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Greer Hogan Mystery #3
Three Can Keep a Secret: Greer Hogan Mystery, Book 3
Greer Hogan is a librarian turned sleuth, an avid reader of crime fiction who possesses an uncanny knack for deduction—and now, she’s drawn into another murder case as late autumn slowly turns to winter in the idyllic village of Raven Hill.
When Anita Hunzeker, chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, no one seems all that sorry. Anita was widely disliked, and the townsfolk would just as soon be rid of her. But when a local professor turns up dead as well, his connection to Anita and to other local residents leaves the suspect pool covering the entire county. Greer starts poking around, and the more she digs, the more it seems like everyone she knows is trying to hide something.
When she unearths a clue in the old manor cemetery, she finally discovers the shocking a cache of dark secrets stretching back decades that could rock the town to its core. Everyone who’s come close to the truth has ended up dead—and if Greer doesn’t tread lightly, she could be the next librarian to get archived for good.
Drawing nostalgic inspiration from classic girl-detective mysteries, M. E. Hilliard deftly captures notes of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers in this third Greer Hogan mystery.
When Anita Hunzeker, chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, no one seems all that sorry. Anita was widely disliked, and the townsfolk would just as soon be rid of her. But when a local professor turns up dead as well, his connection to Anita and to other local residents leaves the suspect pool covering the entire county. Greer starts poking around, and the more she digs, the more it seems like everyone she knows is trying to hide something.
When she unearths a clue in the old manor cemetery, she finally discovers the shocking a cache of dark secrets stretching back decades that could rock the town to its core. Everyone who’s come close to the truth has ended up dead—and if Greer doesn’t tread lightly, she could be the next librarian to get archived for good.
Drawing nostalgic inspiration from classic girl-detective mysteries, M. E. Hilliard deftly captures notes of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers in this third Greer Hogan mystery.
Audible Audio
Published February 9, 2023
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About the author
M.E. Hilliard
4 books134 followersM.E. is currently a librarian who started out in retail merchandising. Her first job was as an assistant buyer at Lord & Taylor, where her glamour job involved office space in the basement of the Fifth Avenue store. After twelve years of mergers, consolidations, and moves around the country, she went to graduate school and got a Master of Library Science degree. She has been in the information business ever since, working for public libraries small and large. Originally from the Connecticut shoreline, she has never lost her love of quaint small towns, big cities, and fashion, so she indulges that in her writing. A life-long lover of mystery fiction, M.E. completed her first novel while taking some time off to care for an elderly relative. She currently lives and works in Florida, where she has acquired a houseful of misfit pets and a violent palm tree allergy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 9, 2023
Halloween Bingo 2023
This series is perfect for library workers—it involves our strongest suit, research. I wondered, when I read the first book, why it differed so dramatically from other cozy mysteries. No descriptions of cooking, housework, or personal grooming dominating the pages. It finally dawned on me that it's filled with the boring details of library work. Having worked in a library for my entire career, this was practically invisible to me. Having said that, Greer is a most unusual librarian. She doesn't spend the majority of her work hours in meetings! And the Raven Hill library is also unusually large and well staffed for a small town library. (The library in the small town where I grew up couldn't afford an actual librarian with the Masters degree and had only a small staff of underpaid part timers, my mother among them).
Nevertheless, I really enjoy these mysteries and I'm happy to see that the ending strongly implies that there will be a book four eventually. I like Greer as a main character, I appreciate the focus on her research skills and her knowledge of detective fiction. She gets to channel Poirot in this one. I also am glad to have found a cozy mystery series with only an extremely understated romantic plot line. Greer's potential interest doesn't appear in this book at all, although the flashlights he gifted her are prominent. Gotta love a guy who gives practical presents!
Sounds like Greer will return to the bright lights of the big city in the next volume. I will anticipate it happily.
I read this book to match Genre: Mystery on my bingo card.
This series is perfect for library workers—it involves our strongest suit, research. I wondered, when I read the first book, why it differed so dramatically from other cozy mysteries. No descriptions of cooking, housework, or personal grooming dominating the pages. It finally dawned on me that it's filled with the boring details of library work. Having worked in a library for my entire career, this was practically invisible to me. Having said that, Greer is a most unusual librarian. She doesn't spend the majority of her work hours in meetings! And the Raven Hill library is also unusually large and well staffed for a small town library. (The library in the small town where I grew up couldn't afford an actual librarian with the Masters degree and had only a small staff of underpaid part timers, my mother among them).
Nevertheless, I really enjoy these mysteries and I'm happy to see that the ending strongly implies that there will be a book four eventually. I like Greer as a main character, I appreciate the focus on her research skills and her knowledge of detective fiction. She gets to channel Poirot in this one. I also am glad to have found a cozy mystery series with only an extremely understated romantic plot line. Greer's potential interest doesn't appear in this book at all, although the flashlights he gifted her are prominent. Gotta love a guy who gives practical presents!
Sounds like Greer will return to the bright lights of the big city in the next volume. I will anticipate it happily.
I read this book to match Genre: Mystery on my bingo card.
August 28, 2022
Greer is a librarian in upstate New York. Anita, a library board member, is not a favorite there. She gets things done, but is rather obnoxious. When her car is run off the road, it appears to be deliberate. But there are so many people who disliked Anita, it is difficult to decide who had the biggest grudge. A blackmail victim? Unhappy relatives? Another of her many enemies? This book is part of a series but I was able to read it as a stand-alone. I wasn't surprised to read that the author is a working librarian--as a librarian, I recognized the authenticity of her descriptions. Another book with a hook--apparently Greer's husband was murdered at some point, and she is still searching for information to reopen the investigation. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
March 9, 2025
4.5 stars
November 26, 2024
3.5 stars.
A widely disliked chair of the Raven Hill Library's Board is killed when her car goes off the road, and then a local professor dies unexpectedly of poisoning. No one will miss Anita Hunzeker, but Greer has a funny feeling about the circumstances surrounding Anita's death, so, naturally, Greer begins poking around. She discovers that Anita was digging into the history of the wealthy family whose home became the library, and she discovers the secrets that led to Anita's and the professor's deaths. A coworker's unexpected gift grants Greer the means to finally find out who and why her husband was killed, which I assume is what book four will entail.
This case had a little too many twists and turns, and normally I can keep all that straight, but this time, I lost story threads as I read.
I continue to appreciate, however, Greer's research abilities, and general nosiness when she channels Poirot, Marple or other Golden Age fictional sleuths. I am looking forward to Greer's return to her former home, and her using her detection skills to finally get some resolution about the traumatic event in her life that eventually led her to Raven Hill.
A widely disliked chair of the Raven Hill Library's Board is killed when her car goes off the road, and then a local professor dies unexpectedly of poisoning. No one will miss Anita Hunzeker, but Greer has a funny feeling about the circumstances surrounding Anita's death, so, naturally, Greer begins poking around. She discovers that Anita was digging into the history of the wealthy family whose home became the library, and she discovers the secrets that led to Anita's and the professor's deaths. A coworker's unexpected gift grants Greer the means to finally find out who and why her husband was killed, which I assume is what book four will entail.
This case had a little too many twists and turns, and normally I can keep all that straight, but this time, I lost story threads as I read.
I continue to appreciate, however, Greer's research abilities, and general nosiness when she channels Poirot, Marple or other Golden Age fictional sleuths. I am looking forward to Greer's return to her former home, and her using her detection skills to finally get some resolution about the traumatic event in her life that eventually led her to Raven Hill.
September 20, 2023
Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.” Greer Hogan, reference librarian and amateur sleuth in the hamlet of Raven Hill, is drawn into yet another murder investigation (following Shadow in the Glass, 2022). When the head of the library board is found dead in her car, no one seems surprised. Anita was in constant conflict with various townspeople, going so far as blackmail to get what she wanted. When a local professor also turns up dead, Greer suspects a connection and starts digging for answers. What she finds turns Raven Hill and its residents upside down. The series’ third installment is entertaining, albeit predictable. Librarians will appreciate the details concerning the daily life of a public librarian, including a breakdown of interlibrary loans, the weekend Friends of the Library book sale, and the annual children’s Halloween programs. The mystery itself is cozy and simple. Those who have read the previous two books will not get any further information about Greer’s husband, but there is an obvious nod toward a fourth book. A worthy addition to the series. Booklist 2023
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.” Greer Hogan, reference librarian and amateur sleuth in the hamlet of Raven Hill, is drawn into yet another murder investigation (following Shadow in the Glass, 2022). When the head of the library board is found dead in her car, no one seems surprised. Anita was in constant conflict with various townspeople, going so far as blackmail to get what she wanted. When a local professor also turns up dead, Greer suspects a connection and starts digging for answers. What she finds turns Raven Hill and its residents upside down. The series’ third installment is entertaining, albeit predictable. Librarians will appreciate the details concerning the daily life of a public librarian, including a breakdown of interlibrary loans, the weekend Friends of the Library book sale, and the annual children’s Halloween programs. The mystery itself is cozy and simple. Those who have read the previous two books will not get any further information about Greer’s husband, but there is an obvious nod toward a fourth book. A worthy addition to the series. Booklist 2023
September 20, 2022
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead, and that axiom is very true in this third book of the series. Greer finds herself pulled between her library and the historical society especially with Anita Hunzeker as one of her board members. When Anita is killed in a car accident, Greer begins to dig into the mystery and finds many people are keeping secrets. Enjoyed this so much I am going back to read the first two in the series.
May 21, 2023
I am looking forward to the next book in the series so I can find out if Greer finds out who murdered her husband. In this book the President of the Friends Group is murdered as well as a local professor. The murders tie in with if there is a codicil to the will that might impact the Library. Millicent holds the key to many issues and Greer is left to deal with them..
January 16, 2023
Shhh...this is a library! Three Can Keep A Secret, can't they? This is the third in the refreshing Greer Hogan Mystery series, dripping with atmosphere (small town gossip, turret, library, maps, letters, trusts, murder) and full of quirky characters.
Though a cozy mystery, there are less lighthearted elements as well. After main character Greer Hogan's husband was murdered, she left her NY life and moved to a small town where she is a reference librarian and amateur sleuth. In this story there are other crimes to solve, including murder (in spades) but her story continues. When death comes knocking, Anita and her police officer friend Jennie get down to business.
Greer's reaction to busybody controlling Anita's death was too indifferent and the resolution is predictable. However, learning more about her back story is interesting and the literary references and setting made it for me.
Cozy Mystery readers who enjoy a wee bit of oomph do pick this up.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this compelling book.
Though a cozy mystery, there are less lighthearted elements as well. After main character Greer Hogan's husband was murdered, she left her NY life and moved to a small town where she is a reference librarian and amateur sleuth. In this story there are other crimes to solve, including murder (in spades) but her story continues. When death comes knocking, Anita and her police officer friend Jennie get down to business.
Greer's reaction to busybody controlling Anita's death was too indifferent and the resolution is predictable. However, learning more about her back story is interesting and the literary references and setting made it for me.
Cozy Mystery readers who enjoy a wee bit of oomph do pick this up.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this compelling book.
June 17, 2024
I enjoy this series, but glad I don't work in this spooky and murderous library! The ending was a bit confusing, especially as the different murders are intersecting. I'll start book 4 now and hopefully will feel a bit more satisfied.
March 7, 2023
Hilliard weaves a complex web of Red Herrings as she aides in solving the apparent murder of the Raven Hill’s Library Board Chair. She once again does an admirable job with her setting details (small town near Albany, NY; old mansion turned into library) and the Halloween timeline and location setting plays with Tone as the spooky attics and basement of the old library are used to good effect. I was disappointed in this 3rd in the series because there were fewer literary allusions spicing up the narrative (hats off to Christie and a few other mystery writers though) and the mechanics of the plotting seemed more obvious and repetitive. I found myself getting impatient. Greer continues to both annoy and fascinate as an amateur who is obviously predisposed to meddle and, at least, she is in the loop by police request this time. The archival, historical society, research details were on point and Hilliard does an excellent job entwining how one researches with the outcome of what one finds. Not as much humor, no ST, but the ending is satisfactory also leading us to the next in the series which may finally tackle Greer’s husband’s murder. I’ll pick that one up hoping for some closure and a better journey.
September 5, 2022
Greer Hogan escaped her old life in NYC after her husband's unsolved murder in their home by getting her master's in library science, followed by a drastic move to a village upstate to work in their beautiful library in an old family home that gets a lot of use.
The first body is that of a much-disliked library board chairperson who was run off a twisty road after a meeting about the impending book sale. Greer is not on the suspect list but becomes endangered during the course of her investigation.
It's been two years since I read the first in series, so I feel confident in saying that it works well as a stand-alone but looks to be a great character driven series. Really enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
The first body is that of a much-disliked library board chairperson who was run off a twisty road after a meeting about the impending book sale. Greer is not on the suspect list but becomes endangered during the course of her investigation.
It's been two years since I read the first in series, so I feel confident in saying that it works well as a stand-alone but looks to be a great character driven series. Really enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
March 7, 2023
Three Can Keep a Secret is the latest installment in this series featuring librarian and amateur sleuth Greer Hogan. This time a pesky board member meets a tragic end. Greer again finds herself digging into the past of Raven Hill to solve the present day mystery. It's an interesting thought provoking who done it set in small town with all the trimmings in place. Very fun to fol
Iow along as she solves the puzzle
Iow along as she solves the puzzle
July 27, 2023
Book 3 in the series is back to its original feel, after what I felt was a little bump with book 2 feeling a bit off piste. Greer is back to her research and sleuthing, digging into the death of one of the library trustees, Anita Hunzeker, a woman who wasn't particularly well-liked. A second death, a professor at a local college, puzzles Greer, but there is a connection - and it just means that almost anyone could have done it!
The trail of clues leads her right back to the past and the founding of Raven Hill, and a surprise revelation about one of her colleagues. She also finds out some more information into the murder of her husband.
This story had a bit of a dark edge to it, which I quite liked. The stories are clever, the characters great and the mystery tricky to unravel. There are enough loose threads to anticipate the next book without feeling like you've been ripped off with an ending, because this book does wrap up its mystery very well.
This is one of my favourite newer series and I am looking forward to the next one already! Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
The trail of clues leads her right back to the past and the founding of Raven Hill, and a surprise revelation about one of her colleagues. She also finds out some more information into the murder of her husband.
This story had a bit of a dark edge to it, which I quite liked. The stories are clever, the characters great and the mystery tricky to unravel. There are enough loose threads to anticipate the next book without feeling like you've been ripped off with an ending, because this book does wrap up its mystery very well.
This is one of my favourite newer series and I am looking forward to the next one already! Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.
December 15, 2023
The description of the library reminded me a lot of the small town library I worked at in Colorado so it sounded pretty charming. The story was your typical cozy mystery with a lot of library lingo and was overly descriptive at times. But an easy read with a very autumnal feel.
August 1, 2023
3.75 OK this series is really growing on me. This was a taut interesting mystery and even the librarian is less exasperating. Looking forward to the next book.
December 31, 2022
It was Benjamin Franklin who said that three may keep a secret if two of them are dead. In M. E. Hilliard’s latest Greer Hogan mystery Greer is determined to discover the secrets that led to the deaths of a college professor and the chairperson of Raven Hill’s library board. Anita Hunzeker left the library with a group of files that were missing when her body was discovered on a country road. What appeared to be an accident was later ruled murder and the contents of the files could be the key. One was labeled with the name of Professor Walters, who was later found dead in his cabin. Anita made a number of enemies with her intimidating personality. The library was currently housed in a manor left to the town by the Ravenscroft family. Despite its’ importance to the community, Anita was pushing for a move to a new building and she was not averse to blackmail to get the required votes.
Greer moved to Raven Hill after the murder of her husband and has found a home and friends in her role as a reference librarian. She has also been involved in the investigation of a previous murder so it is no surprise that her friend, officer Jennie Webber, consults with her regarding the victim and her fellow library employees. Eighty year old Millicent is in charge of the library’s archives. She grew up with the Ravenscroft family and is familiar with the family’s terms of the bequest and the secrets that they held. Dory, the office gossip, also hints at problems between Anita and her daughter, which led to a shouting match and threats. Hilliard keeps you guessing as each bit of information that Greer finds points her in a different direction. Fans of Stella Cameron and the late Sheila Connolly will definitely find themselves adding Hilliard to their must read lists. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
Greer moved to Raven Hill after the murder of her husband and has found a home and friends in her role as a reference librarian. She has also been involved in the investigation of a previous murder so it is no surprise that her friend, officer Jennie Webber, consults with her regarding the victim and her fellow library employees. Eighty year old Millicent is in charge of the library’s archives. She grew up with the Ravenscroft family and is familiar with the family’s terms of the bequest and the secrets that they held. Dory, the office gossip, also hints at problems between Anita and her daughter, which led to a shouting match and threats. Hilliard keeps you guessing as each bit of information that Greer finds points her in a different direction. Fans of Stella Cameron and the late Sheila Connolly will definitely find themselves adding Hilliard to their must read lists. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
May 31, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Three Can Keep a Secret is the third Greer Hogan cozy(ish) mystery by M. E. Hilliard. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback out in 1st quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This series is developing nicely, and the author writes well and clearly. The author has apparently worked as a librarian and seems to have a similar background in high-end retail fashion as her alter ego protagonist Greer. The librarian-dog-cozy-murder-smalltown-mystery sub-subgenre is always fun and this is a nice addition to the promising start laid down in the previous books. The murders are off-scene and mostly bloodless, there's no graphic content, the language is fairly clean, the characters are (mostly) likeable and intelligent and there are a plethora of suspects and lots of red herrings. I got a slight Agatha Raisin vibe. She's smart and fashion conscious and sophisticated as well as vulnerable and not so perfect that she becomes insufferable.
Since it's a librarian cozy, there are of course book tie-ins and title name-dropping. One of my favorite features of librarian cozies is the suggestions for titles, series, and authors with which I was previously unfamiliar. I found a couple of good ones in this book to follow up on as a nice bonus. I suspect most of the titles and series mentioned will be familiar to most readers.
The climax and denouement are well done. It's a fun, slightly melancholy cozy and full of the things which we all love about small-town cozies. Happily in this installment landlord Henri and his adorable bulldog Pierre feature somewhat more heavily. I hope they figure as prominently in the next book.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 7 hours 58 minutes and is narrated by Kirsten Potter. She has an earthy low-toned rich alto voice and a well modulated general American accent (not notably regional). She manages the read with good inflection and not too much breathiness, and readers will be able to concentrate on the narrative without noticing the narrator overly much. One slight codicil, for Francophiles, her accent for Henri's dialogue is not overly accurate. He doesn't have too much dialogue, so it won't be a problem for most readers. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. Highly recommended to fans of the genre.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Three Can Keep a Secret is the third Greer Hogan cozy(ish) mystery by M. E. Hilliard. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback out in 1st quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This series is developing nicely, and the author writes well and clearly. The author has apparently worked as a librarian and seems to have a similar background in high-end retail fashion as her alter ego protagonist Greer. The librarian-dog-cozy-murder-smalltown-mystery sub-subgenre is always fun and this is a nice addition to the promising start laid down in the previous books. The murders are off-scene and mostly bloodless, there's no graphic content, the language is fairly clean, the characters are (mostly) likeable and intelligent and there are a plethora of suspects and lots of red herrings. I got a slight Agatha Raisin vibe. She's smart and fashion conscious and sophisticated as well as vulnerable and not so perfect that she becomes insufferable.
Since it's a librarian cozy, there are of course book tie-ins and title name-dropping. One of my favorite features of librarian cozies is the suggestions for titles, series, and authors with which I was previously unfamiliar. I found a couple of good ones in this book to follow up on as a nice bonus. I suspect most of the titles and series mentioned will be familiar to most readers.
The climax and denouement are well done. It's a fun, slightly melancholy cozy and full of the things which we all love about small-town cozies. Happily in this installment landlord Henri and his adorable bulldog Pierre feature somewhat more heavily. I hope they figure as prominently in the next book.
The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 7 hours 58 minutes and is narrated by Kirsten Potter. She has an earthy low-toned rich alto voice and a well modulated general American accent (not notably regional). She manages the read with good inflection and not too much breathiness, and readers will be able to concentrate on the narrative without noticing the narrator overly much. One slight codicil, for Francophiles, her accent for Henri's dialogue is not overly accurate. He doesn't have too much dialogue, so it won't be a problem for most readers. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Four stars. Highly recommended to fans of the genre.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
November 13, 2022
Like M.E. Hilliard’s debut novel, The Unkindness of Ravens, the newest in her Greer Hogan Mystery series, Three Can Keep a Secret, grabbed me from the onset. The first person narration rapidly pulls the reader in the the thought processes of amateur sleuth, Greer Hogan, a former New York City high-powered executive who becomes a small town librarian after the death of her husband. Greer’s intelligence and personality shine through from the onset. I immediately bonded with a gal who calls herself a “girl detective” and who’s read all the Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew mysteries and prefers Trixie to Nancy because Trixie “got into more trouble.” Despite her affinity for childhood heroines, Hilliard aligns her protagonist with others within the mystery genre, including Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercules Poirot.
Hilliard has also done a bang-up job in creating a chilling gothic atmosphere complete with a spooky, creaky old mansion-turned-public-library, populated by dark Victorian images of the former owners of the manor. the requisite nooks and crannies, creaking floors, and drafty windows, and ravens inside and out. It also has a well-constructed plot, plausible but twisted. When Anita Hunzeker, the universally disliked battle-ax chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, there are plenty of suspects. Greer jumps in to help the police solve the mystery.
There is some personal growth here as well. Though Greer has reinvented her life after the death of her husband, she is coming to terms with it and her feeling that the man jailed for the crime is innocent.
I somehow missed the second in this series but plan to read it forthwith.
Hilliard has also done a bang-up job in creating a chilling gothic atmosphere complete with a spooky, creaky old mansion-turned-public-library, populated by dark Victorian images of the former owners of the manor. the requisite nooks and crannies, creaking floors, and drafty windows, and ravens inside and out. It also has a well-constructed plot, plausible but twisted. When Anita Hunzeker, the universally disliked battle-ax chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, there are plenty of suspects. Greer jumps in to help the police solve the mystery.
There is some personal growth here as well. Though Greer has reinvented her life after the death of her husband, she is coming to terms with it and her feeling that the man jailed for the crime is innocent.
I somehow missed the second in this series but plan to read it forthwith.
September 22, 2022
Greer Hogan is a librarian in the village of Raven Hill who also seems to find herself in the middle of murder investigations. In this latest book, she has a conversation with Anita Hunzeker, chairman of the library board of trustees, just before Anita is run off the road and killed. It's no secret that many people despised Anita because she was one of those people who had to be in control of everything.
Greer, an amateur sleuth, decides to investigate herself because two of her co-workers are possible suspects, and she doesn't believe they could do this. When another death occurs, Greer finds herself in the middle of an investigation turned deadly. The village of Raven Hill has secrets, and the past is always part of the present.
I liked the characters in this mystery, and Greer is someone you'd love to meet for a cup of tea and a good discussion about books. Hilliard created a town and culture with lots of relationships that become part of the investigation. I enjoyed her setting, and felt its reach into the past served the plot well. If there was one thing I'd change it would be the pacing of the plot. There were too many places where not much happened except discussing or thinking about the murders. All in all, I'd recommend this series and "Three Can Keep a Secret."
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Greer, an amateur sleuth, decides to investigate herself because two of her co-workers are possible suspects, and she doesn't believe they could do this. When another death occurs, Greer finds herself in the middle of an investigation turned deadly. The village of Raven Hill has secrets, and the past is always part of the present.
I liked the characters in this mystery, and Greer is someone you'd love to meet for a cup of tea and a good discussion about books. Hilliard created a town and culture with lots of relationships that become part of the investigation. I enjoyed her setting, and felt its reach into the past served the plot well. If there was one thing I'd change it would be the pacing of the plot. There were too many places where not much happened except discussing or thinking about the murders. All in all, I'd recommend this series and "Three Can Keep a Secret."
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
Anita Hunzeker is the bane of Raven Hill: a busybody volunteer in charge of everything, with an abrasive manner and an annoying habit of actually getting things done. Nobody is terribly upset when she dies in a road accident, but the police quickly determine that she was run off the road and then had her skull bashed in - murder, in fact. Librarian Greer Hogan happens to have seen some files that Anita was carrying before the crash, and when the police determine that some of those files are missing, she is given unofficial permission to look into the matter. But when there is a seemingly unrelated poisoning of a mediocre history professor at a nearby college, Greer’s abilities as a researcher are tested to the max…. This is the third book in this series, which features a former fashion business bigwig who has left New York City after the murder of her husband to take up a second life as a librarian in a small town. I love the setting, which continues in the tradition of Agatha Christie (who knew that small villages contain such multitudes of murderers), and Greer is an interesting character, especially if, like me, you enjoy following the painstaking research of a true library enthusiast. The title refers to a saying attributed to Ben Franklin (it continues…. “If two of them are dead”), which provides a clue in itself. Recommended, but this is one where having read the first two books (“An Unkindness of Ravens” and “Shadow in the Glass”) is definitely necessary.
April 22, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Another outstanding cover on this book!
Three Can Keep a Secret by M.E. Hilliard is an exceptional mystery novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end!
The story follows Greer Hogan, a librarian turned sleuth who is drawn into another murder case in the idyllic village of Raven Hill. When Anita Hunzeker, chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, no one seems to be all that sorry. But when a local professor also turns up dead, Greer uses her uncanny knack for deduction that leads her to uncover shocking secrets stretching back decades.
The writing in this book remains top notch with a well-paced plot that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I loved the setting in the Village of Raven Hill and especially enjoyed exploring more about its library. The characters are solid, likable, and work well together to help solve the murder. I appreciate how Greer isn't constantly at odds with local police but works together smoothly with them.
Overall, Three Can Keep a Secret was another 5-star read for me in this series! Even if you missed book two in this series like I did, it doesn't detract from enjoying this book as a standalone read. Highly recommended for any mystery lover looking for an engaging whodunit!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Three Can Keep a Secret by M.E. Hilliard is an exceptional mystery novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end!
The story follows Greer Hogan, a librarian turned sleuth who is drawn into another murder case in the idyllic village of Raven Hill. When Anita Hunzeker, chair of the library board of trustees, is run off the road and killed, no one seems to be all that sorry. But when a local professor also turns up dead, Greer uses her uncanny knack for deduction that leads her to uncover shocking secrets stretching back decades.
The writing in this book remains top notch with a well-paced plot that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I loved the setting in the Village of Raven Hill and especially enjoyed exploring more about its library. The characters are solid, likable, and work well together to help solve the murder. I appreciate how Greer isn't constantly at odds with local police but works together smoothly with them.
Overall, Three Can Keep a Secret was another 5-star read for me in this series! Even if you missed book two in this series like I did, it doesn't detract from enjoying this book as a standalone read. Highly recommended for any mystery lover looking for an engaging whodunit!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
November 2, 2023
I am enamoured with this series but now I'm caught up and feeling a little 'gonna miss these characters' sulk coming on. Especially since this book definitely sets things up for Greer to finally get some answers on her personal mystery. And now she has a bunch of friends who have her back. I'm thinking book four is going to be quite intense.
Love that we're back in Greer's small town library setting for a lot of this story. Love the bookish ambiance and the behind the scenes glimpse at all the library magic. :-) I'm fast friends with all the librarians now, getting to know their quirks and foibles. I'd definitely suggest reading these books in order to get the most out of each mystery and Greer's personal life.
So the mystery -- fabulous! Convoluted. Sometimes confusing. It kept me on the edge of my sleuthing armchair as I tried to puzzle things out along with Greer. And, honestly, Hilliard broke my heart a time or two during this read. Sniffle. I really enjoy the way this author builds a mystery, gradually dropping important clues (if only I'd recognized some of them at the time!) and building interesting backstories for all the suspects. I like the way she brings compassion into the mix, even for the killer, which adds a whole other dimension to the mystery. Really tugs at my emotions and makes the resolution bittersweet.
Of note: some mild language.
Love that we're back in Greer's small town library setting for a lot of this story. Love the bookish ambiance and the behind the scenes glimpse at all the library magic. :-) I'm fast friends with all the librarians now, getting to know their quirks and foibles. I'd definitely suggest reading these books in order to get the most out of each mystery and Greer's personal life.
So the mystery -- fabulous! Convoluted. Sometimes confusing. It kept me on the edge of my sleuthing armchair as I tried to puzzle things out along with Greer. And, honestly, Hilliard broke my heart a time or two during this read. Sniffle. I really enjoy the way this author builds a mystery, gradually dropping important clues (if only I'd recognized some of them at the time!) and building interesting backstories for all the suspects. I like the way she brings compassion into the mix, even for the killer, which adds a whole other dimension to the mystery. Really tugs at my emotions and makes the resolution bittersweet.
Of note: some mild language.
January 16, 2023
Librarian Greer Hogan is back with another mystery to solve when the head of the Library Board is run off the road and killed. No one can be found who liked Anita Hunzeker, often referred to behind her back as "Attila the Hunzeker," but Greer wouldn't have thought that any of the dislike was strong enough for someone to murder her.
As she looks into Anita's death, she finds another mystery. This one concerns the family that set up a trust which includes the library where Greer works. Anita had been advocating for a new library building which also included the local historical society and was willing to go to lengths including blackmailing people to support her side in the on-going argument.
Greer also looks into the trust, or tries to, since there have been long-standing rumors of a lost will or codicil that would affect it. Fellow librarian Millicent, in her 80s and determined not to retire, has a role in this one. She disliked Anita and her plans for the future and she knew the family that set up the trust and was keeping some secrets about it.
I enjoyed this story which had interesting characters and a nicely twisty plot.
As she looks into Anita's death, she finds another mystery. This one concerns the family that set up a trust which includes the library where Greer works. Anita had been advocating for a new library building which also included the local historical society and was willing to go to lengths including blackmailing people to support her side in the on-going argument.
Greer also looks into the trust, or tries to, since there have been long-standing rumors of a lost will or codicil that would affect it. Fellow librarian Millicent, in her 80s and determined not to retire, has a role in this one. She disliked Anita and her plans for the future and she knew the family that set up the trust and was keeping some secrets about it.
I enjoyed this story which had interesting characters and a nicely twisty plot.
October 30, 2022
I thought this book looked and sounded like something that I would enjoy, and I was very drawn to the cover illustration, so I was excited to be approved to read and review this.
I thought this book was excellent. It was very well-written, and I felt it had all the warmth that I'd expect from a cosy mystery, but at the same time, it had a seriousness that I enjoyed - it was warm and light-hearted without being frivolous. The protagonist was someone that I warmed to and identified with, and the book felt very modern and relevant.
I appreciated the literary references, for example, to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party - those are two of my favourite authors, so as a reader, I could relate to these references and they made me smile.
I would definitely be interested in reading some more books in this series, and will probably recommend this book to my fellow book club members. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review it.
I thought this book was excellent. It was very well-written, and I felt it had all the warmth that I'd expect from a cosy mystery, but at the same time, it had a seriousness that I enjoyed - it was warm and light-hearted without being frivolous. The protagonist was someone that I warmed to and identified with, and the book felt very modern and relevant.
I appreciated the literary references, for example, to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party - those are two of my favourite authors, so as a reader, I could relate to these references and they made me smile.
I would definitely be interested in reading some more books in this series, and will probably recommend this book to my fellow book club members. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review it.
February 13, 2023
Greer Hogan is the reference librarian in a small New York state town. The town library and the local historical society share an old family mansion. There are people in town who want more space for more uses and they want a new building. One of the library board members is Anita Hunzeker, a woman who rubs just about everyone the wrong way, to put it mildly. After leaving the library one evening with some boxes of files, her car is run off the road and she is killed. The files go missing. Not long after her "accident" a professor is killed and that puts Anita's accident into question. Who ran her off the road and stuck around to take those files? How is she connected to the professor?
Greer is not only a reference librarian, she is good at solving murders and this one has her looking beyond the town of Raven Hill. The motive may be a long buried secret that somebody wants to stay that way. If Greer isn't careful the killer may come after her.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Greer is not only a reference librarian, she is good at solving murders and this one has her looking beyond the town of Raven Hill. The motive may be a long buried secret that somebody wants to stay that way. If Greer isn't careful the killer may come after her.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 10, 2023
1.5
I have not read the first two books. Although this book can be a stand-alone, my reading experience would have been enhanced with Greer's backstory and those of this town and characters.
I picked the book because the cover perfectly and cleverly supported the title due to the adage.
None of the characters are interesting, which is why I think reading the previous books would have helped. Greer's investigation is thorough and cerebral, but tedious. The mystery itself, in such a great setting, was boring. If the victim of the crime is unlikeable, then the suspects should be sympathetic enough that we don't want them charged. In this case, none of the suspects were in danger. The explanation is convoluted and complicated by the fact that a (nearly?) attempted murder is embedded inside of it.
However, Hilliard did one thing really well. Greer's amateur sleuthing doesn't break laws, disrupt crime scenes, break chain of evidence, or do anything else that would prevent prosecution.
I have not read the first two books. Although this book can be a stand-alone, my reading experience would have been enhanced with Greer's backstory and those of this town and characters.
I picked the book because the cover perfectly and cleverly supported the title due to the adage.
None of the characters are interesting, which is why I think reading the previous books would have helped. Greer's investigation is thorough and cerebral, but tedious. The mystery itself, in such a great setting, was boring. If the victim of the crime is unlikeable, then the suspects should be sympathetic enough that we don't want them charged. In this case, none of the suspects were in danger. The explanation is convoluted and complicated by the fact that a (nearly?) attempted murder is embedded inside of it.
However, Hilliard did one thing really well. Greer's amateur sleuthing doesn't break laws, disrupt crime scenes, break chain of evidence, or do anything else that would prevent prosecution.
November 13, 2024
#3 in the 40 year old librarian Greer Hogan cozy mystery series. Greer's husband was murdered 3 years ago causing her to leave New York City behind for a new start in the Village of Raven Hill near Albany in upstate New York beginning a new career as a librarian. Greer an avid reader of murder mysteries who frequently considers herself a detective along with frequent references to mysteries and authors.
Anita Hunzeker is the bane of Raven Hill: a busybody volunteer in charge of everything, with an abrasive manner and an annoying habit of actually getting things done. Nobody is terribly upset when she dies in a road accident, but the police quickly determine that she was run off the road and then had her skull bashed in. Greer happens to have seen some files that Anita was carrying before the crash, and when the police determine that some of those files are missing, she is given unofficial permission to look into the matter. But when there is a seemingly unrelated poisoning of a mediocre history professor at a nearby college, Greer’s abilities as a researcher are tested to the max
Anita Hunzeker is the bane of Raven Hill: a busybody volunteer in charge of everything, with an abrasive manner and an annoying habit of actually getting things done. Nobody is terribly upset when she dies in a road accident, but the police quickly determine that she was run off the road and then had her skull bashed in. Greer happens to have seen some files that Anita was carrying before the crash, and when the police determine that some of those files are missing, she is given unofficial permission to look into the matter. But when there is a seemingly unrelated poisoning of a mediocre history professor at a nearby college, Greer’s abilities as a researcher are tested to the max
June 28, 2023
Raven Hill. Present day. M. E. Hilliard’s Three Can Keep a Secret (Greer Hogan Mystery, #3) finds Greer Hogan, female librarian/sleuth, quoting the beginning line of one of my favorite books of all time. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” The opening sentence of Daphne du Maurier’s
Rebecca is said by Greer as she approaches Raven Hill Manor which now houses the library of the village of Raven Hill. Greer quotes this line as she has “always been a sucker for a creepy old house….”, and Ravin Hill Library is that and more. Just as Manderley held secrets so does Ravin Hill Manor/Library, and Greer wishes to discover those secrets which as the book ends, she does discover one of them. The difficulty I had, I believe, is I have not read the first two mysteries. Thus, I felt I was at a disadvantage to understand the ‘whole picture’. I think this series may be a good one, but I should have read Shadow in the Glass (Greer Hogan, #1). I like creepy old houses too! 3.5 stars.
Rebecca is said by Greer as she approaches Raven Hill Manor which now houses the library of the village of Raven Hill. Greer quotes this line as she has “always been a sucker for a creepy old house….”, and Ravin Hill Library is that and more. Just as Manderley held secrets so does Ravin Hill Manor/Library, and Greer wishes to discover those secrets which as the book ends, she does discover one of them. The difficulty I had, I believe, is I have not read the first two mysteries. Thus, I felt I was at a disadvantage to understand the ‘whole picture’. I think this series may be a good one, but I should have read Shadow in the Glass (Greer Hogan, #1). I like creepy old houses too! 3.5 stars.
October 17, 2022
Anita is the most hated person in Raven hill. Everyone in town has a reason, but who would actually kill her? This is the premise of Three Can Keep a Secret by H. E. Hilliard. Greer Hogan is a librarian in a tiny town in upstate New York. She loves criminal fiction and solving mysteries. After a Library board member is found dead, she gets involved in solving the crime. It seems like everyone she talks to is hiding something, but what? Secrets from long ago are dug up, exposing even more reasons for the murder. After discovering another body, she desperately tries to find the connection.
This book is book 3 of the series, A Greer Hogan Mystery, but it would also work as a stand-alone. Hilliard does a wonderful job describing the buildings and scenery of this old NY town and makes you feel right at home. Highly recommend if you are a mystery lover.
This book is book 3 of the series, A Greer Hogan Mystery, but it would also work as a stand-alone. Hilliard does a wonderful job describing the buildings and scenery of this old NY town and makes you feel right at home. Highly recommend if you are a mystery lover.
January 1, 2023
Unlike the previous books, Three Can Keep a Secret does not add the extra layer of the old house/library gothic ambiance that was a hallmark of earlier volumes.
There are tedious and repetitious sections, and it is not until the last twenty percent of the book that the story picks up steam. If the reader is unfamiliar with a particular rhyme, the ah-ha moment is a surprise. I wanted to think of this as a stretch, but in a way, it worked perfectly.
When it comes to the perpetrator, I cannot say that it was a surprise since early on there were clues. I just could not narrow it down to one due to the complexity and competing motives. Turns out it was not as straight of a line as I imagined. Yet it was interesting how Greer, a librarian by day, amateur sleuth by night, tied all the parts together.
In future books, I prefer creepy gothic tones and a few more bumps in the night.
There are tedious and repetitious sections, and it is not until the last twenty percent of the book that the story picks up steam. If the reader is unfamiliar with a particular rhyme, the ah-ha moment is a surprise. I wanted to think of this as a stretch, but in a way, it worked perfectly.
When it comes to the perpetrator, I cannot say that it was a surprise since early on there were clues. I just could not narrow it down to one due to the complexity and competing motives. Turns out it was not as straight of a line as I imagined. Yet it was interesting how Greer, a librarian by day, amateur sleuth by night, tied all the parts together.
In future books, I prefer creepy gothic tones and a few more bumps in the night.
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