What an exceptional mystery series this is.

This is the fourth (and I hope *not*) final installment, in which the focus is on solving the murder of Greer’s husband rather than on a mystery she stumbles upon.

Though this one takes place back in Manhattan rather than upstate, the wonderful sense of place and detailed descriptions remain just as good. Greer is cataloguing the collection of a stage magician in this one as a side gig, and Hilliard does, as always, a terrific job immersing us in the locale and the objects present there.

I particularly love the buddy adventure vibes of this series, and the usual cast is present, as is the delightful Grim, a magician with secrets of his own who assists Greer in her cataloguing as well as with solving the mystery of her husband’s murder. I hope this series continues beyond this book for so many reasons, not the least of which is that we’ve only just met Grim, and we need more capers where he and Greer work together.

I thought this was well structured as a mystery too, and the solve is both intricate and well-rendered. In all, a lovely read, and I hope not the last with Greer and her pals.

3.5*. This is a great series, with a clever and intelligent main character. Throughout the four books, Greer has been investigating and wondering who murdered her husband, Dan. This book takes place in New York, where she's taken a job with a small, private library inventorying a magician's collection. She's living at the magician's apartment, which is opposite the building housing the little library. During her free time from the library, she digs into the clues and leads she's got around Dan's murder, retracing steps and rereading notes and paperwork that he left her before he died. A quirky colleague called Grim is brought into her confidence, and with his help and that of her friends, she discovers the who and why of her husband's death.

The writing is excellent and the mystery satisfying. My only complaint (if you can call it that) is the amount of financial information and techy stuff included, which admittedly went mostly over my head, although it was relevant to the entire storyline (hence the .5* off in the rating).

This is a terrific series and I look forward to seeing what Greer will be doing next, seeing as she's resolved the reason for her husband's murder.

Four years ago Greer Hogan’s husband Dan was murdered. A burglar was tried and convicted, but Greer has always had her doubts that he was guilty. She moved away to take a position as a librarian in Raven Hill. Now she has returned to New York and she is determined to find the truth. Greer has been haunted by her husband’s death in M.E. hilliard’s series, but the author finally brings closure to that mystery in Smoke and Mirrors.

The Raven Hill library suffered damage from a fire. As repairs are proceeding, Greer accepted a position to inventory the collection of publications and materials of a deceased magician. Realizing that she will need help identifying the equipment, she requests an assistant. She is given Grim, a magician who was acquainted with the late magician. Now that Greer is back, she contacts her old friends, who have been supportive in her search for answers. She also contacts the widow of one of Dan’s co-workers. He died shortly after Dan and she also has questions regarding her husband’s death. Boxes of Dan’s possessions have been stored at the home of Greer’s parents. Shortly after her return the house is broken into. She is also being followed back in the city. Grim joins her circle of friends and offers his help, instructing her on picking locks and providing back up as she places herself in possible danger.

Greer is a mystery lover. There are references to a number of literary and film detectives, including Vera Stanhope and amateur sleuth Harry Wild. It was a challenge to find how many of their names that I recognized as Greer and Grim worked together. Both have been damaged by events in their lives and it creates a bond between them. When Greer finally solves her husband’s death, Hilliard gives the impression that we may see Grim in the future. These characters worked so well together that I would look onward to their return. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book.

I’d say 3.5 stars. Smoke and Mirrors is information dense and moves slowly. I like the wrapping up of the mystery facing Greer from 4 years prior when her husband Dan was murdered. It’s the unraveling of the complex web surrounding his death that merits the initial description.
Greer is fairly methodical in her approach to investigating. In this book, we find her breaking the rules and not feeling bad about it.
I’ve read or listened to the entire series. For those who like the slower pace of golden age mysteries, this will likely be right up your alley.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Smoke and Mirrors.

EXCERPT: I studied the information in front of me. Suleiman was right. Like Sherlock Holmes's dog that didn't bark in the night, what didn't happen was stranger than what did.
The man that did not trip, but fell.
The door that opened, but did not bang shut.
The person that didn't live in the building, but knew a way in that only residents used.
Curioser and curioser.

ABOUT 'SMOKE AND MIRRORS': Having spent months quietly investigating in the village of Raven Hill, Greer Hogan returns to New York City determined to find her husband’s murderer. She secures a temporary gig at a private library inventorying the personal collection of a deceased magician. In her free time, Greer sleuths, leaving no stone unturned–even the ones which could be hiding deadly secrets.

Four years earlier, Greer had discovered her husband Dan dead in their apartment. He’d tried to tell her about something strange going on at his office, but she hadn’t had time to listen until it was too late. Worse still, she has always suspected that the wrong man was convicted of the crime. Now, Greer has solved other murders and has a few tricks up her sleeve. She combs through belongings she packed away soon after Dan’s death and interviews his former colleagues and people who were near the scene when he died. Soon, Greer is followed and attacked, so she knows she’s struck a nerve—but whose?

When two more people are killed and Greer realizes she can’t escape the smoke and mirrors surrounding her suspects, she confides in one of her new colleagues, a magician named Grim with whom she’s bonded over similar traumas. Though she knows he’s got secrets of his own, the tricky Grim may be exactly the assistant Greer needs to pull a rabbit out of a hat and shine a spotlight on a killer before the curtains come down on her for good.

MY THOUGHTS: This is the second book in the Greer Hogan series that I have read. It is easily read as a stand-alone as all the relevant information pertaining to Greer's past is provided in the storyline. I have to admit I didn't enjoy this to the same extent I enjoyed Shadow in the Glass (Greer Hogan Mystery #4), but I still liked it with one or two reservations.

Greer spends much more time sleuthing than archiving and cataloguing in Smoke and Mirrors. She also manages to hone some of her less than legal talents with the aid of Grim, who makes a delightful sidekick. Yuri, her self-defense instructor also plays a pivotal role, as do Isabelle and Caro.

I was bogged down by the amount of financial information discussed and provided: start-ups, shell companies, spreadsheets, investors, tax code regulations - they had my head spinning! Give me small business any day. Just because the author understands all these processes (check out her bio) doesn't mean that her readers will.

I did enjoy the cryptic note that Greer's husband Dan had left her and no, I didn't figure out the meaning until it was revealed.

I liked, but didn't love Smoke and Mirrors, but that definitely won't stop me reading other books in this series.

⭐⭐⭐.3

#SmokeandMirrors #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: M.E. is currently a librarian who started out in retail merchandising. Her first job was as an assistant buyer at Lord & Taylor, where her glamour job involved office space in the basement of the Fifth Avenue store. After twelve years of mergers, consolidations, and moves around the country, she went to graduate school and got a Master of Library Science degree. She has been in the information business ever since, working for public libraries small and large. Originally from the Connecticut shoreline, she has never lost her love of quaint small towns, big cities, and fashion, so she indulges that in her writing. A life-long lover of mystery fiction, M.E. completed her first novel while taking some time off to care for an elderly relative. She currently lives and works in Florida, where she has acquired a houseful of misfit pets and a violent palm tree allergy.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Smoke and Mirrors by M. E. Hilliard for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I came to this series because I loved the accurate representation of library work, I've stuck with it because Greer is an interesting character and this one is the best yet. Greer's back in New York on a contract while the Raven Hill library is a construction site, and this gives her the opportunity to figure out what really happened in her husband's murder, once and for all. There is excellent tension and plot in this one, and enough room left that this series can continue while giving Greer closure.

Having spent months quietly investigating in the village of Raven Hill, librarian Greer Hogan returns to New York City determined to find her husband’s murderer. She secures a temporary job at a private library inventorying the personal collection of a deceased magician. In her free time, Greer sleuths, leaving no stone unturned. Four years earlier, Greer had discovered her husband Dan dead in their apartment. He’d tried to tell her about something strange going on at his office, but she hadn’t had time to listen until it was too late. Now, Greer has solved other murders and has a few tricks up her sleeve. She combs through belongings she packed away soon after Dan’s death and interviews his former colleagues and people who were near the scene when he died. Soon, Greer is followed and attacked, so she knows she’s struck a nerve.
The fourth book in the series & my favourite so far, I was drawn in from the start & read this well written murder mystery in two sittings. The characters have depth, the pace is good & the investigation into Dan’s death is intriguing. There are twists, turns & danger - I thoroughly enjoyed it
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Smoke and Mirrors, A Greer Hogan Mystery #4 by M. E. Hilliard from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.
Librarian, archivist, widow, and amateur sleuth Greer Hogan is still trying to come to terms with her husband’s murder. Although she has a dedicated support network with various friends, she still struggles and becomes obsessed with getting justice for her beloved husband. Vivid dreams and mysterious clues cause nothing but anxiety and frustration for Greer who believes her husband is trying to tell her something from beyond the grave that would put his murderer or murderers in jail. When her husband’s former colleagues at Newleaf, a startup CBD company, begin disappearing or dying Greer becomes even more desperate to find the truth before evidence disappears along with any hope of bringing those responsible to justice.

While archiving the estate of a former magician, Greer with her new colleague Grimm are busy working in an old brownstone, documenting it’s contents. When an already paranoid Greer begins to notice little things that indicate that she is not only being watch but followed she believes whomever killed her husband wants something she might possess. After days of being followed and with help from her martial arts teacher, Greer manages to corner the person who has been following her only to learn he was a former colleague of her husband who needs to desperately speak with her. They arrange a meet but he is silenced before that happens and Greer now knows she is close to uncovering the truth and closer she puts herself to the danger that ended her husband’s life.

Well-written, cleverly plotted and with quirky characters who I really enjoy. In general, I love protagonists who are intelligent, strong, down to earth, yet vulnerable. In this entry I was also impressed by the supporting characters, their friendships felt genuine. My only complaint would be that it waxed on at times with what felt like info dumping with regards to the CBD industry that could have been shorter and still provided the necessary context. I did however enjoy this book and would recommend this to anyone looking for a suspenseful mystery.

Greer has landed a temporary job in New York City cataloging the collection of a deceased magician, while the library in Raven Hill, where she works, is closed for repairs. The job is just an excuse for her to be back in the city to finally try to figure out what really happened to her husband and to free the man that she feels has been wrongfully convicted in his death. Greer meets up with some old friends to talk through what she finds and also includes a new magician friend Grim, who I thought added to the story with his unique skill set. This story kept me up late reading to see what would happen next. I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This series never disappoints and I had fun in reading this mystery and reconnecting with the characters, fleshed out and relatable.
FAst paced, full of twists and surprises: it kept me guessing and hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Greer Hogan has been building her investigative skills and circle of friends with unique gifts in the four years since she discovered her husband Dan murdered in their apartment. The time has come for her to return to New York City and finally discover his murderer.

Greer gets a job in a private library inventorying the personal collection of a magician who disappeared. There she meets Joseph Grimaldi, known as Grim, who has a somewhat mysterious past. He was friends with the magician and is searching the house for something the magician told him was there.

Meanwhile, Greer is investigating New Leaf, the company Dan was working for as an accountant when he was killed. She's certain that there is a connection there. She discovers some things as she finally goes through the belongings packed up after Dan's death and stored with her parents. She also questions former co-workers and people she knew at the time of Dan's death.

Somehow, she touches a nerve because she finds herself both followed and attacked. Luckily, the self-defense courses she's taken prove helpful. But two other people connected with the case are murdered which makes Greer more determined than ever to find Dan's murderer.

This was an engaging story with lots of information about the legalized marijuana business and all the governmental hoops around it. Greer feels that something shady in the business could have been the cause of Dan's death - and maybe her own if she gets too close.

I enjoyed this story with its mystery-loving librarian main character. The references to other books and fictional detectives were fun additions.

ACTUAL STAR RATING IS 3.5
This is book 4 in the series and meant to be a bridge- bringing in characters from Greer's life with her husband, as well as bringing new characters into play. While Greer is helping her old neighbor, she is hunting for more clues about what might have happened to her husband, and what he may have found out about the company he worked for, that could have led to him being killed. But others are finding out she is hunting and they aren't thrilled and want her shut down. As she tries to circumvent no talk orders, she soon realizes the conspiracy is bigger than even she thought and she is in danger too. It a quick read, but the reader benefits from having read at least one of the previous books, to know Greer better and why she is so obsessed with finding the truth.

Since the first book in this series (The Unkindness of Ravens), librarian Greer Hogan has been working through the aftermath of her husband’s murder. While she’s upright and functional, his death feels unresolved, and she’s not so sure the right person is in prison. While she has a job, she’s taken on a temporary one in New York City, archiving the collection of a magician. The gig comes with an apartment across the street, and the archiving job gives her the flexibility she needs for sleuthing. It also comes with an assistant: the aptly named “Grim” (short for Grimaldi), a former magician himself, is helping out by archiving the straight up magic tricks part of the collection, while Greer herself sticks to books. She decides to trust him early on and he proves to be incredibly useful.

Greer begins her search by returning to her husband’s office and meeting with the remaining corporate officers of the company, ostensibly to make sure there’s nothing she missed in the office clean up that followed his death, but really to get a beady eye on them and see what secrets they might be hiding. As she leaves, she catches the eye of an employee she doesn’t know and they end up meeting off site. He has secrets to tell.

She also meets with her former neighbors who are delighted to see her and are able to add some clues to a timeline she already has set up, further convincing her that the wrong man is indeed in prison for the crime.

Hilliard does a nice job setting up Greer’s very interesting job, her personality, and the way she’s dealing with her grief (partially, of course, by investigating her husband’s murder). She brings you right into Greer’s life and you are rooting for her to figure out what happened. The clues turn out to be pretty tricky and Greer assembles a team – a former assistant of her husband’s joins a couple of neighbors and the ever useful Grim.

She and Grim keep just on the right side of the law. Greer’s righteous anger is inflamed when a man is attacked on her parent’s porch, and dealing with this incident out of town also gives her some perspective into her ongoing investigation. The police aren’t so convinced that there’s any connection between the crimes in this book and her husband’s murder, so she and Grim are often exploring on their own.

This was paced a bit slowly. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and the resolution and the clues it rested on were pretty clever. I am frustrated by this series as I feel like Hilliard could be really, really good, instead of what this book is, a very pleasant and intelligent read. Sometimes I find myself holding authors I know are talented to a higher standard and judging them more harshly. This is a worthy series but I just know it could be better. I still recommend this book, however.

Greer Hogan investigates the death of her husband as an amateur detective. Magic, sorcery and books play a role in the story. I loved reading about cataloging books and magical secrets. Also, the way the mystery unfolded was really interesting. I liked the author's style, the character portrayal and the story itself. The novel is part of a series, but I haven't read the prequels and it was still thoroughly enjoyable. I really like this genre, as far as amateur detectives are concerned, I found a new favorite in the person of Hogan.
Thanks to NetGalley for the novel!

The fourth installment in the Greer Hogan series. The librarian sleuth is back! This time Greer has left Raven Hill and moved back to NYC to finally solve her husband's murder. A temporary job doing inventory for a personal collection of a dead magician set her up to investigate her husband's company shady dealings. Smart, witty, and full of intriguing characters, this is a great addition to a solid mystery series.

I haven't read any books by this Author before ,but I was hooked within a few pages of this Murder Mystery story, throw in Libraries & Magic & I couldn't put it down & I shall be recommending it to several friends. However I would like to know what happened to Grimm? #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, # Amazon.co.uk, #Instagram, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

Nice writing style and plot. An enjoyable read right from the beginning. I hope to read more by this author.

Mystery In Traditional Vein..
The fourth in the Greer Hogan Mystery series and librarian come amateur sleuth, Greer, is hot on the heels of clues as she heads to the City. Taking up a temporary post in a library of a deceased magician, Greer determines to uncover the truth behind Dan’s death but will face danger along the way. Another immersive instalment in this excellent series with a compelling narrative littered with literary references, a likeable and credible protagonist and a plot populated with a deftly drawn cast as well as a pacy and plot. A mystery in traditional vein.

Smoke and Mirrors by M.E. Hilliard is the fourth in Hilliard's Greer Hogan series. Greer, a librarian who is driven to learn the truth about her husband Dan's murder four years before, is an incredibly interesting character. She's studying self-defense, seemingly out of necessity because she keeps discovering dead bodies, and wrestling with her rage about Dan's murder and her own complicated relationship with the law. Throw in the apt quotes and literary references throughout, as well as some fun scenes related to the magician's book collection that she is cataloguing, and this cozy mystery (set in the not-so-cozy world of New York City and corporate cannabis start-ups) is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It is part of a series, but it can be read on its own. You may well find that you would like to pick up the rest of the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this advanced review copy.

Smoke and Mirrors brings Hilliard's intriguing protagonist Greer into a deeper and more personal mystery. Greer's late husband's murder is front and center now, and Greer is in NYC to find answers after 4 years. A fascinating twist is her new job archiving the collection of a magician.
New characters are brought in, and Greer's background is more deeply explored. Hilliard is excellent in setting up an atmospheric, dangerous setting. The writing is assured, the pace is exciting, and the story is a great puzzle. Keep it going!