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Cat in the Stacks #5
The Silence of the Library
When a beloved mystery author’s visit causes a stir in their small Mississippi town, librarian Charlie Harris and his cat Diesel must outwit a fiction fanatic turned real-life killer.
It’s National Library Week, and the Athena Public Library is planning an exhibit to honor the centenary of famous novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright—creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series.
Charlie has a soft spot for Cartwright’s girl detective stories (not to mention an extensive collection of her books!). When the author agrees to make a rare public appearance, the news of her whereabouts goes viral overnight, and series devotees and book collectors converge on Athena.
After all, it’s rumored that Cartwright penned Veronica Thane stories that remain under wraps, and one rabid fan will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get hold of the rare books...
It’s National Library Week, and the Athena Public Library is planning an exhibit to honor the centenary of famous novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright—creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series.
Charlie has a soft spot for Cartwright’s girl detective stories (not to mention an extensive collection of her books!). When the author agrees to make a rare public appearance, the news of her whereabouts goes viral overnight, and series devotees and book collectors converge on Athena.
After all, it’s rumored that Cartwright penned Veronica Thane stories that remain under wraps, and one rabid fan will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get hold of the rare books...
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2014
314 people are currently reading
2036 people want to read
About the author
Miranda James
24 books1,255 followersPen name of Dean James, who also writes as Honor Hartman and Jimmie Ruth Evans
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
May 16, 2020
The Silence in the Library is the 5th book in the 'Cat in the Stacks' cozy mystery series written by Miranda James. The books take place in Athena, Mississippi and focus on Charlie, a ~50ish male librarian, who solves crimes while attending to his Maine Coon cat, Diesel. In this book, a 100-year-old author is going to do a book signing and interview at Charlie's library, but all is not what it seems. The crazies come out to see their favorite girl sleuth author, and her family is very protective of the woman's reputation and health. As Charlie gets drawn into the web of confusion, one of the fans is murdered, forcing our indomitable librarian to assist the Deputy Chief of Police, Kanesha, find the criminal.
Miranda James has an eloquent writing style where lively and memorable characters guide the story to completion. Each story feels like a separate universe but it also have strong connections to the others and the folks around Athena. It's not as heavily populated with secondary characters as other book series, which can be a good thing. We have 4 or 5 central supporting folks in Charley's life, and we enjoy getting to know them more deeply. In this book, the fans were crazy! I like to think the author took a few of his (yes, in case you didn't know, this is a pseudonym) favorite fan-encounters and created wonderful characters in his books... and while I doubt any murders have ever happened in reality, it's a great way to involve and connect with readers... especially in the world of girl detectives and the origins of the mystery series.
Overall, I give this a 4.5 star rating... it was a clever and intricate story, and I loved so much of it. Even my faves, the Ducote sisters, were mentioned. Readers are treated to a bonus story embedded in this book. James weaves a secondary tale written by the author appearing in the book, then publishes the full story on his website. How cool! I plan to read it this summer. I also realized that I never read enough Nancy Drew, so I have been inspired to read more again. With 5 down, I have 5 more in this 'Cat in the Stacks' series to finish before I get to the current one the author is about to publish... I can't wait!
Miranda James has an eloquent writing style where lively and memorable characters guide the story to completion. Each story feels like a separate universe but it also have strong connections to the others and the folks around Athena. It's not as heavily populated with secondary characters as other book series, which can be a good thing. We have 4 or 5 central supporting folks in Charley's life, and we enjoy getting to know them more deeply. In this book, the fans were crazy! I like to think the author took a few of his (yes, in case you didn't know, this is a pseudonym) favorite fan-encounters and created wonderful characters in his books... and while I doubt any murders have ever happened in reality, it's a great way to involve and connect with readers... especially in the world of girl detectives and the origins of the mystery series.
Overall, I give this a 4.5 star rating... it was a clever and intricate story, and I loved so much of it. Even my faves, the Ducote sisters, were mentioned. Readers are treated to a bonus story embedded in this book. James weaves a secondary tale written by the author appearing in the book, then publishes the full story on his website. How cool! I plan to read it this summer. I also realized that I never read enough Nancy Drew, so I have been inspired to read more again. With 5 down, I have 5 more in this 'Cat in the Stacks' series to finish before I get to the current one the author is about to publish... I can't wait!
February 11, 2018
This was not my favorite of this series; it was an okay read but I had almost the whole plot figured out by Chapter 3 [except who was going to be killed and there were a lot of candidates up for grabs there] and the end was no surprise for me; let me rephrase - the reveal was not a surprise for me, but the end of the book was a bit of a....shock? Idk.
It was a decent read and if you don't read a lot of cozies or mysteries in general, I am sure that you would be surprised, but if you are a seasoned mystery lover, this one will be pretty easy-peasy for you.
It was a decent read and if you don't read a lot of cozies or mysteries in general, I am sure that you would be surprised, but if you are a seasoned mystery lover, this one will be pretty easy-peasy for you.
August 3, 2024
Charlie: no, no soy detective. No.
Todos los demás: sí, lo eres. Ahora, cállate y ayúdanos.
En una nota relacionada, este libro no fue demasiado interesante… lo cual es una decepción, la verdad, porque los 3 anteriores de hecho lo fueron. Oh bien. Resignación. Amarga, amarga resignación.
Escenas y demás:
*Sabes que tu gato es más famoso que tú cuando la presidenta de un club de fans te reconoce únicamente gracias a él… lo cual es correcto, apropiado y un honor. Disfrútalo.
*La historia de las cartas que Carrie Taylor escribió anhelando tan, tan desesperadamente…
*El giro que implicó a la señora Cartwright y a cierto impostor.
Mientras tanto: Electra Barnes Cartwright, desconociendo determinados hechos, se hallaba jugando póquer junto a Yancy Thigpen alegremente.
Para la Semana Nacional de la Biblioteca se empieza a organizar una exposición con los libros de la serie Veronica Thane como tema principal y, cuando la directora de la Biblioteca Pública de Athena Teresa Farmer descubre que Electra Barnes Cartwright, la escritora de dicha serie, continúa con vida, la visita acompañada por Charles Harris y Diesel con el fin de proponerle que participe en el evento y que brinde una entrevista para sus fans… si lo desea, claro… ¡y la escritora acepta! ¡acepta! Charlie y Teresa se sienten satisfechos, sí. ¡nada podría arruinarles esto!
Solo que, por supuesto, los problemas aparecen para arruinar el feliz estado de ánimo: la hija de Cartwright se opone a que su madre participe en la exposición y luego decide cobrar por dicha participación (y no hay dinero en el presupuesto, maldita sea), los coleccionistas locos empiezan a rondar (y a intentar sobornar) una vez enterados de la supervivencia de la escritora y ¿cómo está eso de que Marcella Marter desea sacar a la luz novelas inéditas? ah bueno. Esas son cosas que probablemente tendrán solución y seguro que habrá una explicación para lo de las obras inéditas, ¡seguro!
Lamentablemente, lo que seguramente no tendrá una solución rápida y fácil es el asesinato de Carrie Taylor (cuyo cadáver Charlie no encontró esta vez. Uf), presidenta del EBC Fan Club y quien, según afirmó antes de su muerte, poseía artículos valiosos, los cuales el supuestamente obsesivo coleccionista Gordon Betts podría, de saberlos en sus manos, llegar a desear… y ahí está también la amenaza que —Eugene Marter cree— Winston Eagleton ha emitido en contra de su abuela, sí…
Todos los demás: sí, lo eres. Ahora, cállate y ayúdanos.
En una nota relacionada, este libro no fue demasiado interesante… lo cual es una decepción, la verdad, porque los 3 anteriores de hecho lo fueron. Oh bien. Resignación. Amarga, amarga resignación.
Escenas y demás:
*Sabes que tu gato es más famoso que tú cuando la presidenta de un club de fans te reconoce únicamente gracias a él… lo cual es correcto, apropiado y un honor. Disfrútalo.
*La historia de las cartas que Carrie Taylor escribió anhelando tan, tan desesperadamente…
*El giro que implicó a la señora Cartwright y a cierto impostor.
Mientras tanto: Electra Barnes Cartwright, desconociendo determinados hechos, se hallaba jugando póquer junto a Yancy Thigpen alegremente.
Para la Semana Nacional de la Biblioteca se empieza a organizar una exposición con los libros de la serie Veronica Thane como tema principal y, cuando la directora de la Biblioteca Pública de Athena Teresa Farmer descubre que Electra Barnes Cartwright, la escritora de dicha serie, continúa con vida, la visita acompañada por Charles Harris y Diesel con el fin de proponerle que participe en el evento y que brinde una entrevista para sus fans… si lo desea, claro… ¡y la escritora acepta! ¡acepta! Charlie y Teresa se sienten satisfechos, sí. ¡nada podría arruinarles esto!
Solo que, por supuesto, los problemas aparecen para arruinar el feliz estado de ánimo: la hija de Cartwright se opone a que su madre participe en la exposición y luego decide cobrar por dicha participación (y no hay dinero en el presupuesto, maldita sea), los coleccionistas locos empiezan a rondar (y a intentar sobornar) una vez enterados de la supervivencia de la escritora y ¿cómo está eso de que Marcella Marter desea sacar a la luz novelas inéditas? ah bueno. Esas son cosas que probablemente tendrán solución y seguro que habrá una explicación para lo de las obras inéditas, ¡seguro!
Lamentablemente, lo que seguramente no tendrá una solución rápida y fácil es el asesinato de Carrie Taylor (cuyo cadáver Charlie no encontró esta vez. Uf), presidenta del EBC Fan Club y quien, según afirmó antes de su muerte, poseía artículos valiosos, los cuales el supuestamente obsesivo coleccionista Gordon Betts podría, de saberlos en sus manos, llegar a desear… y ahí está también la amenaza que —Eugene Marter cree— Winston Eagleton ha emitido en contra de su abuela, sí…
July 19, 2023
Okay, I needed a break from serious political thrillers, and how could I not resist a cat on the cover with Library as part of the title?!
I was unfamiliar with this series, but thought it was worth a look - after all, who doesn't love a cozy mystery?
At the risk of starting this review with a spoiler alert, please know that The Silence of the Library has nothing to do with a silent library.
The Silence of the Library, the fifth book in the Cat in the Stacks series, has a book-within-a-book subplot that has a surprising (ish) amount of relevance to the main plot.
For fans of the series (and the mystery fiction genre), The Silence of the Library would be a perfect afternoon read.
Outside of that category, it thuds to the ground.
Only the tired and frustrated investigating police officer shows any kind of natural personality; everyone else seems to be checking off boxes that say "If you're in this kind of book, you're this kind of character."
And the less I say about that cat, the better.
I know Maine Coons are sociable and intelligent, but the author writes this cat as though it used to be a human being in a previous life. (Maybe it was?) Oh well.
Not everything can be a great read.
Would #1 in the series be better?
Anybody out there read this series?
I was unfamiliar with this series, but thought it was worth a look - after all, who doesn't love a cozy mystery?
At the risk of starting this review with a spoiler alert, please know that The Silence of the Library has nothing to do with a silent library.
The Silence of the Library, the fifth book in the Cat in the Stacks series, has a book-within-a-book subplot that has a surprising (ish) amount of relevance to the main plot.
For fans of the series (and the mystery fiction genre), The Silence of the Library would be a perfect afternoon read.
Outside of that category, it thuds to the ground.
Only the tired and frustrated investigating police officer shows any kind of natural personality; everyone else seems to be checking off boxes that say "If you're in this kind of book, you're this kind of character."
And the less I say about that cat, the better.
I know Maine Coons are sociable and intelligent, but the author writes this cat as though it used to be a human being in a previous life. (Maybe it was?) Oh well.
Not everything can be a great read.
Would #1 in the series be better?
Anybody out there read this series?
August 20, 2015
Still adore these books! Another great page-turning mystery. I can't wait for the next book to come out! I guess I will have to sate my newfound cozy mystery addiction with a new series for now, but Diesel will always have my heart!
February 13, 2014
The cat in the stacks has become one of my favorite cozy mystery series.
It's always great to spend sometime with Charlie, Diesel and the rest of the great cast in the series. Loved the story plot based around children's mystery books like Nancy Drew and Hardy boys. It made me think of some of the young children's books I read as a child, one of my favorites was The Boxcar Children series. The over all mystery was great, I loved how the mystery was revealed and solved at the end. Looking forward to book six in the series.
It's always great to spend sometime with Charlie, Diesel and the rest of the great cast in the series. Loved the story plot based around children's mystery books like Nancy Drew and Hardy boys. It made me think of some of the young children's books I read as a child, one of my favorites was The Boxcar Children series. The over all mystery was great, I loved how the mystery was revealed and solved at the end. Looking forward to book six in the series.
May 23, 2014
At the risk of starting this review with a spoiler alert, The Silence of the Library has nothing to do with a silent library.
Miranda James is evidently a fan of the children's mystery fiction genre. Nancy Drew is namedropped a dozen times. The Silence of the Library, the fifth book in the Cat in the Stacks series, has a book-within-a-book subplot that has a surprising (ish) amount of relevance to the main plot. And, James no doubt having fun with her readers, practically every word in The Silence of the Library is a tribute to her favored genre.
Unfortunately, James' devotion shows through too much. For fans of the series (and the mystery fiction genre), The Silence of the Library would be a perfect afternoon read. Outside of that category, it thuds to the ground. Only the tired and frustrated investigating police officer shows any kind of natural personality; everyone else seems to be checking off boxes that say "If you're in this kind of book, you're this kind of character."
And the less I say about that cat, the better. I don't doubt that Maine Coons are sociable and intelligent, but James writes the animal as though it used to be a human being in a previous life.
That title still bugs me, too.
August 14, 2018
It’s National Library Week and an idea to honor a writer of a children’s mystery series starts a chain of events that leads to murder. When Charlie discovers that the author is not only still living, she is fairly local, the library invites her the event. But the notices of her attending draws out collectors who seem to want to exploit her. Like in many cases, to boils down to money. There is also a story within this story, one the author wrote long ago, which actually figures in solving the murder. Of course, without Charlie and his wonderful cat Diesel, this mystery wouldn’t half so good.
February 8, 2024
Librarian Charlie Harris is thrilled to learn his library will be hosting an exhibit of his favorite childhood author. He’s even more excited when the famous author agrees to make a public appearance. Her books are collectors' items and when word gets out about her appearance, collectors flock to the library even before the exhibit begins.
Even more exciting, the author supposedly has written five more stories in her most popular girl detective series. Publishers and fans alike are anxious to get their hands on them.
When a dead body is discovered, everyone wonders just how far these collectors would go to get their treasures.
This is the fifth book in the series and, as always, I absolutely loved it. I always love my visits to Mississippi and spending some time with Charlie and his Maine coon kitty Diesel. I still have some catching up to do with this series. I’ve read a couple of the newer books, but I’m very excited to still have some of the early books to jump into.
With each book you get to know Charlie, his friends and his family a little better. Of course, there is also his beloved Diesel, who is a character in his own right. Diesel doesn’t talk and we never hear his point of view, but he does lend a helping paw every now and then.
The story moves along at a fast pace. The characters are written so well and realistic. They practically jump off the pages. The ending is unique. I didn’t see that coming.
This is such a fun series. The next one up for me is Arsenic and Old Books. Sounds like another enjoyable adventure.
Even more exciting, the author supposedly has written five more stories in her most popular girl detective series. Publishers and fans alike are anxious to get their hands on them.
When a dead body is discovered, everyone wonders just how far these collectors would go to get their treasures.
This is the fifth book in the series and, as always, I absolutely loved it. I always love my visits to Mississippi and spending some time with Charlie and his Maine coon kitty Diesel. I still have some catching up to do with this series. I’ve read a couple of the newer books, but I’m very excited to still have some of the early books to jump into.
With each book you get to know Charlie, his friends and his family a little better. Of course, there is also his beloved Diesel, who is a character in his own right. Diesel doesn’t talk and we never hear his point of view, but he does lend a helping paw every now and then.
The story moves along at a fast pace. The characters are written so well and realistic. They practically jump off the pages. The ending is unique. I didn’t see that coming.
This is such a fun series. The next one up for me is Arsenic and Old Books. Sounds like another enjoyable adventure.
August 18, 2024
This is 5th book in Cat in the Stacks serie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book revolves again around books and the mystery is good. I like the atmosphere in this book and how it is written. Charlie is a good sleuth. Can't wait to read next book in the serie.
July 31, 2016
Charlie Harris is helping put together a display about the various teen detectives for the Athena Public Library. Since he’s a fan of the little known Veronica Thane series, he’s hoping to highlight it. He’s delighted to learn that the author lives nearby and is willing to make a rare appearance during that time. But news that she will be there brings out some obsessed fans, and a murder quickly follows. Can Charlie figure out what happened?
As a fan of teen detectives myself, I found this book a lot of fun. The mystery was strong with a few elements from the teen detective genre thrown in for good measure, which added to the plot. We didn’t see quite as much of the supporting cast as usual, but the new characters more than made up for it, and Diesel, Charlie’s cat, is as charming as ever.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As a fan of teen detectives myself, I found this book a lot of fun. The mystery was strong with a few elements from the teen detective genre thrown in for good measure, which added to the plot. We didn’t see quite as much of the supporting cast as usual, but the new characters more than made up for it, and Diesel, Charlie’s cat, is as charming as ever.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 14, 2018
Book #5 in Cat in the Stacks series. I did not like this one as much as the others I have read in the series. The passages from the book Charlie was reading was not really interesting to me. I found that they took away from the flow of the book. I will still continue the series. Hope that the next one picks back up. 3 stars
December 6, 2021
It's always good to visit w/ Charlie the small-town southern librarian and his giant Maine Coon cat, Diesel. In this outing, Charlie is helping set up a library display of books featuring girl detectives, such as Trixie Belden (the ones I read as a girl), Nancy Drew, or Charlie's favorite Veronica Thane. Charlie and his fellow librarians are delighted when they discover that the author of the Thane novels is still alive, although about to celebrate her one hundredth birthday, and that she will attend their library opening of the display!
But there are a whole cast of eccentric Thane groupies who complicate the whole business, as well as the author's daughter and grandson. Is the bickering playful or is there real animosity between Mrs. Cartwright (the author) and her daughter? Why does the grandson sound so corn-pone when his mother and grandmother are educated women? What's going on between some of Mrs. Cartwright's groupies, especially when one of them ends up murdered?
Charlie is re-reading the first of the Veronica Thane mysteries, and we are treated to sections of that mystery as well interspersed throughout the mystery that Charlie is trying to solve. There is a link at the end of the book to the entire Veronica Thane mystery as well, so Ms. James went to a lot of effort in this installment of the Charlie-and-Diesel mystery series, basically writing two novels in one!
"The Silence of the Library" seemed to move a bit more slowly than the previous four Cat in the Stacks mysteries that I have read, and the murderer was telegraphed too soon in the story for me, taking the mystery out of the mystery for me. Still an enjoyable four stars, and I'm looking forward to getting around to the next Charlie-n-Diesel mystery.
But there are a whole cast of eccentric Thane groupies who complicate the whole business, as well as the author's daughter and grandson. Is the bickering playful or is there real animosity between Mrs. Cartwright (the author) and her daughter? Why does the grandson sound so corn-pone when his mother and grandmother are educated women? What's going on between some of Mrs. Cartwright's groupies, especially when one of them ends up murdered?
Charlie is re-reading the first of the Veronica Thane mysteries, and we are treated to sections of that mystery as well interspersed throughout the mystery that Charlie is trying to solve. There is a link at the end of the book to the entire Veronica Thane mystery as well, so Ms. James went to a lot of effort in this installment of the Charlie-and-Diesel mystery series, basically writing two novels in one!
"The Silence of the Library" seemed to move a bit more slowly than the previous four Cat in the Stacks mysteries that I have read, and the murderer was telegraphed too soon in the story for me, taking the mystery out of the mystery for me. Still an enjoyable four stars, and I'm looking forward to getting around to the next Charlie-n-Diesel mystery.
February 8, 2014
This is the 5th book in the A Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. I loved this outing in the series! Charlie Harris, a librarian and sleuth, and his sidekick Diesel, the giant Maine Coon cat, become entangled in a murder mystery involving classic mystery series books for children in the ilk of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys to name some of the most popular ones. The fictional Veronica Thane series that is at the center of The Silence of the Library is closely modeled on Nancy Drew, perhaps a more over the top version, and the centenarian author character is modeled on Mildred Wirt Benson, the original Nancy Drew author.
The mystery plot was very well done and interestingly crafted in that the Charlie Harris story is interspersed with readings from a Veronica Thane novel, so the reader goes through both mysteries together to come to the reveal. The parallelism was a fun plot device for the reader.
This mystery series does have several recurring characters, such as Charlie’s children and Helen Louise, a love interest. These relationships have developed over time so reading the series in order is probably ideal, however this story can stand on its own, especially for lover’s of Nancy Drew type books.
A great cozy mystery read! Highly recommended!
The mystery plot was very well done and interestingly crafted in that the Charlie Harris story is interspersed with readings from a Veronica Thane novel, so the reader goes through both mysteries together to come to the reveal. The parallelism was a fun plot device for the reader.
This mystery series does have several recurring characters, such as Charlie’s children and Helen Louise, a love interest. These relationships have developed over time so reading the series in order is probably ideal, however this story can stand on its own, especially for lover’s of Nancy Drew type books.
A great cozy mystery read! Highly recommended!
November 9, 2021
Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat, Diesel, are solving another murder in this fifth book in the Cat in the Stacks series. 100-year-old author Electra Cartwright, creator of the Veronica Thane series, agrees to do an interview at the Athena Public Library. Some of her fans are a bit crazy in their desire to have their favorite author sign their book collections, but one of her fans is willing to commit murder.
I enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by Erin Bennett. Erin does a fine job with the characters' voices. She read the plot's tension with the right inflection to keep the listener's attention. Charlie and Diesel are my favorite characters. I like how the author, Miranda James, interweaves the cat's natural actions and responses throughout the storyline. The characterization is well-developed. The dialogue is true to character. The descriptions are realistic and well-written. The setting is Athena, Mississippi. I appreciate the novels in the Cat in the Stacks series do not have curse words. The books are clean, cozy mysteries. I look forward to the next novel in the series.
I enjoyed this audiobook, narrated by Erin Bennett. Erin does a fine job with the characters' voices. She read the plot's tension with the right inflection to keep the listener's attention. Charlie and Diesel are my favorite characters. I like how the author, Miranda James, interweaves the cat's natural actions and responses throughout the storyline. The characterization is well-developed. The dialogue is true to character. The descriptions are realistic and well-written. The setting is Athena, Mississippi. I appreciate the novels in the Cat in the Stacks series do not have curse words. The books are clean, cozy mysteries. I look forward to the next novel in the series.
October 4, 2015
The author brought back wonderful memories of the past when I also read the old girl sleuth books! Judy Bolton, Trixie Beldon, Penny Parker, Nancy Drew, ect. I read and loved them all.
This is a great cozy mystery with wacky characters. I wished that I could actually talk to Charlie (the main character) as our childhood memories of the old children mysteries were so similar. I loved Charlie, Diesel and the marvelous descriptions of the 100 year old author Electra Barnes Cartwright and the people that were thrilled with her Veronica Thane series.
I would definitely recommend this extreme readable and very charming book, so much so that I have to admit that I have ordered other books in this series!
This is a great cozy mystery with wacky characters. I wished that I could actually talk to Charlie (the main character) as our childhood memories of the old children mysteries were so similar. I loved Charlie, Diesel and the marvelous descriptions of the 100 year old author Electra Barnes Cartwright and the people that were thrilled with her Veronica Thane series.
I would definitely recommend this extreme readable and very charming book, so much so that I have to admit that I have ordered other books in this series!
April 3, 2018
I am still enjoying this series. The plot of this one was about a book collector being murdered. Of course, our main character gets drawn in to the mystery along with his cat Diesel.
May 30, 2025
I received an audio copy from Tantor Audio and voluntarily reviewed it.
I am enjoying this series and was excited to see what book 5 would bring. The Silence of the Library again follows amateur sleuth Charlie and his Maine Coon cat Diesel as he solves another mystery. Despite reading this during a stressful time and not always being able to pay as much attention as I would like I still had a great time listening to this one and seeing where the mystery would go.
The mystery in this one is close to Charlie as the library he volunteers for is organizing an exhibit for a children's mystery author who happens to live close by. And then once they announce the event involving the author fans of her descend upon the town and one of the fans gets killed. Charlie again gets involved in solving the mystery. I felt in this one it was quite obvious early on who was involved, I didn't figure out all the pieces, but my first thought of who might be the killer and why was pretty spot on. There was an interesting twist toward the end that I had not figured out, but made sense and there were plenty of clues pointing in that direction once the main character realizes what's going on, which was fun.
There are some parts in this book from the fictional mystery book by the children's mystery author that Charlie is reading. This felt a bit odd at first and I wasn't sure why these sections were in there. After reading a review and realizing it would tie in with the mystery Charlie is solving I paid these sections a bit more attention, but even so I am not sure if I really think they added much and needed to be written out like this. It sure was unique though.
I enjoy reading about Charlie, his cat Diesel and the friends and family around him. There's less about his family and boarders in this book than in some of the previous ones, but most of them still make a few appearances. The focus really stays on Charlie, his cat and the characters directly involved in the mystery. I hope there is more about them again in future books. Charlie's romance is going steady and like seeing them are there for each other. The narrator for this one was the same one as for the previous books and I enjoy her narration for this series.
To summarize: I had a great time listening to this one. I listened during a stressful time, so my attention wavered at times, but I still enjoyed the story and was eager to find out how was the killer. I did think the mystery and who had done it was a bit more obvious in this one and my first guess was pretty spot on for motive and murderer. There was a fun twist and reveal at the end I hadn't predicted and I thought it was fun seeing all the little clues that pointed towards it. I like reading about Charlie and his cat Diesel as well as his romance. There was a bit less about his usual family and friends in this one, but most still make a few appearances and I hope to see more again in future books.
I am enjoying this series and was excited to see what book 5 would bring. The Silence of the Library again follows amateur sleuth Charlie and his Maine Coon cat Diesel as he solves another mystery. Despite reading this during a stressful time and not always being able to pay as much attention as I would like I still had a great time listening to this one and seeing where the mystery would go.
The mystery in this one is close to Charlie as the library he volunteers for is organizing an exhibit for a children's mystery author who happens to live close by. And then once they announce the event involving the author fans of her descend upon the town and one of the fans gets killed. Charlie again gets involved in solving the mystery. I felt in this one it was quite obvious early on who was involved, I didn't figure out all the pieces, but my first thought of who might be the killer and why was pretty spot on. There was an interesting twist toward the end that I had not figured out, but made sense and there were plenty of clues pointing in that direction once the main character realizes what's going on, which was fun.
There are some parts in this book from the fictional mystery book by the children's mystery author that Charlie is reading. This felt a bit odd at first and I wasn't sure why these sections were in there. After reading a review and realizing it would tie in with the mystery Charlie is solving I paid these sections a bit more attention, but even so I am not sure if I really think they added much and needed to be written out like this. It sure was unique though.
I enjoy reading about Charlie, his cat Diesel and the friends and family around him. There's less about his family and boarders in this book than in some of the previous ones, but most of them still make a few appearances. The focus really stays on Charlie, his cat and the characters directly involved in the mystery. I hope there is more about them again in future books. Charlie's romance is going steady and like seeing them are there for each other. The narrator for this one was the same one as for the previous books and I enjoy her narration for this series.
To summarize: I had a great time listening to this one. I listened during a stressful time, so my attention wavered at times, but I still enjoyed the story and was eager to find out how was the killer. I did think the mystery and who had done it was a bit more obvious in this one and my first guess was pretty spot on for motive and murderer. There was a fun twist and reveal at the end I hadn't predicted and I thought it was fun seeing all the little clues that pointed towards it. I like reading about Charlie and his cat Diesel as well as his romance. There was a bit less about his usual family and friends in this one, but most still make a few appearances and I hope to see more again in future books.
July 8, 2018
Love this series! Charlie and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, wind up in the middle of investigating a murder. The library where Charlie volunteers is hosting an event featuring girl detective series (ie Nancy Drew, etc). When the discover that one of his favorite authors is still alive, at almost 100, they engage her as a speaker. One of her biggest fans winds up dead and her agent missing. Light cozy reading at it's best!
July 18, 2025
quel retournement de situation !! je m’attendais pas à ça exactement et c’est une très bonne surprise
j’aime toujours autant les aventures de charlie et diesel accompagnés de tout leur entourage
un petit bonheur ces cozy mystery😻😻
j’aime toujours autant les aventures de charlie et diesel accompagnés de tout leur entourage
un petit bonheur ces cozy mystery😻😻
January 11, 2019
I absolutely adore this series! I read this book in a day and a half and had the worst time putting it down, it’s a quick, easy, & sweet read...I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series
June 18, 2021
While it was nice catching up with the characters, the mystery in this one was so-so and dragged a bit.
June 2, 2024
1) Still unsure of the motive in this one, but
2) Diesel got more treats than usual, and he's who I'm here for.
2) Diesel got more treats than usual, and he's who I'm here for.
August 29, 2023
It's National Library Week, and somehow Charlie manages to get the reclusive author of a Nancy Drew type girl detective series to make an appearance. There are rumors of unpublished books, and a collector is willing to kill to get them. I could see that happening.
Decent cozy. If I see anymore in the wild, I'll pick them up.
Decent cozy. If I see anymore in the wild, I'll pick them up.
June 30, 2018
Great cozy series. Workers in a library, a large cat who goes everywhere with his owner, and a mystery to solve, what more could a reader want. Enjoyable quick reads.
February 12, 2014
"The Silence of the Library" is a cozy mystery. It's the fifth in a series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil the whodunits of the previous novels.
The clues were so obvious that the "mystery" didn't require any guessing from me. Whenever a new clue came up, I knew exactly how it fit into the solution. The story was mostly filler, so it was slow-paced and couldn't keep my interest...especially since some of the filler was step-by-step detail about a guy vomiting and our hero cleaning up after him. There was no reason for that level of (gross) detail.
The hero noticed the clues but never really questioned the odd occurrences until someone else practically handed him the solution. The hero was generally a good-natured fellow, but his cat ruled him. He liked the people that liked his cat and disliked them if they didn't. The cat was constantly begging for treats (which he got), attention (which he got), and so on as filler material. The cat didn't play a part in the mystery-solving even though he was a smart as a human. The cat made bird sounds and often acted like a dog. I found this odd, not endearing, and I love cats.
There was no sex or bad language. Overall, people who have read the previous book might like this one as a way to spend more time with favorite characters, but I didn't find it an impressive point to start the series.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
The clues were so obvious that the "mystery" didn't require any guessing from me. Whenever a new clue came up, I knew exactly how it fit into the solution. The story was mostly filler, so it was slow-paced and couldn't keep my interest...especially since some of the filler was step-by-step detail about a guy vomiting and our hero cleaning up after him. There was no reason for that level of (gross) detail.
The hero noticed the clues but never really questioned the odd occurrences until someone else practically handed him the solution. The hero was generally a good-natured fellow, but his cat ruled him. He liked the people that liked his cat and disliked them if they didn't. The cat was constantly begging for treats (which he got), attention (which he got), and so on as filler material. The cat didn't play a part in the mystery-solving even though he was a smart as a human. The cat made bird sounds and often acted like a dog. I found this odd, not endearing, and I love cats.
There was no sex or bad language. Overall, people who have read the previous book might like this one as a way to spend more time with favorite characters, but I didn't find it an impressive point to start the series.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
June 8, 2015
My Thoughts...
Well here I am again reading another Miranda James cozy mystery...I always know I can depend on James to satisfy me when I am in a cozy frame of mind. And he didn't disappoint me this time around either.
He is now on my list of favorite authors, and if you like cozy mysteries, James' books are the best....there is humor and plenty of Southern charm to go around... Readers who have come to love Charlie and Diesel and the small town atmosphere of Athena, Mississippi will find "The Silence of the Library" makes for a leisurely and enjoyable read.
The book has all the twists and turns that makes a good cozy mystery a good read. I enjoyed it so much that I awarded it 4 "Hair Ball Kitty" stars. I own this book and it is a part of my personal library.
Well here I am again reading another Miranda James cozy mystery...I always know I can depend on James to satisfy me when I am in a cozy frame of mind. And he didn't disappoint me this time around either.
He is now on my list of favorite authors, and if you like cozy mysteries, James' books are the best....there is humor and plenty of Southern charm to go around... Readers who have come to love Charlie and Diesel and the small town atmosphere of Athena, Mississippi will find "The Silence of the Library" makes for a leisurely and enjoyable read.
The book has all the twists and turns that makes a good cozy mystery a good read. I enjoyed it so much that I awarded it 4 "Hair Ball Kitty" stars. I own this book and it is a part of my personal library.
January 27, 2014
I have always wanted to work in a Library and have thought it a great job, but after reading this installment of the Cat in the Stacks series I am not so sure. From the beginning this series is unusual . The main character is a male something very rare in Cozy mysteries. And than there is Diesel the cat. Cats are very common in cozies, but a cat like Diesel is very rare!. It is National Library Week and Charlie has big plans for his Library. He invites a famous YA author which causes a flood of other writers and fans. But of all the events Charlie has planned murder is not one of them. And what makes things more interesting is the huge number of suspects in town. Don't miss this one
February 6, 2020
The Silence of the Library by Miranda James is the fifth in the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. National Library week is coming and the public library and Charlie is planning a girl detective display, featuring books from his collection.
During the planning he and the director discover that Veronica Thane's author, Electra Barnes Cartwright is still alive and living nearby. They decide to retool their entire display to feature her and her Veronica Thane books. After a visit to meet the author and her adult daughter, things get weird.
s.com/blog/2020/comments_02/silence_of_the_library.html
During the planning he and the director discover that Veronica Thane's author, Electra Barnes Cartwright is still alive and living nearby. They decide to retool their entire display to feature her and her Veronica Thane books. After a visit to meet the author and her adult daughter, things get weird.
s.com/blog/2020/comments_02/silence_of_the_library.html
May 27, 2020
Charlie and his cat, Diesel, get pulled into a murder involving the author of an old teenage detective series.
This is a solid cozy series. The books aren't about the mysteries (even my mom figured this one out halfway through), they're about the characters. I appreciate the fact that this series stays focused on ~five main characters without a ton of supporting faces being added with each new book.
This was a group read with my 88-year-old mom, who definitely wants to read the next one. It's sweet, safe fun.
This is a solid cozy series. The books aren't about the mysteries (even my mom figured this one out halfway through), they're about the characters. I appreciate the fact that this series stays focused on ~five main characters without a ton of supporting faces being added with each new book.
This was a group read with my 88-year-old mom, who definitely wants to read the next one. It's sweet, safe fun.
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