Valentine Murder

When plucky freelance writer Lucy Stone joins the library board in her small Maine town, she unexpectedly finds herself knee-deep in murder. Right before her first meeting, Lucy discovers librarian Bitsy Howell shot through the heart in a workroom. A state police detective tells Lucy that only board members were present at the time of the unpopular librarian's death; he also warns her to stay away from the investigation. Lucy agrees but, still curious, she decides to find out as much as she can about the other suspects, and learns that each board member was hiding a potentially lethal secret. She also discovers that the library's prized antique tankard, which was recently appraised by antique dealer Hayden Northcross, is a fake. When Hayden dies in what looks like a suicide, it's assumed by the cops--but not by Lucy--that he had killed Bitsy because she'd realized he'd stolen the authentic tankard. Before Lucy can piece together all the clues to reveal the culprit, her children are nearly run over, her car is set afire and her husband is placed in mortal danger. Meier's (Back to School Murder, etc.) inclusion of the domestic details attendant to Lucy's small, close-knit community add charm to this otherwise routine, if lighthearted, cozy. (Feb.)