As much as I appreciate the settings of the library mysteries by Miranda James and Jenn McKinlay, Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Village Library Mysteries truly are set in the world of public libraries. In Overdue, she covers everything from the library cat to copier breakdowns to problem board members. Craig even seems to know what the steps are like in a Carnegie library. Most of the time, though, the library board members don’t end up dead at the bottom of the stairs.
Because a library board member doesn’t show up to help another with the books for the Friends of the Library booksale, librarian Ann Beckett is the one who finds Carmen King dead at the bottom of the stairs. And, Ann is aware that the blood on the back of Carmen’s head means she was hit from behind. Her death wasn’t an accident. Ann must have just missed the killer because it didn’t take her long to reach the stairs when the library director said Carmen needed help with the books.
Ann admits to Burton Edison, the police chief, that she respected Carmen because of her accomplishments as a fundraiser and board member, but no one at the library actually liked her. It’s surprising what a librarian can learn from listening to customers. It seems Carmen had a complicated love life involving three men. And, two of those men were angry at her just before she was killed.
As a librarian, I enjoy all the details of Ann Beckett’s work life. This cozy mystery series also includes an entertaining cast of characters, including Fitz, the library cat, who is now the “author” of an advice column under “Ask Fitz.” I’ll admit, I correctly guessed the killer early on in this book, but it still was a fun mystery.
If you love library mysteries, you might want to try Craig’s Checked Out, and then Overdue.
Elizabeth Spann Craig’s website is ElizabethSpannCraig.com
Overdue by Elizabeth Spann Craig. 2019. ISBN 9781946227539 (paperback), 218p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a copy of the book.
This one looks fun as well as the previous book in the series. I think I've only read one or two books by this author in her Myrtle Clover series. Putting this on my list to try. Thanks! (And I agree about what you can overhear in a library – ha!)
Unbelievable, isn't it, Kay? No wonder Ann knows so much about the community in this series.
Still no joy on any of these here. All the Dallas System has is three books in her "Southern Quilting Series."
Sorry, Kevin. And, this time, the books are going to my youngest sister.
I can take her. I need an address and time to get there.
Hi Lesa! Thank you for introducing this author and her book. This sounds like my cup of tea. I used to work in the library and have fond memories of shelving books and discovering so many authors.
That's funny, Kevin. I might be able to get her to pass them on when she's done. (smile)
You're welcome, Bonnie. I hope you don't want to get into a fight with Kevin over it.
Lol, no, I won’t start a fight. I’m putting it on my wish list. Maybe, someone will gift it to me. 😊
I hope so, Bonnie!
Wading by the spamming crap to say that I just saw this and do not want to start any fight with anyone over anything. I apologize. I did not mean to ever gave that impression.
Oh, Kevin. We all know it was a joke. I mentioned it to my sister & she cracked up!
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