Welcome to Storyton Hall, my friends. Please, step into our magnificent lobby. I hope you enjoyed your journey from the train station. I find it very relaxing to sit in the back of a vintage Rolls Royce sedan and gaze out the windows at the beautiful vistas. Ah, the tree-covered hills and the endless blue sky. Isn’t it lovely to leave the cares of our busy lives behind us for a spell? And here comes Mr. Butterworth, Storyton’s butler, to offer you a glass of champagne. All of our guests are greeted in this way. This, my friends, is just the beginning of the delightful surprises you’ll discover here.
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jane Steward, the resort manager and single mother to twin boys, Fitzgerald and Hemingway (Fitz and Hem for short). It’s my honor to invite you to stay in this manor that was once the Steward’s ancestral home. I come from a long line of readers, which is why most of the rooms in this great, sprawling mansion are named after famous authors.
So after you’ve had a chance to get settled, I can take you on a tour. Perhaps you’d like to check out a book from the Henry James library and then make yourselves comfortable in the Jane Austen Parlor or the Daphne Du Maurier Sunroom. Or, you could stroll through Milton’s Gardens and have a bite of lunch at Kipling’s Café. But don’t overindulge, because we serve afternoon tea every day in the Agatha Christie Tea Room. And believe me, you don’t want to pass up Mrs. Hubbard’s Victoria sponge, scones with homemade jam and clotted cream, or her delicious tea sandwiches.
And make sure you have enough energy for this evening. We’re opening the Murder and Mayhem Week here at Storyton Hall with a costume ball. I hope you’re prepared to come dressed as your favorite detective. Of course, I won’t be able to tell who’s who tonight. With all the Miss Marples, Hercule Poirots, and Tommy and Tuppences, a guest could get away with murder and I’d never know it!
You can read more about Jane in Murder in the Mystery Suite, the first book in the new “Book Retreat” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
How about you? Which detective would you dress up as and which detective would you 
like to share a dance with? Post a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on August 8, and one lucky person will win a signed copy of MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE as well as a Storyton Hall bracelet. (US entries only, please.)
Meet the author
Ellery Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs including caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children’s books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.
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I would like to dress up as Nora Charles and dance and drink with Nick Charles.
I really looking foreword to visiting Storyton.
I just want to find this imaginary place to go on a vacation. I will be Lady Harriet and dance with Lord Peter.
I would be Eve Dallas and I would love to dance with Rourke. What a great couple. I would love to win the bracelet and I am looking forward to reading you’re book. Thank you for this chance.
yays!!
another new cozy series!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
I’d like to dress up as Phryne Fisher and dance the night away with Det. Jack Robinson
I felt I could have tea with Jane Austen I would be extremely pleased. I’m thinking my overweight body would not be lovely in clothing of her period, but to sit with her in the parlor of her brother’s home in Hampshire would be lovely.
I would love to arrive as Miss Jane Marple, but . . . oh dear, I don’t think I could dance. I would simply sit and watch, and ponder which guest might have evil on the mind.
How marvelous, Madame Adams – such delightful characters, and wonderful details of author-themed rooms. It is, as Monsieur Hercule Poirot would say, magnifique.
The first one that comes to mind for me would be Sherlock Holmes. Thank you for the chance to win.
Where do I wait for the Rolls?! I think it would be fun to dress and then dance as Tommy and Tuppence. Thanks!!
I would dress up as Agatha Raisin and dance with Lord Peter Wimsey
I would dress up as Sherlock Holmes, and then dance with Tommy and Tuppence.
Hmm, I love this place! As for dress up, Beatrix Potter. I need to read the mystery series. I would love to dance or at least chat with Hercule Poirot.
I would dress as Miss Marple- as she is the only one as old as me. I would dance with Armand Gamasch.
I would go as Tuppence Beresford and drag my hubby along as Tommy and make him dance. 🙂
I would dress up as miss marple and dance with Sherlock Holmes.
I loved this book. I would probably dress (in my imagination) as Nancy Drew and dance with James Bond–the Sean Connery one.
Sean Connery is the only James Bond
I would dress up as Miss Marple and dance with Nick Charles.
Ooh, what fun could be had at this event! I think I would like to dress as either Kinsey Milhone or Eve Dallas, and dance with Sherlock or Hercule Poirot. Lovely!
I could easily dress as Rosemary Boxer (Rosemary & Thyme) in comfy gardening clothes. Dance with Nero Wolfe, as we would sit this one out.
I would dress as Lady Julia and dance with Brisbane. Thanks for the opportunity.
I’d dress up as Jim Qwilleran from Lilian Jackson Braun’s “The Cat Who…” series and share a dance with Mary Russell from Laurie R. King’s works or China Bayles from Susan Wittig Albert’s works.
Well of course miss Marple and I would dance with Hercule Poirot 🙂
I would love to go as Stephanie Plum . She doesn’t get as fancy – which is how I dress. Sounds like a fun evening. (and book)
This is a new author for me, but the book sounds just wonderful. Thanks for this chance to win it.
I would love to attend as Sherlock Holmes! He is so calm and collected during an adventure! Or maybe I just love Basil Rathbone, lol!
Sherlock Holmes of course. I would love to have a conversation with him.
A favorite author so know I’ll enjoy this first book in a new series.
I guess I would dress like Nancy Drew and I would like to dance with Sherlock Holmes, although I don’t know if I could keep up with a conversation with him, lol. I would love to visit Storyton Hall, it sounds wonderful.
I would have to agree with others here. I would dress as Nancy Drew and dance with Sherlock Holmes. Storyton would be a dream come true if it was truely a real place.
My husband and I would be Lord Peter Whimsey and Harriet Vane. Dance? Why, each other, of course!
Joseph Friedman, I love your idea of dancing with Russel!
I would like to dress up as Nancy Drew since she started me on the journey of reading mysteries. And I would like to dance with Archie Goodwin.
I would like to dress as Jane Rizzoli from the Tess Gerritsen novels (and TV show) and I’d love to dance with Archie Goodwin from the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe mysteries. I love all the ideas here and thankks for the giveaway
I would dress as Miss Marple and hope to dance with Hercule Poirot.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love to be Sherlock Holmes. My dance would be perfect with Columbo. My fascination of mysteries stretches beyond the imagination.
I would love to be Phryne Fisher and dance with Sherlock Holmes! What a great post !!
You had me with twins with writers’ names. i named my firstborn after Tiffany’s jewelry store.
i’d like to dance with Cliff Richard, but he’s no detective so i’d choose Vincent D’onofrio (no relation that i know of).
I would like to dress as Phryne Fisher and dance with Inspector Gamache.
I would dress up as Nancy Drew, because she is the reason I love mysteries so much. I would like to share a dance with Sherlock Holmes, provided it is Benedict Cumberbatch wearing the deerstalker hat! 🙂
Nancy Drew….would have done nan Bobbsey or Flossie but they I liked Nancy Drew better…and Jim Hutton’s version of Archie Goodwin.
I would come as Amelia Peabody, with trusty belt and umbrella! I’ll save a dance for Jim Qwilleran!
Miss Marple on the arm of Hercule Poirot!
Kinsey Millhone (wearing the one size fits all black dress) and on the arm of Seeley Booth or Thomas Magnum. both men are portrayed as tall and handsome!
This sounds like a great new series! I have enjoyed her previous series and would live to win a copy of this book. For the party, I would probably dress up as Elaine Viets’s protagonist Helen Hawthorne (I like casual) but would most love to dance with detective Jim Rockford! (Yes, I know he died recently, but I’d settle for a lookalike or act-alike…
This sounds like a great new series! I have enjoyed her previous series and would live to win a copy of this book. For the party, I would probably dress up as Elaine Viets’s protagonist Helen Hawthorne (I like casual) but would most love to dance with detective Jim Rockford! (Yes, I know he died recently, but I’d settle for a lookalike or act-alike…)
A book retreat would be a great treat to go to.
I would dress up as Laura Holt so I could dance with Remington Steele!
Too many awesome new series! Wow! I don’t know who I’d dress as (I’ve never been good at that) and as a lady, I would be honored to dress with whomever (whoever? never been good at that either! grin) extends their hand! 🙂 I shall not be picky!
I’m thrilled that the release date has finally arrived for this book! Been looking forward to it since I heard about this new series months ago. When it comes to dressing up I’m torn between Eve Dallas and Kate Beckett. As Dallas, I might get the chance to dance with Roarke, but as Beckett there’s the possibility of grabbing one with Castle. Hm, decisions decisions.
Angela Lansbury, as Jessica Fletcher, and would dance with William Windom, as Dr. Seth Hazlitt.
Mmm, so many detectives to choose from. I think I would love to dress up as Nancy Martin’s Nora Blackbird in one of those vintage dresses and of course I’d be dancing with Mick Abruzzo.
I think that I would make a perfect Miss Marple. I’m not too sure about the dance partner — perhaps James Qwilleran from the Cat Who books. He needs someone to get him away from Polly.
LOL. Oh, I don’t know, I thought they made a good match. The last book that was published in the series “TCW Had 60 Whiskers” I don’t consider canon. Mrs. Braun was unfortunately just too ill near the end and the publishers must have had a ghostwriter finish the book just so they could make money, it was a total piece of trash, an insult to the readers, Qwill, and Mrs. Braun. It would have been better if it had never come out.
I would have to be Nora Charles, and dancd with Nick Charles. Asta gets to come too!
I dress up as the mystery woman that Terry Shames’ Samuel hasn’t met yet at a Hoe down they are both invited to.
Hey Dru Ann! How’re you doing? I would dress as Pepper Martin (Casey Daniels’ creation), I like her style in clothes. My dance partner would definitely be Columbo (Peter Falk), he’s been a fave of mine since back in the day!
Thanks for a chance to win this #1 in a new series.
Sandy in So. Cali
I would dress up as Nancy Drew since I grew up during that era, read all of her books and was captivated with the books.
Oh, gosh, this sounds fun. I’m not sure who I would dress as – maybe Miss Marple? And hope to dance with Hercule? Thanks for the chance to win.
Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot
That looks very good.
I would dress as Eve Dallas, and I could dance with Roarke. Maybe stay in there mansion for a night.
Thanks for the giveaway.
contest is closed.
How did I miss this one?