Books of a Feather by Kate Carlisle is the eleventh book in A Bibliophile Mystery series. Brooklyn Wainwright and her fiancé, Derek Stone have returned to their renovated home in San Francisco. Brooklyn is helping Genevieve Taylor with an inventory of Taylor's Fine Books after the death of her father. Brooklyn is amazed at the wonderful old novels (fourteen first editions so far) she is finding stashed around the store (and she gets to work on some of them). The book has been the victim of robbery recently (someone is stealing the valuable books in her store). Brooklyn heads home with the new books to restore to find her fiancé, Derek is entertaining a guest. Crane is an old friend of Derek's and is in town to talk to his black sheep brother, Bai. Brooklyn and Derek will be attending a special event at the Covington Library and Museum and then ask Crane to attend with them. The Covington is hosting an Audubon exhibit with Birds of America (a very big and beautiful book) on exhibit. Brooklyn is approached by Jared Mulrooney at the exhibit. Jared is the president of the Bay Area Birdwatchers Society. He wants Brooklyn to restore a book. Jared spilled wine all over a book owned by the birdwatcher's society (it is normally kept in a glass case). Brooklyn then meets up with Genevieve who asks Brooklyn to look at a very special novel. It is wrapped and Genevieve asks her to wait until later to look at it (turns out to be a very valuable item). Brooklyn goes looking for her friend later in the evening and discovers Jared Mulrooney dead (Brooklyn seems to attract dead bodies). Who would want to kill Jared? Does it have anything to do with the book he gave her to fix? Brooklyn cannot help but investigate. As if Brooklyn does not have enough on her plate, her parents show up for a surprise visit (that's what happens when you let people know you have guest rooms). As if that is not enough, they bring up a homeless man one night who they insist is an old friend (you just know this is going to take a bad turn). The two couples go out to brunch the next morning and return to find the man dead in the apartment (and in Derek's new robe). Someone was trying to get into the safe where Brooklyn keeps the valuable books she is working on. Which book are the thieves after? They need to find the culprit before he returns. Read Books of a Feather for another high flying adventure with Brooklyn and Derek (and their new kitten, Charlie).
Books of a Feather is a delight. It was nice to check in with Brooklyn Wainwright and Derek Stone (such great characters). I liked Books of a Feather, but I found it a little superficial. Some of the information was repeated in the book (they have not started planning the wedding yet, how handsome Derek is--many times, how they have renovated the apartment, etc.). Books of a Feather is nicely written (good flow) and easy to read. The mystery plays out during the course of the book. Not all the players are revealed until the end. You can take a guess at the person behind the murders (since there are not many suspects, it is easily figured out). I give Books of a Feather 4 out of 5 stars. I want to see more character development (depth). Books of a Feather can easily be read alone (but you will want to read the other novels in the series). The author makes it a point to tell the reader about Brooklyn and her prior adventures. I will be reading the next book in the Bibliophile Mystery series because I like the characters, and I want to see how their story plays out.
I received a complimentary copy of Books of Feather in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Books of a Feather is a delight. It was nice to check in with Brooklyn Wainwright and Derek Stone (such great characters). I liked Books of a Feather, but I found it a little superficial. Some of the information was repeated in the book (they have not started planning the wedding yet, how handsome Derek is--many times, how they have renovated the apartment, etc.). Books of a Feather is nicely written (good flow) and easy to read. The mystery plays out during the course of the book. Not all the players are revealed until the end. You can take a guess at the person behind the murders (since there are not many suspects, it is easily figured out). I give Books of a Feather 4 out of 5 stars. I want to see more character development (depth). Books of a Feather can easily be read alone (but you will want to read the other novels in the series). The author makes it a point to tell the reader about Brooklyn and her prior adventures. I will be reading the next book in the Bibliophile Mystery series because I like the characters, and I want to see how their story plays out.
I received a complimentary copy of Books of Feather in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I began reading Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile mysteries when the series first began but stopped because I soon became consumed by an irrational loathing of one of the secondary characters. After being told that this character is no longer around, it didn't take any persuasion at all for me to begin reading once more.
I did find the mystery in Books of a Feather to be rather easy to solve, but that didn't bother me one little bit. Like all the best series, the mystery is important but the cast of characters and the setting are key. A beginning that has Brooklyn cataloging the books in an old shop and finding treasure after treasure immediately put me firmly in book lover's heaven.
With Brooklyn's personal and home security at risk, her friend Alex devises a series of self-defense exercises for her. I really liked this, since so many amateur sleuths in cozy series consistently put themselves (and others) at risk without doing a single thing about learning how to defend themselves. (I do appreciate common sense!) These self-defense exercises lead to my favorite line in the book, too-- "That's my mommy!"
After a long hiatus from the series, I loved catching up with what's been happening in Brooklyn's life as well as learning little tidbits. Did you know that the people living in San Francisco have given the omnipresent fog a name? Neither did I. But the absolute best thing about coming back to Carlisle's Bibliophile series is being able to watch Brooklyn work on old books. Watching her restore old treasures is sheer bliss and makes me feel that-- at that moment-- all is right in my world.
Now that I'm back in the fold, I'm looking forward to Brooklyn's next adventure. Bring it on!
I did find the mystery in Books of a Feather to be rather easy to solve, but that didn't bother me one little bit. Like all the best series, the mystery is important but the cast of characters and the setting are key. A beginning that has Brooklyn cataloging the books in an old shop and finding treasure after treasure immediately put me firmly in book lover's heaven.
With Brooklyn's personal and home security at risk, her friend Alex devises a series of self-defense exercises for her. I really liked this, since so many amateur sleuths in cozy series consistently put themselves (and others) at risk without doing a single thing about learning how to defend themselves. (I do appreciate common sense!) These self-defense exercises lead to my favorite line in the book, too-- "That's my mommy!"
After a long hiatus from the series, I loved catching up with what's been happening in Brooklyn's life as well as learning little tidbits. Did you know that the people living in San Francisco have given the omnipresent fog a name? Neither did I. But the absolute best thing about coming back to Carlisle's Bibliophile series is being able to watch Brooklyn work on old books. Watching her restore old treasures is sheer bliss and makes me feel that-- at that moment-- all is right in my world.
Now that I'm back in the fold, I'm looking forward to Brooklyn's next adventure. Bring it on!
