Good Mystery: Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams

 I recently discovered cozy mystery writer Ellery Adams and enjoyed her book "Murder in the
Locked Library." It's one of 6 in a series called "A Book Retreat Mystery." When I looked up the author she has written books in 7 different series and standalone books, too. She's also an award-winning author.

I enjoyed this story very much. Storyton hall is a resort for people interested in books, and Jane is the proprietor. She has two young enthusiastic sons, and there are many employees who help her run the business. There are a number of characters in the book, but they don't distract from the plot of finding a skeleton buried with a book on the property. That mystery and the ancient death ties into a current death at the Rare Book Conference being held at Storyton. Getting to know the characters was a little slow in the beginning but once the author got into the mysterious findings, the book was pretty captivating. It ended with another mystery, so I'll be looking for the next in the series. - Rob

ABOUT THE BOOK: Welcome to Storyton Hall, Virginia, where book lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the singular comforts of the Agatha Christie Tea Room, where they can discuss the merits of their favorite authors no matter how deadly the topic . . .

 
With her twins, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, back in school, Jane Steward can finally focus on her work again—managing Storyton Hall, and breaking ground on the resort’s latest attraction: a luxurious, relaxing spa named in honor of Walt Whitman. But when the earth is dug up to start laying the spa’s foundation, something else comes to the surface—a collection of unusual bones and the ragged remnants of a very old book. The attendees of the Rare Book Conference are eager to assist Jane with this unexpected historical mystery—until a visitor meets an untimely end in the Henry James Library. As the questions—and suspects—start stacking up, Jane will have to uncover a killer before more unhappy endings ensue . . .
 

Here are the other books in this series: 

BOOK RETREAT MYSTERY Series:

Main Character: Jane Stewart, Storyton Hall Book Resort Manager, Virginia

1. Murder in the Mystery Suite    ’14
2. Murder in the Paperback Parlor    ’15
3. Murder in the Secret Garden    ’16
4. Murder in the Locked Library    ’18
5. Murder in the Reading Room    ’19
6. Murder in the Storybook Cottage   ’20

Good Book: "Third Man Out" A Donald Strachey Mystery

   I   recently finished reading a mystery from 1992 about a gay detective. The book "Third Man Out" by Richard Stevenson is about Detective Donald Stracey who investigates a mystery tied to an extremist-activist who exposes people "in the closet" because he thinks that gay people who don't come out in their professions do a "dis-service" to society by not showing gay people have good jobs. 
  When there is are two attempts on his life, Detective Strachey is roped into helping him. It leads to a bunch of suspects from the activist's files. Some still closeted, some out and one mystery man. When you think the story is over, it's not. Well done! 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Which powerful mystery man killed the gay activist for outing him? In Third Man Out, tough-as-nails gay private investigator Don Strachey investigates the murder of a self-righteous Queer Nation activist who may have been killed for outing prominent closeted gay homophobes.

Enjoyable New Mystery Paw Enforcement by Diane Kelly

I recently enjoyed a new mystery book called "Paw Enforcement" by Diane Kelly.
 Our friend Merri shared the book with us, and it was really enjoyable. The lead character, Megan is a rookie police officer who after tasering her arrogant, sexist male partner in the privates was assigned a police dog named Brigit. Megan, Brigit and a bomber that they're trying to catch called "the Rattler" each get their own chapters throughout the book. 
  Megan, Brigit, and a couple of other characters are well-developed, while there are other supporting characters that play a part.The story moves along at a good pace and you don't realize how much you've read. It's really enjoyable and has a good ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series called "Paw and Order."