Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams

I am such a fan of anything that feels mysterious and fanciful and that was the exact feeling I got as I sank into Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams, which is book two in the Book Retreat Mystery series. 

From the back of the book:

The New York Times bestselling Book Retreat mysteries feature Storyton Hall, the perfect getaway for literature lovers—except when a guest tries to get away with murder…

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Jane Steward is organizing a week of activities for fans of love stories at her book-themed resort. But her Regency readers barely have time to brush up on their Jane Austen before tragedy strikes Storyton Hall. Rosamund York, one of the most celebrated authors in attendance, is killed.

Rosamund had as many enemies as she did admirers, including envious fellow novelists, a jealous former lover, and dozens of angry fans. It’s up to Jane, with the help of her book club, the Cover Girls, to catalogue the list of suspects and find a heartless killer quickly—before the murderer writes someone else off…

My Thoughts:

Oh settings!! First off, seriously, I love this setting. It feels so magical. I mean really an English mansion brought over brick by brick! Swoon. Add to that the main character is trusted with guarding a secret library in said mansion, which is also filled with mysterious nooks and crannies. I am totally in love.  To fill the setting there were great characters that came to life on the pages and who were a pleasure to spend time with. I could really feel the tensions between the two writers. 

The mystery was fun to think about, filled with suspects and twists but not so hard that you couldn't figure it out. I liked thinking about it and flipped a few times but I am proud to say I settled on the right suspect in the end. I was genuinely sad to leave this world and look forward to the next part. In the meantime, I will grab a copy of the first part and see what I missed. 

Take some time to browse the other great mysteries available from Berkley Prime Crime. While you are there, you can sign up for the newsletter so you never miss a new release. I must warn you though, after browsing my wish list is longer than I could probably read. You can also connect with them on Twitter where you can happen across a fun giveaway as well. 

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.