Ellery Adams Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Ellery Adams

For readers new to Ellery Adams, deciding where to start depends heavily on your thematic interests. However, the most widely recommended starting point is her signature series, The Secret, Book & Scone Society. Set in the comforting spa town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, it follows bookstore owner Nora Pennington, a 'bibliotherapist' who prescribes books to heal emotional wounds. The series perfectly showcases Adams' ability to weave strong female friendships, atmospheric settings, and emotional depth into clean whodunits. To begin here, start with the first novel, The Secret, Book and Scone Society (2017).

If you prefer a lighter, classic British manor-house atmosphere blended with literary references, The Book Retreat Mysteries is another highly praised entry point. Set at the historic Storyton Hall in Virginia, it follows resort manager Jane Steward as she safeguards a vast collection of rare books and solves crimes. You should begin this series with Murder in the Mystery Suite (2014).

For fans of traditional seaside cozy mysteries featuring close-knit communities, The Books by the Bay Mysteries is a classic. Set in Oyster Bay, North Carolina, it centers on restaurant owner Olivia Limoges, her poodle Captain Haviland, and a local writers' group. Start this run with A Killer Plot (2010).

Ellery Adams' Complete Series Guide

Ellery Adams has penned several distinct series under her primary name and multiple pseudonyms (including J.B. Stanley and Lucy Arlington). Below is the recommended reading order for each of her major series, which are best read in publication order to trace character development and overarching subplots.

1. The Secret, Book & Scone Society

This series centers on Nora Pennington and her group of friends in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, who run a bibliotherapy bookstore and a bakery, solving mysteries while helping each other heal from past trauma.

1. The Secret, Book and Scone Society (2017)
2. The Whispered Word (2018)
3. The Book of Candlelight (2020)
4. Ink and Shadows (2021)
5. The Vanishing Type (2022)
6. Paper Cuts (2023)
7. The Little Lost Library (2024)

2. The Book Retreat Mysteries

Set at Storyton Hall in Virginia, this series follows resort guardian Jane Steward as she hosts literary-themed retreats and keeps the peace among bibliophiles.

1. Murder in the Mystery Suite (2014)
2. Murder in the Paperback Parlor (2015)
3. Murder in the Secret Garden (2016)
4. Murder in the Locked Library (2018)
5. Murder in the Reading Room (2019)
6. Murder in the Storybook Cottage (2020)
7. Murder in the Cookbook Nook (2021)
8. Murder on the Poet's Walk (2022)
9. Murder in the Book Lover’s Loft (2023)

3. Books by the Bay Mysteries

Focusing on the Bayside Book Writers group in Oyster Bay, North Carolina, this series details the investigations of Olivia Limoges and her loyal poodle.

1. A Killer Plot (2010)
2. A Deadly Cliché (2011)
3. The Last Word (2011)
4. Written in Stone (2012)
5. Poisoned Prose (2013)
6. Lethal Letters (2014)
7. Writing All Wrongs (2015)
8. Killer Characters (2017)

4. Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries

This series blends cozy mystery with a touch of magical realism. Set in Havenwood, Georgia, it follows Ella Mae LaFleur, who infuses her baked pies with magical properties while uncovering local secrets.

1. Pies and Prejudice (2012)
2. Peach Pies and Alibis (2013)
3. Pecan Pies and Homicides (2014)
4. Lemon Pies and Little White Lies (2015)
5. Breach of Crust (2016)

5. Supper Club Mysteries (Originally J.B. Stanley)

Written under the J.B. Stanley pen name (and later updated to Ellery Adams), this comedic, food-oriented series follows English teacher James Henry and a group of dieters in Quincy's Gap, Virginia, who form a supper club that doubles as a sleuthing crew.

1. Carbs & Cadavers (2006)
2. Fit to Die (2007)
3. Chili Con Corpses (2008)
4. Stiffs and Swine (2008)
5. The Battered Body (2009)
6. Black Beans and Vice (2010)
7. Pasta Mortem (2019)

6. Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Originally J.B. Stanley)

Also written under her J.B. Stanley pseudonym, this series features Molly Appleby, a writer for Collector's Weekly, who travels across the American South uncovering murders tied to the antiques market.

1. A Killer Collection (2006)
2. A Fatal Appraisal (2006)
3. A Deadly Dealer (2011)
4. A Treacherous Trader (2015)
5. A Devious Lot (2016)
6. A Killer Keepsake (2017)
7. A Bidder End (2019)
8. A Fatal Fabergé (2020)
9. Mint Condition Murder (2021)

7. Hope Street Church Mysteries (Originally Jennifer Stanley)

Published under her real name and later reissued as Ellery Adams, this series stars Cooper Lee, an office worker in Richmond, Virginia, who finds purpose and mystery-solving partners in a welcoming Bible study group.

1. The Path of the Crooked (2009)
2. The Way of the Wicked (2010)
3. The Way of the Guilty (2010)
4. The Root of All Evil (2014)
5. Fate of the Fallen (2016)
6. The Deeds of the Deceitful (2020)
7. Methods of Malice (2023)
8. A Taste for Crime (2024)

8. Novel Idea Mysteries (Written as Lucy Arlington)

This series was written under the collaborative pseudonym Lucy Arlington. Ellery Adams co-authored books 1-3 with Sylvia May, and books 4-5 with Susan Furlong. The books follow Lila Wilkins, a middle-aged journalism intern in Inspiration Valley, North Carolina.

1. Buried in a Book (2012)
2. Every Trick in the Book (2013)
3. Books, Cooks, and Crooks (2013)
4. Played by the Book (2015)
5. Off the Books (2016)

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order & Crossover Caveats

Within each of Ellery Adams' individual series, chronological order matches publication order. Although the core mystery in each book is resolved by the final page—meaning books can technically be read out of sequence—the personal lives, romantic arcs, and emotional healing of the recurring characters progress chronologically. Reading them out of order will spoil major relationship milestones and character growth.

While her series are generally independent and do not share a single, central storyline, Adams has occasionally linked her literary universes. Most notably, Olivia Limoges and other characters from the Books by the Bay series make brief cameo appearances in The Book Retreat Mysteries. Because these cameos are designed as fun Easter eggs rather than critical plot points, readers do not need to finish Books by the Bay to understand or enjoy the happenings at Storyton Hall.