A review by booksrockcal
A Merry Little Murder Plot by Jenn McKinlay

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I have read only one of Jenn McKinlay’s library mysteries and I really enjoyed it. I had intended to read others but didn’t get around to it. I don’t like to read series books out of order and there are multiple books between the first one and this Christmas mystery that popped up on the LAPL’s list of Christmas cozies. Nevertheless I picked it up and I’m glad I did. It was the perfect book to accompany me through days 6-8 of Christmas. In this book the local library is sponsoring a writer in residence while also getting ready to celebrate christmas along with the rest of the seaside Connecticut town. The writer keeps to herself partly it appears to avoid a stalker who claims to be a fan but after she has been murdered turns out to be another writer who believes the writer in residence stole her ideas and her husband. The writer in residence becomes a suspect but then she as well as librarian Lindsey become targets.  The mystery kept me reading and I really enjoyed the subplot about book bans and the unlikeable people who promote them. A solid first mystery of the year. And a good holiday read (Christmas ends Jan 6 FYI)