The Library Murders by M.R. Mackenzie: An Unlikely Duo on the Hunt for a Killer @LifeBookish

The Library Murders by M.R. Mackenzie Kindle Edition, 335 pg. Mad House, 220 Read: August 18-19, 2020

What’s The Library Murders About?

The book opens with a pleasant first chapter, almost enough to make you forget something horrible is promised by the title. I stress the almost because it reminds you something’s coming. You could easily take that first chapter and put it into a General Fiction/Women’s Commercial Fiction kind of thing.

And then the title happens. As murders go, they’re pretty shocking, particularly when you put they happen in a small library.

Alyssa, fifteen minutes into her first shift when they occur, is one of two survivors. And while she survived, she definitely didn’t come through unscathed. Neither did Davy, the outgoing man who had been trying to make her feel comfortable on her first day. While their recovery is never the focus of the the novel, it’s present throughout, and I think the impact of their trauma is depicted realistically and sensitively.

Davy, from Day 1, thinks that the police aren’t looking in the right direction for the culprit. Alyssa has no such concern—honestly, she does all she can to not think about, or care about, the investigation, or its result. But after some goading from Davy, she agrees to help him a little while he looks into things.

It’s not long before she begins to share his doubts, and soon she’s pursuing things on her own. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and the dangerous situation they survived is just the beginning.

I was surprised at how little time we ended up spending with the detectives on the case, because early on it seems like they were going to be a real focus for the narrative. They do get some good moments, but they are mostly off-screen. On the one hand, the book didn’t need them—it was compelling enough as is. But after the introduction we’re given to them, I’d have welcomed a little more time with them throughout, getting their perspective on the investigation.

Poor Canada?

(that works best if you sing it to the opening of the Canadian Anthem)

Poor Alyssa…time after time after time she’s called an American. She’s from a small town in Saskatchewan—and many of the people who make references to her being from the States are aware of that. But that doesn’t stop them—and it, understandably, starts to get to her. It’s a great running gag with a good pay off in a book that needs the occasional light touch to relieve the tension.

What One Thing was the Biggest Surprise of the Novel?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to give any plot spoilers. Give me a little credit. But the thing that came absolutely out of nowhere—and from a completely unexpected source—was a lengthy tribute to Library workers and the value of their service. It was unexpected, sincere, and heartfelt. I can just imagine if I worked in a library and came across this passage that I’d have an extra spring in my step the next time that I went to work.

So, what did I think about The Library Murders?

I was riveted. I found myself invested almost from page one into what happened to Alyssa, Davy and the lead detective—not just as it regards the Library Murders, but beyond that.

Mackenzie keeps things well-paced and times the reveals along the way deftly.

I was thoroughly satisfied with this and definitely recommend The Library Murders as a compelling way to spend a few hours.

My thanks to Overview Media for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) they provided.