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The Librarian of Crooked Lane
The Librarian of Crooked Lane: A Fantasy Mystery Novel | C.J. Archer
20 posts | 14 read | 10 to read
A librarian with a mysterious past, a war hero with a secret, and the heist of a magic painting. THE LIBRARIAN OF CROOKED LANE is an intriguing new historical fantasy from C.J. Archer, the USA Today bestselling author of the Glass and Steele series. Librarian Sylvia Ashe knows nothing about her past, having grown up without a father and a mother who refused to discuss him. When she stumbles upon a diary that suggests shes descended from magicians, shes skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and shes just an ordinary girl who loves books. She seeks the truth from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth wont be easy, especially when he turns out to be as artless as her, and more compelling and dangerous than books. War hero Gabe is gifted with wealth, a loving family, and an incredible amount of luck that saw him survive four harrowing years of a brutal war without injury. But not all injuries are visible. Burying himself in his work as a consultant for Scotland Yard, Gabe is going through the motions as he investigates the theft of a magician-made painting. But his life changes when he unwittingly gets Sylvia dismissed from her job and places her in danger. After securing her new employment in a library housing the worlds greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvias lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvias past before powerful people can stop them. But sometimes the past is better left buried
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Roary47
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Panpan

2✨ I just could not get into this one. There was a painting that was stolen. It was made by a magical source and there is magic in this world, but it is special so not everyone has magic. One of our mains is in trouble with strong forces after losing her job from our other main. It‘s a good plot line and I should have liked this, but I just didn‘t get invested in these characters and story enough to continue the series.

dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 2w
24 likes1 comment
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BookBr
Mehso-so

This was a fun book, with a tricky little mystery and engaging characters. A nice little spark of romance ran through the story for an appealing tension. One thing missing was sufficient world building to ground the story‘s magic system. I‘m all for jumping right in, but don‘t like to be left guessing as to what exactly is going on or how it works. Not sure I‘m compelled to continue the series.

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bookaholic1
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Pickpick

#57
Good, will listen to the next in the series soon

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Texreader
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And we have a winner for July!! #readingbracket2023

Because this book had a better narrator, it barely edged out an excellent book with a terrible narrator for the audiobook: James Michener‘s The Bridge at Andau

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Texreader
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#twofortuesday Thanks @TheSpineView for the tag!

1) the tagged book just edges out James Michener‘s The Bridge at Andau

2) I need a book starting with the letter L, and I think I‘d gotten the audiobook on sale. I do plan to read book 2 and see if it‘s worth reading the series. In fact, @CoffeeK8 are you ready for book 2? Do you still want to read it together? I can probably start book 2 this weekend or next week.

TheSpineView You're welcome and thanks for playing!🤩📖📘 8mo
32 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Magic exists. A magician might have time magic, or ink magic, or ceramics magic. It makes their craft better than the “artless,” or non-magical people. Sylvia might have silver magic. Unsure, she seeks advice from the well-regarded magical Glass family but is soon part of a kidnapping and murder mystery, while also becoming the eponymous librarian. She also quickly falls for the Glass heir, but alas, he‘s engaged. This is an entertaining first ⬇️

Texreader in a series involving the magical family Glass‘s library, which houses rare books on magic. I‘m very tempted to continue the series. I read this book to complete the #letterL for #litsyatoz 9mo
CoffeeK8 I loved this book! 9mo
Texreader @CoffeeK8 Have you read any further in the series? 9mo
See All 7 Comments
CoffeeK8 @Texreader not yet, but the next book is on my summer TBR 9mo
Texreader @CoffeeK8 I‘m thinking I need to read it too. 9mo
CoffeeK8 @Texreader agreed! I‘m trying to read down some of my already owned books before I buy more but if you‘re reading the next one let me know and I‘ll Buddy read with you. I love an excuse to get more books 9mo
Texreader @CoffeeK8 I‘d love that! I need to finish one of my other books in progress first. I‘ll let you know 9mo
59 likes5 stack adds7 comments
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Texreader
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Working on the piles of laundry from the trip to Italy, so I‘ve picked the tagged book to listen to while doing chores

I‘m using it for #LetterL for #LitsyAtoZ

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humouress

I haven't started this yet, but the cover reminds me of the one for Melanie Rawn's 'Sunrunner's Fire'

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Lynnsoprano
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Pickpick

Although there is a magical element to this book, at heart it‘s a mystery, and a darned good one. It‘s also the first of a series. I was drawn in by the characters, so I‘ve already added the second book to my Kindle. Definitely worth reading. Picture is of my reading spot for the next three days, as we‘re enjoying a getaway in the Georgia mountains.

kspenmoll Beautiful spot! 10mo
Centique That‘s a gorgeous view 😍 10mo
CaitZ Looks very relaxing. Enjoy your trip 10mo
Lynnsoprano @kspenmoll @Centique @CaitZ Thanks. We‘re in a little cabin we stayed in four years ago. It‘s built on the side of the mountain, and I‘m living on the deck in the tree canopy. I think my blood pressure dropped when I walked through the door. This is heaven! 10mo
47 likes1 stack add4 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

This is a low pick. For a book set in a magical world, there‘s no visible magic and how the magic works in this universe is never explained. The mystery Sylvia helps Gabe solve is kind of boring. Since this is the first in a series, I‘m going to assume a lot of introductions needed to be done. I hope the magical world will be expanded further as the series goes along. Started Brandi Carlile‘s memoir. Recommend audio as she sings. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I really like Sylvia Ashe and am interested to see if there‘s something going on at the library she works in. It was pretty dark outside when I walked at noon! #audiowalk

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Lynnsoprano
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#firstlineFridays
“The woman crouching under the desk near my feet expelled an unladylike snort of derision.”

I started this, got to the second chapter, then got waylaid by a book from the library. I knew I should have said no when hubby asked me to go with him😄 I picked it back up today. Enjoying it so far.

CatMS Nanigen 9 October 11:55 p.m. - West of Pearl Harbor, he drove along the Farrington Highway past fields of sugar cane, dark green in the moonlight. - Micro by Michael Chrighton and Richard Preston 10mo
31 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
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I think I‘m going to like this book. So far, I‘m enjoying the magical world that Archer has created here. #audiowalk

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Lynnsoprano
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I don‘t often read fantasy, but this looks interesting. I‘m going to give it a try.

Dee5800 @Lynnsoprano - Have you started the book? How is it? 10mo
Lynnsoprano @Dee5800 I started it, but then got sidetracked by a library book. The start is quite interesting, tho. 10mo
Dee5800 @Lynnsoprano Thanks 10mo
46 likes3 comments
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Bette
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Pickpick

“A hidden passage inside a library?
Have you been reading my childhood diary and discovered all my favorite things?”

I found it to be a fun, light, magical read. 🪄 ✨

34 likes2 stack adds
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rebbyj
Pickpick

Fun. Not perfect but fun.

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ckarosi326
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Pickpick

I‘m a big fan of the Glass and Steele series. This new series following Matt and India‘s son, Gabe, didn‘t disappoint. So excited to have some familiar characters back for this new adventure. 🙂

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Texreader
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Audiobook on sale today on audible

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Avanders
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Received a package - I assume it‘s Litsy, but I‘m not sure if it‘s #AllHallowsReadSwap or #NightmareMakerSwap 🤷🏽‍♀️😯😄 @MaleficentBookDragon @LibrarianRyan any clue? It‘s from an Ashley…

Also - this book looks fun! Anyone read it??

julieclair This book looks so good! Just added to my TBR stack. 📚 1y
LibrarianRyan It's not nightmare maker. it was just shipped. 1y
Avanders @LibrarianRyan ok thanks! 😁 1y
See All 7 Comments
Avanders @julieclair I know right?! 🤩 1y
BethM The cover and synopsis both look great! 1y
Skygoddess1 It‘s HHS, I realized after I got home from the post office I forgot to write what it was for, sorry 1y
Avanders @Skygoddess1 no worries but…. I think it‘s All Hallows‘ Read Swap — hopefully! I didn‘t sign up for HHS in time this year 🫢 1y
59 likes7 comments
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Morton7
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Currently reading…..

Mustlovebooks1088 The librarian of crooked lane?? That sounds interesting! (edited) 2y
Morton7 I‘m only on Chapter 2 ! But so far not bad at all 2y
41 likes2 comments