by Cynthia Chow, Sandra Murphy & Tracy Condie

This week we have reviews of 3 more fun cozies for your August reading tbr-Death and the Librarian: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery by Victoria Gilbert, For Duck’s Sake by Donna Andrews, and That Missing Piece Is Killing Me by Roz Noonan. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win copies of all 3 books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review.

Death and the Librarian: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery by Victoria Gilbert
Review by Cynthia Chow

For the arts festival in Taylorsford, Virginia, the Friends of the Library have hired famous true crime author Maureen Dryden to be a featured speaker. Six years ago she wrote a bestseller incriminating Allen Cardullo for the murder of Beverly Bardon, and although he committed suicide soon after he never admitted any guilt. Now Maureen is also in town researching an anthology of unsolved cold cases, one of which involves the missing person case of Edward Jaffe. Cashing in on the popular trend of crime podcasts, Maureen has a podcaster following her to document her case and help promote her book. One of the main suspects Maureen identifies happens to be Karl Klassen, who has since changed his name to Kurt Kendrick and is the godfather of Amy’s six-year-old twins. Amy may still harbor suspicions of the reformed Kurt, but she refuses to believe that he could have been involved in Edward’s presumed death. When Maureen is murdered after publicly implicating Karl, Amy worries that her “Kurt” will find himself persecuted for past and present crimes – some that may even involve those closest to her own family.

Despite numerous notes threatening her family and even an attack on her best friend, Amy refuses to give up her investigation. Her adorable husband Richard Muir is himself occupied with his new dance company’s upcoming premiere performance, but he continues to support Amy’s endeavors while also wrangling their precocious twins. Fortunately, they are able to leave town with Amy’s parents, allowing Amy and library co-director Sunny Fields to more safely look into the town’s secrets.

This ninth in the series revisits all of the favorite residents of the Blue Ridge town, who include Aunt Lydia Talbot and the friendly Sheriff Brad Tucker. Aunt Lydia’s art specialist boyfriend Hugh Chen and Sunny’s P.I. boyfriend are away conducting their own art crime investigations, but Amy has enough experience with crimes to attract the attention of a killer wary of her ability to solve a mystery. Her relationship with Kurt continues to be a fascinating one, as the man with a murky past and criminal background has now become part of her family.

The enchanting Blue Ridge Library takes a backseat to the spotlight on the public’s fascination with True Crime podcasts, which often play fast and loose with conclusions and are often more intrigued by promotional opportunities than the truth. Bibliophiles will enjoy Amy’s research skills, while contemporary crime fans will have fun with the depiction of true crime podcasters. This is another very enjoyable return to the Blue Ridge Library, the new local dance company, and the rest of the Taylorsford rural community.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

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).

For Duck’s Sake by Donna Andrews
Review by Sandra Murphy

Caerphilly’s first Mutt March has its staging area in Meg Langslow’s backyard. The dogs, cats, and critters of all kinds are in search of a home and hope the Mutt March will help them find their forever families. Meg is in search of peace and quiet. Why she thought it was available at her brother Rob’s house is a mystery. His backyard is currently an excavation site. A duck pond for Rob and Delaney’s new baby sounded like a good idea but in reality, it involves a bulldozer. A very loud bulldozer.

When the racket stops, the first thought is, the workers are taking a break. Too bad Aaron, the bulldozer operator, is standing next to it while looking into the hole he just dug. Meg walks out to check what’s wrong but the truth doesn’t match any of her guesses. There are bones—human arm bones. They’re not old enough to be Native American or a family cemetery. Once the skull, the rest of the skeleton, and a bullet are found, it’s clearly a case of murder.

While the sheriff is intent on investigating the identity of the skeleton, Iris, the former owner of what is now Rob’s house, disappears. Since she’s an older adult, worry increases the longer she’s missing.
In the meantime, a dozen volunteers bathe dogs, Rose Noir uses massage therapy to calm the more excitable dogs, family and friends test each dog’s obedience skill level, and there’s a mole (spy) in the midst, bent on releasing the dogs to run free. Meg’s twin sons have lists of every animal’s location and a way to track them if they’re lost or freed. Mutt March is planned with the precision of a Rockettes holiday performance. Meg’s in the thick of things. As usual.

This is book 37 in the series—all with bird names in the titles. Start anywhere in the long running series but be warned, you’ll want to read them all.

Meg’s boys are growing fast and taking on more responsibility. Family and friends are pitching in and for once, manage without Meg’s Tell-Me-When-to-Breathe planner. Even Spike, the Evil One, is on good behavior, hoarse from excessive barking, too tired to worry about the commotion. He’s camped out at Rob’s house too.

Reading about all Meg, family, and friends do will make you glad you’re sitting comfy and reading the book instead of living it. It will also make you wish for a friend like Meg. Maybe not so much her mother…nice woman but used to getting her way. Always.

Look for Five Golden Wings, the next in the series, publishing mid-October, available for pre-order now.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s the editor for the upcoming Yeet Me in St Louis, an anthology with stories from twelve St. Louis writers. Her own short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Magazine, and anthologies such as The Perp Wore Pumpkin and I (Almost) Died in Your Arms. ‘Lucy’s Tree’, published in The Eyes of Texas, won a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society. She lives in St. Louis with Ozzie the Westie Impersonator and his sidekick in crime, Louie the Cat.

That Missing Piece Is Killing Me by Roz Noonan
By Tracy Condie

Book two of the Alice Pepper series starts out with a missing person who may not want to be found, which reminds Alice of a painful part of her past. The story grabbed me right away as Alice and her friends try to find Michelle, who went missing during the annual children’s book festival. No one, not even her husband, Lars, knows where she is. Lars, an arrogant, egomaniac artist makes a very good suspect until he turns up stabbed to death. Michelle finds his body upon her return home, and now is at the top of the suspect list. How is that for a hook!

This is a stand-alone cozy mystery with a “mature” main character. Librarian Alice Pepper and her lonely hearts puzzle-solving friends are 60-ish but that doesn’t stop them from getting involved, even though Madison, Alice’s granddaughter, asks them to “leave it to the police.” In Madison’s defense, she is the police.

Alice refers to her group of friends as the Lonely Hearts Puzzle Club not because it is a real club or because they are lonely, but because all the ladies are single. At least the book starts out that way. A little ribbon of romance is woven into this story when two of Alice’s friends find themselves with admirers. The only problem is that both men are possible suspects. But they aren’t the only suspects. Lars had a way of making enemies with his caustic attitude with everyone, even his 17-year-old intern. The motive for his murder could have been money, love, or revenge.

I thought it interesting that while Alice feels as if there is a missing piece to the murder mystery, she is also missing a piece to one of the jigsaw puzzles she is working on. (I can relate to working on a puzzle and not being able to find the last piece. Thankfully, for me, they turn up on the floor under the table.) She is also missing a piece of her family, which was touched on in the series starter and is completely explained in this book, giving the story a nice plot arc. The cozy and real-world elements are blended to give added depth as well as enjoyment.

I look forward to seeing what puzzle Alice puts together in the next book.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copies of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “august tbr” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 23, 2025. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

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.