Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library Review: Delightfully Comfy Cozy Mystery

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library
By Holly Danvers

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library is a wonderful book to help shut out the dreariness of winter and relax under a warm blanket. 

When a man is murdered during a major ice fishing tournament in Lofty Pines, Wisconsin, suspicion naturally falls on the last man who saw him alive, particularly since the two were having a loud argument. Amateur detective Rain Wilmot is determined to find the real murderer before her best friend’s husband Nick is convicted of the crime. Add in an impending snow storm that will cripple the town, especially since the man who runs the town’s snowplow is in jail.

During the previous summer, Rain and her BFF Julia were able to solve a local murder. Julia’s brother Jace is a cop who was able to share valuable clues. Julia frantically wants to solve it herself since she fears the police aren’t looking for other suspects since they have Nick in custody. Jace’s conflict of interest means he has little to share with Rain and Julia, and he struggles to prove Nick’s innocence.

Rain struggles to solve the murder while facing personal and weather challenges.  Before the crime is solved, the murderer and weather create life-or-death situation for multiple characters. The characters would love to settle in front of a warm fireplace with blankets and hot tea during the storm, if they can stay alive until the mystery is solved.

I quickly figured out the murderer’s identity and motive. I also suspected how. That didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. The setting and characters made it enjoyable. The worsening weather added to the desperation, since it limited movement and forced quick, often impulsive actions before the storm made leaving their houses impossible. Characters were on edge because a member of their small community was a murderer. Suspicions, accusations, fear, anger, frustration, and desperation were palpable and completely fit the situation.

Mission accomplished, Holly Danvers. Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library is an excellent reason to grab a warm beverage, bundle up, and enjoy a cozy mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an Advanced Review Copy of the book.