Crafts and Life

Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, 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, and though Nora and her friends offer work, shelter, and a supportive ear, their guest isn’t ready to divulge her secrets. But 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.
 
Summer’s end has brought other new arrivals to Miracle Springs too. Entrepreneur Griffin Kingsley opens Virtual Genie, a cyber business that unloads people’s unwanted goods for cash. With the town in an economic slump and folks hurting for money, Virtual Genie and its owner are both instantly popular. A patient listener, Griffin dispenses candy to children and strong coffee to adults, and seems like a bona fide gentleman. But Nora’s not inclined to judge a book by its cover. And when 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 . . .

Ellery Adams doesn't shirk from showing the nasty side of human nature in this series, but it is done in a sympathetic and engrossing read!

At the end of the first book Nora, Estelle, Hester and June found a waif and stray called Abilene in Nora's shop, as this book opens she has fallen asleep in the stock room clutching the HELP WANTED ad that Nora had placed in her window.  She turns out to be needing the type of healing that the four friends and Miracle Springs can provide, she gradually opens up and the friends are stunned by her story, at one point (before she starts to tell her story) she almost drives a wedge between the four, luckily for their charity gifts (they are doing gift bags with bread, knitted goods and so on for the people left in the lurch after the events of the first book), this doesn't happen but during one of their deliveries they discover a body face down in a pond, Abilene seems to be linked to the person, then there is another death and then another.

Can the four friends keep Abilene from ending up behind bars, and can they also figure out what is going on in their own lives … oh and the new business seems strange and that needs their special touch as well!