Poisoned Prose (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

This is really a unique series. Such interesting well developed characters, fast paced action, suspense, and history of Appalachian Story Tellers. This particular book in the series tackles the subject of personal changes in life. The good, the prayed for, the bad and the ones not asked for. Love that her characters are very human and working on growth. Some painful parts of past relationships and how they have haunted the present. The Story Tellers captured my attention immediately. The passing down of family history and culture by spoken word. Beautiful setting by the sea. Tourist attraction town. Characters that worked on the sea all of their lives.
Fascinating murder mystery to be solved. Friends that have become family and the most adorable dog. Cancel your plans, and get set to spend the rest of your day trying to find out who would kill the star of the show. Enjoy.

Ellery Adams creates wonderful characters and is a masterful storyteller, much like the victim in the story behind Poisoned Prose. The search for the killer in this book is actually only part of the continuing story of the relationships of the Bayside Book writers group and other community members. And the death of the storyteller is itself a result of relationships turned ugly by past events. Everyone is affected by the past as well as the present, and how each reacts moves the plot forward. The author is to be credited with an amazing job of slowing revealing the intricate threads of relationships of all kinds, both old and new, and between family, friends, and lovers.

This may appear to be a simple cozy mystery but it goes beyond to looking more deeply into the actions that result from love both given and denied. Ellery Adams is as mesmerizing in telling this story as the character she has created, a storyteller named Violetta. As Violetta tells Olivia in this book, to be a great storyteller, you need to create a character that is personal, that shares the author's loves. Given the power behind this story, Ms. Adams has followed that advice.

This is one of my favorite series. The characters are well developed with interesting back stories which are coming out in each book. Caution: Read them in order!

Ellery Adams brings her talent and style to this story. This is the 5th book in the Books by the Bay series and if you are not reading this series you should be. Start with A Killer Plot and you will get hooked. Olivia Limoges and her friends go to a storytelling and there meet a very mysterious woman. And thus starts the turn of events that makes this a great read. We meet up with all the regulars and meet seem interesting people. Olivia along with Haviland her poodle face some changes and a loss in Oyster Bay. All this leads to a great ending that has me anxious for book number 6.

I love the Books by the Bay Mystery series. The main character is very nontraditional. In the beginning, I was sure I liked her because she appeared closed off even to readers but you soon realize she is one of the most wonderfully complicated characters in your library. I also love an eclectic mix of characters and this writers group definitely has that! The premise to each book is the same – The characters solve a mystery or mysteries while deadline with their own personal challenges. However, the characters are so unique that it really makes the series stand apart. Also, every book incorporates a bit a of local history into the novel which, as a history major, I really appreciate. I do recommend reading the books in order – it really helps from a character development perspective.

The book follows the recipe of all her other books, nothing new. It seems to be a recipe that has very few new ingredients, which to some readers can be what they are looking for, for other readers, it becomes redundant. I will not buy any more from this author.

I plan to be a regular visitor now to Oyster Bay after reading my first book in the series. Any book addict will love this mystery. There's a writer's group for starters and a famous storyteller who weaves clues in her words to a hidden family treasure. When she is found murdered after a performance in Oyster Bay, socialite Olivia Limoges and her boyfriend Cheif Rawlings (both members of the Bayside Book Writer's) try to find the treasure and solve the murder before it's their last curtain call too. A fun whodunit with interesting characters. I had some of the mystery solved but not all of it - I was surprised by a decision Olivia made at the end with one of the suspects. Highly recommended and I plan to read some of the earlier books too.

Ellery Adams continues her Books By the Bay series, with Poisoned Prose, the fifth installment. Adams centers her stories around a group of writers, detailing their struggles and successes as they try to sell their work. Readers who love a good mystery will certainly find it here, as a storytelling retreat provides the backdrop for murder. Adams shows the ups and downs of the writing process as well as the those of the small town of Oyster Bay. With a charming setting and characters that readers enjoy coming back to again and again, this is perhaps the best book in the series to date!

This is just one of the series' that you need to read altogether to get the full affect. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but I think readers really miss out on a lot of the back stories and nuances that make this series so good when they read them out of sequence. The Bayside Writers group is a set of characters that have shared a great deal of history throughout the previous books in the series. They have been through thick and thin as well as murder and in the latest installment, Poisoned Prose, a lot of life altering decisions are being made, some good, some bad. But none of that has as much significance without taking this series as a whole.

Poisoned Prose centers around a storytelling retreat which brings several of the countries greatest storytellers together in Oyster Bay. I loved this whole idea. Since my girls were in grade school, all of the students have taken part in the local storytelling festival and it has become a wonderful tradition here in our community. It's something we look forward to every year and I got that nostalgic feeling when reading about the retreat in this book. I liked the fact that Violetta was such a remarkable character. An Appalachian storyteller who is passing down the stories told by her father and grandfather. I would loved for her to somehow survive, so we could have learned more about her, but Adams knows what she's doing. The story was realistic and very interesting.

The mystery of the missing treasure and the story of Violetta's life made for a very intriguing mystery. The suspects were not all, who I thought they would be and I liked the fact that the victim had ties to residents of Oyster Bay as well. It provided connection and a reason for Olivia and the Bayside writers to be so involved in the case. I liked how each member of the writers group contributed their own part in the investigation. It goes to show that this series is not just focused on Olivia as a main character, each writer has a part and that's what makes this such a good series. The motive was pretty plain after a while and I had it narrowed down between two suspects, but couldn't pick until the killer was revealed. A great mystery in this one, I think it's the best of the series so far.

I liked the fact that Adams was easily able to balance the book between the mystery aspects and the relationships between the members of the writing group and the rest of the inhabitants of the town. There are so many things going on in the personal lives of these characters. I liked the fact that Olivia is finally open to the idea that perhaps she isn't meant to live her life alone. I liked the development of the relationship between her and Rawlings and I think that means a new direction for the series, as well as, other defining moments with other characters. There were a few times when tears about got me with this one. But sometimes things have to change in order to keep a series current and refreshing.

Overall this was an excellent book. From the mystery to the personal stories, it has depth and is very believable. Adams was able to solve the crime, and keep readers invested. I loved all of the tips of the writing trade that are always imparted in these books and I think I'm going to have to start a critique group of my own. Adams makes writing seem like what it is... hard but worth it. I think that's the best part of the series.

Ellery Adams weaves a tale with an intriguing plot that keeps you turning those pages. She pulls you in right from the start and you have a hard time letting go of the story to do anything else. I love the characters and look forward to visiting with them in each Books By the Bay Mystery Series. Ellery Adams does not disappoint – I was compelled to continue reading well into the wee hours because I needed to find out what happened next. I also enjoyed reading the author quotes at the beginning of each chapter. So if you like your mystery with a literary feel, then you should be reading Poisoned Prose.

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Again, I got 2 of these and I ordered 1. Why does this keep happening? If I order again I will double check to make sure the error is not on my end.