Friday, November 5, 2021

KILLER RESEARCH is released!

 JENN McKINLAY: It's here! The 12th Library Lover's mystery KILLER RESEARCH is here. Ain't she a beauty?

There is something about hitting the 12th book in a series that feels like a mile marker of sorts. The series has survived the ups and downs of the book economy, the fickle tastes of readers, and my own bouts of series fatigue. That's no small feat. When I first started this series, the ebook had just taken the world by storm and I was certain libraries were going to go the way of the Fotomat. This was concerning on many levels as I was a part-time youth librarian at the time. I wrote the first book as a love letter to everything I adored about public libraries and the people who work in them. 

Fast forward ten years and I've never been happier to be so wrong, so very wrong. Libraries are still here and so is my series. I've been fortunate to have the same brilliant cover artist, Julia Green, for every book, and I think she must have been feeling her own sense of accomplishment since she put a fabulous surprise on the cover. Can you see it? Here's a hint:


And a closeup: 



Yes, she did! She put the cover of the very first library lover's mystery on the cover of the twelfth. She is a brilliant artist and I have loved every one of her covers, but this one was EXTRA, as the kids say.


First book in the series.

To me, this is the cover artist equivalent of putting the old Easter egg in a book. You know, when you reference characters from a different series or make some other reference that only readers will understand. Personally, I love a clever reference to previous books.

How about you, Reds and Readers, do you like finding a nod to a previous work in a series or across series?

More about KILLER RESEARCH: Order Your Copy Today!

Spring has sprung in Briar Creek, but it is not all sunshine and roses, in the newest Library Lover's Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of One for the Books.

Spring is livening up Briar Creek after a long, cold winter, and newlyweds Lindsey and Sully could not be happier. Even though the upcoming mayoral election is getting heated, everything else in town is coming up daffodils...until a body is found.

Ms. Cole, a librarian and current candidate for town mayor, is shocked when she opens her trunk to discover a murder victim who just so happens to be a guy she dated forty years ago and the founder of the baking empire Nana's Cookies. As the town gossip mill turns, a batch of rumors begins to circulate about Ms. Cole's rebellious youth, which--along with being a murder suspect--threatens to ruin her life and her budding political career. But Ms. Cole is one tough cookie who will not go down without a fight.

Has the campaign for mayor turned deadly? It is up to Lindsey, Sully, and the rest of the crafternoon pals to see how the cookie crumbles and figure out who is trying to frame Ms. Cole for murder and why.



56 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Jenn . . . I love the special nod to the first book in the series . . . it's a wonderful cover for an amazing series.
    Having a nod to earlier stories in the series feels like a secret gift for readers who've read the earlier books in the series; it always makes me smile! It's like a reminder to remember all the wonderful stories you've already read . . .
    and cheers for libraries everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JENN: Congratulations on the release of KILLER RESEARCH and publishing the 12th book in this fun series! I loved seeing that special Easter Egg on the book cover. I smiled when I saw that close-up of the cover of book #1.

    Yay for libraries and librarians! I feel a special affinity since I worked as a student librarian in junior high, high school and at university. And I am so glad that libraries are thriving and finding a niche as a vital community hub, including here in Ottawa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't imagine living in a world without libraries. They've been my sanctuary for most of my life.

      Delete
  3. Congratulation Jenn on your accomplishments. That is so cool and I didn't even see the first book on the cover. Wow.

    I love when authors do that. I recently read Laura Bradford's new book, coming in December, and she mentioned characters from her previous series.

    Again, congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Good for Laura! I adore a good walk on! Thanks, Dru Ann.

      Delete
  4. Fabulous cover, Jenn, and a brilliant idea! Congratulations on getting to #12.

    Let's hear it for libraries, especially in the last year and a half, staying open for takeout (so to speak), bringing books out to the curb in all kinds of bad northeastern weather, keeping their masks on still, every day, all in the service of books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Librarians everywhere have really been troopers! It's been madness!

      Delete
  5. Jenn, congratulations on the release of Killer Research. I have several of your series on my Kindle because almost simultaneously, the pandemic began,
    libraries closed so I bought my Kindle, and I discovered the supreme joy of reading your books! I caught most of your interview with Poisoned Pen Wednesday night. I admire you greatly. Thank you for the humor and love in your stories. May you go from strength to strength!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Judy. You are a beacon of light for me. XO

      Delete
  6. Congratulations on your latest release. I love using the cover of your first book on your latest cover. The Cincinnati library system has kept me sane during our long lockdown.

    Easter eggs! I have a recurring character, Miss Betty, a retired schoolteacher of a certain age, master gardener, who's seen it all...and more. Named for Mom.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Jenn, YAY! I love this series. And Easter eggs are great fun... makes one feel "in the know"... wink wink. It's a completely gorgeous cover--love the book-within-a-book-within-a-book effect. So clever!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Total wink wink, which is so fun! Thanks, Hallie!

      Delete
  8. Jenn, I've been waiting for this book! Congratulations on number 12 and, yes, the cover is a delight. I do love it when an author slips in an Easter egg for the readers--it just ups the happy quotient of reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. It's like a small nod of acknowledgment.

      Delete
  9. Congratulations, Jen!

    I love Easter eggs. My friend Annette Dashofy needed a PA State Trooper in one of her books and asked if she could borrow Jim Duncan from my series. Of course I said yes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how fun, Liz! I'll have to pay better attention.

      Delete
    2. What a great Easter Egg Jim will be for readers!

      Delete
    3. LIZ: Looks like I have to go back and re-read that book where Jim Duncan makes an appearance.

      Delete
    4. For those wondering, Jim makes his cameo in Book #9, Under the Radar.

      Delete
    5. That's brilliant! Well done, Annette!

      Delete
  10. Poor Ms. Cole. As if politics were not already a horror show! Congratulations, Jenn!

    I love little surprises in books, but did not associate them with the term Easter egg. My experience with Ee's was in early software programs, remember when there would be fun little surprises buried in the "About" menus of programs like Word? And in movie credits, sometimes there were little awards for those who stayed long enough to see them. I wonder if that is still done?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KAREN: Yes, I see embedded Easter Eggs in both the software games and current movie/streaming TV credits.

      Delete
    2. Marvel definitely took over the end of movie Ee!

      Delete
  11. Congratulations, Jenn! Though I enjoy all your writing, I have to say the Library Lover's series has always been my very favorite. Maybe that's partly because I also have a love affair with libraries. I currently serve on the board of our local Friends of the Library Foundation.

    I do love Easter Eggs in books, though I am less fond of actual crossover books. In my experience they have rarely been equally true to both the worlds. But a cameo appearance or dropped name? Those are a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed on the crossovers but cameos - heck yeah!

      Delete
  12. You know, Jenn, I had just scrolled down far enough to see the cover of KILLER RESEARCH in all it's glory (really, it's a pleasure to see them enlarged) and I thought, "Somebody in the art department loves Jenn." And it's true! The Easter egg is delightful, and must have given Julia Green a laugh as she designed it.

    Congrats on the new book, and on the happy longevity of both your series and public libraries!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Day, Jenn! Congratulations on your pub day and your long-lasting series. Yay for good stories and smart publishers -- and brilliant cover designers :) Oh, and for libraries, too, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats, Jenn! Fabulous all around! I believe that not only are libraries here to stay but they are growing even more important. I'd be broke if it wasn't for my library. The slip I got the other day said I have saved $2,447.22 this year! That's not chicken feed!

    Looking forward to reading KILLER RESEARCH.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is genius!!! I wonder if my library does that? How smart. I'm visiting with the city librarian tonight, I'm going to mention it to her.

      Delete
  15. Fabulous! And yes, I love to find the secrets in authors books. Anthony Horowitz does it so beautifully, and I just talked yesterday to Sarah Adlahka, revealed in the interview that many of her characters in her speculative fiction time travel story are named after other people in history. it made me want to go right back and read it again.
    Congratulations, Jenn! You are absolutely incredible. and the secret of the cover is priceless. What a gift.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hooray! Libraries are not going anywhere...they are here to stay. AND the next book in the Library Lovers series is here. It's a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jenn,

    Happy Publication Day! I am so excited about your new Library mystery. I already requested a copy from my library.

    Yes, I love these clever references to previous work in novels. I have noticed that several times.

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  18. Happy book birthday, Jenn! I think it's fun when Easter eggs are slipped in. I remember reading one of Bernard Cornwell's Civil War books years ago and one unnamed character appeared briefly. I recognized him as Richard Sharpe's son from the description.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy pub day, Jenn!!! Twelve books in a series is truly a milestone. LOVE the cover of Killer Research, and the Easter egg is brilliant! You have really been blessed with your cover artist. Can't wait to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julia Greene is phenomenal - I don't deserve her :)

      Delete
  20. Congrats! As you know, I enjoyed it.

    I love those Easter eggs, be they in the novel itself or the cover. I'm not sure I would have noticed since I read an eARC if you hadn't pointed it out.

    I, too, am glad libraries are still around. I don't patronize them much because I own so many books I'm dying to read, but it is comforting knowing they are there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and thanks for the review! You're the best!

      Delete
  21. Congrats on KILLER RESEARCH and reaching a dozen in a series, Jenn! That book cover Easter egg is amazing!

    (I can go either way on nods to previous works in stories. As long as it doesn't distract from the current book, I'm fine with it and may even enjoy the cameo.)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congratulations on the publication of yourTWELFTH in the series, and that wonderful cover is made even better by the inclusion of the cover of the first. We’ll done indeed. I’m okay with references if they don’t stop me. Not noticeable or “that’s cool” are fine, but “wait, what?” Isn’t.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wait...what is never good unless intended! Thanks, Rick!

      Delete
  23. Shalom Reds and readers,

    I am sure I am very late to the party. The only book in the series that I have yet read is BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING. I will make a point to catch up.

    I never discover the “Easter Eggs” in literature unless they are pointed out to me. My favorite one, which I can’t convince my friends is in fact there, is in the Bible. In the year that the King James Bible was released, Shakespeare would have been 46. If you look up Psalm 46, you will find that, counting 46 words from the beginning is the word “shake”. If you count backwards from the end, not counting the word Selah, you will find the word “spear”, which would have been spelled “speare” at the time. To continue if you add 4 plus 6 you get 10. Looking at the tenth verse, counting 6 words you come to “I am” and counting 4 more words from “I” you come to the word “will”.

    Hiding pearls in the record, has been very popular since medieval times. And now, no one can convince me that the Bard didn’t collaborate with that auspicious team that translated and authored the Authorized Version of the Bible.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Huzzah! Congrats on your publication day, Jenn! What a fantastic series and delightful cover!

    ReplyDelete
  25. CONGRATS Jenn, you are our rockstar! I just turned in the 12th book in my key west series, and I agree, there's something special about lasting to that number. You put it well--you've outlasted the vagaries of the publishing business, and hooked your fans, and kept things fresh. it's an amazing feat! And the cover is amazing. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congratulations Jenn -- love this series!

    ReplyDelete