The Root of All Evil

Hope Street Church Mysteries #4

by Ellery Adams, Elizabeth Lockard

A brand-new book in the terrific Hope Street Church mystery series, by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams and Elizabeth Lockard!

Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.

Cooper Lee has never been happier. She has terrific friends at Bible study, a great boyfriend in Nathan, and best of all, a new niece or nephew on the way. But storm clouds are gathering when a string of church robberies comes to Hope Street and an art teacher is found dead in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. With Halloween approaching, Cooper’s beginning to think there are far more tricks than treats coming her way.

No sooner do she and her friends step in to help the police unearth a killer than they discover a con artist among their flock. Lost in a morass of confusing clues—and even more confusing signals from Nathan—Cooper’s not sure which way to turn. With the stakes so high, she sends up a prayer for some divine guidance, because Cooper knows that sometimes it takes the help of a higher power to bring down the lowest form of evildoer.

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!


About the Authors

New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs, including that of caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children's books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.

Elizabeth Lockard has been writing fiction since childhood, and following a writing and editing career in the communications field, she turned her full attention to her oldest love and decided to make a career of it. Her favorite authors are Elizabeth Peters and Krista Davis, but she enjoys most books with mystery and/or thriller elements. She lives in Phoenix with her husband, son, and two dogs.

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

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2014

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

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was curious as to why the author decided to continue this series. I would have rather had a new entry in the Supper Club mysteries than one about a Bible Study group. I probably should not continue to read this series because I don't know if I will have anything positive to say about it.

Cooper Lee has to be one of the most boring young women in all of the cozy mystery genre. She is completely unrealistic (like Hannah Swenson but Hannah has a lot more charm than Cooper). Cooper spends a lot of her time in this book hemming and hawing about what to do about Nathan and what to do about the employee thefts at work. She seems to lack the ability to make up her mind. You sort of want to shake her and say, get on with it and move on.

The ending of this one was pretty unsatisfying. The physical killer is found but not the real killer. I suppose this sets the series up for more books.

I just don't think Christian-laced cozies are my thing. Adams' other series are much better written and have much better characters. This one is completely lackluster.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only problem with this series is Cooper's constant straying eye. Does she love Nathan or is the new guy more interesting? I mean, I guess this could be a real life struggle, but she is such a constant in other areas of her life. Not enough to turn me from the series, but some consistency with Cooper's loyalty would be great.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great installment in the Hope Street Church Mysteries! Fantastic plotting that his interlaced with the personal developments in Cooper and her friends lives. When murder strikes way too close for comfort the bible club springs into action to root the evil out of their midst. While this is a Christian cozy, it is so well plotted and written that if it isn't your typical genre choice it is worth it to read/listen to the book for the mysteries being untangled. The entire series has so far also been on audiobook so that is an added plus.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am continuously amazed at the author's ability to write such moving stories. Although murder isn't very commonplace for the majority of folks (thank God!), each of the characters and happenings are so real! Life hardships and inner conflict. Relationship struggles and happy endings. This series has it all. Draws me in more and more!

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best one so far in the series for me! I really enjoyed the mystery and the subplots. I could do without the relationship drama for Coop, but otherwise this was a great read.

[Krista Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so emotional. Yes I say that a lot. Cooper not only has to figure out her feelings when it comes to a specific person but also wants to help solve who was behind Sylvia’s murder. The twists just keep on coming. Plus walking her through some family situations. Wow!! This series just keeps getting better!

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you get rid of your heroine’s indecision regarding her boyfriend’s romantic rival? Make him a murderer!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Hope Street Church series. I have only read the first one so I missed out on some developments along the way, but this book could still be enjoyed without having read the rest. This is a Christian cozy mystery series and I am really enjoying it.

Cooper and her friends from Hope Street Church Bible study group get involved again in another delightful cozy mystery to solve with lots of turns and twists that will keep you guessing. There are a few mysteries going on in the story that involve thefts and the big one that involves a couple of murders. Of course there is also Cooper's life with her job, friends, family and love interest that add another dimension to the story.

Cooper has received a promotion at work that causes her to become involved in trying to find out who is stealing from the company. She is also dealing with her feelings regarding her boyfriend Nathan. She wants the relationship to become more serious and he seems quite happy with it the way it is. Her little sister Ashley is pregnant, but it is a risky pregnancy and she is on complete bed rest which she hates. Cooper helps her to overcome her boredom and angry feelings in a couple of situations and it helps her to get her mind off of some of her issues.

The big mystery starts off with church robberies and escalates when a teacher from the Hope Street Christian Academy is killed in the Pastor's office. The Bible study group helps the pastor cope with the situation as well as doing some investigating on their own. A new police officer begins flirting with Cooper and she starts to question her feelings towards both Nathan and "Will". When there is another murder and someone breaks into her parent's home, Cooper becomes frightened and begs Nathan to meet her at the hospital where her sister is in labour and in danger.

She does not know which way to turn. She knows that she needs help from God to help her to solve this mystery. With everything in chaos can she and her friends catch the killer as well as catch the thief? This is an engaging and fun cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend this book. Also, included are some delightful recipes from Magnolia’s (her mother Maggie) Kitchen.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Cooper Lee has never been happier. She has terrific friends at Bible study, a great boyfriend in Nathan, and best of all, a new niece or nephew on the way. But storm clouds are gathering when a string of church robberies comes to Hope Street and an art teacher is found dead in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. With Halloween approaching, Cooper’s beginning to think there are far more tricks than treats coming her way.
No sooner do she and her friends step in to help the police unearth a killer than they discover a con artist among their flock. Lost in a morass of confusing clues—and even more confusing signals from Nathan—Cooper’s not sure which way to turn. With the stakes so high, she sends up a prayer for some divine guidance, because Cooper knows that sometimes it takes the help of a higher power to bring down the lowest form of evildoer.
Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!

I have read a number of Ellery Adams' mystery novels and have always enjoyed them (Books by the Bay and Book Retreat series in particular) but I really found this one hard to take.

The writing style itself is easy to read and at no point during the twin plots did I feel like it was overdone or overwhelming - the writing keeps the pages going. The mysteries themselves were a bit light on but served a good enough purpose.

However, it felt a little "Scooby Gang" in its approach to the Bible Study Group. Also, Cooper was just so hard to like as she is constantly "umming" and "ahhing" about Nathan and also about the thefts that have been happening. Get on with it, girl! We know the plot, stop telling us!

Not as satisfying a story (or mystery) as other series Ellery has written.


Paul
ARH

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

This is a new Hope Street Church Mystery book. It makes a good cozy mystery, I guessed who the thief at Cooper's work early on.
The other mystery of who the killer was blind sided me. I wish there was more of Nathan's character. I don't think I would be so welcoming a thief into my house. They were good examples. There is less scriptures to me in this book but does have some of the Bible discussion.

Cooper Lee is the central figure in the Hope Street Church Mysteries. Cooper is single living over her parents garage. She works at a copy machine repair shop. She is up for promotion. She dates Nathan for a year now. She is part of bible class at Hope street Church.

Cooper as a thief at work. She meets a teacher at parents conference where they have volunteered to help at refreshments. The teacher gets killed. Also there is a thief who is robbing churches. Plenty of good drama with family, church and work life with Cooper.

Cooper and her bible study group jump in trying to find out who killed the teacher. Her boss wants her help to find the thief at work. Edward is the one to find out who the thief robbing the churches is.

I have enjoyed reading all 4 books in the Hope Street Church series the last few days. They are clean easy to follow mysteries. They are clean reads. I would not mind if their be more to the series.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Beyond the Page. In return I agreed to give a honest review of The Root of all Evil.

[Sue Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Hope Street Chruch Series and I hope it’s not the last.
It’s the stories of a Bible Study Group who also solve murders.
In this one, the group stumble onto a murder victim in the pastor’s office. Why was she there? There are also robberies at the different churches. Could the robber be the murderer as well or was the murder victim the robber? In this book, Cooper also has a romantic problem. She has met a new man, a cop who she is attracted to. Will her attraction for him result in losing Nathan, the love of her life or will love win out?

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best in the series. The murderer was obvious and this is the second book where Cooper was attracted to someone else. Nathan should have dumped her.

[Annalee Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate Christian books. They're all so fake, overly idealistic, even condemning to those who don't live their impossible (because it's fiction after all) standard.

This is not a Christian book. It's just part of the lives of the cast of characters who are all very human, but include church in their lives like the characters in other cozy mysteries revolve around bakeries, yarn shops or their cats. To me the characters' Christianity looks a lot like real life Christians, or at least the ones in my life and I identify with that part of the story wholly. A lot of what Cooper was thinking about outside the mystery speaks to my being and I appreciate that about the story.

Now, about the rest of the story and the mystery, Cooper is darn lucky to have Nathan and I think he should have left her in the dust.

It was a good mystery, the solution was not obvious and left a lot to be solved in the next book

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this installment of the Hope Street Mystery series, Cooper Lee is trying to help figure out who killed a teacher from the Hope Street Academy in the pastor's office. She and the other members of the Bible Study are also have the issue of someone robbing local churches on their minds. There are a variety of subplots in this one, including whether or not Nathan wants to move forward in their relationship, how to help her sister through her last days of a pregnancy, a thief at her workplace, and what to do about the thief once Cooper learns her identity. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment, although I still think that continuing to round out Nathan's character would be a good step in creating a fuller narrative. The ending offered only a partial resolution and so there might be some continuation into the next installment.

[FangirlNation · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Root of All Evil, the fourth book in Ellery Adams' Hope Street Church Mystery series, the Bible study group serves treats at the church school's parent night. There, Cooper Lee meets Sylvia, the school's art teacher and bonds with her. Thus, Cooper and the rest of her Bible study group are horrified to learn of the discovery of Sylvia's stabbed body in the pastor's office early one morning. Since several local churches have experienced a series of break-ins, the police assume that Sylvia disturbed the thief in action and was killed to avoid discovery.

Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper and friends investigate the murder of a beloved art teacher at the Hope Street School, found in the Pastor's office. There are two new people in the Bible class, Edward, and Miss Donna, an elderly woman who is new in town. Several churches have been robbed, and Edward is sure Miss Donna is not who she seems. However, in the process of investigating the murder, Cooper finds Miss Donna may be in danger and invites her to stay in her home. Cooper's sister is finally pregnant, and is spending her time on bed rest to try to keep the baby. A new policeman is very interested in Cooper, and there appears to be someone stealing at Make it Work as well as in the churches in town.

I am really enjoying this series!

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book on July 3 while I was taking my kids to and from work and driving to and from grocery stores, so this is where I ended up slowed down.

Cooper’s sister is on severe bed rest with a nurse. She is almost at the end of the time and super emotional and whiny and angry. All the emotions that women are known for during pregnancy. While this is happening a conwoman becomes involved with the Bible Group and a murder happened in the church offices. Also, thefts are happening at her job and since they have grown and the new employees are not as well known to them they are first suspects. Cooper works to find the truth in all the things that are happening.

I have been enjoying these rewrites, but I haven’t read the originals.

[Carrie DelaPena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was OK. I was tired of Cooper Lee's 2nd story in a row in which she's tired of Nathan's stability and falls for the guy who aggressively flirts with her. Give me a break! She's an adult woman whose last relationship fell apart when her (boyfriend? fiance? husband?) left her for another woman. They had been living together for five years, so her jumble of emotions seems unbelievably naive to me. She knows all about sex and long-term relationships, but apparently, put her in front of any man and she loses a decade of maturity. The only reason this book gets two stars (instead of one) is thanks to Ms. Donna. The elderly con artist cracked me up.

[Marguerite Corbett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to like these books, but it's hard. There is negative chemistry between the main character and her "love" interest. I would rather her have no romance in the stories at all rather than this sad attempt. The main mystery was not hard to figure out, no plot twists at all. The side mystery at work was even less of a head scratcher. I had extra borrows left at the end of last month, so I already have the next 2 in the series in my library queue, so I'll probably listen to them. Hopefully I enjoy them more.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twists and Turns

If you want an excellent murder couched in an almost nonexistent romance, this is the read for you! There was plenty of action, a few new very likable characters, and it was really a fun read, but the Cooper who is stuck in her own head, debating men in her life is not my favorite Cooper. Sadly, the first 3/4 of this book was built a little bit around that. I forgive it, though, because everything came out right in the end, and it was truly a fantastic mystery!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the root of all evil - money of course and in this case - yes it was. Cooper and her pals are helping solve yet another murder and at the same time Cooper's sister is on total bed rest and becoming a little cranky - did I say a little cranky, make that real cranky! And to add another layer of stress Cooper and her long time boyfriend are having problems. And if that's not enough there is a stranger and one other twist I won't reveal that are stirring the pot too.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this is an easy read on my Nook, I still enjoyed it. The main character has a supportive family and her Hope Street Church family and both get involved in the murder and robbery cases. The religion aspect is fine with me, because it fits the main character's life and it represents another cozy genre.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one in this series. I really enjoyed this one and all the plot twists. Love the characters and finally we are getting somewhere with Coop and Nathan. Now onto the last one for now...cant wait for the next..

[Kat Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooper’s love life is always in question it seems…. The baby decides it wants attention from mom and dad, not to mention the entire rest of the family as the Hope Street Prayer group continues to try to improve the community while aiding the police find a murderer. 😍

[Shannon White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the author. Like the book. Other series are stronger.

[Sus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this author and have enjoyed many of the books, even the early ones in this series, but these are getting a bit too preachy for me

[Kayla Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series. Finding this series was a pleasant surprise since I did not know it existed until researching this author on GoodReads.

[Carolyn Manlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery. Clear investigation

[djeterg19 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Tami · Rating 2 out of 5]

Main character is a very immature, unworldly jump to conclusions 20 something. Not hard to figure out who did it early on. Not even a good beach read.