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Hope Street Church Mysteries #1
The Path of the Crooked
The first in a terrific series by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams.
Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.
Cooper Lee was at a crossroads. Her boyfriend of five years had just left her for another woman, she was living in an apartment above her parents’ garage, and her job as a copier repairperson was feeling a little, well, repetitious. Hoping for a fresh start and a new outlook on life, she joins the Bible study group at Hope Street Church. The last thing she expects while studying the Bible is a lesson in murder.
When Brooke Hughes, the woman who first invited Cooper to Hope Street, is found murdered in her home, all signs point to her husband as the culprit. But Wesley Hughes was an elder at Hope Street Church, and the members of the Bible study are filled with disbelief that such a kind and loving man could take a life, much less his wife’s. Unwilling to let an innocent man and friend be railroaded into prison, the Bible group decides to investigate on their own.
As Cooper and this humorously diverse group of people—including a blind folk artist, a meteorologist with a taste for younger women, and a soft-spoken web designer who might be out to catch Cooper’s eye—dig deeper into the clues, they’re about to discover that finding the truth sometimes takes a leap of faith.
Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!
A Note from the
Dear Reader,
The Hope Street mysteries were originally published by St. Martin’s Press and written under the name Jennifer Stanley. The titles, in order, were Stirring Up Strife, Path of the Wicked, and The Way of the Guilty.
I have completely rewritten all three novels and am now publishing them under the name Ellery Adams as The Path of the Crooked, The Way of the Wicked, and The Graves of the Guilty.
If you’ve read the original books, you will find the basic plot of the above titles unchanged. My intention was to polish the writing in each installment and rerelease the novels as crisper, cleaner, more engaging books. Stay tuned for forthcoming novels in the Hope Street mystery series as well.
Thank you for supporting cozy mysteries.
Your friend,
Ellery Adams
About the
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.
Welcome to Hope Street Church, where friendships are formed, fresh starts are encouraged, and mysteries are solved.
Cooper Lee was at a crossroads. Her boyfriend of five years had just left her for another woman, she was living in an apartment above her parents’ garage, and her job as a copier repairperson was feeling a little, well, repetitious. Hoping for a fresh start and a new outlook on life, she joins the Bible study group at Hope Street Church. The last thing she expects while studying the Bible is a lesson in murder.
When Brooke Hughes, the woman who first invited Cooper to Hope Street, is found murdered in her home, all signs point to her husband as the culprit. But Wesley Hughes was an elder at Hope Street Church, and the members of the Bible study are filled with disbelief that such a kind and loving man could take a life, much less his wife’s. Unwilling to let an innocent man and friend be railroaded into prison, the Bible group decides to investigate on their own.
As Cooper and this humorously diverse group of people—including a blind folk artist, a meteorologist with a taste for younger women, and a soft-spoken web designer who might be out to catch Cooper’s eye—dig deeper into the clues, they’re about to discover that finding the truth sometimes takes a leap of faith.
Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!
A Note from the
Dear Reader,
The Hope Street mysteries were originally published by St. Martin’s Press and written under the name Jennifer Stanley. The titles, in order, were Stirring Up Strife, Path of the Wicked, and The Way of the Guilty.
I have completely rewritten all three novels and am now publishing them under the name Ellery Adams as The Path of the Crooked, The Way of the Wicked, and The Graves of the Guilty.
If you’ve read the original books, you will find the basic plot of the above titles unchanged. My intention was to polish the writing in each installment and rerelease the novels as crisper, cleaner, more engaging books. Stay tuned for forthcoming novels in the Hope Street mystery series as well.
Thank you for supporting cozy mysteries.
Your friend,
Ellery Adams
About the
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.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
328 people are currently reading
1558 people want to read
About the author
Ellery Adams
60 books5,050 followersUSA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written over forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, and rescue animals. She likes to spend her free time rearranging the bookshelves in her home in central North Carolina.
Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).
For book club guides, bibliotherapy lists, and recipes, please visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com
Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).
For book club guides, bibliotherapy lists, and recipes, please visit www.elleryadamsmysteries.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
May 24, 2020
Cooper Lee is an unhappy camper. Her longtime boyfriend has suddenly fallen in love with someone else and left her behind. She has returned to the womb, more or less, living in a garage apartment at her parents' house while she tries to sort out her life. On the surface she's fine, holding down a job as a copy machine repair tech, but really she's just marking time. We've probably all been there.
A kind office worker chats with her and then invites her to attend her church. Cooper thinks little of it until the nice woman is murdered. So she goes to the Hope Street Church but arrives at the wrong time for services, winding up in a Bible study group instead.
This small group is packed with characters, and despite herself Cooper starts to feel a connection. They are all upset about the death of their fellow parishioner, whose husband has been arrested for the crime based on circumstantial evidence, and they vow to do some investigating on their own. And so we're off.
This was a well-constructed cozy mystery, with enough complications to keep me engaged and a number of appealing characters. It plodded a bit from time to time and some coincidences felt like a stretch, but on the whole it was solid. The church setting and some of the religious elements felt occasionally heavy-handed to my secular palate but it wasn't preachy. The story was full of some nice people trying to do the right thing and some deeply flawed people trying to do the same, which felt real enough. By contrast, the villainous sorts stood out as cardboard cutouts, which knocked my rating down a peg. I liked the well-intentioned mood but probably didn't engage enough to continue with the series.
A kind office worker chats with her and then invites her to attend her church. Cooper thinks little of it until the nice woman is murdered. So she goes to the Hope Street Church but arrives at the wrong time for services, winding up in a Bible study group instead.
This small group is packed with characters, and despite herself Cooper starts to feel a connection. They are all upset about the death of their fellow parishioner, whose husband has been arrested for the crime based on circumstantial evidence, and they vow to do some investigating on their own. And so we're off.
This was a well-constructed cozy mystery, with enough complications to keep me engaged and a number of appealing characters. It plodded a bit from time to time and some coincidences felt like a stretch, but on the whole it was solid. The church setting and some of the religious elements felt occasionally heavy-handed to my secular palate but it wasn't preachy. The story was full of some nice people trying to do the right thing and some deeply flawed people trying to do the same, which felt real enough. By contrast, the villainous sorts stood out as cardboard cutouts, which knocked my rating down a peg. I liked the well-intentioned mood but probably didn't engage enough to continue with the series.
March 17, 2010
I do not get the phenomenon of recipes in the back of Christian fiction. Why never instructions on how to make a go-cart or something? Since I don't have much to say here I'll add a recipe to the end of my review as well.
I really liked the lead character, as she was a smart women with believable hangups. The other characters were a little sitcom/Lifetime-family-drama-esque. You won't be shocked or awed by the story, but it was cute.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe:
Ingredients
4 slices white bread
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 slices Cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat skillet over medium heat. Generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side-down onto skillet bottom and add 1 slice of cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of sandwich. Grill until lightly browned and flip over; continue grilling until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread, butter and slice of cheese.
I really liked the lead character, as she was a smart women with believable hangups. The other characters were a little sitcom/Lifetime-family-drama-esque. You won't be shocked or awed by the story, but it was cute.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe:
Ingredients
4 slices white bread
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 slices Cheddar cheese
Directions
Preheat skillet over medium heat. Generously butter one side of a slice of bread. Place bread butter-side-down onto skillet bottom and add 1 slice of cheese. Butter a second slice of bread on one side and place butter-side-up on top of sandwich. Grill until lightly browned and flip over; continue grilling until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread, butter and slice of cheese.
June 16, 2010
The concept for this book is what caused me to pick it up - it's unique for its genre, and also largely untapped within literature.
Heroine Cooper Lee is a 30-something with an unusual job; she repairs copiers and other office machines. Like many people of her generation, she's long ago left church behind, despite being raised in an at least somewhat religious family, where weekly church attendance is simply part of the landscape of life.
At one of her work sites, seemingly by chance, Cooper meets a very friendly and genuine churchgoer who invites her to attend her church. Cooper decides to take her up on her offer, but she turns up an hour too early and ends up in a Bible study group meeting. This group is a mix of eclectic characters who would have little to do with each other, if it were not for their shared faith: a real estate diva, a rich banker, a blind artist, and a computer geek, among others. However, their authentic friendship attracts Cooper despite her misgivings about getting too involved with a church, and she sticks, becoming a supporting and supported member of the group.
Speaking from many years of church experience, both good and bad, I can say that Cooper's experience rings true - especially her reluctance, shyness, and indecision about re-joining a church. In addition, the Bible study group characters come across as real people that you might find in a church, with very real strengths, quirks, and blind spots.
Unfortunately, though, the mystery itself turns a bit formulaic, with the characters acting in stereotypical and unbelievable ways with respect to the actual solving of the murder. The bright spot, though, is that through it all, the characters keep their integrity - hopefully a sign of good things to come as the series progresses.
I would especially recommend this light read to people who are thinking of coming back to church and wonder what the journey might be like (hopefully theirs won't involve a murder, of course!). And long-time church people would do well to read this book, too, to "experience" Cooper's tentative first steps on her faith journey back to church.
Rating:
Concept & characters: 5 stars
Mystery storyline itself: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
Heroine Cooper Lee is a 30-something with an unusual job; she repairs copiers and other office machines. Like many people of her generation, she's long ago left church behind, despite being raised in an at least somewhat religious family, where weekly church attendance is simply part of the landscape of life.
At one of her work sites, seemingly by chance, Cooper meets a very friendly and genuine churchgoer who invites her to attend her church. Cooper decides to take her up on her offer, but she turns up an hour too early and ends up in a Bible study group meeting. This group is a mix of eclectic characters who would have little to do with each other, if it were not for their shared faith: a real estate diva, a rich banker, a blind artist, and a computer geek, among others. However, their authentic friendship attracts Cooper despite her misgivings about getting too involved with a church, and she sticks, becoming a supporting and supported member of the group.
Speaking from many years of church experience, both good and bad, I can say that Cooper's experience rings true - especially her reluctance, shyness, and indecision about re-joining a church. In addition, the Bible study group characters come across as real people that you might find in a church, with very real strengths, quirks, and blind spots.
Unfortunately, though, the mystery itself turns a bit formulaic, with the characters acting in stereotypical and unbelievable ways with respect to the actual solving of the murder. The bright spot, though, is that through it all, the characters keep their integrity - hopefully a sign of good things to come as the series progresses.
I would especially recommend this light read to people who are thinking of coming back to church and wonder what the journey might be like (hopefully theirs won't involve a murder, of course!). And long-time church people would do well to read this book, too, to "experience" Cooper's tentative first steps on her faith journey back to church.
Rating:
Concept & characters: 5 stars
Mystery storyline itself: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
September 16, 2016
This book was kind of like fast food - quick and easy but not incredibly satisfying. It was your cookie-cutter cozy mystery, complete with the heartbroken protagonist, shallow sister, homecooking mama, rough around the edges grandma, awkward handsome new guy, the sleazy secretary....you get the idea.
The mystery was also not too complicated or original, though it held my interest well enough for an audiobook that I listen to while doing housework or driving. It was apparently complicated enough for this group of amateurs, who weren't too quick on the uptake themselves, to always be a step ahead of the police. Heaven help us if real investigations are this hopeless.
If there is one thing done well in this book, it is that the Hope Street Church Bible study group is presented as a more realistic gathering of people than is normally found in Christian fiction. The self-absorbed real estate agent, womanizer, and (literally) blind leader are far from perfect. Instead of a group of church goers with it all together & the Bible memorized, as is often presented in this genre, they are real people with glaring faults, if they are a little bit prepackaged, like the overweight guy who is always eating.
Not a bad book, but not one that has inspired me to continue with the series.
The mystery was also not too complicated or original, though it held my interest well enough for an audiobook that I listen to while doing housework or driving. It was apparently complicated enough for this group of amateurs, who weren't too quick on the uptake themselves, to always be a step ahead of the police. Heaven help us if real investigations are this hopeless.
If there is one thing done well in this book, it is that the Hope Street Church Bible study group is presented as a more realistic gathering of people than is normally found in Christian fiction. The self-absorbed real estate agent, womanizer, and (literally) blind leader are far from perfect. Instead of a group of church goers with it all together & the Bible memorized, as is often presented in this genre, they are real people with glaring faults, if they are a little bit prepackaged, like the overweight guy who is always eating.
Not a bad book, but not one that has inspired me to continue with the series.
March 30, 2018
Just wow! And not a good wow. Why do Christian writers insist on fulfilling cliches and stereotypes? One character has a drinking problem... O, here’s a religious pamphlet to give to him. (I rolled my eyes) could it get any worse? Well, yes. Because in the last chapter this poor lost soul finds this tract that has been shoved into his gym locker and sets aside his booze bottle that he was swigging from and makes the life-saving call. *sigh* for real?! This is just lazy story telling. And what’s even worse is this whole scenario did not advance the actual plot. It was a 5-6 sentence sub-sub “plot” that serves no purpose in the story other than to check off some Christian Novel ingredients checklist (must have some sort of evangelism event).
And tell me, what does a hedonistic decorating style look like? Just because furniture is leather and chrome does not make it hedonistic. Can furniture be hedonistic? Enough with the judgmental adjectives. It feels so forced. Trust the reader to draw her own conclusions. You don’t have to cram it down our throats.
And tell me, what does a hedonistic decorating style look like? Just because furniture is leather and chrome does not make it hedonistic. Can furniture be hedonistic? Enough with the judgmental adjectives. It feels so forced. Trust the reader to draw her own conclusions. You don’t have to cram it down our throats.
May 15, 2019
A very interesting "new to me" series! I would definitely categorize this as a Christian Cozy Mystery and while that isn't my usual genre, it is very well done. The group of friends are a bible study group so there is mention of different scriptures and the meanings of them to each character, but it isn't overtly religious in a manner that would turn off someone who was not into scripture and religion in general. The mystery is well plotted and has several nice twists and turns. The characters are very unique and fleshed out fully so that you can connect with them. You feel as if you really know them as a friend. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the characters next.
August 28, 2023
This just wasn't for me. The main character's inner circle is determined to transform her into something else. From her job, to the fact that she's unmarried (gasp!), to her physical appearance. She never stood up for herself and said, "People who really love me should love me just the way I am," and I couldn't get past it.
"Your clothes are too androgynous." (What??)
"And how about wearing just a little make-up?"
"...when you should be changin' diapers and makin' supper for your husband." (Again- there is no husband.)
I knew that the cast of characters was going to be made up mostly of a church Bible-study group, but there was a fair amount of correcting (scolding?) each other. The whole time I was reading their interactions, I was thinking, "I would be afraid to open my mouth in this group."
Anyway...I have liked several other series by Ellery Adams. I think this one just wasn't my cup of tea.
"Your clothes are too androgynous." (What??)
"And how about wearing just a little make-up?"
"...when you should be changin' diapers and makin' supper for your husband." (Again- there is no husband.)
I knew that the cast of characters was going to be made up mostly of a church Bible-study group, but there was a fair amount of correcting (scolding?) each other. The whole time I was reading their interactions, I was thinking, "I would be afraid to open my mouth in this group."
Anyway...I have liked several other series by Ellery Adams. I think this one just wasn't my cup of tea.
June 11, 2024
In the "the things I read for challenges category"...
October 24, 2022
A republished version of Jennifer Stanley's Stirring Up Strife, [The Path of the Crooked] introduces us to copier repairwoman Cooper Lee. After her longtime boyfriend broke up with her, she needs to get her life back on track. After meeting a woman who attended Hope Street Church, she shows up one Sunday morning. She's taken to a Sunday school class where she and the class learn the woman was murdered and that her husband was charged. Cooper doesn't believe the charge based on her short encounter with the woman, and the Sunday school class believes the husband incapable of murder. They set out to investigate, piecing together clues from the jammed copier where Cooper first met the woman. Readers will immediately realize this is one of the author's early efforts because of problems with pacing and character development. Although the plot was revised somewhat from the earliest efforts, the pacing problem remains. By the end of the book, readers can distinguish the characters, but lack of development earlier in the plot sometimes creates confusion when a character is encountered later. I'm undecided about reading additional series installments.
May 28, 2025
What a sweet story. Good mystery and great characters, but I really enjoyed seeing Cooper begin a spiritual journey too. Highly recommended read!
June 4, 2024
I love a good cozy. This one has the added element of faith. I am generally an Ellery Adams fan, and I was not disappointed.
December 7, 2014
I received a free kindle copy of The Path of the Crooked by Ellery Adams published by Beyond the Page Publishing, from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I gave it five stars because it held my attention & kept me guessing who was the murderer.
It is a revised edition of a book previously titled Stirring Up Strife by Jennifer Stanley published by St. Martin's Press.
The main character is Cooper Lee & she has a dilemma. She hoped for a fresh start after her boyfriend left her. Her job as an office machine repairman was boring so she joined a Bible study group. The woman who invited her to the Hope Street Church, Brooke Hughes, is found dead. The prime suspect is her husband, Wesley who is an elder at the church. The Bible study group wants to help him.
Ashley Elizabeth is Cooper's younger sister. Her husband is Lincoln. Magnolia "Maggie" Lee is her mother who does daily baking & takes some of her cookies to the "folks at the Alzheimer's home."
"Why?" Ashley's perfect lips screwed into a smirk. "They won't remember eating them."
"Ashley Elizabeth!" Mrs. Lee shook her rolling pin at her daughter. Don't you say ugly things like that in my kitchen."
Then Ashley proceeded to meddle in Cooper's life. She was embarrassed that her sister worked as a copier repairman.
Earl is Cooper's soft spoken father. Grammy is Earl's mother & Cooper's irascible grandmother who lives with her parents. Cooper moved into the apartment they had built for Grammy after she refused to move into it.
Grammy's cat has a bobbed tail. He was found as a kitten & she named him Little Boy. She snuck food to her room & fed him snacks until his stomach almost touched the ground.
Cooper went for the first time to the Bible study group & met an eclectic group of people.
One was a tall, attractive young man named Nathan Dexter.
She decided it was time for new beginnings so threw away a full pack of Camels & the Bic with it. In the group she met Jake, a detective novel addict. He is a plumber & electrician. He also decided to quit smoking using a nicotine patch & chewing nicotine gum.
"Listen. There is no right or wrong answer to these things, girlie." Grammy hitched up her navy blue knee-highs & licked her finger in order to rub a spot of dirt from her shoe. "This is about bein' on a path--not getting to the end of it."
"I like that," Cooper said. "You're pretty smart, Grammy."
In the bible study group there is a discussion about heaven. "I reckon there's music there too,' Jake said & cleared his throat. 'Like we've never heard before. I bet it's so beautiful that it fills you up inside." I liked that description because there are some melodies that have done that to me here on earth.
Nathan comments that Cooper's eyes are really cool. She had an injury with a field hockey stick in junior high & received ocular transplant surgery. Her left eye was almost colorless blue. "But the other eye...was a shimmering green. It was exotic--invoking images of lush jungles flecked with firefly light or the green shallows of tropical waters." She wore a colored contact to make them match when she dated her former boyfriend. Now she lets her individuality show.
In an attempt to solve the murder of a church member, Nathan & Cooper see Cindi's Honda Civic. "Cindi's after money, I'm sure of that, & she's only acting this way to provide a better life for her kids. Even so, she doesn't know that this sugar daddy has a dark side worse than Darth Vader"
Can the Bible Study group members find out the identity of the murderer without coming to harm? Can Cooper come to terms with her new single life? Will Cooper fit in with the other group members?
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O...
It is a revised edition of a book previously titled Stirring Up Strife by Jennifer Stanley published by St. Martin's Press.
The main character is Cooper Lee & she has a dilemma. She hoped for a fresh start after her boyfriend left her. Her job as an office machine repairman was boring so she joined a Bible study group. The woman who invited her to the Hope Street Church, Brooke Hughes, is found dead. The prime suspect is her husband, Wesley who is an elder at the church. The Bible study group wants to help him.
Ashley Elizabeth is Cooper's younger sister. Her husband is Lincoln. Magnolia "Maggie" Lee is her mother who does daily baking & takes some of her cookies to the "folks at the Alzheimer's home."
"Why?" Ashley's perfect lips screwed into a smirk. "They won't remember eating them."
"Ashley Elizabeth!" Mrs. Lee shook her rolling pin at her daughter. Don't you say ugly things like that in my kitchen."
Then Ashley proceeded to meddle in Cooper's life. She was embarrassed that her sister worked as a copier repairman.
Earl is Cooper's soft spoken father. Grammy is Earl's mother & Cooper's irascible grandmother who lives with her parents. Cooper moved into the apartment they had built for Grammy after she refused to move into it.
Grammy's cat has a bobbed tail. He was found as a kitten & she named him Little Boy. She snuck food to her room & fed him snacks until his stomach almost touched the ground.
Cooper went for the first time to the Bible study group & met an eclectic group of people.
One was a tall, attractive young man named Nathan Dexter.
She decided it was time for new beginnings so threw away a full pack of Camels & the Bic with it. In the group she met Jake, a detective novel addict. He is a plumber & electrician. He also decided to quit smoking using a nicotine patch & chewing nicotine gum.
"Listen. There is no right or wrong answer to these things, girlie." Grammy hitched up her navy blue knee-highs & licked her finger in order to rub a spot of dirt from her shoe. "This is about bein' on a path--not getting to the end of it."
"I like that," Cooper said. "You're pretty smart, Grammy."
In the bible study group there is a discussion about heaven. "I reckon there's music there too,' Jake said & cleared his throat. 'Like we've never heard before. I bet it's so beautiful that it fills you up inside." I liked that description because there are some melodies that have done that to me here on earth.
Nathan comments that Cooper's eyes are really cool. She had an injury with a field hockey stick in junior high & received ocular transplant surgery. Her left eye was almost colorless blue. "But the other eye...was a shimmering green. It was exotic--invoking images of lush jungles flecked with firefly light or the green shallows of tropical waters." She wore a colored contact to make them match when she dated her former boyfriend. Now she lets her individuality show.
In an attempt to solve the murder of a church member, Nathan & Cooper see Cindi's Honda Civic. "Cindi's after money, I'm sure of that, & she's only acting this way to provide a better life for her kids. Even so, she doesn't know that this sugar daddy has a dark side worse than Darth Vader"
Can the Bible Study group members find out the identity of the murderer without coming to harm? Can Cooper come to terms with her new single life? Will Cooper fit in with the other group members?
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O...
February 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and the characters that are in it. I wasn't sure about this when a friend told me about it, but I took advantage of the fact that it was $1.99 and figured I wasn't out a lot if it ended up sucking.
What I liked best about this was that even though the people who are solving the crimes are a Bible-study group, there is no preaching in this. There is no one trying to be better than anyone else. There is no condemnation for people when they reveal they are human. THAT is the kind of church I wish I could find; it would be a refreshing change.
The mystery was good - I did not have any of it figured out until the reveal was happening and that is becoming more rare with each cozy I read, so I was pretty happy.
The narrator is meh, but since I cannot read physical books right now, I will have to put up with it. :-)
What I liked best about this was that even though the people who are solving the crimes are a Bible-study group, there is no preaching in this. There is no one trying to be better than anyone else. There is no condemnation for people when they reveal they are human. THAT is the kind of church I wish I could find; it would be a refreshing change.
The mystery was good - I did not have any of it figured out until the reveal was happening and that is becoming more rare with each cozy I read, so I was pretty happy.
The narrator is meh, but since I cannot read physical books right now, I will have to put up with it. :-)
August 3, 2017
Should only be sold in Christian book stores or with a warning label. Incredibly boring to a non-Christian.
May 20, 2020
A new to me series by Ellery Adams. Pretty good. Interesting characters. This is also, what I would call, a Christian book. It is. It is nicely done.
November 2, 2020
This is a spruced up version of retro read, Stirring Up Strife by Jennifer Stanley. It's been over decade since the book was first released so there are some fun archaic technology references. :-) Love Cooper's unusual occupation -- photocopier repair person -- and the gruff demeanor that masks a very tender heart. She finds herself a part of a bible study with an eclectic mix of folks who don't quite have their act together either. Love that nice slice of real life struggles paired with people who want to get it right but often don't. The mystery i solid and compelling and the way the group ends up investigating is plausible. Throw in a nice blend of humour and the promise of romance and call me a happy reader!
May 31, 2025
The first in a new series has me captivated!! Loved the church setting and how well it was represented. The twist and who was behind it all really got me! Wow! This is one author who I enjoy immensely!
April 12, 2020
Such a fun mystery that kept me guessing!
December 30, 2018
I've never read a religious based mystery series. it's a good start, I'm curious to see the types of cases that come up.
January 20, 2022
Lots of mystery! I was disappointed by the language however.
March 31, 2023
Enjoyed.
Library book.
Library book.
September 11, 2021
3.5 stars
February 17, 2025
A sweet cozy mystery. A great distraction on a long drive back home from the Bay Area.
October 26, 2014
The Path Of The Crooked by Ellery Adams is the first book in the Hope Street Church Mysteries series and I enjoyed it. I did not feel like it was too preachy but it gave some good reminders of how we should live our lives. And we could all use some reminders from time to time.
Cooper Lee is struggling to get over the breakup with her long term boyfriend. She wants him back and does not know how to enjoy her life without him. Her family encourages her to forget about him and find new interests and activities. She decides to quit smoking and join a Bible study group at a new church to make new friends. The first meeting she attends is not what she expected. A member of the group has been murdered and the husband has been arrested. With the help of her new friends she decides to try to solve the murder because she believes the police are wrong about the husband being guilty.
I enjoyed reading about the relationships in Cooper’s life. Her sister, Ashley, means well but she is constantly offering advice to Cooper about clothes, makeup and men. Cooper is not really interested in listening to her. Her Grammy is a quirky character and is very willing to offer her advice freely to Cooper. Her coworkers are close and are willing to help each other out as needed. Then there are the people in the Bible study group. They accept Cooper into the group and she soon considers them her friends. Especially Nathan, who could become more than a friend if Cooper could forget her feelings for her ex.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The characters are well developed and well rounded and, in my opinion, made the book so good. The interactions between the characters seemed realistic and held my interest. The mystery ia carried on throughout the book and I was not able to figure out the killer until it was revealed at the end.
This is the first book that I have read by Ellery Adams and I already have the next two books in the series to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a clean cozy mystery.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Cooper Lee is struggling to get over the breakup with her long term boyfriend. She wants him back and does not know how to enjoy her life without him. Her family encourages her to forget about him and find new interests and activities. She decides to quit smoking and join a Bible study group at a new church to make new friends. The first meeting she attends is not what she expected. A member of the group has been murdered and the husband has been arrested. With the help of her new friends she decides to try to solve the murder because she believes the police are wrong about the husband being guilty.
I enjoyed reading about the relationships in Cooper’s life. Her sister, Ashley, means well but she is constantly offering advice to Cooper about clothes, makeup and men. Cooper is not really interested in listening to her. Her Grammy is a quirky character and is very willing to offer her advice freely to Cooper. Her coworkers are close and are willing to help each other out as needed. Then there are the people in the Bible study group. They accept Cooper into the group and she soon considers them her friends. Especially Nathan, who could become more than a friend if Cooper could forget her feelings for her ex.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The characters are well developed and well rounded and, in my opinion, made the book so good. The interactions between the characters seemed realistic and held my interest. The mystery ia carried on throughout the book and I was not able to figure out the killer until it was revealed at the end.
This is the first book that I have read by Ellery Adams and I already have the next two books in the series to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a clean cozy mystery.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Beyond The Page Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 17, 2015
Cozy mystery about a group of amateur sleuths from the Hope Street church brings refreshing and funny read.
Copier repairperson Cooper Lee, freshly dumped by her boyfriend, is back to her parents´s place and don´t know how to cope with loveless life. Chance meeting with lovely client introduces her to join the Sunrise, Bible-studying group at Hope Street Church. Just shortly after her joining, the group is shocked to realize that Brooke Hughes (aka the lovely client) was found murdered and her husband is suspected to be the killer. Knowing the couple for years as good people and couple in love (and Cooper positively influenced by the victim´s personality), the group decides to do some sleuthing on their own. Visiting places and meeting people, they are sure to bring the fresh wind into the in the sails of investigation! And maybe Cooper will be given more, having the nice and shy Nathan as her co-sleuth in-arms?
What I loved about the book was very fresh humour and the gallery of cozy and colourful characters! I especially love the tough, yet loving Grammy and the Sunrisers (especially posh Trish and gentle Savannah). The tone is very kind and calm, yet refreshing, like a cup of lovely sweet tea.
As for the mystery - actually it was quite good and the solution was unexpected.
I find the book being lightly Christian - I mean there is no real mention of God´s transforming power (which I would like), but just the gentle touching, which is readable for non-believers as well on the other side.
I will read the whole series and i am looking forward to the ride.
Copier repairperson Cooper Lee, freshly dumped by her boyfriend, is back to her parents´s place and don´t know how to cope with loveless life. Chance meeting with lovely client introduces her to join the Sunrise, Bible-studying group at Hope Street Church. Just shortly after her joining, the group is shocked to realize that Brooke Hughes (aka the lovely client) was found murdered and her husband is suspected to be the killer. Knowing the couple for years as good people and couple in love (and Cooper positively influenced by the victim´s personality), the group decides to do some sleuthing on their own. Visiting places and meeting people, they are sure to bring the fresh wind into the in the sails of investigation! And maybe Cooper will be given more, having the nice and shy Nathan as her co-sleuth in-arms?
What I loved about the book was very fresh humour and the gallery of cozy and colourful characters! I especially love the tough, yet loving Grammy and the Sunrisers (especially posh Trish and gentle Savannah). The tone is very kind and calm, yet refreshing, like a cup of lovely sweet tea.
As for the mystery - actually it was quite good and the solution was unexpected.
I find the book being lightly Christian - I mean there is no real mention of God´s transforming power (which I would like), but just the gentle touching, which is readable for non-believers as well on the other side.
I will read the whole series and i am looking forward to the ride.
February 20, 2015
This was a good book, albeit a bit of a peculiar take on the murder-mystery genre. Cooper Lee is a copy-machine repair-woman. She loves her job, even though her girly-girl sister thinks it is completely un-feminine. But Cooper's life is coming a little unglued - her boyfriend of 5 years has just walked out of her life with another girl, her Visa bill is out of control, and she doesn't know what to do with herself except work. Until the only person who ever actually noticed her while on the job - a lovely woman named Brooke - invites her to church.
But don't worry - the book doesn't get all church-y from that point on. Cooper's involvement with the Bible study group at church is the source of the story's momentum without being preachy or over-done. When Brooke is murdered and her husband arrested for the crime, the Bible study group decides that someone had better prove his innocence. And this group is full of people who are interesting, imperfect and full of unplumbed depths. Watching the character growth & development throughout the book was almost better than the mystery itself, which I figured out before the end of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the story very much, and I'm planning to seek out the next book in the series. How could I not, when Jennifer Stanley is really one of my favorite mystery authors, Ellery Adams, in disguise?!
But don't worry - the book doesn't get all church-y from that point on. Cooper's involvement with the Bible study group at church is the source of the story's momentum without being preachy or over-done. When Brooke is murdered and her husband arrested for the crime, the Bible study group decides that someone had better prove his innocence. And this group is full of people who are interesting, imperfect and full of unplumbed depths. Watching the character growth & development throughout the book was almost better than the mystery itself, which I figured out before the end of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed the story very much, and I'm planning to seek out the next book in the series. How could I not, when Jennifer Stanley is really one of my favorite mystery authors, Ellery Adams, in disguise?!
December 1, 2010
Heroine Cooper Lee is a 30 something with an unusual job. She repairs copiers and other office machines. She,s long ago left church behind, like most peole of her generation despite being raised in a religious family. Cooper meets a very friendly church goer at one of her job sites and the women invites her to her church. Cooper decides to go but comes an hour to early and ends up in a bible study group meeting. This is a mix of eclectic people who would otherwise have very little to do with one another if not for their shared faith . Areal estate diva, rich banker, blind artist, and a computer geek among others. Their authentic friendship attracts Cooper despite her misgivings about getting to involved with the church and she stays becoming a supporting member of the church.
October 14, 2014
The first book in the Hope Street Church Mystery is a Christian cozy with romance. As is a rewrite the characters and environment are well developed. The message of hope was presented throughout the book and at time it overwhelmed you. Cooper Lee is at major junction of life when she meets Brooks Harper who invites her to the Hope Street Church. After she joins the Bible study group Brooks is shot dead. The police arrest her husband and the members of group do not agree. They decided to investigate while helping those in need. Coopr and the group must the answer before are more deaths.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Beyond The Page through Netgalley for a honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Beyond The Page through Netgalley for a honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
February 6, 2010
The strength of Stirring up Strife is in its strong plot, and while all of the characters have some relationship to it, we also feel they have their own lives. Stanley does an excellent job of balancing our introduction to these lives (such as Cooper's parents, various members of the Bible study group, etc.) and offering action and clues to solve the mystery. One of the best subplots is Cooper's second chance at love with a member of the Bible study group; we are cheering for her all the way. Stanley is also great at evoking the atmosphere of urban Richmond, Virginia, the setting for this series.
January 15, 2018
Potentially good line up for some 'quirky' character interaction, reasonable(ish) cozy plot, and the requesite conflicted heroine ripe for a romantic journey - but the execution was just plain flat. It just didn't come to life for me at all. Further, my willingness to just go with it was not was not helped by the amazingly try-hard, unsubtle moralising every other page. As a reader I actually really enjoy finding personal meaning and 'lessons' if you like, in the books that I read. However I don't appreciate feeling the writer is trying to ram the message down my throat because I might not be quite bright enough to notice it for myself. I'm sorry, but no.
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