Whispers in the Reading Room, written by Shelley Gray, is the latest book for her The Chicago World's Fair Mystery series. You are introduced to Lydia Bancroft on the opening pages of this tale. She is a young woman working as a librarian at the Lincoln Lending Library in Chicago, Illinois. Lydia loves everything about working here. She enjoys helping the patrons of the library find the exact book they are looking for, especially a handsome gentleman who has frequented the library for the past year. Away from the library, Lydia feels pressure to help her mother regain their place in society after the death of her father and their subsequent loss of financial standing!
When Lydia becomes engaged to a wealthy man of high standing, she and her mother begin to feel more secure. One afternoon, Lydia goes with her fiance to a tea at the luxurious Hartman Hotel, she is shocked when she spies the library's mystery patron across the room! Lydia experiences a further shock when her fiance suddenly becomes enraged when she seems to know this man. She soon learns this man's name is Sebastian Marks and that he is a well-known, wealthy man who lives on the top floor of this hotel! When Lydia's fiance begins to physically harm her, Sebastian steps in and comes to her rescue!
You will not believe the places Lydia will go and the things that she will see as her friendship with Sebastian grows! This tale is a fast moving ride until you finally discover where Lydia and Sebastian end up!
I received this book from Zondervan in exchange for my unbiased review