Mayor Ty D. Proffitz was discovered face down in the reference stacks of Crooke’s Crossing Public Library. Who committed this heinous crime?  The Intrepid Detective Sam Slayed was quickly on the case, and found seven suspects who all had reason to want the mayor dead.

Meet the suspects: Longtime reference librarian Alona N. Bhidder is livid that the mayor’s new library wing will replace her books with a cappuccino bar and maker space. Retired Navy Admiral Coyle D. Snaick dreams of his glory days while taking out the library trash as a volunteer. Children’s librarian Cleverly Cleary, who just discovered she is the mayor’s half-sister,  uses puppets when she has to use her angry voice. The library gardener, Petunia Budd,  is always cheerful except when her garden is in danger. S. Mel Macon,  Crooke’s Crossing Library’s most constant patron (currently living under the building’s eaves), has a thing for squirrels and romance paperbacks. The sketchy Dusty Hoames, who runs the antique booktore in Crooke’s Crossing, Dusty’s Musties, has something suspicious hiding in his messenger bag.

When they aren’t acting, you can find Sam Slayed and all the Crooke’s Crossing suspects at Cook Memorial Public Library, answering reference questions, processing books and helping patrons. Our multi-talented library staffers showed off their acting and improv skills to a packed house Feb. 19 during the library’s first murder mystery, Murder by the Book. It was a great time. If you missed the performance, here it is!