Unbound (1997)

For some reason, this is my least favorite of the series. If you haven't read the others, don't stop at this one. ( )

Very good overall. Some of the booklore and terminology seems a bit off in places, particularly early in the book. Story would not qualify as a "fair play" mystery; it's more of a suspense story. ( )

I enjoyed this book selling mystery featuring Alex Plumtree. I especially liked how he discovers who is after him and the writer Angela Mayfield and why. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Unprintable. ( )

December 12, 1999
Unbound
Julie Kaewert

I really, really enjoyed this book. Found it in the Irving Mall’s Barnes and Noble after Mickey and I had done a little Xmas shopping. Never heard of the author, but apparently she created “The Avengers”, a series I’ve never been even remotely interested in.

What attracted me to this book was the setting. A blurb on the cover calls it “a booklover’s mystery”. The protagonist is Alex Plumtree, owner of Plumtree Press, a London book publishing house. This was a new setting to me. There are series’ out there about librarians and bookstore owners, but none that I knew of featuring a publishing house. It’s one of those series where the setting definitely holds far more interest for me than the plot itself, which in this case centers around things political. There are other books in the series and I plan to read them, as well.

This particular story is about a secret society in England, an old society that had been around for ages, with its primary purpose being to topple England’s monarchy. Plumtree Press is about to publish a “bombshell” book about “one of Britain’s most revered authors…reveals a series of explosive secret messages….” Someone murders the female author, trying to squash the publication, and Alex himself is in danger from some very powerful people.

I liked it. A rich, totally likable protagonist, owner of an old publishing house handed down from his father – like I said, a great setting. Like comfort food. I look forward to reading the others in the series. ( )