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Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries #2
Murder in the Library
A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!
1916, Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
The two women know they must find the missing nurse before it’s too late… but they don’t realise they’re now both in the killer’s sights.
1916, Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
The two women know they must find the missing nurse before it’s too late… but they don’t realise they’re now both in the killer’s sights.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2024
234 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Anita Davison
24 books154 followersAuthor of the Flora Maguire Mysteries published by Aria Fiction
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 3, 2025
Hannah works in a hospital library and finds a soldier killed. A skillful mystery with several pieces to its untangling. You think everything is solved, until it isn’t and someone close to Hannah is hurt.
April 22, 2024
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and although I enjoyed this one, it wasn't quite as good as the first. Hannah Merrill is still managing the bookstore for her aunt, although it was damaged in a bombing at the end of the last book, she wants to keep busy while it is being restored. This is her chance to do something for war effort, so she donates books and works in the library at the nearby military hospital. Arriving one morning, she is surprised to find the body of a dead soldier in the library. On that same day, a young, attractive nurse tells Hannah she is scared as she thinks she is being followed. Now there are two mysteries to solve and Hannah is sure they are connected. She calls on Aunt Violet who also volunteers at the hospital to help her find the missing nurse before she also ends up dead.
Hannah is a smart women who is able to put together clues, but I find she takes chances that puts her in danger. It isn't long before both her and Aunt Violet are in the sights of a killer. This is a slower story than the first, with a lot of red herrings and roadblocks. I found the mystery interesting, and the suspects numerous. There is a personal story going on as well, with Aunt Violet and the Police Inspector, who have begun seeing one another, and he seems to encourage Hannah's sleuthing. I liked the outcome of the murder, but found the solution to the missing nurse a bit of a disappointment. Although I really enjoyed the first book, this was just an okay follow up for me.
Hannah is a smart women who is able to put together clues, but I find she takes chances that puts her in danger. It isn't long before both her and Aunt Violet are in the sights of a killer. This is a slower story than the first, with a lot of red herrings and roadblocks. I found the mystery interesting, and the suspects numerous. There is a personal story going on as well, with Aunt Violet and the Police Inspector, who have begun seeing one another, and he seems to encourage Hannah's sleuthing. I liked the outcome of the murder, but found the solution to the missing nurse a bit of a disappointment. Although I really enjoyed the first book, this was just an okay follow up for me.
February 24, 2024
Not a bad second entry in the series set during WW I, and featuring Hannah and her Aunt Violet, the owner of a bookshop that was badly damaged during a bombing attack at the end of the first book.
In this book, Hannah has been serving as a library aide at a veteran's hospital while the bookshop is being restored. As the book opens, Hannah discovers one of the patients has been murdered, and many of the staff are acting suspicious. Of course, Hannah gets involved in solving the case, at times with the encouragement of the police inspector (the same one who began dating her Aunt Violet in the first book).
I found myself more interested in Hannah and Violet's personal interactions than with the mystery itself for most of the book. All in all, this turned out to be just an average read for me, so three stars here.
In this book, Hannah has been serving as a library aide at a veteran's hospital while the bookshop is being restored. As the book opens, Hannah discovers one of the patients has been murdered, and many of the staff are acting suspicious. Of course, Hannah gets involved in solving the case, at times with the encouragement of the police inspector (the same one who began dating her Aunt Violet in the first book).
I found myself more interested in Hannah and Violet's personal interactions than with the mystery itself for most of the book. All in all, this turned out to be just an average read for me, so three stars here.
January 11, 2024
Aunt Violet is a woman of a certain age and status who is more than capable of digging into society's darkest. Hannah Merrill is a young woman of means but not at all foolish who is volunteering in the library at the Endell Street Military Hospital in London. Which is why she is the one to find the body of Sergeant Tillman shot dead in the library. Then a young heiress volunteering as a nurse goes missing and another body is found. Hannah and her aunt have quite a lot of sleuthing to do amid the backdrop of war, probable espionage, and Scotland Yard. Excellent read!
June 6, 2025
The first book in this series was ok, but I liked this one better. Although Aunt Violet is still significantly involved, the story is more about Hannah, her volunteering and her life in general. I like the recurring characters around Hannah, and I appreciate that the burgeoning romantic relationship doesn't involve Hannah.
Once again, the murder in this book took place before the story even started. We knew nothing about the victim, so coming up with suspects was next to impossible. As the investigation continued and we learned more about the victim, more and more names were added to the suspect list. I had one or two characters near the top of my list, but I wasn't certain who the culprit was until it was revealed in the book.
The next book from this series is in my audio library, and I hope to listen to it relatively soon.
Once again, the murder in this book took place before the story even started. We knew nothing about the victim, so coming up with suspects was next to impossible. As the investigation continued and we learned more about the victim, more and more names were added to the suspect list. I had one or two characters near the top of my list, but I wasn't certain who the culprit was until it was revealed in the book.
The next book from this series is in my audio library, and I hope to listen to it relatively soon.
February 21, 2024
Hannah and her aunt/business partner Violet have a wonderful knack for getting into good trouble and tutting in the face of convention. Set against the backdrop of 1916 Britain and impending German attack, this fun, fast-paced cozy mystery is full of intrigue and subterfuge.
I love the smart, sassy women and surprising twists in this series. Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley. Murder In The Library was just the distraction I needed after a stressful long weekend.
I love the smart, sassy women and surprising twists in this series. Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley. Murder In The Library was just the distraction I needed after a stressful long weekend.
April 25, 2025
A nice, easy to read copy crime mystery. Set against the backdrop of the First World War, the deceased body of a soldier is discovered in a hospital for wounded personnel.
While the murder and subsequent investigation are always foremost in the story, there is a lot of story from behind the scenes to keep the reader entertained throughout.
While the murder and subsequent investigation are always foremost in the story, there is a lot of story from behind the scenes to keep the reader entertained throughout.
September 4, 2024
A quick read, though the characters didn't really draw me in.
September 17, 2025
I actually enjoyed this one more than book one.
January 4, 2024
In a sense, you're getting two mysteries in one with this book. The "whodunit" and "where is..." kinds. The first deals with the body Hannah Merrill finds in the hospital library. She's volunteering there as a way of offering her services in 1916 as World War I rages. The second is focused on the disappearance of a young, very attractive volunteer nurse at the same hospital. In the process of solving these mysteries, you'll get a feel for what it was like to be attacked by the enemy, not to mention the reality of dead and seriously wounded soldiers. There's even romance woven into all this.
Hannah is young and caring, albeit she grated on my nerves a bit with her attitude toward Inspector Aiden Ferrell. Nevermind that Ferrell just happens to be her Aunt Violet's boyfriend, Hannah chafes under the weight of being dismissed as a woman and not given her due when it comes to solving a crime. Then there is Darius Clifford, who seems to be an intelligence officer. Or is he a spy? Hannah and Darius have been dancing around each other romantically for years, so it's nice to see this romance progressing a bit, too. All are likable, with strengths and weaknesses, especially given that this series is currently taking place during a world war. Archie, the bookshop assistant is quite likable and even shows fortitude and a less reticent side of himself during the story. And, oh, Bartleby, the bookstore cat makes an appearance.
So, who killed Sgt. Tillman? Why does it appear no one particularly mourns his death? What was he doing in the library anyway, especially up on the stage? Are the nurses keeping secrets, too? Is Alice, the nurse's aide who goes missing, really being watched or it is all in her imagination? She comes from an aristocratic background, so it's odd she's working in the military hospital ward to begin with. Why is Hannah so determined to keep asking questions? What lovely gift of a sort does Darius give her? How does Darius know all he knows about the war effort? Are he and Aiden, who works for Scotland Yard, somehow linked? Why does Hannah feel so guilty about certain events? What huge decision is Violet facing?
Who ... oh, enough teasers. While slow building in comparison to many cozy mysteries, this one caught and held my attention nicely and would work nicely as a standalone. You'll like the characters or, at the very least, find them intriguing. Human behavior is odd sometimes, isn't it? You'll also gain a feel for life when under threat of bombardment at any given time. If you're like me, you'll even be a bit bewildered to find the book seeming to wrap up whodunit almost mid-way with so much of the book left. Don't let that throw you. There is much, much more to come. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for giving me a sneak peek at how challenging life in this time period could be for all involved, no matter what their status. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next for our main characters.
Hannah is young and caring, albeit she grated on my nerves a bit with her attitude toward Inspector Aiden Ferrell. Nevermind that Ferrell just happens to be her Aunt Violet's boyfriend, Hannah chafes under the weight of being dismissed as a woman and not given her due when it comes to solving a crime. Then there is Darius Clifford, who seems to be an intelligence officer. Or is he a spy? Hannah and Darius have been dancing around each other romantically for years, so it's nice to see this romance progressing a bit, too. All are likable, with strengths and weaknesses, especially given that this series is currently taking place during a world war. Archie, the bookshop assistant is quite likable and even shows fortitude and a less reticent side of himself during the story. And, oh, Bartleby, the bookstore cat makes an appearance.
So, who killed Sgt. Tillman? Why does it appear no one particularly mourns his death? What was he doing in the library anyway, especially up on the stage? Are the nurses keeping secrets, too? Is Alice, the nurse's aide who goes missing, really being watched or it is all in her imagination? She comes from an aristocratic background, so it's odd she's working in the military hospital ward to begin with. Why is Hannah so determined to keep asking questions? What lovely gift of a sort does Darius give her? How does Darius know all he knows about the war effort? Are he and Aiden, who works for Scotland Yard, somehow linked? Why does Hannah feel so guilty about certain events? What huge decision is Violet facing?
Who ... oh, enough teasers. While slow building in comparison to many cozy mysteries, this one caught and held my attention nicely and would work nicely as a standalone. You'll like the characters or, at the very least, find them intriguing. Human behavior is odd sometimes, isn't it? You'll also gain a feel for life when under threat of bombardment at any given time. If you're like me, you'll even be a bit bewildered to find the book seeming to wrap up whodunit almost mid-way with so much of the book left. Don't let that throw you. There is much, much more to come. Thanks #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for giving me a sneak peek at how challenging life in this time period could be for all involved, no matter what their status. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next for our main characters.
January 4, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read "Murder in the Library" in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries and it is truly unputdownable. The story starts at the Endell Street Hospital in London in April 1916. Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet's bookshop is being rebuilt after an air raid 6 months prior. During that time Hannah has been volunteering in the library at the military hospital as her contribution to the war effort. When she arrives for her shift she finds the door to the recreation room locked and it's always kept open. The curtains are pulled across the stage and those are always open as well. There's an uproar over a missing patient and Hannah finds him - dead on the stage. Who killed Sergeant Tillman and why? This is the second body Hannah has found in 6 months and she says that she doesn't go looking for them, they just find her.
Nurse Alice Dalglish has some secrets that she's keeping and isn't too keen on being interviewed by the police. The same goes for Sister Marion Kerr who is seen whispering to Alice, just before Alice leaves the hospital.
DI Aidan Farrell from Scotland Yard arrives and according to Hannah is unsympathetic, brusque in manner but very interested in her Aunt Violet. Darius Clifford is a possible beau for Hannah. He's an interesting character because he works for the War Office and is quite possibly a spy. Though when Hannah questions him he dodges all answers.
When Alice can't be found no one believes Hannah that she might be missing and in danger. Especially since Alice confided in Hannah that she's been hearing noises at her lodging and feels that someone has been following her.
As another body is found Hannah feels responsible for things that are happening. There is a great surprise explanation as to what happened to Sergeant Tillman and even more shocking who caused his death and why.
While Hannah, Aunt Violet, Aiden and Darius are visiting Gabriel and Georgina - the mystery of what has been happening to Alice is also solved. Someone very close to Hannah is injured. All the pieces slot into place as all the threads of the different stories are woven neatly together. There may be a wedding in someone's future and a beau just might become serious.
Miss Davison has written a story true to the time period and very thrilling in parts as the reader wonders how Hannah and her friends will solve this crime. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries and it is truly unputdownable. The story starts at the Endell Street Hospital in London in April 1916. Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet's bookshop is being rebuilt after an air raid 6 months prior. During that time Hannah has been volunteering in the library at the military hospital as her contribution to the war effort. When she arrives for her shift she finds the door to the recreation room locked and it's always kept open. The curtains are pulled across the stage and those are always open as well. There's an uproar over a missing patient and Hannah finds him - dead on the stage. Who killed Sergeant Tillman and why? This is the second body Hannah has found in 6 months and she says that she doesn't go looking for them, they just find her.
Nurse Alice Dalglish has some secrets that she's keeping and isn't too keen on being interviewed by the police. The same goes for Sister Marion Kerr who is seen whispering to Alice, just before Alice leaves the hospital.
DI Aidan Farrell from Scotland Yard arrives and according to Hannah is unsympathetic, brusque in manner but very interested in her Aunt Violet. Darius Clifford is a possible beau for Hannah. He's an interesting character because he works for the War Office and is quite possibly a spy. Though when Hannah questions him he dodges all answers.
When Alice can't be found no one believes Hannah that she might be missing and in danger. Especially since Alice confided in Hannah that she's been hearing noises at her lodging and feels that someone has been following her.
As another body is found Hannah feels responsible for things that are happening. There is a great surprise explanation as to what happened to Sergeant Tillman and even more shocking who caused his death and why.
While Hannah, Aunt Violet, Aiden and Darius are visiting Gabriel and Georgina - the mystery of what has been happening to Alice is also solved. Someone very close to Hannah is injured. All the pieces slot into place as all the threads of the different stories are woven neatly together. There may be a wedding in someone's future and a beau just might become serious.
Miss Davison has written a story true to the time period and very thrilling in parts as the reader wonders how Hannah and her friends will solve this crime. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 20, 2024
Several months after having found her best friend, Lily-Anne, dead in Aunt Violet's bookshop – and after having to rebuild it following bombardment – Hannah volunteers part-time at a local hospital library, coordinating the lending of books to recuperating soldiers.
When she arrives one morning to find the large auditorium, from where the library is run, locked, she wonders why but thinks nothing much of it. As she tidies up the shelves, she notices that the curtain of the stage in the room is drawn. But when she opens it, she comes across the dead body of a soldier, lying in a pool of blood.
When Detective Inspector Farrell arrives, he pretends not to know her, and this suits Hannah well as she volunteers to snoop around a bit, listening in to conversations.
She soon discovers that the dead man, Sergeant Tillman, was hugely unpopular amongst the other patients, and had run-ins with a number of staff and fellow injured soldiers.
But when a young nurse, Alice, who had confided in her that she fears she was being followed, suddenly disappears, Hannah is set on discovering what happened – and if the girl's disappearance is somehow linked to the murder. But in doing so, she finds herself in the killer's sights!
Can she avoid a tragic fate and help save Alice? Or has Hannah gone too far this time? Well, read the novel!
Murder in the Library is full of clever twists and unexpected turns. We have several suspects, and there is a growing sense of tension as the story progresses.
The setting is, again, expertly researched, and the author gives us a real glimpse at everyday life in London during WWI. Life didn't grind to a halt because there was a war on, so it's fascinating to read about how ordinary people coped with the daily threats.
Hannah is a fabulous character, with an open mind and a curious nature. And Aunt Violet is delightfully eccentric. Their characters really make the story.
Murder in the Library is a worthy sequel to Murder in the Bookshop, and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. Clearly, Hannah shouldn't be anywhere near a bookshelf, or more bodies will turn up... In truth, I hope so!
Murder in the Library reads well as a standalone story, but I think the introductions to the characters and their relationships with each other provided in Murder in the Bookshop will help get a clear image from the start.
Another exciting murder mystery by Anita Davison. Do check it out!
Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.
When she arrives one morning to find the large auditorium, from where the library is run, locked, she wonders why but thinks nothing much of it. As she tidies up the shelves, she notices that the curtain of the stage in the room is drawn. But when she opens it, she comes across the dead body of a soldier, lying in a pool of blood.
When Detective Inspector Farrell arrives, he pretends not to know her, and this suits Hannah well as she volunteers to snoop around a bit, listening in to conversations.
She soon discovers that the dead man, Sergeant Tillman, was hugely unpopular amongst the other patients, and had run-ins with a number of staff and fellow injured soldiers.
But when a young nurse, Alice, who had confided in her that she fears she was being followed, suddenly disappears, Hannah is set on discovering what happened – and if the girl's disappearance is somehow linked to the murder. But in doing so, she finds herself in the killer's sights!
Can she avoid a tragic fate and help save Alice? Or has Hannah gone too far this time? Well, read the novel!
Murder in the Library is full of clever twists and unexpected turns. We have several suspects, and there is a growing sense of tension as the story progresses.
The setting is, again, expertly researched, and the author gives us a real glimpse at everyday life in London during WWI. Life didn't grind to a halt because there was a war on, so it's fascinating to read about how ordinary people coped with the daily threats.
Hannah is a fabulous character, with an open mind and a curious nature. And Aunt Violet is delightfully eccentric. Their characters really make the story.
Murder in the Library is a worthy sequel to Murder in the Bookshop, and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series. Clearly, Hannah shouldn't be anywhere near a bookshelf, or more bodies will turn up... In truth, I hope so!
Murder in the Library reads well as a standalone story, but I think the introductions to the characters and their relationships with each other provided in Murder in the Bookshop will help get a clear image from the start.
Another exciting murder mystery by Anita Davison. Do check it out!
Note: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed are my own.
March 30, 2024
What another delightful cosy mystery featuring Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet! Still in the midst of the Great War, there is more murder, more suspicious activities, more nefarious characters as well as the hint of romance or two! What more can you want in a delightful cosy mystery brimming with wit and humour?
London 1916: After the murder in their bookshop six months or so previously, renovations have brought the aging premises back to life as Aunt Violet elects to man the front whilst volunteering niece Hannah for the library at the local military hospital. Hannah loves her job and exchanging tales with the recuperating patients, until one of them turns up dead in the library one morning.
Enter the amiable Inspector Aidan Farrell, not at all surprised to find Hannah in situ as it were. However, the other witnesses to the discover or thereafter somehow prove to be somewhat recalcitrant. One of them apparently so faint she has been given leave to go home and recover. But then when Nurse Alice Dalglish proves difficult to track down for questioning, Hannah believes her disappearance to be linked to that of the murder of the soldier, Sergeant Tillman, whom she found in the library.
What ensues is a race around London in a search for answers to both the murder and Alice's whereabouts. Of course it is Hannah doing to unofficial investigating with the help of her incorrigible Aunt Violet. With the help of both Inspector Farrell and Darius Clifford. But will they get too close to the truth and place themselves in danger? Or will they uncover the murderer and Alice's whereabouts?
Peppered with humour, wit and the hint of romance for both young ladies, who are decidedly single, this is a delightful addition to this cosy mystery series. I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first one which I found utterly delightful!
A quick read which I devoured in one sitting, I can't wait for the third one "Murder at Midwinter Manor" which is to be published in September. Another delightful escapade, I'm sure.
I would like to thank #AnitaDavison, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #MurderInTheLibrary in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
London 1916: After the murder in their bookshop six months or so previously, renovations have brought the aging premises back to life as Aunt Violet elects to man the front whilst volunteering niece Hannah for the library at the local military hospital. Hannah loves her job and exchanging tales with the recuperating patients, until one of them turns up dead in the library one morning.
Enter the amiable Inspector Aidan Farrell, not at all surprised to find Hannah in situ as it were. However, the other witnesses to the discover or thereafter somehow prove to be somewhat recalcitrant. One of them apparently so faint she has been given leave to go home and recover. But then when Nurse Alice Dalglish proves difficult to track down for questioning, Hannah believes her disappearance to be linked to that of the murder of the soldier, Sergeant Tillman, whom she found in the library.
What ensues is a race around London in a search for answers to both the murder and Alice's whereabouts. Of course it is Hannah doing to unofficial investigating with the help of her incorrigible Aunt Violet. With the help of both Inspector Farrell and Darius Clifford. But will they get too close to the truth and place themselves in danger? Or will they uncover the murderer and Alice's whereabouts?
Peppered with humour, wit and the hint of romance for both young ladies, who are decidedly single, this is a delightful addition to this cosy mystery series. I think I enjoyed this one even more than the first one which I found utterly delightful!
A quick read which I devoured in one sitting, I can't wait for the third one "Murder at Midwinter Manor" which is to be published in September. Another delightful escapade, I'm sure.
I would like to thank #AnitaDavison, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #MurderInTheLibrary in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 12, 2024
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Murder in the Library is the second outing for Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet by Anita Davison. Released 19th Feb 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 266 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is an engaging and well written historical cozy set in 1916. MC Hannah is volunteering to do her bit for the war effort by volunteering in the library of the local military hospital. She's soon drawn into another amateur investigation when an inconvenient murder occurs there. With the possibly related disappearance of a hospital nurse, Hannah and the inimitable Aunt Violet are once again called on to get to the bottom of things.
The plotting is tight and well engineered and without obvious holes. The author does a good job with the period dialogue and characterization. The writing is clean and there is no bad language or on-page objectionable content. There are several threads, murder, disappearance, malfeasance, and more.
The denouement and resolution were twisty and satisfying with some unexpected surprises.
Four stars. This is definitely one for historical cozy fans. There are 3 books extant in the series with a 4th due out in 1st quarter 2025. It would be a good choice for a binge/buddy read. It's not derivative, but fans of Lydia Travers, Carola Dunn, and Catriona McPherson (the Dandy Gilver series, although the Last Ditch ones are hysterically funny and not to be missed, totally different vibe) will likely enjoy this one as well.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Murder in the Library is the second outing for Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet by Anita Davison. Released 19th Feb 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 266 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.
This is an engaging and well written historical cozy set in 1916. MC Hannah is volunteering to do her bit for the war effort by volunteering in the library of the local military hospital. She's soon drawn into another amateur investigation when an inconvenient murder occurs there. With the possibly related disappearance of a hospital nurse, Hannah and the inimitable Aunt Violet are once again called on to get to the bottom of things.
The plotting is tight and well engineered and without obvious holes. The author does a good job with the period dialogue and characterization. The writing is clean and there is no bad language or on-page objectionable content. There are several threads, murder, disappearance, malfeasance, and more.
The denouement and resolution were twisty and satisfying with some unexpected surprises.
Four stars. This is definitely one for historical cozy fans. There are 3 books extant in the series with a 4th due out in 1st quarter 2025. It would be a good choice for a binge/buddy read. It's not derivative, but fans of Lydia Travers, Carola Dunn, and Catriona McPherson (the Dandy Gilver series, although the Last Ditch ones are hysterically funny and not to be missed, totally different vibe) will likely enjoy this one as well.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 8, 2024
A Murder in the Library
Written By Anita Davison
Published By Boldwood Books
Release Date February 19, 2024
“ A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!”
Hannah Merrill’s bookshop was hit by a zeppelin attack during WW1 and is under repair due to the damage. With time being on her side, Hannah volunteers for the library in the Endell street Military hospital. One day when she arrives to work, the door to the Library is locked. Once she gets inside to her shock, she finds the body of a dead soldier laying on the ground behind the curtain. Soon afterwards a nurse Alice Dalglish, informs Hannah that she believes someone has been following her. Then, just as quickly as she arrived, she disappeared. Alice is a nurse at the military hospital and also works on the same floor as the deceased soldier which makes Hannah believe that the two situations were no coincidence.
Hannah has a passion for being a sleuth and is soon on the trail of a murderer. However, Hannah knows that this is too big for her alone so she brings in her aunt Violet and the hunt begins. This is the second book in the series by Davison but I had no problem following along and did not feel as though I had to read the first book to understand it. The characters were very delightful, quirky, and well developed often causing a laugh or two. Violet is a well known activist and her reputation precedes her.
The story is told by Hannah and is two mysteries inside of one……..which actually plays out well and is a very fun read. This is a cozy whodunnit mystery that keeps the reader engaged and entertained from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters and how well they meshed together. Davison’ certainly has a knack for writing and keeping the reader hanging on by a thread as they try to figure out who the murderer is. The ending is not predictable and will certainly keep you on your toes as you go along with Hannah and Aunt Violet to figure out what we all want to know……whodunnit….
5 HUBE stars
Thank you to Davison, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review
Written By Anita Davison
Published By Boldwood Books
Release Date February 19, 2024
“ A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!”
Hannah Merrill’s bookshop was hit by a zeppelin attack during WW1 and is under repair due to the damage. With time being on her side, Hannah volunteers for the library in the Endell street Military hospital. One day when she arrives to work, the door to the Library is locked. Once she gets inside to her shock, she finds the body of a dead soldier laying on the ground behind the curtain. Soon afterwards a nurse Alice Dalglish, informs Hannah that she believes someone has been following her. Then, just as quickly as she arrived, she disappeared. Alice is a nurse at the military hospital and also works on the same floor as the deceased soldier which makes Hannah believe that the two situations were no coincidence.
Hannah has a passion for being a sleuth and is soon on the trail of a murderer. However, Hannah knows that this is too big for her alone so she brings in her aunt Violet and the hunt begins. This is the second book in the series by Davison but I had no problem following along and did not feel as though I had to read the first book to understand it. The characters were very delightful, quirky, and well developed often causing a laugh or two. Violet is a well known activist and her reputation precedes her.
The story is told by Hannah and is two mysteries inside of one……..which actually plays out well and is a very fun read. This is a cozy whodunnit mystery that keeps the reader engaged and entertained from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters and how well they meshed together. Davison’ certainly has a knack for writing and keeping the reader hanging on by a thread as they try to figure out who the murderer is. The ending is not predictable and will certainly keep you on your toes as you go along with Hannah and Aunt Violet to figure out what we all want to know……whodunnit….
5 HUBE stars
Thank you to Davison, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review
February 20, 2024
Having read and really enjoyed the first in the series (Murder in the Bookshop) I was looking forward to being reacquainted with Hannah and Violet.
The story takes part not long after the first and sadly Aunt Violet's bookshop isn't in the best of shape following a zeppelin attack at the end of the first book, so Hannah has been volunteering at the local hospital library until it is rebuilt. The action starts almost immediately when one of soldiers recuperating at the hospital is found dead. Murdered in fact and in a locked room! Obviously from the title of the book, you can probably hazard a guess as to where he was discovered.
Murder in the Library immerses you straight away into the action and Hannah can’t help but think it is linked to the disappearance of a young nurse who mentions she feels she is being followed but also worked on the same floor as where the murdered soldier was. Are the occurrences linked? Hannah can’t help but become involved.
We are reunited with some of the characters from the previous book (the nice ones at least!) and I really liked the will they, won’t they scenario with Darius and Hannah that carries over from the first book. I really enjoyed that Aunt Violet features more in this story as she is such strong willed character that you can’t help but be in awe of, especially during times when this just wasn’t the done thing.
I found Murder in the Library to be the perfect slow building story for me, which I always find helps you connect with the characters and their intentions a lot more. Sometimes when there is a lot going on, some of the character development can get lost as you get swept along but I found this to be the perfect pace for me. Things however do speed up towards the end which you want and I did find myself still none the wiser about the culprit and found myself a little bit in shock when all was revealed!
A fantastic addition to a wonder cosy crime series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
The story takes part not long after the first and sadly Aunt Violet's bookshop isn't in the best of shape following a zeppelin attack at the end of the first book, so Hannah has been volunteering at the local hospital library until it is rebuilt. The action starts almost immediately when one of soldiers recuperating at the hospital is found dead. Murdered in fact and in a locked room! Obviously from the title of the book, you can probably hazard a guess as to where he was discovered.
Murder in the Library immerses you straight away into the action and Hannah can’t help but think it is linked to the disappearance of a young nurse who mentions she feels she is being followed but also worked on the same floor as where the murdered soldier was. Are the occurrences linked? Hannah can’t help but become involved.
We are reunited with some of the characters from the previous book (the nice ones at least!) and I really liked the will they, won’t they scenario with Darius and Hannah that carries over from the first book. I really enjoyed that Aunt Violet features more in this story as she is such strong willed character that you can’t help but be in awe of, especially during times when this just wasn’t the done thing.
I found Murder in the Library to be the perfect slow building story for me, which I always find helps you connect with the characters and their intentions a lot more. Sometimes when there is a lot going on, some of the character development can get lost as you get swept along but I found this to be the perfect pace for me. Things however do speed up towards the end which you want and I did find myself still none the wiser about the culprit and found myself a little bit in shock when all was revealed!
A fantastic addition to a wonder cosy crime series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
January 13, 2024
London, 1916. The book opens with Hannah Merrill reporting to the hospital for wounded soldiers, ready to begin another shift as a volunteer librarian. The door is inexplicably locked so someone goes to get the key. When Hannah enters the library, she discovers a deceased patient behind the curtain. Clearly, he was murdered, the door locked, and the key replaced. Hannah becomes more concerned when one of the nurses goes missing. With the help of Aunt Violet, the investigation begins.
This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet series and like the first one, it's excellent. Hannah and Aunt Violet own a bookshop, so there are literary references sprinkled throughout the book. The characters are wonderfully drawn and appropriately varied and quirky in their own ways. Aunt Violet is a delightful character with a reputation. She's an activist and is known especially for her activism around women's suffrage. Hannah is bucking expectations and the wishes of her family by living with Aunt Violet and working--and even driving. I like the combination of two women from different generations and their relationship.
In this book, there are two mysteries running in parallel, which may or may not end up being intertwined at some point. Both are well done. The historical setting is interesting and well described. I read the first book in the series and I highly recommend it, but if this is your entry into the series, no worries! You can start here without being lost. Jump right in, spend some time with Hannah and Aunt Violet, and enjoy this wonderful historical cozy mystery!
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy of this book.
This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet series and like the first one, it's excellent. Hannah and Aunt Violet own a bookshop, so there are literary references sprinkled throughout the book. The characters are wonderfully drawn and appropriately varied and quirky in their own ways. Aunt Violet is a delightful character with a reputation. She's an activist and is known especially for her activism around women's suffrage. Hannah is bucking expectations and the wishes of her family by living with Aunt Violet and working--and even driving. I like the combination of two women from different generations and their relationship.
In this book, there are two mysteries running in parallel, which may or may not end up being intertwined at some point. Both are well done. The historical setting is interesting and well described. I read the first book in the series and I highly recommend it, but if this is your entry into the series, no worries! You can start here without being lost. Jump right in, spend some time with Hannah and Aunt Violet, and enjoy this wonderful historical cozy mystery!
I thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy of this book.
February 19, 2024
Murder in the Library by Anita Davison
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!
1916, Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
The two women know they must find the missing nurse before it’s too late… but they don’t realise they’re now both in the killer’s sights.
My Opinion
This is the second book in the series but it would be possible to read this one as a standalone. I have to say that I would recommend staying away from anywhere Hannah is around books, trouble seems to follow her around.
I found myself picking up this book to read a few pages and ended up putting it down a few chapters later. I also ending up reading this when I had jobs that I was supposed to be doing, including getting ready to leave for work. I am trying to work on reading more historical fiction and this series makes it so easy. Anita Davison has such a lovely writing style that the plots just flows by before you know it.
This was such an enjoyable read that I am awaiting details of the next book in the series.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!
1916, Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
The two women know they must find the missing nurse before it’s too late… but they don’t realise they’re now both in the killer’s sights.
My Opinion
This is the second book in the series but it would be possible to read this one as a standalone. I have to say that I would recommend staying away from anywhere Hannah is around books, trouble seems to follow her around.
I found myself picking up this book to read a few pages and ended up putting it down a few chapters later. I also ending up reading this when I had jobs that I was supposed to be doing, including getting ready to leave for work. I am trying to work on reading more historical fiction and this series makes it so easy. Anita Davison has such a lovely writing style that the plots just flows by before you know it.
This was such an enjoyable read that I am awaiting details of the next book in the series.
Rating 4/5
February 23, 2024
Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet are back, six months after their bookshop was partially destroyed by a bomb. While the shop was being rebuilt, Hannah started to work as a volunteer at the Endell Street Military Hospital in the library there where her shop assistant Archie Root’s older sister Dinah is also working as a nurse. One morning she has a shock when she finds the library locked and inside lies the corpse of one of the patients, a Sergeant Tillman who seemed to be universally disliked. Does the scrap of paper in the book he was reading hold a clue to who shot him dead? One young volunteer nurse, Alice Dalglish, probably the last person to see the man before he disappeared off her ward, seems particularly jumpy and frightened and convinced she is being followed. Not long after the discovery of the body, a case being worked on by DI Aidan Farrell and DC Pendleton, aided by Hannah’s childhood friend Darius Clifford with his hush-hush Secret Service work, Alice vanishes from her lodgings. Could the two events be connected? With Farrell left short-staffed by the call up to fight, Harriet is determined to help solve the case but will she again find herself in danger? And will Darius, now free from his murderess fiancée, ever make a move to be more than friends with Hannah?
Set against the backdrop of the First World War in 1916, with the very real fears of German invasion and bombings, the characters are beautifully drawn, especially Archie, Dinah and the wonderfully bold and rather scandalous former suffragette Violet who carries a few secrets of her own, especially her rather charming relationship with Farrell. This is a great second instalment in this new cosy crime series.
Set against the backdrop of the First World War in 1916, with the very real fears of German invasion and bombings, the characters are beautifully drawn, especially Archie, Dinah and the wonderfully bold and rather scandalous former suffragette Violet who carries a few secrets of her own, especially her rather charming relationship with Farrell. This is a great second instalment in this new cosy crime series.
November 9, 2024
Anita Davison brings back Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet for another fun, exciting and riveting crime caper: Murder in the Library.
Hannah Merrill is determined to do her bit for king and country, so she volunteers for the library in the local military hospital. Hannah is well aware that dead bodies at a hospital are a regular occurrence – only she never imagined that she would end up finding one one cold winter morning in the library! It doesn’t take an amateur sleuth to realise that there is something sinister going on at this hospital – and Hannah’s suspicions intensify when a beautiful young nurse confides in her that she’s being followed and then abruptly disappears!
She is absolutely positive that the two cases are connected and as any good sleuth knows, she cannot solve this case alone. Luckily for her, her Aunt Violet is on hand to help her in this investigation and her meddling if slightly devious ways will help Hannah get even closer to finding the missing nurse and unmasking the killer. Only, what both ladies hadn’t realized was that they are now firmly in the sights of a dangerous killer intent on keeping their identity a secret!
Anita Davison’s Murder in the Library is a witty, unpredictable and nail-biting historical cozy mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats absolutely desperate to find out whodunnit. Anita Davison’s deftly plotted crime novel pulls the rug out from under readers’ feet on plenty of occasions and will leave them racing to the finish with their jaws on the floor when the perpetrator is revealed.
A superb historical cozy mystery, Murder in the Library is another top-notch read from Anita Davison.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hannah Merrill is determined to do her bit for king and country, so she volunteers for the library in the local military hospital. Hannah is well aware that dead bodies at a hospital are a regular occurrence – only she never imagined that she would end up finding one one cold winter morning in the library! It doesn’t take an amateur sleuth to realise that there is something sinister going on at this hospital – and Hannah’s suspicions intensify when a beautiful young nurse confides in her that she’s being followed and then abruptly disappears!
She is absolutely positive that the two cases are connected and as any good sleuth knows, she cannot solve this case alone. Luckily for her, her Aunt Violet is on hand to help her in this investigation and her meddling if slightly devious ways will help Hannah get even closer to finding the missing nurse and unmasking the killer. Only, what both ladies hadn’t realized was that they are now firmly in the sights of a dangerous killer intent on keeping their identity a secret!
Anita Davison’s Murder in the Library is a witty, unpredictable and nail-biting historical cozy mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats absolutely desperate to find out whodunnit. Anita Davison’s deftly plotted crime novel pulls the rug out from under readers’ feet on plenty of occasions and will leave them racing to the finish with their jaws on the floor when the perpetrator is revealed.
A superb historical cozy mystery, Murder in the Library is another top-notch read from Anita Davison.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 8, 2024
This mystery was just fine for me. I didn't dislike it, but I probably won't ever read it again or continue the series. I found the main character of Hannah a bit unlikeable, which was a big hurdle to get over in my enjoyment of the book. I didn't understand why she seems unhappy & even a little bitter about her aunt possibly having a romance with the detective inspector, or why she bristles so much at the inspector's comments & actions. He treats her with respect & actually values her opinion unlike many of the detectives in cozies taking place in the WWI era. Perhaps if I had read the first book in the series I would understand? That leads to another weakness for me, which was the lack of background on most of the main characters. Essentially all we get is explicitly related to the murder of Hannah's best friend in the first book (which is mentioned repeatedly), but we get no background on why Hannah lives with her aunt, what age group she is in, or the age difference between Aunt Violet & the inspector (only mentioned in passing at the end of the book & we only get her age, not his). I feel that having more of this & less mention of the murder from the last book would have provided necessary context for some of the character interactions that I didn't understand.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the setting of the all-female hospital & the scenes with Aunt Violet. It certainly wasn't a bad read, but didn't leave me wanting to read more. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the setting of the all-female hospital & the scenes with Aunt Violet. It certainly wasn't a bad read, but didn't leave me wanting to read more. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
February 23, 2024
Another amazing book by Anita Davison! The second story in the Miss Merril and Aunt Violet mystery series had me again at the edge of my seat, tense, laughing and completely enjoying it.
The second story started a bit slow for me and at first I was enjoying it less than Murder in the bookshop. This was purely because I had expected the second book to start in the same scenery and people of the same levels of society as in the first book. Murder in the library continues a bit after the end of Murder in the bookshop, which gave a nice feeling, but then continued in one of the many hospitals in London during the war, where women volunteered to nurse wounded soldiers. The completely different setting at the beginning and the nurses, made me miss the previous cozy feeling. But Miss Merril seems to have a knack for attracting dead people and is really bad in keeping out of what might have happened, that soon thanks to the great writing and amazing characters I was fully into the story. As the title mentions a murder was committed and the trusted characters we know are entering the stage. What is nice about reading a series like this one, is that the characters get further developed and their relationships expand. And again Anita Davison made sure that what seems like a cozy mystery story, makes you laugh when Aunt Violet and Miss Merril talk, keep you guessing even when everything seems clear...because it isn't and till the end of the story new revelations keep you enjoying the story, wanting to start immediately the next story in the series!
The second story started a bit slow for me and at first I was enjoying it less than Murder in the bookshop. This was purely because I had expected the second book to start in the same scenery and people of the same levels of society as in the first book. Murder in the library continues a bit after the end of Murder in the bookshop, which gave a nice feeling, but then continued in one of the many hospitals in London during the war, where women volunteered to nurse wounded soldiers. The completely different setting at the beginning and the nurses, made me miss the previous cozy feeling. But Miss Merril seems to have a knack for attracting dead people and is really bad in keeping out of what might have happened, that soon thanks to the great writing and amazing characters I was fully into the story. As the title mentions a murder was committed and the trusted characters we know are entering the stage. What is nice about reading a series like this one, is that the characters get further developed and their relationships expand. And again Anita Davison made sure that what seems like a cozy mystery story, makes you laugh when Aunt Violet and Miss Merril talk, keep you guessing even when everything seems clear...because it isn't and till the end of the story new revelations keep you enjoying the story, wanting to start immediately the next story in the series!
February 4, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of Murder in the Library, second novel to feature Miss Hannah Merrill and her aunt, Violet, set in London in 1916.
While her bookshop is being repaired after a Zeppelin attack Hannah volunteers in the library of the local army hospital. One day she arrives to find, unusually, the library locked and on entering the dead body of a soldier. When Alice Dalglish, a nurse on his ward, tells Hannah that she thinks she is being followed and then disappears Hannah can’t help but connect the cases.
I enjoyed Murder in the Library, which is essentially a novel of two halves with the murder in the first half and the hunt for Alice in the second. I liked this concept and the execution as it works well with the two plots overlapping in unexpected ways. It offers more than one element of surprise and at the same time familiarity with the same supporting characters in both.
The novel is told from Hannah’s point of view, which gives the reader an immersive read and the opportunity to guess alongside her. Some of it I got right, other bits I had no idea, so it kept me turning the pages. I like Hannah, who is smart and dependable, but I like Aunt Violet better, as I’m sure most readers do, as she is more subversive and unpredictable, plus she has better contacts.
Murder in the Library is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
While her bookshop is being repaired after a Zeppelin attack Hannah volunteers in the library of the local army hospital. One day she arrives to find, unusually, the library locked and on entering the dead body of a soldier. When Alice Dalglish, a nurse on his ward, tells Hannah that she thinks she is being followed and then disappears Hannah can’t help but connect the cases.
I enjoyed Murder in the Library, which is essentially a novel of two halves with the murder in the first half and the hunt for Alice in the second. I liked this concept and the execution as it works well with the two plots overlapping in unexpected ways. It offers more than one element of surprise and at the same time familiarity with the same supporting characters in both.
The novel is told from Hannah’s point of view, which gives the reader an immersive read and the opportunity to guess alongside her. Some of it I got right, other bits I had no idea, so it kept me turning the pages. I like Hannah, who is smart and dependable, but I like Aunt Violet better, as I’m sure most readers do, as she is more subversive and unpredictable, plus she has better contacts.
Murder in the Library is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 28, 2024
1916, London, Hannah is volunteering as a librarian at the hospital library but one morning she finds a patient has been shot dead. The man had been unpopular among the other soldiers, patients and medical staff but who wanted him dead? Then a nurse, who she thinks she is being followed, disappears...
Murder in the Library is the second book to feature Hannah and her aunt Violet. I have previously read and reviewed the first book Murder in the Bookshop. There are spoilers about characters, events and the culprit so I would advise reading the books in order.
Hannah has two mysteries to solve. First a shooting of a rather unpleasant man and then the disappearance of a nurse. Her sleuthing puts her at odds with the police and she also has a romantic tension which offers a different dimension to her personality. There are lots of threads for Hannah to unpick and follow towards the solution, with twists and red herrings thrown in to keep readers guessing.
Once again, it is aunt Violet that steals every scene she is in. However, both women are passionate and strong willed, surprisingly modern in outlook while their world changes around them during WW1. I enjoyed the historical setting and thought it had been researched well to support the plot and character development.
Murder in the Library is an enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
Murder in the Library is the second book to feature Hannah and her aunt Violet. I have previously read and reviewed the first book Murder in the Bookshop. There are spoilers about characters, events and the culprit so I would advise reading the books in order.
Hannah has two mysteries to solve. First a shooting of a rather unpleasant man and then the disappearance of a nurse. Her sleuthing puts her at odds with the police and she also has a romantic tension which offers a different dimension to her personality. There are lots of threads for Hannah to unpick and follow towards the solution, with twists and red herrings thrown in to keep readers guessing.
Once again, it is aunt Violet that steals every scene she is in. However, both women are passionate and strong willed, surprisingly modern in outlook while their world changes around them during WW1. I enjoyed the historical setting and thought it had been researched well to support the plot and character development.
Murder in the Library is an enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
February 27, 2025
I like a lot of elements of this series, so far, but the last third of this book had a lot of structural problems that a better editor should have fixed. That lack of editing is the difference between the book we get and, say, the level of the Verity Kent series.
The interweaving of plot lines really needed more refinement to maintain a better and more consistent pace. Instead, after the first plot resolved, I kept looking at the time left in the audiobook going, why is there so much left? I also found many aspects of the biggest action scene implausible, which kept bumping me out of the narrative.
I really wish the editor and/or some more-loving friends had given Davison stronger, more honest feedback. She's so strong in other elements that I think she could have pulled off a much better version of this book with a few people pointing out the places that need more work. (And I say that as someone for whom such feedback has been a profound gift.) It might not have even taken a major rewrite to make a big difference -- just a stronger command of the story and where she wanted it to go.
Obviously others liked it much better than me, so the editor part of my brain must be overacting. Still a very likable series on the whole, just not quite as great in this installment as I hoped.
The interweaving of plot lines really needed more refinement to maintain a better and more consistent pace. Instead, after the first plot resolved, I kept looking at the time left in the audiobook going, why is there so much left? I also found many aspects of the biggest action scene implausible, which kept bumping me out of the narrative.
I really wish the editor and/or some more-loving friends had given Davison stronger, more honest feedback. She's so strong in other elements that I think she could have pulled off a much better version of this book with a few people pointing out the places that need more work. (And I say that as someone for whom such feedback has been a profound gift.) It might not have even taken a major rewrite to make a big difference -- just a stronger command of the story and where she wanted it to go.
Obviously others liked it much better than me, so the editor part of my brain must be overacting. Still a very likable series on the whole, just not quite as great in this installment as I hoped.
February 8, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Anita Davison for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in the Library coming out February 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
1916, London: Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
I haven’t actually read the first book in the series yet. I have it, but I need to read it. I was definitely interested in checking out this book though. Cozy historical mysteries is only of my favorite genres. I love that this book was set during WWI. It’s a really interesting time in history. I love that Hannah is a strong character who is active in the war effort. I loved the setting of the book. There’s a lot of serious themes, but there’s still a cozy atmosphere to the story that I love. There was a couple things I didn’t like about the ending with how it all went down. I think they went a little too easy on certain people and let them get away. But overall, I loved this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves WWI cozy mysteries!
1916, London: Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.
But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.
What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.
Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.
I haven’t actually read the first book in the series yet. I have it, but I need to read it. I was definitely interested in checking out this book though. Cozy historical mysteries is only of my favorite genres. I love that this book was set during WWI. It’s a really interesting time in history. I love that Hannah is a strong character who is active in the war effort. I loved the setting of the book. There’s a lot of serious themes, but there’s still a cozy atmosphere to the story that I love. There was a couple things I didn’t like about the ending with how it all went down. I think they went a little too easy on certain people and let them get away. But overall, I loved this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves WWI cozy mysteries!
February 22, 2024
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Hannah works as a volunteer librarian at the local military hospital. When a murder occurs in the library one night, Hannah takes it upon herself to help with the investigation. It is Inspector Farrell’s case, and he’s smart enough to realize that she’s not going to sit by and wait to see if the killer is caught.
This story has so many twists. It was great! There are several suspects, especially since the victim was not a pleasant person. Was there more than one murder? Because there is a volunteer missing too. Then there’s another murder! Is anyone safe?
Inspector Farrell, Aunt Violet, Darius and Hannah are all interesting characters who work together to solve the case(s). I like Aunt Violet’s independence and her straightforward approach to things. Inspector Farrell likes Aunt Violet too, and they’ve become close friends. Darius and Hannah get closer throughout this book as well which was nice because he’s a good man.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a little bit of romance and humor, this is a good one! The first book in the series, Murder in the Bookshop, is good too, but I like this one even better!
Hannah works as a volunteer librarian at the local military hospital. When a murder occurs in the library one night, Hannah takes it upon herself to help with the investigation. It is Inspector Farrell’s case, and he’s smart enough to realize that she’s not going to sit by and wait to see if the killer is caught.
This story has so many twists. It was great! There are several suspects, especially since the victim was not a pleasant person. Was there more than one murder? Because there is a volunteer missing too. Then there’s another murder! Is anyone safe?
Inspector Farrell, Aunt Violet, Darius and Hannah are all interesting characters who work together to solve the case(s). I like Aunt Violet’s independence and her straightforward approach to things. Inspector Farrell likes Aunt Violet too, and they’ve become close friends. Darius and Hannah get closer throughout this book as well which was nice because he’s a good man.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a little bit of romance and humor, this is a good one! The first book in the series, Murder in the Bookshop, is good too, but I like this one even better!
February 1, 2025
Another enjoyable historical murder mystery
I have enjoyed both of Ms Davison's murder mysteries set in WW1 London.
In the second of the series she develops the main characters further, as well as their relationships. Because there is another sequel in the offing we are still left in suspense at the end. Fortunately not about the murders though.
I enjoyed the trip back in time. There is always something to learn that I have never heard of. In this book it was the fact that British officers had to sport a moustache. This fact is integral to the story, so well done Ms Davison gleaning this from her research.
On the subject of research, her books seem to be solidly based on thorough research. Her descriptions of clothing, architecture and interiors are really interesting. And of course the class structure and personal manners, which are so foreign to us now. As I said, vicarious time travel.
It was clever the way she managed to weave a sub plot into the murder mystery, again revealing more information about how WW1 affected the British population. However I did find the ending a bit drawn out, which is why I didn't give it five stars .
I will look forward to the next book in the series.
I have enjoyed both of Ms Davison's murder mysteries set in WW1 London.
In the second of the series she develops the main characters further, as well as their relationships. Because there is another sequel in the offing we are still left in suspense at the end. Fortunately not about the murders though.
I enjoyed the trip back in time. There is always something to learn that I have never heard of. In this book it was the fact that British officers had to sport a moustache. This fact is integral to the story, so well done Ms Davison gleaning this from her research.
On the subject of research, her books seem to be solidly based on thorough research. Her descriptions of clothing, architecture and interiors are really interesting. And of course the class structure and personal manners, which are so foreign to us now. As I said, vicarious time travel.
It was clever the way she managed to weave a sub plot into the murder mystery, again revealing more information about how WW1 affected the British population. However I did find the ending a bit drawn out, which is why I didn't give it five stars .
I will look forward to the next book in the series.
January 26, 2024
Miss Merrill and /aunt Violet #2
1916. Hannah Merrill volunteers in the library of the Endell Street military hospital. On arriving there one morning, she finds the body of a dead soldier, Sergeant Tillman, who had been shot. Then a young heiress who volunteered as a nurse disappeared. She had confided in Hannah that she thought someone was following her.
This is a rather good whodunnit. It's 1916 and WWI is mid-way through. The policeman investigating the murder and missing woman is none other than Hannah's aunt Violet's boyfriend, Detective Aiden Ferrell. There's also Darius Clifford, an intelligence officer or quite possibly a spy. The tension builds up leading to the climax. The characters are well-developed, and the pace is steady.
i would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AnitaDavidson for my ARC of #MurderInTheLibrary in exchange for an honest review.
1916. Hannah Merrill volunteers in the library of the Endell Street military hospital. On arriving there one morning, she finds the body of a dead soldier, Sergeant Tillman, who had been shot. Then a young heiress who volunteered as a nurse disappeared. She had confided in Hannah that she thought someone was following her.
This is a rather good whodunnit. It's 1916 and WWI is mid-way through. The policeman investigating the murder and missing woman is none other than Hannah's aunt Violet's boyfriend, Detective Aiden Ferrell. There's also Darius Clifford, an intelligence officer or quite possibly a spy. The tension builds up leading to the climax. The characters are well-developed, and the pace is steady.
i would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AnitaDavidson for my ARC of #MurderInTheLibrary in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2024
I quite like this historical fiction novel set during World War 2. It reads smoothly and flows well.
The characters are likable and well distinguished apart so that they aren't confused with each other.
This is the second book in the series and is easily read as a stand alone as all the important information is covered in this book and there are no huge holes that leave you guessing.
The story itself is enjoyable and keeps you guessing. The hints and clues are dotted throughout the book and it's not until the grand reveal that you know what the character had put together in their head.
The book is almost in 2 parts as when 4 of them leave on a holiday after the main bit is solved, theres a whole different plot and feel to the story.
All in all, very enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are likable and well distinguished apart so that they aren't confused with each other.
This is the second book in the series and is easily read as a stand alone as all the important information is covered in this book and there are no huge holes that leave you guessing.
The story itself is enjoyable and keeps you guessing. The hints and clues are dotted throughout the book and it's not until the grand reveal that you know what the character had put together in their head.
The book is almost in 2 parts as when 4 of them leave on a holiday after the main bit is solved, theres a whole different plot and feel to the story.
All in all, very enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.
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