Jane Stewart is back for book 7 in the Book Retreat Mysteries by Ellery Adams! “Six chefs are preparing to compete in an outdoor tent at Storyton Hall in Virginia for prizes that will boost their careers—but is there someone who can’t stand the heat? It looks that way when one of the contestants is found dead in a pantry packed with two centuries’ worth of cookbooks, among other treasures and rarities. Could there be a connection to other recent events in town, like tampering with the costume of a local mascot? Jane isn’t sure, but after someone serves a second course of murder, the kitchen must be closed and the killer must be found . . .”

Ellery Adams is one of my all time favorite authors and this new book did not disappoint! Storyton Hall is my dream home! Who wouldn’t want to live in a book filled estate with a secret library?!! I love that there were multiple storylines (and perpetrators) that kept me guessing until the very end!! And to bring back Olivia and Capt. Haviland from her Books by the Bay series pulled at my heart strings.

The only thing I didn’t like was the cooking show drama (which is just my own personal pet peeve, it in no way took away from the story). I also wish there had been some part of the mystery based around a book. I think for a series set at a bookish retreat, little of the story had anything to do with the books.

As always, Ellery Adams knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Storyton Hall, a resort for readers in the mountains of Virginia, is hosting the filming of a celebrity chef cooking competition with large prizes. Six chefs will be showing their cooking expertise in a show called Posh Palate with Mia Mallett. There are three men and three women chefs. Most are very likeable, but Chef Pierre is prickly and rude to almost everyone everyone he meets. Mia says she invited him for drama. Things get off to a bad start. As they are setting up the huge tent in which the sessions will be filmed, a fire starts up in the grass nearby. The second morning, Chef Pierre is found dead in the cookbook nook. Sheriff Evans soon declares it was murder.

Then, a propane tank for the grills explodes severely injuring a man working on the set. Jane is ready to end the filming. However, they manage to move downtown to film the third session. Are the filming problems linked to a robbery in the antique store and the painting on the back of the mascot's costume? Jane and the Fins work hard to help the Sheriff, but we don't find out the real culprit (a surprise) until someone pulls a gun on Jane at the end of the competition.

The Reading Retreat cozy series is one of my absolute favorites, and this latest installment did not disappoint. I love everything about this series: the setting, all the characters, the pacing. I already cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the free e-copy.

It SEEMED like a good idea to have Mia host her show from Storyton but, as with pretty much everything that happens at that lovely place, there's trouble ahead, this time in the form of a handsy chef who ends up dead. Jane, the steward of Storyton, knows she's got to investigate, with the help of her love interest Edwin and the Fins, but what she doesn't know when she starts is that more trouble is ahead. I'm a fan of this series because of the literary references (although I'll admit Adams sometimes stretches) and because the characters are a hoot without going overboard. This is, in many ways, standard cozy fare but it's a twisty one which kept me guessing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'd love to spend a device-free reading weekend at Storyton!

Murder In The Cookbook Nook is the seventh book in the Book Retreat Mysteries series by Ellery Adams.

Since the beginning of her writing career, I have been reading Adams’ books, starting with The Supper Club Mysteries written as J. B. Stanley and have read almost all of her books since then. She is a beautiful storyteller. Her books are very descriptive, well-written, and plotted so that you envision being there as you read. She also does an excellent job developing intriguing, engaging, and believable characters that I would love to call my friends. This book definitely reinforced these feelings.

Jane Steward’s book-related retreat, Storyton Hall, is the site for a cooking competition, Posh Palate with Mia Mallet. Malletisa billionaire trendsetter and social media influencer. Mullet can be demanding but is willing to compensate for her demands. For the Posh Palate show, six of America’s very best chefs have been brought in for the cooking show.

On the day that the filming crew is setting up, Jane and her twin boys, Hem(Hemingway) and Fitz(Fitzgerald) are bicycling back from a visit to the nearby village of Storyton when they notice smoke in the distance. They soon realize that it is coming from the archery field at Storyton Hall and head there to see the problem. When they arrive, they soon find that it was a minor grass fire. The fire could have been much worse, as it was near the tent set for the cooking. It will soon be learned that someone might be trying to sabotage the cooking competition, as a fire investigator finds the electrical writing has been miswired. The next evening, Chef Pierce, who throughout the day had been rude to most of the other chefs and having spent most of the evening drinking, finds his way to the inn’s kitchen, where he groups the pastry chef. Mia is immediately notified of his action and has her personal assistant deliver a note that he is no longer in the competition. The following day when he fails to show up at breakfast, he is found in his room dead. Two days later, in the middle of the cooking competition, an odor of gas is noticed. The program director momentarily blocks the fire safety advisor, Mr. Gilmore, from shutting off the offending stove. Just as Gilmore gets free and reaches the grill, it explodes in a big ball of flame. Gilmore is not killed but sustains severe burns. Jane meets with her Fins to discuss the course of action to find the killer before any more lives are lost. Jane will also seek the help of the members of the Cover Girls book club.

This book is an excellent addition to this exciting and informative series with a wonderful cast of characters. Ms. Adams has brought back a couple of characters from my favorite series, Book By the Bay. Chef Michel, the executive chef at Olivia Limoges restaurant in Oyster Bay, is one of the competition’s chefs. Olivia, along with her standard Poodle, Haviland, is also staying at Storyton Hall. Olivia and Haviland are my favorite characters from all of Ms. Adams’ books; Olivia is experiencing writer’s block and felt a change of scenery would help her out. I would love to see Jane take Hem and Fitz on vacation to Oyster Bay for a vacation and a chance to experience the ocean.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this exciting series.

Ellery Adams has brought my two favorite things together. Reading and cooking show. Imagine the Great British Baking Show – Professional Chef edition, taking place at Storyton Hall, in the beautiful mountains of Virginia, with book-themed challenges.

Before internet sensation Mia Mallet arrives to host the cook-off, trouble begins. One mishap could be called an accident, but when cantankerous Chef Pierce, brought in for the sake of drama, is found dead in Mrs. Hubbard’s cookbook nook, Jane and the Fins go into high alert before any more misfortune, other than an exploding propane tank, can visit the place they call home.

Jane and her crew have a way of jumping in to help the local sheriff investigate. Now they have their hands full with an abundance of suspects considering Chef Pierce has his fair share of detractors, and the company behind the cooking competition has a few nefarious business practices up their sleeve (think Netflix Seaspircies). As the competition heats up and the tale unwinds, the reader will be a bit surprised when the culprit is revealed.

I enjoy this series. I can’t say if it is the writing, the mystery, or just the idea of a reading sanctuary with no electronics, a spa on-site, and gourmet meals, but if there was a place, please sign me up for my next vacation.

Storyton Hall is hosting an episode of a TV cooking competition, with six chefs competing for prizes that will launch their careers. Jane and staff get nervous, though, when accidents begin to occur, and that nervousness is justified when one of the competitors is found dead and a rash of vandalism sweeps through the town as well.

This is book #7 in the Book Retreat series, which gets better with every book. Every time I read this series, I want to reserve a room at Storyton Hall, but I would be too busy exploring to actually sit down and read! The regular cast of characters are people I would like to get to know, and I would love to participate in the Cover Girls' book club. It's been fun watching relationships grow and change as the series progresses, some in unexpected ways.

There were several viable suspects in this story, perhaps too many, since the victim was so unlikable for so many different reasons. As usual, I had a mental list of possible suspects, but the revelation of the killer's identity near the end of the book took me totally by surprise. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Murder in the Cookbook Nook” by Ellery Adams the 7th instalment in the "Book Retreat Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series I found myself enjoying the story, I love the premise of a town and hotel devoted to reading. The way it’s described I feel like I’m there with them. I say this every time I love the characters in this series and how they interact with each other, the whole town is like one big family. I want to be a Cover Girl the friendship between them is special and endearing who wouldn’t want friends that really got them.

The mystery was interesting and well plotted, the idea of a cooking show filming at Storyton was good and I liked how Mrs. Hubbard played a big part in the story. Plus I did not suspect the killer till Jane did.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

This is a good addition to the series. I like the relationship between the characters and how the MC doesn't try to do it alone. She has the Finns as well as her good friends to help her out. This time she has Olivia Limoges from the Books by the Bay series to help her out. The mystery kept me guessing and I hope for many more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

All my favorite elements came together in this book: food, mystery, romance - what more could you want? And get this - it's set in a literary hotel, Storyton Hall in Virginia. The hotel is filled with books and all the rooms have literary names and themes. I would love to stay there! The hotel is run by Jane Steward, who is the guardian of the all the rare books at Storyton Hall.

The hotel is hosting a cooking competition featuring six renowned chefs. One of the chefs is found murdered in the pantry off the kitchen. There's a sense of foreboding following the death, as the murderer hasn't been found, but the competition continues. There are several suspects.

An engaging mystery with great characters, lots of food, and a literary backdrop. I truly enjoyed spending time at Storyton Hall and look forward to visiting again.

Thanks to Kensington Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Every stay at Storyton Hall keeps getting better and better. As Jane tries to keep the filming of a reality show at the Hall, murder and mayhem threaten not only the show but all of Storyton Hall and its guests. I think I've said every series by Ellery Adams is my favorite at some point but The Storyton Hall mysteries are always eagerly anticipated. I love not only the picturesque setting but the delightful characters and how their various stories are developing. There are plenty of twists to keep the pages turning and the reading guessing. A special appearance by a character from another series was a wonderful surprise. I highly recommend Murder in the Cookbook Nook.

Murder in the CookBook Nook by Ellery Adams

I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Books and Ellery Adams for an E Arc copy of this book.
In this book we meet Jane Steward who is the custodian of Storyton Hall. She is hosting a big event this summer A Bookish Cook Off. Storyton Hall is known as a retreat for book lovers, where they can read all they want, be pampered with world class meals and spending time browsing in the lovely village.
However, the arrival of a film crew, 6 chiefs who want to win, the host of the show and the two judges, things do not go to plan. When one of the chiefs is found dead Jane and her fins have to find out why the chief was killed and who is behind it before the reputation of Storyton Hall is ruined.
This was a page turner. The characters were well written, the situation believable and I just got sucked it.
This was my first Ellery Adams book and it will not be my last.
Would highly recommend.

I have read this series from Book 1 and this one did not disappoint. I enjoy watching cooking competitions so the combination of a great mystery and a cook-off was a perfect read for me. The mystery was well-written with great descriptions of locations and recipes. I liked all the twists and turn as I tried to guess the culprit before the end of the story.

I was very excited to find that a 'friend' from another series was visiting at Storyton Hall. To me this was one of the most natural 'cross-overs' that I've read.

I loved my visit to Storyton Hall to visit with Jane, her family, friends and staff. As much as I read these books for the mystery, I am also interested in the relationships developing between friends. I so wish that I could visit Storyton and visit with Jane and the Cover Girls and I would have to have tea with Aunt Octavia.

A Book Retreat Mystery #7

Storyton Hall in Virginia is home to Jane, her boys her beloved Aunt and Uncle, and this week to the cast and crew of a book-themed cook-off show.

The cooking tent is up and the six chefs have arrived along with host Mia and her entourage. Winning this competition would mean money and prestige for one chef.

What’s a baking show without a bit of drama? Contrived or not, the ratings will soar. All of the crew seem suspicious to me. And when one of the chefs is found in the beloved and probably priceless cookbook nook with part of an antique plate stuck in him, Jane and her staff turn in to investigators and get down to finding out who exactly these people are.

Someone wants to stop the show is Jane’s first thought. Until her lovely neck is on the block. Such excitement for a cooking show!

It’s always a pleasure to hang out with Jane and her crew.

This author also writes The Secret Book & Scone Society series which I love as well.

NetGalley Review/Pub Date: 27 Apr 2021 Kensington

Another good mystery at Storyton Hall.
Really like all the characters and how they relate to each other.
Lot of drama with the cooking show and with a personal twists.
A lot of possible suspects that keeps you guessing.
Enjoy the series.
Voluntarily Reviewed

I really enjoyed another of Ellery Adams' books. So well written. I just could not connect with this one.

So many descriptions of the menus and the venue detracted from the storyline. The lead character's relationship with her partner and children was included in a pedestrian manner and almost seemed incidental. Even the motivation behind the murder seemed far fetched. So sadly, it was a disappointing and arduous read to get to the end.

However, I'm sure there are many fans of the series who will enjoy this next instalment.

My thanks to Kensington Books, #Netgalley and the author for my Advance Reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ellery Adams pens a strong entry for Book Retreat Mysteries and includes a special appearance from retired series character Olivia Limoges. Please check out the complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

It always brings me joy to revisit Storyton Hall! As always, the latest in this series is full of amazing food and characters, with heavy twist hitting twist. I particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition of a reality show being filmed at Storyton!

Having recently binge watched the recent Great Britain version of this type of show, I was all about reading a mystery that takes place during the filming of such a series! Ellery always gives the reader a solid mystery, and this book/series is no exception! This is the 2nd of the 7 books in this series that I have read, and Jane is just as charming and determined in this book, as she was in the previous one I read. Not only does Jane have paying customers to keep safe, she has her family and employees to keep from danger, which seems to be plaquing the set non stop. As secrets keep coming out about the different chefs, more and more suspects emerge. This is a fun read, but it may make you wish for your own cookbook nook! LOL

I love Ellery Adams and I love this series. It's always a treat to review a book that is part of a series you follow. Ellery Adams is one of the queens of Cozy fictions. Her books are well written and entertaining. She also has a wonderful penchant for sharing books and quotes from famous authors - love how she plugs that in.

I'm not going to write what the book is about, as the publisher does a much better part, but I will say Jane and the Fins always come through. I loved all the twists and turns in this book. I would have loved to have seen Edwin a little more involved - especially after the last book, but him being a minor character this time, did not take away anything from the book (relax, Edwin is still a major character).

I highly recommend this series and this author to any fans of cozy mysteries - especially well written ones.

Thank you Netgalley. This opinions are strictly my own.