Trudy's Diary

Libraries of the World Mystery #1

by Amy M. Reade

Daisy Carruthers moved to Washington, DC, from New York City following an emotionally draining murder investigation, little knowing she would soon be involved in two more. But when her boss and her best friend come under suspicion for killing two adulterous lovers, Daisy has no choice but to help when they ask. And when she comes across a diary and an old dime novel with suspiciously similar stories and unknown origins, she knows all the mysteries are somehow connected.Can she figure out the identity of the killer--or killers--before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2019

About the author

Amy M. Reade is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling mystery author who practiced law until she realized it was way more fun writing fiction.

She writes cozy and Gothic mysteries under the name Amy M. Reade and historical mysteries under the name A.M. Reade. She lives in New Jersey with her family and loves reading, cooking, traveling, playing with the dog, quilling, counted cross-stitch, chocolate, wine, and cheese, though not necessarily in that order.

If you're looking for her and she's not in her office, check the kitchen. If she's not there, she's definitely in the laundry room.

To find out when her next book is coming out and to grab some fun freebies, sign up for her mailing list at www.amymreade.com.

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Reviews

[Carolyn Reade]

My favorite book that I’ve read this year!

[Linda Thorne]

This was a wonderful book, truly enjoyable. I started it last Saturday morning and finished it Sunday night. This is not something I normally do even when the book is difficult to put down, but this weekend I was burnt out with my day job and this was the perfect remedy. The plot is exciting, but the sidesteps into Trudy's diary and the connected story in the dime novel are an added bonus. Who said, popping in backstory took away from the plot? Not here! In this case the drop into the short diary and later, the short dime novel intensified everything. It all tied together well. Good job, Amy Reade.

[Marja McGraw]

Trudy’s Diary: A libraries of the World Mystery is another great mystery offered by Amy M. Reade.

After moving to Washington D.C., Daisy Carruthers hopes life will settle down. She was involved in a murder investigation prior to moving and hopes to find peace and quiet. She’s exhausted. She finds she didn’t get what she wished for when she becomes embroiled in two more murders. Her boss, who was married to one of the victims, and her best friend, who was the last person to see the other victim, soon become persons of interest.

Daisy comes into possession of a very old diary and a dated dime novel and soon starts to see similar stories in these that might relate to the current crimes. Between her boss, her best friend and a woman she works with, things become complicated.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the twists and turns Ms. Reade used to further the story. I highly recommend this book to people who love a good mystery and great character development.

[Pamela]

I enjoy reading every Amy Reade book, and applaud the author for exploring different genres: gothic thrillers, cozy mysteries, and now her new "Libraries of the World" mystery series. As in many contemporary historical novels lately, Reade's book follows the life of Daisy Carruthers in her new job in D.C. as she mourns the loss of her fiancé, and also follows the life of a young woman 100 years earlier who details in a diary her life that seems to suddenly vanish after a short-lived marriage. Reade finds fascinating ways to connect these two women from different centuries to solve two present-day murders centered around Daisy's co-workers.

[Patricia Gligor]

In "Trudy's Diary" by Amy M. Reade, the main character, Daisy Carruthers, is no stranger to murder. Hoping for a fresh start in Washington DC, she fled New York City after being the prime suspect in a murder investigation. But her hopes are dashed when she finds herself once again in the midst of murder. This time, two people close to her are the suspects and she resolves to find the real killer. But there's so much more to this story! History, mystery and a hint of romance.

[Ruth Barrineau-Brooks]

Trudy’s Diary, the first in a new mystery series by Amy Reade, hooked me from page one. The dual narratives of present day Daisy Carruthers and nineteenth century Trudy kept me turning pages and guessing about outcomes until the very end. The characters, past and present, are unforgettable as are the issues explored. I highly recommend this book.

[Barbi Harris]

Giving this 5 stars because I could not figure out the ending until the end! I enjoy historical fiction with good characters. Amy develops her characters deeply enough so you relate to them and learn to like or despise them. She is also really good at keeping the ending a surprise, she got me again!

[Heather]

What a fun read. Add it to your beach or pool bag for this summer. I love the twists and turns (and lots of drama). An old diary and a dime store novel reveal a secret in present day Washington, DC.

[Cynthia]

This one kept me reading.

[Jena Henry]

Mystery lovers know they can count on author Amy M. Reade for an engaging story. She has published traditional, contemporary and gothic mysteries. With Trudy’s Diary, Libraries of the World Mysteries Book 1, she has given us a historical mystery. This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Reade and I will be reading more!

As this is a murder mystery, I won’t share much about the plot, no spoilers! Besides, I have plenty of other enticing details to share. Let’s start with the main character, Daisy. Daisy is an anthropologist and researcher and her skills help her to solve the mysteries in the present and the past.

“Libraries of the World”- what a great setting for a book! Book 1 takes us to The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The imposing buildings are well-described, but what I liked even more than the architectural details was learning how researchers actually use the Library and all its resources.

This story is the Russian nesting dolls of books. In addition to the contemporary murders, we also get to see Trudy’s Diary, the brief journal of a young woman in the Nebraska Territory, circa 1865. And we also read a story from a 1910 dime novel. Both the diary and the dime novel story were well written in the manner of the times, and as engaging as the main mystery. Through these stories, we learn something important that has a bearing on the current events in Daisy’s life. We also are reminded of the challenges and issues that women faced over one hundred years ago, and still must handle today. Author Reade brings the history to life.

Now, I must get writerly-nerdy. I was also quite taken with the author’s tight writing style. No wasted words here, I was immediately caught up in the mystery. The story of the main character, Daisy, is told in the third person, which allows her personality to shine. Daisy is clear, straight-forward and honest. She knows herself. She has felt pain. She is a likeable companion- I wished she could be my friend and I care about her as she did her best to help her friends.

I bonded with Daisy and her friends, and with Trudy and I was immersed in trying to solve the mystery. Did I? Perhaps the present-day crimes, but not the voices of the past. I can’t wait to visit the next library!

[Pat Wahler]

I'm normally not a mystery reader, but I picked up Trudy's Diary and thoroughly enjoyed it. This story reminded me of a dual timeline, in that the main character works to solve two present-day murders. During the course of the investigation, she is given a diary where she's drawn into a story from the past, with details that become relevant to the present. Well-plotted and convincing, I heartily recommend Trudy's Diary.

[Phyllis Entis]

In the best tradition of the romantic cozy

Author Amy Reade has created a compelling story, weaving together a murder mystery, romance and an old diary. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read that has me looking forward to the next installment in the World Mysteries series.