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93 ratings | 19 reviews | avg rating:4.11

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M.S.’s 2025 Year in Books

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Lily

2,264 books | 2,196 friends

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3,904 books | 2,622 friends

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98 books | 4,751 friends

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56 books | 169 friends

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1,086 books | 1,321 friends

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3,227 books | 101 friends

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333 books | 281 friends

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M.S. Spencer

Goodreads Author

Born

June 26

Website

http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com

Twitter

msspencerauthor

Genre

Suspense, Mystery & Thrillers, Romance

Member Since

June 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/msspencer

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Although M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled on five continents, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. Once she escaped academia, she worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several library systems, both public and academic, and at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. Ms. Spencer has two fabulous grown children and a perfect granddaughter. She divides her time between Maine and ...more

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Combine Editions
M.S. Spencer’s books

Average rating: 4.21 · 155 ratings · 120 reviews · 20 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Penhallow Train Incident 4.30 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flotsam and Jetsam: the Amelia Island Affair 4.11 avg rating — 18 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine 4.29 avg rating — 17 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mason's Mark: Love and Death in the Tower 4.12 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Orion's Foot: Myth, Mystery, and Romance in the Amazon 4.33 avg rating — 15 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mrs. Spinney's Secret 4.75 avg rating — 12 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lapses of Memory 4.22 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2013 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Wishing Tree 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Artful Dodging: The Torpedo Factory Murders 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lost In His Arms 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2009 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by M.S. Spencer…

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M.S. Spencer's Blog

Now available for preorder ~ Fair Winds and Foul Play: an Amity Landing Mystery!

Now available for preorder ~ Fair Winds and Foul Play: anAmity Landing Mystery!

What do a government official, a loony environmentalist, and a batty oldlady have in common?

Zoe’s run-in with the newcomer inAlbion Cottage is hardly promising, but his gunmetal gray eyes and air ofmystery stick with her. Why is he hiding? Who is he? His prickly attitudegrates on the neighborly—well, to be honest, n

M.S. is Currently Reading

M.S. Spencer is currently reading

Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America

by John McWhorter

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 20, 2022 11:09AM

M.S. Spencer is currently reading

Snuff (Discworld, #39; City Watch, #8)

by Terry Pratchett

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jun 20, 2022 11:06AM

M.S. Spencer is currently reading

The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England

by Dan Jones (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 12, 2014 07:51AM

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M.S.’s Recent Updates

M.S. Spencer wrote a new blog post Now available for preorder ~ Fair Winds and Foul Play: an Amity Landing Mystery! Now available for preorder ~ Fair Winds and Foul Play: anAmity Landing Mystery! What do a government official, a loony environmentalist, and a batty o Read more of this blog post »
Aug 04, 2026 01:08AM · like
M.S. Spencer rated a book it was amazing The Definite Article. Albert Campion Mysteries. Illustrated by Margery Allingham	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 28, 2026 12:39PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Definite Article. Albert Campion Mysteries. Illustrated by Margery Allingham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Definite Article. Albert Campion Mysteries. Illustrated by Margery Allingham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
M.S. Spencer made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Remove book topic " Please remove Jean Joachim's Now and Forever #1 from my list (M.S. Spencer) ...more "
Jul 16, 2025 12:55PM
M.S. Spencer has read A Love Story (Now and Forever, #1) by Jean C. Joachim (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is NOT by M.S. Spencer; it is by Jean Joachim.
Jul 16, 2025 12:52PM · like · see review
M.S. Spencer made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders topic " Please correct author name. OLD: "M.S. Spencer (no spaces)" . CORRECT: M. S. Spencer (space after M.) Latest book, Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Mu ...more "
Jul 13, 2025 02:06PM
M.S. Spencer liked T.P. Warren's review of Railroad Ties: The Marmion Grove Murders: "In Railroad Ties: The Marmion Grove Murders, M.S. Spencer crafts a charming yet twist-filled cozy mystery rooted in small-town secrets and century-old crimes. When Sophie Childress stumbles upon a cryptic letter from 1920 detailing a murder, she turn" Read more of this review »
Jul 13, 2025 01:50PM · see review
M.S. Spencer and 4 other people liked N.N. Heaven's review of Railroad Ties: The Marmion Grove Murders: "A disturbing letter written in 1920 takes Sophie on a journey to uncover a murder. She teams up with Noah to investigate the murder detailed in the letter. There’s no body and a bag full of money disappears. More bodies are discovered, and Sophie is " Read more of this review »
Jul 13, 2025 01:50PM · see review
M.S. Spencer made a comment on Railroad Ties: The Marmion Grove Murders — Add new book to profile & delete link to incorrect author " Please add new release: Railroad Ties: the Marmion Grove Murders, to M.S. Spencer (NO SPACES) & remove from incorrect page link (M. S. Spencer WITH sp ...more "
May 24, 2025 02:34PM
M.S. Spencer rated a book it was amazing Sweet Danger (Albert Campion, #5) by Margery Allingham	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 14, 2025 12:31PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Sweet Danger by Margery Allingham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
M.S. Spencer rated a book it was amazing Traitor's Purse (The Albert Campion Mysteries Book 11) by Margery Allingham	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 10, 2025 11:24AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Traitor's Purse by Margery Allingham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Traitor's Purse by Margery Allingham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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The MFRW Book Place: Post your Book for REVIEWERS here.	22	83	Jan 30, 2016 09:19PM
Goodreads Librari...: Goodreads Author profiles needing merging BY GR STAFF pt. 24	1008	379	Nov 28, 2018 03:04PM

M.S.’s Quotes

“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.”
― Louis L’Amour

tags: writing

34 likes

“One hasn't become a writer until one has distilled writing into
a habit, and that habit has been forced into an obsession.
Writing has to be an obsession. It has to be something as organic,
physiological and psychological as speaking or sleeping or eating.”
― Niyi Osundare

tags: obsession, writing, writing-philosophy

22 likes

“Just because something bears the aspect of the inevitable one should not, therefore, go along willingly with it.”
― Philip K. Dick, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

tags: entropy, rebel, rebellion, revolution

228 likes

“History pays no heed to the unspectacular citizen who worked hard all day and walked at night to a humble home with dust on his tunic and his flat cap. But in the end the builders have had the better of it. The miracles they accomplished in stone are still standing and still beautiful, even with the disintegration of so many centuries on them, but the battlefields where great warriors died are so encroached upon by modern villas and so befouled by the rotting remains of motorcars and the staves of oil barrels that they do not always repay a visit.”
― Thomas B. Costain

tags: architecture, humanity, war

19 likes