Books of a Feather

Bibliophile Mystery, Book #10

By Kate Carlisle

ISBN 9780451477705

Author’s website: http://www.katecarlisle.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

 

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Ripped from the Pages, San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright’s latest project is for the birds, but it may have her running for her life. . . .

Brooklyn’s friend Ian runs the Covington Library, which is hosting an exhibit featuring John James Audubon’s massive masterpiece, Birds of America, currently on loan from an Arab sheik. During the gala celebrating the book, she is approached by Jared Mulrooney, the president of the National Birdwatchers Society, who urgently needs Brooklyn’s skilled hands to repair a less high-profile book of Audubon drawings that’s fallen victim to spilled wine.

At the same party, Brooklyn is flying high after she’s asked to refurbish and appraise a rare copy of Poor Richard’s Almanac. But everything runs afoul later that evening when Mulrooney’s body is discovered in the library. Rumors fly about a motive for murder. Perhaps Mulrooney wanted to sink his claws into the pricey Audubon book, but Brooklyn believes the man died fighting off a daring thief.

Soon more troubles ruffle Brooklyn’s feathers. Her parents pop in for a visit with an unsavory friend in tow, and there’s a strange man on her tail. With danger beginning to circle Brooklyn’s every move, it’s clear she must find answers before things really go south . .

Review:

Books of a Feather, 10th in the Bibliophile Mystery series, is without a doubt the best to date. This can be read as a standalone, since sufficient background information is woven into the story. Every aspect of this novel comes together perfectly, from the plot, descriptions of bookbinding and the various books restored, the bad guys/ gals, LOL humor, and likable, folks next door characters.

Brooklyn Wainwright is a book binder, having begun learning her skill at the tender age of eight. She is now one of the best in the San Francisco area at restoring rare or even priceless tomes. Before reading the first book about Brooklyn, I had no idea that there were people who restored books, much less how painstaking a task it was – but reading the details of some of the work she does now, to this book lover, is mesmerizing.

Brooklyn and her devastatingly handsome British boyfriend Derek have wonderful ongoing changes in their romantic and living situation. The gorgeous cover art and the title both give tantalizing glimpses about this mystery. Brooklyn, whose friend Ian is in charge of the famed Covington Library, and Derek, who is also providing additional hi-tech security, are at the gala celebrating the arrival of a rare, unique copy of ‘Birds of America’, a huge tome with John James Audubon’s drawings of many, many birds.

That night, she was given two rare books to restore. One was an early copy of Poor Richard’s Almanac dating to the time of when Ben Franklin wrote and printed it from a friend and business associate, the other was a book containing special drawings of birds that the president of the National Birdwatchers Society asked her to repair. Before the evening was over, the president was found murdered. Within days, murder and attempted robbery began to stalk Brooklyn.

The primary characters are so well defined that they could step off the pages into anyone’s hometown and be welcomed. Brooklyn’s life is an open book to the reader; we still learn new things about her parents and Derek, but their roles are well established. Brooklyn can be the perfectly polished professional or the woman who is determined to survive or protect loved ones from a threat. Others who are seen less in the story such as friends or neighbors of Brooklyn and Derek are described in perfect proportion to their roles. The potential suspects are characterized with excellence also; while we learn more about them as the mystery progresses, we also see the author’s humor when describing some of their behaviors. One almost … almost! Could feel pity for a bad guy/ gal!

The author’s talents to plan and execute the perfect plot are amazing. One can be reading an edge-of-the-seat suspenseful scene that will suddenly include humor or irony before zipping back to suspense. There were plot twists and turns that keeps the reader on their toes. It was fascinating to see the layers of mysteries in this one novel! Yet the ending is satisfaction plus (even if this reader did pick out a bad guy/ gal), with all of the loose threads tied and leaving this reader waiting for the next in series. I highly recommend ‘Books of a Feather’ to fans of the Bibliophile Mystery Series, those who enjoy reading about unique and interesting careers, intense suspense and romance. This is not one to be missed!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*