Murder off the Page

Librarian Raymond Ambler finds himself involved in another murder case when his friend, bartender Brian McNulty is on the run from the police.  In Murder Off the Page by Con Lehane, Shannon Darling was doing research at New York Public Library's crime collection and she had been drinking in McNulty's bar. (Murder Off the Page will be released by St. Martin's Press on November 19.)

One thing stood out about Shannon - she was a different person when she was drinking. Being the kind of guy he is, Brian stepped in when things got out of hand with a couple of his patrons and Shannon. He walked her home and one thing lead to another, but the next day another man is found dead in Shannon's room and she is missing. Brian finds himself an immediate suspect and he disappears as well. 

When Ray discovers McNulty is a suspect, he begins to dig

into Shannon's background and is shocked at what he discovers. She was a doctor named Sandra Dean, was married and lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, not the bar fly she portrayed herself as. What caused her Jekyll and Hyde personality? Ray and Adele seek to learn the truth.

When a second death occurs, the bulls eye on McNulty draws tighter. Still Ray and Adele believe in Brian and they continue researching Sandra Dean. With NYPD Detective Mike Cosgrove breathing down his neck, Ray continues his investigation and unearths answers to the crimes. 

Ray is a quiet, dependable investigator and Adele never lets him give up. I enjoyed the pairing of these two and look forward to more in the series. 



Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.