If you’re here looking for a “Day in the Life Of” post written by a loveable, justice-seeking cozy mystery heroine, you’re not going to get it. For once, you should know what’s it’s like to be the villain. You might be surprised how much you have in common with me. Does that scare you? If not, read on.
Villains aren’t born. They’re made. We’re all capable of goodness and wickedness. We all have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. Have you always listened to your better angels? I’ve tried to. I’ve tried to be an upstanding citizen, a faithful wife, and a role model for my children.
But things happen. Things that we can’t control. I don’t like feeling powerless, and I got tired of playing a supporting role. I was ready to step into the spotlight. And there were plenty of other women who wanted me to do just that. So I started a group to restore traditional values to the town of Miracle Springs, and we went to war against the women who clearly lacked such values.
Take Nora Pennington, for example! She filled her bookstore window with novels about magic. The covers had fairies and witches, for pity’s sake! Impressionable girls like my daughter shouldn’t be exposed to Satanic books. They should all be banned! I warned Nora to take it down, but she didn’t listen.
It’s not my fault people died. I certainly didn’t kill anyone. All I did was start a campaign against certain business owners. If Nora and her friends hadn’t intervened, I could have made Miracle Springs into a haven of virtue. I was supporting my friends and protecting my children. I don’t know how it all went so terribly wrong. . .
Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams, Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mystery #4
Genre: Cozy
Release: January 2021
Purchase Link
Nora Pennington is known for her window displays, and as Halloween approaches, she decides to showcase fictional heroines like Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Madeline Miller’s Circe. A family-values group disapproves of the magical themes, though, and wastes no time launching a modern-day witch hunt. Suddenly, former friends and customers are targeting not only Nora and Miracle Books, but a new shopkeeper, Celeste, who’s been selling CBD oil products.
Nora and her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are doing their best to put an end to the strife—but then someone puts an end to a life. Though the death is declared an accident, the ruling can’t explain the old book page covered with strange symbols and disturbing drawings left under Nora’s doormat, a postcard from an anonymous stalker, or multiple cases of vandalism.
The only hope is that Nora can be a heroine herself and lead the Secret, Book, and Scone Society in a successful investigation—before more bodies turn up and the secrets from Celeste’s past come back to haunt them all . . .
About the Author
Ellery Adams, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, has written close to forty mystery novels. She shares her North Carolina home with her husband, two trolls, and three keyboard-hogging felines. Ellery loves reading, coffee, bubbly, jigsaw puzzles, baking, volunteering at her local animal shelter, and rearranging her bookshelves.
Her traditionally published series include The Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries, The Book Retreat Mysteries, The Books By the Bay Mysteries, and The Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries.
Her Indie series include The Supper Club Series, The Hope Street Series, and The Molly Appleby Collectible Series.
For book club discussion questions, lists of Nora Pennington’s bibliotherapy titles, and more, visit elleryadamsmysteries.com.
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GIVEAWAY:
* For readers who haven’t tried The Secret, Book, and Scone Society novels but would like to win a copy of Book 1, please comment by writing, “I’d like to join the Society!”
* For readers who are caught up on the series and would like a copy of Ink and Shadows, please comment on your favorite character to enter.
(Giveaway is US Only. Winners must provide a valid mailing address in order to receive free book. Giveaway ends exactly one week from the post date of this blog entry. Good luck!)
All comments are welcomed.
Thank you Ellery for letting Connie have her say. Thanks also for donating a copy of the book to my readers.
I’d like to join the Society!
Wow…I am curious to read more, but I need to start at the beginning, so I’d like to join the Society! Thank you Ellery!
What a great post. She certainly does have her point of view. Love it. I know a couple people like her. Heh-heh. Can’t wait to read this one. ~ Daryl
I like June. Love seeing a mystery set at Halloween.
i would like to join the society. Thank you for this lovely feature.
Nora and Estella are my favorite characters in this lovely and charming series. Interesting twist on A Day in the Life – thanks Dru Ann and Ellery ~
Hester is my favorite character. What a special author today.
I like Nora and her ideas to help others
I’d like to join the society!
Love this series! Nora is my favorite character.
I love this series and I love Nora! This was really a great post! Thanks for a chance to win.
I love the series and can’t wait for my copy (with signed bookplate) to show up at my doorstep. I’ve been following it from day one page one and just can’t put them down. Ellery, thank you so much for making those days so enjoyable.
“I’d like to join the Society!”
Nora, but I relate to certain qualities in all if the main characters.
Nora. I can’t wait to read Ink & Shadows!
I like reading about Nora in your books.
I’d like to join the society
Nora is my favorite character.
It’s a toss-up, Nora or Hester would be my favorites. Can’t wait to read this one!
I’d like to join the Society! Thanks for these giveaways.
Estella is my favorite with sassy easygoing attitude but I do like Nora too! I am counting down the days to read the next one. Me and my friend at my library get together and talk all about it. I would love for my library to have this collection.
Nora and Hester are my favorite characters, but I love Estella and June too. I can’t wait to read this!!
Love Nora!
I’d like to join the Society!
I’d like to join the society!
I’d like to join the society !!!
I’d like to join the society.
I’d like to join the Society!
I’d like to join the Society!
Sheldon! Will he be in Ink and Shadows?
I’d like to join the society!
I love this series, and I love Nora! Thank you for this chance!
Nora is my favorite, but I love how the Society members’ differences work together.
Wow – another “can’t put it down” book !! Ink and Shadows grabbed me from the first encounter between Nora and the new shop owner (no spoilers here…) A very compelling story, and still my favourite character is …..Sheldon !! The other day, a photo was posted of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with Ink and Shadows on her reading table…I wondered at the time if it were a “real” photo…and if it was, wouldn’t it be fun to chat w/her about this book. Of course that isn’t possible, but it is a fun fantasy to ponder. Meanwhile, back to reading your Books by the Bay series again. It would be fun to have characters cross over into your other series…just a thought.
I’d like to join the Society!
I’d like to join the Society.
Nora is my fave….
Thank you for the giveaway…
Nora is my favorite.
**** WINNER ****
Ink and Shadows is Becky Prazak
Congratulations!