Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams

 

Book Summary

Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams has Nora Pennington working with Sheldon to create a new Halloween windows display that features powerful women in books.  Unfortunately, the Women of Lasting Values take issues with the magical window and set out to cause trouble for Nora when she refuses to take it down.  Celeste Leopold and her daughter, Brenna have just moved to town and are opening Soothe.  The women’s group has issue with the CBD oil products that Celeste will be selling, and targets Soothe as well as another local shop.  The situation gets out of hand when a woman ends up dead after leaving an unusual page on Nora’s doorstep.  Nora cannot make heads or tails out of the strange markings and drawings on the page, but she does know someone who can assist Sheriff Grant McGabe. Nora, June, Estella, and Hester begin to do a little digging into the victim’s life after the death is listed as accidental.  There is something shady about the case and Nora intends to get answers. 

My Thoughts

Inks and Shadows by Ellery Adams is the 4^th A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel.  This is my favorite book in the series.  It contains developed characters that are realistic.  Nora came to Miracle Springs, North Carlina for a fresh start after she was severely burned.  Nora has a knack for picking out the books that people need at that moment in time.  I enjoy the paranormal element with Nora’s pinkie finger tingling when something is amiss.  Sheldon Vega is a favorite of mine.  He is a kind, creative man who suffers from chronic pain.  Ellery Adams manages to convey how chronic pain affects his life (and how painful it can be).  I like how understanding Nora is of Sheldon’s pain and that he cannot always make it to work.  The whodunit was interesting with some unique elements.  It is one that plays out which disappointed me (I love solving the crimes in the book before the reveal).  It is a complex mystery that touches on some dark topics (grimoires, dark magic, cults).  This book would be great to read during the month of October (it will get you in the mood for Halloween).  I love the book references sprinkled throughout the story.  I especially loved that my favorite childhood series was mentioned (other girls wanted to be Nancy Drew, I wanted to be Cherry Ames).  I especially liked the window displays that Nora and Sheldon created.  They are magical and unique.  While I know the Women of Lasting Values is fictional, there are (unfortunately) groups like it in the real world who object to books for one reason or another.  I like how this issue was addressed in the story.  I did object to the foul language in the story.  There is only a small amount, but I would rather it not be included.  Nora and Jed have some romantic issues.  I am not a fan of the Nora and Jed pairing.  I would love to see Nora end up with Sheriff McGabe.  I liked how close Nora and Grant became in this book (I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will become a couple).  We did get to learn more about Nora’s past and meet an old friend.  She was a great addition.  Ink and Shadows can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in the other books in this intriguing cozy mystery series.  Ink and Shadows is a clever cozy mystery with dazzling displays, bonanza of books, a disturbing death, a controlling collective, a pagan page, and fine friends.

Ink and Shadows can be obtained from Amazon* as well as other major retailers.  You can find the first three books (The Secret, Book, and Scone Society, The Whispered Word, and The Book of Candlelight) in the A Secret, Book, and Scone Society series here.  All three are part of Kindle Unlimited.  You can find Ellery Adams' other novels here.  Ellery has Murder in the Cookbook Nook coming out on April 27.  It is the 7th A Book Retreat Mystery.  Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Aloe and Goodbye by Janice Peacock.  It is the first book in A Ruby Shaw Mystery series.  May you have imaginative day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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