Cover Image: Silence in the Library

Silence in the Library

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Member Reviews

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “Silence in the Library.” All opinions are my own.

Family troubles and then tension in the room upon meeting the new wife of an old friend mark the beginning of “Silence in the Library,” the second book in a series featuring Lily Adler, a young widow trying to make a life for herself in Regency-era London. Lily’s immediately butting heads with her domineering father and soon the old friend turns up dead, and she finds herself in the middle of the investigation, with help from Simon Page of Bow Street and Captain Jack Hartley (both prominent from the first book in the series). Our author, Katherine Schellman wastes no time in crafting her tale, pointing out the stiffness of society – how murder just isn’t “done” among this group of people. Be that as it may, it’s up to Constable Page – with help from Lily, of course – to find the why and wherefore, something that’s done quite handily, in “Silence in the Library.”

The book is very true to time and place and in language, definitely. Class distinctions are clearly defined, from the second wife to the below stairs staff that hide secrets. And Lily’s father is simply awful. What women had to put up with back then!

Love, money, inheritances – what has gotten Sir Charles killed? There are lots of clues for the reader to discover. “Silence in the Library” will keep readers guessing until the finish, with an intelligent heroine that’s not too over the top, characters and characterizations that are original, settings that are authentic, and a plot that will keep you guessing up to those last pages. Speaking of characters -- An Author’s Note at the end discusses her research for some of the themes used in the book – don’t read it until you’ve read all of “Silence in the Library.”

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After reading his author’s debut novel, The Body in the Garden, I was anxious to read this second book. I loved the mystery in that book but didn’t care for the main characters, so I was anxious to see how they might come across in this book. I’m glad I decided to give them another try because I really liked both of them this time around.

The mystery in this book is excellent with lots of red herrings, a plethora of suspects, plenty of outside characters to cause strife, and plenty of friends willing to go out of their way to help. Lily’s friend, Ofelia, whom we met in the last book, is back from her honeymoon and extends a helping hand as well.

Mrs. Lily Adler has settled nicely into her new home in London. She’s reconnected with old friends and made some new ones – so all is right with her world. Well, it was until she arrives home to discover the entryway filled with baggage belonging to her estranged father. Lily has never been able to please her father – he thinks she is mannish, unladylike, forward, and whatever other negative adjectives there are. He just walks in and takes over her home, finding fault with everything and freely expressing his negative views of her. She should turn him out, but – well – he is her father and she can’t quite do it. Her father’s purpose in visiting London, which he hates, is because of his health. (NOTE: He saw his doctor, but there was never any mention of the results of the visit. We don’t know anything because he never mentioned it and Lily never asked. It just seems to me that a parent’s health – especially when that parent traveled days to visit a town he hates – would at least rate a question or comment.)

One of the social courtesies of that period is to pay a social call on newlywed friends and Lily’s father’s good friend, Sir Charles, falls into that category. To placate her father, Lily undertakes the visit for him even though she doesn’t know the new Lady Wyatt. Lily and Captain Jack Hartley have a nice visit with Lady Wyatt and agree to a ride in the park the following morning. When Lily and Jack arrive, the house is in turmoil because Sir Charles has died. Well, not just died – according to Bow Street’s principal officer, Mr. Page, it was murder. The family is sure that it was an accident, but Lily has uncovered the murder weapon before they leave.

Though he hates the idea, Mr. Page asks Lily and Jack to aid him in the investigation. Of course, Lily would have been in the middle of it whether Mr. Page had asked or not – and Jack is going to be right there with Lily. As they uncover more evidence, it seems it is quickly discounted. Then, when another death occurs, they have to wonder who else might be in danger. Jack, Lily, Mr. Page, and several friends follow leads that get them nowhere, but the evidence is mounting. How can they prove who the murderer is even after they figure it out? Chicanery perhaps?

The mystery was outstanding! It was everything you’d want in a mystery -- well-written, excellently paced, exciting, and perplexing. I can highly recommend the book. For me personally, I’m on hold about whether I’ll continue with the series. It is a personal thing – I have to have a good romance to go along with a good mystery. I had assumed Jack and Lily would have a relationship – and I still think that will be the case. However, a new male was introduced into this book and has an interest in Lily – and she seems to have a bit of an interest in him. I won’t read love triangles – and I really like Jack – so, I’ll see where the next book goes before I decide whether I’ll continue with the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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The first Lily Adler book was also one of my first historical mystery book that wasn’t Sherlock Holmes based and made me fall in love with the genre. So of course I requested the second book when it became available on Netgalley. And I loved it just as much again.

In this series we follow Lily Adler, a young widow in the upper class of Regency London. Together with the best friend of her late-husband, the mixed race Captain Jack, she finds herself involved in yet another murder case… this time that of a family friend.

The fact that Lily is a young widow gives her an unique position in society. She doesn’t have to worry as much about decency, can have male friends (such as the very charming Jack) and can go about unchaparoned. But she also has some very charming and handsome young men excited when she goes out of mourning… Lily is clever and cunning, as well as forcefull and kind. She doesn’t shy away from walking around a dangerous part of town at night, but also isn’t naïve enough to leave her pistol at home when doing so. She will lie when she has to, but doesn’t enjoy doing so. And she does Not let her father tell her what to do in her own home, no matter how unwomanly she may be. Bascially, she is great. I also love the friendship she has with Jack. Although I wouldn’t be surprised it will turn into more later on in the series, I hugely appreciate it when two characters can have a really strong, non-romantic relationship as well. And Jack and Lily are great together.

The mystery itself is put together brilliantly. We constantly feel like we are almost touching the solution yet are just missing that one piece of vital information to make all fit together. The way Lily manages to bring it all to a conclusion is done just superbly.

Another aspect in this book that I greatly appreciate is that the police detective is very capable himself as well. It isn’t like in some other series where our brilliant hero(in) has to solve the case otherwise the police in their stupidity will just arrest the wrong person. No, Lily and Jack are very much working together with the police, and use their positions in society to get into places our detective would have struggled with.

I was so happy to spend some more time with Lily and already cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series, whenever that comes out. If you like a good (historical) mystery, this is a series you should not miss out on!

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4.25/5⭐️

This is the 2nd in the Lily Adler historical mystery series, and I’m happy to have discovered another good female sleuth to keep up with. I enjoyed the initial entry and am now adding this series to my “auto” read for each new adventure.

Lily and her intrepid friends help solve two murders in one household, one an old friend of her father’s, the other a maid. While I had guessed most of it, there were still a few twists. Lily, as a young widow, is a strong, likable lead that I look forward to reading more about.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

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Silence in the Library was a delightful pursuit, The characters were captivating, and I loved the storyline. This was right up my alley, it was definitely a fun take on a Victorian mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I very much enjoyed Silence in the Library. I was so nice to get back to Regency London and find out more about Lily and Jack. This is second book in the series and is just as engrossing and wonderfully smart as the first one,

Lily has another great murder mysterie to solve and she is up for the task. I like her with her sharp wit and good humour. Her friendship with Jack is deep and admirable,
There is little none romance in the book but i don’t mind that at all. I guess I secretly hope that Lily and Jack find each other in the end because they are both lovely and they would make such a great couple.

I hope there will be more stories with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my copy. I received a copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

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Katharine Schellman gives us a charming regency mystery in which Lily Adler, widow, looks for the murderer of a family friend, aiding Bow Street. Her father and society disapprove, but Lily perseveres. Then a servant in the bereaved household dies suspiciously. Whodunit?

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This Regency period cosy mystery featuring young widow Lily Adler was a delightful read. Lily is a charming young woman, who has set up her own household in London after the death of her husband two years before, rather than move back home with her cold and disapproving father. To please her father she agrees to call on Sir Charles Wyatt, an old family friend of theirs to congratulate him on his recent second marriage and meets Lady Wyatt, his new wife, and reacquaints herself with his son. However, promising to return the next morning to ride with Lady Wyatt, she finds herself in a middle of a murder scene with detective Simon Paige from Bow St called in to investigate. Lily knows Simon from before as this is not the first murder she has been close to and hoped him solve with her insight.

This is the second in the Lily Adler series, which I didn't realise when I started to read it. While it would have been good to start with the first book to become acquainted with all the characters and their circumstances, I found it easy to pick up the necessary facts and background and enjoy this episode. Lily is a clever and personable young woman whose intuition and understanding of human nature as well as her ability to infiltrate the homes of the upper classes and discover things off limit to the Bow St police. Her husband's boyhood friend, Captain Jack Hartley who has become close to her since her husband died, is also happy to help Lily and the police in their investigations. A very enjoyable, intelligently written, domestic mystery with some lovely characters I look forward to following in future episodes of the series.

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I enjoyed Lily Adler's spunk, as well as her dexterity in straddling the lines of what was acceptable for an intelligent woman in society. In this story, she also had to contend with her father's constant disapproval as she solved the mysterious death of his good friend. A delightful read!

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This is shaping up to be a really excellent series.

Silence in the Library is the second in this series of Regency mysteries with Lily Adler as the main character and amateur sleuth. Lily is a genuinely strong female character, especially as a woman of her time. She has been widowed young and lives independently. She enjoys a friendly relationship with Captain Jack Hartley who was a close friend of her husband (we wait with great interest to see this relationship develop further!). Most importantly she stands up for herself as an individual with rights and also wants to see justice done for others.

Lily's father is a hard man who criticises every aspect of her life so when he comes to stay with her for a while she has some very difficult moments. At the same time she is drawn into investigating a murder which involves people close to her own family. She and Captain Jack and a Bow Street Runner called Simon make up the investigation team and they are good!

By the middle of the book I was happy that I knew who committed the crime and also why, but I had to wait to the end to find out how. I was pleased that Lily took care of herself, and the only time she went into danger she knew what she was doing and went prepared. She is a very intelligent woman in practice as well as by description.

All of this is wrapped in a beautiful cover and is very nicely written. A totally enjoyable way to pass a few very pleasant hours.

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A very strong second installment of the Lily Adler Mystery series. Lily not only got involved in another murder case, but this time she also had to deal with the surprise arrival of her father, which lead to much stress and tension (for both Lily and the reader). And Lily has also come out of mourning after two years, which provides her with self-conscious moments with three different men. That isn’t a huge plot point in the story, but it does add to the growth of Lily’s character. The mystery itself was well-paced, and I like to think that I solved it just before Lily and Simon did. Looking forward to the next book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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👩 Lily Adler has just settled in London when, while visiting Lady Wyatt, the new wife of an old family friend, she stumbles into a body. Sir Charles, Lady Wyatt's husband, is found dead. Everything seems to indicate it was an accident, but Bow Street constable Simon Page suspects foul play. And Lily helps him find evidence that Sir Charles was, indeed, murdered.

❤️ I liked:⁠
👩 Lily. I really enjoyed her character. She is strong and proud and doesn't like to be reminded of what she is not allowed to do because she is a woman. She is not afraid to stand up to her father, who finds embarrassing her involvement with the police.
✍️ How it's written. The book is very entertaining, well-written and really easy to follow. It's a light read, perfect to devour on holiday, on a beach, sipping a cold drink.
👗 The setting. Regency London is very well described: the buildings, the dresses, the streets, the difference between rich and poor... It made the book even more enjoyable.
🔍 The murder mystery. A body is found in the library, and all the most likely culprits have ironclad alibis. As usual, though, nothing is at it seems.

🤔 I wasn't so sure about:⁠
The whodunit. I realized who the murderer was and why quite soon. This didn't make the book less enjoyable, but I would have liked a bit more suspense.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 Silence in the Library is an entertaining cosy murder mystery, with a lovely set of characters and a great setting. If you are looking for an easy read, this is it! Thanks to #netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the ARC.⁠

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I somehow missed the first book in the series and even with that fact I enjoyed the story. The murder mystery afoot was kind of predictable but still enjoyable and this was an easy read. This is not really a romance but there are hints and I kind wish there was a bit more romance, only because I enjoy some romance, maybe there will be more in the next book. 3.5 stars

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I did miss the first book in this Lily Adler mystery series and I am sorry that I did! This was a very quick, entertaining and fun read.
Mrs. Adler seems to like poking her nose in where it has no business being., And when she pays a duty call to an old friend and family, she discovers murder, and does some poking and prodding!
I can't wait to read more books in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

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Lily Adler has just started to feel settled into her new London home when her semi-estranged father arrives, intending to stay with her while he recovers from an illness. To placate and avoid him, she takes his place in a social visit with Lady Wyatt, a woman she doesn't know. But then Lady Wyatt's much older husband and Lily’s father’s good friend is found dead in his library. Bow Street constable Simon Page suspects that he was murdered. To uncover the truth, Lily must convince the father who doesn't trust or respect her to help catch his friend's killer before anyone else in the Wyatt household dies.
This was another very well researched Regency cozy mystery by Katharine Schellman. I am so impressed with how well the era is portrayed and how Lily Adler can still shine, without being anachronistic, in a time that did not have much regard for a female sleuth. I love getting into the details and learning more about the start of London’s metropolitan police, the Bow Street Runners, absolutely fascinating. If you like historical cozy mysteries, the Bridgertons by Julia Quinn or Evie Dunmore’s romance novels definitely pick this one up and give it a try ! This was a wonderful relaxing read !

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I remember enjoying the last book, but this one left me disappointed.

The mystery is dull. We only have three suspects. When we meet the suspects, and I see how they interact, the twist was obvious.

I like historical mysteries because there's tension with how people lived and behaved while dealing with a murder investigation. There is none of that here.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

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Quite a charming and amusing novel. Reading about the old-world British aura and ambiance was a refreshing change from the present.
The story and plot have been detailed very well, although some descriptive narratives seemed a bit over the top. But that’s for me who isn’t a very big fan of descriptive narrative. Some readers may find the details fascinating.
Plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep it interesting till the last page. But the pace of the story is slow but steady, as is expected from a historical cozy mystery. Very easy to read and the little clues sprinkled throughout the reading will keep you intrigued.
The characters were developed very well, the stern Mr.Page, the innocent cousin Percy Wyatt, and of course, the independent, graceful woman of character and strength, Mrs. Lily Adler, were some of my favorites.
Overall it was a delightful read. Fans of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes will love this Regency mystery. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

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This is the second installment in this cozy mystery series and I would say I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first one. The characters are done really well and it's interesting to watch the main character navigate her way through a time period when women were meant to be meek and quiet. She knows exactly who to push boundaries with and when to play the part of the socially acceptable lady. I think the mystery in this one was good, although I did figure it out pretty early on, I can't tell if I just happened to pick up on a tiny detail or whether it isn't particularly well hidden. Very much looking forward to the next in the series.

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Lily Adler is settling into her life in London when her father pays an unexpected visit. She and her father don't get along. He doesn't respect her and much favors his godson Frank Wyatt. He sends Lily to pay a call on his friend Sir Charles since he doesn't approve of Sir Charles' recent wedding to a younger woman.

Lily calls and finds the new Lady Wyatt an unexceptionable lady. However, she also finds herself present when some money is discovered to be missing. At first a servant is blamed but Lily quickly realizes that the money was actually stolen by Sir Charles' nephew Percy which leads to an embarrassing moment for an outsider.

When Lily arrives the next morning to ride with Lady Wyatt, she comes upon a difficult situation again. This time she learns that Sir Charles has been found dead in his library. Since it looks like murder, Simon Page from the Bow Street Runners is called in but the Wyatt's don't want to cooperate with his investigation.

Mr. Page knew Mrs. Adler from an earlier case and drafts her to do some investigating since she is of the correct social class and would be welcomed by the Wyatt's when he would not. It also helps that the Wyatt's were neighbors in the county and Mrs. Adler is familiar with them.

When a young maid also dies, Lily, Simon and Lily's friend Captain Jack Hartley are all very busy trying to find out who committed the murders.

This was an entertaining Regency mystery with interesting characters. I really like Lily Adler's determination to solve the crime but also her worries that her life as an investigator could hurt her socially. I liked the way she stood up to her father's bullying.

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I received this from Netgalley.com.

Second in the Lily Adler mystery series, Lily and her faithful, handsome friend Captain Jack Hartley are embroiled in another murder.

Another easy, pleasant read in this cosy series. I feel the characters didn't have any real developmental progress from the first book and felt no great connections with them.

2.75☆

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