The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskins

Don't judge a book by its cover or its title! There are so many titles that include the word "library" or "librarian" or "bookstore". And there are also many book covers where a woman is shown from the back. In many cases, these novels are on the light side, appealing to those of us who love books, libraries and reading. When I saw this book and saw the high ratings, I was not prepared for this story.

Hana is a Bosnian war refugee who works in a library. She's known as the sweater lady because she deliberately wears drab sweaters and skirts to make herself invisible. One day a police officer comes to Hana at the library and informs her that her best friend has died and he is investigating her death. The rest of the book follows this investigation while also flashing back to the war in Bosnia and how Hana and her friend ended up in the US.

I realized when I finished this book that I'd read another book by this author just last year, The Life We Bury. Guess I'm now a fan!

I strongly recommend this one. - June

Still Life by Louise Penny

Once again, I'm the last to arrive at the party. Many of my friends love Louis Penny's books about the detective from Three Pines and they remind me to read the on a regular basis. I generally avoid series just because I get bored with the same basic plot in each book. But I'll admit this book was a fun audiobook. Since Still Life is the first one in the series, the characters and the town are all introduced. I feel I could now pick up any of the other books. I wasn't expecting the humor in this book - that was a nice surprise.

In this first book, Jane Neal has been found dead in the woods. Was it a hunting accident? Was it murder? The people in the town are all suspects and Chief Inspector Gamache figures it all out.

Glad I finally read one of Louise Penny's books. I've been told by a few friends that the first few books are the weakest and they get better as you read through the series.  I'll look for another - especially an audiobook. - June