September 15, 2024
Library director Lindsey Norris feels she must warn Briar Creek, Connecticut's, writer in residence, Helen Monroe, that newcomer Jackie Lewis seems to be stalking her. Things come to a head when, at an ugly-Christmas-sweater contest, Jackie accuses Helen of stealing her work. Complicating matters further, the new Friends of the Library president, Betty Caruthers, wants to dismantle the writer-in-residence program and ban Monroe's books. When Jackie dies a suspicious death and Helen is considered a suspect, Helen asks Lindsey, the veteran of previous murder investigations (Fatal First Edition, 2024), to clear her. After Helen is attacked, Lindsey believes she might have been the target of the killer, so Lindsey delves into the true-crime cases Helen used as inspiration for her fictional thrillers, hoping to identify suspects. The small-town Connecticut, seaside setting during the Christmas season, details of running a library while combating efforts to ban books, and plot twists add up to a satisfying holiday cozy.
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October 1, 2024
A writer-in-residence program wreaks havoc at a suburban Connecticut library. Library director Lindsey Norris is justifiably proud of the varied and popular special programs she and children's librarian Beth Barker offer at the Briar Creek library. Seasonally themed children's storytimes, technology workshops, and a "crafternoon" every Thursday give patrons more than just a chance to borrow books. But luring Helen Monroe, author of the acclaimed Mallory Quest mysteries, for an extended winter stint as writer-in-residence was a coup even for Lindsey. With her Louis Vuitton handbag and Ray-Ban sunglasses, Helen seems a bit much for Briar Creek, and Lindsey worries that the writer's frosty demeanor may put some of the locals off. But out-of-towner Jackie Lewis exudes enthusiasm about Helen's visit--so much enthusiasm, in fact, that Lindsey worries that she may have drawn a stalker to the library's door. Meanwhile, book banner Betty Caruthers, who's taken against Helen, vows to derail the whole residence project. It takes a while to determine which of these three toxic women will be the victim, let alone which will be her killer. Once the fatal blow falls, details show that the relationships among the trio are older and more complicated than they first seemed. Still, McKinlay seems more invested in engaging readers' affinity for Lindsey, her staff, and her patrons than in asking them to figure out who killed whom and why. A pleasant addition to the longtime Library Lover's Mysteries series.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.