Sunday, April 26, 2020

Spring Reading 2020 The Grim Reader

51554761. sx318 sy475

Number 14 in the Bibliophile mysteries has Brooklyn and her husband Derek leaving the city to help Brooklyn's mother with the first ever book festival in their small town, while also enjoying some quiet and tranquility in Dharma. Except someone didn't get the memo, and there is trouble everywhere. An abrasive businessman has been buying out local wineries and is trying to pressure more of the folks around Dharma to give in to his offers. He also thinks he can throw his weight around and be part of the festival committee, barging into meetings, making threats and insulting committee members, and generally being very unpleasant. With festival funds mysteriously disappearing, an attempted hit and run in Dharma's quiet streets, and even a murder (of course Brooklyn can't go anywhere without coming across a dead body or two), it looks like the book festival may not happen.

This book pulls in characters from many of the other stories in the series. Suzie and Vinnie and their daughter come to set up some of their chainsaw art. Alex visits and manages to talk Brooklyn into taking some lessons at the local dojo until she is back home and can continue her training. Gabriel is on hand since he has a home in Dharma. Annie, the daughter of Brooklyn's mentor Abraham, has settled into town and has a kitchenware shop. It all seems too idyllic a place for anything to go wrong, which just makes Brooklyn all the more determined to find the culprit and make sure that the festival is a success.

If hostile winery take-overs, embezzlement, murder, book festivals, or a musical version of Little Women appeal to you, then you have found the right book. Readers YA and up will enjoy the intrigue, moments of romance, and tons of book related action.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. (Publication date is set for June 2.)

No comments:

Post a Comment