I enjoyed A Most Curious Murder, the first in Buzzelli's "little library"-themed mysteries (which don't use the actual "Little Free Library" term but clearly refer to that concept). I got this signed hardcover from an online seller.

Here, the Little Libraries mainly serve as a background theme; a reclusive local poet has apparently taken to visiting them and leaving hand-written poems inside, which leads to a growing initiative to host a celebration of her work - if only she can be persuaded to come out of hiding. But there are complications, some of which I'd guessed early on, having to do with old crimes and long-hidden sins.

The story walks a line between rather cozy and quite grim, something that's telegraphed in the opening chapter: it sets up several storylines, including the reveal that somewhere there's a woman dead in a garage, who's been there for weeks... {shudder}

I admit that whenever one character bulldozed another into doing things for them - the main culprits are the reclusive poet, now demanding that little person Zoe make her grocery runs, and the town's grand dame Abigail, who's trying to make everyone pitch in for the increasingly-elaborate poetry event - I wanted to send their victims links to the "Captain Awkward" blog about setting boundaries {wry grin}. It did get pretty weird after a while, such that the final - and highly dramatic - sequences felt out of place, though they did have a creepy nightmarish quality that I appreciated.

I left this book, bagged against the elements, on the charming mother-and-child statue in the park; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2018 Spook-Tacular October release challenge. ***

*** Released for the 2018 Tick Tock release challenge. ***