Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
It is my pleasure to share my thoughts
today about Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams!
Paper Cuts: An Enchanting Cozy Mystery
(A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Kensington Cozies (April 25, 2023)
Hardcover : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496726472
ISBN-13 : 978-1496726476
Kindle ASIN : B0B84G9QWT
The New York Times bestselling author returns with a mystery with a touch of magical realism and a strong, female bookstore owner and bibliotherapist at its heart.
Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is famed for its healing springs. But bookstore owner Nora Pennington has a tendency to land in a different kind of hot water. Though she loves to practice bibliotherapy by finding the perfect books for her customers while listening to their secrets, she also likes to bury her nose in the occasional local crime…
Nora escaped her past a decade ago. So it feels like a visit from another world when Kelly Walsh—the woman her ex-husband left her for—walks through the door of Miracle Books along with her son, a sweet, serious boy with a talent for origami. Kelly hasn’t come to gloat, though. As it turns out, she’s been dumped too. She’s also terribly ill, and all she wants from Nora is forgiveness.
Shockingly, however, this woman who’s been the victim of so much misfortune is about to become a murder victim. Who would do such a thing? Certainly not Nora, but that doesn’t stop the gossip and suspicion—especially after Kelly’s brother claims that he saw the two women arguing.
In seeking justice for Kelly, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society joins forces with the sheriff’s department, but they’ve barely begun their probe when life throws another wrench. After serving a twenty-year sentence, Estella’s father returns to Miracle Springs. And when his past comes back to haunt him, it might be more than the four friends can handle.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Secret, Book, and Scone Society Members
Nora, the owner of Miracle Books, tries to heal people’s woes with a unique set of books she personally selects for them.
Hester runs the Gingerbread House bakery. Customers tell her a little bit about their lives and what brought them to Miracle Springs. Then she bakes them up a “comfort scone”.
June works at the hot springs spa where people come to rejuvenate themselves.
Estella is a beautician who tries to help her clients find their true selves.
Sheldon is an honorary member, he works for Nora and suffers from fibromyalgia. He is just the sweetest person.
Nora Pennington came to Miracle Springs, North Carolina to escape her past. Now a decade later her past catches up with her. The woman her ex-husband left her for, Kelly Walsh has entered her store with her autistic son Tucker who happens to love origami. She tells Nora that Lawrence has dumped her too. She is very ill and wants Nora to forgive her for the drama she brought to her life.
Before Nora can even get a grasp on her feelings Kelly is murdered and when Kelly’s brother claims he witnessed the two women arguing and that Nora gave Kelly a push Nora finds herself on the short list of suspects.
To clear her name and get justice for Kelly The Secret, Book, and Scone Society starts their own investigation. This is even more important when Nora’s significant other, Sheriff Grant McCabe is forced off the case.
There is another happening in Miracle Springs, Estella’s father has been released from prison after 20 years. Like Nora, his past rears its ugly head, and if he isn’t careful he could be back behind bars.
If you have read any of Ellery Adams’ books you know she creates vivid and diverse characters and that friendship between the key players is always strong. The friendships of the characters in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mystery series are no exception. They work and play well together in everything they do and when one is in trouble they rally together to protect their own.
Each book in the series also has relevant social issues. This time that includes an autistic child learning to make his way in the world who now also has to deal with losing his mother. Adams also shines a light on a man trying to reacclimate to life out in the world after being imprisoned for two decades. Both characters are involved throughout the whole story so these themes are delved into and handled in the most excellent way. Tucker is such a cool kid and Gus went to jail for protecting his daughter and she is so supportive of him as he becomes a new resident of Miracle Springs. I hope both continue to appear in the books going forward.
With Nora’s past a theme in this book readers are reminded of why she came to Miracle Springs and have an even better understanding as we meet her ex. Sadly for Nora, she relives the moment of the accident and the aftermath again. She still feels the pain not only from the visual scars but in her heart. While I always encourage everyone to read series books in order to really get to know the characters, if you haven’t read previous books the details presented in this book will help you understand Nora. I am always in awe of the woman and her gift to help people through books. Ms. Adams must do tons of research to enable her protagonist to do this.
The murder mystery was so well-plotted. It was hard because Grant and Nora had to keep their distance even when she became a target. Detective Hollowell made things even harder. No spoilers but she pushed my buttons and Nora’s too. The mystery has a lot of moving parts and several twists. I enjoyed how all the subplots were twisted into the main plot. It was easy to escape right into the story.
As a cancer survivor, my heart broke for Kelly. She knew she had very little time left and was trying to get everything in place for young Tucker. Trying to explain to him what was happening to her and that she would soon be gone but that he would be cared for is unfathomable and then the murderer took what little time they had away from them. That made this an emotional read for me.
Paper Cuts
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Ellery Adams has written over thirty mystery novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on her next novel, she bakes, gardens, spoils her three cats, and spends far too much time on Pinterest. She lives with her husband and two children (aka the Trolls) in Chapel Hill, NC. For more information, please visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter here.
Also by this Author
Coming July 25, 2023
Follow Ellery Adams on Amazon and find more of her books here.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
