Published: Kensington
Date: 26th April 2022
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
While January snow falls outside in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, Nora Pennington is encouraging customers to cozy up indoors with a good book. Even though the shop and her bibliotherapy sessions keep Nora busy during the day, her nights are a little too quiet—until Deputy Andrews pulls Nora into the sci-fi section and asks her to help him plan a wedding proposal.
His bride-to-be, Hester, loves Little Women, and Nora sets to work arranging a special screening at the town’s new movie theater. But right before the deputy pops the question, Nora makes an unsettling discovery—someone has mutilated all her store’s copies of The Scarlet Letter, slicing angrily into the pages wherever Hester Prynne’s name is mentioned.
The coincidence disturbs Nora, who is one of the few in Miracle Springs who knows that Hester gave up a baby for adoption many years ago. Her family heaped shame on her, and Hester still feels so guilty that she hasn’t even told her future husband. But when a dead man is found on a hiking trail just outside town, carrying a rare book, the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society unearth a connection to Hester’s past. Someone is intent on bringing the past to light, and it’s not just Hester’s relationship at stake, but her life. . .
The Vanishing Type is #5 in The Secret, Book and Scone Society. By now we know Nora Pennington – owner of the bookshop and her three friends well. Hester owner of the Gingerbread House Bakery, Estella owner of a salon and spa and June about to take up a new job. What stands out is that these women share so much of themselves with each other and are there to support each other through any trial.
This time the focus is on Hester, or quite a bit of the mystery has to do with Hester. As her past rushes up to meet her it throws her into a spin and at times things just get too much for her. But… remember – trusty friends. There is a mystery about some books, some damage to books and one or two murders. It takes awhile for all the clues to build up until finally as the reader you start to suspect just one or two.
The mystery is just part of the book’s appeal, this book and others in the series is full of book talk. Enough to delight any reader’s heart aside from murder and mystery. I was really pleased to note I knew of some of the books and had read some of them. It’s such fun to see what books crop up. Plus the bookshop with Nora and the wonderful helper Sheldon provide book happiness.
Another cozy mystery in this series that furthers the characters stories and makes me already looking forward to another.
Part of a cosy mystery series I am following. This is #4 and as I have picked out #5 to review at NetGalley I decided this one needed to be read first. It is very good on audio (the previous three have been too). I have started this one and am loving all the book references.
I had wanted to buy this one and listed it as so. But then decided to borrow it from the library. However when it was going very cheaply from Audible, well had to get it.
This is a reread but via audiobook. I listened to the first one as a reread and it was every bit as good as I remember. So when the sale came along I purchased Book 2. This is Ethan the fisherman and boat builder.
The Book Date 