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A Little Library Mystery #2
She Stopped for Death: A Little Library Mystery
Jenny Weston and her mother, Dora, have been receiving strange midnight visits. Bear Falls's own elusive and highly secretive poet, Emily Sutton, has lived her life cloistered away with her sister in a house at the edge of Pewee Swamp. But now, Emily's started leaving scraps of poetry in Dora's Little Library, and Dora makes it her mission to befriend the sheltered woman.
Meanwhile Zoe Zola, almost famous author, Little Person, and the Weston's quirky next-door neighbor, is hard at work on a new book, this one about the inner life of Emily Dickinson. And once again, Zoe's literary work starts making uncanny connections with the events in her own world as Emily Sutton reemerges into society. But Zoe begins to suspect things aren't anywhere near normal at Emily's swamp house or in the lives of the people she claims have abandoned her...until looking further into the poet's half-truths leads Zoe and Jenny to a horrible murder.
The chaos surrounding the ensuing investigation grows even more hectic with Emily's increasingly erratic behavior, the arrival of a young woman searching for her missing poet uncle, and yet another betrayal in Jenny's love life. And only poetry can set the truth free in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery, She Stopped for Death.
Meanwhile Zoe Zola, almost famous author, Little Person, and the Weston's quirky next-door neighbor, is hard at work on a new book, this one about the inner life of Emily Dickinson. And once again, Zoe's literary work starts making uncanny connections with the events in her own world as Emily Sutton reemerges into society. But Zoe begins to suspect things aren't anywhere near normal at Emily's swamp house or in the lives of the people she claims have abandoned her...until looking further into the poet's half-truths leads Zoe and Jenny to a horrible murder.
The chaos surrounding the ensuing investigation grows even more hectic with Emily's increasingly erratic behavior, the arrival of a young woman searching for her missing poet uncle, and yet another betrayal in Jenny's love life. And only poetry can set the truth free in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery, She Stopped for Death.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2017
27 people are currently reading
1030 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
15 books178 followersElizabeth Kane Buzzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee) is a Michigan based novelist whose 12th book is due out in 2016. She teaches fiction writing at Northern Michigan College and has written for the NORTHERN EXPRESS, the ROMEO OBSERVER, the DETROIT NEWS, and the RECORD-EAGLE. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, International Association of crime Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers’ of America, Michigan Writers, and Detroit Working Writers and has three mystery series out, or about to be published.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN was chosen one of the best mysteries of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews. A new series (written as Elizabeth Lee) is now out with the third: NUTS AND BURIED (based in Texas) to be published this November from Berkley Publishers. Another series, beginning with A MOST CURIOUS MURDER, (Crooked Lane Publishers) will be out in July, 2016, with the second: DEATH OF A SAD POET, scheduled later in the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 6, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Like the first book in the series, Murder Most Curious, this mystery was curious. A reclusive poet, Emily Sutton has left her home in the Pewee Swamp to visit Dora’s Little Library and left some of her new poetry. Meanwhile another town resident is planning an event to honor the poet and is thrilled to learn that Emily wants to attend and do a reading. Dora with the help of Zoe and Jenny is determined to help the poet get out in the world again but Zoe has a bad feeling about her. She starts to do a little investigating and she and Jenny make a horrific discovery.
I really like the relationship between Jenny and her mom and love the way they have included Zoe in their little family group. Zoe doesn’t always make that easy. They were also very accepting of Emily and even welcome another visitor into their home midway through the story. They seem to be genuine individuals with the ability to truly empathize with others around them.
A twisted tangle of events take place in the story. This author has a real unique imagination that turned this story upside down. I was drawn deeper and and deeper into the mystery as I swiped each page. Such great writing, a complex mystery that brings a real psychological element to what otherwise is considered a cozy mystery. There are some very suspenseful moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
I can’t wait for the next installment. Watch this author, I expect many fantastic stories are headed our way.
Like the first book in the series, Murder Most Curious, this mystery was curious. A reclusive poet, Emily Sutton has left her home in the Pewee Swamp to visit Dora’s Little Library and left some of her new poetry. Meanwhile another town resident is planning an event to honor the poet and is thrilled to learn that Emily wants to attend and do a reading. Dora with the help of Zoe and Jenny is determined to help the poet get out in the world again but Zoe has a bad feeling about her. She starts to do a little investigating and she and Jenny make a horrific discovery.
I really like the relationship between Jenny and her mom and love the way they have included Zoe in their little family group. Zoe doesn’t always make that easy. They were also very accepting of Emily and even welcome another visitor into their home midway through the story. They seem to be genuine individuals with the ability to truly empathize with others around them.
A twisted tangle of events take place in the story. This author has a real unique imagination that turned this story upside down. I was drawn deeper and and deeper into the mystery as I swiped each page. Such great writing, a complex mystery that brings a real psychological element to what otherwise is considered a cozy mystery. There are some very suspenseful moments that had me on the edge of my seat.
I can’t wait for the next installment. Watch this author, I expect many fantastic stories are headed our way.
November 12, 2019
Took me longer to read book 2 of the Little Library mystery series, She Stopped For Death, as I had a bit of difficulty getting into the story. I still like the character of Zoe Zola (although, I am beginning to find her personality and way of speaking a tad frustrating). Jenny Weston is still an annoying, immature woman who has not had much personal growth since the first book. I don't know if I feel like reading any more books in this series. I do not enjoy unlikeable main characters - I prefer one I can connect with and root for.
January 10, 2017
This is the second in the Little Library series but the first I have read by Elizabeth and it is released today. I have my own tiny library, which I will need to launch again as I just moved so I loved the idea of the series. This was a complex mystery and was more of a true psychological mystery then a cozy. It was written very well and had a complex mystery as well as back story. It was very interesting and I enjoyed the idea of a town without a library, being made more cozy by the addition of Little Libraries just like in the story.
May 13, 2017
This book was filled with despair, depression, and deceit, and that was from the heroines. Not one person seemed happy except for when Zoe was talking to her garden fairies. The main character, Jenny, wasn't happy living with her mother, but had no gumption to do anything to change, deciding to just live on her alimony checks a little longer. I had high hopes that the Zoe character would be interesting based on the description, but the most interesting thing about her was her one-eyed dog. The author hinted at Zoe having premonitions, but never really went anywhere with that story line. I usually can always find one character to enjoy, but I really didn't like any of these, and the mystery irritated me. Two people are missing, and you take the word of someone who obviously has issues that they went off together?
I will not be reading any more from this series.
I was given this by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I wish I didn't have to give it a not-so-great one.
I will not be reading any more from this series.
I was given this by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I wish I didn't have to give it a not-so-great one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2018
She Stopped for Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is the second book in A Little Library Mystery series and I enjoyed this one more than the first. Perhaps it was because I already knew the characters and what to expect from them. Jenny Weston lives with her mother, Dora in Bear Falls, Michigan after returning home due to a divorce. Jenny, Dora, and their neighbor, Zoe Zola have been spending their evenings on the screened in porch. One evening, someone stops at the Little Library boxes and they notice it is the reclusive poet, Emily Sutton. Dora calls out to Emily, but she quickly runs away. When they check the library boxes the next morning, they discover slips of paper with poems written on them. It seems that Emily has started writing again and wishes to share her work. Her only book of poetry was published twenty-five years earlier, and after a book tour, she did not venture out of her house again. She lived in the family home on Pewee Swamp with her sister Lorna, until Lorna packed up and left with a man. Her cousin, Althea did her shopping and stopped by to make sure she was okay. When Althea stopped coming by, Zoe volunteers to do the shopping for Emily. Jenny and Zoe also agree to visit Althea and see if she is okay. It turns out that she is dead, murdered quite viciously. When Alex Shipley shows up in town, she is hunting for her Uncle Walter who has been missing for a few years. The last she knew of her uncle, he was coming to visit Emily. What happened to Lorna, Althea, and Walter? Emily and Zoe set out to find the answers to these questions.
She Stopped for Death is a well written cozy mystery, with an interesting plot and some very odd and quirky characters. Jenny is still working through her issues, but she is much more likable than in the first book of the series. She is developing a friendship with handyman and retired cop Tony, but still has some serious trust issues. Zoe Zola, the neighbor, is a little person who writes fairy tales, and has fairy houses all over her yard, complete with inhabitants. The poet, Emily Sutton is very strange. She was responsible for some very uncomfortable moments in the story. I figured out the mystery before it was revealed, but I was still interested right to the end. This series does not seem to be for everyone. Many found it silly and nonsensical, but I enjoyed it and am going to give the next one a try as well. I listened to the audio book and must say that the narrator did a wonderful job with the voices. I loved listening to this story and think that may have added to my enjoyment over reading this story.
She Stopped for Death is a well written cozy mystery, with an interesting plot and some very odd and quirky characters. Jenny is still working through her issues, but she is much more likable than in the first book of the series. She is developing a friendship with handyman and retired cop Tony, but still has some serious trust issues. Zoe Zola, the neighbor, is a little person who writes fairy tales, and has fairy houses all over her yard, complete with inhabitants. The poet, Emily Sutton is very strange. She was responsible for some very uncomfortable moments in the story. I figured out the mystery before it was revealed, but I was still interested right to the end. This series does not seem to be for everyone. Many found it silly and nonsensical, but I enjoyed it and am going to give the next one a try as well. I listened to the audio book and must say that the narrator did a wonderful job with the voices. I loved listening to this story and think that may have added to my enjoyment over reading this story.
May 11, 2020
Think I liked this more than the first one but I just don't really like the characters like I usually do in cozy murders? looking forward to the other books tho lol
December 29, 2023
Is she really with Tony? I feel this is going to blow up.
August 29, 2017
This book was a miserable read. One gets the impressions that the chapters were not published in the order meant because the story skips around way to much.
September 21, 2023
Book 2 of "A Little Library Mystery" series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, "She Stopped for Death" main difference between this book and the first in the series was the multiple points of view the story was told from. Occasionally it took a couple sentences to figure out it was now a different perspective. It was nice to get more of Zo's point of view. Much less angsty than Jenny's. She just a more fun character in general. Also, great to see more diversity for a main character view point.
However, what really hurt this book was inconsistencies in what should have been established facts. Especially from carrying over from the first book. If I'm not mistaken, some of Jenny's divorce circumstances and the fact her sister is now the younger of the two has changed. There were also details throughout the book that seemed to jump around in people who knew something suddenly, didn't and those that didn't somehow did.
Still, over all a more interesting book than the first one. I think some kinks were worked out and are still getting there. Good choice to do less Jenny.
However, what really hurt this book was inconsistencies in what should have been established facts. Especially from carrying over from the first book. If I'm not mistaken, some of Jenny's divorce circumstances and the fact her sister is now the younger of the two has changed. There were also details throughout the book that seemed to jump around in people who knew something suddenly, didn't and those that didn't somehow did.
Still, over all a more interesting book than the first one. I think some kinks were worked out and are still getting there. Good choice to do less Jenny.
December 16, 2016
She Stopped for Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is a fantastic story.
I was intrigued by the cover and the description and as I read the first few lines, I knew I had instantly found a new favorite author.
Jenna Weston and her mother Dora are wonderful characters. They are very likable and believable. I felt an immediate connection with them both.
Jenna and her mother have a night time visitor, the mysterious and reclusive poet Emily Sutton.'when Emily befriends mother and daughter, a wild twist of events begins that will leave you guessing until the very end.
I will be highly recommending this series to my cozy mystery friends.
I voluntarily read and ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
I was intrigued by the cover and the description and as I read the first few lines, I knew I had instantly found a new favorite author.
Jenna Weston and her mother Dora are wonderful characters. They are very likable and believable. I felt an immediate connection with them both.
Jenna and her mother have a night time visitor, the mysterious and reclusive poet Emily Sutton.'when Emily befriends mother and daughter, a wild twist of events begins that will leave you guessing until the very end.
I will be highly recommending this series to my cozy mystery friends.
I voluntarily read and ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
November 14, 2021
This is the second book in the A Little Library Mystery set. After two books, I feel it is fair to say I gave the series an honest try, but I will not read the remaining books. The characters are not at all likable. They are self absorbed, dimwitted, codependent, weak women. Maybe the author was going for quirky, she tried to hard, these women all need medication and serious therapy.
January 16, 2017
She Stopped for Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is the second book in A Little Library Mystery series. Jenny Weston lives with her mother, Dora in Bear Falls, Michigan. Jenny moved back home after she divorced her husband. They have two little library boxes in front of their home (one for adult books and one for children’s). Jenny, Dora, and their neighbor, Zoe Zola have been spending their evenings on the screened in porch. They notice a light coming down the street, and then someone stopped at the boxes. It is the reclusive poetess, Emily Sutton. Dora calls out to Emily, and Emily quickly runs away. When they check the library boxes the next morning, they discover slips of paper with poems written on them. It seems that Emily has started writing again and wishes to share her work. Twenty-five years prior Emily had published a book of poetry. After a book tour, Emily returned to the family home and did not venture out until now. The next night Emily ventures by again and respond to Dora’s greeting. Emily had lived in the family home on Pewee Swamp with her sister, Lorna. Their cousin, Althea did the shopping for them (and the local banker paid their bills). Lorna packed up and left with man according to Emily, and Althea has not been by recently. Zoe volunteers to do the shopping for Emily. Jenny and Zoe agree to visit Althea and see if she is well. Then Alex Shipley shows up in town looking for her uncle, Walter. He disappeared three years ago. Walter had corresponded with Emily and was coming to Bear Falls for a visit. What happened to Lorna, Althea, and Walter? Emily and Zoe set out to get answers but what happens when Zoe disappears.
She Stopped for Death contains good writing and interesting characters. Jenny has several “issues”. She is jealous of her sister (Lisa), upset over her divorce, does not know what she wants to do with her life, has trust issues, and has trouble communicating especially with Tony Ralenti (the guy she is attracted to). Jenny stews about her relationship with Tony, rants about her sister, and has no clue what to do with her future (you just want to shove a sock in her mouth). Zoe Zola, the neighbor, is a quirky character. Zoe is a little person who writes fairy tales. She has fairy houses all over her yard with fairy occupants (she moves them around, gives them stories, and talks to them). I am not a fan of Zoe. Instead of funny, I find her unlikeable (really dislike her dialogue). I give She Stopped for Death 3 out of 5 stars (am I being too kind?). I figured out the mystery early in the novel (it was not complicated). While She Stopped for Death is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. The author provides the character background and details from the first book in the series. I was hoping the second book in the series would be an improvement upon A Most Curious Murder (which is why I gave the series a second chance). A Little Library Mystery series is just not for me. I believe it is supposed to be quirky and humorous, but instead I found it foolish and nonsensical.
She Stopped for Death contains good writing and interesting characters. Jenny has several “issues”. She is jealous of her sister (Lisa), upset over her divorce, does not know what she wants to do with her life, has trust issues, and has trouble communicating especially with Tony Ralenti (the guy she is attracted to). Jenny stews about her relationship with Tony, rants about her sister, and has no clue what to do with her future (you just want to shove a sock in her mouth). Zoe Zola, the neighbor, is a quirky character. Zoe is a little person who writes fairy tales. She has fairy houses all over her yard with fairy occupants (she moves them around, gives them stories, and talks to them). I am not a fan of Zoe. Instead of funny, I find her unlikeable (really dislike her dialogue). I give She Stopped for Death 3 out of 5 stars (am I being too kind?). I figured out the mystery early in the novel (it was not complicated). While She Stopped for Death is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. The author provides the character background and details from the first book in the series. I was hoping the second book in the series would be an improvement upon A Most Curious Murder (which is why I gave the series a second chance). A Little Library Mystery series is just not for me. I believe it is supposed to be quirky and humorous, but instead I found it foolish and nonsensical.
August 25, 2017
Title: She Stopped For Murder - Little Library Mystery Book 2
Author: Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 1-10-2017
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Women's Fiction, Suspense, Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9781683310136
ASIN: B01IRS85CG
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Jenny Weston and her mother, Dora, have been receiving strange midnight visits. Bear Falls's own elusive and highly secretive poet, Emily Sutton, has lived her life cloistered away with her sister in a house at the edge of Pewee Swamp. But now, Emily's started leaving scraps of poetry in Dora's Little Library, and Dora makes it her mission to befriend the sheltered woman.
Meanwhile Zoe Zola, almost famous author, Little Person, and the Weston's quirky next-door neighbor, is hard at work on a new book, this one about the inner life of Emily Dickinson. And once again, Zoe's literary work starts making uncanny connections with the events in her own world as Emily Sutton reemerges into society. But Zoe begins to suspect things aren't anywhere near normal at Emily's swamp house or in the lives of the people she claims have abandoned her...until looking further into the poet's half-truths leads Zoe and Jenny to a horrible murder.
The chaos surrounding the ensuing investigation grows even more hectic with Emily’s increasingly erratic behavior, the arrival of a young woman searching for her missing poet uncle, and yet another betrayal in Jenny's love life. And only poetry can set the truth free in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery, She Stopped for Death.
The second book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone with no problem what so ever. "She Stopped For Murder" has plenty of twist to turns and is peppered with plenty of clues to keep you guessing. The story flows quickly and draws a reader in and is a pleasant afternoon away in my favorite past time.
My rating of "She Stopped For Murder - Little Library Mystery Book 2" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRS85CG/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/She-St...
Google Play Link: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/she-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 1-10-2017
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Women's Fiction, Suspense, Cozy Mystery
ISBN: 9781683310136
ASIN: B01IRS85CG
Reviewed For NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Jenny Weston and her mother, Dora, have been receiving strange midnight visits. Bear Falls's own elusive and highly secretive poet, Emily Sutton, has lived her life cloistered away with her sister in a house at the edge of Pewee Swamp. But now, Emily's started leaving scraps of poetry in Dora's Little Library, and Dora makes it her mission to befriend the sheltered woman.
Meanwhile Zoe Zola, almost famous author, Little Person, and the Weston's quirky next-door neighbor, is hard at work on a new book, this one about the inner life of Emily Dickinson. And once again, Zoe's literary work starts making uncanny connections with the events in her own world as Emily Sutton reemerges into society. But Zoe begins to suspect things aren't anywhere near normal at Emily's swamp house or in the lives of the people she claims have abandoned her...until looking further into the poet's half-truths leads Zoe and Jenny to a horrible murder.
The chaos surrounding the ensuing investigation grows even more hectic with Emily’s increasingly erratic behavior, the arrival of a young woman searching for her missing poet uncle, and yet another betrayal in Jenny's love life. And only poetry can set the truth free in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery, She Stopped for Death.
The second book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone with no problem what so ever. "She Stopped For Murder" has plenty of twist to turns and is peppered with plenty of clues to keep you guessing. The story flows quickly and draws a reader in and is a pleasant afternoon away in my favorite past time.
My rating of "She Stopped For Murder - Little Library Mystery Book 2" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRS85CG/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-...
Books-A-Million Link: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/She-St...
Google Play Link: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Indigo Link: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...
Kobo Link: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/she-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
March 30, 2020
Here is a cozy that appears to be the second in a series of Little Library Mysteries. The characters are looking back on previous happenings. Jenny Weston has returned to Bear Falls temporarily to recover from romantic problems. Zoe Zola, her tiny neighbor, is busy writing a book about poets.
Bear Falls is too small to have a library, so its literary residents have constructed little libraries that stand like mail boxes before lawns. One evening Jenny's little library receives poems on slips of paper. Emily Sutton, the town's reclusive poet is sneaking out of her house for the first time in years.
Her appearance excites the literary residents, who want to honor her with a public poetry reading. Jenny and Zoe offer to help set it up.
Apparently Emily has emerged from her house because her cousin who supplied her needs is found murdered. Zoe and Jenny take it upon themselves to help this shy and needy poet. With Emily's approaching public reading, the poet proves to be difficult, and the two women regret they have offered to help her. If that's not enough, Jenny and Zoe learn that certain literary people have disappeared. Explanations involving their disappearance don't add up, so the two set out to find answers that make sense.
The story proceeds at a leisurely pace. In their search for truth, Jenny and Zoe find only tidbits of information that do little to lessen the mystery. The way ahead is proving dangerous.
The author isn't much for explanations when it comes to the mystery. We get into Jenny's head as she ruminates over her love life. And we delight over Zoe's tiny size and quirky character. She is easily my favorite. Like an elf. But where the investigation goes and why Emily acts as she does are details without enlightenment until near the novel's end. By the last page we may think all the questions haven't been answered. Strings are left dangling. But then we realize the answers are all there. Maybe not in words but in logic and inference. Consequently it's not a story easily dismissed.
August 26, 2018
She Stopped For Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli
Now that Little Free Libraries are popping up all over the world, of course so would Books about them, and why not a series of cozy mysteries in the mix? This is the 2nd in a series by Buzzelli and just as cozy as the first.
Abigail Cane is on a mission to have a statue of her father removed from the city’s park and p’raps melt it down for better purposes. She wants to throw a party afterwards, involving art, poetry, gaiety, and everything her father disdained.
Tony Ralenti is a forced retired detective still nursing the bullet-pained knee that made him such. He’s in love with Jenny Weston and just built a little free library, as he had many times before. Jenny is fresh from divorcing her dominating lawyer husband and pondering a new start, while staying at her mother, Dora’s house until that begins.
A small, strange figure in a long skirt creeps for nightly visits to the Weston’s library. It’s intriguing. Dora thinks it a once famous poet who has reclused herself just down the street. Calling out to her one night scares her off. But slips of poetry have been found, so it’s assumed to be the work of the reclusive Emily Sutton, who reached brief fame before stowing herself away with her sister.
The get-up Emily wore to a preemptive reading sounded like a hoot to be seen. As the book progresses, Emily appears to be more and more “Baby Jane” in her looks and actions. Disappearance of a potential suitor and her sister? The climatic ending was. Suffice it to say, no surprises, but still had the pages turning.
Could have done with a bit less of the philosophical and more just plain story, which seemed to get more disjointed as it went along. Not as cozy as expected, but not as gory as it could have been.
Now that Little Free Libraries are popping up all over the world, of course so would Books about them, and why not a series of cozy mysteries in the mix? This is the 2nd in a series by Buzzelli and just as cozy as the first.
Abigail Cane is on a mission to have a statue of her father removed from the city’s park and p’raps melt it down for better purposes. She wants to throw a party afterwards, involving art, poetry, gaiety, and everything her father disdained.
Tony Ralenti is a forced retired detective still nursing the bullet-pained knee that made him such. He’s in love with Jenny Weston and just built a little free library, as he had many times before. Jenny is fresh from divorcing her dominating lawyer husband and pondering a new start, while staying at her mother, Dora’s house until that begins.
A small, strange figure in a long skirt creeps for nightly visits to the Weston’s library. It’s intriguing. Dora thinks it a once famous poet who has reclused herself just down the street. Calling out to her one night scares her off. But slips of poetry have been found, so it’s assumed to be the work of the reclusive Emily Sutton, who reached brief fame before stowing herself away with her sister.
The get-up Emily wore to a preemptive reading sounded like a hoot to be seen. As the book progresses, Emily appears to be more and more “Baby Jane” in her looks and actions. Disappearance of a potential suitor and her sister? The climatic ending was. Suffice it to say, no surprises, but still had the pages turning.
Could have done with a bit less of the philosophical and more just plain story, which seemed to get more disjointed as it went along. Not as cozy as expected, but not as gory as it could have been.
March 1, 2023
I want to say I enjoyed this but it was too slow for my tastes. The start was confusing introducing too many characters all at once, especially as it jumped perspectives as well. This is the first book by this author that I have listened to and although the characters did grow on my I am not sure if I will be joining them again, wasn't sure I was going to finish this book but I kept at it and it did get better. The twist was pretty obvious but it still had me waiting to see if there was a surprise. The characters were interesting bunch if a little whacky and did a lot of things that had me questioning what type of story I was listening to.
The town recluse Emily has been sneaking out of her house at night, to leave poetry notes in Jenny and Dora's library box. She is desperately in need of friends and this is her way of making contact. Her cousin who did all her shopping and was the only contact with the outside world has stopped coming. Zola offers to do the shopping but quickly regrets it when it proves difficult to work for the demanding woman. Once the town learns Emily is coming out they want to celebrate the once famous poet by having her read some of her poetry in front of an audience, the three friends get roped into making sure Emily turns up.. Jenny is more worried about why everybody seems to desert the poor woman and looks into the missing cousins disappearance and when a stranger turns up trying to track down a missing uncle who's last contact was with Emily, Jenny wonders what is really going on with the poet.
I liked the narrator. She has a distinctive voice that she used well to voice the characters.
The town recluse Emily has been sneaking out of her house at night, to leave poetry notes in Jenny and Dora's library box. She is desperately in need of friends and this is her way of making contact. Her cousin who did all her shopping and was the only contact with the outside world has stopped coming. Zola offers to do the shopping but quickly regrets it when it proves difficult to work for the demanding woman. Once the town learns Emily is coming out they want to celebrate the once famous poet by having her read some of her poetry in front of an audience, the three friends get roped into making sure Emily turns up.. Jenny is more worried about why everybody seems to desert the poor woman and looks into the missing cousins disappearance and when a stranger turns up trying to track down a missing uncle who's last contact was with Emily, Jenny wonders what is really going on with the poet.
I liked the narrator. She has a distinctive voice that she used well to voice the characters.
June 19, 2017
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's She Stopped for Death (Little Librry Mystery #2) as definite surprise for me as the intro to the synopsis on the front flap stated "Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery will delight fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay." I beg to differ. I have not read any of Jenn McKinlay's work yet even though some are in my library to be read, but I have read a great many of Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile Mysteries, and I am about to start Ms. Carlisle's Once Upon Spine. I find She Stopped for Death very different from Ms. Carlisle's work. She Stopped for Death begins with a great idea for a small town that does not have a library. Small copies of some of the homes in Bear Falls, Michigan which in reality are boxes that contain (library) books to be shared among the population of this small town. Each 'Little Library' appears to be located in front of the house of which it is a copy. I thought "What a great idea." This book definitely kept my interest and is a good mystery, but I did not find it similar to Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile Mysteries as her mysteries
have a very terrific 'up' characteristic that She Stopped for Death does not. That being said Ms. Buzzelli's mystery had twists and turns that are frightening, more gothic, but I certainly did enjoy it.
have a very terrific 'up' characteristic that She Stopped for Death does not. That being said Ms. Buzzelli's mystery had twists and turns that are frightening, more gothic, but I certainly did enjoy it.
May 5, 2018
SHE STOPPED FOR DEATH, the second book in the Little Library Mystery series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, has a mysterious, reclusive poet; betrayals and murder. The book weaves in the poems of Emily Dickinson. I enjoyed how the author includes poetry in this unique plot, and even though I’m not a huge fan of poetry, I found her choices speaks to your soul. The protagonist, Jenny Weston, is living in Bear Falls, Michigan, recovering from a nasty divorce. She’s unsure of herself, full of self-doubts, and runs from any conflict. Her next door neighbor is little person Zoe Zola. Zoe can be an abrasive character but Jenny and her mother have developed a close friendship, bordering on family, with Zoe. The author has chosen to use damaged people with problems to effectively bring to them life. As a reader, I found them easy to connect to, with their emotional issues, because haven’t most of us experienced heartbreak and disappointments in life? The mystery is well-developed with a well, thought out finale and I found myself turning pages late into the night. This is a delightful addition to a quirky series.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 25, 2019
Five reasons I liked The Little Library Mystery series by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli:
1. The Plot: Jenny's husband turned out to be a major disappointment. She returns to the small town in Michigan where she grew up and her mother, Dora, still lives. There is an interesting neighbor with a potential to be a new best friend, and an interesting man with a potential to be a new romance. And there are bodies.
2. The Protagonist: Jenny is not your typical plucky heroine. And these books are not a one-woman effort. There is a whole cast of characters working to solve the murders.
3. The Coziness: The books have a small town setting with all the expected charm and quirky characters. It is not, however, all fluffiness and light. The protagonists are more fleshed out
and murder is a bad, sad thing.
4. The Literary References: The first book is a tribute to Lewis Carroll, the second has Emily Dickinson references, and the third... Jane Austen.
5. The Little Libraries: The town has no proper library and Dora has a nice idea.
1. The Plot: Jenny's husband turned out to be a major disappointment. She returns to the small town in Michigan where she grew up and her mother, Dora, still lives. There is an interesting neighbor with a potential to be a new best friend, and an interesting man with a potential to be a new romance. And there are bodies.
2. The Protagonist: Jenny is not your typical plucky heroine. And these books are not a one-woman effort. There is a whole cast of characters working to solve the murders.
3. The Coziness: The books have a small town setting with all the expected charm and quirky characters. It is not, however, all fluffiness and light. The protagonists are more fleshed out
and murder is a bad, sad thing.
4. The Literary References: The first book is a tribute to Lewis Carroll, the second has Emily Dickinson references, and the third... Jane Austen.
5. The Little Libraries: The town has no proper library and Dora has a nice idea.
July 13, 2017
I'm not too sure about this series. As the second book, it moved the main characters along a little, but several of the secondary ones are proving to be slightly unlikable. The story itself was ok. I guessed the solution to the mystery as soon as it was introduced, as any avid mystery reader will.
The biggest problem with the book was the sloppy editing. Lots of typos, incorrect punctuation, and near the end of the book, it seems like an entire paragraph was left out. I encounter a lot of that in e-books, but it surprised me in a first edition printed book.
I like the idea of the Little Library houses (there is one in my daughter's neighborhood in Rhode Island), and I will most likely read the next book in the series, if just to see how Zoe Zola recovers from her ordeal. Oh no! Spoiler alert!
The biggest problem with the book was the sloppy editing. Lots of typos, incorrect punctuation, and near the end of the book, it seems like an entire paragraph was left out. I encounter a lot of that in e-books, but it surprised me in a first edition printed book.
I like the idea of the Little Library houses (there is one in my daughter's neighborhood in Rhode Island), and I will most likely read the next book in the series, if just to see how Zoe Zola recovers from her ordeal. Oh no! Spoiler alert!
Read
June 8, 2019Jenny Weston and her mother, Dora, have been receiving strange midnight visits. Emily Sutton was at one time a well known poet, but for many years now she has been Bear Fall's own recluse, never seen by anyone. Now, she has started leaving scraps of paper with new poems in Dora's Little Library and Dora wants very much to befriend Emily. Zoe Zola who lives next door is supposed to be working on her new book, but is apparently having some problems. Zoe is suddenly enlisted to do the shopping for Emily who reports that her sister left three years ago and now the cousin who had always done their shopping has disappeared. Zoe senses that something is not quite right. So many secrets to be revealed.
One complaint - page 123 midway down the page - Perfect homecoming, Emily thought sourly. It should say JENNY not EMILY. Are books no longer read by copy editors?
One complaint - page 123 midway down the page - Perfect homecoming, Emily thought sourly. It should say JENNY not EMILY. Are books no longer read by copy editors?
September 28, 2020
Emily Sutton, a reclusive poet who lives in Bear Falls, has been making night time visits to Dora Weston's little library leaving poems in the box with all the books. One evening she speaks to Dora, Jenny and Zoe as they sit on the porch hoping to catch a cool breeze. Abigail Crane is planning a big event to celebrate their community. When she hears about Emily connecting with other people, Abigail decides to create an event around their local poet. Emily's bizarre behavior makes those who come in contact with her wish she had never ventured out of her house.
A mental institution in Traverse City plays an important role in this story. Jenny is trying to figure out her relationship with Tony. She goes to Lake Michigan beaches to find peace and a place to think. I like the references to Michigan locations since I have lived here all my life.
A mental institution in Traverse City plays an important role in this story. Jenny is trying to figure out her relationship with Tony. She goes to Lake Michigan beaches to find peace and a place to think. I like the references to Michigan locations since I have lived here all my life.
January 5, 2020
The second of four books in this series, and an exciting finish to this story involving love, murder, greed and madness...among other things!
Will the real Emily Sutton please stand up?
Seems that Buzzelli has gotten a little more adventurous with this series over the previous ones I've read with fast-paced adventure and danger!
Set again, in small-town northwestern Michigan...I always like reading about the settings and places familiar to me.
I also liked seeing some of the story's setting involving the former mental hospital at Traverse City...a place where I've always wanted to the older buildings before they are entirely given over to apartments, condos and shops.
Is the tribute to the cow and coffee shop still on the grounds?
Will the real Emily Sutton please stand up?
Seems that Buzzelli has gotten a little more adventurous with this series over the previous ones I've read with fast-paced adventure and danger!
Set again, in small-town northwestern Michigan...I always like reading about the settings and places familiar to me.
I also liked seeing some of the story's setting involving the former mental hospital at Traverse City...a place where I've always wanted to the older buildings before they are entirely given over to apartments, condos and shops.
Is the tribute to the cow and coffee shop still on the grounds?
May 31, 2022
I really liked this second book in the series. I especially liked that different voices told the story this time.
It had an odd and compelling tone with betrayal at the center.
It was very nice seeing the family that has been created with Jenny, her mother and the prickly next door neighbor, Zoe. All are working through personal things and count on the support of each other, whether they admit or not.
The side characters in the town also move the story along and are not just extraneous scenery. The reader learns more information from each.
I went on vacation not long after I started listening to the book so I had to take a pause or it would have been an almost nonstop listen.
A very twisty story and series with a distinct edge that I can definitely recommend along with the author.
It had an odd and compelling tone with betrayal at the center.
It was very nice seeing the family that has been created with Jenny, her mother and the prickly next door neighbor, Zoe. All are working through personal things and count on the support of each other, whether they admit or not.
The side characters in the town also move the story along and are not just extraneous scenery. The reader learns more information from each.
I went on vacation not long after I started listening to the book so I had to take a pause or it would have been an almost nonstop listen.
A very twisty story and series with a distinct edge that I can definitely recommend along with the author.
June 14, 2022
Ahh a poetry mystery this time around. I loved the poems we got to hear written from the story's Emily Sutton. They were quite beautiful in their own way. You can see that the author is leaving the Alice in Wonderland chattering from the first book and focusing more towards Emily Dickinson in this one.
I thought that this story was an okay one. The cozy mystery atmosphere was still there, making it still very enjoyable. The mystery was a simpler one to figure out in my opinion. However, I appreciated the extra drama happening in town to distract the readers from getting bored with the plot. Zoe Zola seemed to be a far more equal individual in this book than the first one. What a brilliant idea to split the view points into multiples a little more often this time!
I thought that this story was an okay one. The cozy mystery atmosphere was still there, making it still very enjoyable. The mystery was a simpler one to figure out in my opinion. However, I appreciated the extra drama happening in town to distract the readers from getting bored with the plot. Zoe Zola seemed to be a far more equal individual in this book than the first one. What a brilliant idea to split the view points into multiples a little more often this time!
September 6, 2017
This is a very quirky cozy mystery. It includes a little person (referred to in a less kind era, dwarf), the dog who lives with the little person, an adult daughter who comes home to her Mom after a divorce, her mother, and the typically difficult relationship between local law enforcement and the enthusiastic amateurs who solve murders better that the law enforcement. This is a nice book for a reader who wants an escape from worrisome world affairs and frankly from more mentally taxing murder mysteries that require close attention to avoid losing the thread. This is an entertaining read, both full and sometimes full of suspense.
February 22, 2019
This was the 2nd Little Library Book I read. I really enjoyed the first one so I was looking forward to reading this book. Here again this book was a little disappointing. The characters were so nice and rounded out in the first book and this one just seemed a little flat to me. Lots of twists and I did kind of see the truth about the crazy poet neighbor before the end of the book. I felt the part about Jenny and Tony was kind of added in to add more intrigue but it was awkward to me. I did get a few laughs at the poet's home made costumes. I plan on reading the next book hoping I find it as good as the first.
June 15, 2022
A local recluse poet stops by the Little Library one night and asks for some poetry books. As this poet is very famous Jenny gets her some books about poetry. She is grateful and asks for assistance with shopping. Her sister and then her cousin used to do the shopping but her sister left and her cousins hasn’t shown up recently. So Zoey volunteers and gets a long list and too little money. But she is a reclusive poet so maybe she doesn’t realize the cost of things. Our poet becomes very demanding and alternates with being shy and reclusive unless she wants something, and interesting tale and all the clues are there.
January 19, 2023
We return to Bear Falls, Michigan in book # 2 of the A Little Library Mystery series. Once again Jenny, her mom Doris and neighbor Zoe get caught up in the lives of others in their town. When Doris tries to befriend and introduce herself to eccentric local poetess Emily Sutton, never could she have thought it would lead to discovering hidden secrets, a missing poet and the near fatal death of her neighbor Zoe. As the budding friendship progresses, Emily's behavior becomes erratic and Zoe feels uncomfortable about it all. Will poetry be the answer to this mystery? An interesting story with interesting characters. An enjoyable cozy read.
November 25, 2016
Fun read! Did not have lots of gratuitous sex to distract from the story! Some authors feel the need to put sex into the book, but a good author does not need to keep readers interested this way, and many of us are appreciative of this! Will definitely pass this one on to my mother-in-law and read others in the series.
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