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Library Lover's Mystery #8
Death in the Stacks
In the latest Library Lover's Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Better Late Than Never, the library's big fund-raiser leaves director Lindsey Norris booked for trouble . . .
Lindsey Norris and her staff are gearing up for the Briar Creek Library's annual Dinner in the Stacks fund-raiser. The night of dinner and dancing is not only a booklover's dream--it's the library's biggest moneymaker of the year. But instead of raising funds, the new library board president is busy raising a stink and making the staff miserable.
Although Olive Boyle acts like a storybook villain, Lindsey is determined to work with her and make the event a success. But when Olive publicly threatens the library's newest hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks like an old book spine and throws Olive out of the library.
The night of the fund-raiser, Lindsey dreads another altercation with Olive--but instead finds Paula crouched over Olive's dead body. Paula may have secrets, but Lindsey and the rest of the crafternooners know she's not the one who took Olive out of circulation. As the plot thickens, Lindsey must catch the real killer before the book closes on Paula's future . . .
Lindsey Norris and her staff are gearing up for the Briar Creek Library's annual Dinner in the Stacks fund-raiser. The night of dinner and dancing is not only a booklover's dream--it's the library's biggest moneymaker of the year. But instead of raising funds, the new library board president is busy raising a stink and making the staff miserable.
Although Olive Boyle acts like a storybook villain, Lindsey is determined to work with her and make the event a success. But when Olive publicly threatens the library's newest hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks like an old book spine and throws Olive out of the library.
The night of the fund-raiser, Lindsey dreads another altercation with Olive--but instead finds Paula crouched over Olive's dead body. Paula may have secrets, but Lindsey and the rest of the crafternooners know she's not the one who took Olive out of circulation. As the plot thickens, Lindsey must catch the real killer before the book closes on Paula's future . . .
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
326 people are currently reading
2218 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
73 books5,310 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
August 12, 2022
Who wouldn't love a book with an autumn theme set in a library? I truly enjoyed Death in the Stacks, the eighth book in the Library Lover's mystery series written in 2017 by Jenn McKinlay. I'm a big fan of her other series too, but this one is my favorite. What made it even more exceptional was the character cross-over from her other series: The Hat Shop and The Cupcake Bakery. I haven't yet read her About a Dog series, so there may have been a cross-over, I'm just not certain. Nonetheless, wow, what a great caper.
Lindsey throws a giant benefit gala in the library to raise money for Briar Creek's favorite literary hot spot. Unfortunately, the newest board president, Olive, is a huge thorn in everyone's side. I'm talking mean-spirited, nasty, and rude... even the lemon can't stand her! If you're unfamiliar with the series, the lemon is one of Lindsey's librarian's who's often unhappy with Lindsey over decisions at the library. Olive thankfully turns up dead, but it looks like the newest library employee is responsible. Lindsey promises she won't investigate until the lemon asks her to do so. It's an intense finish where three possible suspects face off with Lindsey, Robbie, and Sully stuck in the middle. Whose story do they believe? Emma must come to the rescue to save her boyfriend (what?)!
McKinlay has struck gold in this series for me. I love her characters, and that's probably my favorite aspect of this book. When my other faves come for a visit from London and Arizona, we get a wonderful side story about how they all now know one another. McKinlay's quips and banter move the pages along easily... I'm just so sorry it ended this quick. I thought I could stretch it out over the weekend, but I found myself with a few hours on Friday, and well, I couldn't put it down!
Awesome series... newest one comes out this month. I can't wait. Thanks for all this fun.
Lindsey throws a giant benefit gala in the library to raise money for Briar Creek's favorite literary hot spot. Unfortunately, the newest board president, Olive, is a huge thorn in everyone's side. I'm talking mean-spirited, nasty, and rude... even the lemon can't stand her! If you're unfamiliar with the series, the lemon is one of Lindsey's librarian's who's often unhappy with Lindsey over decisions at the library. Olive thankfully turns up dead, but it looks like the newest library employee is responsible. Lindsey promises she won't investigate until the lemon asks her to do so. It's an intense finish where three possible suspects face off with Lindsey, Robbie, and Sully stuck in the middle. Whose story do they believe? Emma must come to the rescue to save her boyfriend (what?)!
McKinlay has struck gold in this series for me. I love her characters, and that's probably my favorite aspect of this book. When my other faves come for a visit from London and Arizona, we get a wonderful side story about how they all now know one another. McKinlay's quips and banter move the pages along easily... I'm just so sorry it ended this quick. I thought I could stretch it out over the weekend, but I found myself with a few hours on Friday, and well, I couldn't put it down!
Awesome series... newest one comes out this month. I can't wait. Thanks for all this fun.
November 18, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jenn McKinlay’s wonderful series continues as the Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser is about to take place in Briar Creek. That is if the new library board president, Olive Boyle doesn’t screw everything up. She is a cantankerous woman that makes Ms. Cole (lemon) look like a real peach. Olive Boyle has all kinds of plans for the library including uniforms and getting rid of Lindsey and Paula. She also makes some last minute decisions regarding the fundraiser dinner, but luckily Lindsey is able to get everything back on track.
The big night arrives and so does Olive Boyle along with her friends. She tries to steal the limelight by trashing Lindsey until the plug to the mic is pulled. The event goes on as planned but at the end of the night the board president is missing and when she is found, she has been stabbed to death in the stacks with Paula by her side. She claims she didn’t do it and Lindsey believes her, but she is their prime suspect. Lindsey soon learns Olive has plenty of enemies even among her friends. She vows to stay out of the case but with the evidence pointing to Paula her staff begs her to solve the case before their friend is sentenced to life at prison library.
Each addition to the Jenn McKinlay shelf at the library makes me happy. This installment has all of my favorite characters working together to find out who killed the woman no one in town really liked. All these characters continue to evolve and grow and by the end one of them startles them all by taking a giant step. The author also integrates the characters from her Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and her Hat Shop Mysteries as they first show up as guests at the dinner and then drop in at the library. It was fun seeing all the characters in one place.
Ms. McKinley has written another extraordinary mystery. She sets a quick pace and leads readers down a tightly woven path. All this while dropping actual books and authors into the story line with Lindsey making book recommendations or checking books out or putting them back on the shelf. The suspect pool is large and eliminating people from the list isn’t easy. Each twist bring new possibilities but we are kept guessing right up until the end.
I was engaged by the characters and entertained by the entire story. I always enjoy my trips to Briar Creek and can’t wait to return next year.
Jenn McKinlay’s wonderful series continues as the Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser is about to take place in Briar Creek. That is if the new library board president, Olive Boyle doesn’t screw everything up. She is a cantankerous woman that makes Ms. Cole (lemon) look like a real peach. Olive Boyle has all kinds of plans for the library including uniforms and getting rid of Lindsey and Paula. She also makes some last minute decisions regarding the fundraiser dinner, but luckily Lindsey is able to get everything back on track.
The big night arrives and so does Olive Boyle along with her friends. She tries to steal the limelight by trashing Lindsey until the plug to the mic is pulled. The event goes on as planned but at the end of the night the board president is missing and when she is found, she has been stabbed to death in the stacks with Paula by her side. She claims she didn’t do it and Lindsey believes her, but she is their prime suspect. Lindsey soon learns Olive has plenty of enemies even among her friends. She vows to stay out of the case but with the evidence pointing to Paula her staff begs her to solve the case before their friend is sentenced to life at prison library.
Each addition to the Jenn McKinlay shelf at the library makes me happy. This installment has all of my favorite characters working together to find out who killed the woman no one in town really liked. All these characters continue to evolve and grow and by the end one of them startles them all by taking a giant step. The author also integrates the characters from her Cupcake Bakery Mysteries and her Hat Shop Mysteries as they first show up as guests at the dinner and then drop in at the library. It was fun seeing all the characters in one place.
Ms. McKinley has written another extraordinary mystery. She sets a quick pace and leads readers down a tightly woven path. All this while dropping actual books and authors into the story line with Lindsey making book recommendations or checking books out or putting them back on the shelf. The suspect pool is large and eliminating people from the list isn’t easy. Each twist bring new possibilities but we are kept guessing right up until the end.
I was engaged by the characters and entertained by the entire story. I always enjoy my trips to Briar Creek and can’t wait to return next year.
September 20, 2017
Death in the Stacks is the eighth book in the Library Lover's series, but my introduction to the world of Lindsey Norris, crime-solving librarian. And can I just say how much I adore this idea of libraries+cozy mysteries???
The new president of the library board, Olive Boyles, hates everyone. She threatens to fire Lindsey, have a librarian's assistant fired, and soon after is found dead during a library fund-raising event. Lindsey has sworn off crime-solving, but because both she and Paula (the assistant) are now prime suspects, she has to figure out who murdered Olive.
I liked this book. There were a lot of characters, some with similar names, but I assume everything (and everyone) would be a lot clearer if I'd been reading from #1. The actual mystery was okay; what I loved were the descriptions of the library and the crafternoons (book club/crafting sessions) that happened there. I did fully believe that Lindsey was a librarian - there were discussions about Agatha Christie, and all the bookshelves she kept in her apartment.
*Thanks to First to Read for an ARC*
The new president of the library board, Olive Boyles, hates everyone. She threatens to fire Lindsey, have a librarian's assistant fired, and soon after is found dead during a library fund-raising event. Lindsey has sworn off crime-solving, but because both she and Paula (the assistant) are now prime suspects, she has to figure out who murdered Olive.
I liked this book. There were a lot of characters, some with similar names, but I assume everything (and everyone) would be a lot clearer if I'd been reading from #1. The actual mystery was okay; what I loved were the descriptions of the library and the crafternoons (book club/crafting sessions) that happened there. I did fully believe that Lindsey was a librarian - there were discussions about Agatha Christie, and all the bookshelves she kept in her apartment.
*Thanks to First to Read for an ARC*
November 11, 2021
I loved seeing characters from her other series appear in this book. Also it was an intriguing mystery.
September 16, 2020
It’s time for the annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser at the Briar Creek Public Library, but this year, Lindsey Norris is facing an extra challenge in putting it on. Olive Boyle has just become president of the library’s board, and she is determined to make trouble, even threatening Lindsey’s job. Despite all of this, the fundraiser goes well, until Olive’s body is found in the fiction section just after the event ends. Even though Lindsey swore she’d stop investigating murders, she still finds herself drawn into this case. Olive made enemies everywhere she went. With so many suspects, can Lindsey figure out what happened?
While the mystery has some good twists in it, I did feel the pacing was off overall. Instead, the character’s antics take over at times. As a fan of the series, I can’t complain too much about that, especially since I was laughing at those scenes. Plus, we got some character development that fans of the series will love. Fans of Jenn’s other two mystery series will have fun with the cameos those characters make in this book, although you won’t miss much of you aren’t up to date on those series. The usual assortment of extras at the end will give you something to enjoy after you’ve turned the last page. While the plot pacing does bother me, I was smiling so much while I was reading, it is hard to complain. Other fans of the series will love every page as well.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While the mystery has some good twists in it, I did feel the pacing was off overall. Instead, the character’s antics take over at times. As a fan of the series, I can’t complain too much about that, especially since I was laughing at those scenes. Plus, we got some character development that fans of the series will love. Fans of Jenn’s other two mystery series will have fun with the cameos those characters make in this book, although you won’t miss much of you aren’t up to date on those series. The usual assortment of extras at the end will give you something to enjoy after you’ve turned the last page. While the plot pacing does bother me, I was smiling so much while I was reading, it is hard to complain. Other fans of the series will love every page as well.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 25, 2018
My thanks to my library for my copy. In the 8th installment of the Library Lover's series, we find Lindsey and friends preparing for the annual Dinner In The Stakes fundraiser. Olive Boyle, the new President of the Library Board is challenging Lindsey for control of the library and has stated that she will get Lindsey fired. Olive plans on changing everything the library is doing. Among the changes, Olive has said Paula must be fired. Olive has managed to upset many of the people by her actions. The night of Dinner Olive causing trouble and while the staff is cleaning Paula finds Olive dead and holding the knife near the body. Lindsey finds Paula a d both become Persons of Interest. The twist and turns the tale takes held my interest. The end is neat and will fascinate you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and HIGHLY RECOMMEND the book and series.
August 16, 2024
I loved how characters in her other series showed up!
January 18, 2020
Met crossover characters from two other series of cupcake bakers and hat makers.
September 2, 2021
I am in the process of rereading the series and I forgot how much I love this one!! Not only is Lindsey mixed up in another murder, this one is a cross-over from Jenn's other cozy characters! It is so much fun to see an author do that. Even though I probably say it for every single book I read of Jenn's, this one might be my fave. Well, at least until I dive into the next one. Do yourself a favor and check out this series!!
December 4, 2020
Death in the Stacks, the eighth book in Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery Series, is an intricate and entertaining mystery complete with a much-hated victim, a trio of mean girls and a couple of very pleasant surprises thrown in. The audio version is an amusing and quick listen – I finished it in about a day!
Library director Lindsey Norris is hosting the annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser at Briar Creek Library when Olive Boyle, the Board’s president is found (literally) dead in the stacks. Turns out that Olive was soundly disliked by all, and nearly everyone, including Lindsey, had a good reason to hate her. Suspicion, however, falls on Paula Turner, a new library employee with a sketchy past. Lindsey believes that Paula is innocent, and despite earlier promises to give up investigating, Lindsey finds herself hot on the trail of a killer.
As is usual with this series, the mystery is both intriguing and creative. There are so many characters with a reason to hate Olive that it is almost impossible to settle on just one! The resolution is tricky – although I had a good idea of who the killer was, there were still a few details that were surprising – as well as satisfying. The writing flows smoothly, and the language seems natural. Lindsey’s relationship with Sully is developing nicely, as is her (and Sully’s) friendship with Robbie. It was fun to see the characters from two of Ms. McKinlay’s other series making an appearance at the library, and I especially appreciated the nod to two of my favorite series authors.
There’s a good reason why this series has quickly become one of my favorites. The characters feel like friends, and the library, like home. Death in the Stacks is another winning novel by Ms. McKinlay, and, as always, I eagerly look forward to another visit to Briar Creek.
#readforkimberly
Library director Lindsey Norris is hosting the annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser at Briar Creek Library when Olive Boyle, the Board’s president is found (literally) dead in the stacks. Turns out that Olive was soundly disliked by all, and nearly everyone, including Lindsey, had a good reason to hate her. Suspicion, however, falls on Paula Turner, a new library employee with a sketchy past. Lindsey believes that Paula is innocent, and despite earlier promises to give up investigating, Lindsey finds herself hot on the trail of a killer.
As is usual with this series, the mystery is both intriguing and creative. There are so many characters with a reason to hate Olive that it is almost impossible to settle on just one! The resolution is tricky – although I had a good idea of who the killer was, there were still a few details that were surprising – as well as satisfying. The writing flows smoothly, and the language seems natural. Lindsey’s relationship with Sully is developing nicely, as is her (and Sully’s) friendship with Robbie. It was fun to see the characters from two of Ms. McKinlay’s other series making an appearance at the library, and I especially appreciated the nod to two of my favorite series authors.
There’s a good reason why this series has quickly become one of my favorites. The characters feel like friends, and the library, like home. Death in the Stacks is another winning novel by Ms. McKinlay, and, as always, I eagerly look forward to another visit to Briar Creek.
#readforkimberly
November 7, 2017
My idea of the perfect library is one stocked with all cozy mysteries! And of course that would mean an entire Jenn McKinlay section.
Each book in this series just gets better and better! And this holds true with DEATH IN THE STACKS. Over the course of the eight books in the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the town of Briar Creek, and all of its wonderful, endearing characters have grown to become among my favorites in the cozy mystery world.
DEATH IN THE STACKS was another well plotted mystery that moved at a brisk pace. Even in the quiet moments of the book I could tell something exciting was waiting to happen on the next page. And as always with a Jenn McKinlay book, there were parts where I laughed out loud, and even a part that had me close to tears.
The victim in this tale being such a disagreeable person, there were plenty of people who would have liked to finish her off. I think protagonist Lindsey Norris would have been happy to sit out this investigation, but she couldn’t since one of her friends was a suspect. With twists and turns popping up all over, I never had it narrowed to one person. When I read who the killer was, and why they did it . . . well, I never would have guessed it!
I was thrilled to see that Jenn McKinlay incorporated characters from her Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and her Hat Shop Mysteries. The Cupcake Bakery Mystery series is one I anxiously wait for every year. To see all of those fantastic characters interact was so much fun!
An excellent mystery, fun moments, a craft, and recipes? DEATH IN THE STACKS has a little of something for everyone!
Each book in this series just gets better and better! And this holds true with DEATH IN THE STACKS. Over the course of the eight books in the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the town of Briar Creek, and all of its wonderful, endearing characters have grown to become among my favorites in the cozy mystery world.
DEATH IN THE STACKS was another well plotted mystery that moved at a brisk pace. Even in the quiet moments of the book I could tell something exciting was waiting to happen on the next page. And as always with a Jenn McKinlay book, there were parts where I laughed out loud, and even a part that had me close to tears.
The victim in this tale being such a disagreeable person, there were plenty of people who would have liked to finish her off. I think protagonist Lindsey Norris would have been happy to sit out this investigation, but she couldn’t since one of her friends was a suspect. With twists and turns popping up all over, I never had it narrowed to one person. When I read who the killer was, and why they did it . . . well, I never would have guessed it!
I was thrilled to see that Jenn McKinlay incorporated characters from her Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and her Hat Shop Mysteries. The Cupcake Bakery Mystery series is one I anxiously wait for every year. To see all of those fantastic characters interact was so much fun!
An excellent mystery, fun moments, a craft, and recipes? DEATH IN THE STACKS has a little of something for everyone!
September 21, 2021
Death in the Stacks
3.5 Stars
When the new library board president is found stabbed to death in the stacks, the library's newest hire becomes the prime suspect. Encouraged by friends and co-workers to investigate, library director Lindsay Norris begins delving into the life of Olive Boyle to determine which one of her many foes had had enough of her nasty intimidation.
Series note: There is a great deal of backstory in the earlier books of the series that might make it difficult to read this as a standalone.
While this addition to the series is entertaining overall and the developments in the lives of recurring characters are very appealing, especially Lindsay's relationship with sexy Sully, there are a number of problematic elements.
To begin with, there are two aspects of Lindsay's personality that are rather grating. First, she takes too long to act against the victim's truly vicious comments and actions - polite manners only go so far. Second, her decision to continue sleuthing despite her promise to stop is annoying. Yes, the circumstances may warrant her actions, but it is clear that the author found a way to force the issue.
Moreover, there are very few clues indicating the identity of the culprit and the motivation doesn't make much sense.
Finally, characters from McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mystery and Hat Shop mystery series put in an appearance. However, there is no crossover story arc, and their unnecessary inclusion feels too much like self-promotion for my tastes.
3.5 Stars
When the new library board president is found stabbed to death in the stacks, the library's newest hire becomes the prime suspect. Encouraged by friends and co-workers to investigate, library director Lindsay Norris begins delving into the life of Olive Boyle to determine which one of her many foes had had enough of her nasty intimidation.
Series note: There is a great deal of backstory in the earlier books of the series that might make it difficult to read this as a standalone.
While this addition to the series is entertaining overall and the developments in the lives of recurring characters are very appealing, especially Lindsay's relationship with sexy Sully, there are a number of problematic elements.
To begin with, there are two aspects of Lindsay's personality that are rather grating. First, she takes too long to act against the victim's truly vicious comments and actions - polite manners only go so far. Second, her decision to continue sleuthing despite her promise to stop is annoying. Yes, the circumstances may warrant her actions, but it is clear that the author found a way to force the issue.
Moreover, there are very few clues indicating the identity of the culprit and the motivation doesn't make much sense.
Finally, characters from McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery Mystery and Hat Shop mystery series put in an appearance. However, there is no crossover story arc, and their unnecessary inclusion feels too much like self-promotion for my tastes.
October 16, 2017
Brier Creek Librarian Lindsey Norris is gearing up for the annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser when she receives a visit from Olive Boyle, the new president of the library board. Olive takes aim at Paula, the library's newest hire, and suggests that Paula has a less than stellar background, and she intends to see the young woman gets fired. Then she's going to make sure that Lindsey loses her job for hiring Paula in the first place.
After Olive makes a scene at the fundraiser, Lindsey confronts her about being rude to her staff. After the dinner, Olive is found dead, with Paula standing over her. After being threatened in the past, Lindsey has promised not to investigate any crimes in the future. But she knows that Paula is innocent, and with the blessing of her boyfriend, she sets out to see who really killed Olive, and why.
The Library Lovers series is one of my favorites, and this book is a great addition to the collection. Olive is a particularly nasty woman, and her death provided a long list of suspects. Lindsey and her buddy Robbie take readers through the mystery and solve the whodunit.
For fans of Ms. McKinlay's other series there are visits from the London hat shop crowd and the Arizona bakery bunch. Both feature into this book seamlessly and provide laughs and entertainment.
This book is the perfect edition--I mean addition--to the Library Lovers series.
I received a digital ARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
After Olive makes a scene at the fundraiser, Lindsey confronts her about being rude to her staff. After the dinner, Olive is found dead, with Paula standing over her. After being threatened in the past, Lindsey has promised not to investigate any crimes in the future. But she knows that Paula is innocent, and with the blessing of her boyfriend, she sets out to see who really killed Olive, and why.
The Library Lovers series is one of my favorites, and this book is a great addition to the collection. Olive is a particularly nasty woman, and her death provided a long list of suspects. Lindsey and her buddy Robbie take readers through the mystery and solve the whodunit.
For fans of Ms. McKinlay's other series there are visits from the London hat shop crowd and the Arizona bakery bunch. Both feature into this book seamlessly and provide laughs and entertainment.
This book is the perfect edition--I mean addition--to the Library Lovers series.
I received a digital ARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
October 24, 2018
Thanks bunches to Penguin for the ARC.
I wasn't familiar with Jenn McKinlay before reading Death in the Stacks. I adore books about books and quite enjoy cozies, so naturally, Death in the Stacks had me at library mystery. Sadly, I don't think this book was a good fit for me.
The writing is awkward with some rather oddly constructed sentences. There is very little character development and dialog doesn't flow naturally. Everyone sounds like they’re reading from a script. It’s all tell and no show, leaving me with little emotional connection to the characters. So little, in fact, that solving the murder didn’t really interest me.
My favorite part was the Brit’s pun-off. What can I say, I enjoy wordplay, no matter how silly.
You might also enjoy:
✱ Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series
✱ Cat in the Stacks series
✱ Booktown Mystery series
✱ The Darling Dahlias series
✱ Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series
I wasn't familiar with Jenn McKinlay before reading Death in the Stacks. I adore books about books and quite enjoy cozies, so naturally, Death in the Stacks had me at library mystery. Sadly, I don't think this book was a good fit for me.
The writing is awkward with some rather oddly constructed sentences. There is very little character development and dialog doesn't flow naturally. Everyone sounds like they’re reading from a script. It’s all tell and no show, leaving me with little emotional connection to the characters. So little, in fact, that solving the murder didn’t really interest me.
My favorite part was the Brit’s pun-off. What can I say, I enjoy wordplay, no matter how silly.
You might also enjoy:
✱ Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series
✱ Cat in the Stacks series
✱ Booktown Mystery series
✱ The Darling Dahlias series
✱ Haunted Home Renovation Mystery series
March 15, 2019
This has to be one of my favorite books in this series. Everything just came together perfectly. All of the characters are hitting their stride; relationship issues have been resolved and their is plenty of growth and character development. I really liked how the author had the characters from all three series in one book. It was woven in nicely. The mystery was well done and I was surprised at the identity of the killer. It was a nice twist I didn't see coming. There were plenty of suspects to choose from as the victim was particularly nasty.
This is a fun series and I am glad that I have been able finally work my way through most of the series. I'll be getting book 9 from the library this weekend and then I will be caught up on all of this author's series.
This is a fun series and I am glad that I have been able finally work my way through most of the series. I'll be getting book 9 from the library this weekend and then I will be caught up on all of this author's series.
October 18, 2018
Another cracking murder mystery by Jenn McKinlay (if you love books and murder then please give this series a go!)
Lindsey and her staff are having to work with a new Library Board President (for some reason the well liked, nay loved! Milton Duffy was voted out), the problem is the new Board President (Olive Boyle) is NOT easy to work with, she is sly, manipulative and blackmailing (oh NOT for money but for prestige), when she threatens to sack both Lindsey and new hire Paula, Lindsey knows there will be trouble, oh add in the fact that with a week to go to the big fundraiser dinner Olive wants to change caterers, florist and band! Luckily Lindsey smoothes everything over, but the one thing she can't smooth is Olive herself. When the night of the dinner comes around Olive tries to stick the virtual knife into Lindsey and Paula again, only to end up with a real life knife in her at the end of the evening! Now with Paula as suspect number one, Lindsey needs to recant her promise not to butt into crime solving and figure out who (in a long list) went from loathing Olive to killing her.
Lindsey and her staff are having to work with a new Library Board President (for some reason the well liked, nay loved! Milton Duffy was voted out), the problem is the new Board President (Olive Boyle) is NOT easy to work with, she is sly, manipulative and blackmailing (oh NOT for money but for prestige), when she threatens to sack both Lindsey and new hire Paula, Lindsey knows there will be trouble, oh add in the fact that with a week to go to the big fundraiser dinner Olive wants to change caterers, florist and band! Luckily Lindsey smoothes everything over, but the one thing she can't smooth is Olive herself. When the night of the dinner comes around Olive tries to stick the virtual knife into Lindsey and Paula again, only to end up with a real life knife in her at the end of the evening! Now with Paula as suspect number one, Lindsey needs to recant her promise not to butt into crime solving and figure out who (in a long list) went from loathing Olive to killing her.
September 4, 2020
All of my favorite characters in one book! Ever since I heard about this cross over book book I’ve been dying to get to this point in the series to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mystery was good and I was guessing as much as Lindsey was. Lindsey and Sully are so adorable. Already looking forward to reading the next book. #readforkimberly
May 29, 2019
Five stars for this Cozy mystery. I like these characters and I loved the crossover appearance of characters from two other Jenn McKinlay's series. I know a book is good when I make out loud happy noises. 😁
Ps. Ratings: Apples to Apples, Cozies to Cozies.
Ps. Ratings: Apples to Apples, Cozies to Cozies.
September 7, 2022
Death in the Stacks by Jenn McKinlay is the 8th book in the Library Lover's Mystery series. At the Briar Creek Library's annual Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser, librarian Lindsay Norris comes across the body of the new library board president, Olive Boyle, not long after an altercation with her. A fabulous book where we also meet characters from the Hat Shop and Cupcake series who are attending the fundraiser. I enjoyed this book more as the love triangle has been resolved and I loved seeing Lindsay's and Sully's relationship develop. I also enjoyed seeing Miss Cole's character mellow. My favourite book in the series so far.
January 9, 2018
Meet Lindsey Norris, Library Director in the coastal town of Briar Creek, Connecticut. As the night draws near for the library's primary yearly fundraiser, Dinner In The Stacks, the new library board president, Olive, starts verbal altercations with both Lindsey and her youngest librarian assistant, Paula. Olive seems to be determined to hassle Paula into quitting and firing Lindsey. When Olive again tries to usurp the evening's event, she is ridiculed by everyone except her three friends. At the end of the festivities Olive is nowhere to be found and a search is started. Lindsey finds Paula crouched over Olive's body, holding a bloody steak knife. Paula becomes the prime suspect and makes matters worse by disappearing. As Lindsey and her friends dig into Olive's past, they find she has no actual friends, only more enemies.
This is the eighth book in the series and they only get better. You can read them in any order but it will give you more pleasure if you start from the first book and watch the characters develop. The realistic characters, awesome murder plots and the behind the scenes look at how a library works (minus the dead bodies of course) make this a must read series. Another delight in this book is that the author brings in the main characters from her other two cozy series, "Cupcake Bakery Mysteries" and "Hat Shop Mysteries" as guests at the night's gala dinner.
This is the eighth book in the series and they only get better. You can read them in any order but it will give you more pleasure if you start from the first book and watch the characters develop. The realistic characters, awesome murder plots and the behind the scenes look at how a library works (minus the dead bodies of course) make this a must read series. Another delight in this book is that the author brings in the main characters from her other two cozy series, "Cupcake Bakery Mysteries" and "Hat Shop Mysteries" as guests at the night's gala dinner.
March 2, 2018
Book #8 in series. Not as good as usual for me. I really am not a fan of the Robbie character, and I am ready for him to drift off into non-existence. His sleuthing with Lindsey makes the entire book less enjoyable. I did like how the characters from her other series made appearances. 2.5 stars
January 6, 2018
This is the eighth book in the library lovers series. Lindsay and her friends are preparing for the annual fundraiser, Dinner in the Stacks. They are also dealing with a new board president in Olive Boyle. To say that she makes everyone she comes into contact with miserable is an understatement. She criticizes Lindsay and her staff, and goes so far as to threaten the job of a recent hire of Lindsay's. So when that hire is found next to Olive's dead body on the night of the fundraiser, things aren't looking good. Lindsay at first tries to stay out of the investigation, but quickly changes her mind as she wants to help Paula, her hire.
I really love the library lovers series. Every time I read them I feel as if I am catching up with old friends. I loved the crossover with her cupcake bakery series and her hat shop series. I liked the development in Lindsay and Sully's relationship. This was a quick paced and fun read. Can't wait to read the next book.
I really love the library lovers series. Every time I read them I feel as if I am catching up with old friends. I loved the crossover with her cupcake bakery series and her hat shop series. I liked the development in Lindsay and Sully's relationship. This was a quick paced and fun read. Can't wait to read the next book.
February 25, 2018
Lindsey Norris has her hands full planning the annual Briar Creek Library's Dinner in the Stacks fundraising event. The last thing she needs is the library board butting in but the new board president, Olive Boyle, won't keep her opinions to herself. She hates everything Lindsey does including Lindsey's newest employee, Paula Tanner. Olive threatens Paula with nasty insinuations and threatens Lindsey's job. Is Lindsey mad at Olive enough to kill? While cleaning post-fundraiser, Lindsey discovers Olive dead in the stacks and Paula standing over Olive with a steak knife. Paula swears she didn't do it and Lindsey believes her but does Chief Emma Plewicki? Lindsey promises Emma and Sully she'll stay out of the investigation this time, but when Ms. Cole pretty much dares Lindsey to save Paula all bets are off. Teaming up with Robbie and another unlikely ally, Lindsey has her hands full figuring out who killed Olive. It seems figuring out who didn't want to kill Olive would be easier!
This is Jenn McKinlay's best mystery yet. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. I never figured out who or why. The clues weren't really there for Lindsey to put together until the very end. I was surprised at what happened. I liked how Lindsey kept Emma up-to-date with information and tried not to get involved in dangerous situations. She didn't break any laws that I know of, she just sort of behaved in a tacky manner going to interview potential suspects. Emma is a good policewoman and Lindsey didn't seem to trust Emma to do her job.
On the cozy fun side of things this story features cameos by Jenn McKinlay's other sleuths: Mel and friends (Cupcake Bakery) and Scarlet and friends (Hat Shop). It was lovely to catch up with Scarlet and crew and have some conclusion to her story. She's come a long way and grown in self-confidence since the beginning of the first book. I'm so happy for her. It would have been better, or maybe too much for those who haven't read all the books, to have Mel, Scarlet and Lindsey team up to solve the mystery. There's also Lindsey's relationship with Sully that is progressing quickly and the Crafternooners though not enough of the latter for my personal taste and the book they read provides a clue to the mindset of the villain.
I really like Lindsey. She's the most sensible of McKinlay's heroines. I especially liked when she kept pointing out her own personality quirks adding "I'm a librarian!" I kept thinking "YES!" I guess great librarian brains think alike. Sully is a hunky hero with a warm heart. He loves Lindsey and is good for her. He respects her need to investigate though he doesn't like it. Robbie is the comic relief. He is just like his Shakespearean namesake and famous role-Robin Goodfellow aka Puck. Robbie is mischievous and cheeky but deep inside beats a kind and generous heart. His relationship with Emma is funny and sweet at the same time. Emma is a great character. It's nice to see an intelligent, competent, FEMALE police chief who is at home in dresses as well as uniform. She's warm and caring when she is off duty and tough as nails when she's on. I love her. I also really like Paula and getting to know her better. Her childhood was horrible and unimaginable and I admire the way she has overcome it.
The new characters are all nasty. My parents live in a town nearby to the fictional Briar Creek and I believe the mean girls would talk about people behind their backs, complain to the mayor but not to the faces of those they disliked so I felt the characters weren't very realistic in that respect. I DO however, believe in the mean girls and their backwards looking values. Olive was a "beyotch" of the worst sort. She hates Lindsey for reasons Lindsey can't help and hates everything Lindsey stands for. Olive won't be happy until she's dictator of Briar Creek. I didn't feel the least bit sorry for her. Her backstory is only one sided so not quite what I expected. I thought I might feel sorry for her by the end but I really hated her more. Her mean girl friends include Kim, LeAnn and Amy. They're all single ladies of a certain age that define stereotype. Unlike Ms. Cole, who is becoming more three-dimensional, they are two-dimensional mean, bitter women. Life has not been kind but Paula had it way worse and she manages to be kind. These three women are indistinguishable in their nastiness.
Other new characters who might be murder suspects but are more sympathetic include Olive's ex-husband Dr. Kyle Boyle. He's a weak man. He's kind but too kind at times. His wife, Molly, is a little silly and annoying. There's also Olive's estranged sister Margaret, a sort of earthy not quite hippie sort of woman. Any of these people could have had motive to kill Olive!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what Lindsey gets into next. Wedding bells are in the air for Beth which should be fun.
This is Jenn McKinlay's best mystery yet. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. I never figured out who or why. The clues weren't really there for Lindsey to put together until the very end. I was surprised at what happened. I liked how Lindsey kept Emma up-to-date with information and tried not to get involved in dangerous situations. She didn't break any laws that I know of, she just sort of behaved in a tacky manner going to interview potential suspects. Emma is a good policewoman and Lindsey didn't seem to trust Emma to do her job.
On the cozy fun side of things this story features cameos by Jenn McKinlay's other sleuths: Mel and friends (Cupcake Bakery) and Scarlet and friends (Hat Shop). It was lovely to catch up with Scarlet and crew and have some conclusion to her story. She's come a long way and grown in self-confidence since the beginning of the first book. I'm so happy for her. It would have been better, or maybe too much for those who haven't read all the books, to have Mel, Scarlet and Lindsey team up to solve the mystery. There's also Lindsey's relationship with Sully that is progressing quickly and the Crafternooners though not enough of the latter for my personal taste and the book they read provides a clue to the mindset of the villain.
I really like Lindsey. She's the most sensible of McKinlay's heroines. I especially liked when she kept pointing out her own personality quirks adding "I'm a librarian!" I kept thinking "YES!" I guess great librarian brains think alike. Sully is a hunky hero with a warm heart. He loves Lindsey and is good for her. He respects her need to investigate though he doesn't like it. Robbie is the comic relief. He is just like his Shakespearean namesake and famous role-Robin Goodfellow aka Puck. Robbie is mischievous and cheeky but deep inside beats a kind and generous heart. His relationship with Emma is funny and sweet at the same time. Emma is a great character. It's nice to see an intelligent, competent, FEMALE police chief who is at home in dresses as well as uniform. She's warm and caring when she is off duty and tough as nails when she's on. I love her. I also really like Paula and getting to know her better. Her childhood was horrible and unimaginable and I admire the way she has overcome it.
The new characters are all nasty. My parents live in a town nearby to the fictional Briar Creek and I believe the mean girls would talk about people behind their backs, complain to the mayor but not to the faces of those they disliked so I felt the characters weren't very realistic in that respect. I DO however, believe in the mean girls and their backwards looking values. Olive was a "beyotch" of the worst sort. She hates Lindsey for reasons Lindsey can't help and hates everything Lindsey stands for. Olive won't be happy until she's dictator of Briar Creek. I didn't feel the least bit sorry for her. Her backstory is only one sided so not quite what I expected. I thought I might feel sorry for her by the end but I really hated her more. Her mean girl friends include Kim, LeAnn and Amy. They're all single ladies of a certain age that define stereotype. Unlike Ms. Cole, who is becoming more three-dimensional, they are two-dimensional mean, bitter women. Life has not been kind but Paula had it way worse and she manages to be kind. These three women are indistinguishable in their nastiness.
Other new characters who might be murder suspects but are more sympathetic include Olive's ex-husband Dr. Kyle Boyle. He's a weak man. He's kind but too kind at times. His wife, Molly, is a little silly and annoying. There's also Olive's estranged sister Margaret, a sort of earthy not quite hippie sort of woman. Any of these people could have had motive to kill Olive!
I can't wait to read the next book in the series to see what Lindsey gets into next. Wedding bells are in the air for Beth which should be fun.
December 4, 2025
This book was published in 2017. However, I feel the author’s overuse of descriptions of women’s bodies and skin color, in addition to a stereotypical characteristic of a gay woman character, does not lend itself to this cozy murder. I’ve read the entire series and had noticed this in the earlier books of the series as well.
This series always finds me adding a few more books to my TBR pile and if you are in to crafting and baking, instructions for those are included as well.
This series always finds me adding a few more books to my TBR pile and if you are in to crafting and baking, instructions for those are included as well.
November 24, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/de...
Death in the Stacks
Library Lover’s Mystery, Book #8
By Jenn McKinlay
ISBN#9780399583759
Author’s website: www.Jennmckinlay.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Lindsey Norris and her staff are gearing up for the Briar Creek Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fund-raiser. The night of dinner and dancing is not only a booklover’s dream–it’s the library’s biggest moneymaker of the year. But instead of raising funds, the new library board president is busy raising a stink and making the staff miserable.
Although Olive Boyle acts like a storybook villain, Lindsey is determined to work with her and make the event a success. But when Olive publicly threatens the library’s newest hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks like an old book spine and throws Olive out of the library.
The night of the fund-raiser, Lindsey dreads another altercation with Olive–but instead finds Paula crouched over Olive’s dead body. Paula may have secrets, but Lindsey and the rest of the crafternooners know she’s not the one who took Olive out of circulation. As the plot thickens, Lindsey must catch the real killer before the book closes on Paula’s future.
Review:
A small seaside town library setting, characters to root for, and a truly vile murder victim come together to make an engaging, entertaining read in Death in the Stacks, the eighth entry in the Library Lover’s Mystery series.
Jenn McKinlay writes some of my favorite characters in the cozy mystery universe, books full of witty narratives and dangerous situations, all while maintaining the coziness one associates with the genre. Death in the Stacks finds our protagonist Lindsay, director of her small community library, busy with preparations for the library’s annual fund raiser and dealing with the board’s new president Olive Boyle. When Olive is found murdered among the stacks after publicly attacking Lindsay and library employee Paula, police chief Emma cannot help but make the two ladies her prime suspects. Initially, Lindsay, who has sworn off being an amateur sleuth, does not want to get involved with the investigation but quickly realizes that she must do something to remove suspicion. Olive was a power hungry, narcissist out to ruin just about everyone around her so it is no wonder that she made plenty of enemies along the way. Even her pack of “mean girl” friends are more frenemies than not. The more Lindsay looks into Olive’s life, the more motives she finds making uncovering the killer no easy task.
Fans of McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mysteries and Cupcake Bakery Mysteries will be delighted to see characters from these series pop up in Death in the Stacks. Their cameos work well in the context of the fund raising dinner, and I am especially pleased to get another glimpse into the lives of the Hat Shop crew beyond the end of their series. I hope they visit Briar Creek again someday. The story moves along at a brisk pace, and I had a hard time pinpointing the killer until the exciting climactic scene. The final reveal left me thinking that Olive got what she deserved, and, wow, what a conniving, manipulative witch she was. At this point in the series, recurring characters are well defined friends to readers yet they continue to be interesting and grow. The relationships are what keep me coming back for more. I truly wish that as a kid I had a children’s librarian as fabulous as Beth.
Death in the Stacks is a wonderful addition to the Library Lover’s Series, and I hope to have many more adventures with Lindsay and crew. Recommended.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Death in the Stacks
Library Lover’s Mystery, Book #8
By Jenn McKinlay
ISBN#9780399583759
Author’s website: www.Jennmckinlay.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Lindsey Norris and her staff are gearing up for the Briar Creek Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fund-raiser. The night of dinner and dancing is not only a booklover’s dream–it’s the library’s biggest moneymaker of the year. But instead of raising funds, the new library board president is busy raising a stink and making the staff miserable.
Although Olive Boyle acts like a storybook villain, Lindsey is determined to work with her and make the event a success. But when Olive publicly threatens the library’s newest hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks like an old book spine and throws Olive out of the library.
The night of the fund-raiser, Lindsey dreads another altercation with Olive–but instead finds Paula crouched over Olive’s dead body. Paula may have secrets, but Lindsey and the rest of the crafternooners know she’s not the one who took Olive out of circulation. As the plot thickens, Lindsey must catch the real killer before the book closes on Paula’s future.
Review:
A small seaside town library setting, characters to root for, and a truly vile murder victim come together to make an engaging, entertaining read in Death in the Stacks, the eighth entry in the Library Lover’s Mystery series.
Jenn McKinlay writes some of my favorite characters in the cozy mystery universe, books full of witty narratives and dangerous situations, all while maintaining the coziness one associates with the genre. Death in the Stacks finds our protagonist Lindsay, director of her small community library, busy with preparations for the library’s annual fund raiser and dealing with the board’s new president Olive Boyle. When Olive is found murdered among the stacks after publicly attacking Lindsay and library employee Paula, police chief Emma cannot help but make the two ladies her prime suspects. Initially, Lindsay, who has sworn off being an amateur sleuth, does not want to get involved with the investigation but quickly realizes that she must do something to remove suspicion. Olive was a power hungry, narcissist out to ruin just about everyone around her so it is no wonder that she made plenty of enemies along the way. Even her pack of “mean girl” friends are more frenemies than not. The more Lindsay looks into Olive’s life, the more motives she finds making uncovering the killer no easy task.
Fans of McKinlay’s Hat Shop Mysteries and Cupcake Bakery Mysteries will be delighted to see characters from these series pop up in Death in the Stacks. Their cameos work well in the context of the fund raising dinner, and I am especially pleased to get another glimpse into the lives of the Hat Shop crew beyond the end of their series. I hope they visit Briar Creek again someday. The story moves along at a brisk pace, and I had a hard time pinpointing the killer until the exciting climactic scene. The final reveal left me thinking that Olive got what she deserved, and, wow, what a conniving, manipulative witch she was. At this point in the series, recurring characters are well defined friends to readers yet they continue to be interesting and grow. The relationships are what keep me coming back for more. I truly wish that as a kid I had a children’s librarian as fabulous as Beth.
Death in the Stacks is a wonderful addition to the Library Lover’s Series, and I hope to have many more adventures with Lindsay and crew. Recommended.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
December 4, 2017
Librarian Lindsey Norris, director of the Briar Creek Public Library is enjoying her life. She has a handsome man in love with her, Captain Sully, and her dog, Heathcliff, and a job she adores. Lots of good friends and life is going as it should.
That is...until a new the library board elected a new president. Enter one Olive Boyle. The woman is acerbic and filled with vendettas. One, unfortunately is set against not only Lindsey, but her staff worker, Paula.
While planning for the annual fund raiser, Dinner in the Stacks, Olive makes her nasty side show. The dinner is a hit and we are introduced to two sets of sleuths from Ms. McKinlay's other murder mystery series. What fun to read. They were blended in beautifully...then after the affair, three of Olive's friends come looking for her. Unfortunately, Paula finds her dead among the stacks of books.
We know Lindsey has promised Sully no more investigations, but, this is about Paula being accused wrongly. Lindsey has to snoop. And, us readers are behind her all the way.
This was a clever mystery. Kept me turning pages until the ending. Good story and I am glad the other two groups will be joining the community. A Bravo of a tale.
That is...until a new the library board elected a new president. Enter one Olive Boyle. The woman is acerbic and filled with vendettas. One, unfortunately is set against not only Lindsey, but her staff worker, Paula.
While planning for the annual fund raiser, Dinner in the Stacks, Olive makes her nasty side show. The dinner is a hit and we are introduced to two sets of sleuths from Ms. McKinlay's other murder mystery series. What fun to read. They were blended in beautifully...then after the affair, three of Olive's friends come looking for her. Unfortunately, Paula finds her dead among the stacks of books.
We know Lindsey has promised Sully no more investigations, but, this is about Paula being accused wrongly. Lindsey has to snoop. And, us readers are behind her all the way.
This was a clever mystery. Kept me turning pages until the ending. Good story and I am glad the other two groups will be joining the community. A Bravo of a tale.
February 11, 2025
This is the first book I've read in this series, #8. Sounds like I need to go back and read the others., a lot of fun to read, and a lot of wiggles back and forth, until something else happens. Lindsey Norris is the main character, head librarian of the Briar Creek Library. They are preparing for the annual fundraiser, biggest of the year, and as it begins, it isn't long before Olive Boyle, new library board president, is really naughty, making the whole staff very afraid of her AND... miserable.
Even though she is acting like a stinker, Lindsey really tries to take the high road and make the event a success. Well, making matters worse, Olive publicly hollars at the library's most recent hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks under the pressure and decides to throw Olive, head first, right out of the library. Sully, Lindsey's new love interest works with her and they at first didn't want her working on crime cases any more. When there is no progress, their minds are changed and a small group of begin sleuthing the case. Lindsey is very good at this and she is able to start the ball rolling. I don't want to spoil the ending, so enjoy reading. It really is good. Recommend.
Even though she is acting like a stinker, Lindsey really tries to take the high road and make the event a success. Well, making matters worse, Olive publicly hollars at the library's most recent hire, Paula, Lindsey cracks under the pressure and decides to throw Olive, head first, right out of the library. Sully, Lindsey's new love interest works with her and they at first didn't want her working on crime cases any more. When there is no progress, their minds are changed and a small group of begin sleuthing the case. Lindsey is very good at this and she is able to start the ball rolling. I don't want to spoil the ending, so enjoy reading. It really is good. Recommend.
October 24, 2024
Jenn McKinlay has become one of two cosy mystery writers I'll read without a second thought, and while I've only read the first book in this particular series (several years ago, at that), it was easy to pick back up with Lindsay Norris and the enjoyable characters of Briar Creek and their enviable library programs. This book is not high literature, but it does have a breezy, fast-paced plot, fun dialogue and a truly horrific murder victim, and that's about all you can really ask for in a cosy mystery. As a fan of McKinlay's other mysteries, it was also amusing to realize that nearly the entire cast of regulars from both the Cupcake Bakery and the Hat Shop series managed to neatly insert themselves into this particular story - it was virtually a character convention via library fundraising gala. If this is your first foray into Briar Creek, I'm pretty sure you'll want to come back.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publishers, and it was my pleasure to review it.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the publishers, and it was my pleasure to review it.
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