It’s a sad day for librarian Nina Foster when she discovers her good friend, bookstore owner Wildeen Bergman, dead on her office floor. Worse yet, another friend, romance writer Zelma Duke, becomes the police’s prime suspect. Nina knows Wildeen had something on Zelma. Was it enough to warrant murder? Handsome Stephen Kraslow, owner of the local newspaper, joins forces with Nina to find out the … truth. The quest takes them on a dangerous journey of twists and turns before they reach the final outcome.
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Librarian Nina Foster cannot quiet her suspicions and theories when her hometown is shocked by murder. Nina’s concerns prompt her to get her nose out of the books and onto a hot trail of clues. Not so fast though — author Linda Hope Lee has some surprises in store for her protagonist cover to cover, as Nina discovers the dangers of researching Murder Between The Pages.
The town of Richmond, Wash., a suburb of Seattle, is home to Seaview Library. This idyllic place embraces all aspects of the arts and is a beautifully described setting right on Puget Sound. The literary community and its supporters are rocked by a murder in their midst. It’s truly a puzzler, and suspects are numerous. The reader has full access to all clues discovered, and information on the array of fascinating characters including their potential motives, opportunities, and means. Can the reader solve the mystery before the Librarian? Can the Librarian solve the mystery despite the life threatening dangers she faces?
The premise of a Librarian amateur sleuth is delightful. The library is a community center of activities and residents’ interactions. There’s much to be learned. Nina Foster has an interesting background, too, that often influences her choices and can result in self-imposed difficulties. She has a warm and wonderful relationship with her dear grandmother, who has a sparkling personality and among her many interests is a skilled pool player. Nina is also beginning a relationship with Stephen Kraslow, a widower who is a reporter newly moved to Richmond. They are combining forces on the investigation, to the chagrin of the police detective in charge. As Nina reviews her clues at hand with some frustration, Stephen is encouraging, “We’ll continue to keep our eyes and ears open. One thing I’ve learned in this business is that you can’t hurry the answers.” All is revealed in good time.
Author Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and mysteries. Also an artist, her skills working with watercolors, colored pencil, and pen and ink must have influenced the vibrant, detailed descriptions of settings and characters in her writing.
You can find more information about the author and her books at http://www.lindahopelee.com.
Librarian Nina Foster loves books and while at her friend Zelma’s book event, she overhears her other best friend, Wildeen, argue with Zelma. She thinks nothing of it at the time but the next day, Nina discovers Wildeen dead in her office. Could Zelma have killed Wildeen? Zelma’s the number one suspect and pleads with Nina to help figure out who murdered Wildeen.
In an effort to help her friend, Nina dons her amateur detective cap and starts investigating. She teams up with newspaper reporter Stephen. The more they investigate, the more suspects appear. As they work together, she develops feelings for Stephen which she tries to deny. A romance blooms but when it goes too far, Nina breaks it off. The closer she gets to the truth, the more danger she’s in. Can she solve the case before the murderer strikes again?
I love mysteries starring amateur detectives and this one takes on a very bookish setting. The backstabbing and jealousy between three friends in the book world is spot-on. While it’s a slow beginning, once the investigating begins, it moves at a quick pace. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of but I caught on. Lots of twists and turns plus the reveal of the murderer was unexpected. One downside for me is the formal dialogue. It seemed forced in some areas and not quite real. The setting of the Pacific Northwest, however, was brilliantly done. I felt transported back to my days when I was a bookseller.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery set in the Pacific Northwest, pick this up today. I look forward to reading the next Nina adventure.
My Rating: 4 stars