A Killer Plot (A Books by the Bay Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ellery Adams (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2010 | Series: A Books by the Bay Mystery

In the small coastal town of Oyster Bay, North Carolina, you'll find plenty of characters, ne'er-do-wells, and even a few celebs trying to duck the paparazzi. But when murder joins this curious community, the Bayside Book Writers are there to get the story...

Olivia Limoges is the subject of constant gossip. Ever since she came back to town-a return as mysterious as her departure-Olivia has kept to herself, her dog, and her unfinished novel. With a little cajoling from the eminently charming writer Camden Ford, she agrees to join the Bayside Book Writers, break her writer's block, and even make a few friends...

But when townspeople start turning up dead with haiku poems left by the bodies, anyone with a flair for language is suddenly suspect. And it's up to Olivia to catch the killer before she meets her own surprise ending.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; 3rd Print edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042523522X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425235225
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; 3rd Print edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042523522X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425235225
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Ellery Adams grew up on a beach near the Long Island Sound. Having spent her adult life in a series of landlocked towns, she cherishes her memories of open water, violent storms, and the smell of the sea. Ms. Adams has held many jobs including that of caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all the while penning poems, children's books, and novels. She now writes full-time from her home in Virginia.

Ellery also writes as J.B. Stanley and Jennifer Stanley.

For more killer mysteries, visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A killer start to a new series June 2, 2010

By L. Gondelman

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Welcome to Oyster Bay, North Carolina where the living is easy and murder is on the mind.

Olivia Limoges has returned to the hometown she left as a young girl. She is rich, stunning, suffering from a case of writers block and still a mystery to the locals, and often keeping only the company of her loyal poodle Captain Haviland. She also owns the local five star restaurant and has invested a lot in local properties, becoming landlord to many of the businesses around her. While having breakfast at the local diner she overhears some people talking "book stuff." Dixie, her friend and waitress explains that they are a group called the Bayside Book Writers and encourages her to join. She hesitates until she speaks with Camden Ford, the apparent leader of the group. She finds him witty, charming and impossible to refuse. Olivia decides that she is going to fix up the lighthouse cottage on her property for their meetings.

It looks like things are improving for Olivia, particularly in the friend department, until people start showing up dead. When one of her new friends winds up dead, with of all things a Haiku poem left next to the body, Olivia and her writer friends know they will do whatever they can to find out who is responsible for the murder. But can they figure it out before more bodies start to fall? Do the murders have to do with the gossip book one of their group members is writing about a well know family, the desire to push through a new housing development no matter what the cost, or something else no one could have possibly anticipated?

A Killer Plot is a fantastic start to a new series. The characters are fun, fresh and a bit on the eccentric side.... There is Dixie, the roller skating dwarf waitress, Harris the computer geek who suffers from a serious case of Rosacea, and Millay the bartender, who likes to show up with her hair a different color each time they meet. These are just a few of the fun people you will meet in this charming first book of the Books By The Bay Mystery series. The characters are believable and the author gives the reader great insight into the world of a writer. With new friendships, possible romance(s) and promises of great things to come, A Killer Plot is one book you don't want to be caught dead missing. Read more ›

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and challenging! June 1, 2010

By Jeffrey Cohen

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This shoreline mystery is definitely a great beach read--others have recapped the plot, so I'll just say it's fun, it's fresh, the characters are real people (not cardboard cutouts bound to the plot and nothing else) and the dialogue rings true. This is a terrific debut, and it promises much, much more to come! We want more Olivia!

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Determined Sleuthing, Great New Series June 1, 2010

By E. Kanell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Olivia Limoges (with her sidekick Captain Haviland, a black standard poodle) takes this almost "cozy" mystery to intriguing depths of character. Author Ellery Adams brings to the debut of this series a skill set honed under other pen names, and like Olivia, Adams hints at the way both an author and a sleuth must dig more deeply into their hearts and minds in order to discover a strong narrative.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A KILLER PLOT June 1, 2010

By Lori Caswell TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

A new series set in Oyster Bay, North Carolina, where Olivia Limoges returns to her home town after many years away, her return as mysterious as her leaving has everyone in town is talking about her. She keeps to herself, with her talented dog Captain Haviland and is working on her unfinished manuscript, unfortunately at the moment she is suffering from a severe case of "writer's block". At the local diner she meets charming young man, Camden Ford, and with a little help from diminutive Dixie the waitress, she agrees to join The Bayside Book Writers where she actually makes a few friends.

Sadly one of her new friends ends up dead in an alley with an obscure Haiku poem left with his body and his will not be the only body found before this mystery is solved. Olivia enlists the help of The Bayside Book Writers to help the police find the killer.
This is a really fun mystery, there are so many quirky characters, and a captivating plot. We learn enough about Olivia's past and her potential romances that will keep us wanting more stories from Oyster Bay. I am terribly jealous of Captain Haviland as my 2 dogs can barely sit still for a minute let alone help sniff out a killer. Please Ellery don't make us wait too long for another visit with Olivia and the people of Oyster Bay.

[...]

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Berkley Publishing Group a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A Boring Plot February 17, 2011

By Cheryl

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Olivia Limoges grew up in Oyster Bay, NC, but went to live with her grandmother after her mother was killed in an accident and her father disappeared. She returns after an extended absence and is the subject of much gossip surrounding the circumstances of her departure from, and return to, Oyster Bay. Olivia pretty much keeps to herself aside from her dog, Captain Haviland (Yeah, the dog's a captain.) and her restaurant and other real estate holdings. She ends up being cajoled into joining a fledgling book writers club begun by Camden Ford, a visitor to the area. A shy programmer, a bartender with multiple piercings and an attitude and a housewife round out the group. However, shortly after Olivia joins, one of their own is murdered. This prompts the remaining members of the writers group to take it upon themselves to help the sheriff find the killer, who may have acted because of a novel being written that's a thinly disguised autobiography of a real rock star.

The biggest problem this book had was that the main character was really unlikeable. One would think that her childhood losses might make her compassionate, but Olivia seemed to think that her stacks of money and privileged upbringing entitled her to do anything she wanted without reprisal. One of the most annoying things, which the author seemed to want to set up as a cute, quirky trait, was her habit of parking anywhere she wanted to, regardless of the rules or, I should say, laws. Olivia parked in handicapped spots (and was later jokingly reprimanded by the sheriff), reserved spots and fire zones. She disregarded leash laws, saying she would prefer to pay a fine rather than subject her dog to the indignity of a harness.... She came off as very aloof and cold and, aside from her chef, she barely acknowledged the existence her restaurant staff. She only ever had very casual relationships, apparently stemming from her tragic childhood, and if any man ever wanted to get emotionally close, she'd break off all contact. And none of the other characters ever called her out on her behavior. Instead, everyone seemed to kowtow to her.

Though Olivia was my biggest complaint, there were plenty of other problems. The dog...look, I love animals and don't think they get nearly enough respect, but this dog seemed to understand everything and practically gave Olivia advice. It was just too much. Then, there were the two men who were supposed to be Olivia's potential love interests. There was zero chemistry between anyone and I couldn't have cared less if she ended up with either man. Actually, I didn't feel a connection to any of the other characters in the book, and the only person I really liked was the first one killed.

I stuck with this book until the end thinking the resolution would make it worth it, or Olivia would somehow become likeable. I was wrong on both counts. I don't want to be specific in case this review doesn't discourage you from reading A Killer Plot, but the murderer and the reason for the killings were really weak and forced. Though the writing was good, the flimsy storyline and character problems were too much to overcome and I definitely won't be reading the sequel. If you're looking for a good cozy series, I'd recommend Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery mysteries. Read more ›