Murder in the Library by Anita Davison Book Review

About the Book:

April 1916 and Hannah volunteers at the Endell Street Military Hospital as part of her war effort and to pass the time waiting for Darius Cliffford, whose Secret Service Bureau work will hopefully help end the war.

When Hannah finds the body of a soldier in the Library one morning, no one seems to know what he was doing there and in a building containing five hundred injured soldiers, where does Inspector Farrell begin looking for a killer?

Hannah offers her services gathering information for the overworked policeman, but cannot resist doing some detective work of her own. When a young nurse goes missing, no one takes it seriously but Hannah is convinced there is a connection.

Her search takes her and her Aunt Violet to Lowestoft - are the answers on the Sussex coast?

My Review:

This historical mystery set in WW I England immerses readers in the period. We read of anticipating the U.S. entering the war even though President Wilson was against it. The American sentiment began to change as the Germans began attacking non-military ships. I think that informative setting is the strength of the novel.

The mystery was a little different as it was solved about half way through. But there was another mystery, sort of, with a missing woman. That is resolved with a suitable bit of suspense near the end. The characters are done rather well and add interest with their relationships.

This is a good novel for readers who would like a mystery set in WW I England with lots of good setting description and interesting characters.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the first book in this series, Murder in the Bookshop. 

About the Author:

Anita's first published novels were set in the 17th Century, about The Woufe Family of Loxsbeare in Exeter during the Monmouth Rebellion and the Glorious Revolution. Royalist Rebel, based on Elizabeth Murray, later the Duchess of Lauderdale during her youth in the English Civil War.

Anita's current works are the Flora Maguire Mysteries, a series of Edwardian Cozy Mysteries published by Aria Fiction. The first book is Flora's Secret set on an Atlantic Steamship in 1900, followed by Betrayal at Cleeve Abbey, A Knightsbridge Scandal, The Forgotten Children and The Bloomsbury Affair which was released in November 2018.

Her novel, Envy The Wind set on Prince Edward Island in the year 1905, was written as part of the Canadian Historical Brides Series published by BWL Publishing, Canada in July 2018.

Boldwood Books, 266 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)