When a bookshop patron commits suicide, his favorite store clerk must unravel the puzzle he left behind in this “intriguingly dark, twisty” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel from an award-winning short story writer. Lydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the … colleagues, and the BookFrogs–the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves.
But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s upper room, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has been bequeathed his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely, uncared for man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia?
As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. “Both charming and challenging” (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review), Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a “multi-generational tale of abandonment, desperation, and betrayal…inventive and intricately plotted” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I literally read through the night, not because I wanted to finish it but because I was having such a wonderful time reading it. My only possible caveat is that I suspect that part of the plot device would work better had I been reading hard copy rather than an e-book, but that issue (if it were an issue) didn’t affect my reading enjoyment a bit. Highly recommended.
The title is misleading. Depressing.
I loved this book from start to finish — the quirky characters, the mystery and suspense and the excellent writing. Doesn’t hurt that I have always wanted to own a bookstore, and I can see that many of the Indies I visit cater to some interesting clientele. The book begins with Lydia, a bookstore clerk, who discovers the suicide by hanging of her favorite bookworm (the almost homeless men who hang out there to read). Joey is different, younger, and with a story not known by many, even his much older sidekick Lyle. As a result of Joey’s suicide, Lydia receives an inheritance a suit and a carton of carefully cut up books. Thus the mystery of unraveling Joey’s life begins, as do the parallels with Lydia’s own infamous childhood and the unsolved murder of a childhood friend. I could not put this book down, and while I confess I did figure out parts of the whodunnit, I did not see all the twists and turns. A couple people mention the mysteries here being pedestrian, but as a frequent mystery reader I assure you that is not the case. My only regret was finishing this great book without the benefit of another Matthew Sullivan book to read. Get to it Matthew — I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.
Wowza. Did not see this one coming. I expected an interesting story based on, or placed in, a bookstore. Check. A murder mystery that begins in the first five pages with someone hanging themselves at midnight in the bookstore? This started out intriguing, and a little hard to connect the dots. Once I got to the second half, I finished it in one sitting. It was still a three-day read, fast for me. I could not put it down. Definitely original. Stay with it to the end – it’s not the ending you see coming. It takes place in Denver so if you are from there you’ll like it that much more.
A mystery story that is especially suited to book lovers, because it begins with a tragic event that takes place in a bookstore, a shop that serves as a meeting place for various types who come to find peace by reading books.
The book is engaging throughout, full of surprises and discoveries.
In my search for books about books and bookstores, I came across Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan. It is as much a mystery as it is about books or bookstores, although they definitely play a primary role, especially to the characters. I’m a bit sensitive when it comes to violence and it was a little grislier than I might have liked. But I love mysteries and this one pulled me in. I was invested in both Lydia and Joey’s story and the mystery surrounding both of them. It was a sad story in many ways but also a satisfying one that I’m glad I read.
From the setting, to the characters, to the double mysteries, this book was enthralling! Matthew Sullivan intricately weaves past and present together and brings them together in a way that makes it hard to put this book down. I find it hard to believe that this is his debut novel, and I will be on the look-out for more books from him.
As you can tell from the title, the book takes place in a bookstore. And OH what a bookstore it is! – 3 levels with all kinds of nooks and so many books. It has a library feel to it, including the people who spend their time within its walls. No wonder Lydia loves her job working in it – she spent most of her childhood in a library. I loved her, her story, and her compassion for others, so much. I also loved the way the mystery from the present day is built into puzzles within books – such a cool idea!
This book was recommended to me on my Libby app, and I borrowed the e-book from my library, but I am very tempted to buy the paper copy so I can share it and read it again one day!
A gripping thriller, with well developed characters, which keeps you guessing until the end.
This is a well written page turner….its a thriller..a old mystery…and so much more. It is very original and I am now using it as my ruler for other books. It is not a “standard recipe”. And it is this author’s first booK!! Cant wait for his next one.
I really liked Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore. It’s a good book, but I don’t feel completely satisfied now that I’m done with it. The epilogue didn’t work for me, and I feel certain questions regarding Tomas’ behavior were never sufficiently answered. Mr. Sullivan is a good writer, and he pulled everything together nicely, but I really just want to punch that epilogue in the face. In my opinion, it was unnecessary and a little too simplistic. The rest of the book was good enough to deserve a 4 star rating.
Tragic, suspenseful and complicated, I was rushing to figure everything out before Lydia put together the fractured pieces of her past. An interesting read with a slightly weird ending.
This book had my attention from the start, and is so far gearing up to be my favourite book of 2018. Wonderful characters, and interesting story line. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I enjoyed this read. Got to meet the author too during a bookstore visit great to get the backstory to the making of the book. Twists and turns keep you guessing.