February 1, 2021
The murder of her husband drives a highflier to change careers and flee to a small town--where the killing continues. Since leaving behind a well-paying job in Manhattan, Greer Hogan works at the broodingly gothic Raven Hill Public Library in upstate New York. When the body of Joanna Goodhue lands at her feet, it brings back unsettling memories of her husband's murder. A suspect was convicted, but Greer still has her doubts about his guilt. Greer was Joanna's Resident Assistant at NYU, but they'd lost touch until Greer landed the library job. Unable to put her friend's murder behind her, Greer resolves to use her research skills to unearth possible motives. The police are naturally suspicious of Greer, and the husband is always high on the list of suspects, but Joanna's death may be a good deal more complicated than it appears, with tangled roots in the past. The town is split between funding a new library and keeping the quirky old place so many love, but Greer can't believe that quarrel could amount to a motive for murder. She's made enough new friends to soak up gossip about the past. One of the police investigators is impressed by what she's learned but warns her to be careful, advice she'll ignore at her peril. As she discovers more clues, Greer is targeted by a killer desperate to avoid capture. An angst-filled debut with plenty of red herrings and a nice setup for a sequel.
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March 1, 2021
DEBUT As a young reader, Greer saw herself as "Greer Hogan, girl detective," modeling her persona on Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. At 37, she went back to school to be a librarian, "a girl detective with a laptop." Now 40 and working at the Raven Hill Public Library, she never expected to find the body of her best friend, Joanna Goodhue, dead on the library's rooftop terrace. Greer, who came to Raven Hill after her husband was murdered while she was out of the house, is unwilling to share her personal secrets with the police, but that doesn't mean she's unwilling to stay at the library late at night, talk with suspects, or walk home in the fog after the library has closed. The carefully developed account spins a story of small-town secrets and hidden ambitions. VERDICT While readers may want to compare librarian Hilliard's debut with the library-centered mysteries by Jenn McKinlay or Victoria Gilbert, this one is actually a little darker than the other cozies. Most of the atmospheric story takes place in the beloved but old village library. Readers who remember those classic girl detective mysteries, and many library staff members, will appreciate this book.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN.
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from April 15, 2021
Meet Greer Hogan--New York City executive turned small-town reference librarian, mystery-novel enthusiast, and grieving widow. When Greer stumbles over a dead body at Raven Hill, a Gothic-style mansion renovated into the town's public library, she is devastated, both because the victim is a former schoolmate and friend, and also because the corpse isn't the first one Greer has discovered. Her husband, also murdered, owns that distinction. Naturally, Greer's proximity to a pair of dead bodies, both of whose murders are unsolved, makes her a person of interest to the police. Using her skills in reference work and taking advantage of help from a sympathetic police detective, Greer begins her own investigation, following clues left by her murdered friend and proving herself to be a gifted amateur sleuth. What Greer doesn't count on is the killer tracking her efforts and coming after her. Hilliard's crime-fiction debut is a smash and includes exciting hints at a sequel. Thrilling, fast-paced, quick-witted, and full of nostalgic references to Greer's beloved literary detectives, The Unkindness of Ravens will please fans of Christie's Poirot and Marple, Louise Penny's Armand Gamache, and, especially, Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended for all library collections.
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