The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams: Book Review

Title: The Secret, Book & Scone Society
Author: Ellery Adams
Narrator: Cris Dukehart
Series: The Secret, Book & Scone Society
Series Number: 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Bibliophiles, Contemporary Fiction, Southern Literature, Appalachia
Audience: Adult
Format: Audiobook

My Review:

I’m classifying this as a cozy mystery simply because the murder and investigation fit that genre. But it’s way darker than I expected. The four main characters have some very troubling secrets in their pasts. It was nice to watch them share their stories and start to heal together though.

I didn’t realize that this is set in North Carolina, my state, until after I started reading it. That’s always a nice bonus. I wish Nora’s bookstore was real so I could visit because it sounds magical (though Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, near the fictional location of this book, is a wonderful place I can actually visit). I could also tear up some of Hester’s deliciously described pastries. I had a bit of fun pondering what special flavors she would choose if she were baking a personalized comfort scone for me. Something with blackberries, I believe.

And speaking of nice bonuses, I really loved that the potential love interest is a hot paramedic. I married a hot paramedic and they tend to be overlooked in the world of first responders. It was nice to see one get some favorable attention, even if it is in fiction.

I largely liked Cris Dukehart’s narration but she does give the one local woman in the society a very heavy Blanche Devereaux-style drawl. We’re twangy in the southern Appalachians, not drawly. It’s a noticeable difference to anyone who has any experience with both accents and it grated on my ears a bit.

This is a solid start to a cozy mystery series with surprisingly complicated main characters.

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Miracle Springs is a place of healing. Strangers flock there hoping that the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. And, if none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent: prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden. But when a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, he’s found dead on the train tracks before he can keep their appointment. Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, and, as the society works to untangle the web of corruption surrounding the murder, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge.

Purchase The Secret, Book & Scone Society:

---