Putting a Librarian Into Action – Book Review

The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma 

by Linda Pirtle

Small Town / Cozy Mystery / Female Sleuth

February 14, 2023

209 pages 

The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma 

Lately, Magnolia Bluff, a quiet little community in the Texas Hill Country near the Burnet Reservoir, has seen too many gruesome murders. Esther Williams goes missing when she visits the Magnolia Bluff Public Library. Left behind were her crimson hat and her Standard Poodle, Adam. Caroline McCluskey, the librarian, rescues the dog, but when he, too, disappears, she creates a women’s mystery club called The Round Table. Its sole purpose is to surreptitiously locate Esther and bring her and Adam safely home. Will Caroline and the members of The Round Table be able to snag Esther from her captors before it’s too late? Or will they, too, become the next victims?

The Dog Gone Diamond Dilemma is the second book I have read in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles series. This is book 10 in this series.

Author, Linda Pirtle continues the atmosphere of Magnolia Bluff in her fast-paced story that begins with a stolen dog and what ensues is a deep mystery of finding out how that is tied to a neighbor who has been missing for quite a while.

What makes this story unique is Linda’s take on librarians. Librarians are normally not adventurous except maybe through books they read. Pirtle takes her main character, Caroline, giving her guts, and putting her into action of doing what is right. Caroline brings together a group of women who all join her in solving the mystery of their friend who has disappeared.

While there is a dog that was kidnapped in this story, there is simply not enough dog time for me as a reader. Hello! Dog on the cover and in the title. Also, I will note that this book would have greatly benefitted from a proof and polish pass.

Pirtle did a wonderful job at drawing the reader into the small town of Magnolia Bluff, even without much of a dog presence. Soon the story became about friendship and bonds to the community of Magnolia Bluff. Sadly, the ending I did not see coming after all the efforts of this group of friends.

While this is book 10 in this series, this story is strong enough to stand on its own without you being super lost. If you find yourself in need of a mercurial book with a cozy murder mystery set in Texas, then you will love this little gem.