The Tattered Cover

Secret, Book, & Scone Society #8

by Ellery Adams

It was a dark, rainy night at Nora Pennington’s Miracle Books when a mysterious death brings the Secret, Book, and Scone Society into the Halloween season on the trail of a murderer . . .

As the residents of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, select their costumes, plan parties, and get excited for a night of tricks or treats, Nora joins in on the festivities by hosting medium memoirist Lara Luz at the bookstore. Charismatic and compelling, Lara mesmerizes the audience with her life story. Struck by a bolt of lightning as a child, she was pronounced dead only to be resurrected with the ability to connect with those on the other side.

Lara performs a reading for a select group of bookstore patrons when the encroaching storm knocks out the power. In the sudden darkness, howling cold winds intensify, and Lara clutches her heart, collapsing dead without warning. But Nora doesn’t believe she died of natural causes. Not one member of the psychic’s reading group—which includes the town’s widower pharmacist, an urgent care nurse, a mystery author, and even truculent Deputy Hollowell—were admirers of Lara.

Nora confirms this when she stumbles upon Lara’s journal in the aftermath of her death. For within its leathery bound pages are the medium and her clients’ deepest and darkest secrets, written in code. Now, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society must sift through the suspects and their motives to uncover which one of them is a killer before he or she is tempted to strike again . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Halloween, Mystery Thriller

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2025

About the author

USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written over forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, and rescue animals. She likes to spend her free time rearranging the bookshelves in her home in central North Carolina.

Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).

Ellery also writes genre-blending fiction focusing on women and their inner monsters. Her first release in this exciting new direction is Invasive Species, which hits the shelves 4/14/206.

For book club guides, bibliotherapy lists, and recipes, please visit www.elleryadamsbooks.com

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love books and cozy mysteries, then The Tattered Cover by Ellery Adams may be a book that will delight you. It’s the eighth book in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series featuring Norm Pennington, owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Everyone’s gearing up for Halloween and the bookstore has its first ever author event early in the month followed by an event later in the month featuring medium memoirist Lara Luz. Lara performs a reading from her book. A storm knocks out the power and Lara collapses and dies. But Nora doesn’t believe she died of natural causes. Not one member of the psychic’s reading group admired her. Once again, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society decide to do some amateur sleuthing.

Nora, as well as several of the other characters, are well developed, flawed, and complex. Nora loves connecting with customers and helping them find the perfect books. She’s also a great researcher. There’s also a lot of chemistry between Nora and Sheriff Grant McCabe, but there’s also some conflict. However, romance is a minor part of the story. The secondary characters provide additional interest and conflict and it was great to see so many returning characters.

The story is well-written, with a few twists, and provides enough background that it can be read as a standalone. However, readers would be missing the character development and some details if they start with this one. Each chapter starts with a quote and there are numerous referents to books and authors throughout the novel. The world-building is well-done and I could easily visualize the bookstore. The descriptive narrative was terrific and transported this reader there. The chemistry between several of the characters creates a fun dynamic. The novel shines a light on grief, books, friendship, found family, family, community, murder, and vengeance. My biggest quibble is that the antagonist was too easily discerned. Despite this, I enjoyed my journey and time with Nora and her friends.

Overall, this was an entertaining and well-written novel with great characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. There are several book lists at the end of the novel so be prepared to add several books to your want-to-read list.

Kensington Publishing – Kensington Cozies and Ellery Adams provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 28, 2025.
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My 4.18 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Panic!_at_the_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like the last book I’ll complete in 2025! I have a handful that I still need to add to GR, but this book was enjoyable and entertaining, making it a welcome year-end book send off.

The first book I read by Ellery Adams was The Little Lost Library. The LLL is book 7 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novels. In that book, I did struggle a bit because, while it can be read as a standalone, there are lots of backstories and characters that can be challenging to follow when just jumping in.

I felt that same way with The Tattered Cover, but to a lesser extent this time. Because I don’t know some of the backstories from the very first books, some subplots landed flat for me. Therefore, I’m going to go back to book 1 and read forward to see if that helps.

There is a part of me that wonders if there are just too many subplots happening in Adams’ novels. Sometimes, especially with cozy mysteries, other elements need to be added to keep the reader’s interest since PG-13+ references and descriptions are usually omitted. All this to say that I might struggle a bit with cozies because I like to focus on the main plot, and the less YA and cozy the better.

I’m not giving up on cozies yet! I still enjoy the genre and hope that living in the authors’ worlds from book one will help me to dig in and care more about things happening on the side.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in the series and unfortunately I have only read one of the earlier ones. When I can find the time one day I will remedy that!

Nora Pennington runs her shop Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. The residents are getting ready for a fun Halloween when a visiting medium is struck dead at the book store and the Secret, Book and Scone Society find they have a murder to investigate.

A very entertaining read with lots of fun characters. Nora is easy to like as well as Sheldon. I enjoyed the relationship between Nora and her partner Sheriff McCabe. The story was made even more interesting by the inclusion of lots of references to authors and book titles.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing and such an exciting read it kept me on my toes the whole time and I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery 💖

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re back in the midst of Miracle Books bookstore and the murder and mayhem that seems to follow owner Nora Pennington. She’s hosting her first author event and including a psychic medium reading afterward. Nora’s life partner, Sheriff Grant McCabe gets involved when the psychic collapses.

With red herrings galore, the plot is action packed with murders and odd occurrences. Estella, one of the Secret, Book, and Society friends is eight months pregnant, and all her friends are excited about the baby’s birth and her upcoming nuptials with Jack.

Will Nora and friends find a killer; pull all the wedding plans together, and help keep Estella from overdoing before the baby is born?

Read “The Tattered cover” by bestselling author Ellery Adams for a top-notch cozy mystery!

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Cozies. All opinions are my own.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read of an Ellery Adams book and part 8 of the Secret, Book and Scone Society series set in Miracle Springs. I thoroughly enjoyed it as a standalone. It's set between Halloween and the Christmas holiday season. The author is clearly well read herself and references many books as part of the plot, always endearing to a bibliophile like me. However, it's the characters and the setting that bring this to the next level. Most of which are very relatable in a Murder, She Wrote kind of way. If you prefer cozies or just like to dip into them from time to time, it's a quick and enjoyable read. I received this book as an advance copy from the publisher and a cute little bookmark. Thanks to Kensington Books for #TheTatteredCover, #ElleryAdams. I will be looking to read the remainder of the series #SecretBookandSconeSociety. #goodreadsgiveaway

[Karen Rangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dang it all now, got sucked in. I’m gonna have to go look for the othered in the series. A little Aunt Dimity, a little Nancy Drew…fun easy read. While enjoyed the ending, kinda saw it coming.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.

I think this was my favorite book in the series! I was not super excited for a new book, but I’m glad that I stuck with it. I really felt like all the characters have grown and I’m here for that!

I wish there was more background to the overall story, though. While it was a well rounded book, I felt things might have been a bit rushed. It could have used about 50 more pages overall to make things fleshed out more.

I could see how this could be read as a standalone book, as there wasn’t as much backstory needed. And I think that’s a good thing!

Well done!

[Anna J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora is excited to have an author event at her bookstore as she prepares for spooky season . She has invited author and medium memoirist Lara Luz to do private reading of a select few people. What Nora did not expect is for the author to die in the store under suspicious circumstances.

I have loved this whole series for all the small town vibes, a book telling about other books, the book club, and amateur sleuthing as Nora looks for clues. This is a cozy mystery that you get to know all the characters and get updated on what is going on in their lives now.

It just makes you want to visit this fictional town and go to the bookstore and grab a coffee and a scone. The author has a gift of bringing all the characters to life and endearing them in your heart. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Thank you Kensington books and NetGalley for advance copy.

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora and the book club are drawn into another murder case when a medium dies during a reading at the bookstore. She had a bad heart, so was it natural or murder? They begin looking for clues and trying to figure out why the mystery author, the pharmacist and the deputy came to the signing and the reading afterwards. Great series.

[Reading Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book! I love coming back to Miracle Springs and visiting the bookstore ☺️. Another wonderful mystery to be solved with all my favorite characters. Definitely a must read.

[Allison Damico · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect introduction to fall weather with this cozy mystery of whodunnit! I absolutely loved all the authors subtle nods to different movies, shows, books.. Goodfellas, Bridgerton, Harry Potter, the Help, Love is Blind etc. but don’t worry you don’t have to keep track as there is a nice list on the last page of the book which I appreciated so I could refer back to it. They are even broken down by theme and target audience.

The book was a little witchy (psychic type), some things for the reader to dive into like the shorthand the psychic Lara used in her diary to decode. I absolutely loved the dynamic between the Secret, Book and Scone Society group. It just felt reminiscent of my friends always trying to research things and being nosey and bonding over the thrill and also my book swap friends who love to chat anything books, friendship, food and more. I loved the bookstore/coffee shop Miracle Books as it reminded me of some places I find near and dear to my heart (a mix of Boonton Coffee, Book Barn and Gingerbread Bookshop). It felt like a place I would frequent! Lots of clues and things to uncover throughout the book which I loved, it made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next.

Each chapter started with a relevant quote from various authors etc. which I thought was a great start to get your mind thinking of what would unravel next. Chapters were manageable lengths and definitely an easy read. I thought this was a great fall read as it officially drops in October and then the book continues through Christmas towards the end. I think timing might be important for when you read it. Overall I really enjoyed and definitely can’t wait to share this one with my friends! #goodreadsgiveaway

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Goodreads.com in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy this series about a group of close friends in a little town called Miracle Springs. I envy the bond these friends have. This story starts with a visiting medium coming to Nora’s bookstore. Shortly after starting, the medium dies of an apparent heart attack. All is not as it seems and Nora keeps digging, along with her friends and her partner the sheriff to solve the mystery.

[Cynde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute cozy mystery , the eighth in the series set in a charming Miracle Springs, North Carolina. The town is getting ready for Halloween and Nora has invited a medium memorialist to give a book chat and some personal reading at her bookstore. Nora is not exactly comfortable with having the medium but has been assured that have author visits will be good for business. A thunderstorm is brewing as the event begins and just as the author begins the personal readings the lights go out. When they get some candles lit they see the author is having difficulty breathing. was it natural death or murder??? The Secret, Book and Scone Society try their best to solve a murder , have a baby shower and plan a wedding all before Christmas. People are not always who or what they seem.
This was a fun read, great for getting cozy with.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#TheTatteredCover #NetGalley is another wonderful addition to this much loved series by Ellery Adams.
As Nora embraces the Halloween festivities , she's happy to host an author event, featuring a psychic who just had her book published.
The event is a hit, and Nora hopes the private reading for a few select guests does just as well.
Unfortunately, as cozy mystery readers, we know things will not go well, and an unexpected death will occur, setting the scene for a murder investigation.
What I did not expect was who the killer was, or the disbelief that this person could even be a suspect.
Ms. Adams set the mood for an incredibly twisted tale that kept this reader glued to the pages.
I think #TheTatteredCover is my favorite so far, and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)
I was so happy to be able to return to Miracle Springs, North Carolina with The Tattered Cover. I wish this town were a real place, because I’d love to visit! The Tattered Cover is the 8th book in Ellery Adams’ wonderful Secret, Book and Scone Society series and I had a hard time putting it down.

For those who don’t know this series, it centers on Nora, who runs a bookshop in town, assisted by the terrific Sheldon Vega. The rest of the series regulars include local sheriff Grant McCabe (Nora’s love interest these days), Estella, a salon owner, Hester, a bakery owner, and June, a customer relationship manager at the local hotel/spa (the town IS called Miracle Springs after all!). This one takes place in the fall, starting in the days before Halloween and continuing through November and December, so if you’re looking for a seasonal read, look no further. (Of course, it’d be a great book to read at any season.) A spiritualist has written a memoir and is doing a reading and semi-private session in Nora’s bookstore. The publisher’s blurb reveals that she is struck dead during a storm that knocks out the electricity in the bookstore. The rest of the book covers the investigation and also some major developments in the lives of the main characters, some of which was light-hearted, dispelling some of the sadness surrounding the medium’s death.

The characters are so well-drawn in this series. They show a lot of growth over the course of these eight books, but you could definitely jump into the series with The Tattered Cover, as Adams provides enough backstory to satisfy a new reader. Each chapter starts with a quote and there are scattered references to real books throughout the story. (Nora owns a bookshop so she’s always recommending books that are appropriate to the customer.) There’s even a list of them at the end of the book, which I loved. While I was familiar with a lot of the books mentioned, there were some that were unknown to me, and I intend to check out some of them.

Thank you so much to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellery Adams' fantastic A Secret, Book, and Scone Society series is one of my favorite cozy mystery reads. And since autumn is approaching and thoughts of the upcoming holidays are impossible to ignore, I especially enjoyed the creative way Miracle Books' display window is painstakingly designed and executed by employee Sheldon and his boss, Nora, first for Halloween and later for the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas timeframe.

But, in The Tattered Cover, book #8 in the series, there is more afoot than holiday preparations. The store's first author reading and book signing is a big success, leading Nora to schedule yet another author, a medium whose memoir has just been published. Lara believes that a childhood lightning strike brought on her psychic talents and agrees to do a private seance for six paying customers after the reading. The weather is brutal, and when the power goes out during the seance, the author collapses and dies in front of those in attendance. She had been feeling under the weather, but was her demise from natural causes or something more dastardly?

Nora's detective beau's investigation reveals that there were several people at the bookstore that night--some of them local residents--who had an axe to grind with Lara. Her journal is found, and there are hopes it will help solve the mystery, but it seems it was written in some sort of code. Nora and her close friends put their heads together to decipher the journal, but their progress is slow, and another suspicious death occurs.

It is an interesting mystery, but what I particularly love about these books is the tight circle of supportive friends Nora has established--each with troubling secrets in her background, as Nora does. They have confided in each other and found a measure of redemption and relief in so doing. I also like the mature relationship between Nora and Detective McCabe, which continues to develop in this book. Among Nora's friends, there is also a pregnancy and a wedding to relish. I look forward to each new entry in this well-written series and am always ready to return to Miracle Springs.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series so much! Every time this group of friends get together, it makes me unreasonably happy and content. They see each other, flaws and all, past and all, and never judge. They take care of each other and many moments in this book had me tearing up (ESPECIALLY the end!!) This was such an interesting story because I love when you cannot tell if a fictional medium is going to be true or not and I love following the sleuth to piece everything together. Though this is the holiday season, there is a sinister air to this book and I was shocked by many of the reveals and twist. I love how it is a darker cozy; a happy place, but looking at some of the darker/sadder sides of humanity. But no matter the danger, it feels calming to see these friends help each other and the love that Nora has found, in addition to her perfect sounding shop.

Note: I LOVE this audiobook

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Tattered Cover (A Secret, Book and Scone Society Mystery #8)" by Ellery Adams starts just before Halloween through to Christmas. Nora's bookstore is hosting its first author visits. The first one is a cozy mystery author and the second is a self proclaimed psychic with her memoir. Unfortunately, the psychic doesn't make it through her Halloween visit.

Nora finds some coincidences a bit too coincidental. She starts doing her own digging into things with the help of the Secret, Book and Scone Society. They can only do so much since they're also trying to help plan a last minute wedding.

Things take an unexpected turn. I kind of had the culprit as a suspect. However, they weren't totally off the table as a suspect.

[Sarah Kruszka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love going back to Miracle Springs. Book eight might be my new favorite.

Nora and the Secret, Book and Scone Society ladies are back when a psychic comes to Miracle Springs on a book tour and is killed IN the beloved bookstore.

Of course the gang works to figure out who killed the psychic and why.

I loved to hate the villian in this one and Ellery did such good job faking the killer until they were revealed. I did not see it coming.

Sheldon truly is the real MVP in Miracle Springs and I adore every ounce of his sass and humor. All the characters continue to develop and you to to root for these badass women.

Thank you Ellery for another gem. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always look forward to a new book in this series, and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s the 8th book and they just keep getting better! The characters are like old friends and I love seeing how their personal lives keep growing. I wish I could own a bookstore like Miracle Books, but my small rural town can’t support one. Living in a renovated train car sounds good too, but not enough room for books! 📚🐉

[Sherrie Kubis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambivalent

I've waited for book 8 of A Secret, Book and Scone series with excitement, but I felt let down. I tore through the first 7 books through Kindle Unlimited, and was happy to.buy book 8. Sure, this series follows a formula, but it was always full of excitement, trepidation, suspense, as well as so much love. This story felt boring, old, and worn out. Nothing engaging or new about the characters. We already know their stories. So there's that. It was also hard to get past the formatting errors on Kindle. Really? Unprofessional and distracting. Where are the editors?

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although she's not sure why Miracle Springs bookstore owner Nora Pennington has never done any author presentations at Miracle Books. So when the cosy crime author she invites for her very first event is more successful than she'd dared hope, she begins looking forward to the next one featuring a popular local medium who has written their memoirs. Unfortunately, by the end of the evening, one of her guests is dead, and Nora has a very strong suspicion they were murdered. Determined to ensure the victim receives justice, she begins looking at everyone present on the fateful night, including the victim, hoping to help make her partner and local sheriff, Grant McCabe's job a little easier. Their killer is growing desperate, however, and they both know that increases the danger for everyone involved.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I absolutely loved this. It's definitely one of my favourite reads this year so far. The storyline was enthralling from the start, with Nora and McCabe, Hester, June, Estella, and Sheldon (who's my favourite), all in fine form. Their personal everyday lives mixed with the investigation brilliantly, and I loved every single word. This a book you'll read late into the night and then again the very next morning. Highly recommended, as is the whole series. Easiest 5* rating in a long while.

[Pamela Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love revisiting Miracle Springs—home to Miracle Books and the warmhearted Secret, Book, and Scone Society. Set during Halloween, this installment adds an extra touch of magic for fellow holiday enthusiasts, weaving in clever twists and turns you won’t want to miss.

[Hope Griffin Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Ellery Adams
Pages: 324
Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Scoville Spice Scale: 🫑

This is my second Ellery Adams book and I'm hooked! I absolutely love her writing style. Every chapter starts with a literary quote setting the tone for that chapter. In the back of the back is a bibliography with every book mentioned in the book. I was surprised there weren't recipes (wink). Ellery's writing is beautifully descriptive, so well researched. Being a native North Carolina resident, I could picture the mountains she described and trails (well, not the exact ones because Miracle Springs exist on paper only!).

"Nora had given Miracle Books her all, and in return it had given her a community that reached far beyond the town limits."

The Tatter Cover* sees the usual cast and characters of Miracle Springs and The Secret, Book, and Scone Society off into the realm of the paranormal. Nora hosts two author events - a first for Miracle Books. But the second one most definitely does not go as planned. For the second event, hosting a Medium on Halloween, goes awry when the power goes out and the Medium, Lara Luz, is killed. It’s a whodunnit at it's best! Now suspects must be rounded up. But Sheriff McCabe, Nora's partner in love, disagrees strongly with Nora's suspicion of who did this. On top of the mystery, there are other events intertwined into the story including a wedding reception!

I adored this book. It reads quickly. If you are a speedier reader than me, you could read this in one sitting. You won't want to put this down. I love the camaraderie between Nora and her friends including the effervescent Sheldon. The love and care they give each other in friendship warms my heart. Read this book if you love:

🫢 Murder Mysteries
🔮 Paranorm
🫂 Strong Friendships
🥣☕️ Food & Beverage descriptions!
🎱 Suspense
🚓 Harrowing Rescues

Thank you to Ellery Adams, Net Galley, and Kensington Publishing for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

#elleryadams #thetatteredcover #mysterybooks #spookybooks #thesecretbookandsconesociety


*not the bookstore in Colorado

[Lisa Leone-campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Adams' new book, The Tattered Cover, the next in her series The Secret, Book and Scone Society, death and murder will find Nora's Miracle Springs bookshop, Miracle Books. But along with solving a murder, uncovering hidden secrets and placing terrific book recommendations into the story, there will also be a great deal of joy as in this story we also have a wedding and a birth!

It's Fall and Halloween is literally right around the corner. So, Nora has decided to add book signings to her repertoire of trying to get more customers. The first went very well and now for Halloween she has a medium coming to not only sign her new book, but for some lucky patrons who pay extra, an actual reading!

But unfortunately, a tragedy occurs while medium Lara Luz is giving a reading. During a storm the lights in the shop go out and when they come back on Lara is clutching her chest and dies! Not only that but Nora is knocked down and ends up hospitalized.

Nora's instinct tells her this was no ordinary heart attack and she, her boyfriend the Sherriff and her Book and Scone Society friends begin to delve into the past life of medium Lara Luz. Along the way, they discover a tattered handwritten ledger with symbols and notes which make absolutely no sense.

The list of suspects includes their own pharmacist whose wife had recently died, and Lara's assistant Enzo who travels with her as her companion. There just seems to be no link between Miracle Springs and Lara Luz.

At the same time, the women are preparing for not only a special delivery, but also a wedding! Except that one of them is in the wrong place at the wrong time. And by wrong time, time is running out for one of them. They need to solve this murder and fast because they may lose one of their own!

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ElleryAdams #TheTatteredCover for the advanced copy.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mystery draws you in, but the characters will keep you coming back. The main characters are a group of mismatched women who come together due to their love of books and bonded over their unique personalities and flaws. Each woman is uniquely relatable as each has unique flaws and personalities while ultimately being good quality people. You absolutely need to read each book in the series in order as each book builds the backstory of the characters and to get the full enjoyment of each book. While Nora is the obvious main character, her group of friends make up a circle of amateur sleuths and sisterhood. I love that this series also doesn't make the police force look bad, just that the amateur's have more ears and eyes available to find clues the police don't always have time and manpower to find. Each book typically has multiple storylines that eventually converge to make one very well written story. This book is a wonderful example of that as each person who might be guilty of murder also has a unique backstory and the victim also has a rich backstory that brings a wider field of suspects. I'll admit that this author has quickly become a favorite of mine as they have multiple series that have brought me hours of enjoyment, but this series is the one nearest and dearest to my heart as the character development allows for a richer reading experience. I'd love to find my own book circle of friends that I could meet with regularly that would be as close as these women! Make no mistake the plot is every bit as good as the characters' unique stories! Lots of twists, turns and red herrings to keep you engaged and turning pages far past your allotted time limits so make sure you have ample time to disappear into this book! My only complaint is now I have to go back to waiting for the author to create another story to entice and thrill me with!

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is my top favorite cozy mystery series. The friendship, the books, and the food. It evokes the vision of an idyllic world minus the murder. What’s a little murder thrown in?

The book opens in Halloween season and to celebrate Nora holds an author event on Halloween with a world renowned psychic. Unfortunately, the psychic didn’t foresee her own demise.

As the seasons change, Nora and friends try to solve the case but not without hurt feelings and plenty of stress.

All of us EA fans know she can throw us for a loop. There is one part of the story that I was reading while walking on the treadmill and I found myself almost running (and this girl does NOT run). I had to stop reading because I needed seclusion in case I was going to cry. (I still haven’t got over a certain character’s death in another one of her series.)

What section had me running and gasping for air do you ask? I’m not telling. Get your copy of The Tattered Cover from your favorite book dealer on October 28,2025 to find out. Even better, preorder NOW.

Happy Readingween friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. The above is my own words. I was not paid nor was it required for me to leave a positive review.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tattered Cover

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ As the residents of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, select their costumes, plan parties, and get excited for a night of tricks or treats, Nora joins in on the festivities by hosting medium memoirist Lara Luz at the bookstore. Charismatic and compelling, Lara mesmerizes the audience with her life story. Struck by a bolt of lightning as a child, she was pronounced dead only to be resurrected with the ability to connect with those on the other side.”

O my goodness!! I just love this series! Every book is better than the last. The mystery in this one was so well written and all over the place in a good way where you can’t figure out who did it. I am loving all the story lines for the bigger picture over all the books, so good. I want to live in Miracle Springs so bad. I would highly recommend this series, this book and really anything by this author, you will not be disappointed!
Out October 28th.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I jumped in mid series and was so happy to see this one works as a standalone! I loved this little town and Nora’s bookstore. Meeting her friends was such a treat. Nora has an amazing group of friends. The scene with Lara at the bookstore legit gave me some creepy vibes. It gave the right mood and I was hooked! The characters were fantastic, and I had so much fun trying to figure out the murder mystery. Definitely can’t wait to start the series from the beginning.

I listened to the audiobook, and Cris Dukehart is amazing. She brings every character to life, and I could easily tell them apart. I love her voice!

If you’re in the mood for some cozy Halloween vibes with a mystery twist, be sure to check this one out.

A very special thanks to Kensington + Netgalley for the gifted copy, and Tantor Audio for the gifted ALC.