Fans of Jane Austen will rejoice at the third Little Library mystery from Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, In Want of a Knife. When they investigate a string of disappearances of young girls, will Jenny Weston and Zoe Zola be dispatched with extreme pride and prejudice?Amateur sleuth and little librarian Jenny Wilson is set on edge when the police discover a young girl’s body, dressed in an old-fashioned … girl’s body, dressed in an old-fashioned white lace dress, just outside Bear Falls. And when another local girl from town disappears soon after, Jenny and her next-door neighbor, author and little person Zoe Zola, know they have to help the beleaguered police chief.
But first, Jenny and Zoe have new neighbors to meet: A trio of wealthy newcomers from Chicago has just moved into a huge mansion on Lake Michigan. Nathan and Delia Wickley are genial siblings, and Fitzwilliam Dillon, the mansion’s owner, is a Little Person like Zoe. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a rich gentleman seeking to ingratiate himself to his new neighbors will spread a bit of largesse around, and Fitzwilliam is no exception: He has offered two million dollars to Bear Falls. But the townspeople are far from agreed on what to do with the money—and the deliberations are far from peaceful.
But it’ll all come to naught if the missing girl isn’t found, and the culprit identified. And when she ventures alone to a mysterious structure in the woods, Zoe may not live to resolve her romantic dilemmas. Though neither Jenny nor Zoe is particularly placid or even-tempered, love and danger beckon them in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s third endearing Little Library Mystery, In Want of a Knife.
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In Want of a Knife by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is a cozy mystery that was quite good, but a little dark for your typical cozy, not to mention a little suggestive. The opening few chapters are some of the best introduction to characters I have ever read. There were a lot of characters and the peripheral ones were difficult to keep straight.
A teenage girl is discovered dead on the side of the road. There are no clues. She dies of asphyxiation but there are no signs of strangulation and carbon dioxide doesn’t’ stay in the body for long so is untraceable. Zoë, the famous author, and Jenny, her next-door neighbors are out to investigate when they hear that another teenage girl (Camille) has disappeared. To complicate matters, a new and wealthy neighbor has moved into town and want their input on how a two million dollar donation would best serve the citizens and has asked specifically for Zoe to come to the introduction “tea.” Zoe is racing against time before Camille ends up dead at the side of the road, too.
Lots of interaction between characters-not all of it good. A little romance, not too much. A well-plotted story makes this an enjoyable read. I recommend it for those who are not too squeamish or have claustrophobia.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Last month, In Want of a Knife, the 3rd book in the “A Little Library Mystery” series written by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, was available to read and review through a cozy mystery group I belong to. I was excited to try it because she was a new author to me and it involved libraries. I picked up the novel earlier this week and finished it over the course of two days. I normally prefer to read books in order but my October reads were too hefty to add in the two earlier books in the series.
The cover and setting are adorable. One of the main characters is a little person, which made for a different and positive read. The concept of the library is wonderful, and since it takes place in Michigan, where a few good friends live, it felt like a book I might really enjoy. Overall, I did like the story and the general writing style, but I struggled with the characters and the point of view.
The backstory and current mystery were strong. I clearly understood the plight of the victims and the reason for the murders (not that I agreed with it of course – bad people!). I suspected a couple of folks but ultimately knew where it was going given how some of the story played out. It still kept me interested and offered a few surprises near the end. Reading a few chapters from the victim before anything else happened was a nice treat I don’t often see in this sub-genre. Although, I’m not exactly sure it falls into the ‘cozy’ sub-genre as it had a few heavier aspects to it.
Another new style for me was the changing POV and perspective of the characters both within a chapter and from chapter to chapter. That’s not typical for a cozy. It works normally in thrillers or suspense novels, but because it jumped around a lot, I couldn’t quite latch on to a character which is normally something I really like in a cozy. The characters were also a little too standoffish / at arms-length-away for me. At times, we connected, but in general, they weren’t people I was familiar with and they didn’t seem to be a very warm and inviting group. Unfortunately, it made that part of the book a bit of a difficult read.
All that said, the author is a good writer. She weaves a good plot and has wonderful descriptions, pacing, and tone. I am going to check out more reviews of this book and the others in the series before I decide to read the rest. I want to be sure the book series is a good match for my reading style. Sometimes it’s a good book but doesn’t workout well for certain readers. Given that, I think it falls around a 3.5 for me, but I rounded up for stars. I hope others enjoy it.
In Want of a Knife is the third installment in author Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli’s “A Little Library Mystery” series. As with the other 2 books, this one is a bit different than your normal cozy. It has some darker edges, writing style is different, and things just seem to be a bit more uncozy. While I do enjoy the difference, some cozy readers may not. The author’s writing is very intriguing and portrays the danger and mystery in spectacular fashion. The inclusion of a main character that is a little person and now another little person, brings something special to these books, inclusion. I love little libraries and am so happy they are highlighted in this series.
Bear Falls, Michigan is hit with a tragedy as this book begins. A young girl’s body is found on the side of the road. Most likely an accidental hit and run is the first thought. She is dressed oddly though, an old fashioned white lace dress. What was she doing on the road dressed like that. Jenny Wilson who is the towns little librarian, is distressed and are most by this finding. Things really get tense when another girl disappears. Could the crimes be related? What could it mean? Jenny enlists her little person neighbor Zoe Zola to help find answers and help the police. Can this latest girl be found before it is too late?
The arrival of new town citizens throws a wrench in the ladies’ investigation. A wealthy man, who happens to also be a little person arrives with friends and wants to donate 2 million dollars to the town and wants them to figure out how to use it. The ladies are forced to go pay homage in order to make sure things go smoothly. The missing girl needs to come first, so the ladies head out to do more to find her and bring her home before it is too late. Trekking through woods is hard for anyone, but especially difficult for little person Zoe. It does not stop her and they hunt to find Cammie, clues and anything they can to get answers.
Author Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli does some extraordinary things in her books. She spotlights people who some may describe as handicapped. They are strong and capable in their own ways and as a reader I love how they play parts in each mystery. Her mystery in this book and the other two are intriguing and thought provoking. Yes some things are easier to figure out, but the journey makes it worth the read. If you have not read the other two books in this entertaining series you may find some disconnect with the characters and the playing field, but you will still enjoy the read. Definitely a page turner that kept me curious to find the answers to all the questions and intrigue.
I was given a copy by the author, however the opinion is mine and not influenced at all by the receipt of the book.
This is the third book in the series but my first book. Zoe Zola is a unique protagonist for a cozy mystery. She is intelligent, independent, and strong-willed. Zoe is not the only interesting character in this book Jenny and the other residents of Bear Falls are entertaining and full of personality. The mysteries are engaging and well-paced to keep the reader involved in the story until the end.
I recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers. I plan on check out other books in this series. I was given an ARC of this book in hopes I would supply a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
This is my first foray into the Little Library Mysteries! I enjoyed meeting the characters, and as the story within these pages can be a stand alone mystery, I wonder if I might not have appreciated some of the quirks of the characters a bit more if I had met them in the two earlier mysteries in this series. I felt as if I didn’t know the characters as well as I should have jumping into this story and believe maybe the proclivities of their lives and relationships with each other may have been described in more detail earlier on.
In spite of my feelings, I feel like this was a very well developed story line and I enjoyed reading this so much, I finished it in one sitting. This story involves the discovery of a dead young girl on the side of the road, dressed in a older style, white gown. As soon as she is discovered, another young girl goes missing. While the town is in distress about the missing young girl, vowing to find her and find who has committed these unthinkable crimes, a new resident moves into town touting a very large donation to the community for one agreed upon community project. Zoe, the local amateur sleuth, joins forces with Jenny, a special neighbor who maintains the little library set up in her front yard, in the neighborhood, to solve this latest mystery. The mystery has you turning the pages until the end, even though you know Camille, this missing girl, is alive, you just aren’t sure for how much longer. As you turn around every corner, you’re also not sure who you can trust in town.
I definitely recommend this story if you’re looking for a well thought out entertaining read. There is a few instances of language that some may find unnecessary, but not enough to deter me from the story. Fans of Jane Austen will enjoy the quotes woven into the story. I look forward to catching up with Zoe and the other community members in the earlier entries into this series.
In Want of a Knife by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is the third book in the Little Library Mysteries and was a complex mystery.
This time Dora and Jenny Weston and Zoe Zola have to juggle meeting with the rich new neighbors from Chicago who want to provide a $2,000,000.00 grant to their new hometown and the death of a teenage girl and the disappearance of another teenage girl. Are the two girls connected or is their more going on in Bear Falls than Dora, Jenny and Zoe know. The plot is smoothly paced with twists and very few suspects as they investigate. I quite enjoyed reading the thoughts of the missing teenage girl as it highlighted her strange circumstances. The clues actually led me to the correct conclusion before the reveal. All in all this was an interesting mystery that included some humor from Zoe and a psychological thriller twist.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the Cozy Mystery Review Crew. All of the above opinions are my own.
A body of a girl dressed in old-fashioned laced dressing is found dead on the side of the road and less than 24 hours another girl is missing. Are the two cases related? Has Cammy been kidnapped or did she witness something and is in hiding? The local police are searching for the missing girl, but time is of the essence for they fear there might be a serial killer on the loose.
While all that is going on, a wealthy man and his friends have arrived from Chicago. Fitzwilliam Dillion wants to donate 2 million to the town and Dora, Jenny, and Zoe somehow get invited to be part of the welcoming committee. The reception doesn’t go very well and the ladies would much rather spend their time searching for the missing girl than make friends with the horrible town newbies.
What I enjoyed most about this book is that the writer has written in a little person as a heroine to the story and also includes individuals with special needs in a wonderful light. The missing girl Cammie has been defined as slow, but you soon find out that her uniqueness makes her an extraordinary individual that is liked by all. Instead of panicking in her situation, you find that she has great strength, understanding, resourcefulness, and it is the love of her mother that keeps her strong.
The book itself is the third in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. There are a strong story and plotline with lots of twists and turns including a very surprise ending. I enjoyed the book immensely and will be going back to read the previous 2 books in the series and cannot wait for the next in the ongoing Little Library mysteries.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Dora’s daughter Jenny and famous author, Zoe team up in this story after one young girl is found dead on the side of the road and another girl goes missing. The police are doing a huge search and as soon as the amateur sleuths meet their new neighbors they will join the search and meet with the girl’s mother and her friend to see if they can get more insight as to where the girl may have gone.
The new neighbors, wealthy people from Chicago, are not very well received. The owner of the new mansion on the lake, Fitzwilliam Dillon, is a Little Person like Zoe and treats her horribly. His two friends aren’t much better, but this group is offering the town two million dollars to invest in something that all residents will benefit from, so the Zoe and the rest of the greeting committee try to bite their tongues until they leave the mansion. Dora agrees to take on Fitz and his friends while Jenny and Zoe do all they can to save the girl who is missing.
Little Librarian Dora takes a bit of a backseat in this story. Jenny and Zoe shine as the trek through the woods searching for any clue that may lead them to the missing girl. They think her friend may have information but he is out of town with his father. The police want all the help they can get and encourage Jenny and Zoe to reach out to this young man as soon as he gets home. I missed the way Jenny and Dora worked together, but really enjoyed the way Zoe cast everything aside, okay, she really doesn’t like the topic of her new book, but she really stepped up this time especially when she has to take 2 steps to everyone else’s 1 and traveling through that woods was hard. The author did an excellent job of making me feel like I was there every step of the way.
Readers were also treated to a complex mystery. First, they had to decide if and how the two teenagers were connected and that wasn’t easy. Suspects were determined by the result. Truthfully the whole thing came down to Zoe and Jenny’s determination that the woods was key. The story is broken into eight parts. I love this author’s writing style. The story had a slow build, each section got a little more intense. By the time I reached Part 8, my heart was beating fast and I could not read the pages fast enough. Like in the last book a psychological element is brought to light as the mystery is solved.
The subplot of Zoe’s book brought the necessary humor to the story. Her take Pride and Prejudice and the women Jane Austen had created crack me up time and time again. I agreed with her but I do enjoy the escape I get when reading an Austen book.
Jenny’s romantic life is in flux in this book but by the end, things take a turn. No spoilers, you have to read the book.
This is another wonderful book from Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli. Her lead characters are genuine and women whose lives I have become invested in. Each stop to Bear Falls has been very interesting and entertaining. I am excited for more books in this series.
Wow. I finished this book an hour ago and I’m still having a book hangover from it. Far from your average cozy, this was an excellent suspense novel. Although plenty of breadcrumbs were left for you to be able to figure out the mystery, there was just as much that blind-sided you.
With realistic characters who continued to develop and a beautiful town, it was very easy to get sucked in to this world. As a parent of 2 kids much like those portrayed in the story, I could easily see how someone whose brain was wired just a bit differently could be such an easy target and that definitely upped the suspense for me. There were times my heart actually hurt for the parents and the kids both.
I love that there is so much diversity among the town’s population. You could find just about every person in your own community if you looked and that made for a truly wonderful experience.
Thank you to Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me the chance to read such a fantastic story and share my thoughts and opinions with others.