The Hope Street Bible Study group is participating with the Holiday Hope Street Theater play It's a Wonderful Life to make some money to support the local Senior Center, hopefully earning enough to purchase a bus for the Senior Center. A well-known Broadway director has volunteered his services and is there with a leading lady, Jasmine Ryan, an Assistant Director, and technician, Michael Ospina. At one of the early rehearsals. the Assistant Director doesn't show up, and soon the police arrive to say she is dead in her hotel room. She had not been very pleasant to anyone, so if she was murdered, there were a lot of people who didn't like her. There appear to be a lot of problems between the various members of the group from Broadway. The Bible Study group are now quite familiar with murder inquiries, so they begin to investigate in spite of being told by police Detective Olson that he will do the investigating.

Cooper is sort of going out with local Chef Jon, and is getting ready to call him a boy friend. Cooper's sister is still picking out clothes for her, and her mother cooks wonderful snacks for the Bible group and others. Cooper is also considering a change of career, suggested by Jon's aunt, who has a shop which sells Cooper's bird houses. There are some unfortunate unexplained incidents in the theater, and of course, near the end of the book, Cooper manages to confront the killer.

This is a very good addition to the series.

Cooper and her Bible study group are taking part in the Hope Street Community Theaters staging of It’s a Wonderful Life. When the assistant director is found dead they decide to investigate. Good cozy mystery.

I love Ellery Adams books but this is the first Hope Street Church Mystery I have read. I like Cooper Lee and her bible study friends. I like that they are participating in performing the play “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I enjoyed the scenes with the friends at bible study and their study of Philippians. It gave me food for thought.
The murder was an interesting one. I enjoyed how Cooper and friends gathered information and put the pieces together.
I was a bit confused at first, because this was my first time picking up a book in the series. I eventually caught on to the rhythm and tempo of the happenings. This might be a series where it’s easiest to start at the beginning and read in order.
I would recommend this book to those who like cozy mysteries and like a Christian based theme. If you have a problem with faith being openly present and talked about in books you read, then try another cozy mystery instead. Ellery Adams has several other series to consider.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I didn't know about this series and this is the first book I've read in it. I love the characters and can't wait to read books 1-6. It is a feel-good book, even though it does involve mysteries, which I love. If you've been reading this series all along, you'll be in for a delightful addition. I also like the use of Bible verses. It's nice to know there are down-to-earth mysteries being written by authors that I admire and love reading. This book is a quick read that I enjoyed very much, and you will, too.

This is the first book I've read in this series and it is the seventh book. I thought it was interesting that a Bible Study Group solves murders - kind of surprising to me.

Here's the description:
"The Hope Street Community Theater is staging It’s a Wonderful Life as a fundraiser, and Cooper and the Bible study group are all taking part. They’ve also managed to land the help of a famous Broadway director who’s trying to clean up his image after a scandal, and he travels to Richmond along with his star actress and staff. But the director’s entourage epitomize the worst of theater personalities, with petty grievances and jealousies stirring up more drama off the stage than on. And when the assistant director is found murdered in her hotel suite, the list of possible suspects is longer than a red carpet.

Unwilling to stand by with a murderer in their midst, Cooper and her friends get to work ferreting out clues and surveilling the staff, including a dangerously inept set technician as well as the director’s current and former love interests. Despite inexplicable and terrifying stage “accidents” threatening to derail their investigation and the play, the intrepid amateur sleuths know the show must go on. Their only prayer is to set a trap and successfully catch a killer before it’s curtains for Cooper . ."

Cooper Lee is the ringleader in the investigation. I found this to be a good Christian cozy and I enjoyed it. It was easily read as a stand alone. Some of the characters were fun. I enjoyed the drama going on in the theater. I picked the book up because I love Ellery Adams books in general.

Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on March 14, 2023.

3.5 stars

While this is part of a series of Christian cozy mysteries, it could be read as a standalone novel. The faith element is woven in and isn't overpowering. Cooper is a likeable character, and you can't help but root for her. Jon is a good match for her. There are enough twists to keep the reader guessing. Fun characters, a solid mystery, and a hint of romance combine for a quick, enjoyable read.

Welcome back to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved .The Hope Street Community Theater is staging It’s a Wonderful Life as a fundraiser, and Cooper and the Bible study group are all taking part. They’ve also managed to land the help of a famous Broadway director who’s trying to clean up his image after a scandal, and he travels to Richmond along with his star actress and staff. But the director’s entourage epitomize the worst of theater personalities, with petty grievances and jealousies stirring up more drama off the stage than on. And when the assistant director is found murdered in her hotel suite, the list of possible suspects is longer than a red carpet.
I love Ellery Adams and everything that she writes. It feels as though I am in the story living the mystery with the characters.
#MethodsofMalice #NetGalley

Methods of Malice by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe is a delightful cozy mystery and is the seventh in the Hope Street Church Mystery series. I have not read the others in the series, but was able to keep up just fine. Cooper’s Sunrise Bible study group is helping with a production of It’s A Wonderful life to raise money for the local senior center. It all goes sideways when the assistant director is found murdered.

This was a great story that reminded me of a Hallmark Mystery Movie. I loved meeting the Sunrise Bible Study group and watching their interaction and witnessing their comradery. . The small town setting and theater environment was delightful. I was guessing on the mystery until the end. Jon and Cooper continue moving their friendship to something more and we watch different friends start new adventures in the book. I loved Cooper’s mom Maggie and learning about her catering business. There are delightful recipes at the end.

The story had a good mystery, engaging characters, and I loved the Hope Street Church community! I really enjoyed this Methods of Malice and highly recommend it.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

A delightful book with an interesting plot that captured my attention from the start. A reminder of the importance of community and friendship in life.

If you love cozy mysteries you will like this one. This book is in a series which I haven't read any of the previous ones. I think you can read this as a stand-alone , but I would have been more familiar with the characters if I had read the previous books. Which I definitely want to now. It was fun trying to figure out who did it and what the motive was throughout the book. So sit back in your favorite spot to read and enjoy this one with your favorite snacks. Also I love the fact that there are recipes at the end of this book, that I'm looking forward to trying out. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

This book was so good! It's a well written Christian cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I loved it and highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a clean cozy mystery.
I received a complimentary copy from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was so amazingly good!! I loved it so much!! I can't wait to see what comes next for Cooper and her friends. I love that it has recipes in it!! Some of my favorites have come from cozy mystery books like this.
I just reviewed Methods of Malice by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe. #MethodsofMalice #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I love this author and each time I read a book by her, by heart just feels better.
I love the characters in this book and the way they all work together to solve mysteries always makes the book worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

While I’m not a big Christian Cozy fan, I adore Ellery Adams and find this one is not too preachy. The author writes so well that I can’t not read anything she publishes. A solid mystery every time and one of the cleanest cozies you will find. If you’re in the market for clean cozies, this is one to add to your list.

Christian/Theater/Culinary Cozy
This is a Christian cozy with culinary/theater elements. The main character Cooper, young adult, is a crafter and her mom and boyfriend are the cooks in the tale. We are gifted a few recipes along with the intrigue.
Cooper’s Christian group puts on a play to make money for a new bus for the Senior Center. Enter a diverse group of characters from sweet to mean and the cast’s reactions.
We are treated to a peek at backstage and introduced to the possible dangers. Well planned out the mystery takes a few twists and turns.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

What a page-turner! I loved it!

I was so captivated by the characters and the mystery they found themselves involved with, I couldn’t read this book fast enough. The Sunrise Bible study group of Hope Street Church is performing in a community play to fund a new bus for the local senior center. A famous director is offering his talent to the production, bringing along his entourage. When one of the theater ensemble members is found deceased, all kinds of questions arise.

The sleuthing is intriguing. Between the plot twists and various possibilities to consider, I enjoyed trying to figure out the who-done-it solution. I especially loved the interaction of the characters as faithful friends and encouragers. With the developing romance between Cooper and Jon, I’m eager to find out about their future.

And with a chef and a caterer in the story, the foodie details are the icing on the cake…literally! I need a teatime break with a Magnolia Lee treat. Psst….there are recipes at the end of the book.

If you love a good mystery…the cozy type…with fascinating characters, you will also be captivated while reading Methods of Malice by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe. I highly recommend this book!

Favorite quotes:
“We’re here to equip ourselves with the Word so that we can deal with the challenges of another week in the world.”
“This week, let our focus be prayer. … Allowing our prayers to overflow with joy as we focus on others instead of ourselves.”


*I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley. This review is my honest opinion.

Christian-fiction, cozy-mystery, Virginia, theatre, women's-fiction, friction, friends, friendship, frustration, family, amateur-theatre, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, egoist, murder, murder-investigation, series****

The Sunshine Bible group is putting on a well-known play to raise funds for the local community center and have secured the help of a well-known director and his entourage. There is the expected friction, but the murder is unexpected. It's a cute story interspersed with Bible quotes and information about performances in little theatre.
Great worldbuilding and solid character development.
I requested and received a free EARC from Beyond the Page Publishing via Netgalley.

Bizarre Events..
The seventh outing in the Hope Street Church Mystery series finds the community preparing for their rendition of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ - a fundraiser effort where everyone is taking part with gusto. When a series of bizarre events end in a tragic murder the group determine to find a killer - but they also know that the show must go on. With much focus on friendships, bonds and relationships, as well as having a solid mystery at its’ heart, this is a fitting addition to this enjoyable series,

Methods of Malice is my second book in the Hope Street Church mystery series and it was pure reading entertainment! 5 stars!
I enjoyed revisiting Cooper and the Sunrise Bible study group with all its variety of amusing characters. The group can't resist pulling out their sleuthing skills when the fundraiser they are involved in, a production of It's a Wonderful Life, ends up with a murderer in their midst.

Cooper is smart with math and machinery but clueless when it comes to relationships, so it was great to see her and Jon move a bit closer to boyfriend girlfriend status. I love that he's a chef and constantly after her mom Maggie's recipes. It was fun to read all the food references and the recipes shared at the book's end. Grammy Lee is a hoot with her outspoken opinionated ways.

Methods of Malice is a clever mystery full of twists and turns that'll leave readers amused and guessing from one suspect to another while trying to solve the murder case. I hope we get to read more books in this series especially about Cooper and Jon.
I appreciate Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley making a copy of Methods of Malice available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Cooper and her friends found themselves entwined in a murder mystery that was captivating and intriguing. A Christian, cozy murder mystery that was exciting, intriguing, and captivating. Although the main character Cooper, was a little too naive, this book still had my attention until the end.