It’s January in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, and Nora Pennington is getting ready to host a blind date with a book. Just days before the event she walks upon the police investigating the death of a stranger. She never imagines that she will become tangled in a mystery including this man.

I can not believe I haven’t read this series already! I loved this book. The characters were realistic and well developed. The plot was engaging and it was hard to put the book down. This is the 5th book in the series and it was able to stand alone, though I want to know more about the history of the characters. I definitely recommend this book and I will be going back and reading from the beginning.

Set in the small artistic town of Miracle Springs, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society is a group of female friends who come together to support each other and also end up solving mysteries. Ellery Adams is a master of the cozy mystery and this book is the 5th in the Secret Book and Scone Society Series. This story centers around Hester and her deeply hidden secret. There is a new romance, old love with new promises and surprises, and lots of twists and turns.

Cozy and warm, with a heartwarming group of friends-- Ellery Adams continues to dazzle & delight. 5 enthusiastic stars!

Thank you to Kensington & NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Secret, Book, and Scone Society Members

Nora, the owner of Miracle Books, tries to heal people’s woes with a unique set of books she personally selects for them.

Hester runs the Gingerbread House bakery. Customers tell her a little bit about their lives and what brought them to Miracle Springs. Then she bakes them up a “comfort scone”.

June works at the hot springs spa where people come to rejuvenate themselves.

Estella is a beautician who tries to help her clients find their true selves.

Nora Pennington is busy with her employee and friend Shelton Vega planning ways to entice readers into the store and buy books they can escape into while it is chilly outside. They have some great ideas including a Blind Date with a Book event for Valentine’s Day.

Deputy Andrews has also confided in Nora and asked for her help to come up with the perfect evening for him to pop the question and ask Hester to marry him. Knowing how much Hester loves the book Little Women and knowing the movie theater in town will be screening old movies she comes up with a way to combine the two for the proposal.

Before they can get together for the big event Nora discovers that several copies of The Scarlet Letter at her store have been damaged. Some had angrily removed the name of Hester from all of the copies. It gives her pause because she knows her friend Hester has a secret she hasn’t even shared with the man who is going to propose to her very soon.

Then a man is found dead outside of town off a hiking trail. They find no identification on the body but he had a rare book in the pocket of his jacket. This piques the attention of all the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society. But what they find could rock Hester’s world. Her secret is going to come out and it could cost her her life.

I love this series so much. The friendships these women have built are so strong and their gifts to help people are so heartwarming. This time they have a mystery to solve to help one of their own and they won’t give up until every clue falls into place and the mystery is solved. I have to say this was an emotional read, my heart was tugged in several directions for various reasons. The story touched me personally and my heart broke when a child was bullied at school for the same problem I had. All these years later kids can still be so mean. I was thrilled when Nora had the perfect book to comfort the child.

Again Ms. Adams takes on another social issue with teen pregnancy and the following adoption. Hester is carrying a heavy load of guilt and trauma due to the way her family forced her to deal with a pregnancy. The author gives the story a huge twist using a set of rare books that carry clues to help solve a very complex mystery and to help Hester. This story was so well-plotted and interesting on many levels. It truly had a puzzle that needed to be solved to push the story further and I was captivated by each new piece and where it all would lead. I had a really hard time putting it down when it was time for bed.

I continue to be in awe of the author’s knowledge of books across so many genres. Nora’s gift is to find a perfect book for each customer, from children to adults of all ages and interests. She seems to have read every book in her store and can remember the tiniest detail in all of them. I am green with envy and thankful for the list provided of them all at the end of the book. My book wish list grows every time I read one of the books in this series.

Ellery Adams has created such a wonderful set of core characters. They all have their faults and traumatic things they have dealt with and are still dealing with every day. They are engaging and welcoming. They are all strong, kind, and genuine. I would love to meet people just like them in real life. A place like Miracle Books would truly be my happy place.

The Vanishing Type is an excellent addition to this series! I loved every minute of it and was sad to reach the final page. You will definitely find this book on my Best Reads of 2022. I can’t wait for the next book!!

I recommend this entire series! They are best read in order for maximum enjoyment.

His bride-to-be, Hester, loves Little Women, and Nora sets to work arranging a special screening at the town’s new movie theater. But right before the deputy pops the question, Nora makes an unsettling discovery—someone has mutilated all her store’s copies of The Scarlet Letter, slicing angrily into the pages wherever Hester Prynne’s name is mentioned.

The coincidence disturbs Nora, who is one of the few in Miracle Springs who knows that Hester gave up a baby for adoption many years ago. Her family heaped shame on her, and Hester still feels so guilty that she hasn’t even told her future husband. But when a dead man is found on a hiking trail just outside town, carrying a rare book, the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society unearth a connection to Hester’s past. Someone is intent on bringing the past to light, and it’s not just Hester’s relationship at stake, but her life. . .

The Vanishing Type is #5 in The Secret, Book and Scone Society. By now we know Nora Pennington - owner of the bookshop and her three friends well. Hester owner of the Gingerbread House Bakery, Estella owner of  a salon and spa and June about to take up a new job. What stands out is that these women share so much of themselves with each other and are there to support each other through any trial.

This time the focus is on Hester, or quite a bit of the mystery has to do with Hester. As her past rushes up to meet her it throws her into a spin and at times things just get too much for her. But... remember - trusty friends. There is a mystery about some books, some damage to books and one or two murders.  It takes awhile for all the clues to build up until finally as the reader you start to suspect just one or two.

The mystery is just part of the book's appeal, this book and others in the series is full of book talk. Enough to delight any reader's heart aside from murder and mystery. I was really pleased to note I knew of some of the books and had read some of them. It's such fun to see what books crop up. Plus the bookshop with Nora and the wonderful helper Sheldon provide book happiness.

Another cozy mystery in this series that furthers the characters stories and makes me already looking forward to another.

Happy book birthday plus a day to Ellery Adams! It’s here! It’s here! And it is GLORIOUS.

Nora and Sheldon are busy planning their Blind Date Book Bash when Deputy Jasper Andrews asks Nora to help him create a special moment for him to propose to his beloved Hester. Nora comes up with a great idea – Jasper can pop the question at a special movie screening of Little Women, Hester’s favorite. But when Nora finds that the name “Hester” has been obliterated from all of Miracle Books’ copies of The Scarlet Letter, she’s concerned that Hester may be in danger. That concern only grows when she learns that the dead man found outside of town has a connection with Hester.

Y’all, this book Has. It. All. We’ve got romance with Jasper and Hester, and we also see Nora and the ever delightful Sheriff Grant McCabe growing closer. Jasper and Hester are sweet and all, but I just adore the interactions between Nora and Grant. Please, please, please let there be a wedding for them at some point in the series!

We’ve got tension. Is Hester in danger? From whom? We’ve got mystery. Who is the dead man? Why was there a rare vintage book in his coat pocket, and why do other books in that same rare series keep turning up around Miracle Springs?

And most of all, we’ve got the love of books and story and the wonderful friendships among Nora, Hester, June, and Estella. These ladies are each other’s cheering section and biggest support, and they aren’t afraid to have the hard conversations if it’s called for. Those are the kinds of friendships we could all do with more of. It would be a delight to get to join them for book club!

There are other little treats woven throughout the story. I appreciate how Nora works with Sheldon to keep him working even when his health issues are giving him trouble. When he needs time to rest and recover, she gives it to him, no fuss, no muss. When he’s feeling well and strong, there’s work for him at Miracle Books. All workplaces should be as understanding with physical or mental ailments. The vintage book angle was also fascinating, and I liked that it allowed us to see more of Nora’s dear friend Roberta. She’s an occasional character, but a fun one!

I loved this book, just as I have all the others in the series. We got a fair bit of backstory on Hester and why she’s been estranged from her family, and I enjoyed that. I like getting to know the main characters better as the series goes along. I also didn’t see the big reveal on any of the threads of the mystery coming right away. I had inklings, but I didn’t figure it all out before the end. It tickles me when a mystery can keep me at least a little bit in the dark!

I give The Vanishing Type five ginormous book-lovin’ stars. I will gladly be a part of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society for as long as Ellery Adams keeps the series alive. If you’re a lover of mystery and story and wonderful characters, run get yourself this book. Don’t wait. Enjoy.

Ellery Adams isn’t just a top notch author. She’s a lover of books and reading. The Vanishing Type, and I’m guessing this whole series, is proof of that.

A quick summary, Nora is the local bookshop owner and the story revolves around her and an amazing group of friends. Diverse backgrounds and stories for each character, but united in friendship and books! (Exactly what every book lover dreams about.) Nora’s friend Hester has just been proposed to but has hesitations due to a secret from the past. Just as she prepares to reveal all to her boyfriend, a body is found with no identification. Hester is now forced to reveal the details and she is thrust into dealing with a past she has tried so hard to runaway from.

Once again, I have started a series by reading the newest first. But Ms. Adams has done a wonderful job to make this a standalone read. She had excellent descriptions of characters and past references. I knew it was a series, but never felt that I as missing information. I absolutely loved the characters, their interactions and all the book talk! I was enjoying the story before any secrets were revealed.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for the advanced kindle copy in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say I like it and recommend it!

A well written mystery, the author has also included much more for us bibliofiles. The kindle version begins with meaningful quotes befitting of the story. Then rolls into a list of characters. It ends with a reader’s guide (great for book clubs). And turns to the Bibliotherapy. If you ever found yourself down a rabbit hole of online searching for books based off suggested reads, this ties it all up in a wonderful list at the end of the book. All the books mentioned throughout the story are included.

This is a great read for any cozy mystery lover and general lover of books. I recommend it to be added to your personal library. And I will be starting from the beginning of the series to enjoy more of Ellery’s writing and her wonderful cast of characters.

This is book 5 in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series. Though it helps reading the previous books in the series, this one stands up pretty well on it’s own. The story takes place in a little town called Miracle Springs, North Caroline and Nora Pennington is the main character.

Deputy Andrews has asked Nora to help him with his marriage proposal to Hester, but as always, something strange is going on and Nora is there to help. Someone is destroying copies of The Scarlet Letter and no one knows why. What has this got to do with Hester? Is it possible there is a connection between Hester and the reason the books are being destroyed? Will this ruin Hester’s relationship with Deputy Andrews? Can Nora piece all this together? Read the book to find out.

Ellery Adams has a writing style that makes the reader want to curl up with a good cup of coffee or tea and read until the end. This book is a wonderful addition the Secret, Book and Scone Society series.

Thank you #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Sometimes a family is the people you choose not simply those related by blood.

Ellery Adams has created a wonderful group of women that make up the Secret, Book, and Scone Society…four people who share great strength through their deepest secrets. These ladies are all different from one another, survivors, and now the greatest of friends. They are realistically drawn and relatably flawed. When bakery owner Hester’s boyfriend proposes, what should be the happiest of occasions causes her stress since she has yet to tell him about her troubled past. Nora is concerned that some vandalized copies of The Scarlet Letter at the bookstore might have something to do with Hester’s past. When it comes to light that a stranger found dead with a rare book in his pocket has ties to Hester, and more books start showing up, Nora and her friends do all they can to get to the bottom of things…for Hester’s future happiness.

Ellery Adams is one of my favorite authors, and I am never disappointed by her writing. This series is a fantastic mash up of cozy mystery and women’s fiction. It is character driven, but there is always a complex puzzle to work through, too. The resolution of this mystery is great – I did not see it coming. Add in a little romance, stories of resilience, and a bunch of book talk, and you get an engaging read from start to finish.

I highly recommend THE VANISHING TYPE to any reader looking for an intelligent writing, intriguing mystery, and deeply crafted characters. Seriously, read it and the whole series.

I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

#TheVanishingType #NetGalley

The fifth book in this series of four women; Nora, Hester June and Estella. Together they have formed a very special friendship in a group they called the Secret Bone and Scone Society. There is nothing that they wouldn't do for each other. In this book, Hester becomes engaged to Jasper Andrews...but her worse fear is that she has not yet told him her secret...and it could destroy their relationship. When two people end up murdered, the other women all band together to solve the mystery. I wish that I had friends like this in my later years, but I don't and probably never will. I envy them their closeness with each other, and the feeling that no matter what, they will be accepted for who they are. I like the way that several books are mentioned and in some cases discussed in their book club groups also.

The Secret, Book and Scone Society has to work triple duty in the newest Ellery Adams cozy mystery!

Although our favorite Miracle Springs bookstore owner Nora Pennington has had a few personal changes in her life since we have last visited with her, things are going pretty smoothly. She and her assistant Sheldon have been working arduously to attract visitors to the store, even planning an event in the near future. Although unfortunately, there has been a bit of damage to a few of the books recently. It seems someone has taken a disliking to the covers of The Scarlet Letter!

But then Nora gets the news that one of the friends in the society, Hester, will be getting proposed to and the others are asked to help with the planning of the proposal. Everyone is extremely excited for Hester, except for Hester. You see she has never told her fiancé about her past, and now she is afraid once he hears, he will not want to marry her. She is terribly out of sorts.

As this is all going on, a man is found dead on a hiking path with an orange jacket on and with a very strange antique book in the pocket. Nora begins to wonder why he would be carrying this book. And then coincidentally, another in the series is found in the possession of an elderly woman who has passed away and whose books were donated to Nora. What are the odds these two incidences could be a coincidence?

Meanwhile, as Hester is nearing a breakdown due to the stress of her secret, Estelle’s boyfriend becomes critically ill, and the women must try and focus on comforting her as best they can.

As Nora races to figure out what on earth these book clues could mean, there is another murder, this one a woman who just happened to be wearing a raincoat the same color as Hester! This suddenly changes this book mystery into a life and death situation.

The women must all gather their strength in so many ways to face the outcome of the mysterious deaths with the mysterious books. Will Hester’s fiancée walk away from her when he finds out what she has done? Will Hester even survive whoever it is who seems to have taken a deadly dislike of her!

The Vanishing Type is another wonderful cozy mystery about a group of women who support each other no matter what the fallout. There are even book references throughout the story which are then chronicled at the end in case the reader has interest. My only question is, when will Sheldon become a true member?

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ElleryAdams #TheVanishingType for the advanced copy.

The Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. Released 26th April 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

This is a comfortable cozy mystery series set in a fictitious small town in North Carolina. The town is renowned for its therapeutic healing, both physical and mental. There is a slightly magical 'vibe' to the healing, with sort-of magical baked & knitted goods and book therapy as an integral part of the deal. This installment contains a lot of exploration on the meaning of family and found family. The author treats the subject sensitively and sensibly.

It's sweet and charmingly written and the secret society spends a fair bit of time making anonymous gifts to distribute to sad/lonely/needy people they know. Luckily for local law enforcement, they're also amateur sleuths and like to solve crimes. There is mild language (a 'sh*t' and a couple of 'd*mn's). All of the above are in context in the story and not gratuitous.

The story as presented is self contained and any necessary back story and characterizations are included in the narrative, so it works well as a standalone novel. It's not necessary to have read the first books to keep up with the characters or plot.

It's a good, warm, comfortable, small town cozy series with a mostly female cast and a good denouement and resolution.

Four and a half stars, recommended to fans of light cozy mysteries. It would make a good book-club read and in fact, there is an included reader's question guide to help along a discussion group. The author has also included a bibliography list of books included in the text for fans looking for specific recommendations for further reading and discussion.

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

I love books about books! I have read a couple, but not all four of the prior books in this series. Nora Pennington, the main character, is the owner of Miracle Books. She considers her best friends Hester, Estella, and June to be her family. She also has a close relationship with Sheriff Grant McCabe. In some of the other books I read, I was confused by some of things related to Nora's love life, so I was happy that questions I had have been cleared up.

In this installment, a man is found dead at the bottom of a gorge on a hiking trail with a rare book in his possession. Someone also seems to be harassing one of her best friends by leaving creepy messages through books. The ending seems a bit rushed, but I liked how things came together for the big reveal and enjoyed the book as a whole. This series is often classified as "cozy" but there is a lot of depth to the characters and some of the topics covered in the stories.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

A Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the A Secret, Book, And Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. This series grabbed me from the start, each book seems better than the last. The close friend relationships of the characters bring me back again and again---the mystery/suspense makes for a quick paced plot, and the miracle book shop is a place I'd love to be. In this installment vandalism strikes the bookshop and when the finger is pointed at one of the group, Nora springs into action. I love Ms. Adams characters!
This is a fun, quick read that will leave you wanting more. Thank you to NetGalley, and Kensington Books for granting my request to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
#TheVanishingType #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks

A Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the A Secret, Book, And Scone Society Novel series by Ellery Adams.

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and Nora Pennington is preparing a hot chocolate for a young boy when she sees Deputy Andrews nervously approaching her. He asks if she, Estella, and June would help him plan his proposal to Hester. She is happy to help and is sure the others will be too. Nora doubts Hester has shared her secret with Andrews. Hester had a child out of wedlock and had given up the child for adoption right after birth as a teenager.

One day, as Nora walks one of the many trails in the area, she comes upon emergency personnel recovering a man who had fallen from the edge of a gorge. She sees her friend Sheriff McCabe and asks who the victim is. No one recognizes him, and there is no id or phone. The only thing on the body is a book, Miss Delphinium, published in 1918. A few days later, Hester brings a book from the same series that an unknown person had left in her bakery. A nanny and frequent shopper at Nora’s bookstore, Lea, tops in and tell Nora that her employer has several boxes of books from her mother’s estate that she would like to sell. When Nora goes through the boxes of books, she finds another book in the same series of two other books. Coincidence…Nora doesn’t think so. With the help of a friend and college classmate who works with rare books, Bobbie, she learns that each book in the series of eight books has a letter hidden in the drawing on the book cover. Nora has no idea what the letters will reveal but feels sure that it will lead to might be out to harm Hester. Some copies of The Scarlett Letter at Nora’s store have also been damaged by having a knife stabbed through the name of Hester. Lea was run off the road while driving by a hit-and-run driver, and an innocent woman was stabbed to death. Nora knows she needs to solve the case before more injuries or deaths occur.

I always enjoy visiting Miricle Springs and seeing what the Society is up to at Nora’s book store. The book is well-written and plotted, and moves at a smooth pace. The story had enough twists and turns and red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the murderer was. The author has also provided a listing of characters, a reader’s guide with questions to ponder after reading the book, and a list of bibliotherapy books.

I am looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.

I really loved this book. This series is such a cozy place to revisit time and time again because of the strength of the bond of the characters. Nora reminds herself time and time again how lucky she is to find herself surrounded by loved ones and how their past traumas have brought them closer. She also runs the most ideal and lovely sounding book shop that I wish I could visit.

This was a complex mystery with various moving and literary pieces. I was truly stumped as to how everything was going to relate to each other (or just be coincidence) and appreciated how it all came together. The emotions run deep in this series and this one is no exception. Though there were a lot of tough situations and revelations, I loved how deep this story got in addition to all the investigating. I also really love seeing the different relationships the characters have (both friendly and romantic) and how those are maturing and evolving. I’m already hoping for happier times in the next book.

Love is in the air in this book, along with murder, mysterious books and the bond of sisterhood. I do suggest you read the previous books for the character development, not that it’s necessary but you will enjoy the story more knowing some background history on the characters. As usual a interesting read with Nora as the main character, the owner of a bookstore in Miracle Springs, NC. Hiking on the trails behind her house she comes across a crime scene with the officials recovering a body. Strange thing was the decrease had only a book in his pocket. The Sheriff asks Nora if she knows anything about the book. More mysterious books are founded by different people, no one knows who the decrease is. Being near Valentine’s Day there is love, friendships and mysteries to be solved. A fast read, will keep you guessing till the end, plus being basically set in a bookstore you will be adding to your TBR list.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheVanishingType

The Secret, Book, and Scone Society is a group of female friends in Miracle Springs. They each have their flaws but they’re good friends and hard workers. In this episode, comes planning for an engagement, a Valentine’s Day party, and unfortunately a murder or two. This is an excellent series and I enjoyed the book.

The Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the Secret, Book & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams.

It’s January in Miracle Springs, North Carolina and Deputy Andrews asks Nora Pennington to help him plan his wedding proposal. While excited for her friend, there are mutilated books in her shop and a series of books mysteriously showing up around town that has her on edge.

This is a wonderful series. I love that the women are older and all have had difficulties they overcame. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but if you read the series from the beginning, you get to see the friendships develop. This certainly had a surprise ending. I like how it all wrapped up and look forward to seeing the repercussion from some of the decisions the women made.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

In The Vanishing Type, I was pleased to meet up with Nora Pennington again. The Miracle Springs, North Carolina bookshop owner is busy in her shop, Miracle Books, during the day and working on planning a wedding proposal at the request of Deputy Andrews in the evenings. The bride-to-be is Hester and Nora is organising a special screening of Hester's favourite novel, Little Women. But what is Hester's secret, and who is the culprit defacing books in Nora's shop? Then a dead man is found in a hiking area with a rare book in his pocket...

This book is the 5th in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series, but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, however, some character development carries over from each book.

There were secrets aplenty in this great tale. With a super mystery, an eclectic bunch of characters, a compelling plot and a few well-placed red herrings added to the mix, this was a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. While classified as a cozy mystery, this for me, was what I would describe as a more mature and sophisticated cozy than most though still retaining those traditional cozy qualities. I would like to read the first two books I've missed in this series as I thoroughly enjoyed The Vanishing Type.. A book lover’s dream, Ellery Adams again mingles book titles into the story and I was occasionally smiling with a nostalgic fondness for having read the books or stopping to search for a title.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Another excellent book in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series. The books all center on four women in the tourist town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. People come there for the thermal springs, among other reasons. The women all own or run small businesses in town and have become very close friends, supporting each other through their highs and lows. Nora owns Miracle Books and practices bibliotherapy, recommending books to her patrons to help with their problems. The selection of books Nora comes up with are always amazing, and such an interesting assortment (some of which I may be familiar with and some not). The mystery in this book revolves around one of the friends, Hester, who owns a bakery in town, and has a secret from her past that only the other three women know. She is nervous about having to tell the secret to her boyfriend, who is getting ready to propose to her. I have to admit that this book’s mystery was not as interesting as in the two other books in the series that I’ve read. It was a bit convoluted and involved explaining a complicated family tree near the end of the book. As is sometimes the case, I thought there was a bit too much “telling” near the end of the book, but overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend this series without hesitation. (Also I’m still not sure what the title of this book is referring to! I must have missed something.)

Ellery Adams’ Secret, Book and Scone Society series has quickly become one of my favorites. I’ve only read the first two and this one, which is the fifth installment. I think that you could definitely read this as a standalone but you’d be missing a lot of the wonderful backstory of all the main characters. I, for one, will definitely be picking up books three and four to fill in what I’ve missed in the lives of these wonderful characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.