A review by laurenjodi
Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

4.0

Books Can Be Deceiving
3.5 Stars

When her best friend is suspected in the murder of her ex, small-town librarian Lindsay Norris dons her sleuthing cap to uncover the truth.

Anyone expecting an intense and suspenseful murder mystery is bound to be disappointed as this is most certainly a light and fluffy cozy.

Set in a quaint little town on the Connecticut coast, the residents of Briar Creek are rather stereotypical from the bumbling police chief to the mean-spirited librarian to the town eccentric. Nevertheless, each one of these quirky characters adds a delightful charm to the story, and the numerous references to books, both classic and more contemporary, will appeal to any discerning bibliophile.

The heroine, Lindsay Norris, is independent, loyal and good-natured. Her attraction to the sexy boat captain provides an element of romance, and her reasons for investigating the murder are reasonable given the police chief's misogyny and ineptitude. That said, there are one or two TSTL moments that leave the reader questioning her intelligence.

The mystery itself is intriguing as there is a lot more to the victim than first meets the eye, and the clues leading up to the finale are well-developed and established within the narrative. That said, there is one significant plot hole that is never addressed
Spoilerhow on Earth did the killer get to the island to commit the crime?


All in all, an entertaining read for those who enjoy lighter fare.