Murder On the Poet's Walk by Ellery Adams may be the eighth book in the Book Retreat series but the book continues be just as complex and captivating as the previous books in the series. I love visiting Storyton Hall and the village. It sounds like a perfect place for a vacation to me.

Jane, the Fins, Hem and Fitz, Edwin and the members of the Cover Girls Book Club have a huge mystery to solve when one of the guests, a poet involved in the greeting card contest, is found murdered and another poet's murder soon follows. A well-crafted and quickly paced plot, several suspects that all have motive, a supposed theft from the secret library, a touch of romance for one of the Cover Girls and Eloise's wedding plans kept me turning the pages until the early morning hours to find out all of the details of "who done it".

A poetry competition turns to murder at the Storyton Hall. All the usual characters are here and I enjoyed the story.

A new greeting card company is sponsoring a poetry contest at Storyton Hall - nothing can happened with a group of poets, right? Wrong, the first problem for Jane Steward, the owner/manager is when she discovers a body staged to look like the Lady of Shallot on the Tennyson Trail. Calling for reinforcements, her staff set to find out what happened, helping local law enforcement. Further stagings occur causing the Storyton Hall staff to wonder if it will be safe for the wedding of one of their own in a few days.

The mysteries that Ms Adams create here in Storyton Hall as well as others, captivate me. The characters are so real and the settings so inspiring, I want to visit and meet them all.

Look forward to many more from Storyton!

Roses are Red, Someone is Dead

Returning to Ellery Adams’ A Book Retreat Mystery Series is like coming home to the best place on earth. I truly want to be Jane Steward, manager of Storyton Hall, a literary-themed estate in the rolling hills of western Virginia. As a confirmed booklover, I would revel in all things book-related. While Poetry is not my particular cuppa, I really enjoyed the newest book, Murder on the Poet’s Walk.

Poets are invited to Storyton Hall to compete for a greeting card contract, so they can be found any and everywhere on the property working on verses for the competition. But one poem “The Lady of Shallot” seems to have come to life when a dead woman is found floating in a rowboat.

Jane and her team of Finns, as well as her best friends, the Cover Girls, are on the case, trying to find justice for the murdered guest. Not long after, another body is found, eerily similar to another poem.

This series by Ellery Adams is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery series of all time. The author has a brilliant way of crafting stories that keep readers immersed in the books. I want to read fast to find out whodunnit, but on the other hand, I hate to finish the book and have to emerge into the real world again.

The characters are so well-rounded, and are people I want to be friends with, or work with. The friendships, family ties, and loyalty of the entire team of employees are what make these such strong books. And the setting descriptions! It’s so easy to envision what Storyton Hall, the hiking trails, and even the town look like. Truly a heaven on earth. Even with all the murders, I want to live there!

The plots Ms. Adams constructs are intricate and well thought out. I thought I had figured out who the murderer was, but was surprised at the true identity of the killer. There’s a reason I respect Ms. Adams as a storyteller - she invites the reader into a world of her construction and takes us on a journey we truly enjoy.

I was thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy through NetGalley, and leave my thoughts and opinions on this book.

This was my first introduction to Storyton Hall, but I'm sure it won't be my last visit! I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, characters and storyline, and will now have to go find the earlier books in the series. I will say, this story was still easy enough to understand, even jumping into the middle of the series. (That's not always the case.) But I know I'll enjoy getting to know everyone better.

The idea of a literary-themed vacation spot sounds heavenly to me, although perhaps not one with so much murder going on...

Thanks to Ellery Adams, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A poetry competition has a romantic ring to it, a poetry competition whose winner will sign a contract with a successful greetings card company has a romantic and lucrative ring to it! At book themed Storyton Hall a group of poets have arrived to enjoy a fabulous weekend while aiming to be unveiled as the victor during the final evening's writing themed banquet.

Unfortunately for resort manager, Jane Steward, discovering a competitor's lifeless body posed as a character from a poem known to millions changes everything. Not wanting to unnerve guests or staff Jane and her security team begin a surreptitious investigation alongside the local Sheriff but before anyone can make real headway a second body is found.

With time against them Jane finds herself battling a dangerous foe just as a disturbing discovery relating to the secrets of the resort and a close family member's health problems battle for her undivided attention. Can she fulfil her everyday responsibilities as well as catch a killer or will someone get away scott free?

This is the eighth in the Book Retreat Murder Mystery Series and although I found it slow going to start with it did get better. Initially I felt no connection to the murder victim and indeed there was no interaction with them before their demise which was frustrating to say the least. By the second death things had improved but with so much going on in the story it was difficult to make sure everything was straight in my mind.

The main protagonists were as wonderful as usual and eventually carried the book to its successful and eminently satisfying completion. I hope there will be more books to come in the series so its usually high standards can be resumed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is definitely worth reading for the secondary storyline alone. Once it got going it increased from a 3 to 4 star read which was easy to enjoy.

I love the feeling reading Ellery Adams' Storyton series gives me, it is a true escape. The characters are all so engaging and likeable. 'Murder on the Poet's Walk' is no exception, with a spectacular two-pronged mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I don't want to give anything away, but I can highly recommend this book and the entire series. I just don't want it to end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The next in the book retreat mystery series. Jane is hosting a poetry group at Storyton Hall when two poets end up murdered. Some of the remaining valuable literature in the hall goes missing and Jane worries there is also a thief in addition to the murderer. Jane must find the culprit before she’s next.

I was worried this one was going to be a bigger plot arc book when the books were stolen, but thankfully it was not so. I’m glad the author is moving away from the guardian of the books plot. It was never my favorite and felt clunky.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Storyton series. The mysteries are intriguing but what really keeps me coming back are the characters. During this book Storyton Hall is hosting a contest for poets to win a contract with a greeting card company. Of course there's a murder that must be investigated! Not only that, but it's just two weeks before Jane's best friend's wedding! I thought this was a great addition to the series and will continue to read.

Another outstanding installment in the Storyton series. I highly recommend this and the others that come before.

Jane Steward is the manager of the Storyton Hall resort and also the guardian of its secrets. She has the love and support of her uncle and Aunt who also live on the estate as well as the Finns, highly trained men who help run the estate and also help protect it.

The Hall is hosting a greeting card competition and has poets everywhere vying for the chance to win the prize of a contract to work for Current Mood card company. But the poet most thought would win is found murdered-her body staged as if she were the "The Lady of Shallot" from Tennyson's poem.

Interspersed with solving the murder we get what makes this series enjoyable. It's the inhabitants of Storyton and Storyton Hall. Jane's posse of girlfriends are there to help as is Edwin, Jane's beau and her twin sons. We also have Jane's concerns over her uncle's forgetfulness and the advice she gets from her aunt. And of course, her relationship with the housekeeper and cook and the Finns.

The mystery is top notch with plenty of red herrings and twists and turns.

I received an ARC from the publisher, but the opinion expressed is my own.

This should be a happy time at Storyton Hall, Jane Steward’s best friend Eloise Alcott is getting married in a few weeks, and Jane and Storyton Hall are hosting a group of poets competing for a greeting card contract. But unfortunately murder never seems to be far away from Storyton Hall and Jane once again stumbles across a dead body – one of the poets in the competition. The police, Jane, and her loyal staff are all investigating the murder but will Jane find the killer in time to enjoy Eloise’s wedding?

“Murder on the Poet’s Walk” is the very nicely done eighth book in Ellery Adams’s Book Retreat cozy mystery series. I love everything about Storyton Hall – a book retreat for book lovers and wish it existed in real life! I love Jane and her extended family and friends – mixed in with the murder in this book is her all too real worry about her Uncle Aloysius and his bouts of forgetfulness – this not only plays a part in the mystery but shows how close Jane is to her family. it is perhaps apt that this book is about poetry – Adams in a gifted writer with a wonderful way of writing so that the words practically dance off the page – even the deaths in the book are poetic. Speaking of the deaths – the mystery is well done with plenty of twists and turns – there were a few times when I was sure I knew who the killer was only to find out a few pages later that I was totally wrong!


“Murder on the Poet’s Walk” is a nicely done cozy mystery.

I have enjoyed the books in this series, and this was no exception. If such a place really existed, you can bet that I would want to spend my book reading time there. What could be more fun than a resort in the Virginia mountains dedicated to the theme of books. books and more books. Each of the rooms or activities has book related names. In this book, we also discover hidden passage ways. This book is about a poetry contest so we are treated to different passages from a verity of well known poets. As usual, there is a murder or two, and I like the way that Jane is always backed up by the Finns, and in this case. her twin boys.

What a fun visit to Storyton Hall! Poets (yay!), Jane and her friends and family, and a greeting card company hosting a high-stakes contest all mix together for a well-plotted mystery. When the front-runners of the contest start dying off, and priceless poems are missing from the Storyton Hall secret library, the investigation begins. There a good mix of investigation, poetry retreat/running a resort, and personal storylines. I especially like the storyline of Uncle Aloysius and his memory loss. And that's woven neatly into the murder plot, too, so it does double duty. This one is just the right balance for me. Over the top, but believable within its over-the-top universe; full of meaningful relationships, but not a romance novel; plenty of characters to keep me guessing, but not so many I can't keep track. More like this, please!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Book Retreat Mysteries are one of my favorites to read. Storyton Hall is one place I wish was real! Jane Steward has her hands full with poets this go around. Well developed characters. Great story plot. A solid whodunit! Excellent!!! Thanks #netgalley and #Keningston for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Once again, back at Storyton Hall, this time for a greeting card contest. Poets have gathered to win a coveted prize for a contract with the greeting card company. Jane & the boys are on the case, when, unfortunately one of the contestants is found dead in a canoe in the lake. Add in some family drama, another death and the story flies by. The murderer is revealed and was a surprise ending. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms. Adams, and Kensington Publishers for the chance to pre-read in exchange for an honest review.

Much like the other books in this series, Murder on the Poet's Walk was a very enjoyable read. I love how the author adds new layers and dimensions to all the characters and even Storyton Hall itself. The mysteries were very well-written. I did correctly guess what was going on with one of the lesser mysteries in the book pretty early on. However, I was completely surprised with the solution to the murder mystery. It was really clever. I really hope there's another book coming in this series as it's one of my favorites. I'll read this series as long as new books continue to be written.

As Jane eagerly anticipates the wedding of her best friend Eloise Alcott, Storyton Hall is overrun with poets in town to compete for a coveted greeting card contract. They’re everywhere, seeking inspiration strolling the Poet’s Walk, a series of trails named after famous authors. But the Tennyson Trail leads to a grim surprise: a woman’s corpse drifting in a rowboat on a lake, a crumpled copy of “The Lady of Shallot” in her lifeless fist. When a second body is discovered, also holding a page from a poetry book, a recurring MO emerges. Fortunately, Jane is well versed in sleuthing and won’t rest until she gives the killer a taste of poetic justice . . .

I am a big fan of Ellery Adams, and have faithfully followed this series and also her Secret Book and Scone Society series. She continues to develop the main characters as well as the book club members. Jane's boys are also growing up and het love life is blooming. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this book for a review.

Jane Steward is hosting a group of Poets at Storyton Hall, with the participants hoping to score a job as the writer of greeting cards. When one of the front runners is found dead, and staged as poetry, she and the Fins and Cover Girls do their best to help the sheriff find a murderer. When a second front runner is found floating in a large mud puddle, they step up their efforts to find the murderer before the even is over and, more importantly, before Eloise’s wedding.

Poets often bare their soul, did the killer do that this time as well? Jane and the gang hope to find the culprit through their work. Will they find the guilty party before any of them become haiku or poem themselves.

I love this author. She ALWAYS refers to literary works to tell her stories and brings bibliophiles the exact blended dose of mystery and quotes from other authors’ works. Well written, well researched and a fabulous read every single time!

Murder on the Poet's Walk is the 9th in the series. I have read and enjoyed all of them. It takes place in the town of Storyton, VA. Jane Stewart is the main character. She runs the family hotel that caters to bibliophiles from all corners of the globe. Her Aunt Octavia and Uncle Aloysius have turned over the guardianship of protecting the secret library which has many original books and papers. The Fins are a group of men who have taken an oath to protect the Guardian of Storyton Hall.. Butterworth, Sinclair, Sterling and Lachlan were hired by Uncle Aloyius to protect Jane and her twin sons, Fitz and Hem. Edwin Alcott is her boyfriend who owns Daily Bread Cafe. The hotel is hosting Current Mood Cards who are doing a poet contest for the next person who will be working for them designing greeting cards and receiving a large money prize.

When cleaning up from the the party Jane finds a piece of paper saying Tell no one or I'll silence you forever. Jane gives the paper to Butterwjorth. The next day Jane takes a water bottle to her uncle who forgot it. While coming back to the hotel she comes across a canoe in the reeds with a woman dead in it. She calls Sheriff Evans. The woman who was murdered is Gretchen West one of the poets staying there.

This reader is taken on a journey trying to find out who killed Gretchen and later Conor Jenson. The story continues with many twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing. until the climax of who is the murderer.

The ending ends with the marriage of her best friend Phoebe Doyle who owns the Creamery as well as a romantic ending for Jane and Edwin.

This book was a fun read which keeps the reader wanting to find out what is happening. I look forward to the next in the series to find out what next adventure for Jane and Edwin.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.

I love Ellery Adams and I try to read everything she writes. This one didn't disappoint Jane has her handful with her best friends wedding. Jane Steward, manager of Stonyton Hall, an estate turned hotel that caters to bibliophiles. Poets are in town hoping to win a greeting card contract. How hard could it be to have Poets around. Who knew Poets can cause so much havoc.
#MurderonthePoetsWalk #NetGalley