Ellery Adams Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Ellery Adams books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

Ellery Adams writes the kind of books that feel like a warm hug, like visiting a small town where everyone knows each other. Her stories are a mix of mystery and heart and often take place near the ocean – even though she hasn’t always lived by the sea. She grew up near Long Island Sound but later moved to towns far from the coast. But the ocean shows up in her writing. When you read her coastal mystery books you can almost smell the salt air and hear the waves.

Before she became a full-time writer Ellery had all sorts of jobs. She taught school, tutored, wrote technical stuff, sold cars and even helped with catering. But one thing she always did was write. Whether it was poems, kids’ stories or early drafts of books she always created characters and places that would later turn into full stories.

One of her most popular series is Books by the Bay and it starts with A Killer Plot. The story takes place in Oyster Bay, a quiet town in North Carolina. The main character is Olivia Limoges, a wealthy and mysterious woman who’s just moved back to town. She brings her black poodle, Captain Havilland, everywhere with her. People in town are curious about her and she’s not the type to open up easily – but you root for her anyway.

Things in Oyster Bay don’t stay peaceful for long. Murders start to happen and Olivia gets involved. She joins a local writers group after meeting a man named Camden Ford and the group ends up helping her with more than just writer’s block. When strange haikus start showing up at the crime scenes the group uses their writing skills to look for clues.

Ellery Adams doesn’t just write about solving crimes – she writes about people. Her characters feel real – from waitresses on roller skates to quiet tech nerds and chatty bartenders. You get pulled into their lives and their friendships grow alongside the mystery. It’s not just about who did it but what it means and how it affects the people in the town.The second book A Deadly Cliché continues the story. This time Olivia finds a body buried in the sand. Strange items show up at different crime scenes – a spoon, a butter knife, a missing card from a deck. Each item is connected to a cliché and again Olivia turns to her writing group to help her figure it all out. Meanwhile she’s also thinking more about her missing father which adds another layer to the story.

What makes Ellery Adams’ books special is how she mixes mystery with emotion. There’s tension and suspense but also kindness, connection and personal growth. Through Olivia we see how writing isn’t just about telling stories – it’s about understanding people, healing and finding your place.