Cozy Mystery Review ~ Better Late Than Never (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #7) by Jenn McKinlay @MckinlayJenn @BerkleyMystery @BerkleyPub

In the latest Library Lover’s Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of A Likely Story, a decades overdue book puts library director Lindsey Norris hot on the trail of a cold case...

When the Briar Creek Public Library holds its first overdue book amnesty day—no fines for late returns—the volume of incoming materials is more than Lindsey and her staff can handle. In a bind, Lindsey drafts the crafternoon ladies to help check in and sort the stacks of books.

But one tardy tome catches her attention—a copy of J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, twenty years past due. When Lindsey looks up the borrower, she’s shocked to discover it was a murdered school teacher named Candice Whitley, whose killer was never found.

Candice checked out the novel on the day she was murdered. Now Lindsey wonders if it could provide a clue to the decades-old cold case. No one noticed who brought the book back in, but could it be Candice’s killer? Lindsey is determined to catch the culprit one way or another, because justice for Candice Whitley is long overdue...

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eGNYbz

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28953443-better-late-than-never

Visit the Author's Website: https://www.jennmckinlay.com/

ASIN: ‎ B01BK0SQ90
Publisher: ‎ Berkley
Publication Date: ‎ November 1, 2016
Print Length: ‎ 297 pages

My Review & Rating:

Better Late Than Never by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Better Late Than Never is another great book in the Library Lover’s Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. I love the idea of an overdue book amnesty day. Late books can be returned without fear of a fine. The event is a hit and the sheer number of books returned overwhelms the library. Everything comes to a screeching halt when a decades-old book is found among the returns. Checked out 20 years prior, Lindsey learns the person who borrowed the book is former teacher, Candice Whitley who was murdered the same day she died. Her murdered still hasn’t been found. Now, Lindsey finds herself immersed in a cold case and she just knows the returned book the key to solving the mystery.

I enjoyed Better Late Than Never and devoured it as fast I could without compromising my ability retain the story. The characters are kind and lovable, and I love Ms. Cole. She's a character in her own right. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The continued character development allowed for me to further get to know the citizens of Briar Creek. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story. The author did a great job writing this book realistically. I'm invested in these characters and can't wait to dive into the next book.

I borrowed this book from my library.

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Cozy Mystery Review ~ A Likely Story (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #6) by Jenn McKinlay @MckinlayJenn @BerkleyMystery @BerkleyPub

 

Small-town librarian Lindsey Norris must solve a murder and a missing person's case involving two reclusive brothers.

NOT HIS BROTHER'S KEEPER

Delivering books to the housebound residents of the Thumb Islands, just a short boat ride from the town of Briar Creek, library director Lindsey Norris has befriended two elderly brothers, Stewart and Peter Rosen. She enjoys visiting them in their treasure-filled, ramshackle Victorian on Star Island until she discovers that Peter has been killed and Stewart is missing. Now she's determined to solve a murder and find Stewart before he suffers his brother's fate.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zgnAic

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24611594-a-likely-story

Visit the Author's Website: https://www.jennmckinlay.com/

ASIN: ‎ B00SI026IS
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (November 3, 2015)
Publication Date: ‎ November 3, 2015
Print Length: ‎ 293 pages

Read an Excerpt on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zgnAic

My Review and Rating: 

A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Likely Story is another great book in the Library Lover’s Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. The author sets the stage with a pair of homebound, reclusive brothers on the Thumb Islands, just off the coast of Briar Creek. As she delivers books to residents of the island, she has gotten to know them and enjoys being able to bring them books and visit while she’s there. When she delivers books to Stewart and Peter, she finds Peter is dead in the home the brothers share, and Stewart is missing. The race is on to find Stewart and find out what happened to Peter.

The setting is enjoyable, and the mystery is well-thought out. This one of those books (actually, series) that hooks you, keeps you entertained, and then suddenly, you're at the end already. Every character is great. The characters are well-developed, fun, and likeable. Written 3-dimensionally, they never fall flat or appear like cardboard cutouts.

I found myself able to connect with Lindsey, not because we are or aren’t similar or we've been down the same roads, but because she is fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The continual character development allows me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

I borrowed this book from my library.

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#CozyMystery Review ~ On Borrowed Time (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #5) by Jenn McKinlay @MckinlayJenn @BerkleyMystery

 

Loving a good cup of coffee runs in the family for Briar Creek library director Lindsey Norris. But when her brother, Jack, a consultant for a coffee company, goes missing, her favorite beverage becomes a key clue in a dangerous mystery.

Between preparing the library for the holidays and juggling the affections of ex-boyfriend, Captain Mike Sullivan, and her new crush, actor Robbie Vine, Lindsey has her hands full. But the mysterious disappearance of her world-traveling playboy brother takes precedence over all.

Afraid that involving the police could brew trouble for Jack, Lindsey takes matters into her own hands. But as her quest for her brother embroils her in a strange case involving South American business dealings and an enigmatic and exotic woman, it’ll take the help of both her library book club—the crafternooners—and her eager-to-please suitors to keep Jack from ending up in hot water…

Add to Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20500886-on-borrowed-time

Purchase from Amazon https://amzn.to/2SY1KyW

Book Details:

ASIN : 0425260739
Publisher : Berkley
Publish Date: November 4, 2014
Mass Market Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780425260739
ISBN-13 : 978-0425260739

My Rating:

It's Christmastime in Briar Creek and Lindsey Norris has a lot on her plate. Besides getting ready for the holidays, Lindsey's love life has taken a turn with not just one but two men vying for her affection. Sully and Robbie are great characters. I love the banter between the two - they are so funny! To add to her busy life, Lindsey's brother Jack pops into the library followed shortly by a dead body. Then Jack disappears. Lindsey becomes frantic in her quest to locate her brother and unravel the mystery that also involves international dealings and a mysterious stranger.

I enjoyed On Borrowed Time. The characters are kind and lovable, except Ms. Cole but she's a character in her own right and I couldn't imagine her any other way. I found myself able to connect with Lindsey and Beth, not because they are similar to me or we've been down the same roads, but because they are fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The character development allowed for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, Robbie, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

I love the continued inclusion of romantic elements, flirting, and subtlety the author softly wove throughout the book. The author did a great job writing this book realistically. I'm invested in these characters and can't wait to dive into book 6.

My review copy is courtesy of my local library.

My Rating:

#CozyMystery #Review ~ Read It and Weep (Library Lover's Mystery, Book 4) by Jenn McKinlay @BerkleyMystery

 

William Shakespeare is credited with inventing how many words?*

Answering Shakespeare trivia comes with the job description for library director Lindsey Norris. But when the Briar Creek Community Theater mounts their newest production of the Bard, she has no intention of leaving the stacks for the stage. Unfortunately a villain is waiting in the wings…

Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream—and everyone from the sour spinster librarian Ms. Cole to Lindsey’s youthful library pages are trying out for parts. Brought in to play the mischievous Puck is the flirtatious professional actor Robbie Vine, who seems to have eyes for Lindsey. Before her blush has faded, the Bard’s dream turns into a nightmare—when one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey and her crafternooners must take center stage to unmask the culprit before the final curtain call…

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: November 5, 2013
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 0425260720
ISBN-13: 978-0425260722
Purchase from Amazon
Add to Goodreads

My Review:

I absolutely loved Read It and Weep. The introduction of Robbie Vine's character just gave Sully a run for his money. I'm not usually a love triangle kind of gal (well, long-running love triangles) but Robbie is such a character that I can't wait to see what happens to between Lindsey and Robbie and Lindsey and Sully. Each guy is different in their own way, yet lovable and either could be a good match for Lindsey. I'm rooting for Sully but Robbie could grow on me.

The mystery in this book focuses on accidents that continue to plague the Briar Creek Community Theater. As the auditions end and rehearsals begin, the occurrences continue to increase in intensity. When a cast member is poisoned, Lindsey and her crafternooner friends take matters into their own hands to unveil the suspect before anyone else gets hurt. The twist at the end - OMG. The book gets 5 stars just for that alone. Don't get me wrong, the book was getting 5 stars from me anyway, but holy cow!

Read It and Weep is another great book in the series. This one of those books that hooks you, keeps you entertained, and then all of a sudden you're at the end already. Every character is great. I found myself able to connect with Lindsey and Beth, not because they are similar to me or we've been down the same roads, but because they are fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The continual character development allows for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

My review copy came from my local library.

#CozyMystery #Review ~ Book, Line and Sinker (Library Lover's Mystery, Book 3) by Jenn McKinlay ~ @BerkleyMystery

 

“Avast” in pirate speak means what?*

Answering tricky reference questions like this one provides plenty of excitement for library director Lindsey Norris. But when a shocking murder is committed in her cozy coastal town of Briar Creek, Connecticut, the question of who did it must be answered before an innocent man gets the book thrown at him...

Lindsey is enjoying her second year in Briar Creek as the library director, meeting with the crafternoon club, and happily dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan. But when a salvage company arrives in town to dig up treasure buried on Pirate Island over three hundred years ago, the locals are torn between protecting the island and welcoming the publicity.

In spite of the squabbling, Charlie Peyton, Lindsey’s downstairs neighbor, takes a job with the salvage company. But when Trudi Hargrave, the local tourism director who hired the company, is found murdered at the excavation site, Charlie becomes the chief suspect. To help him, Lindsey must do some digging of her own before the real killer buries the truth for good…

Publisher: Berkley; 1st edition 

Publish Date: December 4, 2012 

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0425251764
ISBN-13: 978-0425251768
Purchase from Amazon
Add to Goodreads

My Review:

Riordin Salvage is coming to Briar Creek with a treasure map by Captain Kidd. The treasure map is supposedly for Pirate Island - fitting don't you think?! Many residents of Briar Creek and the surrounding islands have a hard time deciding between the protection of one of the islands and the amount of publicity and tourism something like this will bring to the local businesses. When the person who invited the salvage company to the area is found slain in the excavation site, someone near and dear to both Lindsey and Sully is suspected. Lindsey knows she has to get involved to clear Charlie's name.

I enjoyed Book, Line and Sinker and devoured it as fast I could without compromising my ability to absorb and retain the story. The characters are kind and lovable, except Ms. Cole but she's a character in her own right. I found myself able to connect with Lindsey and Beth, not because they are similar to me or we've been down the same roads, but because they are fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The character development allowed for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

I love the continued inclusion of romantic elements, flirting, and subtlety the author softly wove throughout the book. The author did a great job writing this book realistically. I'm invested in these characters and can't wait to dive into book 4.

My review copy is courtesy of my local library.

Review: Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay @JennMcKinlay ~ Library Lover's Mystery, Book #1

About the Book:

Lindsey is getting into her groove as the director of the Briar Creek Public Library when a New York editor visits town, creating quite a buzz. Lindsey’s friend Beth wants to sell the editor her children’s book, but Beth’s boyfriend, a famous author, gets in the way. When they go to confront him, he’s found murdered—and Beth is the prime suspect. Lindsey has to act fast—before they throw the book at the wrong person.

Book Details:

Print Length: 306 pages

ISBN-10: 0425242188

ISBN-13: 978-0425242186

ASIN : B0051GAVCA

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date : July 5, 2011

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2G4UomJ

My Review:

Books Can Be Deceiving is the first book in the multi-book Library Lover's Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. Lindsey has only been in Briar Creek for a few months but her connection to the people and the town strong. As the library director, Lindsey has her thumb on the pulse of the town, meeting, greeting, and getting to know all library patrons. She's personable, knowledgeable, and loyal. Her friends and family mean everything to her and Lindsey has never been a fan of her friend, Beth's boyfriend, Rick. 

When Beth, has a pretty public break up with Rick, Lindsey is there to help Beth with the fallout.  Then Lindsey learns, after a meeting with an editor of children's books, that Rick is a despicable human. The next day, Lindsey and Beth ask Sully to take them to Rick's private island to confront him about what they discovered. They are not prepared for what they find - Rick's home is tossed and he's dead. Because of the public breakup and Beth finding Rick, their bumbling police captain is convinced Beth is the murderer. Lindsey knows better and begins sleuthing and working on leads the police aren't even pretending to chase down.

I enjoyed Books Can Be Deceiving. The characters are kind and lovable, except Ms. Cole but she's a character in her own right. I found myself able to connect with Lindsey and Beth, not because they are similar to me or we've been down the same roads, but because they are fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The character development allowed for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story. I completely enjoyed the scene at the art college with the professor when Beth and Lindsey walked in on a class. 

There is the potential for a romance but the author softly wove it through the book. Nothing overshadowed the murder of Rick or the sleuthing that went on as Lindsey attempted to do the job the local cops were not. She pulled a couple rookie amateur sleuth mistakes but she was a pretty smart overall. I'm invested in these characters now and already have book 2 from my local library.

My review copy is courtesy of Michigan's interlibrary loan program. Thank you MelCat!

My Rating: