Lindsey is called to a local mansion to claim a lovely collection of rare books for the public library, and she enlists the help of her friends to box them up and haul them away. But strange things start happening in the sort of spooky house, which meshes nicely with the prodigal son's return to usher his dementia-toting mother into full-time care. And then they find a secret room and it's deceased resident. Creepier and creepier...
This Halloween-themed entry in the series is a little weaker than the others, but I still enjoyed trying to solve the mystery and catching up with the characters. I'll keep going with the series when the next one comes out. ( )

The Plot and the Pendulum
4 Stars

When William Dorchester decides to donate his family's significant collection of books, including some priceless works, to the Briar Creek library, Lindsay Norris, the library director, is ecstatic. But cataloging the collection takes a sinister turn when a secret room is located containing a skeleton believed to be a missing woman known as the "Runaway Bride".

Once again, Lindsay and her Crafternooners become involved in investigating a cold case - the disappearance of Grace Little, a newlywed, who vanished 3 decades prior. Unlike most of the books in this series, the first few chapters are dedicated to exposition, and the remains are only found about 1/3 in. While establishing the backgrounds of the various suspects is necessary, it does slow the pacing. However, the action picks up thereafter, and the rest of the narrative is compelling, especially the reenactment of the crime and the truly sad and disturbing revelation of what happened to Grace.

The subtle inclusion of several paranormal elements and allusions to the works of Edgar Allen Poe - the gothic mansion with its aged owner, the secret room housing a decomposing corpse, the cold drafts, and the vanishing cat - all contribute to the creepy atmosphere of this installment. As a fan of Poe, this is an added bonus.

In sum, this is a fun addition to the series. At this time, it appears to be the final book as McKinlay has yet to announce the next one. Hopefully, there will be more of Lindsay and the Crafternooners soon. ( )

Wow! This book was really exciting. The story involves a secret room and the discovery of skeletal remains inside! This was a great addition to the Library Lover's Mystery series (lucky number 13!)

I really enjoyed this story about Lindsay Morris, library director. The library was delighted to be the beneficiary of a large library from the Dorchester estate. I was excited to try this story as an audiobook. The narrator of the story did a wonderful job, and I could easily picture the story as it unfolded. The narrator used different voices and tones to convey the many characters and it was terrific - I had no problems following along at all! In the past, I have shied away from audiobooks after a few duds- but I will happily listen to any books by this narrator.

The story was compelling and the characters were a lot of fun. I haven't read all of the books in this series, but I had no problem following along and enjoying the characters fully. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a creepy cozy mystery! ( )

An astounding donation of books from a vast private library ensnares Lindsey into more than she bargained for. Thrilled with the collection, which includes several rare books, she and her helpers go to box up and move the books. Inspecting the bookcases, Lindsey discovers one is not quite right, and finds a secret room behind the case. Venturing into the room, she discovers a skeleton whose hand is resting on a book of Poe. Speculating about a cold case involving of the disappearance of a new bride sends Lindsey down a path that could prove to be dangerous for her. It's a great tale, with some unexplained happenings, but then, it is close to Hallowe'en! This well written series just seems to get better with each book. With great characters, an intriguing plot that moves at a good pace, and a lovely setting, this tale is entertaining and is everything a great cozy should be. ( )