Morderstwo w bibliotece

Flora Steele Mystery #8

by Merryn Allingham, Ewa Ratajczyk (Translator)

Flora Steele wraz z narzeczonym, pisarzem kryminałów Jackiem Carringtonem, rozwiązują swoją najbardziej zagadkową sprawę.

Kiedy Flora wchodzi rano do biblioteki, spodziewa się, że spędzi spokojne chwile między regałami pełnymi książek. Zamiast tego trafia na scenę, która burzy sielankową atmosferę miasteczka – dostrzega martwą bibliotekarkę i znajomego mężczyznę stojącego tuż obok. W jego dłoni znajduje się przedmiot, który od razu wzbudza we Florze niepokój i każe jej zadać sobie pytanie: co naprawdę wydarzyło się w bibliotece tej nocy?

Flora zna Lowella od czasów studiów. Trudno jej uwierzyć w to, że mężczyzna mógł zabić, mimo niemal niepodważalnych dowodów. Wkrótce okazuje się także, że ze zbiorów bibliotecznych zniknęła niezwykle cenna książka...

Czy Lowell naprawdę jest mordercą? A może jest to Rose Lawson, nowa mieszkanka Abbeymead, która znajduje się w tragicznej sytuacji finansowej? Albo Felix Wingrave, autor bestsellerów, o którym plotki głoszą, że zrobiłby wszystko, by zdobyć cenną książkę?

Flora i Jack zdają sobie sprawę, że kluczowa wskazówka kryje się na kartach powieści. Zanim jednak bohaterowie odkryją prawdę, zabójca może dopisać do tej historii krwawy finał.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Historical, Fiction, British Literature

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2024

About the author

I was born into an army family and spent my childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave me itchy feet and in my twenties I escaped an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.

I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where I've lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.

I've written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance - sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events.

My latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing ever louder. Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, and explores themes of family, love and loss.

Reviews

[Phrynne]

This is the eighth book in the Flora Steele Mystery series.

A Crime Writers Conference is taking place in the village of Abbeymead and Jack and Flora are both involved, Jack as an organiser and Flora selling books. Not one but two murders set the scene for our pair of sleuths to begin investigating.

It is a good story with plenty of suspects and a nice, calm, 195o's feel to it. No mobile phones or computers always tend to make crime investigations more relaxed. I am hoping the author soon runs out of ways to keep our two main characters unmarried though. They seemed to work very independently in this book, and I wanted to see them communicating more.

Maybe a wedding in the next book???

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore]

In The Library Murders, author Merryn Allingham once again brings readers a charming 1950s cosy (though there is some blood involved), with a mystery that keeps one guessing, a bookish backdrop and a chance to meet or catch up with the residents of Abbeymead, old and new!

In their eighth adventure, bookshop-owner Flora Steele and her partner in crime solving and now life, mystery writer Jack Carrington are back in their Sussex village of Abbeymead (after their trip to France in their last outing). Here Jack has been roped into helping organise a mystery writers’ conference by Basil Webb, who runs the Dirk and Dagger society. Many eminent crime writers are on the list of speakers and Flora has been invited to set up a stall selling their bestsellers and new releases while the mobile library in the charge of Maud Frobisher, an old friend of Flora’s aunt Violet, will also be present at the venue for those who can’t afford to buy. But the conference has not even opened when Flora makes a chilling discovery, Maud Frobisher killed in cold blood in her van and a man standing beside her with the murder weapon (a very heavy and very bloody Tolkein trilogy, of all things). She is shocked to see that this is Lowell Gracey, an old friend she knew back in college and who was also a friend of Richard, her former boyfriend. Lowell, a chemist, turns out surprisingly to have been working for Maud. And she had with her a first edition Dickens saved up for auction—a book that’s now gone missing.

There is much that is suspicious around Lowell and Inspector Alan Ridley is quick to take him into custody but Flora is not convinced Lowell could be a killer whatever the circumstances may be. Jack on the other hand, perhaps a tad jealous on account of the old friendship isn’t initially keen to help, but soon enough both begin to look into the matter. Lowell was in need of money and had argued with Maud on the day of the murder but it emerges that there are others at or connected with the conference who may have had motive as well—Rose Lawson, a divorcee who has just moved into the village and is in dire straits, Basil Webb the conference organiser himself, and crime writer Felix Wingrave known to go to any lengths to get his hands on a first edition, being among them. But who actually did it?

Alongside, we follow the developments in the village with Flora and Jack’s wedding upcoming (postponed for the conference in fact), a stranger visiting Flora as also the minor tensions that arise between Flora and Jack when they are not quite communicative with each other. Flora’s friends Alice and Kate are excited about the wedding and trying to make preparations while Charlie Teague, Jack’s errand boy is growing up and turning to new ventures.

The Library Murders turned out as delightful a read as I’d expected and I had fun with it all through. While the Flora Steele books generally have plenty to do with books (with Flora’s shop and often a reference or two to the new releases of the time, plus Jack as a writer), this one did even more so with a book as the murder weapon, a stolen first edition, crime writers (published and aspiring) and agents all over the village and even connections with book collectors and speciality book stores. This was something I particularly loved.

As always, I was also pleased to follow along the developments in the village and Flora and Jack’s relationship; the former seeing some changes, for instance in the life of her friend Sally who runs the Priory hotel and young Charlie who’s exhibiting some surprising talents besides of course the excitement around Flora and Jack’s wedding. There are also developments in both Flora and Jack’s lives with unexpected offers coming to each and while a slight disconnect does arise between them, things are mended soon as well. Each time I read one of these books, especially the ones set in Abbeymead, it feels like I’m catching up with news about old friends and acquaintances—and some of the gossip too (incidentally, village gossip or at least that of Flora’s little group of friends provides our sleuths some useful information as well).

The mystery in this instalment was nicely done with developments and a solution I did not see coming. There are plenty of people on whom suspicion falls at one point or other (each of whom has things to hide and possible motive) giving us many possibles to ponder over. This time around, that second body (of course there is one) took me completely by surprise as I neither expected it to turn up when it did, nor did I guess at who it could have possibly been right till the reveal. While by the time of the denouement, one does manage to work out the solution to an extent, there is still a little surprise waiting for us.

I can’t wait to see what mystery faces our sleuths next; their wedding is something to look forward to as well, but I do hope the body doesn’t turn up amidst it!

[Brenda]

With a crime festival running over a few days, a few authors giving talks and Flora with a stand of books from All's Well, Jack - as one of the organisers - and Flora were looking forward to the event. When she went to the library bus before the festival opened, to give her Aunt Violet's good friend, Maud Frobisher, a gift for her retirement, Flora was shocked and horrified to find Maud lying in a heap, her safe door wide open. Maud was dead and a man Flora hadn't seen in many years was standing over her with a blood stained book in his hands.

Alan Ridley, local area policeman, was soon on the scene and was immediately sure he had an open and shut case. But Flora wasn't so sure, and it wasn't long before Jack came to her way of thinking. Jack and Flora had postponed their wedding because of the crime festival, now to take place in October. So between the two of the amateur sleuths, they were determined to find Maud's killer. When another body was discovered, they knew there was much more to find...

The Library Murders is the 8th in the Flora Steele Mystery series by Merryn Allingham and it was entertaining. Flora and Jack always manage to get themselves elbow deep in trouble and this one was a beauty! With a storyline of books and libraries, what more could a reader want! Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Atalántē]

Przyjemna historia, chociaż na tym etapie to kontynuuję serię głównie dla interakcji między głównymi bohaterami niż dla zagadek kryminalnych. 3,5⭐

[Robin Loves Reading]

Bookstore owner Flora Steele already has a full schedule with an upcoming event. It is a Crime Writers' Conference and Flora hopes to sell books during the event. However, she takes time away as she plans on delivering a gift to retiring librarian Maud Frobisher. As Flora approaches the library where Maud works, things do not look right. In fact, it does not take Flora long to realize what happened. Jack, Flora's fiancé Jack, a crime writer, will also be at the conference.

Not only does Flora see a man standing rather close to Maud's body, she sees that he is holding something that clearly has blood on it. Putting two and two together, Flora is certain that she has run into the murderer.

Flora and Jack live in the small village of Abbeymead and they are no strangers to nefarious activities. It is always fun to see Flora diving in headfirst while Jack tries to show more restraint, even when danger plays a huge role.

It is hard to believe that The Library Murders is the eighth book in the delightful Flora Steele cozy mystery series. Having read and enjoyed all of the previous books in the series, I am glad to say that the stories are fresh, the characters are well-written and there is always a fair amount of intrigue. Meanwhile, Flora and Jack's wedding is coming up, albeit delayed by the conference. Many fans like me are eager for book nine so that we can see if the wedding will soon take place.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Michaela]

I couldn´t really get warm with this book, obviously the eighth in the series. Explanation of the events having happened in the other books are explained person-wise, but at first it was irritating. Flora and Jack are the couple that investigate on their own. On the one hand they don´t seem like they are in love or would want to marry, on the other hand it´s a black-and-white description of the police who only keep to one suspect and the couple plus friend who are more intelligent than them. The setting is good but not very well written, I couldn´t get into the feeling.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[June Price]

1958. A year of change for many, including Flora and Jack. Elvis is joining the army and the top song on the charts is "All I Have to Do Is Dream". Being involved in a murder mystery conference wasn't on either Flora or Jack's pre-wedding must-do list but, well, there they are. Oddly enough, Jack, a known mystery author, isn't involved, but is lending a hand as needed. Flora is busy with the sales booth outside the conference speaker's room selling books. They're making the best of the situation, even as murder intrudes.

I've really come to enjoy my time in Abbeymead with Flora and Jack. Flora maintains her independent streak, of course, and is late getting to the conference after deciding to drop off a gift to Maud, a friend running the book mobile at the conference. Unfortunately, she finds her old friend dead. Standing near her, with a bloody book in hand, is another old friend, this time from her college days. A rare and valuable copy of a book Maud was proudly showing off is missing. Jack arrives to see what's keeping Flora and notifies the police. And, that's where the story really begins.

I've come to like both Flora and Jack although, go figure, it took me longer to warm up to Flora than Jack. That may be due to Jack's steadfast devotion and support as well as the fact Flora seems to have mellowed a bit since finding some answers to her own family mysteries. They alternate narratives at times, so we get a first-hand look at what each is thinking and experiencing as the story progresses. Flora has a bit more to discover about family secrets, btw, though you're just going to have to read the book to find out what those secrets are. Why is she keeping it a secret from Jack, though? Will it cause a rift between them this close to the wedding?

As for the murder, there are plenty of suspects and viable red herrings. Maud didn't seem the type to have enemies but, well, that book was quite valuable. Could the money problems of the conference organizer have lead him to commit murder to steal the book? Or, uh-oh, how about Flora's temporary book store help? She was late that morning and came from the wrong direction, after all. And, there's that mysterious package. Did it contain the book? And, just to complicate things, why a second murder? Are the murders related? Did someone at the conference snap and commit murder? Will Flora or Jack....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Read the book. You'll enjoy the characters and historical time setting. I mean, Jack's telephone is still a novelty and Flora rides her trusty bicycle everywhere, a sign of simpler times. Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me have this sneak peek back into the times of Flora and Jack.

[eyes_on_words]

3,5 ⭐️

[szyszka_czyta]

„Morderstwo w bibliotece” to ósmy tom cyklu o Florze Steele. Powieść rozwija nie tylko kolejną zagadkę kryminalną, ale także relację Flory i Jacka, którzy jako narzeczeni mierzą się z najbardziej osobistym śledztwem.

Historia opiera się na klasycznej zagadce kryminalnej i dedukcji. Autorka świetnie buduje napięcie, które rośnie z każdą stroną i każdym odkrywanym sekretem. Wielowątkowa, wciągająca intryga, tajemnicza biblioteka, zamknięte grono podejrzanych oraz liczne poszlaki sprawiają, że czytelnik razem z bohaterami próbuje rozwikłać tę zagadkę. Misternie skonstruowana fabuła pełna jest fałszywych tropów, przez co do samego końca trudno wskazać sprawcę. Ten tom wyróżnia się na tle poprzednich motywem rzadkich i cennych książek. Morderstwo bibliotekarki wiąże się ze zniknięciem wyjątkowo wartościowego egzemplarza, a sama biblioteka skrywa więcej sekretów, niż początkowo się wydaje. Uwielbiam śledztwa oparte na dedukcji i uważnej obserwacji, dlatego z ogromną przyjemnością śledziłam, jak Flora i Jack analizują tropy, rozmawiają z podejrzanymi i stopniowo odkrywają prawdę. Oprócz śledztwa ważnym elementem powieści jest również rozwijająca się relacja Flory i Jacka, która dodaje historii ciepła i lekkości. Uwielbiam tę serię nie tylko za sympatycznych bohaterów, ale także za klimat cozy crime. Mimo morderstwa książka zachowuje lekką, przyjemną atmosferę angielskiej prowincji lat 50., dzięki czemu czyta się ją z ogromną przyjemnością.

To ciepły, klimatyczny kryminał, który łączy miłość do książek z intrygującą zagadką i sprawia, że z niecierpliwością czekam na kolejny tom serii 💙

[Márcia]

The Library Murders is the newest book of Flora Steele Mysteries Serie and it’s a page turner book full of realistic characters, secrets, and intrigue. This book takes place in the summer of 1958 and follows Flora – the bookshop owner - and Jack – crime writer - in the midst of a murder investigation.

The setting was quite nice, English countryside in the 1950’s and the twists and turns was quite entertaining. I felt like this book is a cozy mystery one, that made me feel relaxed while unraveling a murder investigation.

This was the first book I read in this series but I’ll be reading the rest of them because it was such a wonderful cozy mystery story, with a great pace and well written in such a cozy little setting.

Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

[ʟɪᴠ ୨♡୧]

w czasie kiedy mam taki straszny zastój czytelnicy i ciężko znaleźć mi cokolwiek ciekawego, żeby mnie zainteresować na dłużej to był bardzo zły wybór. bardzo lubię tę serię, ale to był jeden z nudniejszych tomów. mało się działo i zagadka była słaba

[Chautona Havig]

I love this series so much, but this one totally annoyed me at times. Seriously, Flora and Jack need to be shaken sometimes. Grow up. They both play childish games with each other when one or the other doesn't like what the other does. Grr...

That said, this was a great mystery. There was one aspect I totally should have gotten and totally missed. LOVED that. Now... to drum my fingers until the next.

[Annarella]

The novels in this seres are one better than the previous as there a sense of passing of time in the evolution of the characters and the historical facts.
Flora and Jack grew on me boook by book and I loved how they investigated in this solid mystery
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Marygrace Brinson]

2.5 starts rounded up:

I liked the concept of having a murder take place during a crime book conference.

I did not like Jack as a person or as Flora's significant other. I felt that he was condescending towards her and wasn't always thinking about their relationship. But also, Flora also wasn't the best with keeping things hidden. I wish that they weren't love interests but instead were just partners in crime, I think I would've liked that dynamic better.

The time period was a great choice for this book. I felt that it added to some of the mystery since there is no social media and no cell phones to make communication easier. It is also just a fun time period to read about, and it definitely added some layers and helped the reader understand why some of the characters are thinking the way that they are.

I feel that some of the investigation fell flat for me. I liked most of the main suspects that there were, but I felt that the investigation into Basil fell short for me.

I hated Ridley as a character, but he did further the plot with letting Flora and Jack investigate by themselves and he did bring in some fun to some of the scenes. Lastly, I felt that the money that Flora gets didn't need to be in the book. It felt like a forgotten plot line in some places, especially since it didn't actually make anyone question Flora at all and what she was doing. I think this could have really added a bunch into the plot if people started to second guess Flora.

I just reviewed The Library Murders by Merryn Allingham. #TheLibraryMurders #NetGalley

[Tracy Wood]

Somewhat amazingly, the small village of Abbeymead is about to host a writers' conference featuring a number of popular authors. Both bookshop owner Flora Steele and her crime novelist fiancé, Jack Carrington, are involved in the new event, which, its organiser hopes, will be the first of many. That success looks unlikely, however, as just before the event begins, a body is found, and a recently discovered, extremely rare, first edition disappears.

Flora and Jack once again find themselves working together to discover who brought murder back to their village and when a friend Flora has known since college becomes the main focus of the police investigation she knows they have to find the person responsible as soon as possible. Unfortunately, as it's not even clear why their victim was killed, that might not be an easy task.

Book eight in this great series takes place in the summer of 1958 with Flora and Jack's wedding plans on hold while they concentrate on the writers' conference. I enjoyed the social history in this novel almost as much as the whodunnit elements, which once again were excellent. This was almost a calm before the storm of major changes for some of the main protagonists, none of whom, it has to be said, looks to be hurtling confidently towards the next decade!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bookouture, but the opinions expressed are my own. This was another very good instalment of a high-quality cosy crime series, all of which are easily recommended.

[wyczyt_ana Paula]

ocena: / 5 🌻
forma: 🎧

przepraszam, to moja wina. Znów dałam się nabrać pięknej okładce i pogłoskom, że to morderstwo będzie inne niż wcześniej. Przepraszam ale dla its too much

[kryteria oceny dla „kryminału”]
0/1 logiczność i ciągłość wydarzeń
0/1 fabuła
0/0,5 płynność i przyjemność w odbiorze
0/0,5 intryga kryminalna
0/0,5 kreacja bohaterów
0/0,5 styl pisania autora
0/0,5 „sedno”/ cel/ morał/ rozwiązanie
0/0,25 pozytywny odbiór całości
0/0,25 ✨ to coś ✨

[justyna]

It's a cozy, atmospheric mystery that combines a love of books with an intriguing puzzle, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

[kulturalnakasia]

Kurcze no cozy kryminał, no ja lubię bardzo. Dobrze się czytało i historia też całkiem mnie wciągnęła ;)

[Linniegayl]

Another good entry in the FLora Steele mysteries. This one picks up with the mystery book event mentioned at the end of the last book. Both Jack and Flora have been roped into being involveed with the event. And shortly after it begins, there's a murder.

As has been the case in many of the past books, Jack and Flora bicker a lot and go for days without seeing each other after a disagreement. I find it tiring at times.

The ending of the book felt a bit odd to me. While there were eventually two murders, the villain arrested swore they only committed one of the murders, but the police, Jack, and Flora are all convinced the person will eventually confess. The book went on for several chapters after the arrest, and I kept expecting to find out that someone else had committed the other murder. But instead, we're left with Jack and Flora planning for the future and their honeymoon.

[Książkowe_cuda]

Nie wiem, co ta seria ma w sobie, bo zagadki są takie sobie, a i tak sięgam po kolejny tom i z zaciekawieniem czytam. Poza tym bardziej interesuje mnie życie prywatne bohaterów niż sama zagadka. Tak więc czekam na kontynuację.

[Ati]

Liczyłam na dobry kryminał, a czułam się jakbym dostała bardzo słabą obyczajówkę. Głównym problemem jest to, że nikt z głównych bohaterów nie pracuje stricte w policji, więc śledzenie śledztwa jest bardzo przerywane jakimiś bezsensownymi rozmowami o tym, że prawie nie wyszły warstwy w cieście. Zachowania bohaterów też są dosyć głupie i zupełnie nielogiczne, po prostu irytowały. Bardzo dużo prywaty a mało kryminału.

Problemem wszystkich postaci są pieniądze, a raczej ich brak. Kiedy okazało się to przy drugiej postaci - wywróciłam oczami, a przy kolejnej miałam ochotę wyrywać sobie włosy z głowy. (A było ich więcej)

I w związku z tym aż mi się nie chciało wierzyć, bo albo to specjalne pierwsze wydanie kosztuje bardzo mało (bo 300 funtów), albo nie wiem. Czytałam to kilka razy i jest wyraźnie powiedziane że kilka lat wcześniej taki egzemplarz poszedł za 300 funtów. Czy bohaterowie uganiają się za mordercą który zabił za 1,500zł? Nie mówię, że to małe pieniądze, ale na pewno nie life-changing I ciężko mi uwierzyć, że ktoś został za to zbaity. Strasznie głupie. Albo jest jakiś błąd w tłumaczeniu.

Dlaczego Lowell wziął narzędzie zbrodni (zostawiając na nim odciski) mimo że pracował już tak jakoś czas jako asystent Maud? To taki moment jak oglądasz horror i wiesz, że nie powinieneś wchodzić do opuszczonego domu. 10iq moment. I dlaczego nie zadzwonił od razu na policję tylko ktoś inny musiał to zrobić?

Lowell przybiega nagle do prywatnego domu na piętro (gdy wcześniej był poza nim) i idealnie powstrzymuje Easterhousa. Niewiarygodne. Czułam się jakbym miała 3iq i autorka uważała czytelników za idiotów, czytając tę scenę. Jest jak wyjęta z taniego amerykańskiego serialu.

Mogłabym wymieniać dużo więcej scen bez sensu.Dużo rzeczy wygodnych dla fabuły i za dużo prywaty. Oglądałam sobie piegi na rękach, bo już tak mi się nudziło podczas czytania tej książki.

[Weronika•ig: werix.02]

Zdecydowanie ta część ma jedną z lepszych zagadek ze wszystkich wydanych do tej pory książek w serii. Szkoda tylko, że została przysłonięta taką ilością "relationship drama". Do tej pory relacja Flory i Jacka bardzo mi się podobała. W tej części coś bohaterowie nie dowieźli... Podobało mi się, że do tej pory byli dosyć "nowocześni" jak na tamte czasy, a w tej części naprawdę zalatywało poglądami dawnych lat...

[Pani Literowa]

Uwielbiam cykl o Florze. To dla mnie comfort read, a w wersji audio jest jeszcze lepszy! Jeśli szukacie kryminałów w stylu Agathy Christie, które nie epatują brutalnością, krwią i przemocą, to książki Merryn Allingham powinny być dla was idealne.

[Martini_tnt]

3.5
Kolejna część nie zawodzi. Dobry, komfortowy kryminał.

[Patrycja]

Zagadka kryminalna nie była może najciekawsza, ale ogólne wrażenie całkiem niezłe. Cieszę się, że autorka przestała pisać Flora jako nieznośną bohaterkę i nadała jej nieco empatii. Zastanawiam się czy w kolejnej części morderstwo będzie podczas ślubu albo podróży poślubnej lol

[Bookierka]

To już 8 tom, a mi w dalszym ciągu nie znudziły się kryminalne przygody Flory i Jacka. 🤭

[Kasia Nowel]

4.5⭐

[Wiktoria]

4.5⭐️

[Natka]

nudne

[Kathleen Brunnett]

Another installment of this cozy mystery series.