The Vanishing Type
A Charming Bookish Cozy Mystery
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4.5 • 154 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Entertainment Weekly hails the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series by the beloved New York Times bestselling author as “a love letter to reading.” In this entrancing new story, bookshop owner, bibliotherapist, and occasional sleuth Nora Pennington must enlist the help of her brilliant, brassy librarian friend to unravel the connection between The Scarlet Letter, an obscure 19th century writer, and a dead hiker . . .
While January snow falls outside in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, Nora Pennington is encouraging customers to cozy up indoors with a good book. Even though the shop and her bibliotherapy sessions keep Nora busy during the day, her nights are a little too quiet—until Deputy Andrews pulls Nora into the sci-fi section and asks her to help him plan a wedding proposal.
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’s 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 . .
“Captivating . . . Bibliophilic cozy fans will be in heaven.” –Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Adams's captivating fifth Secret, Book, and Scone Society novel (after 2021's Ink and Shadows) finds Nora Pennington, the owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, N.C., helping Deputy Jasper Andrews with a plan to propose marriage to bakery owner Hester Winthrop, whose favorite book is Little Women, during a showing of a film version of the Louisa May Alcott novel. On the big evening at the town movie theater, Nora ensures that the film is paused to allow Jasper to get down on his knee and cite a passage from Little Women to support his proposal, which Hester joyfully accepts. The next day, on a hiking trail outside Miracle Springs, an unidentified dead man is found with a copy of The Scarlet Letter in his pocket. The name Hester has been cut out in places. Another similarly mutilated copy of Hawthorne's masterpiece turns up in Hester's bakery. Is someone playing a bad joke on Hester or seriously threatening her? Readers will cheer as Nora, an endearingly imperfect protagonist, and her group of dedicated literary friends, each with their own complicated backstories, search for answers. Bibliophilic cozy fans will be in heaven.
Customer Reviews
Best so far!
The Secret, Book, and Scone Society members are back with another mystery to solve. This comes a little closer to home for one of the members. Hester gets engaged but her happiness seems short lived as she’s worried about telling her fiancé her secret she’s been keeping. Meanwhile Nora is feeling a little concerned about a series of events that have been turning up…a dead body of a stranger, books in her store vandalized, and a series of books that keep turning around town seemingly for Nora to find.
Author Ellery Adams has once again crafted a beautiful story about friendship, books, and of course mystery. The characters are each flawed in their own right but this makes them realistic, relatable, and interesting. The mystery is full of red herrings and suspense to keep glue to the book until the mystery is solved. The secondary story or stories are equally as well-written as it takes you on an emotional journey at times they don’t overwhelm the reader with too much going on. The storylines are seamlessly woven together to give the reader a wonderful escape into the town of Miracle Springs, NC and it’s residents.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Murder, mysterious books and so much more!
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