Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and I was so happy when I got approved for this audiobook ARC of Fatal First Edition. Lindsey and her friends continue to be fantastic characters that I root for constantly and I love the crazy adventures they always seem to find themselves in.

I also loved that we got to see more of Lindsey and Sully's relationship and how Sully is always there to support her. I thought it was a nice change that instead of Sully trying to save and protect Lindsey, this time, Sully was the one that needed saving.

It was just a fantastic game of cat and mouse and I loved the narrators take on these beloved characters.

I had a little trouble listening to this one because I found the narrator's performance distracting. She had a great voice and read with feeling, I just had trouble focusing on the story because her performance was very dramatic. This is just a me thing and could very well be because of my ADHD.

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

#netgalley
#FatalFirstEdition

Fatal First Edition is book 14 of this series. I have not read the entire series and have missed a few here and there but it is never a problem picking up the new book. I've listened to a few books in the series and always find it an easy listen.

The narrator Allyson Ryan does a great job with the various character voices and I realized I hear her character voices in my head when I do read the book myself. This time of year with gardening and other outside activities it is great to be able to listen to an entertaining book.

I think this is the first book in the series that I've read that had Lindsey traveling. While the book starts out of town it's not for long as the conference ends and they all head home - on a TRAIN!

Since the valuable book found under Lindsey's chair is Strangers on a Train it was fun to have part of this book take place on a train.

It is also very much winter and it adds its own danger to the plot as the residents and train riders must shelter in place through the storm. If being snowed in with a potential murderer isn't enough stress for Lindsey, Sully goes missing while trying to resupply the homes on the nearby islands before the storm hits.

As always the characters are wonderful and while there are a few outsiders involved, we get to see most of the townspeople that fans have grown to love.

Whether this is your first Library Lovers mystery or your 14th, you are sure to be entertained.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/05/fatal-first-edition-by-jenn-mckinlay.html

I love this series! As a librarian, I appreciate Jenn's details without alienating readers who aren't familiar with library experiences. Fun storyline, I liked the fact it changed locations but still came home to Briar Creek so we could enjoy all our favorite characters. Well done and thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the book before the release date. Listening to this series is like visiting with friends.

This latest edition of the Library Lover’s Mystery series had so many wonderful parts to it! As a fan of Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile series, I was thrilled about the crossover with Brooklyn Wainwright cameoing. There are also themes of suspense to parallel the Alfred Hitchcock/ Strangers on a Train connection in the plot. Finally, I loved the closed circle/train aspect of the murder! It was perfectly Agatha Christie, so it felt like this book was an homage to so many great creators.

Another great addition to the Library Lovers cozy series! I am always in awe of how well Jenn McKinlay jumps back into this world, successfully maintaining the personalities and storylines of each character as if they were real people. I always look forward to the next installment, and this was no different.

I received an advance audio copy. All thoughts are my own.

Fatal First Edition is the fourteenth cozy mystery in the Library Lover’s Mystery series. Lindsey Norris, Briar Creek Library director, and Sully, her husband, attend a library conference in Chicago to hear, well known book restorer, Brooklyn Wainwright speak. On the train ride back Lindsey discovers a dead body and is pulled into the case. When they return home to Briar Creek the mystery and mayhem follow them and Lindsey is forced to put on her sleuthing cap to get to the bottom of it.

This is the first book I have read in this series but it definitely won’t be the last. I was drawn in from the very beginning and enjoyed the cameo by Brooklyn Wainwright who stars in a different cozy mystery series by Kate Carlisle. I love that series and really enjoyed how they two connected even if for only a few pages. I instantly fell in love with Lindsey and her friends and can’t wait to start this series from the beginning. I couldn’t stop listening to this book and was engrossed in the twists and turns. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery and definitely will be starting this series from the beginning!

Fatal First Edition is the 14th book in A Library Lover’s Mystery series and they continue to be amazing! I have read and loved every book. This one is unique because Librarian Lindsey Norris and her husband Sully are in Chicago at a book conference. There is a fun but brief appearance by Kate Carlisle’s characters Brooklyn Wainwright and Derek Stone (LOVE that series too) . Lindsey and Sully are taking the train home to Connecticut when someone from the conference ends up dead. There were quite a few arguments involving the victim and therefore several suspects. The next stop for the train is Briar Creek where Lindsey and Sully live so the remainder of the sleuthing is there. Police Chief Emma is on the case as is her boyfriend Robbie. They are both wonderful characters and often add humor as do the Crafternoon group. There are some other exciting things going on but I don’t want to spoil the book. It truly is enjoyable and hard to put down! The audiobook is very well done and is narrated by Allyson Ryan. She does an awesome job with all of the.voices! #FatalFirstEdition #ALibraryLoversMystery #NetGalley. #DreamscapeMedia #Berkley

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this title. Lindsay Norris is back at in this newest installment of the Library Lovers series. She and Sully are on an overnight train from Chicago when she mysteriously finds a valuable first edition of a book in her tote bag. When someone on the train is murdered, it becomes evident that the murder occurred while the perpetrator was in search for this book. In addition, a raging storm is bearing down on their sleepy CT town, where the train must stay until the murder is solved. Our reliable cast of characters invariably solves this latest mystery by Jenn McKinlay.

What a whirlwind! I dove headfirst into Fatal First Edition without realizing it was part of an ongoing series – oops! Surprisingly, it didn't hinder my enjoyment. In fact, it added a layer of humor when the main character referenced past sticky situations. The author skillfully avoided making me feel like an outsider, which was a relief.

However, I found myself grappling with some extraneous details that distracted from the story. Tangents of information led nowhere, leaving me feeling a bit adrift. Nevertheless, I appreciated the strong examples of friendship and support for the main character. While not a profound love for me, the book was a breezy, enjoyable read. I'd certainly consider exploring more of the author's work. The narration added a lot of character to the story and made the characters more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed the audio version of this installment. I have only read the print version so far of the other books, but I really enjoyed Allyson Ryan's narration and voices for the various characters we have all grown to love.
As for the story itself, I got carried away almost instantly. Taking Lindsey and Sully out of Briar Creek, then back to Briar Creek was a nice chance from the normal format the Library Lover's Mystery.

A breezy murder mystery greatly enhanced by the very talented narrator and extras that book lovers (like me, anyway) particularly enjoy-- for example, mentions of other books ( e.g., a first edition of Strangers on a Train [book by Patricia Highsmith, movie by Hitchcock] whose disappearance triggers the murder; William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor mysteries, etc.), recipes, book club suggestions, and a reader's guide.

A run of the mill beach read upgraded by great narration.

3 stars, rounded up to 3.5 because of narration and extras.

Another great book in this series by Jenn McKinlay. Library director Lindsey Norris is in Chicago with her husband Sully, at a conference about book restorations. When Lindsey finds a rare book in her bag after the lecture, she returns it to the conference director.

Once Lindsey and Sully board the train to return home, they find themselves in hot water. The conference director is found murdered, and that rare book is found in Lindsey and Sully’s compartment – making them suspects.

As usual, Lindsey gets involved in trying to solve the murder, and the connections to the rare book. Lots of twists and turns in the plot, lots of different locations visited and the usual plot point of one of Lindsey’s family members being in danger.

The narrator did a great job with the audiobook, managing to keep the voices of everybody straight, and giving us the right sense of urgency at the relevant points.

I loved the way Lindsey’s mind worked as she followed the clues to the big reveal. Looking forward to the next one.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. I have read a few books from this series and I have enjoyed all of them and this one did not disappoint.
If you are looking for cozy murder mystery this is perfect for you. The characters are all enjoyable and I really enjoyed the plot. Can't wait to read from this author again.

"Fatal First Edition" by Jenn McKinlay is the latest addition to the Library Lover's Mystery series. Set against the backdrop of a popular library conference in Chicago, this book takes readers on a journey of suspense, intrigue, and murder.

The story follows Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, as they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous mystery involving a rare and valuable first edition book.

McKinlay weaves together a complex plot with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations relating to minor characters. The villains were a little predictable and I identified them fairly early in the story. As a result, I felt frustrated by the pace of the second half of the book.

While "Fatal First Edition" is the fourteenth book in the Library Lover's Mystery series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Overall, "Fatal First Edition" is an enjoyable read. However, I don't feel compelled to delve into the rest of the series. I rate the book three out of five stars.

The latest Library Lovers Mystery is just as good as its predecessors. It's a light, fun read with a fast-moving plot that will keep your attention fixed right up until the end.
You've got all the regulars back in Briar Creek working alongside librarian Lindsey Norris to solve the murder of a prominent archivist, killed in his sleeper car on the train back east from a rare books conference in Chicago. Lindsey and Sully bring the murder with them to Briar Creek when the passengers are forced to get off at the next stop, which of course is theirs.
The regular cast of characters in this series is charming and loveable and the supporting characters in the individual mysteries are always memorable. It's one of the coziest of cozy mystery series and Fatal First Edition is one of its best.
Allyson Ryan always does a great job with the narration for the LL mysteries so I definitely recommend getting this in audio.
Thank you to Dreamscape and Netgalley for the ALC of Fatal First Edition.

A FATAL FIRST EDITION is the fourteenth book in the Library Lover’s Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay. Combine a rare and valuable edition of Strangers on a Train with a murder on board a moving train from Chicago to Connecticut, with a blizzard and a kidnapping, and you have the basis for an unputdownable tale! Ms. McKinlay’s storytelling is top-notch and in this newest release, she brings an emotional level to the story that stayed with me long after I’d finished the book. The mystery with subplots dovetailed nicely as the clues fell into place, and with a race to rescue Lindsey’s husband, the heart-pounding suspense had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys wonderful characters, well-crafted mysteries, and libraries!

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audio version narrated by Allyson Ryan. She did a remarkable job giving voice to the various characters and brought the emotions and each scene to life. The characters were clearly differentiated throughout the entire book and not once did I get lost on who was speaking.

Fatal First Edition is a wholesome murder mystery complete with nods to Patricia Highsmith and Alfred Hitchcock, kidnapping, and a small town sequestered by a blizzard.

The mystery was intriguing, low stakes (except for our poor victim!) and well paced. I really enjoyed Lindsay and Sully’s relationship, and Lindsay’s literary passion. The cast of side characters were sweet, kind and enthusiastic. It was an entertaining read as a standalone, and I now look forward to picking up others in the series.

The narration was delightfully dramatic and really made me feel immersed in the story. The character voices were clear, and I found it easy to follow along.

I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a quick, cosy, atmospheric mystery in the vein of Murder She Wrote.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

I am SUCKER for any mystery on a train. I have been influenced as a child by Murder on the Orient Express and so this is giving a major nod to that which I LOVE. Also it is my dream to go on a sleeper train journey one day so I loved every single aspect about that. I also SQUEALED aloud when Brooklyn Wainwright was introduced because she is another character I absolutely adore! This book made me me all kinds of happy. I love Briar Creek and this community so much and loved how every character played important roles in unraveling the mystery. This book had me stressed and many gasp worthy moments. I already miss this series and cannot wait for more!

Note: I listened to the audiobook and as usual, I loved it. Allyson Ryan is one of my favorite narrator and she does such a lovely job with this series.

This is apparently the latest in a long running series, the Library Lover's Mysteries, by Jenn McKinlay, but is my first taste of the series and the author which I listened to on audio, approximately just over 6 hours and 45 minutes long, ably narrated by Allyson Ryan who conveys the drama and the wide cast of characters so well, keeping me immersed in a story that does require the suspension of disbelief to get the most out of it. Lindsey Norris is the Briar Creek library director, she travels with her husband, Sully, to Chicago for an archivist convention. She attends a talk given by a speaker who is a character in another author's, Kate Carlisle, series, Brooklyn Wainwright.

Lindsey discovers a bag has been left under the seat and inside it is a copy of Patricia Highsmith's well known Strangers on a Train, a first edition with an inscription made out to the director of the film of the book, Alfred Hitchcock. A rare and valuable copy, Lindsey takes the book to the conference director so it can be restored to the owner, after having it verified by Wainwright. Along with many others from the conference, Lindsey and Sully are taking the same train to return to Connecticut, on which during the night she hears odd noises from the next door sleeping compartment.

In the morning, the conference director is found murdered, and the killer must be someone on the train and the rare book turns amongst Lindsey's things, throwing suspicion on her. What is going on? Caught up in a snow blizzard, this triggers the investigation that follows, hunting for the killer. This a fun, humorous, and entertaining listen, a narrative inhabited with a host of off beat characters. I loved the way it drew on Highsmith's classic, and I recommend the book and audio to readers of cosy crime and mysteries. Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for an ALC.