My theme for this year, Siaterhood of Sleuthing, has taken me back and forth in time and some places in between. However, these last two titles have brought me to a spot both familiar and yet brand new all at once.
After reading Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery books out of order for awhile now, it was my pleasure to finally get to the one that started it all, Homicide in Hardcover.
Brooklyn Wainwright is a successful bookbinder in San Francisco, mostly happy in her work and life. The few not so bright moments include a rival in her personal and professional paths named Minka as well as an abrupt parting of the ways with her mentor Abraham.
One of those issues is remedied when Brooklyn attends a celebration at the Covington Library in honor of an upcoming rare book exhibit. Abraham is not only pleased to see her but more happier than he’s been in years with the world in general.
Sadly, that reunion is literally short lived as later in the evening, Brooklyn discovers Abraham in a library workroom as he takes his last breath which includes a warning to her “Remember the devil!”
That cryptic sentence seems to refers to his last book restoration commission, a rare bejeweled edition of Faust by Goethe, said to be cursed. While she has serious doubts about the book’s curse, it becomes hard to deny that this particular volume is the source of very direct malevolence towards those who keep it in their possession:
As Brooklyn takes over the restoration of Faust, she finds herself the target of several strange attacks, not to mention the unwelcome scrutiny of Derek Stone, a private security agent with ties to MI-6.
Determined to get justice for Abraham(as well as take her own name off the list of suspects) she sets forth to find the real killer , only to encounter a secret about her mentors past that could alter the present in more ways than one.
Having already enjoyed this series with it’s literary lore and lively characters (one of the strengths of Carlisle’s writing is how she catches you up quickly with the overall backstory of all assembled), my main purpose was to have that “see where it all began “ vibe and in that, this book was a warm welcome indeed.
Carlisle not only creates an engaging heroine in Brooklyn, armed with book knowledge and candy treats to sustain her during long bouts of restoration, but makes both her friends and enemies equally as compelling themselves.
Of course, seeing Brooklyn and future love interest Derek tackle their first mystery together was the ultimate sweet treat in this bookish box of chocolates. Their repartee reminds of detective TV shows such as Bones, Castle or that old school classic Remington Steele with partners in crime solving and romance working to save the day or their next date-which ever comes first!:
That leads to my current and last for this year’s Series-ous Reading which is the second book in this series, If Books Could Kill.
In this entry, Brooklyn has just arrived at the Edinburgh Book Festival where she runs into several old friends (and her arch nemesis Minka to boot), plus Kyle, a former boyfriend and book dealer.
He asks her to help him verify a collection of poems by Robbie Burns, with this particular edition being seen as seditious due to Burns alluding to a romantic dalliance with a member of the Royal family. Finding it hard to believe that anyone would be hunted down over a three hundred year old rumor, Brooklyn nonetheless decides to assist him in this matter for old times sake.
That decision is regretted swiftly as Kyle is found dead at a tourist attraction with the murder weapon being one of Brooklyn’s bookbinding tools. Who would both want to kill Kyle and frame her as well in such a short amount of time? Lucky, Derek is on the scene but can Brooklyn fully trust him after seeing him at the airport with what appears to be his wife and child?
So far, this story is engrossing but I’ll have a fuller review in the new year, along with the beginning of a fresh round of Series-ous Reading. The theme for 2013 is Triple Play, where I will be reading three mysteries by the same author in a row.
For example, in January,February and March, I will be reading and reviewing three of Ellery Adams’ Book Retreat series: Murder in the Mystery Suite, Murder in the Paperback Parlor and Murder in the Reading Room.
Just like Carlisle’s books, I’ve already read one of the latest titles in this series and wish to go back for more.
Other authors on this lineup include Stephanie Barron(Jane Austen Mysteries), Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness) and Julie Hzny(White House Chef Mystery). Not only a fun way to catch up on my many TBR piles but to get a better sense of continuity within each series.
It’s also the best form of entertainment binging and as they say, three is the magic number there. Hope you all will join me next year for these extended visits with these modern day queens of mystery:
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