The Royal Code

Gift Shop Mysteries #2

by Beth Adams

The Royal Code is the second book in the Gift Shop Mysteries fiction series.

When Sarah Morgan’s brother, David, brings her a beautiful desk rumored to have belonged to a European archduchess, Sarah is fascinated. But as excited as she is about the antique, she can’t help feeling skeptical about its origin story…until she finds a cache of coded messages inside a hidden compartment in the desk. The messages concern the Austrian royal family and a mystery that has puzzled historians since the end of World War I. Could the secret she’s stumbled upon really lead to the location of the Florentine Diamond, missing from the Austrian crown jewels?

As Sarah tries to piece together the clues and uncover how this priceless desk ended up in Port Huron, she traces the history of her small Michigan town, leading her to a mysterious local mansion and surprising connections to people and places she never could have anticipated.

About the Gift Shop Mysteries Series

Every gift tells a story…and some bring mysteries!

Get ready for a faith-filled mystery like no other! The excitement begins when Sarah Morgan returns to her picturesque hometown along the shore of Lake Huron to open a gift and curiosities shop, which she calls Heavenly Presents. As she reconnects with family and friends and grows in her faith, Sarah feels her shop becoming more than just a place to browse or buy. It’s turning into a cozy haven, where tucked among the handmade keepsakes and one-of-a-kind wonders are clues to long-buried secrets and surprising truths. Sarah soon discovers that solving small-town mysteries might just be the most meaningful gift she can offer.

Why You’ll Love the Gift Shop Mysteries Series

If you’re looking for a mystery series that’s equal parts heartwarming and intriguing, Gift Shop Mysteries is your perfect next read. Set in a charming lakeside town with a faith-filled shop owner as your guide, each book

Captivating mysteries that keep you guessing—but never keep you up at nightA cast of relatable, endearing characters who feel like old friendsA cozy, small-town atmosphere you’ll want to escape to again and againFaith-filled encouragement and hope, gently woven through every storyThemes of redemption, reconnection, and second chances—with God, family, and communityPlus, each book includes delightful

A recipe inspired by the storyA personal letter from the author“Behind the Counter” insights into the real-life history or inspirationBook club-ready discussion questionsWhether you’re drawn to uplifting mysteries, enjoy uncovering meaningful secrets, or simply want a soul-soothing read with depth, heart, and a touch of suspense—this series was made for you.

Genres: Mystery

Paperback

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, personally ⭐️ Christian Fiction - Cozy Mystery

About this book:

“When Sarah Morgan’s brother, David, brings her a beautiful desk rumored to have belonged to a European archduchess, Sarah is fascinated. But as excited as she is about the antique, she can’t help feeling skeptical about its origin story…until she finds a cache of coded messages inside a hidden compartment in the desk. The messages concern the Austrian royal family and a mystery that has puzzled historians since the end of World War I. Could the secret she’s stumbled upon really lead to the location of the Florentine Diamond, missing from the Austrian crown jewels?
As Sarah tries to piece together the clues and uncover how this priceless desk ended up in Port Huron, she traces the history of her small Michigan town, leading her to a mysterious local mansion and surprising connections to people and places she never could have anticipated.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Gift Shop Mysteries” series. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Luke 12:2 at the beginning; Scriptures are read, thought over; Bible reading & Devotional/Quiet time; Church going (including once where Sarah has difficultly focusing on the sermon because of the mystery); ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Sarah is concerned over her brother skipping/missing church and discusses it with him and their family (There isn’t anything at church that is exciting for him unlike others who have group activities, but says he isn’t in danger of waking away from his faith and is just taking a break for a while; Sarah doesn’t want to sound like she is meddling or being judgmental, but is worried about him; Some family members aren’t concerned and tell her that faith is more than church attendance and that he is in God’s hands; *Spoiler* Towards the end, he joins the church’s men’s softball team and tells her that he knows it’s important to be with other Christians *End of Spoiler*); Mentions of God & being in His hands; Mentions of those and events in the Bible, Bibles, & Bible reading; Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking God, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, services, sermons, hymns, & groups/activities; A couple mentions of a historical figure that is said to be a “devout Christian” and also later said to be a “devout Catholic”; A mention of a cross necklace;
*Note: Mentions of luck & being lucky; A mention of a man’s family business being almost like a religion to him.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’, a ‘stupid’, and a ‘my word’; Some eye rolling; A break-in & fear over it happening (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths & grief (including a woman for her son); Mentions of wars, deaths, injuries, & illnesses, & Nazis; Mentions of break-ins, crimes, thieves, thefts, stealing, & stolen items; Mentions of a man bullying others to get his way; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of suicide & assassinations (historical figures); A few mentions of smuggling rings and gangs; A couple mentions of graffiti; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a divorce;
*Note: When researching consumption (tuberculosis), Sarah notes that she’s never met anyone who had it which seems to be because of the vaccine that makes it “largely preventable”; Many mentions of historical figures (such as Archduchess Marie Valerie, Empress Sisi, Emperor Franz Joseph I, and those connected to them; Also Princess Diana, Mozart, Queen Elizabeth I, Blackbeard, Harry Truman, King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, & Shakespeare); Mentions of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen and fictional characters from it; Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of sports teams; A mention of a poem (‘The Wasteland’ by T.S. Eliot); A mention of an actor (Walter Brennan); A mention of Zumba classes.


Sexual Content- Some noticing (not detailed); Sarah is disappointed when she thinks a cute guy has a girlfriend; A guy flirts with Sarah a couple times & she blushes; Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, & dating; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of a relationship not sounding like a fling; A mention of a wife kissing her husband;
*Note: A couple mentions of historical figures marrying their cousins (which makes a modern-day person say “eww”).

-Sarah Morgan
P.O.V. of Sarah
262 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars

This is the second book in Guideposts’ newest cozy mystery series following Sarah who has recently opened a gift shop. This one shared about Archduchess Marie Valerie from Austria, who I knew absolutely nothing about and honestly wasn’t super interested to learn about, but I tried my best to keep up with the mystery. I was a little bored at the beginning personally because of this, however, once the mystery of a gemstone came into play, my attention was kept a little better as I like mysteries about sparkly jewels, haha!


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read from Guideposts. If you are familiar with Guidepost, it is definitely cozy with a faith-based background. These mysteries are cozy but do not include murders, just some kind of mystery to unwrap. In this book, book two in the series, Sarah has come home to coastal Michigan to open her antique and gift shop, Heavenly Presents. When her brother brings her a desk, he thinks she might want to sell, a desk his wife inherited from her grandmother that they just do not have room for, Sarah is delighted because she feels it is old and well crafted. As she starts to research the piece, she finds a letter written by an Austrian Archduchess, some letters in code, and a key in a secret compartment. The rest of our story is Sarah trying to find the origins of the desk and who it belonged to. While this story had lots of elements that had the potential to be fascinating, I found it just ok. There are lots of family, friends, and fellow business people in the story, but everything was just very superficial to me. For some reason, I just could not get invested in the people or the mystery. As I said, this is a pleasant story. The writing is good, it just didn't hook me. I would like to thank #Netgally, #Guideposts, and the author for an opportunity to read this book. #TheRoyalCode #TheGiftShopMysteries #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Code by Beth Adams is a charming cozy mystery that quickly pulled me into its intriguing story. The mystery centers around an antique burled walnut desk with a hidden compartment, coded letters, and an old key—details that immediately captured my imagination. Adams’s vivid descriptions made it easy to picture the beautiful desk and the secrets it held. I especially enjoyed the author’s friendly writing style, which drew me into the story along with the kindly main character. The cast of secondary characters added warmth and depth, making the setting feel inviting and memorable. The mystery was enjoyable, the ending satisfying, and I appreciated the gentle thread of faith woven throughout the story. Although The Royal Code is the second book in A Gift Shop Mystery series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I also appreciated the author’s note at the end, along with the reader’s guide. Overall, The Royal Code is an appealing tale with an interesting mystery, engaging characters, and plenty of cozy charm.

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Overview: Sarah Morgan's brother, David, has just brought her an excellent find. The desk that he brought has a presumed royal pedigree, and a few more surprises. When Sarah finds a hidden compartment, complete with a mysterious key, she starts having trouble. First her shop is broken into, and then the desk disappears. Who could have wanted the desk? And why is David fishing more often than going to church? Let's find out.

Dislikes: This is an odd book. Don't get me wrong, a good mystery doesn't have to include murder. This story is, however closer to the old Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys mysteries. It isn't a bad thing, it just makes the story seem a bit more juvenile.

Likes: David wasn't judged harshly for avoiding church.

Sarah does have a good relationship with Cam.

The entire family came together when Sarah needed help the most.

Conclusion: This was an okay mystery. If you enjoy Guideposts' fiction, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets, an antique desk and a lost diamond?

The Royal Code is the second mystery in a series offered by Guideposts. It has elements of Christian faith.
I enjoyed getting a new glimpse into Sarah and her gift shop and to Port Huron, a real place that is becoming more intriguing to me with each book.
Sarah's brother David brings her a desk that belonged to his wife's grandmother, who had bought it at an auction. As Sarah looks into the history and story of the desk, pieces of Austrian, Michigan and World War 1 history come to light.
I enjoyed following the clues to an interesting ending. There aren't dead bodies in this series. Its full of interesting historical and present day puzzles.
I accessed a copy of the book from Netgalley, but chose to borrow from Kindle Unlimited so the author would see some payment for her work.
I recommend this series. Each book is written by a different author.

[Debbie Earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like cozy mysteries, putting together the clues and figuring out "who done it", you will enjoy this book. When Sarah's brother David gives her an antique desk that belonged to his wife's grandma, Sarah's life will dramatically change. She finds a hidden drawer in the desk that is filled with old letters and an unknown key. When news breaks in the local paper of these findings, everyone tries to claim or purchase the desk. When the desk, papers and key are stolen, Sarah and her friend try to put the pieces together to solve the mystery and bring the thieves to justice. This is a fun, cozy mystery with fun characters. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #theroyalcode #guidepost

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Royal Code is the second book in the Gift Shop Mysteries. I really liked the book and love this new series. The book offers a cozy mystery with a lovely cast of characters. It has a positive vibe throughout, with some Bible verses related to what's taking place. The main character, Sarah, runs a Gift Shop and comes across antiques to display or sell. There is an interesting history theme, which adds a lot. The supporting characters are kind. It has the perfect balance of cozy, mystery, and positive themes. I really liked the book and I'm loving this series. I hope there will be plenty more to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Guideposts Publishing for this wonderful ARC. I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An antique desk with a secret compartment containing coded letters. What are the possibilities? An Austrian Archduchess of the Hapsburg Empire gave a fabulous gift to an American WWI soldier who could turn it into some real good in the world. This is a lot like a Hallmark mystery movie where women think they can solve crimes and confront suspects without the police.

The story rambles a bit. For instance, “After the service, Sarah chatted with a few people and then headed home to get lunch started. She filled a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil before grating parmesan and then tossing a salad.” I got lost in some of the details and skimmed a bit.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Code by Beth Adams is the second installment in Guideposts’ Gift Shop Mysteries series. The only reasons I put this book down were to sleep and to work. The treasure comes from a time about 100 years ago, an era of history that I wasn’t very familiar with. However, I did know a little bit about the royal consort referenced, as well as the novel mentioned in the book. I will probably be reading biographies of the historical figures mentioned as soon as I have a chance. I loved the blend of fiction and historical fact in this book. I highly recommend this second book in the series!

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Mystery

The Royal Code is a fantastic cozy mystery that kept me turning pages to see who done it. I was captivated from the start and guessing all the way through. The historical elements added so much to the story. It's a definite must-read whether you're a mystery lover or not.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.

[Psusan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Royal Code is written by a new author to me, Beth Adams. It is the second book in the Gift Shop Mysteries with Sarah Morgan finding coded messages in a lovely desk that has been received. A true mystery to be solved in a charming story that includes community, family and faith. If you enjoy heartwarming stories of second chances, an element of intrigue and God’s gentle grace you will enjoy this Guidepost published story, The Royal Code.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun cozy mystery involving an antique desk and hidden coded messages with ties to an Austrian royal family. Along with learning as much information as possible, Sarah finds herself in a mystery when someone steals the desk from her antiques store. Great mystery, and I enjoyed how the author incorporated faith into this story.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summer read -- a little history, a little mystery.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Royal Code by Beth Adams” the 2nd instalment in A Gift Shop Mystery series set in the Port Huron. This is a new to me author and I will definitely be reading more from her. The Royal Code by Beth Adams is a charming cozy mystery with a pleasant, steady pace. Unlike many cozies, there’s no murder here. Instead, it weaves together a historical mystery with a modern-day one.

The plot centers on Sarah’s brother, David, bringing her a beautiful desk rumored to have belonged to a European archduchess, Sarah is fascinated. Chapters set in the past help fill in the desks backstory.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style and liked main character Sarah Morgan and her staff at Heavenly Presents in her hometown of Port Huron.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.