The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society

4.5 stars—because even a sassy talking cat can’t quite claw his way to perfection. What starts as a charming, slightly spooky cozy mystery—think Murder, She Wrote with a library card and a faint whiff of something eldritch—spirals into a delightfully strange ride that’s way more fun than a quiet night shelving books. Waggoner blends small-town sleuthing with a pinch of demonology and a hefty dose of absurdist humor, crafting a tale that feels like a warm cardigan wrapped around a cosmic puzzle. Just when you’re cozy in Winesap’s snow-dusted streets, puzzling over its improbably frequent murders, a twist hits like a rogue spell, turning the mystery inside out. Suddenly, the stakes aren’t just whodunit—they’re what-the-hell-is-going-on, and it’s a blast. At the heart of the story is Sherry Pinkwhistle, Winesap’s librarian-turned-detective, who’s as warm as a Christmas sweater, as sharp as a well-placed bookmark, and stubborn enough to stare down any mystery, no matter how weird. She’s the kind of heroine you’d share a library nook with—even if her cat, Lord Thomas Cromwell, might demand your sandwich mid-chat. That feline, with his snarky quips and questionable table manners, steals the show, turning every scene he’s in into a masterclass of comedic side-eye. Winesap hums with quirky life, its cozy vibe grounding the story even as it dips into Buffy-esque supernatural shenanigans. Sherry’s Demon-Hunting Society, a ragtag found-family crew, adds warmth, though I craved more group demon-chasing chaos. The humor is sharp, like Douglas Adams decided to pen a cozy mystery, full of meta-winks at why small towns always seem to have a body count that’d make CSI: New York blush and call for backup. It’s clever without being smug, making you feel like you’re in on the joke. If I had a quibble, it’s that the twist—while intriguing—leans more on eerie vibes than clockwork mechanics. Don’t expect a flowchart for the weirdness; just roll with it, and Sherry’s tenacity will carry you through. If you’ve ever wondered what a cozy mystery would be like after tripping into a puddle of Yog-Sothoth’s cosmic ooze, this is your jam. I’d join the Demon-Hunting Society in a heartbeat—just hand me a cardigan, a thermos of holy water, and a cat-proof snack stash.