The Little Lost Library

Nora Pennington owns a bookstore in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. She's built a good life for herself with friends and the love of Sheriff Grant McCabe. She has a great love of books, and regularly delivers them to the town recluse, Lucille Wynter. Lucille lives in Wynter House, and doesn't ever leave it. Nora isn't even allowed in the house after years of bringing her books. They sit in the boot room, have tea, and talk about books.

But one day her delivery doesn't go right. Lucille doesn't arrive on time, and Nora gets worried. She calls her from the boot room and Lucille answers, asking for help. Nora breaks down the door and finds Lucille at the bottom of the stairs, recently deceased. When the police arrive, they find a house show more filled with books everywhere, and discover that Lucille was a hoarder.

But Officer Andrews gives Nora a package that Lucille had left for her. Inside is a small book, and a note that tells her there is a little lost library in the house, and she must find it with clues. But how is she to get into the house? With the help of her antique dealer friend Bea, and Bea's niece Cricket, who owns a junk hauling business, Nora makes the decision to find the library, even if it puts her in danger...

I absolutely loved this book best out of all in the series. Maybe because I love mysteries, but this was more a mystery within a mystery -- who killed Lucille, and where is the library -- and that intrigued me to no end. Unfortunately, Nora doesn't realize how dangerous a game she is playing. It isn't until another tragedy occurs closer to home that Nora realizes she has to involve McCabe, who isn't happy that she didn't let him know right away.

On top of it all, someone is stealing books from her store, and she can't figure out who it is. But with the help of good friends around, nothing is impossible...

Nora is digging through the crowed house for clues, and they aren't easy to find; especially since the house is in such bad shape and filled to the brim. But when she starts digging, she finds that the clues are leading to a deeper tragedy still, and that makes all the difference in this story. We are pulled into the tale, wanting to know the truth, and being given answers slowly, which only make us want more.

I will say that I knew the murderer very quickly, but the reasons eluded me, which isn't a bad thing, as I love to probe for the truth as much as Nora. When the ending comes, it all weaves together tightly, and the story has a very nice ending, leaving us waiting for the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. show less

I read the first book in this series and while I liked the characters, the story wasn’t a good fit for me. Having been teased again by this series I decided to try Adam’s latest installment, “The Little Lost Library.” With murder, more murder and arson I wouldn’t classify this as cozy and I never felt as if there was safety within the pages. I still love the idea of the bookstore in a town known as a center of healing. The close and protective friends that surround Nora, the owner of Miracle Books and the protagonist of this story are people we would all like in our lives.

For Nora book collecting is not a hobby, she is obsessed with finding a little library which had been lost or hidden for a very long time. She believes the show more words of a dying recluse are meant for her alone and she is going to take some ridiculous chances. And therein lies my issue with this story - how many dangerous, life-threatening risks is she willing to take? Many, too many as she loses much in her search to find a collection of miniature books. Nora never loses sight of the magic in books nor the potential for good in people and if nothing else that message rings clear.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corp and NetGalley for a copy. show less

I was quickly drawn into The Little Lost Library by Ellery Adams. The story focused on Nora Pennington who is a complex main character. She continues to develop as the series progresses. I love Nora’s red caboose tiny home and her charming bookstore (I wish her bookstore was in my town). It is sweet how Nora’s relationship with McCabe has deepened. I like that the author has included a character with fibromyalgia (many people do not understand this painful disease). She captured how the disease can make a person feel (you never know how it is going to affect you from one day to the next). The mystery involved books which, naturally, captured my attention. I enjoyed the descriptions of the victim’s home and all the “treasures” show more it contained. Nora was determined to investigate the crime (she is a stubborn individual). The Secret, Book, and Scone Society aid Nora in piecing together the clues. The ladies also provide comfort and friendship when Nora needs it. I did feel that the motive for the crime was a tad weak. There was an unexpected twist that had me gasping with surprise (and shock). There is a good wrap up at the end. The Little Lost Library is the seventh book in A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries. The Little Lost Library can be read as standalone for those new to the series, but I believe it is better to read the series in order. It allows you to get to know the characters and how the ladies of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society came together. I enjoyed the book references throughout the story and the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The Little Lost Library is a captivating tale with an atypical customer, an odd death, a bounty of books, a last missive, a curious quest, covetous children, a volatile threat, and thoughtful friends. show less

The main characters of this story are the bookshop owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, NC, Nora, her boyfriend, Police Chief Grant McCabe, her amazing group of incredibly supportive friends, and the town recluse, Lucille Wynter, who lives in the dilapidated "haunted house" in town. Ms. Wynter has books delivered by Nora but never allows her into the house further than the small boot room off the kitchen where they share a cup of tea, 2 cookies each, a bit of chit chat about her love of books, especially those where the reader must follow clues to solve a mystery, but never about anything more personal than a glimpse at her obvious devotion to the memory of her father. It's on one such visit that Lucille doesn't come to retrieve show more her books, and Nora is forced to call for help for the old woman only to find they've arrived too late. Lucille leaves a book for Nora with its own real-life mystery to solve. The book sets Nora on a quest to discover not only who killed Lucille but also what made her trap herself in her home for decades with a horde of books. The treasure hunt that Nora is on puts her life in danger, but she's compelled to continue searching for answers for Lucille, whom she feels she should have done more for in life. This was the first book in the series that I've read, and I love the cast of supportive friends that Nora has in this tight-knit community. It sounds like a wonderful place to live ... except for its frequent murders for Nora to solve. I will definitely be reading all of the other books in this series. show less

I am a bit biased when it comes to this series because it is one of my favorites and any time spent with these lovely characters is a great time for me. While this book centered very much on the main character, and not as much on her book club gang, they were still an essential element to the overall cozy vibe of the story, and it was very nice to see Nora's relationship with McCabe deepen. This plot, while I did think was a bit weak on motive, did deliver an excellent twisty mystery that found clues through a delightful treasure hunt. The hunt provided beautiful descriptions of a stately manor and all the treasures housed within. And very enjoyable were the great quotes at the beginning of chapters and the many, many references to show more books and authors sprinkled throughout the book. As it should be when the MC owns a bookstore! My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy and provide my thoughts and opinions. show less

I continue to enjoy this series greatly. This contribution deliberately had a Nancy Drew vibe to it (ND was mentioned at least three times in the book, in case anyone was missing the point). The challenge involves a scavenger hunt to find clues that will revel both sad mysteries and unique treasures. While not the most complex of characterizations, the plot is well-conceived and a pleasure to follow along.

North-Carolina, small-business, small-town, recluse, bookseller, local-law-enforcement, suspense, secrets, amateur-sleuth, series, cozy-mystery, relationships, family-drama, family-dynamics, inheritance, hoarding, arson, murder, investigations, baker, mansion, tiny-house, contemporary, embezzling, friends, friendship, mental-health-issues, mental-health-awareness, addiction, unputdownable, unpleasant-police-officer, family-by-choice, family-history*****

The elderly recluse has lived in her family home in Miracle Springs all of her days. At one of her regular visit to the woman Nora (owner of the Miracle Bookshop) finds her body at the base of the stairs and is overwhelmed by the olfactory and visual evidence that she had been a hoarder show more for much of her life. She is also given the first clues to what might be termed a scavenger hunt.
There is a lot to be learned about the main character and her gathered family in the town as well as the disturbing things brought to light by pursuing the clues.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you! Available Oct 22, 2024
#TheLittleLostLibrary #NetGalley #SecretBookAndSconeSocietyBk7 show less