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Megan Clark #1
Murder in Volume
When a member of the Murder by the Yard--a mystery-lovers' book group--is found murdered, the other members become prime suspects and launch an investigation to clear their names, only to realize that this crime is part of a deadly trend
241 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
D.R. Meredith
33 books31 followers(from Fantastic Fiction online)
D.R. Meredith, Doris to friends and family, has a split personality--by day, she is a conservatively dressed legal secretary at her husband Mike's law firm. By night she turns into Mrs. Hyde dressed in jeans, flip-flops, and Texas Rangers tee shirt, and commits bloody murder.
She is now in double digits. In her fourth book in the Megan Clark mystery series, the 18th book of her career, D.R. Meredith has just committed her 35th murder.
"I usually average 2 murders a book, because one murder in a closed circle of suspects usually leads to another in the accepted Agatha Christie fashion. In TOME OF DEATH there are two murders, but they occur 150 years apart. I like linking the past and present and exploring the effect our past has on our present. I can't tell how I use the past without giving a broad hint to the killer's identity, but I will say that human beings don't change over time except in dress and customs. My Comanche warrior amateur sleuth isn't all that different in emotional feelings from modern paleopathologist Megan Clark, except Megan isn't into scalping."
D.R. Meredith, Doris to friends and family, has a split personality--by day, she is a conservatively dressed legal secretary at her husband Mike's law firm. By night she turns into Mrs. Hyde dressed in jeans, flip-flops, and Texas Rangers tee shirt, and commits bloody murder.
She is now in double digits. In her fourth book in the Megan Clark mystery series, the 18th book of her career, D.R. Meredith has just committed her 35th murder.
"I usually average 2 murders a book, because one murder in a closed circle of suspects usually leads to another in the accepted Agatha Christie fashion. In TOME OF DEATH there are two murders, but they occur 150 years apart. I like linking the past and present and exploring the effect our past has on our present. I can't tell how I use the past without giving a broad hint to the killer's identity, but I will say that human beings don't change over time except in dress and customs. My Comanche warrior amateur sleuth isn't all that different in emotional feelings from modern paleopathologist Megan Clark, except Megan isn't into scalping."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 28, 2013
I am stunned by the mostly poor ratings this book got. It's the first book in a series. I was in a used bookstore and they had several carts full of paperbacks for 50 cents each. I bought this book and book #2 and believe me, it was one of the best half dollars I ever spent! The series features Megan Clark, who has a PhD in Forensic Anthropology and Paleopathology (think Dr. Temperence Brennan), as the protagonist. She's looks like a cute little red-head but has a fiery personality. And she works as a reference librarian with a big love of mysteries. The book is written mostly in first person by her best friend, Ryan, but there are some chapters that are just about Megan in the third person view. Perhaps it is a little strange that her best friend is the 45 year-old father of her childhood friend. She doesn't think of him as a fatherly figure but it's obvious that he would like to think of her as more than just a friend. He's sort of wimpy.
Megan persuades Ryan to join a mystery readers discussion group at a used book store. I wanted to join this group too! It sounded like so much fun. Soon strange things begin to happen, including the murder of a group member, and when Megan becomes the prime suspect, she rallies the group to solve the crime. I did guess who was the murderer and the motive partway through the book but it was still a great read! I'll be looking for more of this series after I read book #2.
Megan persuades Ryan to join a mystery readers discussion group at a used book store. I wanted to join this group too! It sounded like so much fun. Soon strange things begin to happen, including the murder of a group member, and when Megan becomes the prime suspect, she rallies the group to solve the crime. I did guess who was the murderer and the motive partway through the book but it was still a great read! I'll be looking for more of this series after I read book #2.
May 3, 2022
Ok I found this cute (with lots of books, and cookies!) - I like the writing and may read the next one in the series. But it really annoyed me that Megan and Officer Carr are constantly described as VERY intelligent and sharp, (she is even compared to Poirot, Holmes, Miss Marple etc) - but Megan fails to see ANY of the extremely obvious clues presented to her early on in the story. So she is actually - when it comes to detective'ing - somewhat dense...
But that *is* a pet peeve of mine - especially in mystery books and fantasy. So if it's not one of yours, give this cozy mystery a try. (and I still love the cover.)
But that *is* a pet peeve of mine - especially in mystery books and fantasy. So if it's not one of yours, give this cozy mystery a try. (and I still love the cover.)
August 28, 2021
One of my favorite all time series
June 13, 2024
I figured out the solution, but that did not decrease my enjoyment of this mystery at all. Looking forward to reading all installments!
September 28, 2015
I have to say, it was really cool to read a book set in my hometown (thanks reading challenge!). So many "Oh, I've been there!" "I know where that is!" just made for a new reading experience.
As for the mystery itself, not too bad. I may dig up the second one since there were a few loose ends not quite tied up.
Reading Challenge: #43 - set in your hometown.
As for the mystery itself, not too bad. I may dig up the second one since there were a few loose ends not quite tied up.
Reading Challenge: #43 - set in your hometown.
August 16, 2021
Whoever said book clubs are harmless never attended the one Megan Clark leads. She’s a fictional reference librarian in Amarillo with a doctorate in paleopathology. She lets you know that throughout this book, too, which is one of my several complaints, but I digress.
Megan facilitates the mystery book club hosted by Agnes at the Time and Again used bookstore. The group is made up of an eclectic bunch of characters from a graduate student whose fond of fondling the knee of her fellow club member and professor at the college she attends. There’s the extremely obese writer who funnels double handfuls of cookies or other book club refreshments into her mouth. Then, there’s Ryan. He’s Megan’s friend—a 45-year-old guy who has the hots for Megan, who is in her mid-20s and whose best friend is Ryan’s daughter. Can you say creepy? At least in this book, Megan doesn’t seem to reciprocate that weirdness in this first book, focusing instead on a cop more her age.
Agnes’s bookstore takes in a lot of used books, some of them more valuable than others. When a book club member dies at the hands of a killer, Megan realizes she’s not the first customer of the store to die violently in recent months.
Sadly, you’ll figure this out pretty early, and there’s some debate with me as to whether I’ll continue to read the series, but I suspect I’ll give it one more book.
Megan facilitates the mystery book club hosted by Agnes at the Time and Again used bookstore. The group is made up of an eclectic bunch of characters from a graduate student whose fond of fondling the knee of her fellow club member and professor at the college she attends. There’s the extremely obese writer who funnels double handfuls of cookies or other book club refreshments into her mouth. Then, there’s Ryan. He’s Megan’s friend—a 45-year-old guy who has the hots for Megan, who is in her mid-20s and whose best friend is Ryan’s daughter. Can you say creepy? At least in this book, Megan doesn’t seem to reciprocate that weirdness in this first book, focusing instead on a cop more her age.
Agnes’s bookstore takes in a lot of used books, some of them more valuable than others. When a book club member dies at the hands of a killer, Megan realizes she’s not the first customer of the store to die violently in recent months.
Sadly, you’ll figure this out pretty early, and there’s some debate with me as to whether I’ll continue to read the series, but I suspect I’ll give it one more book.
July 26, 2018
I wasn't sure about this book once I added to my Currently Reading shelf because it had a lower than average rating on Goodreads. However, it was fine. Some of the dialogue actually made me laugh, so that was a pleasant surprise.
I figured out the motive for the murders in the prologue and the murderer by page 80, but it was still interesting enough to keep reading. Also, I read a book that used a very similar device last week, so I may have been primed to see the motive.
I'm not entirely sure how well I liked the alternating narrators, but it wasn't too distracting. I liked it well enough to read the second in the series, which I already have.
What I most enjoyed was the bookstore and the idea of the book club. Agnes may have been my favorite character.
I figured out the motive for the murders in the prologue and the murderer by page 80, but it was still interesting enough to keep reading. Also, I read a book that used a very similar device last week, so I may have been primed to see the motive.
I'm not entirely sure how well I liked the alternating narrators, but it wasn't too distracting. I liked it well enough to read the second in the series, which I already have.
What I most enjoyed was the bookstore and the idea of the book club. Agnes may have been my favorite character.
February 4, 2017
I enjoyed it but a number of things were reiterated over and over and over. Yes, she's smart, yes, people think she's cute, yes, she's brilliant but working as a librarian sort of slumming it. If it wasn't for these repetitions, I'd have enjoyed the plot more. The secondary cast was good, but her friend/potential sweetheart creeped me out a bit. Yes, he seemed nice, BUT if it's your daughter's childhood friend of your daughters, stop it right now. Don't care how good you get along, everyone (YOUR DAUGHTER) will be creeped out. If the age difference had been less or she wasn't the daughter's friend, this would have worked much better.
December 28, 2019
Although there seem to be lots of mixed reviews, i did enjoy this book enough to continue on with the series. I liked all the minor characters from the book club. Megan got on my nerves a bit--she kept talking about how cute she is, and how smart she is. Don't tell me, show me! And quit pseudo-complaining while at the same time bragging.... But I did like the mystery story line, and all the references to well-known mystery authors. I also liked the change of POV. Overall, an enjoyable, if predictable, cozy mystery.
January 24, 2021
The mystery lovers group -- Murder by the Yard -- is a cast of delightful eccentric characters who find themselves involved in a real-life murder. They discuss mysteries and their authors with a authority -- including an analysis of the meaning of Miss Marple's knitting needles! -- making this an informative, as well as entertaining cozy-read. It's 4 star book which I upped to 5 because it had me laughing out-loud.
April 12, 2023
This was absolutely the worst book that I have read so far this year. The dialogue does not fit the characters at all. So is Megan really a vampish airhead, or is she the intelligent person that it took to complete a PhD? And shame on the old man that is having dirty thoughts about his daughter's friend.
August 23, 2023
Maybe I would have liked it more if I hadn’t already read Charlaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarden series… she did the true crime solving/mystery loving librarian better, in my opinion.
I bought the first 2 books for 10 cents a piece, I’ll read the second one and give up if they keep up the gross age gap relationship. It’s weird and unnecessary.
I bought the first 2 books for 10 cents a piece, I’ll read the second one and give up if they keep up the gross age gap relationship. It’s weird and unnecessary.
December 5, 2025
Light book with some interesting characters. Megan and Ryan, the two main characters spend a lot of time running around solving the murder, but they both have jobs. Not sure when they did them. I was able to figure out the murderer and motive fairly early in the book - just had to tie up some loose ends by reading the book. I'll not continue with this series.
May 17, 2018
One main character in the story did not read mysteries and knew nothing about any of the most famous authors and the other spent far too much time talking about mystery books. The solution was more farce than anything else.
However, the story was interesting enough to keep this reader engaged.
However, the story was interesting enough to keep this reader engaged.
April 19, 2019
Found at a thrift store while traveling and thought it might be an easy, cozy mystery. Cozy was accurate but easy,no. Author was not succinct and took a long time to get to the point. Should have put it down but did want to find out who did it. Reminder to check star ratings and stick to 3.5+.
July 21, 2019
A reference librarian with a doctorate in paleopathology as the amateur sleuth, aided by members of a murder mystery book club that meets in a used book store by Route 66 in Amarillo Texas - what's not to like? This is another cozy series I hope to read more of!!!
March 11, 2021
Loved the book. The editing was HORRIBLE!
I would have given this book 5 stars. However., the book lost its flow with all the errors. The words were spelled right just not the right word for the situation. And many left out words!
I would have given this book 5 stars. However., the book lost its flow with all the errors. The words were spelled right just not the right word for the situation. And many left out words!
December 7, 2022
Easy read, but I figured out who and why before I was halfway through. I wondered if Megan was autistic because she reminded me of Dr. Brennan in the TV show 'Bones'. She was always so sure that she was right and the only one that knew what was going on just like Bones.
October 13, 2025
Gave up and DNF this one halfway through. It was a struggle comprehending who was speaking, as the point of view changed every chapter - sometimes Megan, sometimes Ryan, sometimes a third person. Confusing.
March 11, 2019
Meh. Reasonably good as a stand alone, but I'm not going to bother with the series. The premise is just too weak to sustain more than maybe 2 books.
May 16, 2020
Lovers of murder mysteries will love the references. Couldn't guess the ending!
January 28, 2022
This has potential as a series. However, I knew who the murderer was going to be before the first warm body was found.
December 30, 2024
quite readable even if the murderer and motive were evident to me very early on. fun but very thin. one and done for me on this series.
August 16, 2025
Truly one of the worst mysteries I have ever read. Bad writing, unbelievable characters, bizarre social commentary, and an absolutely obvious solution. Ugh.
September 27, 2016
Murder in Volume is the 3rd Megan Clark mystery I have read and it is wonderful. As it is the first of her series I suspect Ms. Meredith worked hard, maybe harder than usual, introducing us to her characters. Megan Clark is wonderful. She is Smart, holding PHDs in paleopathology and anthropology, short, cute (a conditions she holds in considerable disdain), and I may add "feisty." Ryan Stevens, her next door neighbor, widower, professor of American history, Megan's best friend's father, and now, indeed Megan's best friend. Finally, almost as an individual, the members of the Murder by the Yard mystery reading club.
Ms. Meredith opens Murder in Volume after a description of a section of Amarillo along the old Route 66 in such a way as to make it feel like a small town. I mention this because I have recently been able to define a genera which I call my favorite: Stories that take place is small town filled with quirky people with a feisty female protagonist; hence my addition of feisty to Megan's list of characteristics. Oh, don't be fooled that I artificially added the characteristic. Feisty is just not listed explicitly in Ms. Meredith's description, but you will find her that way throughout the book.
I won't go into any detail of the plot here. In short there are two murders, two thefts, and a bludgeoning. Megan finds herself suspected as the murderer my police detective Jerry Carr, an ex'boyfriend. From there is gets complicated and interesting.
I am leading a discussion in my murder mystery book club for,Murder by the Book, and found an observation here that I think is important for any discussion, so I will mention it. There is a discussion about literary masterpieces and the number of times that the word masterpiece finds its way onto front and back covers of paperbacks and the inverse relationship between the advertising hype and the quality of the product. I see this so obviously in newspaper adds for movies: The bigger the add, the poorer the movie. But I digress.
Top of page 205: "I don't know how many times I have read that an author has written a masterpiece, when he's really only written a mediocre story. The more hype on the cover, the less likely the book is to tell an interesting story. I wish some writers would understand that a dedicated reader wants a good story first, and a masterpiece second." Bye the way, the word "masterpiece" appears nowhere on the cover of Murder in Volume.
Something in this book that I find interesting is the point of view, or perhaps I should say the points of view, in which it is written. Ms. Meredith alternates between two: that of Megan and of Ryan, with an occasional disinterested third party thrown in for good measure. This sort of thing used to confuse me, but I now find it very enjoyable. If you choose to read this series, you may want to listen to at least one of the books. It adds a something special that I feel would be difficult to do with a single POV.
I suspect Murder in Volume will not be judged a masterpiece. It is simply a good story, with interesting people acting out a plot complete with whit, charm, suspense, and providing a few hours of pure enjoyment.
I unreservedly recommend this book.
Ms. Meredith opens Murder in Volume after a description of a section of Amarillo along the old Route 66 in such a way as to make it feel like a small town. I mention this because I have recently been able to define a genera which I call my favorite: Stories that take place is small town filled with quirky people with a feisty female protagonist; hence my addition of feisty to Megan's list of characteristics. Oh, don't be fooled that I artificially added the characteristic. Feisty is just not listed explicitly in Ms. Meredith's description, but you will find her that way throughout the book.
I won't go into any detail of the plot here. In short there are two murders, two thefts, and a bludgeoning. Megan finds herself suspected as the murderer my police detective Jerry Carr, an ex'boyfriend. From there is gets complicated and interesting.
I am leading a discussion in my murder mystery book club for,Murder by the Book, and found an observation here that I think is important for any discussion, so I will mention it. There is a discussion about literary masterpieces and the number of times that the word masterpiece finds its way onto front and back covers of paperbacks and the inverse relationship between the advertising hype and the quality of the product. I see this so obviously in newspaper adds for movies: The bigger the add, the poorer the movie. But I digress.
Top of page 205: "I don't know how many times I have read that an author has written a masterpiece, when he's really only written a mediocre story. The more hype on the cover, the less likely the book is to tell an interesting story. I wish some writers would understand that a dedicated reader wants a good story first, and a masterpiece second." Bye the way, the word "masterpiece" appears nowhere on the cover of Murder in Volume.
Something in this book that I find interesting is the point of view, or perhaps I should say the points of view, in which it is written. Ms. Meredith alternates between two: that of Megan and of Ryan, with an occasional disinterested third party thrown in for good measure. This sort of thing used to confuse me, but I now find it very enjoyable. If you choose to read this series, you may want to listen to at least one of the books. It adds a something special that I feel would be difficult to do with a single POV.
I suspect Murder in Volume will not be judged a masterpiece. It is simply a good story, with interesting people acting out a plot complete with whit, charm, suspense, and providing a few hours of pure enjoyment.
I unreservedly recommend this book.
June 14, 2024
The actual puzzle of who the murderer was and why was easy. There's an eye witness account obfuscated somewhat by his extreme youth that still contains an accurate physical description of one of the suspects. Knowing later what that suspect does for a living makes the motive blatantly obvious. Despite all that, I did enjoy the book and the puzzle solving.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2024/com...
December 22, 2016
Perfect book for the murder mystery reader - there was so much name-dropping and title references to classic as well as obscure mysteries to make the head spin. Clever way to interweave solving a murder in Amarillo, TX. Decent character development, not a lot of geographic discourse. A fun an quick read.
July 4, 2014
Murder in Volume was this month’s read for the Cozy Mystery Corner Mystery Group on Goodreads. There is a plethora of book/library/bookstore themed cozies and many of them are among my favorite cozy series. This is an book one of a 5 book series. The protagonist is Megan Clark, a librarian and frustrated paleopathologist. She has a sidekick history professor, Ryan, who is much older than her, and in fact is the father of her childhood friends. She drags Ryan along on all of her adventures. It is on one of these new activities, a book club, that Megan and Ryan stumble on a body and are embroiled in the mystery.
The point of view switches back and forth throughout the book. It is in this switching that we learn that Ryan is having romantic feelings towards Megan, seemingly unrequited as Megan is dating someone else. The mystery includes references to other mystery series, similar to Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand series. Part of these are understandable as discussion in the mystery book club meetings.
I did not connect with Megan Clark as a protagonist, she seemed arrogant and takes herself and her paleopathology degree far too seriously, even though it seems like it is not an employable degree. I also didn’t like the developing romance with Ryan at all, not being able to stop wondering what his kids would think of it.
I don’t think this is a series I will continue with, especially when there are so many other very good book themed cozies.
The point of view switches back and forth throughout the book. It is in this switching that we learn that Ryan is having romantic feelings towards Megan, seemingly unrequited as Megan is dating someone else. The mystery includes references to other mystery series, similar to Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand series. Part of these are understandable as discussion in the mystery book club meetings.
I did not connect with Megan Clark as a protagonist, she seemed arrogant and takes herself and her paleopathology degree far too seriously, even though it seems like it is not an employable degree. I also didn’t like the developing romance with Ryan at all, not being able to stop wondering what his kids would think of it.
I don’t think this is a series I will continue with, especially when there are so many other very good book themed cozies.
February 8, 2015
One of many not very convincing cozy mysteries. It's too bad that I have to read through my personal equivalent of a slush pile (of already published books) to find a few gems.
The perspective in the book switches from third person in one chapter to first person in the next and then back to third person. It's very disconcerting. The narrator in the first person chapters is a friend (and potential romantic interest) of the main character. He doesn't support what she is doing, doesn't believe that she can solve the mystery, pooh-poohs her ideas, and then comes along with her anyhow.
The mystery is set with the murder of a member of a mystery book club which meets at the local used book store. The group alternates between agreeing that none of them could have done it and then discussing everyone's alibis or potential motive. It left me thinking "Don't you remember this character saying 'It couldn't have been a book club member'? Because now the same character is checking all the book club member's, asking who owns a knife."
I did like the ultimate reveal of motive (I had guessed who the murderer was, but not the reason), but if I hadn't been reading this as part of a challenge I probably wouldn't have finished it.
The perspective in the book switches from third person in one chapter to first person in the next and then back to third person. It's very disconcerting. The narrator in the first person chapters is a friend (and potential romantic interest) of the main character. He doesn't support what she is doing, doesn't believe that she can solve the mystery, pooh-poohs her ideas, and then comes along with her anyhow.
The mystery is set with the murder of a member of a mystery book club which meets at the local used book store. The group alternates between agreeing that none of them could have done it and then discussing everyone's alibis or potential motive. It left me thinking "Don't you remember this character saying 'It couldn't have been a book club member'? Because now the same character is checking all the book club member's, asking who owns a knife."
I did like the ultimate reveal of motive (I had guessed who the murderer was, but not the reason), but if I hadn't been reading this as part of a challenge I probably wouldn't have finished it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews