Borrowed Time

The Village Library Mysteries #3

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Sometimes a weekend trip is stressful, especially if you're on borrowed time.

Fall is beautiful in the small mountain village of Whitby, North Carolina. The leaves are changing color on the mountainsides, the sky is a bright blue, and the air is crisp. Librarian Ann Beckett's friend and coworker, Luna, has persuaded her to take a break from the library and attend a house party on the lake with her.

The modest house Ann was expecting is more of a mansion with amazing mountain and lake views and an indoor swimming pool. The other guests initially seem fun, but as time passes, tensions grow. When one of the guests is later found murdered in the pool, Ann works through the puzzle since now someone else is on borrowed time.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2020

About the author

Author also writes under Elizabeth Craig

Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. Find out more about her books and sign up for her newsletter on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com . Find her books on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list...

Reviews

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series. This particular book had several errors and typos. At one point referring to a character by a different name! These errors pulled me out of the story again and again.
Another issue I had was that Burton, the police chief, was virtually absent in this tale. Ann and Luna were solving the case but not reporting their findings to Burton.
I guessed incorrectly who the killer was. The reveal was a bit of a surprise for me. Maybe you’ll do better than I did.
I do enjoy Fitz in these stories.🐈📚

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery with Fitz!

I love this series! A keep you guessing mystery, smart amateur sleuth, a library as a backdrop, loyal friends and a library cat who is adorable! I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a cliffhanger to find out the murderer! I loved it!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series! Book 3 was just as entertaining as the first two.

This is a cozy mystery series, and it has all the things a cozy reader likes about the genre and none of the things that tend to annoy me about the genre, so this has quickly become a series I want to continue reading.

Aside from the normal cozy components, I love that this is set in and around a small-town library. Getting to know more about how a library runs, the fun things about it - like the varied patrons and the many reasons people might spend time at the library - and some of the challenges is something I especially enjoy about this series. Libraries are one of my favourite places, so reading books set in them are like comfort food for the soul.

I love Ann as our main character. She is an intelligent, capable and likable character, and she does NOT do the really foolish things that many cozy main characters to that puts them in danger. This author is very clever in how she puts Ann in danger without making Ann the one responsible.

The plots in each of the books I've read have been very well-conceived, interesting and engaging. Each book has also had very exciting and dramatic resolutions that had me on the edge of my seat. This book was no exception.

Everything about this series is well-done and entertaining, and I look forward to continuing to read it and working my way through all the books.

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, this cosy mystery rocks two murders, and loads of mysterious goings-on. It all works out nicely in the end. Even Mona, Luna’s mom makes a date with Wilson and Ann seems to be attracting her crush, Grayson. Best of all, the library has multiple projects blossoming—all featuring that great orange ad white kitty, Fitz. Love Fitz!

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another light and easy cozy read in this series. I enjoy these quick easy reads. The mystery of this one was good and I liked the side stories with Linus, Mona and Wilson. Really enjoyed this one!

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but then again I have enjoyed all the book in this series so far. This time round the author shakes things up by taking our are amateur sleuth librarian out of her comfort zone and having her attend a house party. This was fun and not just because this is where the murder takes place but we are introduced to some new characters and suspects. There is also a new character at the library of the furry kind, who is going to be a fun addition. Don't worry Ann is soon back in her familiar setting of solving murders and working in the library. I normally wish an author would stick to the mystery side of the plot and not worry about home life drama but that is not the case with this series and I enjoy reading about the running of the library. The author gets the balance right, which makes for an entertaining and enjoyable listen. The mystery was good with a number of suspects. I had guessed the motive behind the murder and who was partly responsible. Off to start the next book.

When Luna and Ann both get time off from the library, Luna talks Ann into joining her at a house warming party. An old friend Grace has returned back to the area and want to reconnect with friends by having a party. Despite not knowing anyone Ann thinks it might be fun and agrees. Little did she know the bubbling tension between the friends would leave one of them dead before the night is over. Back at the library the director is over the moon with a charitable donation and is willing to grant the donor any request, even letting Ann and Luna leave for lunch. Giving them the perfect opportunity to investigate the murder. When another murder happens, one closer to home, it seems the killer isn't finished. Can Ann find the motive for the killings?
I like the narrator and am glad she is the narrator of choice for this series.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Canuck Mom of Three · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this story. It was witty, funny, entertaining and intelligent. It is written in the first person, which I thought would not appeal to me at first, but the author makes it work perfectly. The characters here seem real, and I like that they are not all rich and beautiful people (as in some other cozy mysteries I have read). Above all, I really liked the voice of the protagonist here, Ann the librarian, an introvert who sounds like someone I could be friends with, and her sardonic yet smart take on life. Her character made this book worth reading from page one through to the end, and carried me through some of the less well done parts. The plotting was also well done with nice red herrings and a surprising twist at the end.

The only negative though: I've never seen a book with such bad editing. This was more than just a few typos (though there were those). At one point, the book (clearly accidentally) slipped into third person and referred to the protagonist as Ann rather than as I. Obviously, an earlier draft of this book must have been in the third person and this part escaped the subsequent changes. In another part of the book, one of the characters is suddenly referred to by a different name! Clearly also a leftover from an earlier draft. I'm surprised that such sloppy editing went unnoticed, but there it was.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very glad I have almost this entire series on my TBR bookshelf because I'm binge reading this series! I love it when I come across a cozy series that I enjoy so much that I have a hard time putting the books down. I'm currently on a staycation from work, so this is like perfect timing all the way around!

I like the main character, Librarian Ann Beckett. She is smart, a talented librarian, and a savvy amateur investigator. Her research and people skills from her career as a librarian make her a perfect amateur sleuth. I also enjoy the side characters, especially Fitz the Library Cat.

Borrowed Time in the 3rd book in the Village Library Mystery series. This time, Ann gets invited to a fancy weekend party by a coworker. Things go south when one guest just seems to go out of his way to make everyone angry....and then ends up dead. A second murder follows.....leading Ann to believe the motivation behind the killings is much darker than a simple impulsive act of passion.

The plot kept my attention from start to finish. The story has plenty of investigation, twists and surprises. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing, although I did know one character was involved somehow pretty quickly. But, I wasn't quite for sure until the final reveal. This 3rd book also has some nice character development for some of the regulars in this series. It will be interesting to see how things unfold!!

I closed book 3 after reading the final sentence.....and immediately pulled Book 4 off the shelf to read. The binge continues!!

[Mella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Beckett is slightly horrified to find she's been invited to a housewarming for a recently returned resident, Grace Armstrong. Mainly because she also finds out fellow librarian, Luna has accepted the invitation on her behalf and it's only two days away. But some time away from the library sounds good and the weekend goes well until once again Ann stumbles into murder.

Like the first two, this was a fun relaxing mystery with a cosy cast of characters. Burton doesn't make much of an appearance this time, but Luna, Winston, Fitz and Mona all make appearances and I really liked Luna's cousin Roz and weekend hostess, Grace. I actually really hope that Grace becomes a regular, I mean she didn't exactly kill anyone. Just kind of let someone drown without helping. I mean she was sixteen and it could be argued she was in shock. So I hope that gets resolved.

There was a touch more romance in this one. Winston and Mona take a step further towards a relationship and it was cute having them dance around each other. Grayson and Ann also spend more time with each other but I didn't really like that. The spark between them is non existent.

I liked the parallels to Agatha Christie's, And Then There Were None. The murder mystery was a bit murky but I enjoyed Ann's usual low key sleuthing and the revelation of the guilty party. I was pretty shocked by Roz! I really liked her. I didn't see her death coming at all. But I guess it made sense.

The library takes a slight backseat in this one which was a bit disappointing. There was no Ask Fitz column which sucked. I really liked that in the second book. And I also would've liked to actually see what the book reccs for Fitz's Faves or whatever it was called as well. I'm a book lover. I love a good booklist and I feel it was a missed opportunity.

Still, even without a booklist it was an enjoyable mystery with a fun cast of characters. 3 stars.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun library cozy mystery with friends and Fitz the.cat

Borrowed Time is the 3rd book in The Village Library Mysteries series. It is an enjoyable book with likable characters. Ann Beckett works at the Whitby, NC library along with her friend Luna and their boss Wilson. Luna is invited to a.weekend house party and Ann is included. There are only 6 others there including Luna's cousin Roz and they all were friends in school. During the weekend festivities tensions grow and there are a few arguments between the other guests. When one of them ends up dead, the.weekend is over. I like that they all leave and it isn't the usual locked door scenario. Ann runs into the suspects at the library and around town. There are only 5 real suspects but of course Ann needs to figure out the motive. Being a.librarian she is good at research. Ann is becoming friends.with Grayson and she is helping.him with articles for his newspaper. I expected him to show up on her doorstep every time there is news but so far that isn't the.case. It keeps the.book interesting. #BorrowedTime #TheVillageLibraryMysteries #ElizabethSpannCraig

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a gentler murder mystery, this is your a cup of tea! I like the author’s writing style as it’s so easy to just sink into the story and the characters.

The mystery itself was very intriguing. A different setting away from the library which I liked. A new group of characters to figure out who did it! It held my interest.

Also some of the same characters who have been in the previous two books return. Luna is growing on me as Ann’s coworker. There’s a bit of a romance possibly budding between Luna’s mother and the head librarian!

There are a variety of interesting patrons which I enjoy reading about. And a mix of animals. Introducing a new female stray dog who has a nice part connecting with one of the library patrons. Nice to see the little bits of life circulating around the murder mystery.

[Mary Tufts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Love books that get involved with characterization, plot, and descriptive surroundings. This book made me get interested in my library all over again. I loved the way the characters were developed, especially since they involved a cat because I have two of them. The plot was not too complicated that I had to make a detailed spreadsheet to follow it. Some books you have to make charts just to keep the characters straight. This was not the case with this book. This book is well worth your time in sitting down in a cozy chair and enjoying a mini vacation in between the Front and back cover.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann, Fitz and the rest of the library gang is back. This time Luna convinces Ann to come with her to a party of old friends, hosted by a wealthy woman who has recently returned to their small town. As you would expect murders happen and Ann gets involved. Nearly everyone at the party was extremely drunk and tensions grew. As the mystery unfolds, we learn that this group had many secrets and used those secrets to hurt each other. It was inevitable that someone who get murdered. But who had the greatest secret to guard which would give them motive for murder?

[David Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I found the writer's style relaxing,along the book a very enjoyable read. If you enjoy the Lillian Jackson Braun "Cat who ..." books you might enjoy this book as well.

The story is a simple murder mystery but there are some interesting characters and enjoyable interpersonal interactions.

This book is part of a series and the author has other series as well, about which I know nothing but they might be worth trying.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2 stars.
This is the 3rd book in Craig's cozy mystery series, "The Village Library Mysteries". I had the wrong person pegged as the murderer so there was an element of surprise for me when the real murderer was disclosed. I loved the "aha" moment!
Library patron, Linus, had more of a presence in this book, and he was an interesting character.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good series and at least in this book no one tried to hook up Ann on another blind date. But Luna takes her to a party to unwind - lots of food and it is relaxing but we know its not going to stay that way.....a dead body and when you are reading this you will know who is going to get the ax!
Enjoyable book

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. This is my first time reading this author. I was really impressed with her writing style. It was light and breezy if that makes sense. Characters were fun, well developed and quite interesting. The plot and storyline were well done but it was easy to figure out whodunnit. Highly recommend.

[Coca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Still a cute series.

Village librarians are invited to a house warming party for the friend of a friend and mysterious shenanigans ensue.

These are cute, light hearted, and involved a cat and a library.

The characters aren't very complicated, and the plots don't feel too deep.

They can really hit the right spot in stressful times, though.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3

Love the whole library setting. Ann is one of the librarians who works at the library as a media expert. There are a couple of murders and of course a cat in the library. Ann investigates when things don't add up. Several false leads and suspects.

[patricia sonoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3

Very good third book in the Village Library Mysteries . As with the other two books there are enough twist and turns to keep you interested in the plot. I highly recommend!!!!

[Laurel D Gerig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read

The author has a way of writing murder mysteries that pull me in. I like her characters. Although I have to admit I'm beginning to think living in the small village of Whitby is akin to having Jessica Fletcher as your neighbor!

[Carol Eidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy Catlady loves the Village Library Mysteries

I can't wait to read the next book of the Library Mysteries! Being a cat person who loves books I couldn't find a more adorable as series!0

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann managed to escape from the library for a weekend, but still managed to find a dead body. New and familiar characters come in and out of the familiar library setting. Fortunately Ann didn't suffer through another blind date mishap.

[Susan A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good enjoyable mystery

When several friends from high school,get together, a secret emerges and is the catalyst for two murders. The librarians and their friends are on the case. Love Fitz the cat as well as all the library patrons who make up a great cast of characters.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyable

Even with two murders (never described so no grizzly details) it is such an enjoyable read. I’m certainly going to continue with this series. Characters are so well developed and described that you think you know them. A good cozy!

[K S Robeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this easy-to-read series with relatable and likable characters. The author took a little too much time revealing the killer and, as others have noted, there were a couple of typos that were disruptive. But otherwise, this series is great.

[Cheryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series of cozy library characters with Fitz the library cat and perhaps a visiting library dog Ivy.
Two murders may be intertwined and proceeding from a cold case. I will say the chapter headings were in order but mislabeled so ignore them.

[Darvionne J Givhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors! Well written cozy mystery and once again, I was wrong about whodunit!