A Likely Story by Jenn McKinlay

"Librarian Lindsey Norris loves her job at Briar Creek Public Library and cares about everyone who comes in there. Part of her job involves delivering books to people who can't make it to the library, including eccentric brothers Stewart and Peter Rosen. Much to her dismay, on one of her trips she find Peter Rosen dead - shot in the chest -and Stewart Rosen is nowhere to be found. Stewart seems the most likely suspect, but Lindsey isn't convinced and she, along with her friends, tries to clear his name. “A Likely Story” is the nicely done sixth book in Jenn McKinlay's Library Lovers cozy mystery series. I love the library setting and the cast of characters in this series, including Lindsey, Sully, Beth (I love Beth’s storyline in this book), Charlene, Mary, Violet, Milton, Robbie, even Ms. Cole. The mystery is well plotted (McKinlay does an excellent job of describing the Rosen's booby-trapped house) with just the right amount of suspense and more than a few twists , so even though I thought I had the killer figured out I was completely surprised at events that happened towards the end of the book. The one thing I don't like about this book (and series) is the ongoing Lindsey/Sully/Robbie love triangle. While there are some nice humorous bits between the two men, I find the love triangle to be distracting - often taking me away from the mystery. I wish Lindsey would pick one or the other and get this ongoing storyline over with. Besides the main novel, “A Likely Story” contains a reader's guide to Josephine Tey’s “The Daughter of Time”, a craft project, recipes, and a cute short story......"

처음부터 끝까지 긴장감 있는 이야기 전개는 이 작품의 매력이다. 새로운 연애의 시작을 알리는 내용도 있지만 이 작품에서는 크게 다루어지지는 않는다. 솔직히 남녀 주인공의 어중간한 이야기 전개는 재밌다기보다는 글의 흥미를 떨어뜨리는 효과가 있는 거 같다. 작품의 배경이 되는 섬들에 대한 흥미 있는 사건들, 숨겨진 가족사의 비극, 폭발, 도망 등 재밌는 요소들이 많이 등장한다. 주요한 단어는 geanology, booby trap, collection, hoarder, suicide, family tragedy, run away, new meeting 등이다. 가끔씩 등장하는 몇몇 표현들을 제외하면 읽는데 큰 문제는 없는 거 같다.