Readers of Book 8 in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series will come away remembering onions and garlic are toxic to cats and dogs--because that comment is made several times throughout the novel. Nonetheless, the story of Charlie, an interim college library director, with a Maine Coon cat named Diesel, is a fun read. Set during a library conference, Charlie uses all the amateur sleuthing skills he has picked up by reading Agatha Christie and other murder mystery novels, to solve two poisoning cases. Twelve Angry Librarians can be read as a stand-alone novel, but it is so entertaining readers who come late to the series will want to go back and then ahead to complete the series. Book 15 is scheduled for release in 2023.

Cute and fun cozy mystery with characters that every librarian will recognize. Quick read with twists that will keep the reader entertained. This is part of a series and can serve as a stand alone but may have some readers hooked for additional books in the series.

Title: Twelve Angry Librarians

Author: Miranda James

Chapters: 35

Pages: 272

Series: Cat in the Stacks book 8

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

In Twelve Angry Librarians Charlie and Diesel are back for their eighth mystery. Charlie is the interim librarian for the college library. With the Southern Academic Libraries Association conference getting ready to be held there Charlie has his hands full. When Charlie's old school nemesis Gavin Fong is found murdered and Charlie becomes a suspect, but he's soon joined on that list by every librarian that Gavin had come in contact with over the years. Hence the title of the book.

It's up to Charlie to clear his name along with everyone else, but that's going to be easier said than done.

I've always loved mysteries since I was a kid and discovered my first Nancy Drew mystery. As an adult not much has changed though I tend to lean more towards cozies. The Cat in the Stack cozies have everything a mystery, a cat, a library and a librarians making it the perfect cozy. Diesel tends to be my favorite character he's the one with the most personality and spirit in the series. And as always I look forward to the next one in the series.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I love this series. and the plot kept me guessing. I liked the characters while they felt like visiting old friends. This was in the middle of the series however you don't need to start at the beginning of the series to fall in love with this book. Extremely enjoyable!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

As a librarian, I've always enjoyed this series, and the latest installment was a hoot and a holler. At an academic librarian conference, one librarian - and Charlie's long ago library school nemesis - delivers a scathing keynote saying degreed librarians are not part of the future of academic libraries. That's a bold statement, and unsurprisingly, he ends up murdered. Unfortunately, Charlie is on the hook, and has to find the real killer before he ends up in a prison library!

The title of this book is what made me want to read it. This was my first Cat in the Stacks and I won't be in a hurry to read another. This was a cute, okay book. Diesel the cat is more like a dog, which I enjoyed. Not a bad book, just to nice for my taste.

Our beloved Charlie Harris and his cat Diesel are back along with everyone else in Athena Mississippi. Laura and her husband are deciding whether to move to Virginia or stay in Athena. Which of course has Charlie on pins and needles waiting to see what they decide. The college is still looking for Dean to take over at the college. And of course they are getting ready for SALA convention in town for librarians. With it includes Charlie's nemesis Gavin Fong who went to college with Charlie and his wife. Gavin made advances at Jackie Charlie's wife after one time to many Charlie gets in a fight and knocks Gavin on his butt of course this happens again in the present.

Gavin has applied to work at the college as the Dean and Charlie can't in good concience take it seriously and tells the board he isn't supporting Gavin. Gavin even goes so far as to threaten Charlie with exposing the fight from years ago. Of course Charlie won't give into blackmail. When Gavin winds up collapsing at the convention after drinking out of his water bottle the heat gets put on Charlie for another fight between the two the previous day. Now Charlie and Diesel have to hunt out the real killer in a convention of librarians who all seem to have bad blood with Gavin will Diesel and Charlie figure it out in time? Will Laura and her husband relocate to Virginia? Who will be the Dean of the college?

I love Charlie and Diesel I would love to go to their house and visit them. While I know in reality I can't I jump at any chance to read these books they are my go to for a great mystery and great characters. I also love the cover art for these books with the big ole cat on the cover. This story didn't disappoint while we saw a side of Charlie I'm sure he wished would stay hidden in my eyes it made him more real and genuine some times guys have tempers and act rash but doesn't make him out to be a horrible guy just a guy who cares and wants to protect those close to them. I loved how this one was totally different then previous mysteries there were so many secrets and yet the ending was totally surprising. What was also nice was seeing what Laura and her husband decide on relocating for better job and pay. It was definitely a will they move or won't they and I was wondering like Charlie what they would choose! Can't wait to see what is next in this series!

Overall, a fun read, but kind of bland even for a cozy mystery. As a librarian, I could relate to a lot of the references, but not sure of its appeal to a broader audience.

A brilliant new installment of the Cat in the Stacks mystery series. With each story the depth of the characters deepen, the plot thickens and mysterious new twists keep the stories alive.

This is a great series and this latest book lives up to it! Charming story and characters!

I get the angry librarian--but there weren't twelve. Main character was man but written like a woman.

didn't enjoy. normally I like a good cozy but this was pretty boring. as a librarian, it was obvious the author was too but not sure if a non librarian would enjoy all the boring particulars. also the author mentioned that cats shouldn't eat onions at least twice. I'll be skipping the others books by this author

A fun mystery involving librarians and and murder. Anyone who has ever attended a library association meeting have met similar characters, but hopefully never murder. It does have a surprise ending.

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

Another fun outing for librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon cat Diesel. These are very nicely done cozies, gentle and authentic with likable characters and interesting mysteries. The lives of Charlie, his family, his co-workers and friends are every bit as important as the mystery.

An old enemy from Charlie's past has turned up and is planning to apply for the director's job that Charlie is occupying as an interim manager. At the same time, a library conference has brought together old friends and acquaintances. A dramatic sudden death at a banquet lunch gets Charlie back in harness as an amateur detective.

Meanwhile, changes are coming for those Charlie loves and he has a decision to make as well. Does he want to assume the full-time director duties -- after all, he has enjoyed the challenge. But he is about to become a grandfather twice over. And of course, his lady love Helen is part of the picture too.

It's always restful to spend time with Diesel and Charlie. Another well done story.

Charlie and Diesel have another mystery on their hands and Charlie is a prime suspect. Despite being stress from running a convention, Charlie uses his skills to find the real culprit in the room of Librarians before becoming a victim himself. Plenty of twists in this one to you wondering.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

This is the first book I have read by Miranda James and I must say unequivocally, it will not be my last! Twelve Angry Librarians has all my must haves for a cozy mystery read: engaging storyline, interesting and spunky characters (who would have thought librarians were so interesting?) and a charming pet. How have I overlooked the previous seven books in the series? I shall definitely be rectifying that oversight!

Right on page one, I was hooked. If the administrative assistant, Melba Gilley could talk to the main protagonist with such gumption, then this was bound to be an entertaining read:

Charlie – “But I don’t want to do it.”…”You know how much I have public speaking….”

Melba – “Forrest will be welcoming everyone to open the conference. If you’d actually read the schedule instead of whining like a three-year-old you’d see that.” Melba Gilley glared right back at me.

My main Coon cat, Diesel, obviously disturbed by the sudden tension between two of his favorite people, started meowing loudly.

I quite enjoyed the fact that Charlie wanted to take his cat everywhere! If only my cat would succumb to a leash. But as any cat lover knows…it is not the owner that owns the cat but the cat that owns the owner ☺.

The appreciation of family values was also a nice surprise. I loved how Charlie took into account quality of life regarding family while he was trying to decide if becoming the full time, permanent library director at Athena College was something he wanted.

With respect to the mystery of whodunit to the insufferable Gavin Fong (and frankly, he was such a “jerk”…no one seemed to like him) had me totally guessing until the end. I, as in the book, seemed to cycle through ALL the possible suspects and I was frankly, surprised in the end. And that is exactly what I crave for when reading a cozy mystery; being in suspense until the very end.

The cast of suspects were many zany librarians who previously studied or worked with Gavin. Each of their relationship with Gavin was a bit twisted, yet entertaining to read about. Things did get a bit confusing when a second death occurred. The second victim was a woman who seemed to adore Gavin (the only person that could stand him actually). That wrinkle added a great twist.

Some of Charlie’s musings that drew me in…after all, if a mystery includes a reference to Hercule Poirot, why wouldn’t it be a good read?

“I was so caught up in my fantasy of playing Hercule Poirot, bringing all the suspects together in the drawing room for the big revelation scene, that I hadn’t really paid attention to one crucial point that finally forced its way to the forefront of my consciousness.

Well, make that two crucial points.

First, one of the people in my house would be someone who had already killed twice. Someone who might still have cyanide in his or her possession.

Second, that person could easily decide to kill again, and who would be the most likely choice to play the victim?

Hercule, Poirot, that’s who-otherwise know as Charlie Harris.”

The romantic side of the story was sweet and I really liked how Charlie and his lady love’s (Helen Louise) love life progressed. That growth also took into account their individual grown kids and the impending births of grandkids for Charlie.

And let us not forget the interesting relationship Charlie had with Chief Deputy Kanesha Berry and the other members of the local police. I found it refreshing that Charlie respected his place within the hierarchy of people attempting to solve the crime. He definitely kept the local police informed (normally via text) and sought their counsel when necessary.

I cannot recommend this book enough, it was engaging and made me laugh. It had all the requisite components of a good cozy mystery. Now on to read books #1 – 7 of the Cat in the Stacks series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

This series has been on my TBR pile for quite a while, but a couple of relatively recent events got me to finally pick it up. Last year I updated an “Author Read Alike” article for Novelist about the late Lilian Jackson Braun and her Cat Who mysteries. Miranda James’ Cat in the Stacks series came up as a strong read alike. A couple of months ago this particular title came up as I was interviewed for NetGalley’s Reader Spotlight feature. I was asked about book covers I was particularly looking forward to, and this was the book I chose. Why? Not that the handsome cat on the cover isn’t a draw all by himself, but it’s the title that really got me. Twelve Angry Librarians begs a question from most of us. What, ONLY twelve?

But about the book and the series. The series focuses on librarian Charlie Harris and his large and intelligent cat Diesel. Charlie lies in the small town of Athena Mississippi, where he is currently the interim director of the college library at the college he attended way back. Even though he left tiny Athena for library school in Houston and a long career there, he went back to Athena when his aunt left him her rambling house, and he’s made it his home.

Charlie has a penchant for getting involved in murder investigations, strictly on an amateur basis. He seems to have acquired that temporary director job after his predecessor was murdered, and of course Charlie figured out who the culprit was. (I haven’t read the whole series, YET, and it did not in any way spoil my enjoyment of this book. But I did enjoy it a lot, and plan to pick up the rest!)

Whether the job is reward or punishment depends on just how many fires he has to put out that day.

But part of the job is playing genial host to the regional library association when they hold their annual conference in Athena. While Charlie has plenty of friends, the social whirl of the conference isn’t all that appealing. And that’s before he discovers that his library school nemesis is not only the keynote speaker, but has also applied for the permanent job that Charlie is temporarily holding.

Gavin Fong is slime. And saying that is an insult to slime. He has accumulated so many enemies that it’s amazing that he’s lived as long as he has. It is not a surprise that someone murders him at the conference, although spiking his water bottle with cyanide might seem a bit extreme. But no one misses the bastard.

Charlie’s lucky he has an alibi for the crime, after half the conference witnessed him punching the jerk’s lights out the day before, followed by applause from the approving crowd. But with the conference and the murder, Charlie is in the thick of the investigation, whether he wants to be, or not.

When a second dead body turns up, it seems like everyone is a possible suspect. And a possible next victim. But which is which?

Escape Rating A-: This was an excellent cozy mystery, but I have some personal mixed feelings. The description of the crowd of the librarians and the details of the job of librarian were very true to life. To the point where I’m surprised this series is as popular as it is with general readers. The situations described, unfortunately including the nastiness of the victim, were so true-to-life that they almost gave me flashbacks. That the author is a practicing librarian was no surprise to this reader.

Originally I picked this as a read alike for the Cat Who mysteries. But in spite of a few surface details, the series aren’t really alike, although I think that readers of one will like the other. The similarity is that both Charlie Harris and Jim Qwilleran inherited rambling houses in small towns from late aunts and retired from the big city to the small town to live in those lovely homes. And, of course, they have cats. And poke their noses into local crimes.

But Q believes that his Siamese cat Koko helps him solve those mysteries. Diesel, on the other hand, is just a cat. He’s huge, but then, Maine Coon cats are really that big. He walks on a lead, but it is possible to train a cat to do that. Diesel is also very cuddly, and very responsive to the moods of the people around him. Cats that have their own staff, in the dogs have owners, cats have staff sense, can be quite affectionate and responsive. Diesel is a smart cat, but on a scale compared to other cats. He’s not human intelligent or psychic or whatever Q thinks Koko is.

Not that I wouldn’t love to have a Maine Coon. They are absolutely gorgeous cats, and very even tempered. They can afford to be – at 25 pounds (average cats weigh around ten pounds!) they are bigger than most things that might unnerve or threaten them, including small dogs.

More than anything else, the book that Twelve Angry Librarians reminds me of is Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb. The situations are surprisingly similar. Bimbos also takes place at a small convention, in this case a science fiction convention. So it has the same relatively enclosed setting of a bunch of people who know each other casually but see each other regularly and who have something in common. Everyone is away from home, and what happens at the convention, either kind, generally stays at the convention. Both Jay Omega and Charlie Harris are very amateur detectives. And both victims were such disgusting examples of human beings that the reader is almost grateful when they get killed, as are most of the conference attendees. So both are cases where the list of people who did not have a motive is much, much shorter than the list of people who did.

For a cozy series, it is necessary that the protagonist and his family of ‘irregulars’ be both interesting and likable. Charlie and Diesel certainly fit that bill. Charlie is someone I would love to have coffee with and share stories, especially if I could pet Diesel while doing it. The people who populate Charlie’s life and his world all seem to have their own interesting tales to tell. I also like that a part of the story is Charlie’s warm relationship both with his now adult children and with the woman in his life. Long-running mystery series often include a will they/won’t they romance, but having that romance feature 50-somethings is rare and wonderful. (It this factor appeals to you, dig into Marty Wingate’s Potting Shed Mysteries for a similar romantic sub-sub-plot)

I’m glad I finally clawed my way into the Cat in the Stacks series, and I’m looking forward to going back to pick up the beginning in Murder Past Due as soon as I get a copy. From the library, of course.

Twelve Angry Librarians by Miranda James is the eighth A Cat in the Stacks Mystery novel. Charlie Harris in is the interim library director at Athena College in Athena, Mississippi. Charlie must prepare a short speech to welcome the librarians to the Southern Academic Library Association Annual Conference. Charlie is shocked when he finds out that the keynote speaker is Gavin Fong. Charlie went to graduate school with Gavin over twenty-five years ago. There was an altercation between the two men after Gavin hit on Jackie, Charlie’s wife. After the opening speeches, the guests are mingling when Gavin approaches Charlie. Gavin has not changed one bit since college. He is still arrogant, condescending, and difficult. When Gavin tries to hit Charlie (three times), Charlie is forced to defend himself. This is not a good start to the conference. The next day Gavin is giving his upsetting keynote speech. After taking a drink of water, Gavin starts to choke and clutch at his throat while gasping for air. Gavin dies in front of the audience. Chief Deputy Kenesha Berry quickly arrives at the Farrington House (where the conference is being held). Kenesha has an unusual problem with this victim. Usually, she lacks for suspects. This time there are too many people who disliked Gavin (and would not mind seeing him dead). Charlie is a prime suspect after his altercation with Gavin the day before. Charlie wants to find the real killer before the conference ends and the killer gets away (or he ends up head librarian at the local prison). Things take a turn for the worse when another librarian is found dead in her hotel room with a water bottle nearby. Charlie has some personal matters that are diverting his attention. Charlie is in for a challenging weekend in Twelve Angry Librarians.

I found Twelve Angry Librarians to be my favorite book in A Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. It is well-written and pleasurable to read. I also found it to have a good pace which makes it easy to read. Twelve Angry Librarians may be the eighth book in the series, but a reader can enjoy it as a stand-alone. Miranda James provides all the information a reader needs. Twelve Angry Librarians contains relatable characters that readers will love. Diesel, the Maine Coon Cat, is especially enjoyable (with his little chirps and trills). I give Twelve Angry Librarians 5 out of 5 stars. I especially appreciated the well-crafted mystery in Twelve Angry Librarians. It was puzzling (in a wonderful way). I do not believe that many people will be able to figure out the whole solution. I wish more authors would create out-of-box murder mysteries that are complex and difficult for the reader to crack. Twelve Angry Librarians has good characters, a little romance, family situations, and a perplexing mystery. All these qualities make for a delightful cozy mystery. I hope you let Miranda James transport you to Charlie and Diesel’s world in Twelve Angry Librarians.

Enjoyable read. I liked reading a "librarian" mystery. Plan to look for the first book in the series.