Saturday, August 10, 2019

Review - The Lies that Bind

Title:  The Lies That Bind
Author:  Kate Carlisle
Series:  Bibliophile Mystery #3
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Berkley Books
Format:  Kindle 
No. of pages
:  275
Published:   November 2, 2010
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright returns home to San Francisco to teach a bookbinding class. Unfortunately, the program director Layla Fontaine is a horrendous host who pitches fits and lords over her subordinates. But when Layla is found shot dead, Brooklyn is bound and determined to investigate—even as the killer tries to close the book on her for good.


MY THOUGHTS:

Brooklyn Wainwright, an expert when it comes to restoring books, has recently returned home to San Francisco after attending a conference in Edinburgh. Her next job will be to teach a bookbinding class. She has several scheduled students for her course, but when the program's director, Layla Fontaine, adds another woman, Alice, for Brooklyn to teach, she is a bit thrown off.

This turns out to be the least of her problems, actually, because Layla is found dead. Brooklyn has to stop and think. This is hardly the first time she has stumbled across a dead body. So, not only does Brooklyn seem bound and determined to figure out what happened to Layla, she runs into security expert Derek Stone. The two had an almost relationship, but it seemed like nothing would ever come of it.

The more Brooklyn becomes involved, the more danger she places herself in. Meanwhile, she successfully works with her students and proves to be an intelligent teacher.

One reason that I enjoy reading various series so much is because of the continuity. In this case, not only is Derek back, but Robin, Brooklyn's best friend is back. Unfortunately for Brooklyn, her nemesis is back as well, and will also be teaching a class. Her neighbors, chainsaw sculptors, are back too. Of course, Brooklyn's parents make a cameo appearance.

I loved the mix of intrigue, friendship and family in this book. I also enjoyed watching the romance bloom between Brooklyn and Derek. Actually, I discovered this series with the 13th book, The Book Supremacy, so I already know how they end up, but it is a delight watching things form.

As of writing this review, I have also read the fourth book in the series, Murder Under Cover and look forward to continuing with Pages of Sin and One Book in the Grave.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle is a native Californian who worked in television production for many years before turning to writing. It was a lifelong fascination with the art and craft of bookbinding that led her to write the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder.

Her first book, Homicide in Hardcover, debuted in February 2010, followed by If Books Could Kill, The Lies That Bind, Murder Under Cover, One Book in the Grave, Peril in Paperback, A Cookbook Conspiracy, The Book Stops Here, Ripped from the Pages, Books of a Feather, Once Upon a Spine, Buried in Books and The Book Supremacy. She also wrote a Bibliophile e-novella, Pages of Sin, available in e-format only.

With the publication of A High-End Finish in November 2014, Kate launched the Fixer-Upper Mysteries featuring building contractor Shannon Hammer, who specializes in Victorian home renovation and repair. The series is set in Lighthouse Cove, a seemingly idyllic town with many dark secrets hiding under its floorboards. This Old Homicide, Crowned and Moldering, Deck the Hallways, Eaves of Destruction and A Wrench in the Works continue the series. Three of the Fixer-Upper Mysteries have been brought to the small screen by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Kate's television credits include numerous game shows, music videos, concerts, and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show, most notably as a member of the girl group, The Whispers. They didn't sing, exactly, but spit water on the host of the show.

Kate also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing in Southern California where she lives with her perfect hero husband.

Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She is the proud recipient of the Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier awards, and her first Bibliophile Mystery received a Best First Mystery nomination from RT Book Reviews. Kate loves to travel and read and drink good wine and watch other people cook.

Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate's dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill. If you're wondering why, here's the real scoop.


5 comments:

  1. Seems like you are liking this series.

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  2. Great review. You really seem to like cozy mysteries. I'm yet to read one.

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  3. Great review Robin, I'm really glad you are fully enjoying this book series so far. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

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