In this novel in the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series, bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright takes a trip to Lake Tahoe and ends up at a killer party…Rare books and antiquities expert Brooklyn Wainwright is thrilled to be invited to the fiftieth birthday party of her neighbor Suzie’s aunt Grace. A retired founder of a major video game corporation, Grace is a larger-than-life … a larger-than-life character who’s turned her Lake Tahoe mansion into a fun house, full of everything from pinball machines and giant props to secret passageways and trap doors. Brooklyn is most excited to catalog Grace’s extensive collection of rare paperback pulp fiction.
Part of the fun involves a séance, but after the lights flicker, one guest is dead, poisoned by a cocktail intended for Grace. It seems someone is determined to turn Grace’s playful palatial estate into a house of horrors. Brooklyn suspects the key to the killer’s identity may lie in the roman á clef Grace has written about her life. With Grace in great peril, “must-read” takes on a whole new meaning, as Brooklyn tries to stop a murderer who’s through playing around…
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Peril in Paperback is the 6th book in the Bibliophile Mysteries written by Kate Carlisle. I’ve read all the books in this series, plus I’m current with the author’s Fixer-Upper series. I haven’t yet read any of her other series. In this installment, Brooklyn visits a friend’s aunt’s elaborate mansion to help catalog her immense library, but by the time the first night ends with a séance, one of the guests is dead. It also appears as if the intended victim was really Suzie’s Aunt Grace. Oops!
What a crazy cast of characters! Between the loony aunt, the complex business partners, the cruel family members, and the evil lawyer, there were few to like… but it was a beautifully written, classic Agatha Christie-esque story, mostly a locked room type of approach. Even the ambulance couldn’t get to the house until the next day, so it felt like a stranded home where someone had planned to kill Grace before she changed her will. What exactly was she looking to do with her money?
I loved the first 80% of the book and was certain it would end up as a 5-star read. From the multiple accidents happening all around Brooklyn to the drama with her traveling boyfriend, I kept turning the pages. I secretly wanted her to have an affair with Gabriel, though I really do believe she belongs with the boyfriend, Derek. When the big scene finally arrives, it was a bit of a letdown. Sure, it had several great moments, but it was almost too quick… in the chapter, there was little lead-up with a hint of suggestion and then bang, the person pulls out his/her gun. I was like… wait, is this another red herring? Then… a second revelation comes, but it was kinda out of nowhere and didn’t much have anything to do with that person being a possible suspect… so for the somewhat awkward climax, I had to drop .5 stars.
I settled on 4.5 and really loved the atmosphere, the mystery plot, the various character personalities, and the way in which Brooklyn investigates the crime. As everything came together in the end, it reminded me how much this series is truly growing on me. On to #7 next week! I must catch up to #15 so I’m current in 2022.
WOW! Maybe the best in the series so far.
Brooklyn has been invited to a birthday celebration for Grace, her neighbor’s aunt. Grace is an eccentric woman who has retired from a video game corporation and has turned her home into a fun house. Brooklyn is prepared to enjoy the planned activities but is most excited about cataloging rare books. When one of the guests is killed during a seance, Brooklyn is on the case along with Gabriel who shows up during the seance.
This has been a great series and this book is no exception. The book’s well-written, the characters are well-rounded, and the mystery will keep you guessing. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
Another fun mystery with Brooklyn and her Zany family. Though the story line is a bit over the top, this series keeps me coming back for more with fun characters, more books and book facts. I just love it.
The characters in this series are interesting, fun and slightly quirky.
This has been one of my favorite books, so far, from this series. There were multiple mysteries going on, but they were not tangled together, so it wasn’t at all confusing. I really enjoy the recurring characters in this series as well. They are quirky and amusing, and they grow in depth with each new book. The only problem I have is that I really like both Derek *and* Gabriel!
I love Brooklyn, her enticing Derek, and the other amazing characters in the Bibliophile Mystery. Just enough details about the book business to add to the story without bogging it down. Great Series.