From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
*
Candidates for Next Month's Read
By Josh · 3043 posts · 623 views
By Josh · 3043 posts · 623 views
last updated Feb 21, 2024 10:37PM
showing 5 of 5 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
Let's Chat! (February 2016 —>)
By Johanna · 11954 posts · 317 views
By Johanna · 11954 posts · 317 views
last updated Sep 23, 2025 07:04AM
March 2020: Murder at Pirate's Cove
By Jordan · 44 posts · 37 views
By Jordan · 44 posts · 37 views
last updated Apr 03, 2020 09:54AM
Ebook freebies and special offers (May 2019 —>)
By Johanna · 3789 posts · 236 views
By Johanna · 3789 posts · 236 views
last updated Sep 08, 2025 07:45AM
Secrets and Scrabble Series Discussion
By Jordan · 33 posts · 45 views
By Jordan · 33 posts · 45 views
last updated Apr 13, 2023 01:11PM
What Members Thought

Have always loved cosy mysteries, I really enjoyed this. It's ridiculous but engaging. A lot of recent Lanyon's haven't worked for me but got this as a promo freebie and it proved a light fun read, really looking forward to more of the verse.
Ellery's new house sounds great, stiffling the pique at a non mystery-book-lover running a mystery book shop. I like chief Carson though there's barely whiff of romance to this, it's a series, we'll see where that goes.
Some lively characters to suspect altho ...more
Ellery's new house sounds great, stiffling the pique at a non mystery-book-lover running a mystery book shop. I like chief Carson though there's barely whiff of romance to this, it's a series, we'll see where that goes.
Some lively characters to suspect altho ...more

Very enjoyable cozy mystery. I have always been a fan of this author's mysteries and I don't notice much of a difference in this one besides the lack of any sexual encounters for any of the characters. It does seem to fit into the cozy genre quite well, but with a gay amateur sleuth. Loved it and can't wait to experience the second book. I did listen to this one on audio and the narration was great.
...more

3.5 stars round up. It was nice read but the pacing felt too slow for me.
Ms. Lanyon meant for this to be cozy mystery, I am not sure if it was much different than her previous works, excluding the sex. I was feeling impatient toward the latter half... I am not sure if it was the pacing exactly... Things still happens but it did not felt like the plot was progressing... I suppose it was how things are in real life...? Certainly it made for slightly less interesting read.
All the elements to make i ...more
Ms. Lanyon meant for this to be cozy mystery, I am not sure if it was much different than her previous works, excluding the sex. I was feeling impatient toward the latter half... I am not sure if it was the pacing exactly... Things still happens but it did not felt like the plot was progressing... I suppose it was how things are in real life...? Certainly it made for slightly less interesting read.
All the elements to make i ...more

Just when you think your day cannot get any worse, somebody murders your rival at your door…
Ellery Page does not seem to make the right decisions… His choice of career and boyfriend turned out really bad. He’s now second guessing his decision of leaving New York and accepting the legacy of a very distant relative in the quaint little village of Pirate’s Cove. The legacy turns out to be a crumbling mansion and a failing bookshop… Just when he is about to give up and run back to New York, a rival ...more
Ellery Page does not seem to make the right decisions… His choice of career and boyfriend turned out really bad. He’s now second guessing his decision of leaving New York and accepting the legacy of a very distant relative in the quaint little village of Pirate’s Cove. The legacy turns out to be a crumbling mansion and a failing bookshop… Just when he is about to give up and run back to New York, a rival ...more

I enjoyed Agatha Christie novels but I usually run away from present day cozy mysteries. There are cozy rules! Who knew! Not me. 😂
I did like this book. I loved the setting and atmosphere. I’m a sucker for mysteries set in island villages. The secondary characters are well written and have purpose. None of them seemed over the top and bothersome.
The mystery was interesting. And what a great way for Ellery to calm his mind and figure things out - playing solitary Scrabble! I might give it a try. ...more
I did like this book. I loved the setting and atmosphere. I’m a sucker for mysteries set in island villages. The secondary characters are well written and have purpose. None of them seemed over the top and bothersome.
The mystery was interesting. And what a great way for Ellery to calm his mind and figure things out - playing solitary Scrabble! I might give it a try. ...more

3.5 stars. Feels like Josh Lanyon-lite if that's a description. Has a lot of things readers love about Lanyon's work, but it's missing the heat and sizzle. A light and PG read.
...more

Audiobook July 2023
Forgot I had already listened to this. This time round found the audiobook to be good. Looking forward to continuing with the series and this was a refresher listen.
_______
Audiobook review May 2022.
I still adore this book. Perhaps more the second time than the first. It has been a while since I read this and I wanted a refresh before moving on to the rest of the series. The audiobook is just ok.
_______
This was just okay for me ... but it is important to note that an "okay" Jo ...more
Forgot I had already listened to this. This time round found the audiobook to be good. Looking forward to continuing with the series and this was a refresher listen.
_______
Audiobook review May 2022.
I still adore this book. Perhaps more the second time than the first. It has been a while since I read this and I wanted a refresh before moving on to the rest of the series. The audiobook is just ok.
_______
This was just okay for me ... but it is important to note that an "okay" Jo ...more

I love it , had so much fun reading it :) a perfect cozy mystery!

Dec 18, 2019
Ije the Devourer of Books
marked it as to-read

Dec 30, 2019
Lisa ~ Books Are My Drugs ~
marked it as wishlist

Jan 04, 2020
Aamramal
marked it as to-read

Jan 04, 2020
Bex
marked it as to-read

Jan 21, 2020
Bookfan92
marked it as to-read

Mar 01, 2020
Denise
added it

Apr 11, 2020
Anthony Powers
is currently reading it


Sep 05, 2020
Jamie
added it