Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by CM Waggoner Narrator: Cindy Piller
Published by Ace, Penguin Audio on September 24, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Mystery
Pages: 341
Length: 11 hours, 56 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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Librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle has a knack for solving murders – lots of them. Sometimes she’s concerned by just how many killers she’s had to track down in her quiet village, though none of her neighbours seem surprised by the rising body count…
But when someone close to Sherry ends up dead, and her cat becomes unexpectedly possessed by an ancient demon as irritating as it is infernal, Sherry decides that it’s time for action.
It will be a lesson for murderers and demons
Never mess with a librarian.
Any story with a main character librarian is worth considering. Sherry moved about 6 years ago to take the position in Winesap, New York. She has had quite a run on solving mysteries of town murders recently. She enjoys being good at it. I liked Sherry and her personal journey throughout the story. Her sort of friend, Charlotte asked her to investigate when her husband is killed. Charlotte is afraid of being a suspect but Sherry finds the real culprit.
Now it is her boyfriend who has been murdered and she isn’t sure she wants to investigate. And she might be considered a suspect being the last to see him alive. Now things really go wild because her cat starts talking to her telling her she must investigate! Sherry starts to look into things to protect herself and her friends but when she tries to go to Albany where her boyfriend used to live to gather more information, she is stopped. Other people are unable to come to town.
Sherry realizes something more is at work than just regular people, and there are too many people dying. She goes to talk to the priest, Barry, about demons. He ends up being there when the demon takes over another person. Sherry starts carrying holy water, salt and crystals. Some of her friends help and some think she is crazy.
The Village Library and Demon-Hunting Society is not exactly what I expected. The library is not very involved, except Sherry works there and she likes to research, doing some of it at the library. I don’t feel like there was much of a demon-hunting society. Her friends help with a few things, but mostly it is Sherry.
The pacing was reasonably good, and kept my interest as Sherry followed up on clues and did research. The parts of the demon interference were sort of hokey. Usually, I like more at the end of a story, which we got here, but the very last bits seemed unimportant unless there will be more books with Sherry doing more demon-hunting.
Narration:
While this narrator was new to me, I was very comfortable with her performance. She was fantastic and suited to the main character for the voice of the story. The voice sounded a bit older, but other voices of her friends were handled well also and age appropriate. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
This sounds solid, although I’m curious now about the demon hunting society not being a big part of the story. I do want to know more about the cat!
It didn’t really feel like a society. Mostly it was Sherry and occasionally she had some help.
This sounds like a fun book! Adding it to my TBR list.
Surprising that the library didn’t figure into the story much. Great review, Anne💜
yes it was mostly the librarian herself.
Sounds like a pleasing, unique first story in the series. Hope the next one is even better!
Thanks Rachel. I’m not sure it is a series but the ending seemed to leave that open.
I am looking forward to readding this one, but it’s good to know it doesn’t quite live up to the expectation the title implies.
yes still a good book to read just not exactly what I thought it would be. Which is fine!
I really want to read this one. 😀
Thanks Kara. I hope you read and enjoy it.
Curious that the library is not very involved.
I know. The main character works at the library but it’s not other than that.
Despite the library only being window dressing this does seem like a fun read. I will have to add it to my TBR.
I’m not sorry I read it. It just doesn’t pay to read the blurb sometimes if it isn’t close to what I thought. Still a good read.