Murder in the Paperback Parlor

P
RAISE
FOR
THE
B
OOK
R
ETREAT
M
YSTERIES

M
URDER
IN
THE
M
YSTERY
S
UITE

“[A] very original debut mystery by an experienced author . . . [A] suspenseful and compelling read.”

—
Kings River Life Magazine

“[A] clever plot, a likable and intrepid heroine, and a strong sense of place.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Adams makes Storyton Hall come to life . . . Readers will relish the way Ellery Adams weaves together books, mystery, and fantasy.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“Book lovers are going to come for a visit and never want to leave . . . One fabulous story.”

—
Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book

“Adams has a new hit series on her hands . . . If you love cozy mysteries and books, this is the perfect series for you.”

—
Girl Lost in a Book

“Adams has skillfully crafted a fantastical world for bibliophiles, as well as a puzzling cozy mystery . . . [A] fabulous start to a new series.”

—
Book of Secrets

P
RAISE
FOR
THE
B
OOKS
BY
THE
B
AY
M
YSTERIES

“Not only a great read, but a visceral experience. Olivia Limoges's investigation into a friend's murder will have you hearing the waves crash on the North Carolina shore. You might even feel the ocean winds stinging your cheeks. Visit Oyster Bay and you'll long to return again and again.”

—Lorna Barrett,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Booktown Mysteries

“Adams's plot is indeed killer, her writing would make her the star of any support group, and her characters . . . are a diverse, intelligent bunch.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

“I could actually feel the wind on my face, taste the salt of the ocean on my lips, and hear the waves crash upon the beach.
The Last Word
made me laugh, made me think, made me smile, and made me cry.
The Last Word—
in one word—AMAZING!”

—
The Best Reviews

“A very well-written mystery with interesting and surprising characters and a great setting. Readers will feel as if they are in Oyster Bay.”

—
The Mystery Reader

“This series is one I hope to follow for a long time, full of fast-paced mysteries, budding romances, and good friends. An excellent combination!”

—
The Romance Readers Connection

P
RAISE
FOR
THE
C
HARMED
P
IE
S
HOPPE
M
YSTERIES

“[A] delicious, delightful, and deadly new series . . . Enchanting characters in a small-town setting . . . Will leave readers longing for seconds.”

—Jenn McKinlay,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Library Lover's Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries

“Enchanting! . . . Ellery Adams brings the South to life with the LeFaye women of Havenwood. This new series is as sweet and tangy as a warm Georgia peach pie.”

—Krista Davis,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries

“[A] savory blend of suspense, pies, and engaging characters. Foodie mystery fans will enjoy this.”

—
Booklist

“A little play on Jane Austen with a nod to Arthurian legend gets this new series from veteran author Adams . . . off to an enchanted start. A sensory delight for those who like a little magic with their culinary cozies.”

—
Library Journal

“An original, intriguing story line that celebrates women, family, friendship, and loyalty within an enchanted world, with a hint of romance, an engaging cast of characters, and the promise of a continued saga of magical good confronting evil.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“Adams permeates this unusual novel—and Ella Mae's pies—with a generous helping of appeal.”

—
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Ellery Adams

Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries

PIES AND PREJUDICE

PEACH PIES AND ALIBIS

PECAN PIES AND HOMICIDES

LEMON PIES AND LITTLE WHITE PIES

Books by the Bay Mysteries

A KILLER PLOT

A DEADLY CLICHÉ

THE LAST WORD

WRITTEN IN STONE

POISONED PROSE

LETHAL LETTERS

Book Retreat Mysteries

MURDER IN THE MYSTERY SUITE

MURDER IN THE PAPERBACK PARLOR

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

MURDER IN THE PAPERBACK PARLOR

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

Copyright © 2015 by Ellery Adams.

Excerpt from
Writing All Wrongs
by Ellery Adams copyright © 2015 by Ellery Adams.

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME design are trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

For more information, visit penguin.com.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-61292-7

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / August 2015

Cover illustration by Shane Rebenshied.

Cover design by Diana Kolsky.

Interior map: © 2015 CW Designs by Carol Wilmot Sullivan. All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

For my friends Maggie Tuckley and Beth Buckbee:

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”—A.A. Milne,
Winnie-the-Pooh

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!

—
JANE AUSTEN

O
UR
STAFF
IS
HERE
TO
SERVE
YOU

Resort Manager—Jane Steward

Butler—Mr. Butterworth

Head Librarian—Mr. Sinclair

Head Chauffeur—Mr. Sterling

Head of Recreation—Mr. Lachlan

Head of Housekeeping—Mrs. Pimpernel

Head Chef—Mrs. Hubbard

S
ELECT
M
ERCHANTS
OF
S
TORYTON
V
ILLAGE

Run for Cover Bookshop—Eloise Alcott

Daily Bread Café—Edwin Alcott

Cheshire Cat Pub—Bob and Betty Carmichael

The Canvas Creamery—Phoebe Doyle

La Grande Dame Clothing Boutique—Mabel Wimberly

Tresses Hair Salon—Violet Osborne

The Pickled Pig Market—the Hogg brothers

Geppetto's Toy Shop—Barnaby Nicholas

The Potter's Shed—Tom Green