Scan barcode
jmbibliolater's review against another edition
4.0
Special thanks to Minotaur Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
There comes a time as a reader where you enjoy a book simply because it is captivating and yet, cozy. Murder Off the Page by Con Lehane is this book for me.
Murder Off The Page is a good, old school mystery with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Every single one of the main characters are likable and relatable. The story is well written, enthralling and fast paced.
In between all of the mystery, there is a little romance and a little family drama mixed in which carries over from the other two books in the series. Do not let that deter you. Murder Off The Page can be read as a standalone. I found the romance and the drama actually adds to the layers of the story. It is not forced nor does it make the reader feel left out from NOT reading the other two books.
Recommendation: Read it. Murder Off The Page is a story of friendship, love, drama and a whole lot of mystery.
For more book reviews, visit www.jennifermitchellbooks.com
There comes a time as a reader where you enjoy a book simply because it is captivating and yet, cozy. Murder Off the Page by Con Lehane is this book for me.
Murder Off The Page is a good, old school mystery with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Every single one of the main characters are likable and relatable. The story is well written, enthralling and fast paced.
In between all of the mystery, there is a little romance and a little family drama mixed in which carries over from the other two books in the series. Do not let that deter you. Murder Off The Page can be read as a standalone. I found the romance and the drama actually adds to the layers of the story. It is not forced nor does it make the reader feel left out from NOT reading the other two books.
Recommendation: Read it. Murder Off The Page is a story of friendship, love, drama and a whole lot of mystery.
For more book reviews, visit www.jennifermitchellbooks.com
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Murder Off the Page is the third of the 42nd St. Library mysteries by Con Lehane. Released 19th Nov 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
The main protagonist isn't young, tough, or wisecracking. He's a mild mannered librarian with a melancholy background, entangled in a tense custody truce over his grandson with one of the boy's other grandparents. I loved that he wasn't a superhero. The characters are well written, with well plotted motivations and, in some cases, agendas. There's a lot going on: an estranged daughter from a fragile/neglect background whom he meets in the course of his job as a library curator, murder, a "lost weekend" type subplot involving a secondary character (McNulty the bartender) from the other books, a lesser known author whose papers have been donated to the library, and more. Despite so many subplots, the author handled the complex storyline well, and I never felt lost or confused. The murders are bloodless and off-scene. The denouement is tense and action filled and mostly satisfying.
One of the main characters in this book (McNulty) is also the protagonist in his own series of 3 books, making this book a tie-in/crossover. Though I haven't read the tie-in books, this book works well as a standalone. I had read the previous book in this (42nd St. Library) series, but it had been a while; so I effectively read it by itself.
The language in this book is rough (R rated), there's is potentially triggering discussion of sexual background and abuse/abandonment.
Four stars, entertaining, well written, and satisfying.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Murder Off the Page is the third of the 42nd St. Library mysteries by Con Lehane. Released 19th Nov 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
The main protagonist isn't young, tough, or wisecracking. He's a mild mannered librarian with a melancholy background, entangled in a tense custody truce over his grandson with one of the boy's other grandparents. I loved that he wasn't a superhero. The characters are well written, with well plotted motivations and, in some cases, agendas. There's a lot going on: an estranged daughter from a fragile/neglect background whom he meets in the course of his job as a library curator, murder, a "lost weekend" type subplot involving a secondary character (McNulty the bartender) from the other books, a lesser known author whose papers have been donated to the library, and more. Despite so many subplots, the author handled the complex storyline well, and I never felt lost or confused. The murders are bloodless and off-scene. The denouement is tense and action filled and mostly satisfying.
One of the main characters in this book (McNulty) is also the protagonist in his own series of 3 books, making this book a tie-in/crossover. Though I haven't read the tie-in books, this book works well as a standalone. I had read the previous book in this (42nd St. Library) series, but it had been a while; so I effectively read it by itself.
The language in this book is rough (R rated), there's is potentially triggering discussion of sexual background and abuse/abandonment.
Four stars, entertaining, well written, and satisfying.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
tmefoster's review against another edition
3.0
Murder Off the Page is the 3rd book in the 42nd Street Library Mystery series. Ray is curator of the NY Public Library's Crime Fiction Collection. He and Adele often ends up investigating crimes together as well as curating the collections for the Library.
I rated this book 3 stars. I was expecting a cozy mystery, and the later is true, but the coziness is not. The author was brilliant at twisting a tale of mystery, and is intensely knowledgeable on the subject. I couldn't put it down. I had to find out who and why. On the other hand, I finished the book not knowing much about the town they lived in and where they worked. I didn't feel like I knew Adelle or Amble very well.
The mystery itself was absolutely intriguing. I loved the psychology part that is buried deep into it. It actually hit close to home. I was definitely feeling sympathetic towards Shannon.
Shannon the researcher comes in to use the collection at the library but something is off about her. She is unsure how research is done properly at a library and should being an “author”, or is she? She spends days gathering information from two authors. Later she is seen in a bar very intoxicated, and very much an entirely different person. The Bartender takes her to her hotel and is right back.
From there a dead body is found and unraveling the mystery around Shannon begins, not to mention clearing the innocent of crimes they may or may not have committed. We won't know until the end, who is guilty, and who has just been simply wronged.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
I rated this book 3 stars. I was expecting a cozy mystery, and the later is true, but the coziness is not. The author was brilliant at twisting a tale of mystery, and is intensely knowledgeable on the subject. I couldn't put it down. I had to find out who and why. On the other hand, I finished the book not knowing much about the town they lived in and where they worked. I didn't feel like I knew Adelle or Amble very well.
The mystery itself was absolutely intriguing. I loved the psychology part that is buried deep into it. It actually hit close to home. I was definitely feeling sympathetic towards Shannon.
Shannon the researcher comes in to use the collection at the library but something is off about her. She is unsure how research is done properly at a library and should being an “author”, or is she? She spends days gathering information from two authors. Later she is seen in a bar very intoxicated, and very much an entirely different person. The Bartender takes her to her hotel and is right back.
From there a dead body is found and unraveling the mystery around Shannon begins, not to mention clearing the innocent of crimes they may or may not have committed. We won't know until the end, who is guilty, and who has just been simply wronged.
Thank you to Edelweiss for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.
mholles's review against another edition
4.0
I am running out to find the first two books in this series. I have to find out how Ray has ended up where he is in his life. Very interesting characters and views into living in New York City for regular people, and working for NY Public Library a large enough system to have such specialized archives. Ray is busy with his job, raising his grandson, trying to get his son released from prison, and having a crush on a colleague, but he still makes time to try to prove his friend is innocent of murder.
canada_matt's review against another edition
3.0
Call it 3.75 stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Con Lehane, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
In the latest novel of this series, Con Lehane spins another tale of a dedicated librarian who seems always to be in the line of fire when murder strikes. Raymond Ambler has been working hard within the 42 St branch of New York City’s Library. He remembers a patron coming in and spending hours reviewing a recently donated collection of writings and correspondence of a popular author. He also notices that she has made an appearance at the watering hole of library employees. Shannon Darling is completely different when plied with alcohol, turning into quite the seductress. Brian McNulty is not only a friend of Ambler’s, but also the bartender of this establishment and takes it upon himself to help get Darling back to her hotel room safely. When, a few days later, Ambler learns that his friend has disappeared, he cannot help but worry. McNulty soon reaches out and promises that he is safe, but needs to handle a few things. When the body of a man turns up dead in a hotel room, Darling’s face shows up on the security camera. McNulty admits that he was with her, but refuses to come out of hiding. Ambler begins trying to see if he can determine what’s going on and if the correspondence Darling was reading could have something to do with what is going on. Darling turns up dead and McNulty is the prime suspect, but this is only the beginning. Ambler must try to protect his friend from a likely murder charge while determining what truths he can uncover. Meanwhile, Ambler must juggle issues with his grandson that have come to the surface, as if he did not have enough to keep in order. A murderer is out there and these letters donated to the library could hold all the answers. Lehane does well to keep the series going, even if things got a little busy throughout. Recommended to those who enjoy Con Lehane’s work, particularly this series of library sleuthing.
I remember stumbling on this series when perusing NetGalley a few years ago. The premise was intriguing and the narrative kept me wanting to know a little more. Ray Ambler proves to be an interesting protagonist, keen to work hard at his job and always the unwitting amateur sleuth on a murder investigation. Ambler must worry, as his friend is in the crosshairs of the police for a set of murders that are wrapped in an elusive seat of journals. He must also work hard to balance work and home life, both of which seem to be on shaky ground. Other characters work diligently to complement Ambler throughout the piece, serving their roles effectively as the narrative gains momentum. The story was slightly hokey, but one can expect that when a bumbling librarian is placed in the middle of a murder investigation, much like a Jessica Fletcher character in the 1980s mystery programme. Lehane keeps the story moving effectively and entertains the reader while keeping the characters developing throughout. I’ll surely tune in for the next book, though admit that it is lighter fare in the mystery department.
Kudos, Mr. Lehane, for a decent third novel. I am eager to see where you take things, as you left a number of crumbs that could be followed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Con Lehane, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
In the latest novel of this series, Con Lehane spins another tale of a dedicated librarian who seems always to be in the line of fire when murder strikes. Raymond Ambler has been working hard within the 42 St branch of New York City’s Library. He remembers a patron coming in and spending hours reviewing a recently donated collection of writings and correspondence of a popular author. He also notices that she has made an appearance at the watering hole of library employees. Shannon Darling is completely different when plied with alcohol, turning into quite the seductress. Brian McNulty is not only a friend of Ambler’s, but also the bartender of this establishment and takes it upon himself to help get Darling back to her hotel room safely. When, a few days later, Ambler learns that his friend has disappeared, he cannot help but worry. McNulty soon reaches out and promises that he is safe, but needs to handle a few things. When the body of a man turns up dead in a hotel room, Darling’s face shows up on the security camera. McNulty admits that he was with her, but refuses to come out of hiding. Ambler begins trying to see if he can determine what’s going on and if the correspondence Darling was reading could have something to do with what is going on. Darling turns up dead and McNulty is the prime suspect, but this is only the beginning. Ambler must try to protect his friend from a likely murder charge while determining what truths he can uncover. Meanwhile, Ambler must juggle issues with his grandson that have come to the surface, as if he did not have enough to keep in order. A murderer is out there and these letters donated to the library could hold all the answers. Lehane does well to keep the series going, even if things got a little busy throughout. Recommended to those who enjoy Con Lehane’s work, particularly this series of library sleuthing.
I remember stumbling on this series when perusing NetGalley a few years ago. The premise was intriguing and the narrative kept me wanting to know a little more. Ray Ambler proves to be an interesting protagonist, keen to work hard at his job and always the unwitting amateur sleuth on a murder investigation. Ambler must worry, as his friend is in the crosshairs of the police for a set of murders that are wrapped in an elusive seat of journals. He must also work hard to balance work and home life, both of which seem to be on shaky ground. Other characters work diligently to complement Ambler throughout the piece, serving their roles effectively as the narrative gains momentum. The story was slightly hokey, but one can expect that when a bumbling librarian is placed in the middle of a murder investigation, much like a Jessica Fletcher character in the 1980s mystery programme. Lehane keeps the story moving effectively and entertains the reader while keeping the characters developing throughout. I’ll surely tune in for the next book, though admit that it is lighter fare in the mystery department.
Kudos, Mr. Lehane, for a decent third novel. I am eager to see where you take things, as you left a number of crumbs that could be followed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
becca_todaro's review against another edition
3.0
The story was a bit drawn out but the audiobook was terrible, the narrator kept changing his voice for the same character and he made every female sound hysterical almost to the point where I was tempted to DNF the book. I’m not sure if the book was meant to be read that way but I’m not sure I’ll read more in the series.
jill_rey's review against another edition
3.0
Reading successfully as a standalone, Con Lehane graces us with another in his 42nd Street Library Mystery series, “Murder Off the Page,” as we follow Raymond Ambler and detective Mike Cosgrove.
“Ambler sat for some time after Mike left, disturbed more than he’d let on by Mike’s suggestion that the 42nd Street Library’s crime fiction collection somehow begat murders, not only on the pages of its mystery novels but off the page as well.” – p. 26
There are many characters introduced within the folds of this page-turner. From bartender, Brian McNulty, to co-worker and crush, Adele, the characters are as quirky as the mystery within. Primarily reading from Ambler’s point of view, readers are offered some glimpses into Cosgrove and Adele’s head as well, as the team seeks to clear their friend’s name in a succession of murders.
Beginning with scenes from the bar and library, the author builds the suspense as he introduces us to the history of our cast. From someone that hasn’t read books one or two of this series, “Murder Off the Page” reads successfully as a standalone, but there is certainly some history readers miss by not reading books one or two – none of which seems to detract from the overall story. This “missing” history surrounds the entrance of Adele as Ambler’s crush, Ambler’s friendship with Cosgrove and even his previously absent grandson. This chronicle of characters is briefly explained and quickly incorporated into Lehane’s third book of Ambler’s murder mysteries.
Regardless, this read starts slow, building momentum as readers are introduced to new settings. About halfway through the book, those immersed in the pages start to find themselves simultaneously rooting for Ambler to solve the crime and clear his friend’s name, while also finding themselves angry for his “investigative decisions” despite his financial woes and lack of law enforcement expertise. Ambler certainly lacks the resources and expertise afforded to Cosgrove and his team, but his motivation for clearing his friend’s name and uncovering the truth does exceptionally well in driving his justice.
This cozy murder mystery houses an at times comedic entourage of intrigue, sophistication, and secrecy – a whodunnit classic. Fall into the story of Ambler and friends as you work to stay a step ahead of the real killer.
“Ambler sat for some time after Mike left, disturbed more than he’d let on by Mike’s suggestion that the 42nd Street Library’s crime fiction collection somehow begat murders, not only on the pages of its mystery novels but off the page as well.” – p. 26
There are many characters introduced within the folds of this page-turner. From bartender, Brian McNulty, to co-worker and crush, Adele, the characters are as quirky as the mystery within. Primarily reading from Ambler’s point of view, readers are offered some glimpses into Cosgrove and Adele’s head as well, as the team seeks to clear their friend’s name in a succession of murders.
Beginning with scenes from the bar and library, the author builds the suspense as he introduces us to the history of our cast. From someone that hasn’t read books one or two of this series, “Murder Off the Page” reads successfully as a standalone, but there is certainly some history readers miss by not reading books one or two – none of which seems to detract from the overall story. This “missing” history surrounds the entrance of Adele as Ambler’s crush, Ambler’s friendship with Cosgrove and even his previously absent grandson. This chronicle of characters is briefly explained and quickly incorporated into Lehane’s third book of Ambler’s murder mysteries.
Regardless, this read starts slow, building momentum as readers are introduced to new settings. About halfway through the book, those immersed in the pages start to find themselves simultaneously rooting for Ambler to solve the crime and clear his friend’s name, while also finding themselves angry for his “investigative decisions” despite his financial woes and lack of law enforcement expertise. Ambler certainly lacks the resources and expertise afforded to Cosgrove and his team, but his motivation for clearing his friend’s name and uncovering the truth does exceptionally well in driving his justice.
This cozy murder mystery houses an at times comedic entourage of intrigue, sophistication, and secrecy – a whodunnit classic. Fall into the story of Ambler and friends as you work to stay a step ahead of the real killer.
vkemp's review
3.0
Raymond Ambler works at the 42nd Street Library in New York. He drinks at a local bar where Brian McNulty works. One evening Raymond observes a woman drinking alone, surrounded by a group of men who are being quite aggressive. McNulty takes the woman back to her hotel and soon after a man is murdered and Sandra Darling and McNulty take off together. Mike Cosgrove, Raymond's police friend is convinced McNulty killed the man, but Raymond knows his friend better than that. Than Sandra is murdered and McNulty is the prime suspect, again. Raymond has to work to convince the police in both New York and Connecticut that McNulty is innocent. The best part of this series are the relationships: Raymond; Raymond's grandson; McNulty; Raymond's on-again-off-again girlfriend, not to mention his work associates. If you like series set in libraries, this is a good one to follow.
melissadeemcdaniel's review
3.0
My opinions of this book were definitely divided. Setting, story and mystery clue dropping all got high marks. Lehane plays fair with his clues, and leaves enough to keep the reader guessing, but doesn’t hide vital information. My issues were with the female characters who were all emotional and flighty and couldn’t seem to stop crying when they were frustrated. This decidedly dated treatment of women turned me off throughout the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
More...