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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
The mystery was solid. If it had stuck to that, I would easily have rated this 5 stars. Unfortunately, the large doses of romance and all the fawning by an unwanted suitor dragged it down. To be fair, romance is not my cup of tea. Since every cozy mystery nowadays seems to have an obligatory romance in it, I've learned to not mind those bits. The romantic parts in this just felt overdone. They might be OK for a romance novel, but they were too much for something marketed as a mystery. I wish publishers would market novels like this as mystery/romance hybrids instead of as cozy mysteries for those of us who don't care for that sort of thing.
I listened to the audio version. The voice actress did a good job for the most part, but had a tendency to leave just a little too much space in between what a character said and the words "he/she said." I would not have knocked it down a star for that, but it was distracting.
I listened to the audio version. The voice actress did a good job for the most part, but had a tendency to leave just a little too much space in between what a character said and the words "he/she said." I would not have knocked it down a star for that, but it was distracting.
Love the series but...
I love the series, look forward to the new one each year, but isn't it time for an end? The romance is wrapped up, everyone is paired off, let it go.
I love the series, look forward to the new one each year, but isn't it time for an end? The romance is wrapped up, everyone is paired off, let it go.
Just ok. A library book is returned on a fine amnesty day and that leads to a cold case murder. It's fairly straightforward but didn't really excite. Also, the abuse of the word "buttinsky" got very old, very quickly. At least the romance finally moved forward.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my favorite of the author's series -- less uneven than the cupcake series, and a bit better at the descriptions of interpersonal relationships. In this adventure, library director Lindsay decides to have a fine free day. It succeeds beyond her wildest dreams and her head clerk's worst nightmares, but neither of them expect to find a clue to a 20 year old murder in the bookdrop.
Made me laugh aloud in parts, and there are a few unexpected twists. And it's a nice town to visit.
Made me laugh aloud in parts, and there are a few unexpected twists. And it's a nice town to visit.
2.5 rounded up
It's a cozy mystery with some "romance" of who-will-get-the-girl? and drawn out which person will use the "l" word first?
A continuation of the characters from the previous books puts Lindsey, the Briar Creek head librarian turned snoop, on the trail of a 20-year-old murder when a copy of The Catcher in the Rye is returned. The body of a beloved English teacher had been found under the bleachers at the high school and one of the last things she had done was to check out a copy of the book. When Lindsey hosts "Amnesty Day" the book mysteriously reappears, sending Lindsey
Lots of additional trite descriptions made this one a "skim and scan" for me.
It's a cozy mystery with some "romance" of who-will-get-the-girl? and drawn out which person will use the "l" word first?
A continuation of the characters from the previous books puts Lindsey, the Briar Creek head librarian turned snoop, on the trail of a 20-year-old murder when a copy of The Catcher in the Rye is returned. The body of a beloved English teacher had been found under the bleachers at the high school and one of the last things she had done was to check out a copy of the book. When Lindsey hosts "Amnesty Day" the book mysteriously reappears, sending Lindsey
Lots of additional trite descriptions made this one a "skim and scan" for me.
Yes, I love books in which people are atrocious to one another, reality bends the human psyche into unrecognizable shapes, and monsters of supernatural and mundane varieties wreak havoc. But even I need a gentle read sometimes, a book that lets me imagine that I'm a librarian in an idyllic coastal town, pedaling around on my bike and solving murders.
Better Late Than Never gets high marks from me because...
1. Although the library setting is somewhat idealized--no one's harassing the staff or hiding drugs in the ceiling vents or jamming paper towels down the toilets--McKinlay's experience as a librarian shows. Nothing takes me out of a book with a library setting like the author being out of touch with the ethics of librarianship or how libraries operate. That's not something I have to worry about here.
But perhaps more importantly:
2. The annoying love triangle that made me drop the series for awhile is finally resolved!
3. And the secondary character I decided was a lesbian just because I liked her turned out to actually be a lesbian!
More than enough to convince me to continue the series, at least for as long as I need the mental vacation.
Better Late Than Never gets high marks from me because...
1. Although the library setting is somewhat idealized--no one's harassing the staff or hiding drugs in the ceiling vents or jamming paper towels down the toilets--McKinlay's experience as a librarian shows. Nothing takes me out of a book with a library setting like the author being out of touch with the ethics of librarianship or how libraries operate. That's not something I have to worry about here.
But perhaps more importantly:
2. The annoying love triangle that made me drop the series for awhile is finally resolved!
3. And the secondary character I decided was a lesbian just because I liked her turned out to actually be a lesbian!
More than enough to convince me to continue the series, at least for as long as I need the mental vacation.
I was selected to be given an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this book. I have not read the others in the series but the way things were introduced it was okay as a standalone. The story was slow to build (in a good way since its a whodunit mystery!) and the ending came fast (again, a good thing!). Easy light read but kept you interested in the end!
I really liked this book. I have not read the others in the series but the way things were introduced it was okay as a standalone. The story was slow to build (in a good way since its a whodunit mystery!) and the ending came fast (again, a good thing!). Easy light read but kept you interested in the end!
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Why did she say the word "buttinsky" so many times?
Interesting plot but definitely not written well.
Interesting plot but definitely not written well.
An intriguing cold case mystery with some great twists. I love this series, and it was fun to return to it with this novel! Plus, the relationship subplot was very satisfying. :)
If you haven't read the previous books, you don't need to in order to enjoy this one; but really, the setting, characters, and mysteries are all engaging and well-thought out, so why not read the other books too? ;D
If you haven't read the previous books, you don't need to in order to enjoy this one; but really, the setting, characters, and mysteries are all engaging and well-thought out, so why not read the other books too? ;D