WORD TO THE WISE is the tenth book in Jenn McKinlay’s “Library Lover’s” cozy mystery series, which follows library director Lindsey Norris as she acts as frequent amateur sleuth. In this installment, Lindsey is preparing for her wedding to her longtime beau when a library patron turns into a stalker. After working in a library for years myself and seeing this type of situation play out with librarians, this story sadly rings true. Fans of cozy mysteries often see the amateur sleuths in their favorite books as being “safe” no matter the circumstances. The story starts out in the quaint small town with familiar fun characters, when a sinister presence is introduced, turning things briefly into a nightmare for the main character.

The main characters are put into an interesting situation when Lindsey’s stalker is murdered. In this case, a lot of people are better off when Aaron Grady is murdered. The possibility that Lindsey must look for possible suspects among people who have been victimized by Grady is a tragic prospect, but it needs to be done in order to throw suspicion off her fiancée and herself. I like how Jenn McKinlay gives a realistic look at how some men in power react to stalking situations. Lindsey struggles to be taken seriously by men in the community she has known for years, and who should believe her. Trying to find out who killed Grady means digging into his past and discovering the twisted and tangled things in his background.

WORD TO THE WISE is heart-stopping and a mix of thrills and classic cozy mystery staples. I love how Lindsey’s friends, family, and co-workers act as fierce protectors and give her the support she needs, as she’s initially threatened and later as she’s hunting down clues. I look forward to Jenn McKinlay’s next book – whether it’s a cozy mystery or one of her contemporary romances.