Book Review: The Book Stops Here

I read Kate Carlisle’s book binding cozy mystery series from time to time. She’s always a safe choice.

Basic Summary (Courtesy of KCLS):

Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be appearing on the San Francisco edition of the hit TV show This Old Attic as a rare-book expert and appraiser. Her first subject is a very valuable first-edition copy of the classic children’s story The Secret Garden,which is owned by a flower vendor named Vera. Once she hears what her book is worth, Vera is eager to have Brooklyn recondition it for resale. But after the episode airs, a furious man storms onto the set, claiming that Vera found the first edition at his garage sale, and he wants it back–or else. Brooklyn is relieved that she’s put The Secret Garden in a safe place, but Randolph Rayburn, the handsome host of This Old Attic, is terrified by the man’s threats. He confides in Brooklyn that he fears he is being stalked by the show’s former creator and star, who was fired when ratings declined. In the days that follow, several violent incidents occur on the set, and Brooklyn is almost killed, leaving both her and her security expert boyfriend, Derek, shaken. Is someone after Brooklyn and the book? Or has Randolph’s stalker become more desperate? And then Brooklyn visits Vera’s flower shop…and discovers her dead. Is the murderer one of the two obvious suspects, or is something more sinister–even bizarre–going on? Brooklyn had better find the clever killer soon or more than her chance at prime time may be canceled…permanently.

My Thoughts:

This is a good solid read. Although I admit to consuming a lot of alcohol while reading it on vacation. In fact, an entire “fishbowl” of a Cruiser was imbibed during the reading of this book.

And yet I can say; there was no trickery, no confusion. The occasional red herring did pop up and occasionally the book really stretched my suspension of disbelief.

No one questions a woman who asserts she found a 20-25K book at a yard sale for 3 dollars? Really?

And Brooklyn gets a new neighbor who can’t wait to be best friends with her. Surprise, the new neighbor just happens to be ex-CIA. Really?

I would still consider Carlisle a safe read, after all you need something mellow when consuming a beverage meant for four.