hesitant about the practice, haha.

Hoping this leads in to a bit more "normal" stories, instead of cozyish spy tales.

Murder in the Storybook Cottage is the sixth installment in Book Retreat Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone.
As with any series it is always better to start at the beginning if you are interested in character development, if you only read for the mystery reading in any order is absolutely fine.

I fell in love with Storyton Hall, its vastness, secret chambers and corridors, hidden rooms and passages. It is like a magic castle. Activities that feature in these series are so creative and inviting. I absolutely love their little village and I adore quirky and imaginative names for all the stores. This is the place that I wished really existed so that I could move there.

In this particular book, Jane is overseeing another conference and a scavenger hunt through the forest. So to say that the place is hopping with activity would be an understatement.
So the last thing Jane needs is another dead body. Which is exactly what happens, when a woman dressed as a Little Red Riding Hood is found dead with a valuable book in her basket. Soon another murder follow, another character with a valuable book.
As always it is up to Jane and her family and friends to help her catch the killer.

I love this series besides from everything else I mentioned, because the mysteries are so well presented, they are intelligent and the characters are believable and relatable. The main protagonist is a level headed mother of two who is almost always careful and very cautious and doesn't rush into dangerous and silly situations.
The trails are left clearly to everyone to follow yet culprit is not easy to figure out.
The stories have their own rhythm and pace and are easy to read.
Highly recommended.

I really wish this was a real place so that I could visit. My favorite thing about these mysteries is that they are not predictable. I can never guess the killer ahead of time but the explanation of who did it always makes perfect sense.

Storyton Hall’s renown for its libraries and its beautiful surroundings makes it an ideal location for book-themed gatherings. During a conference on children’s books, Jane Steward, the owner/manager of Storyton Hall plans on unveiling her Storybook Village, full of quaint cottages with activities designed to entertain and educate children of all ages. Her plans change with the discovery of the body of a woman dressed like Little Red Riding Hood in one of the cottages. A second death sets everyone’s nerves on end and involves Jane's friends in helping her find the murder.

The sixth book in the A Book Retreat Mystery series, Murder in the Storybook Village can be read as a standalone. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but, other than a few references to earlier events, I didn’t feel I that I missed anything major. While it was not unusual for the meeting rooms to have literary names, I could see the author had fun naming the characters for their roles.

The solution to the mysterious deaths is complex and unexpected and the road to the resolution somewhat convoluted, but I enjoyed the discovery. I have added the other books in the series to my TBR.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance t o read this book. My opinion is my own.

This is the sixth book in the Book Retreat mystery series and are best read in order to get the most out of them. While the previous books in the series were closer to the true definition of a cozy, this one has a darker side but it's still a cozy. The setting alone is cozy. After five mysteries, this has a killer not connected to Jane's family. However all of her family and friends gather together to track down the killer - I love spending time with all of them. Each mystery is complex and full of so many twists and turns that I was staying up way past my bed time, saying just one more page over and over again.
As well as the excellent mystery, the wonderful characters and the lovely setting fans of the series will have even more reason to be eager for the next book. Some favorite characters from another series might be showing up for a visit to Storyton Hall and I, for one, can't wait to see them.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love books by this author. I requested this so late, I never had the opportunity to download it. I'm sure it was every bit as good as every other book. by Ellery Adams.

Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams is book six in The Book Retreat Mystery Series. I truly enjoy this series.
Jane is ready for the Children's Book Conference to begin at Storyton Hall the next morning. There has even been a story book village for the children built on the property. While doing last minute checks, Jane finds a body in one of the new buildings and it resembles Red Riding Hood. No one knows her and is was not a registered guest. But the conference must go on and everything seems to be going along fine until a guest goes missing. When the body is found, with a different fairy tale reference, Jane knows she needs to find out who is behind these murders and why.
This cozy is well written with many plot twists that have you wondering until the end. You also have a magical sounding setting that has you wishing you were there. There is friendship, family, romance, some humor and maybe even an engagement...…
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.