A Most Curious Murder:
A Little Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Setting – Michigan
Crooked Lane Books (July 12, 2016)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1629536064
E-Book ASIN: B01H082F02
Jenny Weston moves home to Bear Falls, Michigan, to nurse her bruised ego back to health after a bitter divorce. But the idyllic vision of her charming hometown crumbles when her mother’s Little Library is destroyed.
The next-door neighbor, Zoe Zola, a little person and Lewis Carroll enthusiast, suspects local curmudgeon Adam Cane, but when he’s found dead in Zoe’s fairy garden, all roads lead back to her. Jenny, however, believes Zoe is innocent, so the two women team up to find the true culprit, investigating the richest family in Bear Falls, interrogating a few odd townspeople, and delving into long, hidden transgressions–until Adam Cane isn’t the only body in town, and they have an even bigger mystery to solve.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This story was an absolute treasure.
Jenny Weston reeling from an awful divorce arrived back home in Bear Falls to find her mother’s Little Library has been chopped to bits and books have have been ripped apart. The Little Library was built by Jenny’s dad for his librarian wife because little Bear Falls doesn’t have a public library and she wanted to share her joy of reading. He built it to look like just like their home and put it up shortly before he was killed in a car accident.
The first person Jenny meets is Zoe Zola who she finds lamenting about the Little Library’s destruction. Zoe just happens to be an author herself, a Lewis Carroll enthusiast, and a little person, who takes a bit of getting used to. She thinks she knows who did the dastardly deed but when the man is found dead and Zoe becomes the prime suspect, all thoughts turn to proving her innocence. Things continue to roll out of control as another man is found murdered and so many more questions arise.
I started reading this book and could not put it down. I loved the uniqueness of Zoe. She may be of small stature but she has a huge heart and a very uplifting point of view and special way of thinking. Jenny’s mom has a good friend in Zoe and as the book continued Jenny and she were quickly becoming “almost friends”.
I enjoyed the small town setting and the way the residents pulled together to help Jenny’s mother, Dora, replace her loss. It was interesting the Jenny reconnecting with high school friends she really didn’t want to and found her life was better having left town when she did. She also meets someone new in town that just may help her start to heal her aching heart.
The drama was multifaceted as well. The main plot and subplots blended perfectly. They are complex, curious, and at times comical.
The best part of the whole thing was the author’s writing style. At times I felt like we were going down the rabbit hole ourselves and it was such a fun adventure. Words, words, words, suitcase words, words that need to be unpacked and understood and that would lead you to the answers you seek or they could lead you nowhere, but totally entertaining.
Loved, Loved, Loved, this story!! It is fresh and different! Alice in Wonderland fans, this is a book for you!
About The Author
Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli (aka Elizabeth Lee) is a Michigan based novelist whose 12th book is due out in 2016. She teaches fiction writing at Northern Michigan College and has written for the NORTHERN EXPRESS, the ROMEO OBSERVER, the DETROIT NEWS, and the RECORD-EAGLE. She is a member of the Author’s Guild, International Association of crime Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers’ of America, Michigan Writers, and Detroit Working Writers and has three mystery series out, or about to be published.
In the Emily Kincaid series her novel DEAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN
Written as Elizabeth Lee
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher on NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for such an enticing review! I definitely want to read this cozy.
This book sounds adorable! I can’t wait to read it!
A wonderful review, Lori. And such a fun story.