Note: This series must be read in order. This book contains SPOILERS for book 1, revealing the killer.

Young bookshop manager Hannah volunteers at a military hospital library during the Great War. When she finds a dead soldier and learns a nurse is missing, Hannah suspects a connection. With her aunt Violet’s help, she investigates, only to become the killer’s next target.

This mystery is more gory and earthy than eerie and atmospheric. It’s less cozy than I expected.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot...there are already some reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for!

Having read the first book in a new series (Murder in the Bookshop) I was delighted to be invited to read this, the second in the series.

This novel is again set mainly in London (and later on the east coast of England) during WW1, but Hannah has been "displaced" from the bookshop and is volunteering at a library for injured soldiers. When a soldier is found dead in the library, and a young nurse disappears shortly afterwards, Hannah's "detective" instincts kick in and she can't help trying to get to the bottom of things.

The main characters (Hannah, Aunt Violet, Darius, Inspector Farrell) were very well written and well rounded, and there is a good cast of supporting characters each with their part to play in the mystery, or rather mysteries...

The book is in the "cosy" mystery genre, but with a definite edge - there's an underlying sense of menace at times. I didn't guess who the culprit was until very near the end of the book, so a gold star to the author for keeping me guessing.

Looking forward to the next edition of the adventures of Hannah and her Aunt Violet!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

When I was offered this for review, I was undecided whether or not to take it - if I'm reading a series, I like to start right at the very beginning and this was Book 2. However, I was really drawn in by the delightful cover art and it sounded like just my kind of book, so I decided to take it and make time to read Book 1 first. As it's on Kindle Unlimited, this wasn't too much of a problem.

I'm very glad I did. There were a couple of things that stuck out for me and which make this book quite different to many others in the genre. Firstly, the detective is not the love interest for the young character - Hannah - and they have an uneasy relationship, even in Book 2. Secondly, it's set during the First World War, rather than in the 1920s and this allows more scope for the storylines because there is always the threat of war lurking in the background. In both books, this presence becomes much more immediate and has a direct impact on the characters.

Whilst the book sits firmly in the 'cosy crime' genre, it feels a little bit edgier, which I quite liked. It never strays from the trusted format of such books, but there is an added element of danger which keeps the reader interested. In the first book, Davison showed she wasn't afraid to kill off those closest to Hannah and I think this adds to the sense that nothing can be taken for granted. In this, it reminded me a little of the Maisie Dobbs books and this is never a bad comparison to make.

I think it also helps that Hannah and her aunt live in a world of books and this always makes me happy - that they recognise the importance of such places even in the midst of war, is quite telling and when Hannah is displaced from bookshop to library, she continues to use literature to improve the lives of those around her.

The war setting also adds a further element of difficulty to Hannah's task in tracking down a killer because there is so much possibility for movement due to zeppelin raids.

I look forward to reading the next instalments in the series. As always with a series, whilst this can be read and enjoyed as a standalone and the story is complete within the book, it definitely makes more sense, particularly in the interpersonal relationships, if you have read Book 1 and I highly recommend doing that if you haven't already!

This mystery was just fine for me. I didn't dislike it, but I probably won't ever read it again or continue the series. I found the main character of Hannah a bit unlikeable, which was a big hurdle to get over in my enjoyment of the book. I didn't understand why she seems unhappy & even a little bitter about her aunt possibly having a romance with the detective inspector, or why she bristles so much at the inspector's comments & actions. He treats her with respect & actually values her opinion unlike many of the detectives in cozies taking place in the WWI era. Perhaps if I had read the first book in the series I would understand? That leads to another weakness for me, which was the lack of background on most of the main characters. Essentially all we get is explicitly related to the murder of Hannah's best friend in the first book (which is mentioned repeatedly), but we get no background on why Hannah lives with her aunt, what age group she is in, or the age difference between Aunt Violet & the inspector (only mentioned in passing at the end of the book & we only get her age, not his). I feel that having more of this & less mention of the murder from the last book would have provided necessary context for some of the character interactions that I didn't understand.

On the positive side, I enjoyed the setting of the all-female hospital & the scenes with Aunt Violet. It certainly wasn't a bad read, but didn't leave me wanting to read more. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet mysteries series.

I really liked how Hannah and her Aunt Violet worked together in the first book, so I enjoyed reading about them again. This was another charming historical mystery, a comforting little book to escape with, and light enough to read in one sitting, if so desired.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

A Murder in the Library
Written By Anita Davison
Published By Boldwood Books
Release Date February 19, 2024


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

Hannah Merrill’s bookshop was hit by a zeppelin attack during WW1 and is under repair due to the damage. With time being on her side, Hannah volunteers for the library in the Endell street Military hospital. One day when she arrives to work, the door to the Library is locked. Once she gets inside to her shock, she finds the body of a dead soldier laying on the ground behind the curtain. Soon afterwards a nurse Alice Dalglish, informs Hannah that she believes someone has been following her. Then, just as quickly as she arrived, she disappeared. Alice is a nurse at the military hospital and also works on the same floor as the deceased soldier which makes Hannah believe that the two situations were no coincidence.
Hannah has a passion for being a sleuth and is soon on the trail of a murderer. However, Hannah knows that this is too big for her alone so she brings in her aunt Violet and the hunt begins. This is the second book in the series by Davison but I had no problem following along and did not feel as though I had to read the first book to understand it. The characters were very delightful, quirky, and well developed often causing a laugh or two. Violet is a well known activist and her reputation precedes her.
The story is told by Hannah and is two mysteries inside of one……..which actually plays out well and is a very fun read. This is a cozy whodunnit mystery that keeps the reader engaged and entertained from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters and how well they meshed together. Davison’ certainly has a knack for writing and keeping the reader hanging on by a thread as they try to figure out who the murderer is. The ending is not predictable and will certainly keep you on your toes as you go along with Hannah and Aunt Violet to figure out what we all want to know……whodunnit….

5 HUBE stars

Thank you to Davison, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Anita Davison for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in the Library coming out February 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I haven’t actually read the first book in the series yet. I have it, but I need to read it. I was definitely interested in checking out this book though. Cozy historical mysteries is only of my favorite genres. I love that this book was set during WWI. It’s a really interesting time in history. I love that Hannah is a strong character who is active in the war effort. I loved the setting of the book. There’s a lot of serious themes, but there’s still a cozy atmosphere to the story that I love. There was a couple things I didn’t like about the ending with how it all went down. I think they went a little too easy on certain people and let them get away. But overall, I loved this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves WWI cozy mysteries!

This is a second novel in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries series. I found it fun and amusing to 'chase after' Hannah and Aunt Violet as they sleuth just under Inspector Farrell's radar.

The setting takes place in England during WWII, where Hannah does her bit for the war effort, working in the hospital's library. This is where the drama ignites upon discovery of a body in the library.

To me, this is a quick and easy read akin to Agatha Christy's pattern. It is a satisfactory read.

4-Star rating.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

February 2024

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on ther complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

A second installment of adventures with Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet. Easy to read and cosy, perfect for a weekend read. Curl up with a blanket, a cup of tea and cat/dog/insert pet of preference and lose a few hours. Thanks to Netgalley.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of Murder in the Library, second novel to feature Miss Hannah Merrill and her aunt, Violet, set in London in 1916.

While her bookshop is being repaired after a Zeppelin attack Hannah volunteers in the library of the local army hospital. One day she arrives to find, unusually, the library locked and on entering the dead body of a soldier. When Alice Dalglish, a nurse on his ward, tells Hannah that she thinks she is being followed and then disappears Hannah can’t help but connect the cases.

I enjoyed Murder in the Library, which is essentially a novel of two halves with the murder in the first half and the hunt for Alice in the second. I liked this concept and the execution as it works well with the two plots overlapping in unexpected ways. It offers more than one element of surprise and at the same time familiarity with the same supporting characters in both.

The novel is told from Hannah’s point of view, which gives the reader an immersive read and the opportunity to guess alongside her. Some of it I got right, other bits I had no idea, so it kept me turning the pages. I like Hannah, who is smart and dependable, but I like Aunt Violet better, as I’m sure most readers do, as she is more subversive and unpredictable, plus she has better contacts.

Murder in the Library is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I would describe this book as one set up from the regular cozy mystery. This story has it all, mystery, romance, drama, and historical fiction rolled into one. This book was interesting throughout and the characters were well developed.

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. A body in a hospital isn’t so unusual. Unless
they’ve been murdered!
A gripping cozy mystery with the backdrop of WW1.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

A totally fun read, filled with engaging characters. It takes place during WWI and has some tension because of the fear of invasion at that time. This is a part of a series with the two main characters, Miss Merrill and her Aunt Violet doing the detective work, much to the dissatisfaction of the local police officer. Read it, you'll love it!

Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet #2

1916. Hannah Merrill volunteers in the library of the Endell Street military hospital. On arriving there one morning, she finds the body of a dead soldier, Sergeant Tillman, who had been shot. Then a young heiress who volunteered as a nurse, disappeared. She had confided in Hannah that she thought someone was following her.

This is a rather good whodunnit. It's 1916 and WWI is mid-way through. The policeman investigating the murder and the missing woman, is none other than Hannah's aunt Violet's boyfriend, Detective Aiden Ferrell. There’s also Darius Clifford, an intelligence officer or quite possibly a spy. The tension builds leading to the climax. The characters are well-developed and the pace is steady.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Boldwoodbooks and the author #AnitaDavidson for my ARC of #MurderInTheLibrary in exchange for an honest review.

This new series has quickly become a favorite. I tend to enjoy historical mysteries a little further back in time than this one, but the author really sucks the reader in. The mystery was intriguing, and I liked the setting of the war hospital. I do need a little more romance between the sleuth and her cute friend, but hopefully in future iterations. And I will continue to read this!

Murder in the Library is a cozy mystery set in wartime London during April 1916, and although it is the second book in a series, it could be read as a stand alone.
Hannah Merrill is now working as a librarian at Endell Street Military Hospital and has the misfortune one morning to stumble upon another murder victim! The police are soon sent for and Inspector Farrell is on the case - with a little help from Hannah naturally.
Murder is soon followed by intrigue, as one of the nurses on duty at the time of the murder has now gone missing! Hannah enlists the assistance of her Aunt Violet once again and the pair gather vital intel to share with Inspector Farrell.
The search for clues takes Hannah, Aunt Violet, Inspector Farrell and Hannah's friend Darius to Lowestoft at Easter - but the timing is terrible and some shocking events unfold.
I really enjoyed this page turner and can't wait for the next installment!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.

The second installment of this cozy mystery series features Hannah, a co owner of a bookshop, with her Aunt Violet. Hannah is working one day a week at a hospital for wounded soldiers, as the time period is during WWI. When a murder occurs in the library, Hannah wants to help the police find the culprit. Darius, Hannah’s love interest from the first book, reappears, and their relationship develops. The characters are likable, and the story line held my interest. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the second book I have read featuring Hannah and her inimitable Aunt Violet. This can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the first one as we meet most of the principal characters there. Hannah is volunteering at the hospital library where soldiers are convalescing from injuries sustained at the Front. One day she finds a dead man and the story develops from there. With a cast of suspects and her tangles with the Inspector who attempts to stop her interfering, it is a rollicking good read. Well written with a touch of humour, I look forward to reading more from Anita Davison. Thanks to Netgalley.

Hannah is back and stumble across another body. After her bookshop got damage in the bombing on London she is volunteering at the hospital library. One morning she comes across the body of one of the patients, and soon after one of the nurses goes missing, are the two events related?

If you liked the first one, there’s no reason you won’t like this one.
You could tell that the author had done her research, adding a few details here and there which was nice.
For me it was a little flat, couldn’t really get into it. The MC doesn’t really stand out from all the other cozies heroines.

London, 1916. The book opens with Hannah Merrill reporting to the hospital for wounded soldiers, ready to begin another shift as a volunteer librarian. The door is inexplicably locked so someone goes to get the key. When Hannah enters the library, she discovers a deceased patient behind the curtain. Clearly, he was murdered, the door locked, and the key replaced. Hannah becomes more concerned when one of the nurses goes missing. With the help of Aunt Violet, the investigation begins.

This is the second book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet series and like the first one, it's excellent. Hannah and Aunt Violet own a bookshop, so there are literary references sprinkled throughout the book. The characters are wonderfully drawn and appropriately varied and quirky in their own ways. Aunt Violet is a delightful character with a reputation. She's an activist and is known especially for her activism around women's suffrage. Hannah is bucking expectations and the wishes of her family by living with Aunt Violet and working--and even driving. I like the combination of two women from different generations and their relationship.

In this book, there are two mysteries running in parallel, which may or may not end up being intertwined at some point. Both are well done. The historical setting is interesting and well described. I read the first book in the series and I highly recommend it, but if this is your entry into the series, no worries! You can start here without being lost. Jump right in, spend some time with Hannah and Aunt Violet, and enjoy this wonderful historical cozy mystery!