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The Whispered Word (A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Ellery Adams (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,507 ratings
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In this cozy mystery by a New York Times–bestselling author, a gifted bookstore owner can find the right book for any patron, but can she find a killer?

The proprietor of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, Nora Pennington believes that a well-chosen novel can bring healing and hope. But she and the other members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society know that sometimes practical help is needed too. Such is the case with the reed-thin girl hiding in the fiction section of Nora’s store, wearing a hospital ID and a patchwork of faded bruises. She calls herself Abilene but won’t reveal much else. And when a customer is found dead in an assumed suicide, Nora uncovers a connection that points to Abilene as either a suspect—or another target. After a second death hits town, Nora and her intrepid friends must help the new, greenhorn sheriff discern fact from fiction—and stop a killer intent on bringing another victim’s story to a close…
 
“A love letter to reading, with sharp characterizations and a smart central mystery.”—Entertainment Weekly
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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 7
    A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel
  2. Print length
    306 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Kensington Cozies
  6. Publication date
    November 27, 2018
  7. File size
    12148 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. Some of us think holding on is making us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.
    Highlighted by 532 Kindle readers
  2. “The unique and magical nature of books is their ability to grant us temporary escape from our reality while also providing ways to cope with that reality when we’re forced to return to it.”
    Highlighted by 502 Kindle readers
  3. And now here is my secret,’” she’d say, “‘a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’”
    Highlighted by 456 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Whispered Word:

"A love letter to reading, with sharp characterizations and a smart central mystery."
--Entertainment Weekly

Praise for Ellery Adams' previous mystery, The Secret, Book & Scone Society:

"Adams launches an intriguing new mystery series, headed by four spirited amateur sleuths and touched with a hint of magical realism, which celebrates the power of books and women's friendships. Adams's many fans, readers of Sarah Addison Allen, and anyone who loves novels that revolve around books will savor this tasty treat."
-Library Journal (starred review), Pick of the Month

"Adams kicks off a new series featuring strong women, a touch of romance and mysticism, and both the cunning present-day mystery and the slowly revealed secrets of the intriguing heroines' pasts."
-Kirkus Reviews

"This affecting series launch from Adams provides all the best elements of a traditional mystery. . . . Well-drawn characters complement a plot with an intriguing twist or two."
-Publishers Weekly

"Adams' new series blends magical realism, smart women, and small-town quirks to create a cozy mystery that doubles as a love letter to books. Readers will fall in love with Nora's bookstore therapy and Hester's comfort scones. Not to mention Estella, June, hunky Jed the paramedic, and Nora's tiny house-slash-converted-train-caboose . . . a book that mystery fans-and avid readers-won't want to put down until they have savored every last crumb."
-RT Book Reviews"

About the Author

Cris Dukehart is an award-winning storyteller who has narrated books in a plethora of genres, from romance and science fiction to children's literature and autobiography. Her voice, with its endearing mix of sweetness and pluck, can be heard around the world and across the web in commercials, e-learning projects, and corporate narrations. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, she lives in rural Pennsylvania with her family.

Ellery Adams is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over thirty novels. A native New Yorker, she has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on a novel, she bakes, gardens, spoils her cats, and wastes time on Pinterest. She lives with her husband and two children in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she can't imagine spending a day away from her keyboard.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B77VBXX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (November 27, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 27, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 12148 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 4,507 ratings

About the author

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Ellery Adams

Ellery Adams

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Ellery Adams, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, has written dozens of mystery novels. She shares her North Carolina home with her husband, two trolls, and three keyboard-hogging felines. Ellery loves reading, coffee, bubbly, jigsaw puzzles, baking, and rearranging her bookshelves.

Her traditionally published series include The Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries, The Book Retreat Mysteries, The Books By the Bay Mysteries, and The Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries.

Her Indie series include The Supper Club Series, The Hope Street Series, and The Molly Appleby Collectible Series.

For book club discussion questions, lists of Nora Pennington's bibliotherapy titles, and more, visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
4,507 global ratings
A Lovely Second Addition to the Series!
4 Stars
A Lovely Second Addition to the Series!
Ellery Adams is such a talented writer. I have read four or five of her series now and she never fails to create characters that are complicated, interesting, and sympathetic. I enjoyed this second book in her new series and I will happily buy and read any other books she writes for this series.
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Top reviews from the United States

Leslie
5.0 out of 5 stars This series is a book lover’s dream.
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
The Whispered Word was an absolute delight to read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery.

But what really made this book special were the characters. The group of friends come together to bond over books, dessert, and also aid Nora during her quest for the truth. They were all so different, but they had a strong bond that made them feel like a family. Their interactions were so genuine and
heartwarming that I found myself rooting for them throughout the entire book.

As for the mystery itself, it was cleverly crafted and kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I loved how the clues were subtly woven into the story, and how everything came together in the end. The resolution was satisfying, but not too predictable, which is exactly what you want in a good mystery.

Overall, I absolutely adored "The Whispered Word”. It was a cozy mystery that was both heartwarming and engaging, with a setting and cast of characters that felt like old friends. If you're looking for a feel-good mystery that will tug at your heart and leave you with a smile on your face, this is the book for you. I give it five stars without hesitation!
2 people found this helpful
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Lois Fisher
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022
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I enjoyed Ms. Adams' 2nd entry in the "Secret Society" series. The mystery is twisty. The main character, Nora, is quirky and tenacious, if not always prudent. But that makes her compelling. What stopped this from being a 5 star review were two things: The other members of the Society should play a larger part. Yes, Hester (the tough but inwardly scarred baker of the mysterious scones) has an integral part. But it could've been more on point. Estella and June are merely sidekicks, and not developed more. Which is needed to keep the series as rich as it deserves. The second item that left the novel lacking was an overly long "Afterword." This reader didn't need pages upon pages of Nora's musings and the wrap-up of the mystery. Whole of autumn and winter were covered. Unnecessary. At least for me. I do look forward to the next book in the series about strong women and books.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, encouraging, a story of hope
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023
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I've read the first two books of this series and can't wait to continue it. I love the characters - all women who've struggled, made mistakes, and yet make the choice to risk becoming very real in their friendship with each other. Each offers encouragement and hope and support to others in her own way and, as a group, they seek to help others in need. Their friendship causes each to grow stronger. And in the midst of this is a good mystery, a bit of romance (no graphic sex), and a wonderful little town in NC that you'll want to visit again.
2 people found this helpful
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Patti A. Maxwell-Masotti
5.0 out of 5 stars Safety at Last
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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Nothing is so sad as abuse. To successfully escape from it is a miracle . To remain safe in soul & spirit is even more miraculous. I love the miracles in this book.
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RoloPoloBookBlog
4.0 out of 5 stars Book #2: Secret, Book, and Scone Society Series
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams
Book #2: Secret, Book, and Scone Society Series
Source: Purchase
Rating: 4/5 stars

The women of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society have only just gotten themselves out of a mess and looking forward to some down time when trouble quite literally walks through their collective door. It’s just before closing time at Miracle Books when a gaunt young woman, clearly in need of help walks into the bookstore. With nothing else to do but help her, the woman jump into action.

Abilene is a hot mess and with very few words spoken, Nora and the girls know only the barest of facts about her. What they do know is this: Abilene has suffered severe trauma, she is wicked creative, she adores books in the same way Nora does, and her baking skills are on par with Hester’s. Each Society woman understands secrets and if they are going to help Abilene, they are going to have to help her feel secure and trust her new friends enough to open to up to them. Always easier said than done.

Coinciding with Abilene’s mysterious arrival is the death of a local woman and the arrival of Griffin Kingsley. The death is an apparent suicide and Griffin Kingsley is a huckster and a con man disguised as a legitimate businessman whose arrival is meant to help those in Miracle Springs struggling from recent tragic events. Though Nora is uncomfortable with all the sudden change, her first priority is Abilene. It isn’t until she and the Society begin investigating that they discover all three events are not only tied to one another, but intimately tied and bound to end in a very bad way.

As the Society women work to help Abilene, each discovers that the young woman’s story stirs their own demons. To silence their own demons, the Society women are going to have to help Abilene face hers, solve a murder, and reveal Griffin Kingsley for the fraud he truly is. As expected, none of this is going to be easy and it is going to put at least two of the group in serious danger before the whole mess can be handled and put to rest.

The Bottom Line: This second installment of the series is far more complex than the first with, essentially, three plots in one book that all come together in the end. Though they do all come together, it is a bit of a ride getting there. Once again, my favorite character is Nora, who, despite her internal struggles, has emerged as the leader of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society. With each new struggle and mystery, Nora comes a bit more out of her shell and into the light. Nora’s confidence is at an all-time high in this read and while it initially causes some friction among the group, it all works out in the end as Nora fights to help a new friend. Each of the women grows a bit in this book and I am so happy to see that kind of forward movement. While I liked this story, I’m not sure I liked it quite as much as the first; there me the tiniest bit of a sophomore slump happening but that slump isn’t enough to keep me from the third book in the series. Onwards and upwards, as the saying goes 😊
5 people found this helpful
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Rose Coffman
5.0 out of 5 stars great study telling
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
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The friendships that were built and share for the four women are beautiful. And the relationships grow stronger as the sole the mysteries.
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Lucy
3.0 out of 5 stars Love the setting
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021
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I want really hard to love this story. I just struggle to connect when I find the main characters to be too harsh in their conversations. I understand trying to create nuanced heroines but I don’t know, I just found Nora a bit to rough around the social edges. Especially for someone who is gifted in helping others find healing through her reading selections…I imagined she might be a little bit more gentle in her conversations. Just my opinion. On the other hand, I found the atmospheric descriptions were so well written and charming, I felt myself transported there.
6 people found this helpful
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MommiesCoffee3
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023
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I liked the weaving of the 4 main characters stories mixed in with another girl who needed help! This story was better than the 1st book. I enjoyed reading this book SO much!
Mystery. Romance. Emotional turmoil. Good stuff!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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J. Osborne
5.0 out of 5 stars Ellery Adams is a superb writer!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
I admit I am a great fan of Ellery Adams' work - certain series in particular. I enjoyed this book greatly, but am not quite as drawn to this series as others! Just down to personal taste, rather than a reflection on the quality of writing.
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Helen Edwards
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read with wonderful characters
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2021
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I was excited to read the second book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series and this did not disappoint. Abilene is found hiding in Miracle Books and immediately Nora takes her under her wing. Soon after, a local woman is found dead in a pond. Are the two incidents related? The narrative explores the young woman, the four friends with healing powers, and the murder investigation. The plot has amazing twists and turns and I must admit I had no idea how the murderer was until it was revealed in the story. I love the way the four women support each other and work together to try to make everyone feel better. In the end, Abilene's true story emerges and it sets her on the path to healing. Her return to her former home where she had lived with her parents before their deaths is another step in her recovery and it would appear that she has come to grips with the parts of her life that were abusive and she has now reconnected with friends of her parents. It was an easy read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.
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Colleen Fidler
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2019
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I have always liked this author but this series is rapidly becoming my favourite of all her books. The characters draw you into their story and leaving you wanting to know more.
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Sylvie Robitaille
4.0 out of 5 stars Très bon
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2023
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J’ai aimé lire ce livre car c’était captivant.
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Belinda Robb
3.0 out of 5 stars light entertaining read.
Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2023
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These books read like Hallmark mystery. Nothing heavy or deep. The characters are exactly what you would expect in a 90 minute made for tv mystery.
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