Anita Davison's "Murder in the Library" is a captivating historical mystery set against the backdrop of World War I. In 1916, bookshop manager and amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill finds herself embroiled in a chilling investigation when she discovers the body of a soldier in the hospital library. The plot thickens as a young nurse confides in Hannah about feeling followed before vanishing without a trace. As Hannah delves deeper into the interconnected mysteries, she enlists the help of her resourceful aunt, Violet, leading to a thrilling race against time.

Davison expertly crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and endearing, particularly the dynamic duo of Hannah and Aunt Violet, whose witty banter adds levity to the intense storyline. The historical setting is meticulously researched, immersing readers in the sights and sounds of wartime England.

What sets "Murder in the Library" apart is its intricate plot full of unexpected twists and turns. Davison masterfully weaves together multiple threads, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they unravel the truth behind the crimes. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, culminating in a satisfying and unpredictable conclusion.

Overall, "Murder in the Library" is a must-read for fans of historical mysteries and amateur sleuths. With its compelling plot, well-drawn characters, and evocative setting, this book is sure to keep readers entertained from start to finish.

Book 2 in the series, which I came to without having read the first. No great matter, it was easy enough to get the gist of what had happened in book 1.

This is a perfectly satisfactory entry into the (somewhat crowded) cozy historical murder-mystery genre. I didn't quite get a sense of the main characters, Hannah Merrill and her Aunt Violet, but the story carries along nicely enough. I say story, but this time the reader gets 2 for 1, with a dead body swiftly followed by a missing nurse. Whilst the 2 are sort of related, they never really quite fitted together, and one is solved first, then we turn to the 2nd case, so it felt a bit like 2 short stories stitched together to make 1 book.

However, the writing is fresh, the First World War setting is well-done, and the motley collection of characters keep the reader interested. 3.5 stars, but I can't quite round it up to 4.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Murder In The Library' by Anita Davison.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Anita Davison, Rachel's Random Resources, Book And Tonic, Boldwood Books, Poison & Pens and The Bold Book Club

Publication date 19th February 2024

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the second book in her 'A Miss Merrill And Aunt Violet Mystery' series but can be read as a standalone.

This novel consists of 20 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

I will start by saying that I must admit that I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Anita has written this book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The synopsis and cover also suit the storyline. The storyline is easy to read, a great cosy mystery and filled with everything you could ask for in a murder mystery! I love the way that Hannah and Violet go about their detective work. There was so much going on that it kept me entertained thoroughly throughout with mystery after mystery and clue after clue. It was filled with suspense, mystery, books, murder, clues,. tension, suspense and so much more!! It is a perfect book to to read either curled in front of the fire or lying on a beach which not many books can achieve. I would liken the storyline to a rollercoaster where it starts off slowly while you are ascending to the top and then once you've reached the top and start going down it picks up speed and is filled with twists and turns! Although it is a slow starter I still managed to read it in just two sitting sand I am looking forward to reading the first book in this series which is called 'Murder In the Bookshop' and meeting the characters from the start. I never did work out who the killer was and was completely shocked when they were discovered. A great achievement as I am a huge crime fan and tend to work out who did what quite early on. The atmosphere was perfectly suited to the mystery and I love the fact that the murder is based in a library as I just love any books that involve more books in the storyline and the fact that our protagonist Hannah is also a librarian is a huge bonus for me! The fact that Anita has researched the historical elements shines through the book and I loved travelling back into history and learning how things were done differently then, although I definitely did not like the attitude towards women that, although factual, is extremely irritating to say the least! It is a huge annoyance when authors do not do enough research into the topic or era they have included in their storylines as it can ruin what would otherwise be a great read but Anita has definitely avoided making that mistake!!

Although this is the second book in the series I would had absolutely no problems reading without reading the first book in the series which is called 'Murder In the Bookshop'. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

The characters were all larger than life, realistic and a complete breathe of fresh air. I love the fact that our main protagonist Hannah is a librarian as being a book lover any characters that are associated with books themselves is always a bonus!! She is a very young, kind and caring woman and I absolutely loved her relationship with her Aunt Violet. Violet is also a strong character and I thoroughly enjoyed their investigation techniques which I found to be intriguing and fun. Sadly, as is correct during the era this book is set in, they are not taken seriously being women and their ideas and thoughts are constantly dismissed but this made me even more pleased when they are proven correct and shows the men that women can do just a good and if not better job than many males!! Definitely fantastic girl power going on in this book!! It was also enjoyable watching the interactions between Hannah and Darius and watching their relationship develop. Darius is another likeable character who I enjoyed getting to know and found to be intriguing as he works in the War Office and is potentially a spy. Another main character we meet is DI Aidan Farrell. Hannah is not a fan of him and finds him to be unsympathetic but Aidan definitely has eyes for her Aunt Violet!! I am a huge animal lover so I definitely cannot forget to mention Bartleby who is the bookstores cat!! I run Golden Oldies cat rescue, which you can find on social media if you are interested, so any animals in books and especially cats is always a huge bonus for me and I absolutely loved Bartleby!! A great group of characters that I look forward to meeting again in the previous and future books in this series especially the strong and independent Hannah and Violet!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Anita's 'Death On Board' which is the first installment of her 'Flora Maguire Mystery' series and is one I am looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall a fun and easy to read page turning cozy murder mystery with the perfect amount of crime and much more that will keep you hooked throughout.

266 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.45 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#MurderInTheLibrary #MissMerrillAndAuntVioletMysteries #AnitaDavison #BoldwoodBooks #Boldwood #BoldwoodBloggers #theboldbookclub #BookAndTonic #PoisonAndPens #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited

@MurderInTheLibrary @MissMerrillAndAuntVioletMysteries @AnitaDavison @BoldwoodBooks @Boldwood @BoldwoodBloggers @theboldbookclub @BookAndTonic @PoisonAndPens @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited

https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?ref=bookmarks

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__tn__=%2As-R

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhitlock86/

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34299953-kirsty-bookworm86

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AFZ2XZBSFHIHXBXGZLBQ666XVK4A?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_mb_l_prf

What a delightful, cozy read! Hannah and Aunt Violet are wonderful characters engaged in a mystery that I was keen to unravel with them. Murder in the Library is lovely historical novel that is easy to read and difficult to put down until the mystery has been solved

I really enjoyed the world that Anita Davison created, and I felt transported back to England at the start of WWII with her strong characters and wonderfully descriptive prose. Hannah and Aunt Violet are independent and tough as nails in a time when women were thought to be too delicate to do much of anything. I was cheering for them all the way.

Get yourself a cup of tea and a snack, because once you start Murder in the Library you simply won’t want to put it down.

Thank you to both Boldwood Books and Anita Davison for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

A pinch of historical fiction, a bit of romance, a well research and vivid historical background, well plotted and interesting characters, a solid mystery with surprising twists that kept me guessing.
This is the synthesis of this book.
An entertaining, well plotted and tightly knitted novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is the second in this series and it can be read as a stand alone even if there’s a spoiler of the first novel so I would recommend to read it in order.
I had fun, appreciated the description of the hospital and how it worked. The plot is twisty and kept me hooked as I wanted to know what was going to happen.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

Murder in the Library is the second book in the Miss Merill and Aunt Violent cosy crime mystery series. I have read the first book.

Events begin quickly in this one when Hannah finds a body in the hospital library where she volunteers. Although she doesn't intend to, Hannah quickly finds herself embroiled in the investigation to uncover who killed the dead man and why. Along the way, she finds herself involved in a few tricky situations as the toll of World War I begins to be felt in Britain.

All the familiar characters from Book 1 reappear, and I'm enjoying the relationships that are developing between Aunt Violet and Hannah.

The mystery is intriguing, although it seems to be resolved fairly quickly. Although, fear not, for there is more at play and more to uncover.

It's a really enjoyable historical mystery. Hannah is a fun character, as is her aunt, and I'm enjoying reading about the two women flouting the social constraints of the era.

It's sure to appeal to fans of a good historical who dun it.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

A wonderful story that will qrip you from beginning to end!
I couldn't put this book down it was so entertaining!
I loved Hannah and her Aunt Violet. They made an awesome team.
The plot kept me guessing until the end. I absolutely enjoyed and had fun with this delightful book.
My favorite thing was that it was set in a bookstores!

Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet are back, six months after their bookshop was partially destroyed by a bomb. While the shop was being rebuilt, Hannah started to work as a volunteer at the Endell Street Military Hospital in the library there where her shop assistant Archie Root’s older sister Dinah is also working as a nurse. One morning she has a shock when she finds the library locked and inside lies the corpse of one of the patients, a Sergeant Tillman who seemed to be universally disliked. Does the scrap of paper in the book he was reading hold a clue to who shot him dead? One young volunteer nurse, Alice Dalglish, probably the last person to see the man before he disappeared off her ward, seems particularly jumpy and frightened and convinced she is being followed. Not long after the discovery of the body, a case being worked on by DI Aidan Farrell and DC Pendleton, aided by Hannah’s childhood friend Darius Clifford with his hush-hush Secret Service work, Alice vanishes from her lodgings. Could the two events be connected? With Farrell left short-staffed by the call up to fight, Harriet is determined to help solve the case but will she again find herself in danger? And will Darius, now free from his murderess fiancée, ever make a move to be more than friends with Hannah?
Set against the backdrop of the First World War in 1916, with the very real fears of German invasion and bombings, the characters are beautifully drawn, especially Archie, Dinah and the wonderfully bold and rather scandalous former suffragette Violet who carries a few secrets of her own, especially her rather charming relationship with Farrell. This is a great second instalment in this new cosy crime series.

Another amazing book by Anita Davison! The second story in the Miss Merril and Aunt Violet mystery series had me again at the edge of my seat, tense, laughing and completely enjoying it.
The second story started a bit slow for me and at first I was enjoying it less than Murder in the bookshop. This was purely because I had expected the second book to start in the same scenery and people of the same levels of society as in the first book. Murder in the library continues a bit after the end of Murder in the bookshop, which gave a nice feeling, but then continued in one of the many hospitals in London during the war, where women volunteered to nurse wounded soldiers. The completely different setting at the beginning and the nurses, made me miss the previous cozy feeling. But Miss Merril seems to have a knack for attracting dead people and is really bad in keeping out of what might have happened, that soon thanks to the great writing and amazing characters I was fully into the story. As the title mentions a murder was committed and the trusted characters we know are entering the stage. What is nice about reading a series like this one, is that the characters get further developed and their relationships expand. And again Anita Davison made sure that what seems like a cozy mystery story, makes you laugh when Aunt Violet and Miss Merril talk, keep you guessing even when everything seems clear...because it isn't and till the end of the story new revelations keep you enjoying the story, wanting to start immediately the next story in the series!

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.

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

Hannah works as a volunteer librarian at the local military hospital. When a murder occurs in the library one night, Hannah takes it upon herself to help with the investigation. It is Inspector Farrell’s case, and he’s smart enough to realize that she’s not going to sit by and wait to see if the killer is caught.

This story has so many twists. It was great! There are several suspects, especially since the victim was not a pleasant person. Was there more than one murder? Because there is a volunteer missing too. Then there’s another murder! Is anyone safe?

Inspector Farrell, Aunt Violet, Darius and Hannah are all interesting characters who work together to solve the case(s). I like Aunt Violet’s independence and her straightforward approach to things. Inspector Farrell likes Aunt Violet too, and they’ve become close friends. Darius and Hannah get closer throughout this book as well which was nice because he’s a good man.

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a little bit of romance and humor, this is a good one! The first book in the series, Murder in the Bookshop, is good too, but I like this one even better!

Hannah Merrill is volunteering in a military hospital library while her beloved bookshop is renovated. The war is taking its toll, and wounded men are flooding into the wards. Supplying books goes some way to helping their recovery. But events take a sinister turn when a body is found in the library. A nurse also disappears after confiding her fears of being stalked. Hannah’s instincts tell her there may be a link - and there’s no way she’s going to leave it to the police when she can help. With the help of Aunt Violet, she is under pressure to solve the mysteries before anyone else dies.

I love Hannah and Aunt Violet’s adventures. They are strong, intelligent women, determined to make their way in the world. The First World War allows women to work and participate in ways never before seen. And this pair are poised to jump right in. The historical detail is wonderful, and I found it easy to imagine the period. The sights and sounds of wartime London are perfectly portrayed.

I found the mystery element exciting and thrilling and I couldn’t stop reading. The author managed to weave a well written historical mystery with a touch of romance. The perfect blend. I loved it.

After Murder in the Bookshop, this is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet mysteries series. A series that I love! If you’re not familiar with it, I would probably start from the beginning before there are many books to catch up with (hint, hint, please let there be more!). Both mysteries can however be read as stand-alone novels too, without spoiling any of the fun.

Like its predecessor, this is a cosy mystery set mainly in London during World War I. Plus, the book connection is still very much there as the crime is committed in the hospital library where Hannah, our dear Miss Merrill, volunteers when she’s not at the bookshop owned by her Aunt Violet. Both women are as fearless and feisty as ever, and they do all they can – and a few things they probably shouldn’t – to help solve the mysteries they find themselves embroiled in.

Narrated with the humour I came to expect of this author, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which also boasts a cameo appearance of Bartleby the cat!

#blogtour

Hannah and her aunt/business partner Violet have a wonderful knack for getting into good trouble and tutting in the face of convention. Set against the backdrop of 1916 Britain and impending German attack, this fun, fast-paced cozy mystery is full of intrigue and subterfuge.

I love the smart, sassy women and surprising twists in this series. Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley. Murder In The Library was just the distraction I needed after a stressful long weekend.

Having read and really enjoyed the first in the series (Murder in the Bookshop) I was looking forward to being reacquainted with Hannah and Violet.

The story takes part not long after the first and sadly Aunt Violet's bookshop isn't in the best of shape following a zeppelin attack at the end of the first book, so Hannah has been volunteering at the local hospital library until it is rebuilt. The action starts almost immediately when one of soldiers recuperating at the hospital is found dead. Murdered in fact and in a locked room! Obviously from the title of the book, you can probably hazard a guess as to where he was discovered.

Murder in the Library immerses you straight away into the action and Hannah can’t help but think it is linked to the disappearance of a young nurse who mentions she feels she is being followed but also worked on the same floor as where the murdered soldier was. Are the occurrences linked? Hannah can’t help but become involved.

We are reunited with some of the characters from the previous book (the nice ones at least!) and I really liked the will they, won’t they scenario with Darius and Hannah that carries over from the first book. I really enjoyed that Aunt Violet features more in this story as she is such strong willed character that you can’t help but be in awe of, especially during times when this just wasn’t the done thing.

I found Murder in the Library to be the perfect slow building story for me, which I always find helps you connect with the characters and their intentions a lot more. Sometimes when there is a lot going on, some of the character development can get lost as you get swept along but I found this to be the perfect pace for me.  Things however do speed up towards the end which you want and I did find myself still none the wiser about the culprit and found myself a little bit in shock when all was revealed!

A fantastic addition to a wonder cosy crime series and I’m looking forward to reading more.

The younger one can be quite intimidating.

Who thought working in a library could be so dangerous? Confronted with a murdered service man and a missing heiress Hannah finds this exactly what she needs to keep her mind off of Darius’ new job as a spy. A highly entertaining story with a satisfying ending even as the shadow of war grows darker.

Murder in the Library by Anita Davison

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless they’ve been murdered!

1916, Keen to support the war effort, bookshop manager and sometime amateur sleuth Hannah Merrill has taken a volunteer role in the library of the nearby military hospital.

But arriving at the hospital one cold winter’s morning, she is horrified to find the body of a dead soldier in the library.

What’s more, a beautiful young nurse confides in Hannah that she thinks she’s being followed, and then she abruptly disappears.

Hannah can’t shake the suspicion that the two cases are connected, but she can’t solve the case alone. She’ll once again need to call upon her delightful, demanding, only-occasionally devious aunt, Violet.

The two women know they must find the missing nurse before it’s too late… but they don’t realise they’re now both in the killer’s sights.

My Opinion

This is the second book in the series but it would be possible to read this one as a standalone. I have to say that I would recommend staying away from anywhere Hannah is around books, trouble seems to follow her around.

I found myself picking up this book to read a few pages and ended up putting it down a few chapters later. I also ending up reading this when I had jobs that I was supposed to be doing, including getting ready to leave for work. I am trying to work on reading more historical fiction and this series makes it so easy. Anita Davison has such a lovely writing style that the plots just flows by before you know it.

This was such an enjoyable read that I am awaiting details of the next book in the series.

Rating 4/5

I love this book and I must say I read it it two days as it was such and enjoyable and fun read. A cosy murder mystery with great characters and a great storyline.

It is 1916 London and Hannah Merrill finds the body of a dead soldier in the library of the hospital she volunteers at. But there is more for this amateur sleuth to investigate than just this murder (and yes it is murder). One of the nurses thinks she is being followed and Hannah wonders if the two incidences are connected?

This is a book I couldn't put down and one that I found fun, mysterious, entertaining, enjoyable and oh so good. The characters make the story what it is and the writing is so well done it makes for a smooth and easy read. Love the setting and the era of the story as I do love a bit of historical fiction. A great read and highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a great story, I was hooked right from the start until the end. Loved the characters and the setting in a hospital. Full of dead ends and twists. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is quite a confusing cosy mystery in some ways, but still good. It got to about 65% and the murderer was identified, so what is gonna happen in the rest of the book? Well, at around 80% it all suddenly kicked off again, didn’t predict that!

Hannah is a volunteer librarian at the war hospital and finds a body in her library one morning. No one seems that bothered about the victim, not a liked person in the ward so who was the murderer? Then a nurse goes missing and the mystery deepens.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, but this is a great standalone on its own. I loved Aunt Violet, no nonsense woman who knows what she wants and grabs it with both hands, and isn’t afraid to dive in and ask questions.

Will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more in the series.