Homicide in Hardcover
A
Bibliophile Mystery with Brooklyn Wainwright
Kate
Carlisle
Obsidian (Mass Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-451-22615-1 (0451226151)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-22615-0 (9780451226150)
Publication Date: February 2009
List Price: $6.99
Synopsis (from
the publisher): The streets of San Francisco would be lined with
hardcovers if rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright had her way. And her
mentor wouldn't be lying in a pool of his own blood on the eve of a
celebration for his latest book restoration.
With his final breath he leaves Brooklyn a cryptic message, and gives
her a priceless-and supposedly cursed-copy of Goethe's Faust for
safekeeping.
Brooklyn suddenly finds herself accused of murder and theft, thanks to
the humorless-but attractive-British security officer who finds her
kneeling over the body. Now she has to read the clues left behind by
her mentor if she is going to restore justice.
Review: Kate
Carlisle introduces San Francisco rare book restorer Brooklyn
Wainwright investigating the murder of her mentor in Homicide in Hardcover.
Kate has been invited to attend a gala at the Covington Library where
Abraham Karastovsky, Kate's her lifelong teacher but also her former
employer, is opening an exhibit of rare antiquarian books.
Unfortunately, the two had a falling out after Kate elected to open her
own business but she sees this event as a way of making amends. At the
opening, Abraham is unexpected thrilled to see Kate and offers to show
her the result of his latest project, the restoration of a priceless,
but also considered cursed, book. When she enters his basement workshop
an hour later, she finds him on the floor, dying. He whispers "Remember
the devil" to her just before he dies, killed with a Japanese paper
knife. The police initially think she may have had something to do with
his murder, but she's more concerned with someone she saw on the stairs
just before she entered the workshop: her mother.
Homicide in Hardcover
spreads itself a bit too thin, trying to appeal to a wide range of
mystery readers and never really succeeding at completely satisfying
any. Mysteries set in the world of books are always a promising
premise. Featuring an amateur sleuth who is also an expert on rare
books is certainly not new, but it is basically handled well here (Kate
is a bit too sassy, but that's a minor quibble) and the mystery
appropriately incorporates a book (in this case, Goethe's
jewel-encrusted, gilded edition of Faust) in its storyline. But Homicide in Hardcover also strays
into other areas that are often the setting for genre mysteries, wine
and art, which, while providing background and color, end up appearing
more than a little affected. Then there are the "chick lit" references
to shoes, fashion, and dreamy boyfriends that really seem out of place
here.
The author does have some fun with Brooklyn's parents, flower children
from the 60s who have successfully adapted to the 21st century while
still retaining their commune lifestyle, Daddy's trust fund
notwithstanding. Guru Bob is also an unexpected treat. Still, these
delightful secondary characters are not really sufficient to carry Homicide in Hardcover, which
meanders too much and never really finds its footing.
Special thanks to Breakthrough Promotions for providing a copy of Homicide in Hardcover for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Have you read Homicide in Hardcover? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
Homicide in Hardcover
Obsidian (Mass Market Paperback), February 2009
ISBN-10: 0-451-22615-1 (0451226151)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-22615-0 (9780451226150)
Omnimystery keywords for Homicide in Hardcover ...
Location(s) referenced: San
Francisco, California.
