Secret at Skull House

Secret at Skull House (2020) Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble)

This second mystery finds Ellery still working to keep his inherited book store open, but at least the local theater group is putting on a production of one of his screen plays.

Then the news breaks: someone has purchased Skull House! That someone is moving into town! That someone is Ellery’s ex from college!

You know how it is when you’re young. At first, I thought he’d change. And then later, I kept waiting for the right time to break it off.”

Jack’s mouth curved ruefully. “‘ How it is when you’re young’? You’re still pretty young.”

“You’re not so much older.”

“I am in cop years.”

Ellery and Jack are still working on their friendship, but neither is quite sure where things are heading.

When there is a murder (and of course there is a murder, because this is a cozy mystery), suspicion once again falls upon Ellery, mostly because the editor, owner, and writer of the local paper hates him.

Seriously? She was critiquing a play she was performing in? Well, at least she gave it a rave review.

So of course Ellery decides to investigate, because he doesn’t care for being accused the second time any more than he did the first time.

As I said, this is a cozy, so there is no murder on the page, nor is there any sex. And to be honest, there isn’t even a lot of romance, which is an odd thing for a Josh Lanyon story, but I liked it.

If you’re looking for a low-angst read (and I know a lot of people are right now) this series is good for that.

Publisher: JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
Rating: 8/10

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