Hello, I’m Maeve O’Reilly Kensington a modern-day nurse-midwife in the coastal town of Langford, Massachusetts. I’m mother to an eight-month-old, and due to have my second daughter very soon. Yes, my girls will be very close in age, but that’s a story for another time.
Christmas is fast approaching, and right now I am making a post-work trip to the library for a newborn knitting pattern and a new mystery that I put on hold.
Libraries are sacred places to me. I’ve always loved chatting with the staff, so I know that Ingrid Olson, the well-loved library director who always has a kind word, a ready smile, and a thoughtful book or film recommendation for every patron is manning the library circulation desk tonight. I’m looking forward to wishing her a happy holiday.
Snow has been falling fast and Ingrid’s car was the only one I saw in the library parking lot. Inside the library, I make my way to the first floor where I quickly copy a few patterns. Then I walk over to Ingrid’s desk, where I notice a small red plaid box containing almond crescent cookies. They look very enticing and festive with their powdered-sugar coating. In the center of the desk, a small piece of cookie has been left on a red cocktail napkin.
Smiling, I realize Ingrid probably had a quick snack at the circulation desk. She must have been tempted by the lovely confections, probably brought by a library patron.
I checked my watch again. Where is Ingrid, anyway? The library is closing in minutes. Walking over to the ladies’ room, I open the door and call her name. No answer, and all the stalls are empty. This is getting very strange. It’s unlike Ingrid to be away from her post for an extended time.
I’m startled to hear Saint Andrew’s church bells begin to sound the hour, practically as loud as if I was standing in the bell tower. But it strikes me that their sounds are usually muffled by the thick brick walls of the library. Why do I hear them so clearly now?
Following their pealing leads me to the side entrance. I see through the large window that the outside walk leading to the back garden is brightly lit. Could Ingrid have put those lights on for some reason? Coming closer, I feel a cold draft forcing its way into the building, and I see that the side entry is ajar.
What? It’s freezing outside! Who left the door open?
A heavy snow is starting to pile up inside the door, leaving a puddle on the lustrous oak floor. I reach out to pull the door closed, but as I do, a lumpy pile of red and purple fabric catches my eye just outside the entrance.
I carefully step outside for a better look.
Ingrid! The ‘lumpy pile’ is actually Ingrid Olson lying on her side on the stone patio, partially covered in snow.
Murder on the Books, A Modern Midwife Mystery Book #3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2023
Format: Digital
Purchase Link
Books and bells, midwives, and murder…
Maeve O’Reilly Kensington has fully recovered from her heart-pounding escape from a murderer last summer. Now she and her husband, Will, are happily adapting to life as parents of an eight-month-old while also preparing for the birth of their second daughter. Will’s catering business, A Thyme for All Seasons, is booming and Maeve’s midwifery practice has blossomed under new hospital leadership.
It’s winter in the seaside New England town of Langford, and the holidays are fast approaching. Maeve decides to make a last-minute dash to the Langford Library just before closing time…and discovers the body of the well-loved library director in the snow! Did she have a medical issue? Did she fall? Is murder on the books?
A tangled web is weaved and Maeve and her wealthy, forthright sister Meg are stymied at every turn. At the same time, jewelry thieves may have targeted the Hanville Grove senior center where Maeve and Meg’s mother and the “ladies of the lobby” reside. Holidays, murder, and robberies pile up as Maeve’s pregnancy marches on. Can the sisters solve the crimes in their limited time frame? Will Maeve have the birth of her dreams? Will the Langford Library ever be the same?
Meet the author
Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as a fiction author. Christine currently narrates books for the visually impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. To learn more about Christine Knapp, visit her online at thoughtfulmidwife.com.