This book was confusing - confusing because it read like a sequel but wasn't, confusing because the time period wasn't specified but couldn't be modern-day, confusing because what do demons have to do with anything anyway, but then, all (mostly) was revealed (I'm still a bit unclear on the whole demons thing).

Sherry is a older woman working as a librarian in a small town in New York. It starts to occur to her that there are an inordinate number of murders for such a small town and how odd it is that she manages to solve them each time. As she starts to become aware that there is something not quite right about the town and the way the people, including the sheriff, just accept the high number of murders and her involvement in solving them the murders strike close to home and then things get even stranger. As she declines to investigate the murder of her boyfriend it becomes very obvious that something is seriously wrong in Winesap as the sheriff first demands her help and then arrests her. Oh, and her cat starts talking to her
This was an interesting read though a bit slow and hard to get into in the beginning. Winesap is a present day town that inexplicably seems to the stuck in the 1980s. In the beginning I wasn’t sure I liked Sherry very much but she is definitely the type of person one wants on one’s side if there are problems, real world or supernatural. The cat, while offering a couple of useful insights to help Sherry realize what is going on, really played a small part in the story. While I can understand the demon being able to control the town and its people I am still not clear why Sherry did not realize that incongruity of a town living like it was still the 1980s - townspeople seemingly ignorant of the existence of cell phones or the Internet - when she apparently went to New York City for plays and dinners with her boyfriend. The conclusion was satisfying and overall this was an enjoyable read. Recommended

Well, that was extra weird, and I liked it. I had no notion going into it what it was about, though you’d think the title would’ve given me a clue. The main character was perfectly imperfect, and I loved the old school detective novel/TV series format, with the strange demon-y twist. I didn’t know whodunnit until the big Poirot-esque reveal, and it really was clever. This book feels like part of a series, which seemed intentional- I really hope it becomes one, I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ace for the ARC!

This was cuuuuute!!

I love the idea of murder mystery meets demon hunting and I thought Sherry Pinkwhistle was the perfect protagonist for it. I mean, come on. She's a librarian named Sherry Pinkwhistle with a dark, mysterious past that is constantly alluded to... Of course, I was sat.

And obviously Miss Pinkwhistle has a ragtag group of besties helping her throughout all of this - a priest, a widow, a psychiatrist, and a cat possessed by the ghost of Lord Thomas Cromwell.

Truly what more could a girl ask for?

This would be such a good autumnal/Halloween-time read and I WILL be recommending it to everyone upon release.

I tried starting this a couple of times and couldn't get into the writing. I forced myself through and it was ok but around the halfway point it went off the rails too much and I threw in the towel.

urban-fantasy, cozy-mystery, contemporary, supernatural, suspense, suspicion, Upstate New York, librarian, library, cat-familiar, amateur-sleuth, small-town, friction, friends, demon, demon-hunter, verbal-humor, situational-humor, local-law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder****

This lighthearted cozy mystery complete with a librarian, demons, quirky characters, and fun references to classic sleuths is perfect for the beach or to destress after a real day at work. Great fun!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Berkley Publishing Group | Ace via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available Sep 24 2024

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society may appear to be a straightforward murder mystery book at first; however appearances can be deceiving and sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction - especially if supernatural forces are at play. After a shocking number of seemingly unrelated successive murders take place in an otherwise serene small village, our tenacious librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle feels like something is just not right. Secrets are revealed as Sherry investigates murders and makes a few friends - and enemies - along the way.
This was a fun and fascinating murder mystery. I really enjoyed Sherry and the supporting cast of characters. I would have enjoyed a little more closure on a few items but definitely acknowledge that is just personal preference that I want to know all the things. The supernatural elements were an intriguing element that definitely kept me guessing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 ⭐ rounded up to a 4 for Goodreads

Who is this book for? Fans of mysteries with a supernatural twist will love this. Did you watch Matlock and enjoy Murder She Wrote as a kid? Do you love a little Agatha Christie or Poirot, but also enjoy demons, talking cats, and mysterious occurrences?

It's giving cozy mystery mixed with a cozy fantasy vibe. Our main character Sherry is the main investigator in the book and weird things keep happening.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but it's definitely a little out there. A few times I wondered if I missed something but it all made sense in the end!

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of the book to review.

This was a fun, cozy mystery. It starts you off thinking it’s just a regular small-town murder mystery, and then boom! Weird demons, cats who speak, and an unsettling return to 1980s fashion make for an entertaining story and really, just don’t mess with the librarians.
There are lots of references to other mystery novels which added a fun touch.
There is a tease for a sequel, and I admit to hoping that a sequel is written!

This was a DELIGHT. It was so funny and smart. There was a perfect amount of twists and banter. I love the references to Agatha Christie and Jessica Fletcher. Sherry is a great protagonist who truly takes her circumstances in stride, considering what’s thrown at her. Sentient pets, magical barriers, a hot priest and his twin… what else could you ask for in a cozy paranormal mystery ? Can’t wait for more for the author.

A little surprised by this one. I can't figure out what I expected, but the first third is a basic cozy mystery and then the whole thing kind of starts to slide sideways (in the best of ways) until you're in for a whole demon-hunting, mystery-solving ride. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but would have liked to see a bit more character development in the beginning instead of shoehorning it all in later.

I went into this book kind of blind. I didn't really know what it was about, but the title and cover caught my attention. I really enjoyed the story. Sherry, who is a librarian, lives in a small town that seems to have something suspicious or supernatural going on. There's been several murders, which Sherry has helped solve. She apparently is also a demon slayer. 😈 I'm a bit of a chicken, so if you're concerned with this being scary, it isn't at all. Think more hocus pocus/buffy/humorous. That's the vibes I get. I think this is coming out at a perfect time because if you are a mood/vibes reader, this would be perfect come Fall/Halloween.

Thanks net gallery for the ARC.

I found this to be a good, more on the cozy side supernatural mystery. The narrative felt a bit disjointed, like I was coming into a scene already in progress. I found that disorienting and even checked to make sure I hadn't skipped a book (I hadn't).

This was a lovely cozy horror that I absolutely ate up. It was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Knives Out. If you like murder mysteries, low fantasy, or meta stories about books - you'll definitely enjoy this one. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Synopsis: Sherry lives in a small, quaint village working as a librarian while solving murders on the side. Too many murders for such a quaint, little town. Are these deaths being caused by outside forces? And how will she prevail over them? With the help of a talking cat, a newly ordained priest, and a few friends, Sherry decides she is willing to find out.

This was just quite adorable. I worried that it would get a little too scary for my tastes because I'm not great with a lot of horror, but this really was just a delight. Written by someone who has a clear love for Miss Marple and Murder She Wrote, this book was a delightful little mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so disappointed! The first 1/3 of the book was witty and enjoyable. Then it became offensive religiously, and I don't want to keep reading. What a shame.

Well that was interesting.
Not entirely sure I didn’t just get possessed by a demon and forced into an acid trip for the last 265 pages.
Ending leads to a nice sequel of which I have to admit sounds way more enticing than this one.

I liked the concept. Execution was a bit iffy.
Characters felt like random scrabble pieces picked at random. Everything was very all over the place. It was hard to interpret the authors intent at times.

Cute, but bizarre.
Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC as always.

3 ⭐️

This one had me at Buffy meets Murder, She Wrote, so I went for it. Knowing full well that cozy mystery isn't a winning genre for me. Well, consider me converted if I can get more like The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner! How, exactly, does one make supernatural murders and a demon possessed cat 'cozy'? I'm not sure, but this book did it.

It ended up being humorous in the same ways that Buffy is, that tongue in cheek 'well demons abound but let's make the most of it' kind of way. But overall it's more murder mystery than anything else. For those that enjoy that genre, there's great red herrings and a likable MC sleuth/librarian, plus tons of references to Agatha Christie novels to pick up on.

Glad this is getting a fall publication date, because it's an ideal autumn read for those that want to enjoy spooky season with a little less spooky.

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Get ready for a thrilling read with The Village Library Demon Hunting Society! This cozy paranormal mystery features a charming librarian who is both a skilled murder-solver and demon-hunter. Fans of popular detectives like Jessica Fletcher, Columbo, and Poirot will love the witty references throughout the story. As the librarian's list of suspects continues to grow - with herself included - the clock is ticking to crack the case.