The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe is the sixth A Hope Street Church Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or have missed a tale or two. I have enjoyed following the series and getting to know Cooper Lee, the Lee family, and the members of the Sunrise Bible Study. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing and developed characters. I like that there is a diverse cast of characters in a wide range of ages. Cooper Lee is our protagonist whose engagement recently dissolved. The story begins in June in Virginia close to the day Cooper was to have wed. She is thirty-five years old and is beginning to wonder if the right man is out there for her. It is especially hard with Angela Farmer and her boss, Mr. Farmer deciding to renew their vows on their anniversary. Angela makes Cooper part of the bridal party and Cooper’s sister Ashley becomes the wedding planner. The wedding planning and the event itself add humor to the story. Cooper Lee is a kind soul who will go the extra mile for family and friends. Ashley’s friend, Mindy Atwood has spent her inheritance restoring the historical Atwood Inn. Cooper Lee and her friends of the Sunrise Bible Study get to spend the weekend at the inn for the soft launch. It is the getaway Cooper needs. Unfortunately, Loretta ends dead under suspicious circumstances and Cooper’s mother is at the top of the suspect list along with Mindy Atwood. Cooper is not about to let her mother linger as a person of interest and her friends are quick to offer their assistance. The mystery was a fun one to solve. I had an inkling as to the identity of the guilty party early in the case, but I had no idea as to why. I could not wait to see if I was right. There are several good suspects along with a red herring and helpful clues. This was my favorite mystery of the series. Cooper Lee meets a new fellow at the inn and there is definitely chemistry between them. I hope we get to see more of the charming Chef Eason in future books because he seems to be a good match for Cooper Lee. The ending was a delight. There are recipes for some of Maggie Lee’s baked goods at the end. The Deeds of the Deceitful is an entertaining cozy mystery with a handsome historic inn, a snobbish stepmother, a crafty killer, a purloined painting, wedding renewal woes, and delectable delights.

I’ve never read a cozy mystery, but I knew when I saw Tina Radcliffe’s name on the cover of The Deeds of the Deceitful, I had to try it out. I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed this story with its likable characters, interesting mystery, and really sweet romance.

Cooper and Jon’s romance was my favorite part of this story. I know, I know, it’s a cozy mystery, but I loved them! Especially Jon! But, don’t get me wrong, I thought the mystery was really good too! I fluctuated between what I thought really happened and why and who did it. I also enjoyed glimpses of the lives of the members of the Bible study group. It makes me want to go back and start with the first book in this series! If this book is a good example of what cozy mysteries are like, I will definitely be reading more of them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love returning to Hope Street Church in Virginia in this wonderful next in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. Ellery Adams has created this series of heartwarming friendships that is a delight to read. I highly recommend this next in series for your reading enjoyment. It is such a delight to read in these difficult times. One wishes they could transport themselves to Hope Street Church and live among this charming place.

Cooper is balancing several responsibilities as a Maid of Honor to her Sister a "Bridezilla" , her busy Bible Study and a sweet romance. Things really get busy when he Bible Study group venture to a Historic Inn for a get a way together. Old animosities from the owner arise to create tension. When a murder occurs Cooper must step up her sleuthing skills as never before to solve this complicated case.
I love how Cooper is developing her confidence in this 6th in series and becoming more courageous after a failed romance left her devastated. The romance is just right . The sleuth is very well crafted and kept me guessing to conclusion. I love the Bible Study group and how their friendships are so bonded. This was a fun read and the perfect well crafted sleuth . I highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment for all who appreciate Christian based stories and charcters.

An engaging cozy mystery!

Deeds of the Deceitful is such fun to read. Not only is there an intriguing crime to solve, but there is a hint of romance and a virtual trip to the charming Atwood Inn near Richmond, Virginia.

I completely enjoyed the assortment of amateur sleuths who meet as the Sunrise Bible Study group, but also get involved in solving local mysteries. With a suspicious death, a missing painting, and a cast of possible suspects, I was fascinated with trying to figure out this “who done it.” Since I’m a foodie, the details involving a couple of chefs and a baker....plus all the goodies from Magnolia’s Marvels....were a delight. (Recipes included!)

This is the first time I’ve read a selection from the Hope Street Church Mysteries series, so I can definitely say this book is a stand alone...and I want to read the others. With great details and a interesting investigation, I highly recommend Deeds of the Deceitful to all cozy mystery genre enthusiasts!

Favorite quotes:
“This is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle when the dog ate a few pieces.”
“My grandmother always says that the only thing bigger than our problems is the Lord.”

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley with no requirement to write a positive review. I’m offering my honest opinion.

This is the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
I'm huge fan of Ellery Adams and she never fails to deliver highly entertaining and compelling story.
I liked the fleshed out characters, the setting and the solid mystery.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe is number six in the Hope Street Church mystery series. This is unique in that it is the only Christian Cozy I have read to date. The amateur sleuths are a small group of people who attend the same church and belong to a Bible study group. In this case, they have been invited to sample a new bed and breakfast as part of its soft opening. As none of the could probably afford to stay there on their own, they jumped at the chance. It was owned by a friend of the sister of one of the members, Cooper Lee, Mindy Atwood, who had inherited it from her father. She shared ownership with her unpleasant stepmother, Loretta, but she had control over all business decisions, until she ended up dead in a car wreck. The things started getting messy. It looked like it might be murder.

There are all kinds of peripheral characters in this book who help the story along but are not really a part of it. One is Cooper's mother, Maggie who has a small business providing pastries for other businesses in town. One is Atwood's, and despite the fact that she knew about Loretta's peanut allergy, an open pastry was found in her car and so she is under suspicion. All kinds of things happen in this story: there is a wedding; artwork is stolen; there is a possible new romance for Cooper; birdhouses gain in popularity; Atwood's may never open again. The characters are good and pretty ordinary except for Bryant, who is a member of the group and a weatherman on the local news; he seems almost to be a caricature, although he is likable enough. The murderer is kind of a surprise but it all makes sense in the end. It was a good mystery, a series I have never read before. Everyone was pretty normal: no interesting jobs or interesting settings, just real life. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Deeds of the Deceitful by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thedeedsofthedeceitful

Great read by a new author for me. The plot is well written and enticing to the reader. The author writes in a way that makes the reader feel like part of The story.

This is the sixth book in the series, but the first one I read. I really enjoyed it. The story was well thought out and it flowed smoothly. The characters were genuine and well developed. I liked that the way the Bible study group worked together and helped investigate the crime. This is a good series to read because the characters feel like old friends getting together again. I don't think it is necessary to read the series in order because this story was easy to follow on its own. I highly recommend this book. I will be going back and reading the others in this series.

Cooper Lee and her Bible study group have been invited to do a soft opening at a new inn in town. The inn is lovely; however, the mother-in-law has major issues. She negates the relaxation vibe of the inn. When she is found dead in a car accident the next morning, foul play is suspected.

This is an interesting mystery with a side story of a wedding. I liked the characters and the story. This is the first I have read in the series but it definitely stands alone.

Cooper Lee and the Hope Street bible study friends are off to a historic Inn to be the first customers during it's "soft opening". The Inn's owner wants the group to give feedback on the amenities offered, however when a cruel relative of the owner is murdered, the group will be giving feedback on murder!

I love this series! It has all the cozy elements I love - mystery, likable characters you can relate to, family, a group of loyal friends who support each other, humor and a main character (Cooper Lee) that you would like to have as a friend. There is romance but it doesn't overshadow the mystery. While the series has it's basis in a bible study group, the characters have everyday challenges that their faith and friends help them through. The main theme is solving the mystery, but we see glimpses of Cooper's friends lives and her own. That made me enjoy the book even more!

I'll definitely be back for the next book!

This is the sixth book of the Hope Church Mysteries series but the first that I have read. I don't feel that it caused me a problem following the storyline. It is an fun premise where a Bible study group seemed to be in a position to solve mysteries that appear before them. We see this story from the viewpoint of Cooper Lee, who is a thirty five year old who has been unlucky in love. In fact, the story starts off on what should have been her wedding day, a beautiful June day in Virginia. She lives in a garage apartment behind her parents' home while her younger sister is married with a toddler. When her sister's best friend Mindy is opening a new B&B and wants to host a soft opening, Cooper's Bible study group is invited for a weekend that they all accept gladly. The stepmother of Mindy is not a pleasant person and would like to sell the large old family home instead of opening the B&B. When she is killed in an auto accident later determined to be murder, Mindy is one of the suspects, although not the only one. A valuable original painting is also taken. The Bible study group put on their sleuthing hats to find out the truth among the several suspects and whether the murder and theft are related. This is a fun mystery to watch unravel as the group works along with the detective on the case. The series has a diversity of characters that are realistic and likable, including Cooper's family, co-workers, the Bible study group, those at the B&B , including a handsome chef. A wedding does happen with Cooper's boss and his wife renew their vows.
I received a complimentary ARC from Beyond the Page Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

I do like a good cozy character with a posse! Often times a character will have a supportive friend or two but this mystery, not unlike the Supper Club series (nice work J.B. Stanley) has a group to help noodle out the puzzles. This group is a bible study group which is also a new and interesting twist for me as well and I must admit that I am now looking back over the book of Proverbs much like the Hope Street Church bible study group. Cooper Lee has not been lucky in love but she can always count on her friends, of course when the new Chef in town takes a shine to her, she can count on her friends to nudge her in the right direction as well. Thankfully Chef Jon is not on the suspect list, but there are plenty of people who are because the Laura Atwood, the victim was not well liked, even by her own daughter, chef Alice Mayberry, much less her stepdaughter and half owner of the Inn, Mindy Atwood. Cooper and her group have more than just a murder to solve since an extremely rare painting was discovered to be missing when Loretta was discovered to be dead. A pleasant read that keeps you guessing as to who did what and why, not to mention the WONDERFUL Magnolia's Marvels recipes found at the back of the book. I for one have already made th classic 7 layer bars to snack on while reading.

The Deeds of the Deceitful by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliff was a whole new genre than I usually read. I picked up the book from Netgalley because of previous Ellery Adams books I have enjoyed. This book had a very religious spin to it. Cooper Lee and her bible study group are invited to spend a weekend at a historic Inn that has been renovated. A co-owner is murdered and Cooper's mother is one of the suspects. Cooper runs a division at Make It Work, she repairs copy machines. The bible study group are a diverse group, in order to look at the historic Inn differently and give a variety of opinions. In the story there are bible passages. Not many mystery stories I have read have bible passages in them. Jon Eason, the chief, is becoming friends with Cooper and works at the Inn. The bible study group helps in solving the death and stolen painting. The author added positive quotes for this "feel good" cozy mystery.

I really enjoy cozy mysteries, but rarely venture into the Christian Cozy genre however this series has me hooked. I absolutely love the main character Cooper, who often doubts herself and her value but always stands up for those she cares about. This book is no exception and we see Cooper start to let go of the doubt she has of herself and her talents. I really enjoyed seeing her start to blossom and become more confident. The murder mystery is intriguing and well plotted out, toss in a budding romance and a strong connection of friends and family and you have the perfect formula for a wonderful afternoon of reading!

I really enjoyed this cozy and it was my first in the series. It was well written and had me guessing throughout. Cooper is working hard with her bible group to make sure her mom is not charged. The characters are very relatable. I would recommend this series!
#TheDeedsoftheDeceitful #NetGalley

This is a well written cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. This is the first book I've read in this series and I loved it. If you like good clean mysteries that will keep you turning the pages, you will love this book. Thank you Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Deeds of the Deceitful was my first cozy mystery and I loved it! Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe wrote a great mystery!

Cooper Lee and her Hope Street Church Bible study group are a fun group of diverse characters that keep getting drawn into crimes that have them sleuthing about and piecing together mysteries, much to the chagrin of the local police. I worked to solve the mystery right along with them. The group reminds me of Aurora Teagarden and her Real Life Murder Club.

I enjoyed all the gourmet food references and the humor had me laughing, "You must be a Southerner with that drawl."' "You mean more Southern than Virginia?" And the meteorologist's comment about getting a mud mask, " my pores are very important now that everything is in high definition." The wedding event was the hilarious icing on the cake, I loved Angela and Mr. Farmer, such an odd couple, but surprisingly endearing at the same time.

The book setting in Richmond, Virginia is only a few hours from me. I enjoyed reading about the local landmarks mentioned, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and The Jefferson Hotel. The Lamplighter Coffee Cafe reference has me longing for a road trip to explore the area again.

I do hope the Hope Street Church mystery series has another book coming. After all Cooper has been through, she deserves a happy ending that will do away with her self-doubts, "Better to concentrate on whodunit than her own life. Solving a crime was so much less complicated."

I appreciate Beyond the Page Publishing, through Netgalley, making a copy of Deeds of the Deceitful available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

I really enjoyed this book, and it makes a perfect addition to the series.
I love the writing style of the story, and the friendship among all of the characters is heartwarming.
The mystery is intensive and I had a wonderful time trying to figure out whodunnit.
I hope there’s more to come in this inspirational series.

3.5 stars.
Cozy mysteries are such fun and I enjoy them very much. This one is part of a series but totally can be read as a stand alone.

Cooper Lee and her Bible study group are invited to spend the weekend at a newly renovated inn as part of their soft launch. All are so excited to be there. But then there is a murder and the study group turns detective to figure out the culprit.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, as I do, settle back and see if you are up to playing the part of a detective.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book through Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.

The Hope Street Bible study is back and murder ensues when they are invited to the soft opening of an upscale Historic Inn. Cooper Lee not only has a murder case on her hands with her Momma as a suspect, but she’s also helping her sister with her boss’ wedding while also being the Maid of Honor. With her hands busy, and heart still closed after a failed engagement, Cooper meets a man who is interested in her and her heart just won’t let her go there yet.

With the support of her friends and family, Cooper manages to juggle sleuthing, planning a wedding, and dodging a potential suitor. But will she drop all the balls she has in the air if her luck runs out? She puts her trust in God and decides to let the cards fall where they may with her efforts.

This is the first book in this series I have read, but I am very familiar with a few of Ellery Adams’ other series and adore them. Since this is the first book in more than four years in this series, I am glad it caught my attention and I can binge on the previous books while I wait for the next in this series. A solid whodunit with love, faith and family mixed in that won’t let you down.