Murder seriously complicates a librarian's life. Things have been going rather well for the First Edition Society library. With Hayley Burke in charge, the small private collection, once the sole province of its late owner, Lady Georgiana Fowling, has become a regular part of Bath's literary life. Buoyed by the success of her monthly meet-the-author evenings, Hayley manages to persuade Glynis Woolgar, the society's stubborn, conservative secretary, to open Middlebank House, the society's home, to the general public from 1:00 to 5:00 every Wednesday afternoon. Their first Wednesday brings a guest whose interest is both more abstract and more urgent than that expressed by other visitors' most frequent query: "Is there a tea room?" John Aubrey has come to bask in the atmosphere of the society and its home. After all, as the unacknowledged grandchild of Lady Georgiana, abandoned in Brittany during his grandmama's sojourn in France, John feels it's his birthright to connect with his British family. That family, embodied in Charles Henry Dill, whose claim to fame has always been that he's the last surviving relative of Lady Fowling, feels otherwise, greeting Aubrey's news with a sock in the kisser. Refereeing between pro-Aubrey and anti-Aubrey factions at Middlebank House is only part of Hayley's latest challenge. When a murder on the streets of Bath is traced irrefutably to Aubrey's connection to the society, she feels that she must take an active role in helping the police solve the crime or risk losing the goodwill she's built up in the community. Fast-paced and quirky fare for literary sleuths and those who love them. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In Wingate's unconvincing third First Edition Library mystery (after 2020's Murder Is a Must), Hayley Burke, curator for the First Edition Society Library in Bath, England, meets John Aubrey, who claims to be the long-lost grandson of the late Lady Georgiana Fowling, founder of the society. The skeptical Hayley arranges meetings involving the estate lawyer, society members, and John to determine whether John is an imposter. Charles Henry Dill, Lady Fowling's nephew and heir, is less than thrilled to learn of John's claim, and the two men come to blows. When Milo Overton, an associate of John's who resembles him, is killed, it's unclear whether John was the actual target and Dill committed the crime. A slow-moving plot, far-fetched scenarios, an unfamiliarity with the workings of special collections, and an unqualified and inept protagonist add up to an unsatisfactory experience for readers. One hopes Hayley's next outing will be more successful. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Jan.)