Author: Kate Carlisle
Series: Bibliophile Mystery (Book 13)
Publication: Berkley (June 4, 2019)
Description: In the latest in this New York Times bestselling series, San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright investigates a mysterious spy novel linked to a string of murders...
Newlyweds Brooklyn and Derek are enjoying the final days of their honeymoon in Paris. As they're browsing the book stalls along the Seine, Brooklyn finds the perfect gift for Derek, a first edition James Bond novel, The Spy Who Loved Me. When they bump into Ned, an old friend from Derek’s spy days, Brooklyn shows him her latest treasure.
Once they're back home in San Francisco, they visit a spy shop Ned mentioned. The owner begs them to let him display the book Brooklyn found in Paris as part of the shop's first anniversary celebration. Before they agree, Derek makes sure the security is up to snuff—turns out, the unassuming book is worth a great deal more than sentimental value.
Soon after, Derek is dismayed when he receives a mysterious letter from Paris announcing Ned’s death. Then late one night, someone is killed inside the spy shop. Are the murders connected to Brooklyn's rare, pricey book? Is there something even more sinister afoot? Brooklyn and the spy who loves her will have to delve into the darkest parts of Derek's past to unmask an enemy who's been waiting for the chance to destroy everything they hold dear.
My Thoughts: Brooklyn and Derek are enjoying their last day of their honeymoon in Paris by browsing book stalls of used books. While Brooklyn finds a wonderful copy of The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian Fleming, Derek runs into Ned who is an old friend from his spy days.
After returning home to San Francisco, Derek gets involved in trying to resolve some tension in his office caused by an especially toxic employee named Lark who has taken a firm dislike to Brooklyn. And Brooklyn is busy fixing up the books she bought.
When they hear that Ned has been murdered and leaves them a clue saying that he left a list in the book, Brooklyn and Derek find it and resolve to find Ned's killer. Ned had directed them to look up Owen another old friend from his spy days. Owen has opened a spy store named Spectre on Fisherman's Wharf.
The store's anniversary is coming up and he asks to borrow the book Brooklyn bought for Derek to put it on display. But someone breaks in to steal it and in the course of the theft kills one of the group of wannabe authors who also work at the store.
This is the thirteenth book in the series and the first one that I have read. I had no trouble jumping into the series. In fact, there was so much repetition that I would think people who were familiar with the series would find all the backstory boring. I was also a little put off by the constant descriptions of the attractiveness of Derek and most of the other characters in the book. The descriptions of places that Brooklyn certainly had seen before seemed a little odd too.
On the other hand, I really liked the idea of the escape rooms in SPECTRE. They do sound like a fun, team building opportunity and great for people who like to solve mysteries. I also liked the recipes that were at the end of the book since I really enjoyed Brooklyn's descriptions of the fantastic food they ate on their honeymoon and while investigating in San Francisco.
Favorite Quote:
I laughed. "I know you're brokenhearted about the laundry."I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
"It's what I live for," he said, walking with me out to the living room. "I especially enjoy the prewash phase."
"Everyone does."
I'm way behind in this series. Might catch up sometime but there are so many cozy series I'm reading right now.
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