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A review by gabberjaws
Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
No, I was not kidding when I said I needed the sequel as soon as I finished The Body in The Garden, and I am pleased to announce that this book did I what I was hoping it would and built upon the foundations set in book 1.
Silence in the Library was as charming and cozy as its predecessor, if not more. The mystery was a little more complex (but not overly so, it's still a cozy mystery after all). The clues were still spaced out incredibly well, no aha moments and information were withheld, and we continued to learn things as the characters did.
What pleased me the most about this book was that Lily's personality was a little more developed this time. I loathe her father and he's a character I'd rather not see for few books, but watching Lily navigate her strained relationship with him gave her a touch of humanness that she was missing in the first book. It was also really lovely to see that she was even less infallible in this book than she was in The Body in The Garden. Her sympathies and own experiences clouded her judgement quite a few times, and she required the guidance and insights of her friends (yes, Captain Hartley and Ofelia are back) to solve this case properly. You love to see it.
Schellmen's push for diversity in this regency series has not gone unnoticed by me. She did not stop at having POC peppered into the cast, but introduces characters who are on the spectrum in this book. And I personally think she handled it very respectfully and delicately, especially with presenting Autism during a time where it wasn't very well understood. As always, don't take my word for it; please listen to Autistic People when they talk about the portrayal of Autistic characters.
But yeah, I think this is a series I'll definitely be happy to stick with. It's not overly demanding, it's engaging, it's comforting, and it's a pleasure to read. What's not to like?
Silence in the Library was as charming and cozy as its predecessor, if not more. The mystery was a little more complex (but not overly so, it's still a cozy mystery after all). The clues were still spaced out incredibly well, no aha moments and information were withheld, and we continued to learn things as the characters did.
What pleased me the most about this book was that Lily's personality was a little more developed this time. I loathe her father and he's a character I'd rather not see for few books, but watching Lily navigate her strained relationship with him gave her a touch of humanness that she was missing in the first book. It was also really lovely to see that she was even less infallible in this book than she was in The Body in The Garden. Her sympathies and own experiences clouded her judgement quite a few times, and she required the guidance and insights of her friends (yes, Captain Hartley and Ofelia are back) to solve this case properly. You love to see it.
Schellmen's push for diversity in this regency series has not gone unnoticed by me. She did not stop at having POC peppered into the cast, but introduces characters who are on the spectrum in this book. And I personally think she handled it very respectfully and delicately, especially with presenting Autism during a time where it wasn't very well understood. As always, don't take my word for it; please listen to Autistic People when they talk about the portrayal of Autistic characters.
But yeah, I think this is a series I'll definitely be happy to stick with. It's not overly demanding, it's engaging, it's comforting, and it's a pleasure to read. What's not to like?