A great addition to a quozy (queer cozy) mystery series with thoughtful representation and what seems to be a slow burn romance.

3.5⭐️

Okay, while I adore the characters and the relationship between Ellery and Jack, this is supposed to be a mystery... and that part was confusing as hell. I’m not sure I understand the resolution of the case, or what actually happened. There might be plot-holes or maybe I’m just dumb, idk.

But I actually really like all the characters. These series have been my cozy refuge when I’m having bad days. I love Ellery and I love Jack and Watson and every single character here.

If any of you have been with me for the past few years, you will remember my rambling love for Ellery. Five books later, only one thing has changed: I love him more. We are back with the world's most reluctant sleuth and failed actor, Ellery.

The story begins when he and police chief of Pirate's Cove Jack Carson go diving. Jack is also Ellery's eh man friend? They are romantically involved but there are no labels. Yet. Thus far, I'm just glad that Jack cares about Ellery enough to give him orgasms. Implied. This is a cosy after all.

As Jack and Ellery are enjoying the sights, they spot a great white shark. It's always nice to be introduced to a new phobia.
Until now, he hadn't realized he was afraid of sharks. Theater critics, spiders, financial ruin sure. But a Great White put the hairiest of spiders—and theater critics—into a whole diferrent perspective.
In a bid to escape the shark's sights, they discover a vintage diving suit. And in it, is a body. This of course puts the entirety of Pirate's Cove on Ellery's tail. He has uncovered yet another body. Ellery tries to remind people that Jack was with him. But some people saw fit to remind him Jack has been diving for years but the first time he goes diving with his trouble magnet future spouse, he finds a body? Ellery needs to get real.

He also needs to understand that he is just a beacon for the latest conspiracies of Pirate's Cove. He has also been getting letters from a stalker. This is an ongoing mystery, it's unsolved by the end of this book.

I once observed that this series serves as subliminal advertising for Lanyon's other books. The deep sea diving reminded me of Plenty of Fish and there's a mention of Kit from Somebody Killed His Editor (this is book 1 of the series). Be sure to read those if you haven't. Perhaps you need to read the latter to be aware of who Kit is should he ever make a cameo.

This book also serves us a lot more human drama. Nora isn't fond of the new attendant at the Crow's Nest. At one point she even believes Kingston to be behind some unsavoury events happening on Buck Island.
"Could this person have been Kingston?"
Ellery did a double take. "Could it have been Kingston?
Nora nodded excitedly, "Is it possible?"
"No, it's not possible...That guy was three times the size of Kingston."
Nora looked disappointed, "That's a shame."
But aside from the animosity of Ellery's workers, there is yet another mystery.

A wealthy madam with a temperament as pleasant as the Witch of the Waste's, finds herself at the Crow's Nest. Lanyon's utilisation of description couldn't help but make me chuckle,
A petite woman of perhaps forty cautiously entered the bookshop. She wore an expensive but not particularly flattering beige pantsuit. Her stiffly styled blonde hair was as shiny and untouchable as a doll's. Her eyes were also doll-like, being round and blue and rather blank..
"Good morning!" Ellery and Nora chorused.
The woman studied them, blinked under her false eyelashes, and said, "Mary Daheim."
Ellery resisted the temptation to reply, Merry Daheim to you too.
Odette Wallace is a widow of ten years and a bit of a uh socialite. She's also in a pickle. She's completely convinced that someone is trying to murder her and so hires Ellery to catch the killer. Her high-handedness irritated Ellery but he needed the cash. He needed to catch her would-be murderer and he needed her to stay alive, Ultimately, Ellery wanted Odette not to be murdered so he could in good conscience keep his fee.

While it may feel like there were too many moving parts in this tiny books, they're all interconnected. The characters have as much heart as ever and there was a lot more scrabble in this book. I do wish we'd gotten to spend more time with the Wallaces, if only to solidify our feelings for them. I was left adrift when the cases were solved and I hadn't put my finger on where they land. Were they good people? Bad people? Weird people? Crazy people? The only thing I had any reaction to was their attitude towards Odette. Perhaps if it was a full length mystery novel there'd have been space for this.

Jack and Ellery's relationship does hit new "troubled" waters. And they stand on opposite sides of Buck Island's latest mystery. Will love prevail? For once I didn't care. This isn't because I am a shell of a woman I once was and now have a charred broken ember for a heart, but because there's never a dull moment on Buck Island. The next book in the series just came out and if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for? Jesus?

Many heartfelt thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review.

Love, love, love this series and these characters! Each new mystery offers something new. Josh Lanyon constantly amazes with the way every detail comes together by the end and the continuous growth of Ellery's character since he first arrived in town. Ellery and Jack are officially together so their learning how to make their new dynamic work adds another layer to the story. This mystery blends a murder investigation, break-ins targeting Ellery, his romance with a police chief, and a consistent subplot about a stalker leaving Ellery notes. The town continues to be a comfort place to dive into with the pirate theme and the community atmosphere through Ellery's various connections. Lanyon has created another story in which one is simply not enough and you can't wait to read the next one.

And then, they were five. Instalments of Josh Lanyon’s ‘Secrets and Scrabble’ series, that is. First things first for those who don’t have time to read an entire review: if you’re into cozy murder mysteries, if you like a well-spun yarn, a quaint setting, a peculiar casting of characters, suspense without angst, and a romantic subplot devoid of explicit scenes (and explicit expletives for that matter, too), this is for you—grab a copy.

Now, the long version. This book takes the readers back to the peaceful seaside town of Pirate’s Cove. Did I just write peaceful? Sorry, because that word is only true on first sight. Ever since he moved here from New York, main character Ellery Page, owner of the local murder mystery bookshop, seems to always stumble upon weird, long-kept secrets and, more importantly (with the added “duh”-effect because Josh Lanyon? Murder mystery?), the odd dead body. This time, he sets out on a diving trip with his boyfriend Jack Carson, the town’s police chief, who, of course, is an accomplished diver, true to Josh Lanyon’s marked partiality to all-male, athletic “I hide my emotions behind a façade of grumpy cool” romantic counterparts to the main characters. Ellery is less keen on exploring the dark and creepy underwater world—that they cross a dangerous-looking shark doesn’t help. And that Ellery finally discovers, after less than twenty pages, an antiquated diver’s suit in which a dead man is stuck doesn’t either.

The strange thing is, no one has been reported missing for a very long time, in Pirate’s Cove. So, who is this dead man? Where does he come from? What is he doing in that age-old suit? How did he end up in the sunken ship where he was found? A mystery. Luckily, one of the town’s summer guests, a garish rich widow, shows up in his bookshop and tasks him with finding out the identity of the person who, according to her, wants to kill her. Ellery knows he shouldn’t accept the mission, and yet, he doesn’t refuse, even though he knows fully well that Jack won’t be happy about this decision. Indeed, their relationship cools down to icy proportions, and Ellery starts to wonder if the rich widow’s handsome son, who seems to be more than a teenage acquaintance of Jack’s, isn’t to blame.

The great thing with Josh Lanyon is that I always know what to expect. Not plot-wise as there are unforeseeable and unexpected twists and turns in all Lanyon’s stories, but quality-wise. I’m never disappointed, all the more so with this series as I really love the cozy mystery subgenre. Josh expertly uses all the tricks and techniques one usually wants in a book thus labelled. Ever since book one, Lanypn has created a wonderfully atmospheric setting with fictional Pirate’s Cove, the small town that by now feels almost like home to me with its narrow streets, its quaint bars, its beautiful landscapes, its bays and coves, its old buildings. And of course, the cast of secondary characters is just as lushly and lovingly imagined, a bunch of endearing weirdos, if I may say so, who always do all in their might to make Ellery’s life just that bit more complicated and thus the books just that bit more entertaining.

The romance between Ellery and Jack remains a subplot and, as is fit for a cozy mystery, provides no steamy scenes as I’ve already mentioned (which is perfectly okay for me). Yet, nothing else is missing: the heart-twisting ups and downs (Jack has serious commitment issues, so that makes for frequent bated-breath moments where I tremble with anxiety whether the two will have their “Happily For Now” at the end or not); the undeniable chemistry that is the main reason for that trembling; the sweet declarations that always make me melt; and the opposite characters involved that Josh really has down to a t—delicate versus stolid, open versus taciturn, sassy versus serious, with moments where the roles can be inverted for even more “Ooh- how cute!” moments.

All in all, another treat in this amazing series, a treat that makes me look forward, once again, to the next instalment. Little by little, ‘Secrets and Scrabble’ is becoming an insititution for me, not unlike the Poirot or Miss Marple mysteries I so love.

Thanks to NetGalley, was able to read *my* first of the Secrets and Scabble series. The plot is simple and for the same reason may not seem appealing for the hard core mystery enthusiasts. Guess Ellery being an amateur investigator, the plot cannot be made more complicated or more adventurous than already portrayed. So would recommend this book to light readers.

Love this series. Another whopping 5 stars.
When Ellery and Jack were arguing again in the middle of the book, I was considering 4 stars but Jack pulled it back and they're even stronger at the end of the book.
As for the mystery, I enjoyed it, although I got a tad confused tying the burglaries in to what we finally discovered about the diver. Most of the Warren's were unbearable (except Rowdy). And unfortunately I thought Ellery's mum was a bit of a snob. Loved George though.
Is there a book where Kit Holmes comes for the signing?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this story for an honest review.

I really love this series. I love Ellery, Jack, Watson, and even Nora. Being the fifth book in this series, the relationships are more settled, and even though Ellery finds a body again, he isn’t looking to dive in (ha) to figuring out the mystery. He lets Jack and the proper police procedures handle it this time. On the side, he’s approached to use his detective skills to help figure out who’s attempting to murder an unpleasant lady that was the main suspect in her husband’s death ten years ago, before the case was dropped for not enough evidence.

Of course, Jack’s not happy with Ellery sticking his nose into it, even though Ellery really needs the money she’s offered to pay for a security system because intruders keep getting in his house and now he has a poison pen pal.

So, a ton going on in this one, and not all was resolved. (Tune in next time!) I liked that even though Ellery and Jack had a fight (because disagreements), they made up pretty quick (because mature), and Ellery didn’t let Jack’s past with Colby get to him too much (because growth). I also liked that Ellery’s mom and step-dad visited and we could see some of his interactions with them and learn more about his character that way.

Watson (the dog) is always my favorite side character and he definitely earned his bedtime bone this week between taking on intruders, identifying suspects, and his general ability to entertain with his doggie antics and cuteness.

As always, I’m waiting with bated breath for the next installment to this cozy mystery series.

4.5 Stars

Screenwriter and former actor Ellery Page is finally settling into quaint but active Pirate's Cove on Buck Island, off the coast of Rhode Island. His steady beau is Police Chief Jack Carson, with whom Ellery goes scuba diving, and together they find an unidentified body. The body isn't only out of place, it's seemingly out of time with the wreck. Jack is continually challenged by Ellery's penchant for getting caught up in murder plots in real life. In fact, Ellery's exploits have earned him a potential stalker--someone who's willing to send him anonymous threatening letters. Jack wants Ellery to get more security at his home and bookshop, but money's tight. It seems he might get a windfall, if he accepts the disingenuous role as an amateur sleuth investigating the attempted murder of a visitor to the area, Odette Wallace. Odette and her late-husband's family used to visit Buck Island--and she's convinced one of his adult children are behind a few shady situations that could have killed her if they hadn't been otherwise thwarted. She and her partner, Mr. King, a longtime acquaintance of the Wallace family, are visiting for Yacht Race Week, as are all three of Odette's stepchildren.   


Mrs. Wallace is unwilling to go to the police. Turns out there was a contentious situation where her terminally-ill, yachtsman husband died alone aboard ship--prior to demanding a divorce, according to his children. It was so inexplicable that Odette was officially arrested under suspicion of murder, but was later released when there was insufficient evidence. Now, she's convinced that one of the step-children wants her dead to collect their father's trust. Could this be connected to the boyd Ellery found? Or, to the stalker who's breaking into Ellery's home and business? Will Ellery's sleuthing help keep Odette safe? And, will Jack ever speak to Ellery again when he learns Ellery's accepted Odette's retainer to help solve her attempted murder mystery?

This is a fast-paced story that gives us a LOT more info on Ellery, as his mom and step-father visit. Unlike the acrimonious situation with the Wallaces, Ellery loves his parents, and wants them to love Jack, too. The misdirection is frantic, and Ellery's confidence in Jack's affection is waning as the long days wear on, and the danger moves closer to Ellery than anyone--especially Jack--likes. This is a conflict, of course, because Jack can't protect Ellery if he's on duty all the time, and Race Week has all the officers on overtime. The Wallace children are all haters of Odette, but one of them might be more effectively lethal than then other two. Expect an explosive ending, blowing away the conspiracy theories and pairing Jack and Ellery together in solving these cases.


I love seeing Ellery and Jack get closer to one another, and develop a deeper bond. Ellery is an absolute hoot, and I adore his narrative voice. I flew through this story, much like the previous books in this series, and I recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries, especially those starring LGBTQ characters.

Things are happening in Pirate's Cove Landing - and Ex-actor and current bookstore owner Ellery Page is at the center of it all. Diving with his boyfriend Jack, Ellery makes a gruesome discovery in a wreck - a diving suit that is not empty.

Ellery must juggle his relationship with Police chief Jack Carson, visiting parents, star-struck friends, stalkers sending threatening letters, feuding employees, burglars, the annual regatta and his bookstore, in addition to the mystery of the body in the diving suit. To add to the confusion there is his aspiring suitor, Dr. Robert Mane who seems to get along better with Ellery's parents than does Ellery's boyfriend Jack, Rowdy a.k.a Colby Wallace, a regatta participant and Jack's ex, who seems to still have Jack's ear and oh, did I forget to mention the menacing Shandy family, who seem to have their fingers in many shady pies?

Ellery is drafted as an amateur private eye to investigate the attempts on the life of Odette, the attractive widow of Rowdy's father Tristan Wallace, who supposedly died in a boating accident. Jack is unhappy with Ellery putting himself in danger again, especially when the case against Odette for Tristan's murder has been reopened at Rowdy's behest. A burglary resulting in an attack on Ellery at his home push Jack into re-evaluating his relationship with Ellery - having lost his wife and child in an accident, can he survive losing him?

With Jack on the outs with him, Rowdy's reappearance in Jack's life, the possible escalation of persecution by his unknown stalker and his judgemental client Odette Wallace, coupled with the seemingly never-ending feud between employees Nora and Kingston, Ellery has to battle events on many fronts. Accompanied by his trusted canine companion Watson (he of the small body and loud voice), Ellery attempts to sort out the tangled threads of matters personal and professional.

The book is fast-paced and ends with a HFN for Jack and Ellery, with the stalker issue still unresolved. I liked that the issues in Jack and Ellery's relationship were sorted out. The PICO Historical Society finally finds a home. There is also a reference to Christopher Holmes (Of the Holmes and Moriarty series by Lanyon) doing a book reading in the future at Ellery's bookshop, which reminded me that <i> The 12.2 percent Solution </i> is long overdue.

Another interesting read in the Secrets and Scrabble Series.

Thanks to NetGalley for making a temporary copy of the book available for review.

Ellery is yet again found himself in the middle of another murder. When he goes on a dive with Jack, they find a body floating in an old fashioned dive suit inside a shipwreck. Apart from that mystery to solve, Ellery finds himself in the middle of another investigation. He wants to say no but he really needs the money. As he investigates, he finds that maybe his investigation is in twined with Jacks case. Jack is worried for Ellery, and especially so as the letter writer is still out there.

This story is more about the investigation, than the relationship. We get a bit further along in the relationship aspect, but Jack still needs to make up his mind up. Basically, they are in a relationship, just Jack needs to finally say they are. Ellery is such a sweetheart and he deserves someone amazing. We know that Jack will eventually bite the bullet, hopefully he wont keep us waiting too long.

The thing I didn't like was how the case is wrapped up. It is more of a tell, than show. Jack just tells us what happened, I would of preferred to see Jack work on the case and see him solving it. Apart from that one point, I loved it and can't wait for the nest book in the series. Hopefully, Jack is closer to making his mud up then!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Body at Buccaneer's Bay is the fifth book in the Secrets and Scrabble cozy mystery series by Josh Lanyon. Released 18th Dec 2021, it's 219 pages and available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written very lighthearted action driven murder cozy with a returning ensemble cast featuring bookshop owner Ellery Page and his partner, handsome local law enforcement officer Jack Carson. The author does a good job with the narrative, tossing in subtle clues and generously sprinkling red herrings here and there. The action moves along at a good clip, this time surrounding a body found during a scuba diving session, poison pen letters, and a suspicious death, and moves forward to a moderately confusing and unsatisfying climax and resolution. There were quite a lot of unresolved questions - maybe they'll be addressed in the next book in the series?

The language is clean, the murder's off screen and free from violence, there's very little sexual content (some chaste kisses); it's a well written and charming bookstore cozy. Although it's the 5th book in the series, it works well as a self-contained standalone and readers who come in with this book won't have any trouble following the mystery. The author/publisher has taken pains to make it clear that the romance is between two men, so I won't dwell on that, but there's absolutely no content which would scandalize anyone's auntie (a few "damns" nothing worse).

Four stars, but I sincerely hope the next book ties up the dangly threads. Charming, diverting, and well written. I intend to seek out future volumes in the series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

5 Stars

Book 5 of the cozy mystery series Secrets and Scrabbles was not only a fantastic mystery but witty, sharp and extremely funny. I am a huge fan of Josh Lanyon's work and this series has been nothing but a pure delight. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. If you hadn't read the previous stories I strongly urge you to do so because the series together really builds the characters and makes for a wonderful story.

Ellery Page has inherited a dilapidated mansion and a failing business but has never been happier. He is presently dating the chief of police - Jack and while they have their ups and downs, the relationship seems to be solidifying.

Another Inconvenient murder seems to have Ellery in the center once again. Jack is frustrated with Ellery's constant meddling into murderous affairs. Hopefully this relationship can handle the strain. If you enjoy romance, mysteries, cozys and hysterical townspeople, I absolutely urge you to grab this book and dive right in. Happy reading!

Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley
for a complimentary copy for my reading pleasure, a review was not a requirement.

Ebook and Audiobook review

Matt Haynes narration was engaging, upbeat and fun .

Body at Buccaneers's Bay is a wonderful addition to a series that with each new book gets better and better.

A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun easy read, without much tension or fear of actual harm to the MCs. Ellery once again finds himself in the middle of a mystery, murder a high probability. On top of that, he is hired by someone completely unrelated to that case to solve possible attempted murder incidences to which annoy Jack. And if course the added bonus of an old...flame...of Jack's being in town. Not much came from that angle, which was a little dissapointing. I wanted to know more about Jack and Rowdy's past, but no dramallama so, whew there!

Overall this was fun and a good way to pass the time. The ending was kind of anticlimactic because there was no big confrontation, no kidnapping of Ellery or attempts on his life. They solve the mysteries and everything is done clean. I miss the days when Ellery got conked on the head, haha.

Lackluster ending aside I do recommend this for those who of course are fans of JL, and for those who want a straight forward story with a few laughs, a sweet romance without the on page sexcapades, and finally meeting Ellery's parents!

3 stars and bonus for bringing in Holmes as an off page cameo with hints of an on page appearance.

Not my cup of tea, although I normally love diving novels. Did not realize was part of a long series.

A mystery featuring a really sweet couple! Still not exactly for me, though.

I actually kind of liked this book: I liked the writing, the characters, the setting...but I just didn't really get into the story. It was okay when I did read it but I didn't feel like I just had to keep on reading because it was so good. Maybe it was because I have only read this book and not the entire series but I still didn't feel connected to the story at all. I am a fast reader but it took me like 5 days to finish this because I kept forgetting about it and I'm not really sure why.

I feel like this might be a me-problem and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone searching for (and expecting) a cute mystery with a bit of romance sprinkled in!

This is book 5 in the series, and continues the world with the established couple of Ellery and Jack, as the world comes knocking on their door. I have to say that I felt like this book bounced around a bit too much for me. I struggled some to get into the story, from the beginning.This established couple is fantastic, and have enjoyed them a lot. However, this book felt a bit stilted to me. There is a lot going on, and for a mystery, not everything is solved to my satisfaction. The ending was, rough, abrupt, and left me feeling a bit disappointed.I'm hopeful that this is an anomoly, and book 6 brings it right back around.3 pieces of eye candy

3.5 stars

I still immensely enjoy this series for the sheer escapist fun it offers. And I do adore Watson. And the gang of islanders (go team Silver Sleuths!). And meeting the parents was great. And I do feel like the relationship is making significant progress.

But the inevitable fights between Ellery and Jack are becoming a bit repetitive for me. It's always the same fight which they resolve in the end only to rear its ugly head again in the next book. I always think they're making such great progress, but then they end up fighting over the same thing yet again, which makes me doubt their relationship a bit.

I also find the mysteries less and less enjoyable. Yes, I know, cosy mystery and all. Where mysteries are supposed to be solved off-page. But this time, I found it unsatisfying to have invested in all that delicious family feud drama only to have the solution presented on one page.

All in all, I enjoyed this latest addition to the series. I love spending time on that island where the dreaded C-word does not exist, and all is bright and happy. I love the books for that. I just wish the boys would finally make up their minds about whether they actually want to be together or not...

A lovely continuation to the series. More of the same, but not in a bad way. Poor Ellery just can't catch a break, can he? Looking forward to the rest of the series!