Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Once again the mother-daughter writing team that call themselves Victoria Abbott have crafted a book with a strong plot, plenty of humor, and a cast that's oh-so-easy to fall in love with. Top all this off with clever mentions of the rare book biz and Lord Peter Wimsey, and-- like me-- you're well on the way to becoming addicted to this Book Collector cozy series.
The path to solving this mystery isn't a straight one. (The good ones seldom are.) A couple of the subplots are more easily guessed than others which remain a surprise until the end, but they all blend together into a very satisfying read. For that we have to thank a sterling cast of characters.
Jordan herself is a perfect blend of sass, savvy, and slapstick. She loves books, she doesn't know when to quit, and she is a kind and generous person. She also knows more about the shadier side of the law than the heroines of most cozy mysteries, thanks to her uncles, and it's Jordan's use of her uncles' nefarious training while trying to do the right thing that beings about so many of the laughs in the book.
Jordan's best friend is off in Africa doing good works, and Jordan misses her. In the mean time, she's become close with Karen Smith, the owner of the Cozy Corpse mystery bookstore. Karen is still recuperating from her injuries sustained in the first book in the series, The Christie Curse, and as Jordan works with her, her recovery adds depth to the story and to the characters.
There's also some romantic sparks throughout the book. A local police officer always seems to be in Jordan's vicinity, and she wishes he'd stop simply because of her uncles. Besides, there's a very hunky librarian that she's had her eye on for quite some time....
This book... this series... is a cozy lover's dream. A good laugh-laced plot, knowledge nuggets about the rare book business, and characters that make you smile and want to invite them over for coffee. Hmm... I don't think I'm on my way to being addicted to Victoria Abbott's Book Collector series-- I already am!
The path to solving this mystery isn't a straight one. (The good ones seldom are.) A couple of the subplots are more easily guessed than others which remain a surprise until the end, but they all blend together into a very satisfying read. For that we have to thank a sterling cast of characters.
Jordan herself is a perfect blend of sass, savvy, and slapstick. She loves books, she doesn't know when to quit, and she is a kind and generous person. She also knows more about the shadier side of the law than the heroines of most cozy mysteries, thanks to her uncles, and it's Jordan's use of her uncles' nefarious training while trying to do the right thing that beings about so many of the laughs in the book.
Jordan's best friend is off in Africa doing good works, and Jordan misses her. In the mean time, she's become close with Karen Smith, the owner of the Cozy Corpse mystery bookstore. Karen is still recuperating from her injuries sustained in the first book in the series, The Christie Curse, and as Jordan works with her, her recovery adds depth to the story and to the characters.
There's also some romantic sparks throughout the book. A local police officer always seems to be in Jordan's vicinity, and she wishes he'd stop simply because of her uncles. Besides, there's a very hunky librarian that she's had her eye on for quite some time....
This book... this series... is a cozy lover's dream. A good laugh-laced plot, knowledge nuggets about the rare book business, and characters that make you smile and want to invite them over for coffee. Hmm... I don't think I'm on my way to being addicted to Victoria Abbott's Book Collector series-- I already am!
