3.5 stars ( )

Olivia has gone to the church with her friend Michel for the final arrangements related to Michel's wedding in a few days. While there, workmen at the church uncover a time capsule buried in the sacristy wall. Olivia notices that there is a copper box about the size of a pair of shoes, however, when several days later she is told what the historical society discovered in the time capsule, there is no mention of the copper box. Knowing that the pastor was alarmed at the time of the discovery, Olivia is concerned at the disappearance. At the same time, Olivia has to deal with her young niece's finding of a young woman on the beach who apparently was murdered. Determining that the young victim was a friend of the Historical society leader, Olivia wonders if there is a connection. More and more clues are uncovered but who do they point to?

Love the mystery created by the time capsule being unburied. The characters and their interactions kept things interesting and the intricate plot fascinating.

Looking forward to the next one! ( )

Lethal Letters is the 6th book in the 8-book Books By The Bay Mysteries series by Ellery Adams. This is by far my favorite book in the series so far! The plot was suspenseful, interesting and complex. While finding old letters and a time capsule that lead to a mystery is not a new plot device, I liked the creative way it was done in this book. It was a little bit of a different twist on an old standby with lots of suspects, twists and turns.

In my reviews of previous books I have commented that this series annoys me a little bit because it's just a bit too much like women's fiction and I felt that got in the way of the mystery portion of the plot. And I felt previous stories concentrated too much time on the relationship between the main character and her boyfriend, and their sex life. There are only so many times I want to hear about her cop lover's nipples.... This cozy series has adult situations and sex in it a lot -- not graphic....just a bit more gettin' busy than is usually in a cozy mystery series. The series is definitely a blend of women's fiction and mystery. I prefer less women's fiction/romance and more mystery.... I was happy reading this book because it really stuck to task -- finding the killer and solving the mystery about a time capsule and letters -- and the romance portion was background character development. No descriptions of men's nipples! Hooray! (Now before any men get defensive and ask me if I have a problem with mipples.....I don't. I just want more mystery....less naked time. It gets a bit melodramatic when male characters are saying flowery love stuff that no male ever says outside a bad romance novel.... This time, the blend was a bit more even. I don't think I did any eyerolls at bad dialogue the entire time. Definitely my favorite book in the series so far!

I'd definitely say this series calls for some parental guidance if a child wants to read it. PG13 probably at least. Adult situations. Sex. Some cussing. Nothing over the top. Just a bit more adult stuff than is usually in a cozy series. But....this series makes up for it with complex plots and interesting characters.

Moving on to book #7.....Writing All Wrongs. ( )

Lethal Letters examines the relationship between rich and poor in both historical and contemporary North Carolina. A time capsule leads to old secrets that the Drummonds, the local first family, would prefer to keep secret. Intrigue spans one hundred years as Olivia and the team work to solve two mysterious and tragic deaths.

It is part of the Books By the Bay Mystery series written by Ellery Adams. The series is set in coastal North Carolina and most of the books draw on local and state history and lure for the plots. Well worth the read although I listened to all but the last one. I liked the narrator a she captured the personalities of the main characters nicely. ( )

A series that has been picking up steam with each new book. Lethal Letters is #6 and the characters have found their groove. The MC, Olivia started out regarded as an ice queen by both her neighbors and the readers, but she's become friendlier and more human; she has a solid group of friends around her and family members she's only just discovered.

A time capsule discovered in a church wall is the impetus behind the mystery and the murder in Lethal Letters. The result of exposing buried secrets is tragic and a bit heartbreaking. The author goes a bit - just a bit - darker with the motivations here than you'd find in your average cozy of late and the result was a better-than-average read. I might have gone 4.5 stars but Olivia's introspections run a little close to platitudes to feel authentic; I often felt the author was just trying too hard to show Olivia was thinking deep thoughts.

The murder plot isn't cleverly plotted or twisty but I don't think it was meant to be; there's a question as to whether or not a crime was even committed, but if it was a crime there was really only a few suspects. More than a murder mystery, the plot was about long buried secrets and the lengths people will go to keep them from being exposed. ( )