Jenn McKinlay — The Plot And The Pendulum

Spooky Season is upon Briar Creek. Arriving along with the crisp air, autumn leaves, and giant pumpkins is a giant donation to the Briar Creek Library. The gift of such rare and valuable books is not something Lindsey, Briar Creek’s Library Director, is willing to turn down…even if they’re ensconced in a crumbling mansion. The donation turns decidedly spooky Lindsey and her volunteers discover a hidden room containing a skeleton and the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe inside!

The Plot And The Pendulum is a first-rate murder in retrospect. McKinlay does a first-class job of taking this well-established murder mystery trope and freshening it up without breaking Lindsey’s amateur sleuth status or straining credulity. Thereby creating a book that’s a joy to spend a few hours with.

Obviously, I would recommend this book to anyone who’s missing Halloween or is trying to forget the stress of the impending Thanksgiving holiday. You don’t need to start at square one in this series, as our author doesn’t spoil the plots of past books in subsequent installments, but I think you’ll want to work your way backward after reading The Plot And The Pendulum!