Murder in the Reading Room

Book Retreat Mystery, Book 5

By: Ellery Adams

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a paradise for book lovers who come from all over for literary getaways. But manager Jane Steward is temporarily leaving for another renowned resort - in hopes of solving a twist-filled mystery....

Jane's boyfriend, Edwin, is missing, and she thinks she may find him at North Carolina's historic Biltmore Estate. Officially, she's there to learn about luxury hotel management, but she's also prowling around the breathtaking buildings and grounds looking for secret passageways and clues. One of the staff gardeners promises to be helpful...that is, until his body turns up in the reading room of his cottage, a book on his lap.

When she finally locates the kidnapped Edwin, his captor insists that she lead him back to Storyton Hall, convinced that it houses Ernest Hemingway's lost suitcase, stolen from a Paris train station in 1922. But before they can turn up the treasure, the bell may toll for another victim....

©2019 Ellery Adams (P)2019 Tantor

Twists and turns ..

This is by far the best yet in this series. These should be read/listened to in the series order. The surprises were great plot twists for the reader. And as always there are some great literary references that make you want to revisit classics.

Cannot put down

OMG!!! This series gets better and more suspenseful with each book. Cannot wait to see want next

Disappointing

I love this series, but not this book. (Spoiler alert) I understand Jane moving on because her husband had been thought to be dead for years. She meets Edwin and falls in love, I get that. However, when she discovers that her husband William is alive she still sleeps with Edwin! To justify her actions she keeps telling herself, "That's not rhe man I married." I get that her feelings would be different and she wouldn't automatically have instant feelings of romance rowards him because he was different and the distance of time between them. Out of respect for her husband, she and Edwin should not have continued their relationship. That was very distasteful and I lost some respect for her character. Now that she knew that her husband was still alive she should've tried to restrain herself more because his condition wasn't his fault. Whatever happened to for better or worse? I wish the author would have made her a person with a little more moral integrity. I also wish that Edwin would've been a person of better character. He told Jane that he wasn't going to let anyone cime between them, not even her husband...what's that all about. That's her husband...the father of her children...selfish, selfish, selfish. I cannot recommend this to my friends. I know may feel differently, but I had to voice my annoyance and frustration over this book.

Such a let down, don’t waste your time!

Ellery Adams ruined her whole series with this book. Johanna Parker is a horrible narrator. She over acts every single sentence. It’s sickening. If you liked the other books in this series, don’t bother with this one. You’re better off stopping at the third book. I accidentally skipped the 4th one but I won’t waste my time. I suggest doing yourself a favor and checking out the physical copies from your library because Johanna Parker narrates all the books in this series. She tries way too hard to convey emotion with every single syllable. Her accents are inconsistent, IF she even attempts them. Honestly, we’d all be better off if she hadn’t don’t any accents at all. My ears are still bleeding. 0 stars would not recommend.

Rescuing Edwin

The fifth in the Book Retreat Mysteries has Jane and the Fins searching for Edwin at Biltmore Estate. As always, Ellery Adams does a fine job of keeping the listener/reader engaged. Literature and book lovers will admire this latest (and I’m assuming final) installment to the series. I’m a tad disappointed about one decision that Jane makes, but all in all this is my favorite series by the author.

Major let down after previous books in the series

I have listened to the previous books in this series and have enjoyed them for the simple cozy mysteries they were. Easy listening with a few fun bits about books. However this one seems to be written by another person, and badly done.
The sudden appearance of Jane’s long dead husband with the bad guys was totally out of sync with the previous writing style. Then all the social responsibility angle with retuning decades old African masks and stuffed animal heads. Totally belongs in another style of novel. And the final insult to the reader was the lead telling her lover that they could be together but not with her twin boys. She had spun the theme over at least 2-3 books, of her boys growing friendship and affection for Edwin. Totally out of character and worse the fellow agreed.
Lastly if a writer starts a series with gentile manners and actions of an earlier time, example the exceptional manners of the Finns, it destroys the credibility of the book to suddenly insert current or modern political correctness into the end of the storyline.
Best wishes but I will not purchase any further wools by this author.

Murder in the Reading Room

Terrific. I really enjoyed it!! It kept me interested and enthralled. Well written and researched!!

Best since book 1

Really enjoyed this book. The language is delicious and the story grabs you right from the start. Found the last book lacking and was glad to have a good story back.

All the show in this series made me laugh, 😢 and typically completely captivated beyond any I've ever listened to!!!! Thank yo

I can't read anymore however you have brought every reason I stared in the first Thank you and I plan on lisining to every book you put on Audible.Please NEVER stop. God Bless you!!!!!

My Favorite in the Series!

Jane has been through some harrowing experiences as a Steward. Writing retreats turned into crime scenes, her sons kidnapped, her lover MIA. In this 5th book in the Book Retreat Mysteries, she takes matters into her own hands to find him. Along the way, we learn more about her past and the secret book room and treasures. I loved what Ellery Adams does with this story. I could not stop listening! Exciting, captivating, heart-wrenching, and full of twists and big reveals. Johanna Parker is an excellent narrator for this series.