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Megan Clark #5
Murder By the Book
Librarian Megan Clark and her reading group steal a page from Christie.
Librarian Megan Clark discovers a series of corpses, making her the prime suspect. To clear her name, she'll need to find the killer who's obviously been boning up on Agatha Christie novels. Could it be a member of her own book club?
Librarian Megan Clark discovers a series of corpses, making her the prime suspect. To clear her name, she'll need to find the killer who's obviously been boning up on Agatha Christie novels. Could it be a member of her own book club?
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 6, 2006
3 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
D.R. Meredith
26 books31 followers(from Fantastic Fiction online)
D.R. Meredith, Doris to friends and family, has a split personality--by day, she is a conservatively dressed legal secretary at her husband Mike's law firm. By night she turns into Mrs. Hyde dressed in jeans, flip-flops, and Texas Rangers tee shirt, and commits bloody murder.
She is now in double digits. In her fourth book in the Megan Clark mystery series, the 18th book of her career, D.R. Meredith has just committed her 35th murder.
"I usually average 2 murders a book, because one murder in a closed circle of suspects usually leads to another in the accepted Agatha Christie fashion. In TOME OF DEATH there are two murders, but they occur 150 years apart. I like linking the past and present and exploring the effect our past has on our present. I can't tell how I use the past without giving a broad hint to the killer's identity, but I will say that human beings don't change over time except in dress and customs. My Comanche warrior amateur sleuth isn't all that different in emotional feelings from modern paleopathologist Megan Clark, except Megan isn't into scalping."
D.R. Meredith, Doris to friends and family, has a split personality--by day, she is a conservatively dressed legal secretary at her husband Mike's law firm. By night she turns into Mrs. Hyde dressed in jeans, flip-flops, and Texas Rangers tee shirt, and commits bloody murder.
She is now in double digits. In her fourth book in the Megan Clark mystery series, the 18th book of her career, D.R. Meredith has just committed her 35th murder.
"I usually average 2 murders a book, because one murder in a closed circle of suspects usually leads to another in the accepted Agatha Christie fashion. In TOME OF DEATH there are two murders, but they occur 150 years apart. I like linking the past and present and exploring the effect our past has on our present. I can't tell how I use the past without giving a broad hint to the killer's identity, but I will say that human beings don't change over time except in dress and customs. My Comanche warrior amateur sleuth isn't all that different in emotional feelings from modern paleopathologist Megan Clark, except Megan isn't into scalping."
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 9, 2016
I guessed the murderer halfway through. And I thought the protagonist's romantic interest was creepy.
January 6, 2023
So I actually enjoyed this book most of the time but the ending was so disappointing and the romance so weird that I can't rate it any higher than a 2. There is an archeological (potential) murder to be solved and that part is a 5, easily the best, most interesting aspect of the book. But the present-day murder is a 1 (I can't elaborate without spoilers, so I will give why below), so it averages to a 3. However, the romance in the book is so uncomfortable that it knocks my rating down a whole star, because the two main characters (Megan and Ryan) are both weirdly lustful without seeming to have any reason to be and (this is the worst thing!) Ryan is Megan's best friend's father and she grew up with him as a father figure! This is NOT romantic, it is creepy and weird and I hate it so much! The actual mystery was OK but weird father figure/daughter figure romance is NOT OK.
Also, for the SPOILERS part of this: the book club is reading an Agatha Christie book and they reference it over and over and discuss the plot, which would be fine, except that the author straight up ripped off Christie's plotline from that exact book. It is painfully obvious from halfway through that is the direction it is going, so much so that if I hadn't been intrigued by the archeological mystery, I would not have bothered finishing the book. The murderer was extremely obvious and it was a disappointing rip-off of Christie.
Also, for the SPOILERS part of this: the book club is reading an Agatha Christie book and they reference it over and over and discuss the plot, which would be fine, except that the author straight up ripped off Christie's plotline from that exact book. It is painfully obvious from halfway through that is the direction it is going, so much so that if I hadn't been intrigued by the archeological mystery, I would not have bothered finishing the book. The murderer was extremely obvious and it was a disappointing rip-off of Christie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2020
It was intriguing in the middle.
It took me a while to get into this story. I really liked the cold case plot line and found that story very intriguing. It was an interesting twist to the plot line to have two separate mysteries going at the same time and of course I have have always loved Agatha. At one point and through most of the story I believed these two stories were related and tied together.
I started to sway from being intrigued with it at the end with the revealing of who done it. It dragged out too many chapters and the history lesson on the Great Depression dragged too lengthy for me and I found myself thinking; C'mon, let's be done with this already."
Learned something I didn't know about old cars and radiators.
But it did not intrigue me enough to read the other books in the Megan Clark series. The romance had some interest and I'd liked to have seen how that relationship worked out, but since there is only a limited set of books in this series, the relationship never got that far.
It took me a while to get into this story. I really liked the cold case plot line and found that story very intriguing. It was an interesting twist to the plot line to have two separate mysteries going at the same time and of course I have have always loved Agatha. At one point and through most of the story I believed these two stories were related and tied together.
I started to sway from being intrigued with it at the end with the revealing of who done it. It dragged out too many chapters and the history lesson on the Great Depression dragged too lengthy for me and I found myself thinking; C'mon, let's be done with this already."
Learned something I didn't know about old cars and radiators.
But it did not intrigue me enough to read the other books in the Megan Clark series. The romance had some interest and I'd liked to have seen how that relationship worked out, but since there is only a limited set of books in this series, the relationship never got that far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2017
I was surprised I didn't enjoy this book more, especially since it is set amidst a book club. I didn't find it very compelling in either plot or character development, and the writing often seemed stilted or contrived in order to work in a point or detail. Route 66 is somewhat of a character in the story, and Agatha Christie novels form a backdrop-- both interesting ideas that somehow didn't captivate me. I did enjoy the various quotes with the chapter breaks from other murder mysteries through the centuries. Typos grew more prolific toward the end as well-- editing just seemed to fall of about 2/3 of the way through. And the final explanation about the murder was missing a significant detail that took away all plausibility. Disappointing.
March 23, 2021
A good read but...
Another great murder mystery by D R Meredith. I would have liked to give this book 5 stars. However, the horrible editing broke up the flow of the story. Words were left out of sentences and extra words were inserted that made no sense. In one chapter when Megan was interviewing Rosemary in two places she called Rosemary, Agnes! I am rather appalled that a book can be re-released in this day and age of technology with so MANY errors, even my Microsoft program shows me if a sentence does not make sense and I can change it. I read all of D R Meredith's books years ago in paperbacks and there were not the errors I experienced in the kindle edition.
Another great murder mystery by D R Meredith. I would have liked to give this book 5 stars. However, the horrible editing broke up the flow of the story. Words were left out of sentences and extra words were inserted that made no sense. In one chapter when Megan was interviewing Rosemary in two places she called Rosemary, Agnes! I am rather appalled that a book can be re-released in this day and age of technology with so MANY errors, even my Microsoft program shows me if a sentence does not make sense and I can change it. I read all of D R Meredith's books years ago in paperbacks and there were not the errors I experienced in the kindle edition.
January 27, 2019
The characters, the reading group, the small town police, the heroine Meagan and her friend, Ryan, and the plot are just what I wanted to find. The extra data in the reading about how a dead body doesn't bleed,and the sadness of the historic tales of those folks passing through town because of the Depression and the Dust Bowl- is well told. Even the beginning chapters on weather and the changes to a drying up of previous water areas, is well told. I just liked the way the characters interacted, and Meagan was so overtly intelligent except for when it camw to her personal life and people skills. This was a fun read and the references to A Christie seem probable.
March 12, 2013
I really like this series. I gave this book 5 stars because I love the concept and want to join such a Book Club too but I decided with this book, the second one that I've read, that I have a few issues with the series.
The Book Club meets at a used bookstore to discuss mysteries but gets involved in real murder mysteries. The protagonist, Megan Clark, is a 26 year-old anthropologist who works as a research librarian. Her "best friend" is her next-door neighbor Ryan, a 46 year-old man and the father of her childhood friend. Obviously, he's panting to be more than her friend but she's oblivious. Yech! It would have been okay if he was not a father figure in her life. Add to that the fact that the man is a complete wimp and faints at the sight of and word Blood. Even if he is a hunk. Megan is macho and Ryan is wimpy. She also is a take charge and go forward person, no matter what problems that might cause. And Megan keeps stumbling over bodies.
This book has a circumstance that I find very intriguing. First, because of the drought, the local lake has receded enough to reveal an old abandoned car from the Depression era. Megan wants to investigate this mystery but not everyone is willing. And then bodies start appearing and since Megan discovers them, she is the prime suspect.
I hope to find the other books in this series but they are out of print.
The Book Club meets at a used bookstore to discuss mysteries but gets involved in real murder mysteries. The protagonist, Megan Clark, is a 26 year-old anthropologist who works as a research librarian. Her "best friend" is her next-door neighbor Ryan, a 46 year-old man and the father of her childhood friend. Obviously, he's panting to be more than her friend but she's oblivious. Yech! It would have been okay if he was not a father figure in her life. Add to that the fact that the man is a complete wimp and faints at the sight of and word Blood. Even if he is a hunk. Megan is macho and Ryan is wimpy. She also is a take charge and go forward person, no matter what problems that might cause. And Megan keeps stumbling over bodies.
This book has a circumstance that I find very intriguing. First, because of the drought, the local lake has receded enough to reveal an old abandoned car from the Depression era. Megan wants to investigate this mystery but not everyone is willing. And then bodies start appearing and since Megan discovers them, she is the prime suspect.
I hope to find the other books in this series but they are out of print.
December 11, 2010
I wish D. R. Meredith would write more than five books for her series. By the time I've fallen in love with the characters, the series ends and I'm left hanging.
As for the series... This one involves Megan Clark, an anthropologist who has to work as a librarian. She starts a mystery lovers book club--Murder by the Yard--at a local bookstore and together she and her "gang" solve murders that affect Megan or members of the club.
Megan and her group are likable. The mysteries are involving. Ms. Meredith definitely knows her territory (Texas), which makes it a character, too. The books are quick reads. If you like intelligent writing and good characters, you won't go wrong with any of the books in the Murder by the Book series.
As for the series... This one involves Megan Clark, an anthropologist who has to work as a librarian. She starts a mystery lovers book club--Murder by the Yard--at a local bookstore and together she and her "gang" solve murders that affect Megan or members of the club.
Megan and her group are likable. The mysteries are involving. Ms. Meredith definitely knows her territory (Texas), which makes it a character, too. The books are quick reads. If you like intelligent writing and good characters, you won't go wrong with any of the books in the Murder by the Book series.
March 22, 2012
This is a very good mystery although some of the characters can be very irritating. Megan Clark at 26 seems to be very immature, although she wants to be recognized as an adult. She throws temper tantrums and insists on being called Doctor (she has a PHD in paleoanthropolgy and archaeology). Her friend Ryan Stevens is a drama queen every time Megan wants to help investigate a murder. He is so afraid that she will be a murder victim herself that he makes huge scenes as well. Both of these people need to take a CHILL PILL!! These type of scenes get old after 5 books. However, the plots are well constructed and interesting.
January 2, 2008
Just finished this book. I was bummed to find out that it's the fourth of a mystery reading group series. Thankfully you don't have to read them in order but still.
The book was really good. I liked it because the writer really made the characters come to life for me. i could really envision the reading group sitting together talking about mystery books and yet, solving a crime at the same time. i really like the main character, Megan and how she goes about solving the mystery.
I would recommend this book to anyone that would like a quick ready mystery.
The book was really good. I liked it because the writer really made the characters come to life for me. i could really envision the reading group sitting together talking about mystery books and yet, solving a crime at the same time. i really like the main character, Megan and how she goes about solving the mystery.
I would recommend this book to anyone that would like a quick ready mystery.
April 29, 2008
Why do I keep buying books by this author? Answer, I don't know but this is definitely the last. The main character in this series is entirely too unconvincing & impossible to relate to. A brilliant! beautiful! mistreated! paleoanthropolist who chooses to live in Amarillo & work as a librarian rather than pursue her real career elsewhere. The May/December romance doesn't bother me, however, Megan's headlong persistence in following a crime over 70 years old is totally unconvincing & annoying.
August 27, 2015
Another pretty decent cozy mystery in this series. The character interactions are a little weird, though. Also, I don't really understand Megan and Ryan as a potential couple, they seem very awkward together and with nothing really in common. The mystery itself had historical and modern puzzles to solve. The modern version solution was pretty obvious but the historical murder was interesting.
November 22, 2013
3.5 Stars. Let's just say I'm a sucker for solving cold cases from 70 years ago, that was much more interesting to me than the current day murder in this book. Overall I enjoyed this story but there were a lot of misspelled words that are actually other words that spell check doesn't catch but are the wrong word for that sentence which I don't expect to see in a finished novel.
April 22, 2008
Fast, fun read. The main character reminds me of the 'Bones' character. I definitely will be looking for the other books by this author.
February 29, 2012
slow and boring and main character was not really likable.
December 21, 2013
I enjoyed the story, but not the romance between an old man and young woman. The story could have survived without that.
June 6, 2016
Good. Seems to be the end of the series, although I would have liked to know what happened in the end with Megan and Ryan.
Read
January 8, 2017Not sure where I acquired this little murder mystery but I'm glad I did. A good read. Nice twists. Tidy little murder mystery involving a small town along the Historic Route 66.
dnf
May 10, 2018Going ahead and DNFing this. The main character has a love story with her best friend’s father (19 years her senior). I could not deal with it, even to read about an archaeologist and a murder mystery.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews