BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING by Jenn McKinlay

Publisher:    Berkley

Published:   July 5, 2011

ISBN:     978-0425242186

Genre:    Cozy Mystery

Format:  Print    

Obtained via:  Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Gina@loveromancesandmorereviews.com

FOUR HEARTS

Despite still being relatively new to her job at the Briar Creek library, Lindsey Norris has already made friends and become part of the community.  Of course, she’s also made a few “not-so-friends”—those folks who still think the old ways of doing things should still be the way things are done.  Those are the folks you are never, ever, going to make happy…but then again, as Lindsey might find out, maybe, just maybe, they might be the answer to a problem or two. 

When a well-known agent comes to town Lindsey is thrilled that her long time friend, Beth, just might have a chance to get a read on the children’s book she’s been writing.  But when the agent, Sydney, comes to town, she is shocked and dismayed to learn not that Sydney is her boyfriend, Rick’s agent, but that there is already a plan to publish Beth’s book—by Rick!  Things turn down right ugly when Beth goes to confront Rick about his plagiarizing her book—she finds someone else has already confronted him and he’s dead.  With a not-too-bright police chief on the case it looks like Beth will take the rap unless Lindsey can find the real killer.

I had book 1 of Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mysteries, BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING on my TBR for quite some time.  One thing or another needed my attention until recently when I picked it up to read.  Boy have I been missing out on a really, really good series!  I’ve read and enjoyed her Cupcake bakery series – but she out does herself with the Library Lovers series.  The characters are complex with some wonderful layers.  Lindsey is great in terms of her smarts and how she stands by her friends.  Mrs. Cole is one of those characters who makes you grit your teeth every time she shows up in a scene, but you can’t wait for her next appearance because she’s just fun to hate.

The idea of the story is wonderful too – a plagiarizer being plagiarized.  And the title give you some fantastic clues without being too revealing as to what is going on in the story.  McKinlay kept me guessing until the very end. 

If’ you’ve never read a cozy mystery this is a great one to start with – it will hook you into the genre.  If you’re already a fan this is a must to add to your must read series.

This is an objective review and an endorsement of this book.