The Librarian of Crooked Lane

The Glass Library, Book 1

By: C.J. Archer

Narrated by: Marian Hussey

Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

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 fantasy from C.J. Archer, the USA Today best-selling 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 she's descended from magicians, she's skeptical. After all, magicians are special, and she's just an ordinary woman who loves books. She seeks answers from a member of the most prominent family of magicians, but she quickly learns that finding the truth won't 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 world's greatest collection of books about magic, Gabe and Sylvia's lives become intwined as they work together to find both the painting and the truth about Sylvia's past before powerful people can stop them.

But sometimes the past is better left buried?

©2022 C.J. Archer (P)2022 C.J. Archer

Good first book

The story line was slow to start. Definitely left you hanging on for the next book in the series. I almost gave up on it several times, and honestly probably would have if it had been free. Glad I stuck it out to the end. I’ll read the next one too

Historical Fantasy

I didn't realize it took place in the same world as the glass and steele books. I haven't read those, but I believe I will pick them up now. you dont need to have read that series first. I always love Marian Hussey narrating.

Over explained

I really wanted to love this. the topic is right up my alley, I love anything a little bit witchy and the thought of reading about a librarian was especially interesting. but I ended up not liking the main character very much because she's so wishy-washy. Her internal dialogue doesn't match her actions, ever. I got really bored with listening to her idolize the opposing male character and swooning after him. as far as the narration goes I really liked the main narration, I did not enjoy the accents apply to some of the other characters especially Willie.

Great New Series

It's always a love-hate situation when I begin a new series from an unknown (to me) author. This series is by C.J. Archer and the first book was really fun, some suspense, and a lot of "getting to know" the diverse characters and their special powers/magic. The hate part is now that I've grown intrigued by this cast, finished book #1, there is NO book #2 until March 2023!!
The narrator is good also. To me if they are competent enough so that my focus is on the book, rather than the narrator, then the narrator is doing a great job. Although I had to speed the reading up a tiny bit (1.10%), she did an excellent job, even with the male voices. Thank you, Ms Archer, for a really fun few hours.

Mystery With a Side of Magic

The Librarian of Crooked Lane is set in the spring of 1920 London, following WWI & the worst of the Spanish Flu. Quite a departure from my typical purchases but I am so glad I did.

I love the wide variety of characters brought to life by narrator Marian Hussey. C. J. Archer spins a wonderful story that keeps you intrigued.

So glad book 2 comes out in early March and the trilogy concludes in September of this year.

Recommended

Entertaining and fun. Enjoyed the characters and looking forward to the next installment! Narrator was perfect.

Listened in 1 day

Great story, well read. Looking forward to the next one. Couldn’t stop listening to this book.

Entertaining

This was a very cute story line, it was interesting until the end, each time I thought I knew who the villain was it was not who I thought! I would read more from this author.

loved it.

Liked the story very much. Will look forward for more exiting stories in the series.

Fun beginning

It’s a series I’m interested in following because of the magical element.

Nice characters who need SOME flaws in upcoming books.