The Library Murders, by Merryn Allingham

 

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Publication Feb. 20, 2024

1958. A year of change for many, including Flora and Jack. Elvis is joining the army and the top song on the charts is "All I Have to Do Is Dream". Being involved in a murder mystery conference wasn't on either Flora or Jack's pre-wedding must-do list but, well, there they are. Oddly enough, Jack, a known mystery author, isn't involved, but is lending a hand as needed. Flora is busy with the sales booth outside the conference speaker's room selling books. They're making the best of the situation, even as murder intrudes.

I've really come to enjoy my time in Abbeymead with Flora and Jack. Flora maintains her independent streak, of course, and is late getting to the conference after deciding to drop off a gift to Maud, a friend running the book mobile at the conference. Unfortunately, she finds her old friend dead. Standing near her, with a bloody book in hand, is another old friend, this time from her college days. A rare and valuable copy of a book Maud was proudly showing off is missing. Jack arrives to see what's keeping Flora and notifies the police. And, that's where the story really begins. 

I've come to like both Flora and Jack although, go figure, it took me longer to warm up to Flora than Jack. That may be due to Jack's steadfast devotion and support as well as the fact Flora seems to have mellowed a bit since finding some answers to her own family mysteries. They alternate narratives at times, so we get a first-hand look at what each is thinking and experiencing as the story progresses. Flora has a bit more to discover about family secrets, btw, though you're just going to have to read the book to find out what those secrets are. Why is she keeping it a secret from Jack, though? Will it cause a rift between them this close to the wedding? 

As for the murder, there are plenty of suspects and viable red herrings. Maud didn't seem the type to have enemies but, well, that book was quite valuable. Could the money problems of the conference organizer have lead him to commit murder to steal the book? Or, uh-oh, how about Flora's temporary book store help? She was late that morning and came from the wrong direction, after all. And, there's that mysterious package. Did it contain the book? And, just to complicate things, why a second murder? Are the murders related? Did someone at the conference snap and commit murder? Will Flora or Jack....oh, never mind. Enough teasers. Read the book. You'll enjoy the characters and historical time setting. I mean, Jack's telephone is still a novelty and Flora rides her trusty bicycle everywhere, a sign of simpler times. Thanks #NetGalley and #Bookouture for letting me have this sneak peek back into the times of Flora and Jack.