Ink and Shadows

Probably more of a 3.5.

This series has become a source of comfort for the past couple of years, so it felt nice to be back in this world, especially at a time when I wasn't feeling that good.

Along with the lovely ladies of the Secret, Book and Scone society, we get to briefly meet some new additions to the town of Miracle Springs - ladies who manage to bring some intrigue as well as conflict to the proceedings. While I enjoyed the depiction of fall season and the various festivals that happen in a small town to attract tourists, I sometimes felt that the mystery itself was a bit far fetched. The addition of the conflict with the family values group also felt a bit too much to this story, though it's not really an uncommon occurrence in many places. But it did make for some interesting conversations about powerful women and the importance of books in giving us access to new worlds. The pacing of the book was as always very fast and I finished it in a single sitting. I also liked the talk about YA fantasy as part of the book recommendations, but it was woefully white which is a disappointment, particularly considering the amount of popular diverse YA we've had in the past few years.

In the end, this was a fun addition to a beloved series and definitely a cozy winter read. Definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for something fun in the cozy mystery genre, and while I would suggest to start at the beginning, I think this is one series where most of the books work well as standalones.