A Murder for the Books
2 Stars

Amy Webber, the new library director in the historic town of Taylorsford, Virginia, is struggling to run the charming library, which is short of funds yet long on eccentric patrons. The situation is made even more difficult when she, together with her handsome new neighbor, Richard Muir, discovers a body in the archives building. As Amy and Richard become embroiled in the investigation, questions arise regarding its connection to both of their families. Who would want to kill a batty old lady, and how is it connected to a decades-old murder case?

Unfortunately, the slow-pacing, predictable plot and lack of chemistry between the hero and heroine make an otherwise interesting premise fall flat.

The first half of the book focuses on introducing the excessively large cast of characters as well as several mystery threads that ultimately coalesce, but nevertheless require a chart to keep track. While these plotlines have potential, the details are provided in drips and drabs, and it is easy to lose interest. Moreover, the eventual explanations are overly convoluted, and the villains easy to guess due to the heavy foreshadowing. Finally, the inclusion of a paranormal element is completely out of place in an otherwise conventional cozy-mystery.

Amy and Richard are both appealing characters, but their slow-burn romance is also disappointing. It starts out well with some sweet and endearing moments, but ultimately gets lost in all of the other threads.

Overall, this is not a satisfying read and if I hadn't been reading it for a challenge, I would have DNF'd. ( )

Well written for a first book. The characters & town are memorable and the plot was believable. I was not taken with the reader of the audio version. ( )

Anyone who claims there are no stupid questions has never worked in a public library.

And with that opening line, I was sold. The book held on to the promise. Our heroine isn't out there trying to solve the murders. She trusts the local police. Her sleuthing is following her curiosity which leads back to the murders, as well as a long unsolved one. She, her aunt, her friend, and the people around them are delightful. Her love interest is dreamy and smart. The mystery itself had me on a few turns as well.

Basically, this was a perfect mystery and I can't wait to delve into the rest of the series and the author's backlist. ( )

A likeable ‘cozy murder mystery’ but it lacked something! The second half was the best, things happening with a bit more punch and with the mystery part getting convoluted it made for rapid reading to get to the facts. What was lacking? It’s hard to put my finger on it. Possibly the characterisation or the dialogue? At times the conversation didn’t sound realistic to me and although the characters were all believable, they just felt a little on the light side, lightly drawn, not a lot of depth if you know what I mean. I wanted to read through to the end and felt no desire to leave it unfinished. I’d call it a good holiday read. ( )

This is the first book of The Cozy Mystery Bookclub for 2019 and I am so glad that this was chosen. Here we follow Amy the Director of the Library in Taylorford. After a pretty nasty breakup she is forced to move from one job into another and to head to her family's homestead to help her Aunt Lydia recover from a nasty fall.

She is bound and determined to make her life in Taylorford something to be proud of while mending her broken heart. She has vowed to herself to not date men for the time being.

This is new Amy is thrown off course when a handsome new neighbor, Richard, shows up at the library wanting to do some research on an old murder case. However this is sort of paused as they stumble onto a body of an elderly woman in the archives building.

Somehow the Past and Present intermingle in this cozy and I am living for it. There were so many different mysteries within this book that the author successfully combined into the main mystery of the murder.

I loved the heat between Amy and Richard. I love the relationship between Amy and her Aunt Lydia. I loved learning about the history of the family, the town, and the mysterious deaths that happened throughout the book and time.

This is a newer Cozy Mystery series started in 2017 and I have already purchased book two that was released last summer. I am eager to dive into this series and follow it as it goes. ( )