This book disappointed me. I had pretty high hopes after book 1, but this really dropped the ball. For one, the whole "Ellery is being framed!" plotline was a bit tired in book 1 already, let alone repeating it in book 2. The book also took way too long to bring up the mystery. Lanyon has trouble finding the balance between the lighthearted and cozy elements and wanting to convey a realistic gravity to crime and tragedy and relationships. It doesn't work. This book is just not very cozy... Also, almost every character is played up to be annoying in a way that I think is supposed to be endearing but gets tired very quickly.