Book Review: Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay (Library Lover's Mysteries #9)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Lindsey, strong plot, great use of library

Cons: Uneven pacing, not as much of the supporting players

The Bottom Line:

Lindsey is witness

And case leads to library

Fans will enjoy it

Was the Hit and Run a Murder Attempt?

One of my reading goals for the year is to get up to date on Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mysteries.  I jumped right in with Hitting the Books, which was the ninth book in the series.

Spring has arrived in Briar Creek, and it’s such a beautiful day that Lindsey Norris can’t help but spend a few minutes looking out the window of the library.  However, what she sees is someone hit tennis coach Theresa Huston and then drive off.  It sure seemed to Lindsey that the car sped up as it approached the crosswalk.  When the investigation points to the library, Lindsey can’t help but get involved.  But was this a case of negligent driving?  Or was it attempted homicide?

The book starts off strongly, settling us back into Briar Creek and getting the mystery off quickly at the same time.  However, I did feel the pacing lagged a little in the middle.  On the other hand, I loved how the library came into play in this mystery.  Lindsey’s job running the library has always been a part of the earlier books in the series, but I felt like this book incorporated the library into the series in a strong and creative way.  Honestly, I’m surprised it hasn’t been done before.  While I still had a question or two I wanted answered at the end, the biggest part of who and why were answered for us.

While all the characters are present, we don’t see as much of the supporting players as we do in some books.  Instead, the focus is on Theresa and the people in her life.  I loved the new characters, so I’m not complaining too much about that.  Plus, we also get to see some great development for Lindsey and Sully.

The series always features several extras at the end, and this book is no exception.  There are some reader’s questions for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a craft project, and three recipes.

Hitting the Books isn’t quite as strong as the series normally is, but fans won’t care.  It’s always great to visit Lindsey and the rest of the gang, and the mystery is intriguing.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Library Lover's Mysteries.