The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander

 

Reviewed by Kristin

Jess Metcalfe has always enjoyed her quiet little life. Never one to make changes just for the sake of variety, she simply loves her job at the local library and loves living with her grandmother Mimi. However, suddenly both her grandmother and her job are gone, and Jess feels shattered into pieces. Even her best friend Hannah has her own new life with a new husband 11,000 miles away in New Zealand. Without Mimi, her job, or Hannah, Jess feels she has nothing left in Bourton-on-the-Marsh.

In a very uncharacteristic and abrupt course of action, Jess decides to sell Mimi’s house and buy a cottage in the English countryside. She had chanced upon the cottage by accident one day while just driving in order to clear her head. Before she knows it, Jess is the owner of the cottage that comes complete with bats in the attic, a cranky but attractive male neighbor, and an old red phone box at the edge of her property.

Tiny village life being what it is, everyone in Middlemas has opinions on what Jess should do with the phone box. Drawing upon her former job experience (and Mimi’s huge collection of books) she decides to open a lending library. A little one. Perhaps the littlest one. Tiny, but with a huge heart. Soon the entire community is borrowing and returning Mimi’s books that are so dear to Jess.

This is a feel good story with no big surprises. A little attraction/romance ensues, but I didn’t find that the slightest bit surprising. The cover is attractive, and I would love to have a little library just like it in my front yard (or maybe in my living room!) I especially enjoyed the parts of this book where the community members are drawn together by the books, and even find new meaning in their lives.

Poppy Alexander’s author bio says she wrote her first book when she was five, spent many intervening years studying classical music, then returned to a writing career. Her other novels have a holiday theme and are titled 25 Days ‘til Christmas and The 12 Days of Christmas.

Shadow in the Glass by M.E. Hilliard

Reviewed by Jeanne

Librarian Greer Hogan, fortified by successfully discovering a murderer in An Unkindness of Ravens, is now ready to start working on a mystery in her own life.  Her husband Danny was murdered and while a man was tried and convicted for the crime, Greer believes he was innocent.  An invitation to the wedding of an old friend will bring Greer back in contact with people from the couple’s past—people who may have some answers or at least help her to find the questions to be answered.

This quest is derailed when one of the guests turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, and Greer finds herself dealing with more than one mystery.

Having loved the first book, I was anxious to read the next in the series.  I was glad to find many of the features I loved showing up in the second book.  First and foremost is Greer herself: she’s no flighty heroine, rushing into trouble. I think of her as one of the few grown-ups in the contemporary cozy scene.  She thinks things through rationally and goes prepared. For example, after her previous experience, she’s begun exercising and training in case she finds herself in another physical altercation. She’s honest with herself. Her marriage was not perfect, and she doesn’t put her late husband on a pedestal. She’s not desperately looking for a new relationship, either. She’s comfortable with who she is. Of course, she is a reader and offers a number of literary references, but these never come off as an in-joke or an attempt to one-up the reader. It’s more like the way readers talk to each other and I love it.

In general, the other characters are fully realized people, with different facets to their personalities. There’s also a good sense of place, which I appreciate.

If I have a criticism, it’s that dealing with two very different crimes can be a bit frustrating. As a reader, I was more invested in Danny’s murder than that of the wedding guest and was more anxious for Greer to pursue those clues. Still, this is an excellent second book in a series and I very much look forward to reading Three Can Keep a Secret which came out in February, 2023.

While Danny’s murder is first brought up in the first book, you do not have to read them in order. The author fills in the background information if you start with the second while not giving away the plot or solution of the mystery in the first book.

The Unkindness of Ravens by M.E. Hilliard

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Librarian Greer Hogan has moved to the town of Raven Hill to make a fresh start after the violent death of her husband.  Unfortunately, there's another corpse in her future: that of the president of the Friends of the Library who is found bludgeoned in the library.  As a mystery aficionado, Greer knows how to search for clues-- and, she hopes, keep out of a killer's sights.

Although this is a first in series book, Hilliard makes seamless introductions while keeping the story moving.  The plot is interesting, and there is a backstory involving Greer’s murdered husband.  Although a man was convicted, she is beginning to have her doubts as to whether or not the man was guilty.  The author doesn’t let this detract from the book, but uses Greer’s experience and regrets to help fuel the action in this book. The characters are well drawn. The Raven Hill Public Library is housed in a former mansion, with all sorts of rooms for the comfort of a family, not designed to meet the demands of a public library, but that does give it a certain charm.  Fans of the old Bristol library on Anderson Street would heartily agree, I think.

Although the description makes it sound a bit like a run of the mill cozy, this book has several things going for it as far as I’m concerned.

First, Greer is a librarian who does real library work.  Also, she knows what sources are available and how to use them—for example, that not all newspapers from all time are available online and searchable.  There are a lot of stories in which the librarian sort of works but spends more time sleuthing than my library would allow.  I'm expected to show up for work no matter if I have a suspect in my sights or not! Er. . . not that I do, you understand.

There are good references to books for readers of all ages.  The book opens with a discussion of the differences between fictional amateur sleuths Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden.  Other bookish mentions follow, and all are appropriate and well done-- I never had the feeling that the author was showing off. It was more like a little nod to authors.  For example, when someone asks what the many rooms of Raven Hill Manor are used for, Greer replies, “The archives, public rooms, supply closets, staff areas, wardrobes that lead to Narnia, who knows?”  Other literary bits and pieces abound, but with no sense that the author is name-dropping to show off, just a natural flow of conversation, of the sort that would take place with readers who know their authors and books.  

Maybe the most important factor for me is that this book reads more like a classic mystery than a cozy. There's more focus on the crime and motive and less on eating/recipes, craft tips, etc. I'm not saying these are bad things, but I tend to read cozies despite these features rather than because of them. 

I’m excited about this series and looking forward to the next one.  I’m also going to give this book as a gift to librarian friends.

Out of Body by Jeffrey Ford

Reviewed by Jeanne

Owen is the head (and only) librarian of a small town library which will soon be closed as will the other small town libraries, all gathered into one central library in a larger place.  He’s resigned to the fact, but equally determined to serve his community as best he can for as long as he can.  The library’s Sleeping Beauty mural, a point of pride and nostalgia, is fading and cracking, just like everything else and Owen feels helpless to fix it.  Then Owen’s life of quiet desperation takes a shocking turn when he witnesses a violent act.

 Deeply upset by what he witnessed, Owen’s sleep disturbances return.  He suffers from sleep paralysis, a horrible sensation in which he feels fully conscious but cannot move his body.  It was terrifying then and is terrifying now. . . and all at once,  something changes.

Instead of being trapped inside his body, Owen has the sensation of leaving his body.  He can wander the town in the night, mostly unseen except for the occasional dog or perceptive child who seems to realize that there is someone out there.  It seems almost as if he is alone until he meets another sleeper who explains that while having these OBE (Out of Body Experience) is exhilarating, there is danger lurking in the night:  creatures who hunt for sleepers and will sever the link back to their bodies. Together they begin to explore and discover an old horror lurking in their midst:  something dark and dangerous that threatens not only sleepers but the whole town.

I am not much of a horror reader any more, but when the leaves start to turn and there’s a chill in the air I find myself wanting to read something a little unsettling.  While the same could be said of most of 2020, I wanted something fictional so when Out of Body was ready to go on the shelf, I decided to take a look.  When I realized the hero was a librarian, I was sold.

I have to say there is a lot packed into these 163 pages but I never felt rushed.  The author lingered at times, setting the mood and stage.  I especially enjoyed the scenes where Owen roamed at night, seeing what people are doing, almost like a spirit peeking in at the world of the living.  There is tension and horror, though I felt it was handled well. There are some graphic descriptions but the author doesn’t wallow in them. He also skipped long explanations and speculations about sleepers and I was fine with that.  Oh, sure, Owen and I had some questions, but I have to say it was nice to have a book with a story to tell that got down to business.  Sometimes I feel an author is just padding the book, and that was not the case here. I would have enjoyed getting to know some of the characters a bit more, but overall I was quite satisfied.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

Reviewed by Laura

          This book is by the author of the popular novel, Things You Save in a Fire, and is one of my new favorite books. As I’ve said before, some titles just beg to be added to my personal collection and this is definitely one of them. I was intrigued from the first moment I opened the book. I had chosen it for less than stellar reasons; it had flowers on the cover and it was blue. Weird reasons to pick up a book, but they were both spots that I could use on my Book Bingo card!

 The story centers around an elementary school librarian, which also grabbed my attention since I’m a retired elementary teacher who now works in a library. The perfect choice for me, right? And oh, it really was! This book has heart and joy in the midst of pain, overcoming obstacles, redefining yourself, miracles and wonder. My kind of book, especially in a world that isn’t very heartwarming for any of us at the moment.

          Samantha (Sam) Casey used to be a drab wallflower who never spoke up for herself or fought for anything. At her old school, she fell madly in love with another teacher, a special man always ready with a laugh or absurd suggestion. His riotous clothes were a direct contrast to her buttoned down appearance. But she never had the courage or confidence to reach out to him. When it looked like he was becoming serious about a colleague, she decided to quit her job and move away rather than having to face them every day. She landed at a wonderful, creative, independent school run by Max and Babette Kempner, a husband and wife team who took her under their wing and allowed her to move into their carriage house. Under their tutelage, she thrived and became a believer in seeking joy in each day. Max’s motto was never miss a chance to celebrate and Sam began to ascribe to that theory. She now wears bright fun colors and has even colored her bangs pink! In short, she has blossomed and loves every minute of sharing her love of books with her students in a free and welcoming atmosphere. But then the unthinkable happens. At his 60^th birthday party, Max collapses and dies. Their small closely knit community is heartbroken and floundering.

 With trepidation, the teachers await the new principal, who is none other than her unrequited love, Duncan Carpenter. Only this Duncan is not the fun-loving teacher she remembers. This Duncan wears stiff, drab suits and never smiles. This Duncan is trying to suck the color, freedom, and joy right out of the school. What happened to the man she once loved? How could he have changed so desperately?

This story will make you laugh and cry as you root for both sides in spite of yourself. If ever a book was written for the popular phrase, Choose Joy (and yes, I DO have a t-shirt with that sentiment on it), this book is it. There is heartbreak and despair, but also joy and hope. I highly recommend this book and plan to read all the rest of the books Ms. Center has written. I don’t know about you, but I need uplifting right now. If you do, too, then this is the book for you!

Checked Out by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Reviewed by Jeanne

Librarians end up doing a lot of things they don’t tell you about in library school.  A former director’s favorite example was having to climb a ladder in high heels in a downpour in order to check a leaky roof.  For Ann Beckett, one of those things is rescuing a kitten from a drainage ditch at the behest of two young patrons.  While the feline is saved (and adorable), Ann is thoroughly drenched in the process.  It’s already promising to be a difficult day since a long-time patron has talked her into a blind date with the patron’s nephew.  As Ann says, nothing good ever comes out of a blind date.

This one turns out to be even worse than she bargained for when she discovers her date is dead in his backyard, stabbed through the neck with a skewer at his backyard grill.

This is the first in the Village Library Mysteries series and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. Ann is more like a real librarian than many fictional librarians of my acquaintance; they’re always closing the library to chase clues or spending large amounts of uninterrupted time at the desk doing research.  I like Ann and I like the way she takes care of her patrons.  Naturally, this being a mystery, she can’t resist doing a bit of low level detecting, mostly involving talking to people and not, say, indulging in a bit of B&E. (Breaking and entering makes me nervous but somehow most get away with it and it seems to never come up at trial about information being gathered illegally.)

Also, I just like the way the library operates.  It felt more realistic than most, and I like the other librarians.  Also I thoroughly enjoyed all the title-dropping of books, from recommendations to patrons to what Ann was reading. The appropriately adorable kitten plays a role in the book and I have high hopes he will show up in later volumes.  

There could have been a bit more character development at times, but again for me the pros far outweighed the cons. For example, Ann is something of a workaholic, spending most of her time at the library.  She doesn’t have much of a social life because of it, but on the other hand, she doesn’t spend her time moping about it.  After all, it’s her choice. She isn’t down on romance but she isn’t desperately seeking a mate.  She seems to have her life together. Easy stereotypes are avoided for the most part.  Best of all, there isn’t a character who exists simply to make others’ lives miserable, which is a pet peeve of mine.

I liked the way the mystery was constructed, and the straight-forward feel.  There wasn’t a lot of extraneous information (no recipes, craft tips, or lectures on the Dewey Decimal system) which I sometimes enjoy but that just kept the focus on the mystery.  In short, I found this to be a very pleasant, entertaining book.