Due or Die: 12/01/22

Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay and Allyson Ryan (Narrator) (2012) is the second book in the Library Lover's mystery series. Library director Lindsey Norris oversees the election of a new president for the Friends of the Library. The ousted president, a rather snobbish man, accuses Lindsey of rigging the election before he storms off.

After such an off putting election, Lindsey takes home the newly elected president. Together they find the president's husband dead in the living room — shot through the heart.

This is the second murder at a library board mystery I've read in the last few months. The first one was Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier and Karen White (Narrator) (1999). Despite that, I am more reminded of Lorna Barrett's most recent, Clause of Death (2022).

The reason behind the murder and how it relates back to observed events — namely the election — is convoluted. This is one of those mysteries that is set up like a shell game. If you happen to be paying attention to the correct detail in the blizzard of details you'll at least know what the motive is. Figuring out how that motive circles back to a particular person will take another set of mental gymnastics.

The climax which took me a bit by surprise for my over estimation of Lindsey's common sense, hits like another wonderful mystery I recently read, Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely (1992). That said, I actually read the Neely book after Due or Die. Had I read it first, I might have figured out the final crucial piece of the puzzle before Lindsey did.

The third book in the series is Book, Line, and Sinker (2012).

Five stars

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