Murder Is a Must (First Edition Library Mystery #2)

I love this author. Her characters are well- developed and often quirky good. They are described in vivid visual detail, including the ever-present cat. This story was engaging from the get go with humor and surprise. A must read especially during these dark winter days and nights.

Really love these characters and the setting is perfect. Good plot and wonderful tempo that keeps you thinking and not wanting this book to end.

I so enjoyed the interesting characters in the story. They really came alive for me. This is a captivating mystery set in an equally captivating location. If you want a well-written book thats hard to put down, this is it.

What a wonderful read-I was so engrossed in the story and the characters that I couldn’t put it down.
Murder is a Must is the second book in the author’s A First Edition Library series featuring Hayley Burke, the curator of the First Edition Library which features the collection of Lady Fowling’s first edition mysteries from the Golden Age of Mystery.-Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers etc. I did not read the first entry (but I will!) and had no problem at all with following along. It would be fine as a standalone.

Haley has convinced the Board of the Library to hold an exhibition about Lady Fowling and her collection. She’s not confident to manage the exhibition herself so she hires Oona Atherton. Haley had worked with Oona before, and while it was not a pleasant experience, she knows she has the skills to get the job done especially with a quick turnaround-a cancellation at the preferred venue in only three months. Unfortunately, Oona is found murdered-a tumble down a staircase. Haley searches for motives-was it related to a priceless book that Lady Fowler has hidden, or due to her personality or past. Haley is not a TSTL protagonist, while she does some snooping, she shares the info with the local police. Haley is someone I’d like to share a coffee with, a divorced woman in her 40’s who has a daughter and a mother she loves and spends time with. She also has a love interest who is also a strong character himself.

I highly recommend this book-I had a heavy sigh when it finished and can’t wait to see how things progress in the next volume.

I requested and received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. However, the opinions expressed are honest and my own.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, in return for an honest review. While the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Set in an English town, Hayley Burke is the new curator of the First Edition Library. The benefactor, the late Lady Fowling, left a large collection of Golden Age Mysteries, including first editions by the greats Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, etc. As a divorced mother in her 40s, Hayley is new to the mystery field and her mental checklists about which author goes with which detective are fun bits within the story. Believing the Library will greatly benefit from a curated exhibition, she hires a good but contentious and difficult events coordinator, Oona, to stage the exhibit. Lucking into a cancellation at the only decent event space in town, theres just three months to get everything together and ready which adds to the pressure. When Oona dies, Hayley ends up in the middle of the investigation and the exhibit planning, each incredibly stressful to manage. Luckily, Hayley has no qualms about sharing information with the police as she discovers reasons why Oona might have been killed.
This is a solid cozy and Hayley is a likable protagonist. She suffers from self-doubt and doesnt always give herself enough credit for the things she can accomplish. Her new personal relationship adds interest as does her working relationships with the long-time former secretary to Lady Fowling whom shes convinced doesnt like her. This is a good sophomore work and sets the stage for future stories, perhaps the actual exhibition?

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