Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed A Most Curious Murder (Little Library Mystery, Bk 1) on + 705 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Dollycas's Thoughts
This story was an absolute treasure.
Jenny Weston reeling from an awful divorce arrived back home in Bear Falls to find her mother's Little Library has been chopped to bits and books have have been ripped apart. The Little Library was built by Jenny's dad for his librarian wife because little Bear Falls doesn't have a public library and she wanted to share her joy of reading. He built it to look like just like their home and put it up shortly before he was killed in a car accident.
The first person Jenny meets is Zoe Zola who she finds lamenting about the Little Library's destruction. Zoe just happens to be an author herself, a Lewis Carroll enthusiast, and a little person, who takes a bit of getting used to. She thinks she knows who did the dastardly deed but when the man is found dead and Zoe becomes the prime suspect, all thoughts turn to proving her innocence. Things continue to roll out of control as another man is found murdered and so many more questions arise.
I started reading this book and could not put it down. I loved the uniqueness of Zoe. She may be of small stature but she has a huge heart and a very uplifting point of view and special way of thinking. Jenny's mom has a good friend in Zoe and as the book continued Jenny and she were quickly becoming "almost friends".
I enjoyed the small town setting and the way the residents pulled together to help Jenny's mother, Dora, replace her loss. It was interesting the Jenny reconnecting with high school friends she really didn't want to and found her life was better having left town when she did. She also meets someone new in town that just may help her start to heal her aching heart.
The drama was multifaceted as well. The main plot and subplots blended perfectly. They are complex, curious, and at times comical.
The best part of the whole thing was the author's writing style. At times I felt like we were going down the rabbit hole ourselves and it was such a fun adventure. Words, words, words, suitcase words, words that need to be unpacked and understood and that would lead you to the answers you seek or they could lead you nowhere, but totally entertaining.
Loved, Loved, Loved, this story!! It is fresh and different! Alice in Wonderland fans, this is a book for you!
This story was an absolute treasure.
Jenny Weston reeling from an awful divorce arrived back home in Bear Falls to find her mother's Little Library has been chopped to bits and books have have been ripped apart. The Little Library was built by Jenny's dad for his librarian wife because little Bear Falls doesn't have a public library and she wanted to share her joy of reading. He built it to look like just like their home and put it up shortly before he was killed in a car accident.
The first person Jenny meets is Zoe Zola who she finds lamenting about the Little Library's destruction. Zoe just happens to be an author herself, a Lewis Carroll enthusiast, and a little person, who takes a bit of getting used to. She thinks she knows who did the dastardly deed but when the man is found dead and Zoe becomes the prime suspect, all thoughts turn to proving her innocence. Things continue to roll out of control as another man is found murdered and so many more questions arise.
I started reading this book and could not put it down. I loved the uniqueness of Zoe. She may be of small stature but she has a huge heart and a very uplifting point of view and special way of thinking. Jenny's mom has a good friend in Zoe and as the book continued Jenny and she were quickly becoming "almost friends".
I enjoyed the small town setting and the way the residents pulled together to help Jenny's mother, Dora, replace her loss. It was interesting the Jenny reconnecting with high school friends she really didn't want to and found her life was better having left town when she did. She also meets someone new in town that just may help her start to heal her aching heart.
The drama was multifaceted as well. The main plot and subplots blended perfectly. They are complex, curious, and at times comical.
The best part of the whole thing was the author's writing style. At times I felt like we were going down the rabbit hole ourselves and it was such a fun adventure. Words, words, words, suitcase words, words that need to be unpacked and understood and that would lead you to the answers you seek or they could lead you nowhere, but totally entertaining.
Loved, Loved, Loved, this story!! It is fresh and different! Alice in Wonderland fans, this is a book for you!
Tim H. (Timbuktu126) reviewed A Most Curious Murder (Little Library Mystery, Bk 1) on + 479 more book reviews
This book was OK. I thought the neighbor was annoying and the plot moved slowly. I found myself skimming and skipping pages to get to the end.
Kristina A. reviewed A Most Curious Murder (Little Library Mystery, Bk 1) on + 1528 more book reviews
A Most Curious Murder by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli is the first book in A Little Library Mystery series. Jenny Weston has just moved back to Bear Falls, Michigan following her acrimonious divorce. One thing she has always loved is the Little Library her father built for her mother in front of their home. Her mother was a librarian before she married, but the town had no library. This was a way for her to be a librarian and help people picks books (it works a little differently from your traditional little library). But then they find the little library smashed to pieces. Who would do this? Everyone (well, almost everyone) loved the little library. Their neighbor, grumpy Adam Cane did not like it. He felt it caused extra traffic on their street. But when Adam Cane is found dead in Zoe Zola's (another neighbor) backyard, it does not look good for Zoe. Zoe is a little odd, but she is no murderer. Zoe is a Little Person who loves fairies and has little fairy houses (with fairies inside) scattered around her yard (Adam Cane's body really stood out). Zoe also quotes from the works of Lewis Carroll (and other stories) frequently (it is annoying) and is a writer (and a dreamer). Jenny needs to find the culprit for Zoe and her mother, Dora (who is upset over all this hoopla). Can Jenny solve the crimes and clear Zoe's name? Will the unexpected appearance of her ex-husband hinder her investigation? Then there is Jenny's infatuation with her old high school boyfriend!
A Most Curious Murder was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but the author did not pull it off. The novel came across more odd than fantastical, magical, and intriguing. I had just started the book and all these characters are thrown at you. I found Zoe Zola to be overdone. The author tried to put all too many zany character traits in one person and it did not work (if I met this person I would run the other way). The constant quotes from Zoe Zola was not an endearing quality. They made absolutely no sense (despite my reading the same pages several times) and were a hindrance to my enjoyment of the novel. I found the writing to slightly awkward or stilted which severely lessened my enjoyment (I never got into this book) and the dialogue was stale (flat). The mystery was simple and easily solved (you need less than 50 pages to figure it out). I give A Most Curious Murder 2.5 out of 5 stars. Jenny's fascination with her old high school boyfriend who cheated on her and got another girl pregnant was just absurd (the writer could have found another way to include the character). The idea or premise has possibilities. With work this could be an interesting and enjoyable series. A Most Curious Murder was just not for me (and I really wanted to like it).
I received a complimentary copy of A Most Curious Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments expressed above are strictly my own.
A Most Curious Murder was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but the author did not pull it off. The novel came across more odd than fantastical, magical, and intriguing. I had just started the book and all these characters are thrown at you. I found Zoe Zola to be overdone. The author tried to put all too many zany character traits in one person and it did not work (if I met this person I would run the other way). The constant quotes from Zoe Zola was not an endearing quality. They made absolutely no sense (despite my reading the same pages several times) and were a hindrance to my enjoyment of the novel. I found the writing to slightly awkward or stilted which severely lessened my enjoyment (I never got into this book) and the dialogue was stale (flat). The mystery was simple and easily solved (you need less than 50 pages to figure it out). I give A Most Curious Murder 2.5 out of 5 stars. Jenny's fascination with her old high school boyfriend who cheated on her and got another girl pregnant was just absurd (the writer could have found another way to include the character). The idea or premise has possibilities. With work this could be an interesting and enjoyable series. A Most Curious Murder was just not for me (and I really wanted to like it).
I received a complimentary copy of A Most Curious Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments expressed above are strictly my own.
