by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of the post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to order it from Amazon.

The tourist-attracting town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, deserves its reputation as a haven for those looking to heal and be rejuvenated in its hot springs and glorious views. Nora Pennington has even built her Miracle Books bookstore around her practice of bibliotherapy, in which she “prescribes” the perfect books to help customers heal from their mental and physical ailments. Perhaps that it is why it seems like such a betrayal that someone is using books to seemingly harass her friend Hester Winthrop, vandalizing copies of A Scarlet Letter with the name “Hester” cut out of every page. Nora can’t help but worry that a threatening message is being sent to Hester, one that could jeopardize the dream Little Women-themed marriage proposal she’s just been given by Deputy Jasper Andrews. Hester has only revealed her guilt and shame to her friends in their Secret, Book, and Scone Society, and while they would never disclose it they also know that it needs to be shared with the man who would be her future husband.

As much as Hester fears that revealing her secret could destroy her life, the death of an unidentified man takes the decision out of her hands. The clue of the rare 1918 book Miss Delphinium in the man’s pocket leads to even more, and it’s not long before Nora and her friends in her compassionate bookclub are led back to Hester and the secrets she hoped to escape. Nora herself is coming to realize that the recent breakup with Jedediah Craig may have given her the ability to recognize the difference between a loving relationship and being in love. Guilt and since-repaired burn scars prevented her from fully opening up her heart, but the help of her friends have helped her to lower her barriers to the possibility of true happiness with Sheriff Grant McCabe. It seems timely then, that as Valentine’s Day approaches, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society of friends and book lovers are able to share their favorite reads for couples and those singles looking to celebrate Galentine’s and Maletine’s Day.

This fifth in the series definitely appeals to those looking for a humor-filled, heart-warming tale of women bonding and supporting one another as they recover from past traumas and move on to their new futures. Not only does it include a readers discussion guide, there are Bibliotherapy reading lists for books made into movies (the books are always better, though), Literary romances (who’s to say romances aren’t always literary), not to mention Empowering Women and Bromance booklists. The novel continues to be a very inclusive mystery full of diverse characters, and readers will be able to relate with at least one of the sympathetic and well-developed characters. This is the perfect read for bibliophiles and readers looking for a complex mystery, fantastic book suggestions, and a finale filled with optimism for the future.

To enter to win a copy of The Vanishing Type, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “vanishing,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 14, 2022. U.S. residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode went up this week.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.