Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Secret at Skull House
SERIES: Secrets and Scrabble #2
AUTHOR: Josh Lanyon
NARRATOR: Matt Haynes
PUBLISHER: JustJoshin Publishing
LENGTH: 6 hours, 2 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 17, 2020
BLURB:
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 post haste. Because after his former flame disappears following their loud and public argument, Ellery seems to be Police Chief Carson’s first–and only–suspect.
REVIEW:
We are back in the small town of Pine Cove and life is getting back to normal for Ellery Page. Being a suspect in a murder wasn’t the ideal way to be introduced to a new town and community, but for the most part they now seem to be accepting of him. His bookstore has become the hub for gossip and for townspeople to meet, and while grateful for the traffic, Ellery wished they’d actually buy books from the store, but he’s content and enjoying his new life. He’s also enjoying whatever he and Jack had going, still not sure exactly what that was but happy to take the time to figure it out.
That is until his ex-boyfriend, Brandon Abbott, bought Skull House, an infamous – and haunted – house in town. Not only did he buy it – he intended to move to Pine Cove. The villagers welcome him with open arms, loving to have a celebrity in their midst. Well, everyone but Ellery that is. Let’s just say that he’s less than thrilled – even less so when the guy ends up murdered and he ends up the number one murder suspect – again.
In the past I’ve had a (mostly) difficult time with the cozy mystery genre. Maybe I’ve had some bad luck, but it seems like almost every one of them have either a main character (the amateur sleuth) that annoys me to no end, or they constantly makes these TSTL decision, to the point where I wouldn’t mind for them to end up the next victim. I’m so grateful that Secrets and Scrabble series has nothing of that. It’s all lovable characters and a quirky small town and good mysteries. I’m also really enjoying whatever Ellery and Jack have going on – or not going on. Sometimes I might want to hit them over the head, but that’s part of the charm, I think. It’s refreshing to have a relationship that rivals a snail in pacing, there are too many stories out there with insta-love, so it’s nice for a couple (not that they are one yet) to take their time to find their way. Like always I’m not going into detail of the mystery, but I will let you know that it was one and it kept me entertained.
I thoroughly enjoyed Matt Haynes performance of this book. He really makes you feel the essence of the small town and the gossiping townsfolk. He also portrays Ellery perfectly, his personality comes through so clearly and credibly. How he loves his new friends and how he’s reluctantly persuaded to investigate Brandon’s murder. He inflicts emotions into every line, to the point where it’s so easy to become a part of the story, to live in it. I’ve listened to countless of audiobooks by now, and I’ve come to realise that delivering a dialogue credibly is anything but easy especially interwoven with a narrative and descriptions. Haynes does it all perfectly, I’m kind of in awe off how well he nails every situation, and every line. You never have to wonder about any situation, he makes you feel the tension, the humour, exasperation and suspense.
This is quickly becoming my favourite series of Lanyon’s and I hope to come back for many more visits in the future. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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