From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Secret at Skull House (Secrets and Scrabble #2)

Josh Lanyon

Start date: May 1, 2020

Finish date: May 30, 2020

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

Why we're reading this: This will be our May 2020 read!
[close] This will be our May 2020 read!

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 2 topics — 4,118 comments total

Book of the Month Club

* Candidates for Next Month's Read
By Josh · 3043 posts · 623 views

last updated Feb 21, 2024 10:37PM

February 2025: The Lemon Drop Kid
By Karen · 15 posts · 20 views

last updated Jun 14, 2025 04:47PM

showing 5 of 5 topics view all »

What Members Thought

May 22, 2020 Josh added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: mystery, my-own-work

It's kind of funny to find myself returning to the Cozy Mystery genre. I was so DONE with cozies when I cut ties with my mainstream publishers. I couldn't ever imagine writing another. But now... The World is Too Much With Us as Wordsworth said, and it's comforting to turn to this particular literary art form. Sure, it's not every reader's cup of tea, but I find something zen-like in the structure and discipline of creating a world that...makes sense. :-D I'm planning on an eight-book series. Th ...more

59 likes · Like · see review

May 01, 2020 Ami rated it liked it

Shelves: mm-contemporary, mm-mystery-suspense-thriller

3.5 stars

Ellery Page finds himself in hot water again, when his other ex found murdered after buying Skull House, a 'historic' house at Pirate's Cove, that said to be cursed. Not only that, his friendship progress with Chief of Police Jack Carson also comes to a halt, though Ellery doesn't know if he's the reason behind it...

This second book in Josh Lanyon's cozy mystery series has another out of town victim and a murderer from the Cove. If there are so many books in this series being prepared, ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2020 Sandra (Waiting For Wentworth) rated it really liked it

I have a confession. I really like Ellery! More so in this book than in the first. He's settling in quite nicely with his shop, the theater, scrabble club, and the mystery book club. And he's at a happy place in his friendship with Jack. I'm still on the fence about Jack. I want to like him for Ellery's sake, so I'm willing to cut him a little slack. I could appreciate his honesty regarding a certain situation, even though it hurt Ellery. I suppose it's better to know up front rather than when y ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 10, 2020 Erika rated it really liked it

Shelves: mine-kindle, ebook, mystery

Thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this delightful cozy mystery series. Ellery is once again a suspect in a murder case and goes about some amateur sleuthing on his own, only to be threatened by the real killer. This one seemed to move a bit faster than the first. The characters in town are well-established and we're digging into a 20 year old cold case that may or may not be related.

I enjoyed getting to know the side charac ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 14, 2020 ⚓Dan⚓ rated it it was amazing

Love love love this series. Cant wait for the next book. Thank you for your kind words at the end Josh.
Stay safe.

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2020 ReviewerLarissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cozy-mystery

This was a great read1 I enjoyed reading about reluctant sleuth Ellery who thinks he has no other choice but to try and solve the murder before he is framed for murder, again!
There is a great cast of characters, including an exuberant puppy called Watson and a maybe, possible romantic interest.

The blurb for the third book also sounds awesome and I'm looking forward to that release!
...more

Like · see review