Due or Die (Library Lover's Mystery #2) by Jenn McKinlay

Maybe it has been awhile since I have read one of these because there were some flaws that I are typical to cozy mysteries but for whatever reason, I found them distracting this time.

In the world of cozy mysteries, I love Jenn McKinlay. The Cupcake Bakery mysteries are some favorites that I enjoy sharing and trading with my mother-in-law. The Library Lover's Mysteries are an obvious choice for me, and as expected, there were times while I was reading this book that I longed to be librarian. Surrounded by books and maybe even some people that actually enjoy reading books. I love that aspect of the main character, Lindsey. She remembers people by the books they read. It is her librarian super power. Lindsey does have some inconsistencies in her character. For example, like all cozy mysteries, Lindsey finds herself investigating the murder of her friend's husband. Like many cozy mysteries, there are a number of suspects because Carrie's husband is not a nice man. As Lindsey chats with possible suspects, at times she is crafty and tactful ( see her discuss with suspect Dale Wilcox) and other times she is completely tactless ( see her discuss with suspect Cylde Perkins).

Another cozy element that appears in all stories is the bad weather or some natural element that causes problems or limits communication. This story it was a snow story. Appropriately so, it was snowing as I was reading this, so I enjoyed that aspect. I found it funny that when Beth and Lindsey go to the library to dig it out. Lindsey refers to it as "excruciatingly boring work." I have shoveled a lot of snow that is not how I would describe it. It does allow Lindsey more time away from work so she can get further drawn into solving the mystery.

The snow also provided more fuel to get the love story going. I find this interesting. For most of the book, Lindsey is weak and mild manner in her deals with heart throb Sully. Ex- military, big reader, and all around nice guy, Sully plays the role to the modern day knight-in-shiny-armor when needed. Either to give Lindsey a ride home from the library because the weather is too bad for her to use her bike or rescue her and friends from being locked in the library storage area. In the budding relationship is no secret to anyone, Sully seems like a solid and likable guy. Lindsey likes him from the previous novel ( Books can be Deceiving). I just found it distracting and unbelievable to that she switches drastically from her heart flip-flopping when he is around to the "he hasn't asked me out so I am going to do what I want" attitude toward the final third of the book. I honestly don't think that was developed enough to be believable.

Overall though, it is a solid cozy mystery. It has love, books, a small town, quirky town people, a pet dog, pick up trucks, a dashing hero, and of course a murder. I enjoyed many of the character besides the main character so that makes it easy to read. Perhaps I am not being fair in my assessment because many of the quirks I have pointed out are what make cozy mysteries enjoyable.

Lastly, for the book lovers out there... the novels mentioned in their book discussion group are A Room with a View by E. M. Forster and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. There is even a short book discussion guide for Wuthering Heights.

Now there is another genre of book I love to read... retelling of classics... maybe my next read.