Homicide in Hardcover (Bibliophile Mystery, #1)

by Kate Carlisle

Book expert Brooklyn Wainwright discovers that murder is always a bestseller in the first novel in the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series.

Brooklyn Wainwright is a skilled surgeon. Sure, her patients might smell like mold and have spines made of leather, but no ailing book is going to die on her watch. The same can’t be said of Abraham Karastovsky, Brooklyn’s friend and former employer.  
 
On the eve of a celebration for his latest book restoration, Brooklyn finds her mentor lying in a pool of his own blood. With his final breath Abraham leaves Brooklyn with a cryptic message, “Remember the Devil,” and gives her a priceless—and supposedly cursed—copy of Goethe’s Faust for safe-keeping.  
 
Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to Derek Stone, the humorless—and annoyingly attractive—British security officer who found her kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by her mentor if she is going to restore justice...

• ISBN10: 0451226151
• ISBN13: 9780451226150
• Publish Date: 3 February 2009
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451226150

Reviews

[Berls]

I'm rating this as 2 stars even though I'm DNFing. If the library hadn't recalled the book, I probably would have finished it. But it's been over a month of reading and very slow going - and I'm just not caring to see how things wrap up. I think the work is neat - book restoration - and the subject (Faust) made me want to revisit that grad school treat. But otherwise, I'm not drawn to the characters or particularly worried about the outcome.

[annieb123]

Cute cozy/romance. This is the first in the series which is up to 13 books now. The main character is a book restorer and historian (and amateur sleuth).

Original release was 2009 from Obsidian publishing, it's 289 pages and available in most formats.

Fair warning. For anyone who is honestly interested in rare/historic books, this one will have you crying or running for the exits. The book 'restoration' this book is written around would not be acceptable in any museum/exhibition venue. That being said, it's a cute lighthearted read and well written. Some of the dialogue is fairly silly, but it is a cozy. There's a romantic scene which came across as slightly creepy to me (the hot security guy is kissing the main character immediately after she's been bludgeoned and is likely concussed at the very least?!).

There's very light language use, I'd say PG-level, but nothing to shock or dismay most readers.

Three and a half stars. I'll pick up the next book in the series. I love cozies about books, and librarians, and bookmobiles (bonus for cat inclusions).

[Stephanie]

What I Loved: Homicide in Hardcover is a great cozy mystery surrounding my favorite subject: books! Brooklyn is a great narrator and she takes her sleuthing seriously. Abraham was very important to Brooklyn and he helped to shape the life she leads now. Homicide in Hardcover is filled with some pretty good humor. This is the first book in a series and introduces us to some pretty interesting characters. I’m certainly anxious to read more about them.

What I Could Have Lived Without: Remember how I said it had some good humor? There were also times when that humor seemed inappropriate. For example, when the baddie is being handcuffed Brooklyn and another character are having a nonchalant conversation about pizza topping choices.It just didn’t seem to fit.

Recommended For: Any reader who enjoys a light and funny mystery.

Avoid If: Slightly ditzy characters put you on edge. :)