by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of the post on how to enter to win a copy of Checking Out Crime and a link to order it from Amazon and an independent bookstore.

Minnie Hamilton adores her job as the assistant director for Lower Michigan’s Chilson’s District Library. She loves even more driving the Bookmobile throughout the lakeshore town, and it’s a testament to her success that her boss and patrons are requesting additional stops throughout the week. While bookmobile cat Eddie serves as an added attraction for patrons and reluctant readers, Minnie and her bookmobile clerk Julia Beaton are already running themselves ragged with their current schedule. They are forced to make another unexpected stop when they come across the body of a bicyclist lying in the road as another car speeds away. Despondent after her attempts at CPR fail to revive the victim, Minnie is even more shocked to learn that the death of Brown Bernier was not due to an accident.

Minnie and Eddie have a history conducting their own side investigations into the crimes of their small town, but the lead detectives waste little time advising her to stay out of their way. That’s going to be impossible, of course, not just because Minnie attempted to save Brown but because he happened to have been a friend of her own bestie’s father. At first it seems that the former City maintenance worker had no enemies and was beloved by all, but another death by bicycle indicates that something is definitely afoot. Further keeping Minnie occupied is a plea by her library assistant to intervene in his relationship with his girlfriend, not to mention Minnie’s own fluctuating living situation. Living on a houseboat is ideal only during the warm months of the year, and with her and her fiancé’s home still in the midst of construction her residential plans are definitely in flux and causing no small amount of stress.

This ninth in the series is an absolute delight as it allows readers to settle in and relax with the genial, supportive residents of Chilson. Minnie’s library staff have become a part of her family, which is why she struggles to make her bookmobile a success despite there being not enough resources nor time for her to do it without much needed help. Her one-sided consultations and conversations with Eddie are hilarious, as he responds with appropriately feline snores and the occasional purr. Minnie finds a new ally in the form of a detective’s retired, but still very capable, wife and Detective Hal Inwood may regret both introducing the women and ignoring their suggestions. The personal lives of Minnie and her friends are just as compelling as the mystery, which swerves on an unexpected path towards a very clever conclusion. Readers will revel in Minnie and Eddie’s bookmobile visits to loyal patrons, who reward her not only in praise but with information. Library lovers, cat aficionados, and cozy mystery fans will adore the latest in this always entertaining series.

To enter to win a copy of Checking Out Crime, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “checking,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 29, 2021. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If you are entering via email please include you mailing address in case you win, it will be deleted after the contest. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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You can use this link to purchase this book from indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, and KRL gets a portion of the sale:

Checking Out Crime (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery #9)

You can use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.