The Vanishing Type
A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel
Ellery Adams’s cozy mystery novel The Vanishing Type is a testament to women’s friendship—with sides of murder, romance, coffee, and baked goods.
Nora is the owner of Miracle Books in North Carolina, in a town where visitors come to heal. She has a gift for knowing just what book someone needs to read in order to gain insight into a particular problem or to heal from a broken heart. With her friends Hester, June, and Estella, she also formed the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a book club doubling as a mystery-solving group that also serves as a coffee klatch and friendship circle.
When someone from Hester’s past is found dead in town, it poses a danger to Hester’s own life and threatens to expose a long-held secret. With the help of Nora’s love interest, Sheriff Grant, the women band together to support their friend and solve the mystery. A secondary mystery, possibly tied to Hester, is the series of old, out-of-print books that keep popping up all over town. And previous adventures are alluded to well, as is the trajectory of the book club members’ friendships.
This authentic, conversational, and enjoyable mystery is elevated by its supporting cast. Of note among them is Sheldon, Nora’s assistant at the bookstore, whose witty, astute observations inject humor in the tale. Further, the small town and bookstore settings are a perfect fit for the story’s events, as their close-knit communities band together in mutual support. References to titles including Wuthering Heights, Anne of Green Gables, and Crazy Rich Asians are sprinkled throughout the book, too, functioning as a layer of bibliotherapy.
Despite the grim murder at its heart, The Vanishing Type is a cozy mystery that is replete with romance, friendship, and books.
Reviewed by
Hilary Daninhirsch
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
