The Little Lost Library was a great read. It is part of the Secret Book and Scone Society series. It takes place in the town of Miracle Springs, NC. Nora Pennington is the main character who owns Miracle Books book store. Lucille Wynter is an elderly recluse who lives on an estate called Wynter House. Nora takes delivered used books 1-2 times a month. Lucille never leaves the house and has Nora stay only in the boot room but never invited in. Nora had to abide by her rules. Nora would ring the doorbell and sit in a chair until Lucille came. Lucille would make her tea.

On this day when she delivered the books Lucille did not come to the door. She decided to break Lucille's rules as she felt something was wrong. She called Lucille. There was someone in the house that answered the phone. The voice said "help" in the phone. Nora called 911. Then she heard a small voice saying "too late". After calling 911 Nora broke into the house. There was a terrible smell in the house. She found Lucille at the bottom of her steps. Nora sat and held her hand until Deputy Jasper Andrews arrived. Lucille was dead. Both Nora and the deputy looked around and was surprised at Lucille's living condition. Jasper took Nora outside as the EMT's arrived.

Deputy Paula Hollowell arrived with her dog, Rambo. She was hired to replace the previous K9 officer. She accused Nora of breaking into the house and stealing things. Jasper went to speak to Hollowell and told her that Lucille had a son who lived in an apartment above the garage. His name Clem Wynters.

When Nora was leaving Jasper found a package with Nora's name on it and gave it to her. When Nora got back to her store she opened her package. She read the letter first then opened the book "The Lost Library by Hugo Wynters. Sheriff Grant McCabe came home. He lived with Nora. The next day McCabe spoke to Nora about Lucille's death. Nora told him about the letter and book but he was in a hurry to get back to the office. When Nora got to the store she told Shelton who worked for her in the children's department what happened to Lucille. She wasn't sure it was an accident and about the letter and book.

When she looked Hugo up on the internet it told about his life. He had married Helena from a well-to-do family and built Wynter House as a wedding present for his wife. They had two children, Lucille and Lynette. Lucille married Frederick Vandercamp. There was a scandal at the mill. Hugo was accused of embezzling money the company but never arrested. Both Hugo and Helena died months apart. Lucille stayed in the house.

At the end of the work day a woman came into the bookstore. She was a nasty woman who wanted to know what Lucille said before she died. She said she would come back the next day to talk about her mother. She was Lucille's daughter, Harper. At the same time Beck Wynter went to the police station to inquire about his mother's death. Lucille had 3 children.

At home Nora showed McCabe the book and letter and they discussed it. That night Nora had her book club meeting at the store. The club was called the Secret Book and Scone Society. The group consisted of her friends, Hester, June, Estella. They brought dinner with them. After they had discussed the book Nora told them about the letter and book. They all read the letter and book. They thought it sounded like a scavenger hunt.

While waiting for McCabe to arrive at the restaurant for dinner Nora went into the restaurant's garden. She was sitting on a bench when Beck came into the garden and wanted to paint a stone and put it in the pond. He sat down and spoke to Nora. He asked about someone he could hire to help clean out the house. Nora recommended her friend, Bea who did that type of cleaning. McCabe came and they had dinner. After dinner he told Nora that he didn't want her to get involved with the children and house. He told her that Lucille had been strangled. While leaving the restaurant Nora saw Hollowell with Jasper at the bar very cozy. Nora felt bad for Hester as she had been dating Jasper. They had been boy and girl friend but Hester told Nora that they had drifted apart.

Nora went back to the house. The house was slowly getting cleaned. In the clock room she saw Beck and asked if he would be keeping any of the clocks. He told her that everything that could be sold would go towards Lucille's debts as well pay for the cleaners. The tape around the step was cleared and they were told they could clean all the rooms except for the library.
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Bea and Nora were in the bathroom cleaning they found bibles in the tub. Clearing out the bibles they found a golden wedding ring on a twig. Upon closer look they realized it was a finger. They realized that there might be a body under the books so they stopped and called the police. Could this be Lucille's husband? Hollowell came and said something nasty to Nora. While waiting to be interviewed Nora read the book again. The second clue was in the banister. She checked and found the next clue and took it. McCabe came to the house to make sure Nora was alright, He told her that there was a skelton under the books. Maybe Vandercamp didn't leave as everyone thought he had. McCabe hoped that Nora would stop coming to the house but Nora told him that she had to help Bea with the books,

This is where the story takes off with Nora following the clues in the book for the lost library. There is so much that happens that it is hard to put all on paper. I will leave it for the reader to enjoy to the surprising ending.

I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters. They added so much to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for this ARC.







Nora met Bea at the flea market and told her about the job. Bea decided to take it and got the job. She asked Nora to come over and go over the books to find out their worth. While in the room she saw the grandfather's clock. It was the first item mentioned in the book. She went to check it out and found the first clue inside a secret compartment. There was a small box. A note was there saying "You found me". She took it with her. When she got home she looked into the box and found a small coffin. Nora decided she would try to find the rest of the clues.

Nora has been taking books to elderly Lucille Wynter. She goes to a small outer room and has never been inside the house. However, on this day, Lucille isn't coming out. When Nora calls her, she says "help". Nora breaks into the house, but finds Lucille dead, and realizes that Lucille has been a hoarder and the rooms are piled with books and other treasurers as well as dust and debree, and that her son has been living in the garage and is probably into drugs. Lucille has left Nora a note that includes a treasure hunt through her house, and Nora agrees to help the group cleaning the house for the children, particularly for pricing and helping to see the man valuable books. However, there have been a lot of troubles in this house over the years since the husband left, as the past gradually becomes clear.

Nora'a task isn't easy. When someone throws a fire bomb into her beloved Caboose House, Nora has to move in with police chief McCabe. There are some unstable folks working in Wynter house, and Nora is still in danger! I love this series with a group of friends getting together to make all their lives better. I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC so I could read the book before publication.

Wonderful Intriguing Tale
Ms. Adams creates a wonderful tale about a book seller who is very community oriented. Delivering her monthly supply of books to an elderly woman. The woman who was always prompt did not answer the door. Nora took matters into her own hands and became embroiled in not only the new case, but also and old one. Written with wit, humor and a bit of romance, this is a tale that should not be missed. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
I requested and received this book as a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE LITTLE LOST LIBRARY (Book 7 of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society mystery series) by Ellery Adams in exchange for an honest review. Nora has been reaching out to a local elderly shut-in, Lucille Wynter, but the woman remains stand-offish. Though Ms. Wynter will sometimes invite Nora inside, she only allows Nora in as far as the boot room. One such visit has Nora bringing Ms. Wynter a box of books, but Ms. Wynter doesn’t come to the door. Nora knocks, and no one answers. Nora finally calls and receives no answer. Nora calls again and again. Finally, the phone call is answered with a gasp for help. By the time Nora emergency services and breaks into the home, it’s too late. When Nora learns that Ms. Wynter was murdered rather than dying from a fall, Nora becomes obsessed with following the clues Ms. Wynter left for Nora. Nora hopes the clues will reveal Ms. Wynter’s secrets as well as the identity of her killer.

I like this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring flawed women seeking to outgrow their scars, and secrets, so many secrets.

#TheLittleLostLibrary #NetGalley

An elderly Miracle Springs resident’s lifeless body is discovered at the foot of the stairs of her crumbling Gothic mansion. Her children seem to believe there is something valuable hidden in the house, and a note Nora receives sends her on an important quest.

I really enjoyed this seventh book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by bestselling author Ellery Adams. Ms. Adams is also the wordsmith behind The Book Retreat Mysteries series which I am also very fond of.

I appreciated the depiction of the warm, close relationships between Nora and her friends, took pleasure in the settings of her bookstore and the small-town, felt unease in the Wynter House scenes, and could almost taste the many yummy foods described.

For fans of books and cozy mysteries.

Publication Date October 22, 2024
Kensington Cozies

Kindle edition 329 pages

#arc #netgalley
#kensingtoncozies
#elleryadams #secretbooksconesociety
#murder #secrets #booklovers #bookstore
#smalltown #gothicmansion
#Brightbookreviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The newest instalment of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series is one of the best yet! Nora Pennington owns Miracle Books, a bookstore in the small town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina that focuses on Bibliotherapy. Nora knows what books will help someone heal from whatever they’re experiencing in their life.

Part of her work includes delivering books to locals like Lucille Wynter, an elderly woman living in what is rumoured to be a haunted house. Never letting her past the front boot room, Lucille is private about her home and life.

During her most recent delivery, Nora is left waiting at the door with a bag of books. Worried, she calls Lucille who ends up begging for help and then hanging up the phone. Once inside, she realizes why Lucille has shut herself away from the world and what she’s been hiding. At the bottom of the stairs, lays Lucille, dead, amongst her hoarded home.

Nora feels so much guilt and pain for not noticing Lucille’s situation earlier; so when she realizes Lucille has left her a note and a book; Nora gets to work figuring out what secrets are buried beneath Lucille’s possessions.

This is such an amazing addition to the series and as always, I feel transported to Miracle Springs and like I’m in the Secret, Book, and Scone society with Nora and her best friends Hester, Estella, and June. This book is perfect for those looking for a cozy mystery with an autumn vibe. I’ve read all the books in this series and already can’t wait for the next one. I think this would also work as a standalone but I hope people will read the rest of the series once they’re done!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ellery Adams' two mystery series are among my favorites, The Little Lost Library is book #6 in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series, and it's a winner.

This time the plot doesn't revolve around the other members of the society, but rather around Lucille Wynter, a reclusive inhabitant of Miracle Springs who lives in what others consider a haunted house. Bookshop owner Nora has been bringing books to Lucille but has never been permitted inside the house. After Lucille dies in a suspicious manner, Nora is determined to find out just what brought about her death, especially since she has received a cryptic letter from Lucille that may ultimately reveal the secrets of Lucille's estranged family and the reason she has hoarded so many things over the years, some of which may be real treasure. Besides solving the riddles in the letter, Nora has to deal with combative family members and dangerous situations.

I love spending time in Miracle Springs with familiar characters and especially enjoy the mature love relationship between Nora and her law enforcement beau, Grant . The characters have depth, the plot is creative and compelling, and the ending is particularly uplifting , if not exactly what I expected .

My thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

"The Little Lost Library” the 7th instalment in the "The Secret, Book & Scone Society" Mystery series by Ellery Adams. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read in order to get the full background. Big clues come in small packages as Miracle Books owner Nora Pennington and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society attempt to solve a series of murders connected to a bibliophile’s missing books

I was utterly captivated by this book! Each layer of the mystery, every riddle, and each new discovery drew me in deeper, making it impossible to put down. I devoured it in one day, curled up with a hot cup of tea and snuggling Lindi - completely absorbed!

This series never fails to evoke strong emotions and leaves me feeling fulfilled.

I'm eagerly awaiting book 8! If you're a fellow mystery lover, do yourself a favor and dive into this series - I highly recommend it!"

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The Little Lost Library (Secret, Book, & Scone Society #7) by Ellery Adams is sort of the worst case scenario for a hoarding house. Nora is bringing books to a long time customer and when the woman doesn't follow her usual pattern of behavior Nora takes steps to try to help. Unfortunately, she's too late. Nora finds out the woman was a hoarder, mostly of books. In the process of helping the woman's family clean out the house Nora is secretly follow clues the woman left her to a secret library somewhere in the house. As she does this, all the house's secrets get revealed.

There were a few mysteries going on in this book. The primary one, the death of the woman, wrapped up pretty much as I expected. The other mysteries as well. It was all still an interesting story that kept me reading.

Ellery Adams writes some of my favorite cozy mysteries as it is, and there's something I especially love about The Secret, Book, & Scone Society series. Books about books always get me excited, but this installment may have been my favorite yet.

Besides running Miracle Books, Nora has been delivering books to an elderly recluse in Miracle Springs, understanding that she will never be invited inside. When a scheduled delivery does not happen, Nora begins to worry and enters the mansion, Wynter House, finding Lucille dead inside and hoards of books, regular and rare. A note from Lucille to Nora leads Nora to wonder if the death might have been murder, especially when it's accompanied by riddles that point to a treasure. While Lucille's children are convinced there is valuable treasure inside, Nora's obsession with the note and the collection of books drags her into the middle of the investigation.

I could not put this book down. Each step of the mystery, each riddle, each discovery had me wanting even more. It ended up being a one day, grab a cup of tea, and stay on the couch kind of book. I have definitely enjoyed her other books, I order them as soon as they release, but The Little Lost Library just hit differently. There's an element of nostalgia to the topic. The idea of the mystery hidden within the home brought me right back to some of my favorite books as a child, which led me to be googling the names and ordering vintage copies.

While I'm starting to lose interest in this series, I did love this murder mystery with a side of books. Nora is a great character and this book has me looking forward to her next installment.

Great story, great characters and a mystery with books thrown in for good measure. It’s perfect! I haven’t read the other books in this series but I will be buying them. It’s so much fun to find an author you love and if you’ve not read Ellery Adams before I’m sure you’ll love the stories just like I did.

I am a bit biased when it comes to this series because it is one of my favorites and any time spent with these lovely characters is a great time for me. While this book centered very much on the main character, and not as much on her book club gang, they were still an essential element to the overall cozy vibe of the story, and it was very nice to see Nora's relationship with McCabe deepen. This plot, while I did think was a bit weak on motive, did deliver an excellent twisty mystery that found clues through a delightful treasure hunt. The hunt provided beautiful descriptions of a stately manor and all the treasures housed within. And very enjoyable were the great quotes at the beginning of chapters and the many, many references to books and authors sprinkled throughout the book. As it should be when the MC owns a bookstore!

If you love stories that revolve around books you’re going to love this really well written mystery. Good character and plot development. The puzzle is engrossing filled with adventure, a twisty plot.

I really enjoyed this new 7th installment of the series. I often start to lose interest as a series progresses, but this book had me staying up to finish. I’m not totally sold on Nora’s relationship and hope to see a bit more character progression for the Sheriff. The idea of a mystery house full of books and treasures and a scavenger hunt mystery was intriguing and I wish I could have seen pictures of the items Nora was finding. I wanted all the details of how Lucille became a recluse and how it affected her children to become the adults we meet in the story. I could empathize with all of them. I look forward to seeing how the bookstore’s new hire is doing in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Nora owns the local bookshop in town. She visits Wynter House and Lucille Wynter every so often with books that Lucille requests. Lucille never leaves her house and Nora is only allowed in the boot Tom. Here both women have tea and chat. Then one day all of this changes. Nora to deliver her books to Lucille, but nobody is answering. She tries calling Lucille. There is no answer. How can she get into see what’s going on? When Nora Finally enters the house she finds Lucille at the bottom of the steps, dead . Not only does Nora the body. She also sees the state that the house is in. Lucille is a hoarder, but who would kill her?

Lucille gives Nora the gift of a little lost library. Nora cannot understand why she would give her such a beautiful gift, especially when her son Beck and daughter Harper return home to find out what happened to their mother. Once they return things start to happen within the house. Their younger brother Clem, who has returned from rehab suddenly dies. Nora along with her sheriff boyfriend try to figure out the clues within the little library that would lead them to who the killer of Lucille was. Nora finds herself in a life and death situation because she wants to do right Lucille. Meanwhile, back at the bookstore, her friends and employees are trying their best to keep Nora safe from what is going on inside that house. With every clue that Nora finds within the books of the lost library Nora gets closer and closer to the truth. Will she be able to find Lucille‘s killer? The truth behind what really happened to the Wynter family? All Lucille’s children really who they say they are? Read this book to find out all of the answers.

I truly enjoyed this little mystery. Again, this is a series and I still was able to keep up with some of the backstory. This book was a very quick read, and I enjoyed the characters, especially Nora who had to finish what she started. That was finding out the mystery of Lucille and her family. Who killed Lucille and why this book was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anybody who enjoys a cozy little mystery. Thank you, NetGalley and the publishing company for this advanced copy. Thank you Ellery Adams for a very enjoyable book with colorful characters and it’s delightful. Murder mystery. I look forward to many more books by you.

When Nora finds an elderly customer/acquaintance dead (and quite possibly murder), she becomes sucked into a mystery involving miniature books and a scavenger hunt. Nora's love of books and reading shone through and I was excited to get more of a glimpse into her relationship with her beau. This series just keeps getting better.

A murder mystery about missing books?? Yes, please!! This is what you’ll get in The Little Lost Library.

This is a book that you will want to stay up all night to finish, so choose when you start to read it wisely. Ellery Adams does such an amazing job setting the scene that you just want to be able to visit Miracle Springs and hang out with everyone. Often times as a series adds more books they start to get a little stale or you get frustrated with the characters, that is not the case for the Secret, Book and Scone Society. I swear each book is better than the last and you just like the characters a little bit more with each book. Even if you have not read other books in this series, you will still be able to understand the dynamic of the group and how they support one another. You will just be lacking their background story (aka their secret) but it will not detract from your enjoyment of the this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.

#TheLittleLostLibrary #NetGalley

I feel like "The Little Lost Library" could count as a "real" mystery/thriller type book vs a "cozy". Another installment in the Book & Scone Society series that does not disappoint.
Nora is dropping by to deliver books to an elderly recluse that she visits a few times a month. When the woman doesn't answer the door in a timely manner, Nora feels that something is wrong. After calling the woman who responds with "help" & "it's too late" Nora breaks in to find the woman has passed away at the bottom of her staircase. Also, the woman is a hoarder. The story takes off from there, family secrets, threats, murder, arson and a shoplifter at the store. The mysteries are solved by the end of the book, with a new storyline beginning.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Adams, and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review