Dear Readers,
Have you finished Ellencrest? My biggest request this month is a brief, honest review on Amazon. A sentence or two about your experience is enough. For a debut author, each reader’s review can help someone else decide whether to give the book a try.
Two readers have already shared these encouraging words:
“Shrader captures the quirks of a small town and its residents, and the conclusion makes sense without being obvious.”
“It’s a great short read and it was easy for me to imagine the scenes taking place.” — Jeff Shrader, my brother
Those comments made my day. Now I’d love to hear your own impressions of Shad, the town, and the mystery.
If you haven’t met Shadrach Posey yet, he’s a retired detective who moves to a little riverside town to write. As you might imagine, his plans for a quiet retirement don’t last very long!
If that sounds like your kind of small-town cozy mystery, Ellencrest is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback editions. You’ll find the links at JamesShraderBooks.com.
To leave a review, open Ellencrest’s Amazon page, go to Customer reviews, and choose “Write a customer review.” Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your honest thoughts.
Meanwhile, I’m busy revising Shad’s next adventure, Secrets on the River, with publication planned for February 10, 2027. We’ll be back in Ellencrest and on Castor Island, where the St. Lawrence has another secret to surrender. I’m enjoying sorting through the clues and spending more time with the town’s residents. There’s plenty happening beneath that quiet small-town surface!
A little inside news for subscribers…
Ellencrest is only the beginning! As the series unfolds, Shad’s adventures will take him to Newton Falls, a small town in eastern Ohio, and even into the heart of downtown Cleveland. Along the way, he’ll return to Ellencrest and nearby Rushton, where the locals will give him plenty to contend with.
There are currently five novellas in the series, including Ellencrest, with the others awaiting their turn for revision and publication—and more adventures planned.
Shad’s been writing, too!
Even while investigating, Shad finds time to work on his own mysteries. Grainger, Gizmo, and the Golden Goblet is the fruit of his labor, featuring private investigator Miles Grainger and his Welsh terrier companion, Gizmo. So you can read about Shad’s adventures—and then read a cozy mystery he’s written himself!
As a subscriber, you received a link to this free story in your welcome email. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, Grainger and Gizmo are waiting to meet you. And if you can’t find the link, just let me know.
Shad will keep writing as the series unfolds. His next story will be Grainger, Gizmo, and the Dangling Diplomat. How does a diplomat end up dangling? You’ll have to wait for that one—but I’ll be sharing more with you as it takes shape!
Come have a chat on the website.
The comment section on the website’s News page is open to everyone—no subscription needed. Stop by to ask a question, talk about the books, or simply say hello. You’re welcome to chat with me and with each other—I’d enjoy having some company there!
Know someone who enjoys small-town cozy mysteries? Please pass this along. They can subscribe at JamesShraderBooks.com and receive their own free copy of Grainger, Gizmo, and the Golden Goblet.
Thanks for subscribing, reading, and cheering me on. It’s a pleasure to have you along for Shad’s adventures.
James