Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Archivist and rare book librarian Charlie Harris (last seen in Hiss Me Deadly, 2023) is exasperated with his prickly new assistant, Tara Martin who, while competent, is abrupt to the point of rudeness. At his son’s housewarming party, Tara, who also works for the caterer, suddenly bolts from the room, and Charlie finds her hiding in the root cellar, saying she has had a panic attack. The next day, Charlie learns Tara has been struck by a hit and run driver and is not expected to live. The investigation of the accident is difficult because no one knows anything about Tara’s past, and all her addresses are fake. Charlie is suspicious of a potential volunteer’s motives and a man who comes to the office looking for Tara. He does some further digging once he finds Tara has secreted clues in the library’s catalog and his office. Cat and book lovers will enjoy Charlie’s first-person account; the well-drawn, close-knit characters, including Diesel the cat; and the details of rare books and libraries in this cozy mystery.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The Athena College library’s new employee seems to be harboring a secret that the longtime librarian and his Maine Coon cat are eager to crack. The doldrums of mid-January can’t keep Charlie Harris down, particularly now that he’s only a month away from his long-anticipated wedding to Helen Louise Brady. His workload at the library has recently been lightened with the hire of hardworking Tara Martin, an odd duck who’s weirdly reclusive and prone to fits of rage. Charlie and his frequent feline co-worker, Diesel, have long experience when it comes to dealing with mercurial moods, so they’re more than capable of handling Tara, though it’s doubtful whether her blend of hard work and challenging temperament is a fit for her other part-time job at Helen Louise’s bistro. With someone so clearly on edge, it’s only a matter of time before the dam breaks, and Charlie wonders if that’s what he’s seeing when Tara darts off in the middle of a housewarming party for his son, Sean. Even though Charlie’s right on her heels, no one knows where she went until Charlie spots her, shivering and obviously terrified, hiding out in the property’s root cellar. What’s spooked her so badly? Charlie’s determined to find out, but before he can convince her to divulge whatever’s under her skin, Tara goes more seriously missing. Expecting the worst, Charlie enlists Diesel’s help in his investigation. He’s determined not to stop until he learns the truth—as long as it doesn’t interfere with his upcoming nuptials. In a world of cozies, an older male investigator stands out. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Library Journal
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Archivist Charlie Harris is puzzled by his assistant at Athena College; Tara Martin lacks social skills and often blurts out tactless comments. Tara also works shifts at the bistro owned by Charlie's fiancée, where she's been known to disappear if asked to interact with customers. On a bistro catering job (a housewarming for Charlie's son and daughter-in-law), Tara turns pale at the sight of party guests and slips out. When Charlie tracks her down, she says she had a panic attack. He takes her home to a sketchy part of town and later learns that Tara has been the victim of a hit-and-run. Somehow, Charlie's not surprised to learn that Tara had multiple addresses and identities, and he begins to suspect she was murdered. His only clues are in the archives, but he and his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, receive a few too many odd guests in the archives for Charlie's liking. He needs to solve the case before his upcoming nuptials are disrupted. VERDICT Charlie is on the periphery of the case in this sequel to Hiss Me Deadly, but fans of the series will be happy with the return of Charlie and Diesel, their friends and family, and preparations for a upcoming wedding.—Lesa Holstine