Reading Wednesday

Book Review Invasive Species by Ellery Adams

April 8, 2026

Monsters Among Us

Ellery Adams is not an author I am familiar with, but I found Invasive Species a real page turner. If you are a fan of Madeline Miller ( Circe, The Song of Achilles) or V.E. Schwabb (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil) you will likely find Adams latest work a good read. Here is my book review Invasive Species by Ellery Adams.

Long Island New York

Invasive Species is set in the small, tightly knit community of Cold Harbor in Long Island NY. A town on a bay, where everyone is trying to live an idyllic life. Four female friends are close but also in constant competition with each other.

Also in the community is an ancient and falling apart mansion, home to Mrs. Smith. But no one ever sees Mrs. Smith. In fact most people can’t remember the last time she showed her face. Who is the mysterious woman living shut up in this creepy old house?

Mrs. Smith

Of course Mrs. Smith is not who or what people think she is. Living next door, 12 year old Jill and her Nanny Una both fear and wonder about the house and the woman. When one day Mrs. Smith finally re-emergizes into the community, Jill and Una know something bad is about to happen. The community, however embraces Mrs. Smith, including inviting her to a Bar Mitzvah where every child in town will be in attendance. Something mysterious and gruesome is about to happen and Jill and Una must use every ounce of courage they can to try and save the people of Cold Harbor.