A cross between a cozy mystery and a paranormal fantasy story. Somehow it did not succeed well with either style. The village librarian works with the police (sort of) to solve crimes around town. Then her boyfriend is murdered, her cat, Lord Thomas Cromwell, becomes inhabited by a spirit which talks (down) to her and she's not sure what's going on. A multitude of characters, a time twist which throws the village back to pre-internet, pre-computer days. A priest with a bad boy twin brother - when the priest discovers his bad boy brother is impersonating him, the plot, as they say, thickens. It's all up to Sherry and her true blue friends to get to the bottom of this crime and return the village to its former bucolic state.

This was overall a cute read, and I enjoyed the premise. However the pace overall did not keep up for me and I felt some of my interest waning. I do think it’s a very clever story and think that the title and characters are so cozy and cute!

Huge thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
A cozy mystery with a spooky, fantasy spin. This is the perfect book for October! A librarian has just the knack for solving murders. Sherry keeps finding bodies but she also is solving the murders. When her cat just so happens to become possessed she knows it’s the unnatural haunting the town. A great group of side characters come together to form the society of demon hunters. This was a fun cozy mystery.

Sherry Pinklewhistle is a small town, upper New York State librarian with a knack for solving crimes. It seems like a whole lot of dead bodies and murders, when you think about it. She begins to believe that something just isn’t right. Her cat, Lord Thomas Cromwell suddenly starts talking to her, and tells her that an ancient demon demands that she keep solving crimes, and someone close to her becoming the next victim makes that an imperative. Can Sherry work with her small circle of friends, including the new, young, handsome priest, a newly widowed, cosmopolitan art gallery owner, and her skeptic therapist friend, figure out what exactly is plaguing their town?

This book is tailor-made for fans of cozy mysteries mixed with episodic, ensemble paranormal tv shows. There’s something very innovative about the feel of this story. While aspects feel familiar to fans of genre fiction in this niche, the execution feels very fresh. The pace is very leisurely, but things progress nicely towards the conclusion. The cast of potential suspects is diverse–with murky pasts and motives that make them quite morally questionable–bringing to mind British mystery and crime shows. While not overtly gruesome or bloody, the dark side of human nature is more than evident. Sherry’s own past ties very well into the overall story, as her compulsion to solve crimes relates to past trauma. When the demonic angle comes in, it makes for some well-written and nicely spooky scenes to remind readers that something very unnatural is going on in this town and with this situation. The humor is good, more on the wry and subtle side, fitting for this overall narrative. Small town life has its share of quirkiness and this is cleverly examined in the story. While initially, it was hard to figure out where things were headed, the destination is satisfying, leaving the door open for future paranormal sleuthing for Sherry and her friends.

This book is a fun, quirky mix of cozy mystery and supernatural elements. Sherry, a small-town librarian, finds herself investigating her boyfriend’s murder, with the help of a possessed cat and a group of amusing friends. The plot blends mystery, humor, and light supernatural vibes, giving off more of a Sabrina the Teenage Witch feel than anything scary. It’s a bit like "Murder, She Wrote" with demons—entertaining and easy to enjoy.

The characters are likable, especially Sherry with her amateur sleuthing skills, and the story keeps things lighthearted. While the supernatural bits feel a little out of place at first, they come together by the end, setting up for what could be a promising series. If you're into cozy mysteries with a twist, this is definitely worth checking out!

Jessica Fletcher meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this cozy mystery. A small-town librarian with a knack for solving murders realizes something supernatural is afoot. A quirky, fast-paced, fun read.

For some reason, I had in my mind that this was a Roman e with cozy murder mystery supernatural vibes, so let me tell you it isn’t that. However, once I adjusted my expectations, I very much enjoyed this one. The main character, Sherry, is a librarian in a quaint upstate NY town who is a librarian who also solves murders in the town. She has an orange cat and a small group of friends and acquaintances. What follows is cozy, often madcap and funny, sometimes a touch dark. I very much enjoyed this book and its demon hunting society. My favorite was Sir Thomas Cromwell, of course, followed by Sherry. I would read more in this series now that I now what to expect.

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner is a delightful and whimsical romp through a world where magic and mischief intertwine. From my perspective, Waggoner’s writing is both clever and engaging, effortlessly blending humor with adventure in a story that kept me entertained from start to finish. The characters are quirky and endearing, each adding their own flavor to the narrative, which creates a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.

I loved how the story explores themes of friendship, community, and the power of knowledge, particularly in the context of a library setting. Waggoner's clever use of humor and fantastical elements keeps the pacing lively, making it easy to get lost in the world she’s created. There are moments of genuine heart that ground the narrative, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

Overall, The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society is a charming and imaginative read that left me smiling. It’s a fantastic choice for those who enjoy lighthearted fantasy with a dose of adventure, and Waggoner’s talent for crafting a fun and engaging story makes this book a delightful escape.

I unfortunately DNF at ~40%. I felt that it took too long to get into the demon hunting itself (the first quarter felt devoted to the murder mystery plot line), and by the time the demon plot line showed itself, it all felt TOO bizarre for me!

Normally I rate DNF books 1/5 stars, but I did appreciate certain elements (unique plot and cozy vibes), so I give this one 2/5 stars. It was just not for me.

Somewhat disappointing. The characters needed more development and more personality. Not enough demon-hunting, either. Maybe it was just my mood.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

What a cute book! An adorable main character that leans into her stereotype of an older librarian. Sherry Pinkwhistle solves an excessive amount of murders in her small town. She doesn’t realize the number of murders is much too high until she also notices some strange occurrences she cannot explain.

There were so many fun and quirky parts of the book and Sherry was a true delight.

Advance reader copy provided by Berkley and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Ace and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of The Village Library Demon Hunting Society. Thank you to PRHAudio for my complimentary ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

That was a bit bizarre.
I know it’s billed as a cozy mystery, but it’s just a tad bit off the rails for my cozy loving reading heart. .
I did like it enough to finish it, but I did not particularly enjoy the demon parts.

I really liked how Sherry channeled Hercule Poirot when she was in full detective mode.

If you are into campy, out of this world mysteries then this is your perfect spooky season read. It is a great mash up of Murder She Wrote., Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Truman Show.

The ending was great and leaves room for another book. In the great style of Agatha Christie, there were so many twists and turns I did not figure out the murderer.

I paired the audio with the book. Cindy Piller has a very pleasant reading voice.
Edit Review

The perfect cozy mystery with a hint of the supernatural. Sherry was a lovable village librarian with good tastes in books and a penchant for solving mysteries. The book was full of charming characters and made you feel like you were sitting at tea alongside them trying to solve the latest murder. Perfect read for a cozy fall night.

I enjoyed this book very much. Kept me thoroughly interested through one sitting. Look forward to much more by this author.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 341 / Genre: Cozy Mystery

Sherry Pinkwhistle is an elderly librarian with a knack for solving murder mysteries who suddenly finds herself surrounded by murders in her sleepy village. Add some demon shenanigans and suspicious neighbors, and this little old lady has her hands full.

So, I was hoping the old people would be funny and endearing and the demons quirky and unpredictable. Meh. It was just a sleepy mystery with a demonic twist. And I didn’t find any of the characters particularly endearing or interesting.

Thank you, @NetGalley and @BerkleyPub for my gifted copy.

Sherry Pinkwhistle is a small town librarian that keeps finding dead bodies and helping the police solve the murders. It’s quite strange really. Why have there been so many murders? And why do the police need Sherry’s help? When Sherry’s cat starts talking to her as Lord Thomas Cromwell she realizes she may need more help - and enlists the new priest along with some of her friends. Time to hunt down a demon!

This book definitely gave off major Murder She Wrote vibes, just with added supernatural elements (but I wouldn’t call it Buffyesque at all). The main character is likable and quirky with an eclectic group of people around her. You definitely find yourself rooting for them.

What continued to bother me throughout this book was the setting. I just didn’t get NY town in winter. Yes, of course the author told me this is where we were meant to be, but I honestly felt like we were in an English Village. Especially with how everyone spoke. I think perhaps this had to do with the author trying to give off an Agatha Christie vibe. Whatever it was, it didn’t work for me.

This book is a little out there, but more fun for it.

*Thank you to Ace/Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This was a fun little cozy mystery, our MC gets caught in the middle of something and it just goes crazy from there. I enjoyed this one more than I expected too and I know a lot of people who will love it.

An okay, cozy fantasy book thar may work for others. I just found it to be a little too scattered for my tastes. Started out good, who doesn't love a librarian by day- amateur detective by night main character. The bodies are stacking up in a small village, but Sherry Pinkwhistle has an uncanny knack at solving the case. The cozy mystery aspect of this novel was done well, and I loved the parts where the group of friends came together. What didn't work for me was the paranormal part.. when the cat started talking, I almost gave up at that point. But I continued. I would have liked to have seen the demon-hunting theme explored more. In my opinion, too much was going on, and nothing was given the attention it needed to make it a better read. It was a quick read, and I do think the potential was there. It just missed the mark for me.

I read and reviewed honestly an advanced digital copy from netgalley and the publisher.

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner is a delightful blend of fantasy and humor that centers around a quirky group of villagers who take on the challenge of demon hunting. The story is filled with witty dialogue and charming characters, making it a fun and engaging read from start to finish. Waggoner’s imaginative world-building and clever plot twists keep readers entertained while exploring themes of friendship and community. This novel is a whimsical adventure that will appeal to fans of lighthearted fantasy and those who enjoy a dash of the supernatural.

This was a bizarre but fun cozy paranormal book (that I hope turns into a series) that is a is of Miss Marple and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this was not it (but in a good way I think, at least mostly). Sherry is a librarian with a knack for helping to solve murders. She doesn’t stop to think why there are so many or why it seems to be her who catches all of the suspects. When Sherry’s boyfriend is killed and she doesn’t want to investigate the reaction is not what she was expecting at all. It soon becomes clear to Sherry and a small group of friends and the town’s new priest that they have some sort of demon problem in their tiny town. This book was full of mystery, fun, and humor. A weird but fun ride.