The Book Stops Here

In my newly founded penchant for cozy bookstore mysteries I was introduced to Kate Carlisle and her bibliophile mystery series and going through used books I pulled out The Book Stops Here. Chuckling in the very first paragraph when our heroine, book-binder, Brooklyn Wainwright mentions her mother as a questionable source of wisdom remembering her swearing by “espresso enemas to perk up your spirits.” And I’m off for a rollicking who done it with a book-related theme. “O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

When Brooklyn lands an enviable job as a book appraiser on the This Old Attic TV show, her very first client (who appears to be modeled after TV’s Elvira and aptly named Vera) brings in a first edition of Frances Hodgson show more Burnett’s The Secret Garden that she bought for $3 at a garage sale. It’s a very rare edition, it’s signed, and it’s the start of Brooklyn’s unfortunate 2nd career. Pseudo-detective in a murder case.

Almost immediately after a portion of the show is aired, pair of street thug brothers lay claim to the book and not so delicately demand its return.

But Brooklyn has her own posse, Her ex-military, current security service provider British beau, Derek, sub-letting neighbor Alex who happens to be an ex-CIA operative and current dominatrix with a long list of martial arts degrees and a talent for baking amazing cupcakes, and Detective Lee, who has dealt with all of Brooklyn’s past stumblings on dead bodies.

As more introductions are made, the plots thicken and the intentional accidents multiply. A stalker increases his attempts to rile the show’s host and invariably snares Brooklyn in the traps. But all ends well for the good guys in the end. A fun read and I managed to glean a few book restoration techniques as a bonus.

Best line “Many of the world’s problems would be solved if people would just shut up and pass the cupcakes.” show less

This is the series that changed my career path (I hope).

I've been in IT in one shape or form since '89 and it was never a field that particularly interested me, I was just always good at it. I was well past the stage where I found anything interesting about it at all, when I happened to pick up the first book in this series, Homicide in Hardcover. The MC is a bookbinder and the story is thoughtfully laced with explanations about repair, restoration, and conservation. Reading it, I thought, "right, I want to learn how to do this". I found courses and a teacher who was willing to let me apprentice with her and now I'm on my way; I still have heaps to learn and I'm still in IT, but there's a light at the end of my tunnel!

All this to say, show more I'm slightly biased when it comes to this series and my review might reflect that.

Brooklyn Wainwright, bookbinder, restorer, conservator is now temporarily on the show This Old Attic as their book appraiser:

Her first subject is a very valuable first-edition copy of the classic children’s story The Secret Garden, which is owned by a flower vendor named Vera. Once she hears what her book is worth, Vera is eager to have Brooklyn recondition it for resale. But a furious man viciously accosts Brooklyn, claiming that Vera found the first edition at his garage sale, and he wants it back.

In the days that follow, several violent incidents occur on the set, and Brooklyn is almost killed, leaving both her and her security expert boyfriend, Derek, shaken. And then Brooklyn visits Vera’s flower shop…and discovers her dead.
I love these books. The characters are all smart, independent and some of them are very quirky. Brooklyn doesn't take herself too seriously and she thinks rationally, instead of haring off and doing stupid things. She and her boyfriend Derek are great together - and he has stopped calling her Darling quite so often (it got rather ridiculous for a book or two in the middle). He's a romanticised male lead, to be sure, but I'm ok with that now that he's not quite so sappy. A new neighbour moves in and I spent the entire book waiting for her to end up as part of the murder plot, for no reason at all except that I'm suspicious of new characters in established cozies.

The plot was good. It has a hole or two in it (example: how did the suspect keep finding Brooklyn? He always seemed to know where she was and it was never explained.) But overall it was a good puzzle. The suspects are obvious, but the story isn't. Nothing is really clear until the end.
I guessed who LugNut's mother was though.

I devoured this book in a day. It's a fast, fun read with entertaining dialogue, a fantastic setting (San Francisco) and a plot done well enough to keep my attention and leave me wanting the next book sooner rather than later. show less

The TV show THIS OLD ATTIC is visiting San Francisco and Brooklyn Wainwright has been asked to do the book appraisals for the shows that will be filming in the city. The first book that she is asked to appraise is a signed first addition of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Realizing the magnificent condition as well as the signature of the author, Brooklyn informs the owner (who paid $3 at a yard sale) of the high value and offers to make a few minor repairs that will have the book garner several thousands more than her current appraisal. The owner is ecstatic and gives the book to Brooklyn for the repairs. When Brooklyn visits the owner's shop to pickup the deposit, no check just a dead body. Is this related to the man who show more had attacked her in the parking lot of the theater where the show is being filmed?? Is he the real owner of the book?

Not only is Brooklyn in apparent danger but the show's host also has a stalker which is making the entire episode of THIS OLD ATTIC appraisals a bit dangerous, but have no fear, Derek Stone, Brooklyn's live-in boyfriend/security specialist is at her side and investigating who may be behind the murder as well as the other incidents at the theater.

Really enjoying catching up with Brooklyn and Derek. Recognizing old characters and being introduced to new regulars is keeping the series fresh. show less

Carlisle seems to finally be hitting her stride with this series. The tale flows naturally with little strain, and enough emphasis on booklore to justify its description as a "Bibliophile" mystery. Some of the character motivations are a bit uneven, but not nearly so much as in the earlier entries.

I've complained often about the woodenness of the romantic interactions between Brooklyn and Derek -- every moment, and I mean EVERY moment, is like the cover of a romance novel. There are no ebbs and flows and ordinary ups and downs that would make this a believable or interesting relationship. Only constant swoons and panting embraces. But even this distraction was kept to a minimum in this book. Even the irritating Minka is kept to a show more minimum, and perhaps ushered permanently offstage -- we can only hope. show less

Brooklyn Wainwright is a book binder and restorer by trade, but in this mystery, has landed a three week dream job. One of those public television road shows has come to town and her friend Ian recommended her for their book appraisal expert during this stop. This is where the fun begins, as one of the first books Brooklyn gets to handle has a very intriguing backstory, plus Vera, a flower shop owner, had no idea of the true value of the book. After a teaser appears on the evening news, the value of Vera's book is known to all, including a party that may want it back. I like it when a cozy gives us a bit of time with the characters, it somehow makes the murder, when it happens, more startling. Brooklyn's live in boyfriend, Derek, and show more his security background adds some authenticity to the round the clock bodyguards he'd like for Brooklyn. As the story continued, I also enjoyed the various people's reactions to the values of their books. I have certainly watched my share of Antiques Roadshow, and never really thought about how a large value may make you so concerned about the item that you almost wish you didn't own it. The side story with Brooklyn's new neighbor dove-tailed neatly with the main story and I can only hope some of these featured characters return too. Brooklyn proves to be a smart and gutsy heroine and I look forward to her next adventure. show less

Antiques Road Show meets Brooklyn. Another fun entry in the series, this time Brooklyn faces her greatest fear blood and loses spectacularly. I just love that our sleuth passes out at the site of blood, now that she's learning martial arts will she pass out if she breaks someone's nose. Maybe we'll find out in the next volume. I really love Brooks, her crazy family and cast of kooky friends and her nemesis Minka. Any book with Mae West as a plot device is more then OK with me.

This is my first encounter with the writing of Kate Carlisle, and I enjoyed the journey. I had read a book in the past that centered on bookbinding and rare books, but that book hopped all over the world and involved espionage and murder. Kate Carlisle's book presents a cozy mystery and an introduction to bookbinding and to learning about the valuation of rare books. I have never read The Secret Garden, but feel compelled to find a copy and immerse myself in the story. As to The Book Stops Here, Carlisle writes well with the right mixture of simple language and intellectual vocabulary. Carlisle's characters and setting jumpstart your imagination so a clear picture emerges. I relished her method of slipping in information about various show more rare books. Of course, the chapters devoted to Mae West inspire the reader to view some of the Mae West movies. My only disappointment was the quick friendship developed between Brooklyn and Alex. Alex appears too good to be true. Will the reader find in future books that Alex was planted to protect Brooklyn? show less