Read It and Weep

By: Jenn McKinlay

Narrated by: Allyson Ryan

William Shakespeare is credited with inventing how many words?*

Answering Shakespeare trivia comes with the job description for library director Lindsey Norris. But when the Briar Creek Community Theater mounts their newest production of the Bard, she has no intention of leaving the stacks for the stage. Unfortunately a villain is waiting in the wings…

Former Broadway actress Violet La Rue is holding auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream - and everyone from the sour spinster librarian Ms. Cole to Lindsey’s youthful library pages are trying out for parts. Brought in to play the mischievous Puck is the flirtatious professional actor Robbie Vine, who seems to have eyes for Lindsey. Before her blush has faded, the Bard’s dream turns into a nightmare - when one of the cast is poisoned. Now Lindsey and her crafternooners must take center stage to unmask the culprit before the final curtain call…

*Over 17,000

©2013 Jenn McKinlay (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Good book; good series

Interesting plot combined with the joys of Shakespeare It is made all the better by a truly gifted narrator. A real delight to listen to.

Another great addition to a great series

In Read It and Weep, the fourth book in Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery series, the town of Briar Creek stages its own production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is produced and directed by their very own Violet LaRue, a famous retired Broadway actress, who Invites her close friend Robbie Vine, a fellow highly famous Broadway actor, to star as Puck. In bringing Robbie to Briar Creek, Violet inadvertently brings drama to the community, with people either loving or hating him but not having feelings in between. Despite having a wife and a girlfriend in tow, Robbie tries very hard to get the attention of Lindsey, the librarian who serves as the protagonist of the book. This meets the thorough disapproval of Sully, the local captain who dated and then broke up with Lindsey in the previous book. Then, at practice a few days before the first performance, Robbie takes a drink of the coconut water he is so fond of and promptly dies of poisoning.

This leads to an investigation into all the people who have held a grudge against Robbie. Lindsey uses her library skills to trace Robbie’s history, learning things about his past that the police have been unaware of and that they need in order to solve the case.

The book also explores issues of romantic relationships as seen in Lindsey’s life. She has grieved the loss of Sully all summer from when he decides he knows that she needs a break from him, though both clearly are still intensely drawn to each other. But when Robbie arrives, he instantly falls for Lindsey, leaving her stuck in a quandary over which man she is attracted to more strongly.

I appreciated the conclusion of the book. Parts of the solution seemed obvious to me, and I jumped to the conclusion that the ending was unsatisfactory. However, while I got the obvious details correct, I missed all the fun ones that the author was saving for a big surprise that came as a fun shock. I felt the whole conclusion was draw very creatively.

Allyson Ryan reads the audio edition of this book. She does a good job of portraying the dilemmas that Lindsey faces throughout the course of the book. I like the sound of her voice and how it makes me picture Lindsey to hear her speak.

I appreciated how Read It and Weep uses library skills to help solve the mystery and shows life in this delightful library and small town. As someone who has always reveled in libraries and even once wanted to become a librarian, I love the setting of this series and the lives of those who work in the library. To this highly creative book I give five stars!

Great story

Would you listen to Read It and Weep again? Why?

Yes, Lindsey is a great character who always speaks her mind. She is not easily bullied into situations or too worried about what other people think. Also, the ending was definitely a surprise!

This is a great series

Any additional comments?

I've listened to the first 4 books in this series and I am looking forward to #5 and #6 becoming available in audio. I have given all 5 stars to the first 3 books and I'm giving this one an overall 5 and 5 for the narrator. The only reason that I'm giving 4 stars for the story on this one is that I'm not a big fan of romantic triangles and too much angst in my mysteries. I like some romance, and I enjoyed the relationship that has been building between Lindsay and Sully from the beginning, but lately there have just been too many side tracks, and it pulls my attention away from the flow of the story. That's not to say this is not a great book - and I'm sure others really enjoy the twists and turns in the relationship. It's just not my preference. But bottom line...these are great books and I highly recommend them. I will be watching for the next one to become available in audio.

Bravo!

Loved every word. Funny, sad, shocking and suspenseful!!! Wherever will the author bring Lindsey next….

Amusing & Entertaining

Story line was enjoyable. I didn't have the mystery solved until almost the end.

Really-

Another triangle-ugh. This is a terrible cliffhanger. If the characters were real, Sully deserves a woman with some common sense. Book smart isn’t the key to a happy life.

He said, she said …

The plot was good. But I will not be reading any more of Jenn McKinlay’s books. Why not? Because all I could get was author constantly writing. He said or she said so often I destroyed the book got me. Sad

Beyond Belief

The worse thing you can do as an author of a cozy mystery is introduce a love triangle that takes center stage. That is exactly what has happened in this book. This new plot line is unrealistic and annoying. I already bought the next book but that will be the last book in the series.

Too Obvious

I like the characters in the town and community. They are very like people you meet every day. The small town setting is very real.

The story moved along quite quickly. The tension built. The finally...

I figured out the killer before they killed. Very near the beginning of the book.