Philip K Jones reviews Murder In The Library a Sherlock Holmes mystery

Posted by Steve Emecz on

"The characters are interesting and the story is written to be continued.  Another book is planned and if it is good as the first, I’m sure it will lead to a popular series." Philip K Jones (aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond) reviews the debut novel from Felicia Carparelli - Murder In The Library. The book has recently been picked up for translation and will come out in Italian in early 2012. Here is Phil's review: "This book is a Sherlockian mystery only by courtesy.  The characters are knowledgeable about the Canon and there are Sherlockian echoes in the clues and events.  Otherwise, this is an interesting mystery with well-drawn and fascinating characters set in contemporary Chicago.  I was a bit disappointed as it started, due to the book cover, which indicated a ‘period’ mystery.  However, I soon became involved in the story and characters, which are rich and imaginative.  The mystery is complex and baffling with lots of distractions and false leads. This story is set in an un-named University Library, near Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago.  The heroine is a widowed daughter of a Greek restaurant owner and a retired Italian Opera singer who gives singing lessons.  Both parents cook, a lot!  Our Librarian manages the Reference Department with a staff of five junior Librarians and a number of Student pages.  The other Library staff are varied, interesting and quirky.  Murder definitely upsets the smooth routine of the Library and sets the Gossip Machine into high gear. The disputes, jealousies, grudges and other interrelations are more than enough to provide motives for several murders.  It seems that College Libraries harbor as many ill feelings as most business enterprises.  Mix in a divorced, green-eyed Police detective who pushes all of the Librarian’s buttons and the situation becomes explosive.  As the body count rises, the toll on nerves and relations mounts and stirs the pot.  Meanwhile, the Greek Chef and the Italian Opera Singer feed friends, acquaintances and suspects and provide a safe harbor in the storm. The editing is quite good.  I only saw two or three errors in language and no errors at all in matters Sherlockian.  The characters are interesting and the story is written to be continued.  Another book is planned and if it is good as the first, I’m sure it will lead to a popular series." Murder In The Library is available from all good bookstores (including Amazon), and in all electronic formats including Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and others.

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