Secrets and Scrabble, Book 2: Secret at Skull House

by Josh Lanyon

Ebook, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. (2020), 208 pages

Description

Ellery Page is back-and in hot water again! Unlike everyone else in Pirate's Cove, Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village's only mystery bookstore, is anything but thrilled when famed horror author Brandon Abbott announces he's purchased legendary Skull House and plans to live there permanently. Ellery and Brandon have history. Their relationship ended badly, and the last thing Ellery wants is a chance to patch things up-especially when his relationship with Police Chief Jack Carson is just getting interesting. But then, maybe Brandon isn't all that interested in getting back together either, because he seems a lot more interested in asking questions about the bloodstained past of his new home than discussing a possible future with Ellery. What is Brandon really up to? Ellery will have to unscramble that particular puzzle posthaste. Because after his former flame disappears following their loud and public argument, Ellery seems to be Police Chief Carson's first-and only-suspect.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jetangen4571

M/M cozy mystery, murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, friendship, bookseller, small-business, small-town, island-life, amateur-sleuth, verbal-humor, situational-humor*****

The story truly follows all the cozy criteria and has a great plot, fascinating characters, and laughs. It also has a

police detective, a bookshop owner (and former professional TV actor) named Ellery (like Ellery Queen mystery writer!), a frenetic puppy named Watson (is there any other kind?), the Scallywags, and the Silver Sleuths. It's set in an island off New Jersey (USA) that's accessible by ferry (that's why they can have cars). Ellery inherited the bookshop and rundown Dutch Colonial from an ancient of his father and has only been a resident for four months. An old acquaintance (a real creep) comes to town to write about an old murder at a local cursed old house but winds up murdered himself. Guess who becomes the prime suspect by the police and the goat of the local press. Let the sleuthing begin!
Matt Haynes always does a wonderful job with all the voices and really acts out the story and not just read it with a voice that brings the characters to life with inflections entirely suited the situations and characters.

Show Less

1 more

LibraryThing member Carol420

Poor Ellery. he must be the most unlucky man on the face of the Earth. For the second time he seems to be the ONLY one that Chief Carson thinks to be the killer. Rather reminds me of her Adrien English character in her series by the same name. Chief Carson obviously cares for Ellery but he’s got

a strange way of showing it. This one and the first book in the series were listed as being m/m romances, but neither of the books really had much romance. I know Josh Lanyon can write steamy scenes with the best of them...believe me...I’ve read them...but this first book in the series... so far at least...are more like cozies. I love this author. I've read almost everything she has ever written..so I’m going to be a bit forgiving...and the mystery element was extremely good... so "The Secret At Skull House" will get 4 stars from me. However, IF it had been the first of any of her books that I had ever read, the rating may have been lower since I would be expecting a m/m romance book to contain more romance.

Show Less

Fewer

Language

English

Original publication date

2020-04-28

Local notes

Unlike everyone else in Pirate's Cove, Ellery Page, aspiring screenwriter, reigning Scrabble champion, and occasionally clueless owner of the village's only mystery bookstore, is anything but thrilled when famed horror author Brandon Abbott announces he's purchased legendary Skull House and plans to live there permanently.