Ellery Adams Books in Order: The Complete Cozy Mystery Reading Guide
Ellery Adams has built her career around the kind of mysteries that are easy to settle into: charming towns, memorable amateur sleuths, food, friendships, bookstores, collectibles, and—of course—murders that absolutely should not be happening in such pleasant surroundings. She is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books often appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven cozy mysteries where the community and relationships matter almost as much as the puzzle itself.
One thing makes an Ellery Adams reading order slightly more complicated than it first appears: several of her books were written with co-authors or originally published under other names. The Hope Street Church Mysteries, for example, began under the name Jennifer Stanley, while the Supper Club Mysteries were written as J.B. Stanley and the Novel Idea Mysteries as Lucy Arlington. So this guide separates those books instead of mixing everything into one confusing list.
Ellery Adams Books by Series
If you’re new to Ellery Adams, don’t feel that you need to read every book she has ever written. Her series are designed to provide satisfying individual mysteries while allowing recurring characters and relationships to develop across the books.
Here are the major series and the order in which to read them.
Books by the Bay Mysteries
Books by the Bay is one of the best introductions to Ellery Adams’s writing.
The series takes place in the fictional coastal community of Oyster Bay, Virginia, and follows Olivia Limoges, a wealthy and somewhat unconventional woman who becomes involved in solving local crimes. Poetry, friendship, community politics, and murder all become part of the mix.
This is a particularly good series for readers who like a strong sense of place alongside their cozy mystery.
1. A Killer Plot (2010)
Olivia Limoges becomes involved in a murder investigation after a local crime disrupts the peaceful coastal community. It introduces the characters and setting that drive the rest of the series.
2. A Deadly Cliché (2011)
Another murder brings Olivia and her friends into a case involving literary clues and dangerous secrets.
3. The Last Word (2011)
Olivia’s love of poetry becomes unexpectedly useful when a murder investigation takes a literary turn.
4. Written in Stone (2012)
A mysterious death draws Olivia into a case involving old secrets and the history of Oyster Bay.
5. Poisoned Prose (2013)
A literary gathering turns deadly, leaving Olivia to work out which guest has a motive for murder.
6. Lethal Letters (2014)
Written correspondence becomes an important clue when another crime shakes the community.
7. Writing All Wrongs (2015)
Olivia’s world of poetry and writing collides with another murder investigation.
8. Killer Characters (2017)
The eighth and final Books by the Bay mystery brings another complicated case to Oyster Bay.
The official Ellery Adams bibliography lists all eight books in this sequence.
Why start with Books by the Bay?
If you enjoy traditional cozy mysteries, coastal settings, amateur sleuths, poetry, and recurring characters, this is an excellent starting point. It also gives you a good sense of Adams’s earlier cozy-mystery style.
A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery
If your ideal mystery involves pie, magic, romance, and murder, this is probably the Ellery Adams series for you.
The series follows Ella Mae LeFaye, a talented baker who discovers that she has an unusual ability connected to her food. The result is a cozy mystery series with a touch of magical realism rather than a completely conventional amateur-sleuth formula.
1. Pies and Prejudice (2012)
Ella Mae discovers that her special baking abilities may be more than just culinary talent while becoming involved in a murder investigation.
2. Peach Pies and Alibis (2013)
Ella Mae finds herself investigating another crime while her magical connection to food continues to complicate her life.
3. Pecan Pies and Homicides (2014)
A new murder puts Ella Mae’s baking world and investigative instincts to work once again.
4. Lemon Pies and Little White Lies (2015)
Ella Mae faces another mystery where secrets are as plentiful as the desserts coming out of her kitchen.
5. Breach of Crust (2016)
The series concludes with another murder, more magical baking, and the continuing development of Ella Mae’s personal life.
There are five novels in the Charmed Pie Shoppe series.
Who will enjoy this series?
Choose it if you like magical cozy mysteries, baking mysteries, small-town romance, quirky characters, and food-themed fiction.
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
For many modern cozy-mystery readers, this is probably the most natural Ellery Adams starting point.
The series follows Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Nora has a talent for recommending exactly the right book to people struggling with difficult situations. She eventually forms the Secret, Book & Scone Society with three women who each carry painful secrets of their own.
The series combines bookstores, bibliotherapy, female friendship, personal healing, small-town mysteries, and murder. The publisher describes the series as centering on Nora and her friends as they use their shared love of books, food, and friendship while becoming involved in local crimes.
1. The Secret, Book & Scone Society (2017)
Nora forms an unusual friendship with three women who each have their own secrets, but their new sisterhood is tested when a mysterious death occurs in Miracle Springs.
2. The Whispered Word (2018)
A vulnerable young woman appears inside Nora’s bookstore, and a suspicious death soon connects her story to a much larger mystery.
3. The Book of Candlelight (2020)
A flood uncovers a body, while an old diary may contain clues to a murder that reaches deep into the town’s past.
4. Ink and Shadows (2021)
A conflict over books, morality, and a controversial local business turns deadly when a suspicious death is initially dismissed as an accident.
5. The Vanishing Type (2022)
Nora discovers a disturbing connection between a rare book, a dead hiker, and a woman carrying a painful secret from her past.
6. Paper Cuts (2023)
A woman from Nora’s past returns to Miracle Books seeking forgiveness—but soon becomes the victim of a murder.
7. The Little Lost Library (2024)
Nora discovers a hidden world of books and secrets after an elderly woman’s death leads her to a mysterious private library.
8. The Tattered Cover (2025)
A Halloween gathering at Miracle Books turns deadly when a charismatic medium collapses during a storm, leaving Nora and her friends to investigate a suspicious death surrounded by secrets.
9. The Liars’ Book Club (2026)
The Liars’ Book Club is the upcoming ninth installment, scheduled for publication on October 27, 2026. In the story, a missing groom, a stolen illuminated manuscript, a devastating storm, and a body pulled from the river give Nora and the Secret, Book & Scone Society another mystery to solve.
Because today’s date is August 13, 2026, The Liars’ Book Club is not yet released; it is currently available for preorder.
Why this series stands out
This is the series I’d recommend to readers who love books about books.
It isn’t simply a cozy mystery with a bookstore attached. The books make reading, friendship, emotional recovery, and community part of the actual storytelling. That’s one reason the series has become such a recognizable part of Adams’s bibliography.
A Book Retreat Mystery
Imagine a luxury retreat where people can disappear from everyday life, surround themselves with books, eat wonderful food—and potentially get murdered.
That’s the basic appeal of the Book Retreat Mysteries.
The series centers on Nora Pennington? No—this is a completely separate series from the Secret, Book & Scone books, which is important because the similar bookish atmosphere can make the two easy to confuse.
The Book Retreat series follows Jane Steward, the owner of Storyton Hall, a retreat destination built around books and literature.
1. Murder in the Mystery Suite (2014)
A murder at Storyton Hall introduces Jane Steward and the extraordinary literary retreat at the center of the series.
2. Murder in the Paperback Parlor (2015)
Jane investigates another death while protecting the secrets and traditions of Storyton Hall.
3. Murder in the Secret Garden (2016)
A murder connected to the estate’s beautiful grounds creates another puzzle for Jane.
4. Murder in the Locked Library (2018)
A suspicious death inside a supposedly secure library brings Jane into another dangerous investigation.
5. Murder in the Reading Room (2019)
Jane faces another murder while the literary retreat continues to attract unusual guests.
6. Murder in the Storybook Cottage (2020)
A peaceful cottage becomes the setting for another deadly mystery.
7. Murder in the Cookbook Nook (2021)
Food, family, books, and murder come together in another Storyton Hall investigation.
8. Murder on the Poet’s Walk (2022)
A body discovered along Storyton Hall’s Poet’s Walk gives Jane another mystery to solve.
9. Murder in the Book Lover’s Loft (2023)
The ninth installment brings Jane and Storyton Hall another literary murder mystery.
There are currently nine books in the Book Retreat series.
A good choice for bibliophile mystery fans
If your ideal fictional place is a secretive literary estate filled with rare books, this series may actually be a better fit for you than the Secret, Book & Scone Society.
Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries
This series is perfect for readers who like their cozy mysteries with antiques, auctions, collectibles, and valuable objects.
The series follows Kate McKenzie, whose knowledge of antiques repeatedly places her in the middle of murder investigations.
1. A Killer Collection (2015)
A valuable collection becomes connected to murder, forcing Kate to put her antiques knowledge to work.
2. A Fatal Appraisal (2015)
An appraisal turns dangerous when someone is willing to kill to protect a secret surrounding a valuable object.
3. A Deadly Dealer (2015)
Kate investigates a murder involving the world of antique dealing.
4. A Treacherous Trader (2016)
The antiques business becomes the backdrop for another dangerous investigation.
5. A Devious Lot (2016)
An auction and a suspicious death bring Kate into another complicated case.
6. A Killer Keepsake (2017)
A seemingly valuable keepsake becomes a crucial piece of a murder mystery.
7. A Bidder End (2019)
Kate finds herself investigating another crime connected to the competitive world of auctions.
8. A Fatal Fabergé (2020)
A priceless Fabergé object becomes the center of a deadly mystery.
9. Mint Condition Murder (2021)
A collectible in seemingly perfect condition becomes connected to another murder investigation.
The official Ellery Adams bibliography lists these nine books under the Collectibles Mysteries.
Hope Street Church Mysteries
The Hope Street Church Mysteries are a little different because they have a complicated publishing history.
The first three books were originally published under the Jennifer Stanley name and were later reissued with revised titles and rewrites. The series was co-written with Tina Radcliffe.
For readers following the current Ellery Adams bibliography, the order is:
1. The Path of the Crooked (2009)
A church community becomes entangled in a mystery involving crime, secrets, and people whose lives aren’t as straightforward as they appear.
2. The Way of the Wicked (2010)
Another case brings the investigators into a complicated world of motives and hidden wrongdoing.
3. The Graves of the Guilty (2010)
The mystery surrounding the church community deepens as another crime exposes more secrets.
4. The Root of All Evil (2014)
Money and morality become central to another dangerous investigation.
5. Fate of the Fallen (2016)
A new crime forces the characters to confront another difficult mystery.
6. The Deeds of the Deceitful (2020)
Another case reveals just how complicated the relationships within the community can become.
7. Methods of Malice (2023)
A new mystery brings another round of deception and danger.
8. A Taste for Crime (2024)
The series continues with another community-centered murder mystery.
9. Dying to Sell (2025)
The latest listed Hope Street Church Mystery continues the series’ combination of faith, community, and crime.
Supper Club Mysteries by J.B. Stanley
Here’s where the name Ellery Adams can become confusing.
Ellery Adams originally wrote the Supper Club Mysteries under the pen name J.B. Stanley. The series follows a group of friends whose shared interest in food turns into an unlikely amateur-detective partnership.
If you’re searching specifically for “Ellery Adams books,” these are still worth knowing about because J.B. Stanley is one of her writing identities.
1. Carbs and Cadavers (2006)
A group of food-loving friends finds itself investigating murder.
2. Fit to Die (2007)
The supper club becomes involved in another suspicious death.
3. Chili con Corpses (2008)
Food and murder once again collide in another cozy investigation.
4. Stiffs and Swine (2009)
The friends encounter another crime while navigating their increasingly complicated lives.
5. The Battered Body (2010)
Another murder threatens the peaceful rhythm of the supper club.
6. Black Beans & Vice (2011)
The group investigates another crime surrounded by food, friendship, and secrets.
7. Pasta Mortem (2012)
The series concludes with another culinary-themed mystery.
The seven-book sequence is listed under the Supper Club Mysteries.
Novel Idea Mysteries by Lucy Arlington
Another pen name to know is Lucy Arlington.
The Novel Idea Mysteries follow the employees of a literary agency, making them particularly appealing to readers who enjoy mysteries about publishing, writers, manuscripts, and books.
The series was written by Ellery Adams with Sylvia May and Burton Wolf, under the Lucy Arlington name.
1. Buried in a Book (2012)
A literary agency employee becomes involved in a murder connected to the publishing world.
2. Every Trick in the Book (2013)
Another suspicious death brings the agency into a new mystery.
3. Books, Cooks, and Crooks (2013)
The publishing community becomes the setting for another crime.
4. Played by the Book (2015)
A new case exposes more secrets behind the seemingly respectable world of books.
5. Off the Books (2016)
The series concludes with another literary mystery.
The five-book order is confirmed by current bibliography listings.
Can You Read Ellery Adams Books Out of Order?
Yes—but series should generally be read in order.
Most individual Ellery Adams mysteries have a complete central crime, so you won’t necessarily be lost if you pick up a later title.
However, the character relationships are part of the appeal.
For example, The Secret, Book & Scone Society becomes more rewarding when you see how Nora and her friends change over time. Likewise, Jane Steward’s relationships and responsibilities develop throughout the Book Retreat Mysteries.
So if you’re beginning a series for the first time, start with Book 1.
If you’ve already read several books and simply want to try one particular mystery, jumping ahead is usually possible.
Which Ellery Adams Series Should You Read First?
There’s no single correct answer because each series delivers a different cozy-mystery experience.
For book lovers:
Start with The Secret, Book & Scone Society.
For a literary estate and rare-book atmosphere:
Choose A Book Retreat Mystery.
For coastal cozy mysteries:
Start with Books by the Bay.
For baking and magical realism:
Try A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery.
For antiques and auctions:
Go with Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries.
For food-centered mysteries:
Try the Supper Club Mysteries by J.B. Stanley.
For publishing and literary-agency mysteries:
Try the Novel Idea Mysteries by Lucy Arlington.
For church-community mysteries:
Choose the Hope Street Church Mysteries.
Are the Ellery Adams Series Connected?
Not in the way that a single shared-universe series would be.
The major series have their own characters, settings, and storylines, so you don’t need to read Books by the Bay before starting The Secret, Book & Scone Society, for example.
That’s one of the advantages of approaching Adams’s bibliography by series rather than publication date.
You can choose the atmosphere you like and stay there for several books.
What Is the Newest Ellery Adams Book?
As of August 2026, the newest released Ellery Adams novel is The Tattered Cover, the eighth Secret, Book & Scone Society mystery, published in 2025.
However, readers have another book to look forward to: The Liars’ Book Club, the ninth Secret, Book & Scone Society novel, is scheduled for October 27, 2026. It is currently available for preorder rather than being a released book.
This distinction matters because some book-list websites already include The Liars’ Book Club in their “books in order” lists even though it has not yet been published.
Is Ellery Adams the Same Person as J.B. Stanley and Lucy Arlington?
Yes.
Ellery Adams is the name most readers now associate with her cozy mysteries, but she has also published work under other names.
J.B. Stanley is associated with the Supper Club Mysteries.
Lucy Arlington is associated with the Novel Idea Mysteries.
The Hope Street Church books have an additional publishing-history wrinkle: the earliest books were originally published under the Jennifer Stanley name before being reissued with revised titles and rewrites.
So if you’re building a complete Ellery Adams collection, searching only for “Ellery Adams” can cause you to miss some of her earlier work.
Where Should You Start With Ellery Adams?
If I were recommending just one starting point to a new reader, I’d choose The Secret, Book & Scone Society.
It captures many of the things that make Adams appealing: books, food, friendship, a charming small-town setting, complicated women, personal secrets, and a genuine murder mystery underneath all the coziness.
But readers who prefer a more traditional amateur-sleuth setup may enjoy A Killer Plot more, while readers obsessed with fictional libraries and literary settings should absolutely try Murder in the Mystery Suite.
And if pie and a little magic sound more appealing than bookstores and bibliotherapy, Pies and Prejudice is waiting.
Final Verdict
Ellery Adams has created an unusually satisfying corner of the cozy-mystery world because her books aren’t all trying to deliver the exact same experience.
Books by the Bay gives you coastal atmosphere and poetry. A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery adds baking and magic. The Book Retreat Mysteries turns a literary estate into a murder-mystery playground. Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries moves into the world of valuable objects and auctions. And The Secret, Book & Scone Society puts books, friendship, healing, and community at the very center of the mystery.
That variety is exactly why there isn’t one perfect “Ellery Adams reading order.”
Pick the series that matches your mood, start with Book 1, and let the characters grow on you. If you discover that one series isn’t quite your thing, you can simply move to another without abandoning the author altogether.
For most readers, though, The Secret, Book & Scone Society is the strongest modern entry point—and with The Liars’ Book Club arriving in October 2026, Nora Pennington’s literary-mystery world is still growing.
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