I enjoyed reading ARSENIC AND OLD BOOKS by Miranda James. It is packed with suspense throughout which will leave it hard for you to put down. With loveable characters that you would feel at home with, this novel is a must to put on your list to read. Miranda James starts it out at a great pace with all the events happening at a reasonable rate. I felt with such a great storyline the last chapter could have been extended a little more without the quick explanation of by whom and why the murder took place. I personally like my suspense to last until the end with that "Oh my, what will happen to them" as the main character gets himself in a bind. However, all in all it is still a great read I would recommend as long as you do not mind the lack of suspense at the end.
The main character, Charlie, works in Athena College's archive when the mayor approached him with her husband's ancestor's diaries from the civil war. She, along with her husband is donating them to the college in hopes that the students at the school could use them. Once the word gets out about the diaries everyone, it seems, want to read them first. Including those that might have a hand at seeing the mayor's son not making it to the senate seat. What could be in these diaries that are worth killing for?
Overall ARSENIC AND OLD BOOKS is a brilliant storyline with the most entertaining characters that gives you that cozy up on the couch feeling that I usually love from a cozy mystery. Plus this novel has a bonus short story at the end! Miranda James' A Cat in the Stacks Mystery series has many more adventures ahead I'm sure and I look forward to the next one.
In Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is known
for his good natureβand for his Maine coon cat Diesel that
he walks on a leash. Charlie returned to his hometown to
immerse himself in books, but taking the plunge into a
recent acquisition will have him in over his headβ¦
Lucinda Beckwith Long, the mayor of Athena, has donated a
set of Civil War-era diaries to the archives of Athena
College. The books were recently discovered among the
personal effects of an ancestor of Mrs. Longβs husband.
The
mayor would like Charlie to preserve and to substantiate
them as a part of the Long family legacyβsomething that
could benefit her son, Beck, as he prepares to campaign
for
the state senate.
Beckβs biggest rival is Jasper Singletary. His Southern
roots are as deep as Beckβs, and their families have been
bitter enemies since the Civil War. Jasper claims the Long
clan has a history of underhanded behavior at the expense
of
the Singletarys. Heβd like to get a look at the diaries in
an attempt to expose the Long familyβs past sins.
Meanwhile,
a history professor at the college is also determined to
get
her hands on the books in a last-ditch bid for tenure. But
their interest suddenly turns deadlyβ¦
Now Charlie is left with a catalog of questions. The
diaries
seem worth killing for, and one thing is certain: Charlie
will need to be careful, because the more he reads, the
closer he could be coming to his final chapterβ¦
No excerpt available.
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