Librarian Lindsey Norris is simply doing her job as library director of Briar Creek Public Library when she gave Aaron Grady information about roses. He’d just moved to the area with his wife, and he needed help keeping his prized rosebushes alive in an environment he’s not used to. She looks up some titles and walks him over to the gardening section, suggesting some of the titles on the shelf and encouraging him to look for local gardening groups.

She was just doing her job. But he took it the wrong way and started showing up at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Aaron brought her roses to the library. And then he showed up later, at the home she shares with her fiance Sully, to bring Lindsey more roses. She tells him in no uncertain terms that she is not comfortable with his attention, especially with his showing up at her house, and she wants to believe that will take care of the problem.

She wants to think that, but it’s just not the case.

Aaron keeps showing up where she is, and just stares at her. The unwanted attention leaves her feeling anxious and unsettled until the morning Ronnie, a friend of hers and Sully’s, is escorting her to work in the morning and Aaron Grady is there, sitting outside the door of the library waiting for her. Lindsey can’t help but get upset, but Ronnie informs her that there is no need to. Aaron has been shot.

Lindsey has to think fast to prove that neither she nor Sully had anything to do with the man’s demise, or else her wedding will be in jeopardy. But when she uses her research skills to dig into her own investigation, she risks putting herself in mortal danger.

Word to the Wise is the tenth book in Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery series, and the series is still strong. I really love these characters, from the ladies who bring life to the library stacks to the local sheriff and her beau. I also appreciated the story line, how the characters dealt with the fact that stalking may not always be a crime, but no matter how or why it started, it’s never the fault of the victim. I was so impressed at how Lindsey stood up for herself repeatedly, making sure to send consistent messages to Aaron Grady about her boundaries and how he was making her feel. It’s an important lesson for men and women to understand, and I appreciated how the author handled it.

You don’t have to read the Library Lover’s Mystery series in order. Each book can stand on its own, but I think that as soon as you make one visit to the Briar Creek Library, you’ll want to spend more time there. It’s a special place filled with special people. I know I want to go back, although maybe under different circumstances.

Galleys for Word to the Wise were provided by Berkley through Edelweiss, with many thanks.