Cover Image: Black Beans & Vice

Black Beans & Vice

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Member Reviews

Fun with light humor and a dash of murder is the perfect recipe for this book.

In this series, Supper Club Mysteries, a group of small town residents, with a little bit of a weight problem, decide to form a supper club to learn to eat right and get healthy. Little did they know, they would become the town sleuths as well.

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I have read one of Ellery Adams' other series (Book & Secret Scone Society), so I thought I'd also enjoy this one. I usually don't have any issues jumping into a later book of a series as the author usually does just enough of a recap to catch you up.

However, I think that is the reason this book didn't work for me. This book seemed to be mostly focused on the relationships of the characters and I just didn't have enough background information to keep me interested.

Had there been more mystery, I think I would have enjoyed it more.

This is the fault of the reader though, not the book. The writing was good so I am giving it 3 stars.

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I still love this series even after 6 books. I love how the lives of the Flab 5 have developed through the series and this addition is no exception. This is definitely a feel good series for me (well besides the murders of course!).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

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I read this series when it was released as written by J.B. Stanley and I enjoyed reading it as much the second time around. These books are well-written and has a great 'cast' of characters with enjoyable mysteries. I love how the characters continue to grow through out this series. It's nice to see how comfortable the characters are with each other.

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This is a great addition to the Supper Club Mystery series. Book 6 has the gang looking for a new diet plan and enjoying Quincy Gap's beautiful setting in Virginia. Jane and James are rekindling their romance and enjoying their son Eliot. Animal rights and the vegan lifestyle highlight this book as the Supper Club investigates another murder. This book was originally published in 2010 and I'm glad they are bringing back the entire series under the author Ellery Adams who originally wrote these as J.B. Stanley. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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If the Scooby Doo Mystery Inc gang had been created in this day and age and then aged up to their 40's it would be the Quincy's Gap Supper Club friends. A great group of friends with varied backgrounds and love of food, fun, friendship, and solving murders. The group is trying to balance their love of good food with great health and are making a group commitment to work towards thinner and healthier goals. Not only do they try the Mediterranean diet but also a little hypno therapy to curb carbs and slate their desire for sugary sweets at the Wellness Village. Unfortunately they encounter not only some animal rights extremists but also the body of the mayor who may or may not have been playing loose and fast with the town finances. There are side stories aplenty from stalking to stealing and other such fun bits in between. Excellent read with a story that didn't slow down once.

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The Supper Club has decided that it's time to try hypnosis or something close to try to control their weight issues, so they all sign up with the herbalist/hypnotist in the Wellness Village. Things are progressing well until during the Food Festival a local councilman is found dead. The Supper club thinks chewing on clues could distract them from other foods.

The personal story of the characters is flowing well and fits cleverly with the mystery. I love seeing James Henry with Jane and their son, Eliot.

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I simply adore this series! Yummy food, delightful characters, all mixed with a great mystery to solve. This series keeps getting better and better and I can’t wait to see what Ellery Adams cooks up next.

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I enjoyed this addition to the supper club series.
I like how the author makes all the characters come to life.
James Henry is one of my favorite characters and I am so happy that he has finally found true love.
This story made me laugh and cry, a sure sign that the story is a winner.

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Another entertaining Supper Club story from Ellery Adams. I started this series on Audible and have enjoyed these easy, cozy mysteries! I really enjoy the characters and recipes since I enjoy cooking too. I would advise not to read these on an empty stomach as you will soon be starving.

I need to try some of Ellery Adams other series since she has several.

Thank you to Beyond the page Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this one! I am excited to read #7 now!

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E-book/Cozy Mystery/ARC: This is my first Ellery Adams book and if your name is Ellery, you better have written a great mystery. I have seen her books around and I think I have a Bay Mystery around here somewhere. The author did a great job introducing the five main characters of the Supper Club considering this is the sixth book in the series. It is narrated in third person and 95% of the book is seeing things through the character James. I enjoyed all the characters and wanted to know more about this group and the town they live in.

I requested this book from NetGalley because I like black beans and I'm on a diet. I am not a vegetarian but I do eat several meatless meals a week. The son becomes a vegetarian and the family eats chickpea burgers which a chapter was named after. I really wanted to try the recipe only to see that was not one listed in the back of the book.

The book is more like a Charlaine Harris mystery where you meet several characters and there are several plots going on and the murder is just part of the story. I really don't understand what the cover and title have to do with the plot because while James does eat black bean chili, there is no real vice in the book, just murder. I did wish there was more of a description of the town and the summer heat to really make me feel like I was there.

There were several loose ends by the end of the book and I am curious of each book lands on a different character (this one being mostly about James). It was a light, easy read and I do recommend it for the cozy fan. I'm still sad about the chickpea burger.

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Another enjoyable read by the fab five or better yet the super club, these guys continue to solve these mysteries with their simply forms of deduction and their focus to details. This time James newly found relationship with his new found son and the reawakening attraction with his ex-wife is at risk. With the death of their councilman, following soon after, by that of the energetic animal rights activist, it was up to the superclub to combined their usual smarts and their keen sense of deduction along with their logical way of thinking in sifting out the culprits. This mildly intriguing and entertaining book would help you to enjoy the lazy summer days by your poolside, garden, on the beach or just a cozy afternoon with tea.

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It's been fun to see the relationships between all the characters in this series develop. They're funny and each have their own unique personalities, even the peripheral characters to the stories, outside of the five members of the supper club. While the stories are cheesy and the mysteries and their solutions are not entirely plausible/realistic, they're still entertaining. Each book has two mysteries going on, one the more serious murder mystery and the other something to do with one of the supper club members, something less serious. The recipes in the back of this one are varied, from desserts to vegetarian, but each relates to a part of the book where the dish is mentioned. Several dishes mentioned in the book do not have recipes, so I personally would love to see more recipes included. Each chapter heading is titled relating to some food mentioned in that chapter, though only about 5 recipes were included in the book and there are 19 chapters (including the epilogue), so, based on a few other cooking series I've read, I'd love to see more recipes. There are lots of new changes for the supper club members in this book, with surprises all the way up to the end, so it'll be fun to see what happens to the supper club in the next book!

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Black Beans and Vice by Ellery Adams is the sixth A Supper Club Mystery. The members of the Supper Club are having trouble with sugar (eating too much of it) and Lindy Perez suggests they try hypnotherapy at the new Wellness Village. They each meet with hypnotherapist, Harmony York and soon discover that it does work (if they follow her instructions). James and Jane are surprised when their son, Eliot states he no longer wishes to eat meat after going to Fay Sunray’s show in Nashville with his grandparents (it seems she included a personal message at the end). They support his decision and embrace the new meatless lifestyle for themselves. The threesome attends the Fresh Food Festival at the Wellness Village and are enjoying the day despite the protestors at the entrance. Then James discovers Councilman Ned Woodman dead in the handicapped stall of the restroom. James and the members of the Supper Club are ready to sink their teeth into a new case (better than sugary snacks). Before they can narrow down the suspect list, another individual is found murdered. Can they root out the killer before he strikes again?

Black Beans and Vice is an entertaining cozy mystery with delightful characters. It is always pleasant to visit Quincy’s Gap and catch up with James Henry, Lindy, Bennett, Lucy, and Gillian along with Jackson Henry, Jane, Eliot, and Scott and Francis Fitzgerald. I like the relationship between James and Jane. I enjoy the scenes between James and his son, Eliot. It is sweet watching them get acquainted. The characters are well-developed, friendly, each with unique personalities and relatable. I especially like Scott and Francis Fitzgerald (such clever guys). The new character, Fern Dickenson is a good addition to the series. She is the perfect counterpart for another character in the book (I do not want to spoil it for you). Black Beans and Vice is a well-written and plotted story. There is quite a bit going on in this book. Someone is leaving threatening notes and dead birds for Jane and James, Eliot wanting to become a vegetarian, animal rights protestors, needing to hire a new employee for the library to replace retiring Mrs. Waxman, Sullie is transferring to Quincy’s Gap (Lucy is thrilled), Murphy Alistair has returned to town with surprising news and so much more. The mystery was appealing, and the method of murder was unique (which you know I love). However, I was able to identify the killer long before the reveal. While Black Beans and Vice is the sixth book in the series, it can be read alone. The ending will leave readers with a smile on their face. There are vegetarian recipes along with a couple of dessert recipes included at the end of the book. The Avid Reader rating for Black Beans and Vice is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I look forward to returning to Quincy’s Gap in future books in A Supper Club Mystery series.

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I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was my first read from the Supper Club Mystery Series and I loved it! I've read Ellery Adams before so I had high expectations and they were definitely met. With every book I read from this author, I'm always amazed at the depth of emotion I feel from the stories. Here I am in the middle of my work lunchroom crying like a weirdo!

I enjoyed the collection of characters. I think my favorite characters were the gamer brothers who work at the library.

James and his supper club are trying hypnosis to help them give up sugar. Honestly, I loved the idea of them trying hypnosis to retrain their bodies into not craving sugar. Throughout the book there are two bodies that show up connected to the Wellness Village where they get their hypnosis done.

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Black Beans and Vice by Ellery Adams is the #6 in the Supper Club Mystery series. I love this series and this one did not disappoint.
There is humor, a couple of different “who done its”, and romance. The story flows and the characters are likeable and relatable. Also included, are some yummy sounding vegetarian recipes.
Every time I read one in this series I want to visit Qunicy's Gap.
I was given a copy by Netgalley for an honest review.

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The series is just progressively getting better as everyone's story unfolds and relationships develop while friendships continue to grow. This story was very bittersweet in some spots but the parties involved ended up with a happily ever after or a very nice outcome. There was one little thing that remains hanging but I have no doubt that since it's been spread over several books, it'll be resolved soon. A couple of my faves were in physical danger for a bit but all became ok again.

I'm not going to write my usual synopsis since there are quite a few little subplots that I don't want to spoil for anyone but instead of the usual small mystery happening at the library, something was going on in Jane and James's lives that had to be taken care of. I didn't guess the killer at all in the main mystery and even though there was no official showdown except for Lucy telling the story, sometimes I like it that way. The police have handled it, our friends aren't in danger. I really love that Lucy became a deputy since it's caused the sheriff's department to put more faith in the five friends than they would have in the beginning. Lucy's a good deputy too and she fiercely protects her friends while doing everything within the law. I think they might have come to a truce with Murphy as well!

Moving along to the seventh and final (for now, I hope there will be more!) book.

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This is such a cute series and this book had me smiling at all the healthy food the Supper Club was trying. The mystery kept me guessing and the characters of the Supper Club entertained me with their wit and teamwork to solve the crime. I highly recommend this book and series to all mystery lovers

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This was my first book in the Supper Club Mysteries series of books. I am so glad I did read this. Great storyline, great characters, it has it all. It is written quite well and is just plain fun to read. I like the way it was written - mysterious but not intense. The characters are written very well too, I am going to read the other books in the series now and look forward to more.

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Quirky, cozy mystery with a fun cast. Perfect to read over a weekend. Black Beans and Vice takes you to a small town where murder is on the menu and it is up to a motley diet club which includes the sherif to solve the case.

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