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Kim Reynolds #1
The Inferno Collection
Kim Reynolds, a college reference librarian, suddenly finds herself embroiled in mystery when her friend Lorette dies unexpectedly. The police dismiss Lorette's demise as a suicide because of the drugs found in her blood, but she's been clean a long time. Then there are the literary-based death threats. — Kim's own psychic powers are matched by those of police detective Mike Gardner, and together they try to discover the circumstances behind Lorette's death. Interesting characters abound, including Wendell Firbin, Kim's creepy, callous library supervisor, who gets just a little too defensive every time she asks him about the Inferno Collection, the Victorian term for a set of library materials locked away from general use. Since the Inferno Collection is one of the last things Lorette asked Kim about, it just might hold the key to her death.
- GenresMystery
257 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 17, 2010
An inferno collection is a collection of literary works deemed inappropriate for the times, morally disreputable, and unfit for perusal.
University reference librarian Kim Reynolds knows such a collection pertains to Victorian times and other eras of strictness. It certainly has no place in the modern world as she knows it. However, her friend Lorette Campbell feels her life may be in danger because she is inquiring about an inferno collection in the library where Kim works. When Lorette is later found dead, Kim is convinced her friend was killed, yet the police write it off as suicide.
From here on, Kim’s quiet life takes a turn. In wanting to find Lorette’s killer, secrets spring from the woodwork, paranoia clouds her every move, and a clairvoyant ability she possesses starts to shadow her every thought and moment. Amidst all these happenings, Kim also has to come to grips with a troubled past she tries hard to repress. And when not one, but two, handsome men appear interested in a relationship with her, she is left reeling. For whom will her heart beat faster? Charming, easygoing professor Don Bernard, or dark and dangerously sexy police lieutenant Mike Gardner? To make things worse, Kim knows there is a psychic connection between her and the lieutenant, and for someone who has tried very hard to deny this clairvoyant side, only confusion and havoc can result. Yet, most importantly, Kim is out to find out who is behind Lorette’s murder.
Ms. Seewald knows how to keep a reader in suspense. Clues, revelations, and red herrings alike are disclosed in such a smooth manner that I was swept through. She intermingles threads of suspense, mystery, troubled past and family ties in a harmonious tapestry, rendering an effortless flow to the plot and its developments. The world of the university was portrayed in stark realism, and the characters, especially Kim, leap from the page. The reader can also easily become immersed in Kim, follow her path through unravelling the murder of Lorette, as well as coming to grips with the person she really is. Professor Bernard provided much needed relief from the tension of the mystery, and his charm and wit is enough to win over any woman. Lieutenant Gardner sounds like a true hero of modern times.
The only aspects which jarred me were the countless references to literary texts and quotes. Under some instances, it felt like a somewhat erudite knowledge of the classics was needed to grasp the meaning of the allusions. I also wanted to see more of the romance, but the author does well to bring fulfilment to her heroine in the way it happens in the book.
Overall, an enthralling read.
(Review courtesy of Enchanting Reviews)
University reference librarian Kim Reynolds knows such a collection pertains to Victorian times and other eras of strictness. It certainly has no place in the modern world as she knows it. However, her friend Lorette Campbell feels her life may be in danger because she is inquiring about an inferno collection in the library where Kim works. When Lorette is later found dead, Kim is convinced her friend was killed, yet the police write it off as suicide.
From here on, Kim’s quiet life takes a turn. In wanting to find Lorette’s killer, secrets spring from the woodwork, paranoia clouds her every move, and a clairvoyant ability she possesses starts to shadow her every thought and moment. Amidst all these happenings, Kim also has to come to grips with a troubled past she tries hard to repress. And when not one, but two, handsome men appear interested in a relationship with her, she is left reeling. For whom will her heart beat faster? Charming, easygoing professor Don Bernard, or dark and dangerously sexy police lieutenant Mike Gardner? To make things worse, Kim knows there is a psychic connection between her and the lieutenant, and for someone who has tried very hard to deny this clairvoyant side, only confusion and havoc can result. Yet, most importantly, Kim is out to find out who is behind Lorette’s murder.
Ms. Seewald knows how to keep a reader in suspense. Clues, revelations, and red herrings alike are disclosed in such a smooth manner that I was swept through. She intermingles threads of suspense, mystery, troubled past and family ties in a harmonious tapestry, rendering an effortless flow to the plot and its developments. The world of the university was portrayed in stark realism, and the characters, especially Kim, leap from the page. The reader can also easily become immersed in Kim, follow her path through unravelling the murder of Lorette, as well as coming to grips with the person she really is. Professor Bernard provided much needed relief from the tension of the mystery, and his charm and wit is enough to win over any woman. Lieutenant Gardner sounds like a true hero of modern times.
The only aspects which jarred me were the countless references to literary texts and quotes. Under some instances, it felt like a somewhat erudite knowledge of the classics was needed to grasp the meaning of the allusions. I also wanted to see more of the romance, but the author does well to bring fulfilment to her heroine in the way it happens in the book.
Overall, an enthralling read.
(Review courtesy of Enchanting Reviews)
December 28, 2019
I did not finish this book if I’m being honest. I think I made it to page 85 and had to put it down and quit. I don’t quit books very often because I like to give them the benefit of the doubt. When I read the plot of this book, I was so excited and drawn to it. Who wouldn’t want to read about foul play and libraries and professors and mystery all in one book?
I thought I did, but I was wrong. If character development is something you value, do not pick this one up. All of the characters I met through this story were not interesting and lacked any sort of meaning in my opinion. Also, the plot had so many holes and I almost felt like I started reading in the middle of everything and had to constantly play catch up. I wish this book could have been better because the idea itself is great, but I was not infatuated with this one.
I thought I did, but I was wrong. If character development is something you value, do not pick this one up. All of the characters I met through this story were not interesting and lacked any sort of meaning in my opinion. Also, the plot had so many holes and I almost felt like I started reading in the middle of everything and had to constantly play catch up. I wish this book could have been better because the idea itself is great, but I was not infatuated with this one.
August 13, 2009
I enjoyed this romantic mystery novel very much. The characters seemed very real. It was an exciting page turner and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I read this novel after I read the author's second adult mystery and look forward to more novels in this series.
September 25, 2011
An interesting book of the librarian sleuth genre. I would like to read the next book in the series to learn more about Kim.
January 4, 2019
I thought this would involve Dante’s Inferno. Instead, there’s unrealistic dialogue, bland or flat characters, and strange word choices. And a terrible sex scene to end it all. Do not recommend.
August 21, 2009
I liked the characters in this book, and of course, I liked the setting with a university librarian as the main character. The only thing I didn't like was the obvious "clue" that the librarian missed, at least it was very obvious to me. No spoilers here - but it did keep the book from being great to me instead it was just good.
Kim gets involved with murder when her friend, Loretta, is found dead of a drug overdose even though she had been clean for many years. Not believing it is an accident or suicide Kim sets out to find out who killed her Loretta. She also needs to find out what an Inferno Collection has to do with her death. Inferno Collections are something that old public libraries used to have, they are materials that are not considered "proper" for everyone. Sometimes they contained blue materials, something things with unpopular ideas but they were always locked up and only certain people had access.
I'll be moving on to the next book in the series.
Kim gets involved with murder when her friend, Loretta, is found dead of a drug overdose even though she had been clean for many years. Not believing it is an accident or suicide Kim sets out to find out who killed her Loretta. She also needs to find out what an Inferno Collection has to do with her death. Inferno Collections are something that old public libraries used to have, they are materials that are not considered "proper" for everyone. Sometimes they contained blue materials, something things with unpopular ideas but they were always locked up and only certain people had access.
I'll be moving on to the next book in the series.
August 6, 2015
It was not bad. Something about it was very staccato and not fluid. I kept getting bored, and they never made an emphasis as to why the Inferno collection really mattered, and it seemed sort of like a ploy to have some focus object.
The character Dom seems like he was added just to have a "love triangle" though it wasn't really that, it was more a person to talk to to move the plot.
I didn't understand why the author put on the back cover that the main character had psychic abilities, and then never used that word. She briefly hinted to having feelings or thoughts, but they really could all be chalked up to intuition, and it made the book 100% less believable. Also that the cop would have the same psychic abilities was a little too tween for me.
I think the author forgot they were trying to sell the book as a romance, so the epilogue featured a very nipple focused sex scene that seemed like an afterthought.
Maybe I'm just being too hard on the novel? Not sure.
The character Dom seems like he was added just to have a "love triangle" though it wasn't really that, it was more a person to talk to to move the plot.
I didn't understand why the author put on the back cover that the main character had psychic abilities, and then never used that word. She briefly hinted to having feelings or thoughts, but they really could all be chalked up to intuition, and it made the book 100% less believable. Also that the cop would have the same psychic abilities was a little too tween for me.
I think the author forgot they were trying to sell the book as a romance, so the epilogue featured a very nipple focused sex scene that seemed like an afterthought.
Maybe I'm just being too hard on the novel? Not sure.
June 10, 2013
Good theme that was a bit unique. The main character works in an University Library. A friend of hers asks if the Library has and inferno collection. This usually means an original work that no one talked about and kept under lock and key because it was risque or for reasons to avoid censorship. Working in the University Library, in the USA in today's standards she does not really think that can be the case. But the friend ends up dying. Several other chilling events begin to happen. It isn't a book I was compelled to read in one sitting. I read it over a few days. She is honest with her thoughts, (funny) cute in her relationships and right on in her instincts and judgement. I'd highly recommend it to any fan of a good mystery..
November 14, 2014
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
December 9, 2008
[2.5 stars]
Kim Reynolds, a clairvoyant university reference librarian, is contacted by her friend Loretta about the possible existence of a secret inferno collection (books considered morally unacceptable) being kept at the library. When Loretta turns up dead, Kim sets out to crack the case.
I thought this was fairly slow reading. The side plot about Kim's clairvoyance is underdeveloped, the killer is no surprise, and there's a lame little romance that doesn't really fit into the story. An interesting idea that didn't translate well on paper.
Kim Reynolds, a clairvoyant university reference librarian, is contacted by her friend Loretta about the possible existence of a secret inferno collection (books considered morally unacceptable) being kept at the library. When Loretta turns up dead, Kim sets out to crack the case.
I thought this was fairly slow reading. The side plot about Kim's clairvoyance is underdeveloped, the killer is no surprise, and there's a lame little romance that doesn't really fit into the story. An interesting idea that didn't translate well on paper.
July 22, 2009
I started this last night (July 9th) and am about one-fourth into the book. I'm not really keen on the main character yet, but I see promise (and this is the first book) so will probably go on to read the next book in the series.
Well, I finished the book, and I did grow to like the character somewhat, but not to the extent that I usually do. I will check out the next book though, before giving up on this series.
Well, I finished the book, and I did grow to like the character somewhat, but not to the extent that I usually do. I will check out the next book though, before giving up on this series.
November 23, 2008
It is pretty rare for me not to finish a book, especially once I've made it at least halfway through, but eventually I just had to give up on this one. Because it was all about a librarian, I really wanted to like it, but between the awkward dialog and the fact that I couldnt get into either the plot or the characters, it was impossible.
January 6, 2008
Being a librarian, I was intrigued by the premise of this book: a college librarian stumbles across a notoriously private, inferno collection. However, the characters come across as wooden and the prose doesn't quite make the cut.
March 26, 2008
Mystery/thriller featuring a reference librarian investigating the death of a friend and the possible existence of a banned book collection. However, the villains seemed cartoonish at times and the last 5 pages of the book read more like an amped up Harlequin novel. Still, it wasn't a bad read.
April 4, 2019
Librarian as a heroine? Mystery involved? Count me in.
Read
June 8, 2017Miniseries: A Kim Reynolds Mystery
Category: Mystery
Category: Mystery
July 11, 2013
I have never heard of this author before but I really enjoyed this one. Well written, nice pacing, and good characters.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews