Elizabeth Spann Craig

Librarian Ann Beckett loves her job. Spending all day surrounded by books, helping patrons to socialise or discover the resources available, finding new books to recommend and being part of the community makes her happy - even if she doesn't have many close friends or a partner to share with. She just wishes everyone else would agree and stop trying to set her up on blind dates. But when her latest blind date results in death, her curiosity is aroused and she finds herself in the middle of a show more murder investigation, sleuthing her way to the guilty party.

Elizabeth Spann Craig is pretty much my go to when I want a relaxing cosy mystery with a decent plot and funny characters. And the first book of the Village Library Mysteries is no exception. Plus it's based in a library. I mean it's hard not to love it for that alone.

Ann was great. I liked her humour and easy going attitude. Her sleuthing was low key nosy and it suited her style. The cast of characters were all great as well - I loved the library manager, Wilson, the children's librarian, Luna and the police chief, Burton and I adored the sense of community the library fostered. I'm not a cat person but I enjoyed the inclusion of the library cat and how he won over the patrons and Wilson into keeping him about. Plus I loved the discussions about books and movies - like Ann I'm always on the lookout for recommendations to add to my reading/watching list. You know that list that's thousands and thousands of books and movies long. But of course, new reccs.

The plot was well constructed and kept me entertained sleuthing along with Ann. I didn't guess who it was but then I very rarely do. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the investigation and the reveal of the guilty party.

An enjoyable start to a new cosy mystery series. 4 stars. show less

Retired schoolteacher Myrtle Clover is not ready to be shuffled off to an assisted living home in her small Southern town.

Her son Red, who’s also the police chief, decides to sign her up for the Altar Guild and United Methodist Women to keep her busy. But, Myrtle wants nothing to do with that.

Over night a village of a hundred gnomes mysteriously appear in Myrtle’s yard to the horror of Red, who lives across the street. The ceramic gnomes are Myrtle’s way of showing her son she show more disapproves of what he’s done.

Despite her misgivings, Myrtle stomps off to the church for the United Methodist Women meeting. She’s not looking forward to it because of Parke Stockard, who seems to be taking over everything in town.

Parke is already at the church. But, she’s sprawled on the floor dead.

No one seems to be grieving over the deceased. In fact, Myrtle sees Parke’s death as a way to prove her independence to Red. She’ll solve the murder before he does.

Myrtle begins her investigation (snooping) into the life of Parke Stockard. Soon the octogenarian Holmes decides she needs a “Mr. Watson” to help solve the murder or at least to drive her around. She enlist the help of her new neighbor, who has all the local widows swooning.

Before long the suspect list is growing and the body count is going up as well.

Red’s “red herrings” backfires and Myrtle closes in on the killer.

Author Elizabeth Spann Craig throws together a cast of zany church members, a frazzled daughter-in-law with a rowdy two-year-old, and a French exchange student for the makings of a laugh-out-loud murder mystery. The antics of the 80-something-year-old Myrtle leaves you holding your breath one minute and shaking your head the next.

“Pretty Is As Pretty Dies” is a cozy mystery that will have you guessing “Who dun ‘it” until the end.

Having never been a gnome person before, they now have a quirky place in my heart. Every time I see one, I’ll wonder what mystery Myrtle is solving now.

Grab a glass of sweet tea and a copy of “Pretty Is As Pretty Dies” for an enjoyable read and a wonderful, witty new character to love.

Myrtle Clover is not your typical grandmother. show less

Myrtle Clover is just the type of crafty, snoopy little old lady that you have to laugh at... and give thanks that she doesn't belong to you. Even though her son Red has told all of his police officers not to say a word about this murder investigation to his mother, Myrtle still finds out bits and pieces of information that spur her on. This woman is sharp-- and she's not above playing the age card when she thinks it will get her what she wants. There always seems to be someone who falls for show more the "confused little old lady" or the "worn out little old lady," and once they do, Myrtle swoops in for the kill. Metaphorically speaking, that is.

The mystery's a good one, with a long list of suspects, but it's Myrtle who's the star of A Dyeing Shame. If you're in the mood for some fast-paced fun, this is one old lady to spend the afternoon with. Just make sure your house can withstand a snoop-through. show less

I must be in a mood, because the high ratings and glowing reviews of this book disagree with my assessment. And my assessment is this book is bad.

Myrtle Clover is the worst. She's judgmental, and insufferable, and bitchy to everyone. I would never spend a half second with her. She's especially horrible to her hired help and her daughter-in-law. She seems to be less horrible to her only friend, Miles, but not by much. The best thing I can say about this book is I got it for free. So long, show more Myrtle. Enjoy the rest of your busybody life of meddling and judgment alone. show less