The world of The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society has a lightness and small-town quaintness that permeates the setting and the main character, Sherry Pinkwhistle, a good-hearted librarian with a love for mystery novels, a cat named Lord Thomas Crowell, and a boyfriend who always seems to pop 'round when she needs him. Sherry has somehow found herself assisting in the investigation of actual murders that the local sheriff can't solve without her help, making her giddy with excitement as a fan of mystery novels.
This excitement changes, however, when her boyfriend winds up as one of the murder mysteries for her to solve. That suddenly puts everything in a different perspective and immediately makes her aware of the reality and horror of these murders. Distraught, she decides to stop investigating altogether, especially her boyfriend's, which doesn't sit well with the ancient demon orchestrating the murders. This demon wants the Cozy Mysteries to continue and will do whatever it takes to keep Sherry involved.
The picturesque, small-town atmosphere and Sherry's endearing character bring a lightness to the story, reminiscent of Murder, She Wrote. Something that, unsurprisingly is not lost on Sherry. As a librarian who loves mysteries, she notes the Murder, She Wrote similarities and tries to do her best Columbo at times. However, the supernatural elements add layers of intrigue and darkness. The fact that it's difficult to "peer behind the curtain," because the demon keeps this small town perpetually feeling like it's in the past, as the scene for the murder mysteries it's orchestrating explains the oddity of the coziness of the Cozy Mystery, making the lightheartedness somehow all the more evil. This also allows Waggoner a chance to add some elements of awkward comedy to the mix.
The characters are likeable, but their actions are at times orchestrated by the demon, which can lead to some scary moments where they're truly not acting like themselves. Lord Thomas Crowell, initially just a librarian's cat with a funny name, becomes possessed by a minor demon whose job is to convince Sherry to investigate the murder to keep the ancient demon happy. Much like the dual nature of a cute and cozy setting forced by a dark malevolence, Lord Thomas Crowell serves as cuddly cat and cute comic relief... as well as a dark reminder that evil has this small town completely in its grips. Sherry can't get even away from it at home; she is living with it.
Meanwhile, the ancient demon does what we would consider horrible acts, orchestrating murders performed by townsfolk manipulated to some degree that no one really knows, then guiding Sherry to solve the murders and punishing the murderers—all as a way to fight the boredom that comes from being immortal. The overall shift from lighthearted to dark is punctuated with small hints of the evil behind the veil and light comic relief here and there, keeping the writing from being too light or heavy.
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society is a delightful and eerie mix of Cozy Mystery and Supernatural Fantasy. Waggoner’s ability to blend these genres seamlessly, along with her skillful character development and unique sense of humor, makes this book a must-read for fans of both genres. I would love to read another story set in this same world and follow the continuing adventures of Sherry and her friends... and, based on the ending, it seems like we'll get that chance. If the above has piqued your interest, by all means, do give it a read.
