I adore The Secret, Scone, and Book Society series by Ellery Adams. This one (#7) has a dysfunctional family with a legacy of deceit, friendship and community, a scavenger hunt, and of course off screen murders. Perfect fall cozy mystery with a side of bibliotherapy, complete with a reading list at the end.

Another good installment with the whole crew present and helping when and where needed, some serious personal events caused some sadness, a good mystery [with very sad overtones] where I didn't see all of it coming, and ultimately I was left feeling we'd ALL be better off if we could go and spend some time in Miracle Springs.

Looking forward to book 8!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ellery Adams, and Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the seventh book in the Secret, Book and Scone Society mystery series. This is truly one of my favorite cozy series. The motives are not throwaways. There is many times a cold case element to these mysteries. In this case, Nora is drawn to solving a series of riddles that reveal clues in miniature. As someone who also had a dollhouse besides a mystery obsession as a child, this is catnip for me.

Ellery Adams has created a series of characters who are three-dimensional. Each book in the series gets better. Don’t make the mistake of jumping in with this one. You will truly benefit by reading these books in order. Thank you to Kensington Press and NetGalley for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review. I gave this book 5 shiny stars. I highly recommend it.

Nora is this time trying to find who killed elderly resident Lucille, who resided in a creepy Southern Gothic mansion on the edge of town. Her home is filled with books and Nora is highly intrigued by them. A solid mystery. Characters that you fall in love with. Its always a exciting time to read Ellery Adams! Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t realise it was part of a series, but that was ok as i was able to read and enjoy it as a standalone book. Nora runs a bookstore and delivers books to an old lady who lives by herself nearby. When the usual routine is disrupted because the old lady doesn’t answer the door, Nora takes things into her own hands and enters the house which she has never been in before. The old lady has passed away and has left Nora a secret message. Nora tries to solve the mystery of the message while trying to deal with the old lady’s 3 children, her partner who is a police man and someone who is out to get her. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book. I am keen to read the rest of the series now.

I really enjoy this series, and this latest book does not disappoint. It was filled with likable and questionable characters, intriguing mysteries, and twists at the end. Another win from Ellery Adams!

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

The society is as heartwarming as ever, and the book references abound. The puzzle-solving aspect was maybe a bit painstaking, and readers who have read Adams Book Retreat series will see some recycled elements. The book still kept my interest cover to cover, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

This is book seven and the best Secret, Book, and Scone Society book yet. Be prepared for a cozy that hits hard and tackles real world problems like trauma, relationships ending, bullies, sadness, and solidarity. On the lighter side, I was completely captivated by the treasure hunt for the little lost library. Oh and the quotes at the start of each chapter are so thought provoking, my favorite was the one by Maya Angelou at the start of chapter four regarding knowing your own worth. Nora Pennington has such a good heart, she looks for the good in others, and is a friend through thick and thin. She cries over the loss that others feel, she is one who is empathic even for those who are hurting to the point that they lash out at others, much like Lucille‘s daughter. Propelled by an insatiable curiosity to solve the riddle of the book, she takes chances and works secretly to complete the task which NSNS has set in front of her. I am surprised that the side issues are not distracting her more, what with an unidentifiable teen taking a five finger discount and the crazy K9 cop aka Hollowell the horrible (my nickname for her) being her usually charming self (said with sarcasm) combative with women, flirty with her male coworkers, all while prowling around after Hester’s boyfriend, officer Jasper Andrews.

This story was a page turner keeping my attention the entire time while my emotions ran amok. Parts of the story are sweet like the mantecada muffins that Sheldon made, while other parts are bitter and hard to take like the background history and Lucille’s reason for becoming a recluse hoarder. The clues were well placed for each of the plot lines and the red herrings kept me guessing. The only mystery that we are left with at the end is the story behind Hollowell and why she acts the way she does.

This story follows Nora, a bookstore owner, and her friends as she once again finds herself in the middle of a book related mystery, this time in an old house. A series of clues was left for her to discover by the deceased but she must keep them hidden in case the killer is searching too.

While I didn’t find the mystery itself to be as compelling as previous books, the character building among Nora and the people of Miracle Springs made me keep reading. Definitely read the other books I’m the series before “The Little Lost Library” as there are spoilers and context related to the rest of the series.

The Little Lost Library is the seventh cozy mystery in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series. Nora Pennington, local bookshop owner and resident amateur sleuth, prides herself on being able to help her customers through the perfect book. Nora delivers books to Lucille Wynter on the regular, but when her latest deliver doesn’t go as planned Nora finds herself breaking down the door to try and help Lucille, but it’s too late. Nora has walked into the house of a hoarder and finds Lucille dead at the bottom of the steps. At first glance it appears to be an accident, but something just doesn’t add up. Nora won’t rest until she knows the truth and she’s determined to figure out what really happened to Lucille no matter the cost.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series, but I was able to get into it very quickly. I think reading the rest of the series will give me more character background, but this can easily be read as a standalone. I was instantly pulled into this mystery and really enjoyed Nora as the main character. This mystery was twisting and turning and I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt like mystery going on within the murder case. I will definitely be going back and starting this series from the beginning. This is a great book for cozy mystery fans and I definitely recommend it!

Ellery Adams has another winner with this book It has it all: murder, mayhem, mystery, a haunted house, secrets, and miniature books. It also has romance, cherished friendships and lots of literary quotes. I have started reading the book The secret life of color mentioned in the story. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheLittleLostLibrary for advanced digital copy.

Incredible mystery that has been plotted so well that you won't be able to stop reading. Seriously if you haven't started this cozy series yet, you need to start now. You do need to start with book one and read the series in order so that you can get to know the characters better, but trust me when I say that it will be well worth your time. The stories of the individual characters are compelling and will draw you while the mysteries will have you craving even more! This book in particular was so well plotted that I couldn't stop reading as I had to know what was going to happen next. The characters that the author has created in this series are so amazingly realistic. They are flawed individuals who have come together to make the family of their choice to do the best that they can to make the world around them a better place while also just trying to survive and thrive. I can't wait to see what happens next for these characters especially a few new ones introduced in this book!

Thank you NetGallery for a copy of Ellery Adams' newest Secret, Book and Scone Society series. 4.5 STARS
Just published October 2024 and worth the read. You don't need to have read the first 6 in the series to enjoy it. If you know someone who likes Cozies...this one was worth the read.
Fun details of horders. Good mystery, but not difficult to solve. Interesting back story and scavenger hunt. The hunt may have gone on a little too long, but I appreciate the details of the house and list of books at the end. If I were the editor, I would cut back on the hunt and use the extra pages for recipes : ). Enjoy a good winter read by the fire or a gift for a cozy mystery lover.
I hope the new character introduced shows up in #8. It is nice to have a readers's guide at the end and I enjoyed the opening quotes of each chp.

I read the first book in this series and while I liked the characters, the story wasn’t a good fit for me. Having been teased again by this series I decided to try Adam’s latest installment, “The Little Lost Library.” With murder, more murder and arson I wouldn’t classify this as cozy and I never felt as if there was safety within the pages. I still love the idea of the bookstore in a town known as a center of healing. The close and protective friends that surround Nora, the owner of Miracle Books and the protagonist of this story are people we would all like in our lives.

For Nora book collecting is not a hobby, she is obsessed with finding a little library which had been lost or hidden for a very long time. She believes the words of a dying recluse are meant for her alone and she is going to take some ridiculous chances. And therein lies my issue with this story - how many dangerous, life-threatening risks is she willing to take? Many, too many as she loses much in her search to find a collection of miniature books. Nora never loses sight of the magic in books nor the potential for good in people and if nothing else that message rings clear.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp and NetGalley for a copy.

If I were to walk into Miracle Books and ask Nora Pennington, the owner and bibliotherapist, for a recommendation to get me through election season in the USA, I think she would recommend “The Little Lost Library.” In this latest installment of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, we catch up with the four book club members: Nora, June, Hester, and Estella. Estella is pregnant with her first child; Hester has broken up with Deputy Andrews, while Nora’s relationship with Sheriff McCabe continues to deepen.

Set in early Autumn, Nora regularly delivers used paperbacks to Lucille Wynter, a recluse in a deteriorating (haunted?) house. Nora is not permitted inside the mansion beyond the boot room. One day, Lucille does not come to the door and Nora hears a faint “help me.” Nora enters, but it is too late; Lucille just died. A bag with Nora’s name is nearby and contains a miniature book by Lucille’s father, Hugo Wynter.

As Sheriff McCabe deals with Lucille’s adult children and who might have contributed to the old lady’s death, Nora discovers that the tiny book is a scavenger hunt with each clue revealing another secret of the eccentric family. But someone does not want these secrets to come out! Threats and arson ensue.

I loved my return to Miracle Springs. A mystery, a haunted house, wonderful Scone Society book club friends – the perfect distraction from whatever weighs on your mind.

I was so excited when I had the chance to read the 7th and latest installment in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series.
Nora owns a small bookstore, Miracle Books, in the mountains of North Carolina. Nora and her three friends, Hester, June and Estelle , along with her coworker Sheldon have started their book club which meets in her store regularly. Nora is also dating the town's sheriff, Grant.
Lucille is an eccentric, elderly customer of Nora's who lives in an old mansion in town. Upon a scheduled delivery of books, Nora comes across a gruesome discovery. She finds Lucille dead at the bottom of the stairs, from a presumed fall. This begins the mystery of Lucille's death, the unfolding of a dollhouse mystery and the discovery of a house full of books. Lucille's adult children come into play also.
This mystery series is one of my favorites. It isn't as 'cozy' as others, Adams always brings in contemporary topics in her stories that can be difficult, at times.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this review copy. This is my honest review.

The Little Lost Library (Secret, Book, and Scone Society #7) by Ellery Adams is another wonderful installment in this series!! I love picking up these books for a little escape with mystery and danger that’s not over the top. It’s fun reading about the adventures (misadventures) that Nora gets involved in keeps you reading and guessing until the very end on the bad guy. Highly recommended!!!

The Little Lost Library is a wonderfully mysterious story. The pacing is excellent with lots of action and all dialogue is not only necessary to the plot, but also highly entertaining. The characters are like old friends that I was delighted to see after a year apart.
The storyline is my favorite so far in this series - who doesn’t love books about books?! The miniature books immediately brought to mind Ellery Adams’ book tour for Paper Cuts and how she shared a set of miniature books. I had never seen books like them - the detail and quality. Seeing them made the excitement of Nora’s scavenger hunt come alive in my mind!
This book is part of the A Secret, Book, and Scone Society series but can be read as a standalone.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6957783432

And Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBtccRGxFbg/?igsh=ZGdpZWN6cWNsbTJq

Another great addition to the series. I love returning to Nora and her friends. While I consider this series 'cozy mystery,' it stands out above the others in its writing. Ellery Adams is gifted; she writes books that feel like a cozy blanket and a warm cup of tea in your hand. This is a series for everyone, not just cozy readers. It's fun to have read in order but not wholly necessary.

I especially loved the premise of this book- a scavenger hunt through an old house! Just delightful. While I guessed at the killer, it was still fun to see how the author played it out. Great read!

As a book lover, I found the premise quite interesting. I love the concept of the elderly woman leaving behind clues and a miniature library, perhaps along with her fortune. This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone novel. It is fun to sleuth along with Nora as she tries to discover what Lucille has left behind. If you are looking for a quick read and enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a good one to check out.