Rating 4.5

This is the third book in the Secrets and Scrabble series. This has been a wonderful addition to the cozy mystery series. I love the characters in this series, not just the main characters, but the whole island has some wonderful characters that make up the cast of the book. The story is fast paced and hard to put down. Such a great series, I can’t wait for the next installment.

Ellery Page is settling into his new home town and running the local bookstore. He might be a little disappointed that the romance he thought he had going with Police Chief Jack Carson seems to have cooled into a friendship but this small town has been welcoming. He's got a Scrabble night, a book club, and an invitation to the yearly Marauder's Masquerade. The party is thrown by a local founding family who still wield a lot of influence and money, the Bloodworths. There is mother, Marguerite, her younger (and philandering) husband Brett, and son Julian.
Not sure why he was invited, Ellery soon discovers that Julian has a massive crush on him, based on Ellery's past as a movie star. Ellery is bemused by his overtures but not as amused when the two stumble across a body in the family crypt. When Julian is arrested for the crime, Ellery is conscripted to help find the truth.
I hadn't read the other two books in this series but didn't feel like I had missed very much. The mystery in this story is given some short shrift with a B plot feeling a little underdeveloped. The flow of the story was also sometimes stilted but this was overall a light story with engaging characters (I was invested in Jellery (is that a thing?) from their first scene together.

Three stars
Follows Secret at Skull House
This book came out February 28th, 2021
ARC kindly provided by JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Another enjoyable and light-hearted cosy mystery in the Secrets and Scrabble series. I like the quaint coastal community and the quirky range of characters who dwell there and have mostly accepted Ellery as one of their own.

There’s two crimes to solve this time around and the love interest between Jack and Ellery sizzles away nicely.

Along with his Julian, Ellery’s unexpected date at the Masquerade Ball, they stumble upon the body of a recently murdered victim. Julian rather than Ellery is the prime suspect this time around, and Ellery somewhat reluctantly agrees to investigate to prove Julian’s innocence. The only problem is, Ellery is not entirely convinced the man is blameless. Plus Ellery doesn’t really want to aggravate Jack anymore than necessary as he’s already been reprimanded for interfering during a local robbery.

You can feel the attraction and tension (that has been building since book 1) bubbling away in the scenes between Jack and Ellery. Jack is clearly jealous when Ellery and Julian are together. He obviously has feelings for Ellery, despite the two men agreeing to be friends only (with no benefits).

The crime plots are not too complicated and are easily resolved. The story is an easy read but the skill is to make it so and Josh Lanyon does this effortlessly.

Three books into this series and I can finally tell you what's bothering me about it. For a "serious" cozy that actually plays all tropes straight it's too eye-rolling and lazily done at times. Ellery is still relatively new in town but can just knock on doors of people who are connected with the murder and they'll happily answer all his questions. And for a book that pokes fun at popular cozy tropes it's not funny enough. I mean it's still Lanyon-funny. The designated couple has witty banter and the side-characters are lovely. But the above-mentioned scene is also not over the top enough to poke fun at all the charming amateur sleuths who just appear on the doorstep of a suspect/witness with a plate of cookies/the book they borrowed ages ago and question them totally inconspicuously. So on the whole the mystery-part remains rather unsatisfactory (and you wish the couple would Just Talk To Each Other but to be fair it's mostly in understandable doses and this is a romance after all).

This third installment in John Lanyon's new cozy mystery series was unexpectedly published in early 2021, ahead of schedule, and it is a welcome ray of sunshine (and murder).

Ellery and Jack, Buck Island's gorgeous police chief, are still friends .... just friends, no benefits. They share an easy casual friendship involving sanding, sawing and plenty of other home repairs at Ellery's decaying Dutch Renaissance style mansion, but anything beyond that involves the two men warily circling around any sort of actual involvement.

But an unexpected invitation to the annual Marauder's Masquerade at Bloodworth Manor puts Ellery in the middle of a murder in a mausoleum, with plenty of suspects and intrigue. Of course, Nora finds the murder a bit too convoluted.

"A hard shove down the stairs, a balcony railing giving way," Nora was saying dreamily. "That how you do it."
"Sometimes you scare me," Ellery remarked.

Don't get me wrong - like Nora, I simply adore a good old-fashioned murder mystery, and while the mystery here is interesting, well-written and completely gripping, I think I actually squealed in delight at the very G-rated, yet nicely steamy debut of some perhaps more-than-friendly benefits between Ellery and Jack. 4 stars for "Mystery at the Masquerade."

situational-humor, verbal-humor, island-life, small-business, small-town, romance, family-dynamics, friendship, LGBTQIA, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth*****

First off, I have never read anything by this author before but I liked it so very much that I bought the first two in series on audio before I had even finished this one. And not because it couldn't stand alone, either, but because this one was so good! It truly follows all the cozy criteria and has a great plot, fascinating characters, and laughs. It also has a police detective, a bookshop owner and former professional TV actor named Ellery (like Ellery Queen mystery writer!), a frenetic puppy named Watson (is there any other kind?), and the Silver Sleuths (but no covid).
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you!

I want to move to Pirate's Cove to join the Monday Night Scrabblers, browse the Crow's Nest book store, visit Captain's Seat and have tea with Ellery. And not just because I fucking love his name Elle... Er... Rrry Tongue against teeth, rolling your Rs. He is an experience and so is saying his name. *shudders pleasantly*

We return to the Cove in this third (of possibly 8) installment whereby there's a new misadventure to be had. Police Chief Jack Carson (diet Jake) has a case. There's burglary afoot, a string of them that have been hitting the high end homes with security systems that rely on the decency of neighbors to dissuade any ill-gotten gaining.

As the police are dealing with the string of home break-ins, a murder occurs at the town's masquerade party. And once more, Ellery finds himself caught up in his side gig as an amateur sleuth.

We also get more details about why Jack is Jakeing the way he is. It's a sweet development between the two leads and part of what he says leaves my heart smiling.
“It’s like living with a bullet in your heart. You figure it will kill you eventually— hell, you rely on that— but until then you go through the motions of pretending you’re still alive. And that’s how it is and how you figure it will always be. But then one day you notice the sunrise is beautiful. And one day you enjoy your cup of coffee. And one day something makes you laugh. And finally one evening you look across the room and see a guy having dinner and think, I wonder what he’s like.”
This book just hits you right in the feelings. And it's a cozy!? How dare it make me cry.
“The problem with that thinking is you’re choosing equilibrium over joy.”
There was also a lot of fun to be had from Ellery's assistant and professional town gossip Nora. Ellery finally stands up to the small town human answer to the Daily Mail, Sue, in a scene that was well overdue. I'm just sad she didn't fall in a steaming heap of manure. For science, of course. Ellery's rambunctious puppy, Watson, is also cool I guess. I don't know all the hypupperactivity just made me hyperaware of just how much I prefer cats.

But I digress, I can't wait for Ellery's next adventure. I most certainly can't wait to see if the residents of Pirate's Cove will finally figure out that his play Murder Mansion wasn't actually a comedy.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries - they aren't typically my thing but I really love this series. I like Ellery's wit, and humbleness. I'm intrigued and rooting for his relationship with Jack which had a set-back in the previous book. The mystery in this one was also well done and kept me engaged. These books are light, easy to read and entertaining. It's a quick read that left me smiling and looking forward to the next book in the series. The secondary characters in the charming seaside town are fun and amusing and make me want to live there. The romance in this series is definitely a very slow burn but I' enjoying the journey and look forward to more.

3.5 stars rounded up

This felt a bit different from the previous books in the series to me. It could be because Lanyon set out to write a Covid-free book that was anything but depressing (which I appreciate), but to me it felt like the mystery was almost an afterthought.

On the plus side, it was mostly fun every-day shenanigans of the lovely, close-knit island community (and the hilarious Watson) that continues to be adorable. And, even better, Jack and Ellery finally had an honest conversation and talked about where they stood. Emotionally, this book pushed the series forward, and I really loved seeing the two get closer.

But the mystery didn't really work for me in this one. And oh what a bummer that was given the amazing setting (masquerade ball, ghost hunt in a cemetery, the mausoleum of a family descended from pirates!), but. [It took almost half the (much shorter than usual) book to find the body, there were none of the usual red herrings and twists and turns, just one incident and then Ellery just says "I know who did it", and. That was it. Jack arrests the person, they confess. The end. (hide spoiler)] I just feel like there could have been more to the murder.

But all in all, this was a very lovely and fun read, just a bit different from the previous books. As far as cozy mysteries go, this one certainly delivered on the fun, cozy part, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time on the island with Ellery!

I received this ARC via Netgalley and JustJoshin Publishing, Inc, in return for an honest review. While the third book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone, other than a few references in the beginning to earlier incidents from the preceding books. Ellery Page is a former movie star and now owns a fabulous bookstore in Pirates Cove, Rhode Island. As a newcomer, he’d not expected an invitation to THE event of the social year, the annual Marauder’s Masquerade Ball. Hosted by the descendants of a famous pirate, the Bloodworths, Ellery is astonished to learn that he’d been specifically invited by Julian Bloodworth as a potential romantic interest. While Ellery’s flattered, Julian isn’t how sets his heart racing. That honor belongs to local police chief, Jack Carson. Unfortunately, Jack runs hot/cold any time they’re together, so Julian’s attention is a nice change. When Ellery and Julian stumble across a dead body in the family mausoleum, things take a macabre turn and put an end to the evening for everyone. Jack’s reactions to Ellery and Julian are also interesting in the context of the evening. When Julian is arrested, he begs Ellery to figure out who committed the murder before Julian is convicted. With great trepidation, Ellery agrees, and the amateur detecting is underway.
Ellery is very human and well written. His attraction to Jack, the frustration with the personal mixed messages, Julian’s rather infantile infatuation, the plethora of suspects – all combine to make a solid cozy. If you’re concerned about reading a male/male relationship cozy, Josh Layton is adept at presenting the characters delicately and appropriately. The physical aspects are limited to kisses and hugs. You’ll be rooting for a good resolution for Ellery and Jack’s possible relationship and how things evolve in the future storylines. Add in the delight of Ellery’s new puppy, Watson, and this is a very satisfying cozy mystery.

The book was great fun! I loved it the best of the three.

What I treasure about Josh Lanyon's writing is her willingness to take on twisted family dynamics along with M/M relationships. It's becoming clearer that the eccentric, wealthy families of the island are an excellent backdrop for mysteries and murders. Ellery has taken on a tinge of Adrien English, the L.A. bookseller turned amateur sleuth in her earlier series. I enjoyed the subtle humor, the quiet eroticism of the ending, and the moments of danger... which Lanyon does very well! It would be unfair to call Ellery a blundering fool, but his misadventure in the mausoleum was f-o-o-l-i-s-h. Also, I may be alone in this, but wish there were more of the Scrabble games. I find the Scrabble games potentially more interesting than the local repertory theater. And the character of Dylan always seems wasted, but that's a minor quibble.

I think it would have been hard to guess the motive for the murder (I didn't), but Julian was clearly as crazy as a coot, and (again) Ellery's ambivalence over Julian reminded me of Adrien English. Luckily, one senses that Ellery will be less of a flirt going forward as long as Jack is solidly in his "camp." And that seems to have happened. It was nicely done. Bottom line, the first two books seemed rushed to me. This didn't, and was all the better for it.

I will return with the Amazon link when the site lets me post the review. I just wanted to send this off! Thanks for the review copy.

I absolutely loved this MM romance.

Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.

I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite recommend!

Netgalley is a good way to discover authors and since I started reading Josh Lanyon’s book he became one of my favorite authors.
This cozy series is amongst my favorite and it’s also one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
There’s plenty of humor, well written and likable characters and solid mysteries. It’s a perfect cozy mystery written tongue in cheek and the stories always keep me hooked till the last page.
This story is no exception and I read it in one setting. I was happy to catch up with the quirky characters and appreciated the evolution in Ellery, less clumsy than before, and his slow burning romance with Jack.
Watson is one of the loveliest dog in the cozy mystery universe and he always makes me wish I had a dog like him.
The mystery is full of red herring, twists and turns. It kept me guessing and the solution came as a surprise.
This novel can be read as a stand-alone but it’s better to read the entire series as there is some backstory.
I can’t wait for the next two installment that I already preordered.
A highly entertaining and gripping story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"Mystery at the Masquerade" is wonderful. I've loved each and every single one of the books in this gripping cozy mystery series, but I think this one was my favourite.
This time around Ellery, our favourite failed screenwriter and actor turned bookseller with a knack for solving murder mysteries (and for getting conked on the head), has to deal with a Masquerade, hidden tunnels and crypts, a tangle with Pirate's Cove oldest and most prestigious family, and Jack Carson, who can't make up his mind about whenever he and Ellery should remain just friends.
I loved every single bit of it. Ellery shines, as always: one of the things I love most about amateur sleuths stories (and Josh Lanyon's in particular) is the MC's tendecy to casually happen upon murder scenes and corpses without even trying and the results always leave me doubled over in laughter. Ellery is no different but he actually does try to be careful at times, so that was refreshing to see: one of the things I adore about him is his reluctancy to actually act like an amateur sleuth, even though fate (and half the village) are convinced he is. I also loved Jack quite a lot too. I won't spoil, but you'll see some new sides of him and get some insight into his heartbreaking past. He and Ellery have tons of chemistry, a delicious slowburn romance, and a lovely friendship: I cannot wait to see what will happen next. The other characters were equally lovable and wacky as usual, but Nora deserves a special mention: I love her, so damn much.
The murder mystery at the core of this book was gripping and twisty and very interesting and the atmosphere was even more pirate-y than the previous books. I loved it.
I'm so looking forward to reading the next installment.

Mystery at the Masquerade is the fourth book in Josh Lanyon's Secrets and Scrabble mystery series. A small town MM cozy mystery series with a ridiculously slow burn romance that I'm here for.

This installment starts with Ellery coming to terms with being firmly friend zoned by Jack and when he finds himself being flirted with by a mystery fan he embraces the attention. When that man ends up being arrested for murder he finds himself once again knee-deep in a whodunit mystery.

I really enjoy the little town of Pirate's Cove. Ellery with his bookstore regulars, his Scrabble night friends and the Silver Sleuths. There's always gossip, and it seems like since he's arrived in town there is always a mystery to solve. This books mystery was as fun as the others and easily unfolded clue by clue. It wasn't overcomplicated which is exactly how I want my cozy Mysteries. The side romance between him and Jack seems to flat line in the beginning but thankfully is resurrected by the end, and we're given a glimpse into Jack's past and struggle with his feelings.

Pirate themed Masquerade balls, nosy town residents, sneaky burglars, and ghost hunting made this an enjoyable cozy mystery. I can't wait for this series to continue!

4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Secrets and Scrabble series by Josh Lanyon.

This was a great book. I loved the male protagonist since you don’t normally see that in cozy mysteries. He was a bit of a reluctant sleuth even though Jack accused him of delving into situations and getting himself in danger without thinking.

There have been a bunch of burglaries in the area and Ellery runs across the gang going home one night and gets chased into an ice house.

Then during a masquerade ball the body of an unlikeable gent is found in the cemetery during their ghost hunt. Talk about spooky.

This is a pretty short mystery, a little over 200 pages, but it really packs a punch. This is definitely a series I want to continue to follow.

If you aren’t aware, this has a M/M romance on and off all the way through the book. There is nothing inappropriate and it is basically just kissing.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I love a good whodunit and cozies are my preferred way to get my fix. I came across this book and the mask and title caught my attention, so I decided to try a new, to me, author. I'm so glad I did! A great setting, Halloween, a ghost hunt in an old cemetary, and a masquerade ball were the perfect background for this story with a load of suspects and red herrings.

The scrabble adult night games are a great theme for the title and I can't wait to see what the first two books are like and what the future holds for Ellery and Jack! If you are a cozy lover too, please give this series a try. It's a fresh change from the status quo and you'll find yourself enjoying a new author too!

This is my first time approaching a book in the 'Secrets and Scrabble' series and initially there were some plot references from previous volumes and mentions to several characters that I didn't understand. However, aside from the initial confusion, 'Mystery at the Masquerade' has a full story built around it, with a very interesting mystery, which immediately grabs the reader's full attention. It can therefore be read as a standalone, without worrying too much about not knowing the story of the previous chapters - although I admit that Ellery's world fascinates me a lot, so I would like to give the complete series a chance.

Also, I had never read anything by Josh Lanyon, but I found her writing style very pleasant, smooth and well structured. The world she created is extremely fascinating, and all the pirate references are delightful. The author is really good at inserting many curious and funny details in the context, giving the reading a very pleasant momentum of humor.

"There were enough gowns and elaborate wings amd frock coats and breeches for three more 'Pirate of the Caribbean' sequels."

The whole atmosphere of the book is overall so warm and cozy, the descriptions suggestive and exquisitely detailed; is like being wrapped in a dreamy blanket during the whole reading. I really, really love this kind of storytelling.

"Just because Jack was in a chatty mood, just because his voice was slightly drowsy and warm and sort of... affectionate, just because Jack was kind-of-sort of sounding like a boyfriend, was no reason to jump overboard. Jack had been as clear as a guy could be that he did not want a relationship."

To conclude with the characters, I got pretty invested in them, expecially Ellery and Jack (and the lovely and cute Watson, of course). Ellery has the makings of the perfect aspiring-detective protagonist, with a good investigative spirit and the right amount of courage to fully embark on the investigation.

"He smiled at Jack, and Jack smiled back with the funniest, sweetest expression. A look Ellery had never seen on Jack's face."

OMG these two. They drove me crazy throughout the entire reading. The tension between them is so palpable.

"The subdued kitchen lighting gave everything a soft, golden sheen. Ellery studied Jack's face in that gentle light. It was a handsome face, yes, but also a good face, a kind face. A face he would like to keep in his life."

And the ending... so sweet and tender. Can't wait to see more of this lovely series and its precious characters. Josh Lanyon has my stamp of approval all over her work!

Final rating: 4,5 out of 5.

Another fun, cozy mystery in the Secrets & Scrabble series. This time we have Ellery attending a masquerade and being thrust into the arms of Julian Bloodworth, who is related to a pirate from the island. When Julian & Ellery discover the body of Julian’s stepfather in the Bloodworth mausoleum the masquerade ends in murder.

I have to say that while I enjoyed this installment I didn’t like it as much as the previous two. I felt there was something missing with the mystery. There was excitement in the other books that was lacking in this one. I don’t feel like we got Ellery’s usual confrontation with the murderer. Something was just missing.

We do get more of a resolution to the push and pull between Ellery & Jack which will make the next book interesting. I love the attraction between Ellery & Jack and they make a great mystery solving duo, even though Jack is not very happy with Ellery getting involved in all these murders. Watson, Ellery’s puppy, was also involved and he is such a sweet addition!

This was still a really good read and I am looking forward to the next books in this series. There are so many interesting characters that inhabit this island.

Oh. Ellery. Ellery. Oblivious Ellery...

The third installment to Lanyon’s “Secrets and Scrabble” series was filled with upbeat vibes despite the limbo of Ellery’s not-relationship with Police Chief Jack Carson. It was pretty clear - even when they stamped theirs as friendship - that Jack still harboured feelings for Ellery. Especially when he was faced with some sort of competition for Ellery’s affection. Which was what that first line was all about.

While presenting two different kind of crimes, MYSTERY AT THE MASQUERADE felt more laid back than the previous two books and largely settling on Ellery’s associations with the Pirate Cove’s folks. It read to me as if the mystery-solving took a step back and only being granted summary as an aside. Which - given the tangled case - could’ve given more oomph to the plot and what a bummer that it wasn’t the case.

That said, emotional-wise this was the kind of breakthrough in the journey of Jack and Ellery to finally taking that step as a couple. Even through Ellery’s sole POV I could feel Jack’s feeling loud and clear; a cleverly done trick not every story got. It also sounded like Ellery to have found his rhythm in (his new) community among likewise peculiar people. In a sense, it repaid the discontent I felt over the handling of the sleuthing and puzzle resolving. I’m so looking forward to see Ellery’s upcoming shenanigans with the cute Watson, Jack, and his motley crew of friends on the next entries of the series.


Copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.