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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars
Let me just start out by saying that if you haven’t started reading this Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, you need to correct that as soon as possible. It’s one of my current faves, and I’m delighted every time a new one releases.
In A Book Club to Die For, we have my favorite story yet.
“What we had on our hands was a murder that could rival the best locked-room mysteries of classic literature.”
Oh indeed, Tru. A highbrow book club meeting ends before it begins, thanks to the death of its much disliked (but also much revered) leader… in a room that supposedly no one else was in. With Tru’s boyfriend Jace’s mother Hazel the prime suspect, and Tru’s friend Flossie a close runner-up, the stakes are high for Tru to solve the case in A Book Club to Die For. All while trying to keep her secret bookworm a secret from the head librarian, dodge the new robot librarian that has a penchant for attacking unsuspecting patrons & librarians, and find her suddenly-missing father. Whew! There’s a lot going on in this book, and every last word is highly entertaining and engaging. The mystery is really cleverly woven, and I didn’t figure it out until it was being revealed in front of my eyes.
I’ve said it before, I think, but Tru is such a great series protagonist. She’s an avid reader and lover of books (so we readers instantly identify with her) as well as a librarian who started a secret bookroom in the basement of the library after the city turned it high-tech and tossed out all the physical copies (which she rescued, thank you very much). She also has a gaggle of smart, savvy, and lovable friends with entertaining quirks, a very intuitive cat with a big personality, and a swoony detective boyfriend who makes Tru – and me – smile. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop further in this book without moving too fast, and I also enjoyed seeing Tori still so happy with Charlie too. We learn more about Flossie’s mysterious writing career in this book, as well, and I was delighted to get to know her better as a result. She’s another of my fave characters in this series so this new insight made me happy.
Bottom Line: I really loved the set-up of this particular mystery, and I once again loved my visit with Tru and her band of secret-bookroom-running/amateur-sleuthing friends. (And, of course, Dewey the cat.) A Book Club to Die For takes readers on a twisty journey with colorful characters, Southern wit, a rogue robot librarian, Jace’s arrested mother, Tru’s missing father, Dewey’s curious eccentricities, and a clever mystery. I enjoy this series so much, and I can’t wait for more visits to the secret bookroom.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Let me just start out by saying that if you haven’t started reading this Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, you need to correct that as soon as possible. It’s one of my current faves, and I’m delighted every time a new one releases.
In A Book Club to Die For, we have my favorite story yet.
“What we had on our hands was a murder that could rival the best locked-room mysteries of classic literature.”
Oh indeed, Tru. A highbrow book club meeting ends before it begins, thanks to the death of its much disliked (but also much revered) leader… in a room that supposedly no one else was in. With Tru’s boyfriend Jace’s mother Hazel the prime suspect, and Tru’s friend Flossie a close runner-up, the stakes are high for Tru to solve the case in A Book Club to Die For. All while trying to keep her secret bookworm a secret from the head librarian, dodge the new robot librarian that has a penchant for attacking unsuspecting patrons & librarians, and find her suddenly-missing father. Whew! There’s a lot going on in this book, and every last word is highly entertaining and engaging. The mystery is really cleverly woven, and I didn’t figure it out until it was being revealed in front of my eyes.
I’ve said it before, I think, but Tru is such a great series protagonist. She’s an avid reader and lover of books (so we readers instantly identify with her) as well as a librarian who started a secret bookroom in the basement of the library after the city turned it high-tech and tossed out all the physical copies (which she rescued, thank you very much). She also has a gaggle of smart, savvy, and lovable friends with entertaining quirks, a very intuitive cat with a big personality, and a swoony detective boyfriend who makes Tru – and me – smile. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop further in this book without moving too fast, and I also enjoyed seeing Tori still so happy with Charlie too. We learn more about Flossie’s mysterious writing career in this book, as well, and I was delighted to get to know her better as a result. She’s another of my fave characters in this series so this new insight made me happy.
Bottom Line: I really loved the set-up of this particular mystery, and I once again loved my visit with Tru and her band of secret-bookroom-running/amateur-sleuthing friends. (And, of course, Dewey the cat.) A Book Club to Die For takes readers on a twisty journey with colorful characters, Southern wit, a rogue robot librarian, Jace’s arrested mother, Tru’s missing father, Dewey’s curious eccentricities, and a clever mystery. I enjoy this series so much, and I can’t wait for more visits to the secret bookroom.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
mysterious
medium-paced
I was able to figure out who the killer was quite early in the story but I still enjoyed reading the reveal and all of the little hints and clues that Dorothy parceled out throughout the novel. I would never want to be in the Arete Society, I would hate to have someone telling me what I can and cannot read on my own. I loved when Mrs. Farnsworth had that moment with Tru (don't want to give anything away) but I am very happy that Tru doesn't have to stress about that particular thing anymore. Love how mischievous Dewey was in this book, you just knew he was trying to tell Tru something. I am very much looking forward to reading book #4 in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Assistant librarian Trudell Becket has been asked to speak at the Cypress Arete Society one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive book clubs about the library including the modernization that removed all the print books and how she is trying to bring print materials back to readers. Her friend Flossie tags along to see if she can figure out why she has not been admitted to the club.
The meeting is being hosted by Hazel Bailey. Hazel has a reputation for hosting elegant dinners so she is taken aback when the president of the group, Rebecca White, a former actress and local celebrity, goes on a tirade about everything she has prepared especially after she followed all the preferences requested. She also pushes Tru to help her rearrange all the furniture in the living room, one chair several times until she went back to the kitchen to be sure Hazel had come up with a more appropriate menu. Just a few minutes later Tru and Flossie hear a loud crash. Flossie heads to the kitchen to see what happened while Tru moves to answer the door as guests have started to arrive including her boss, Mrs. Farnsworth. A second crash leaves the guests on the doorstep while Tru rushes to the kitchen. Hazel is nowhere to be seen but there is a huge food mess on the floor and Rebecca White’s dead body not far away.
The evidence points to Hazel or Flossie. Tru knows both have to be innocent but when her boyfriend/Hazel’s son Detective Jace Bailey is unable to work the case she has no choice. She needs to investigate the death herself before the wrong person is booked for the crime.
There is never a dull moment at the Cypress library and this time the excitement goes on the road to Hazel Bailey’s house but that doesn’t mean there isn’t craziness happening at the library too. As part of the continued madness to modernize, the library is now testing out a robot librarian who is definitely not ready to be out in the public. With plenty of bugs to work out, it needs to back to his barn before someone gets hurt. Robots in libraries just makes me sad.
Tru is an excellent protagonist. She is smart and methodical. People just open up to her and give her information to keep moving her investigation along. The relationship with Jace is moving at a perfect pace and I loved the way she supported him as he was quite upset to be taken off the case that could send his mother to jail.
Ms. St James has surrounded Tru will a wonderful supporting cast of characters. Mrs. Farnsworth speaks volumes all with a whisper. Flossie is like me. While I am not totally wheelchair ridden, I do have to use one when I leave the house. It makes me so happy to see a disabled person featured in a story. A person that doesn’t let her disability control her life. She does some amazing things that I envy. IT Tech Anne who is heading up the modernization of the library. She and Tru have an understanding and are getting close to actually being friends. Anne has an experience that was just one instance of me laughing out loud while reading this story. Tori, Tru’s best friend since Kindergarten, brews the best coffee in the state and is always there when Tru needs her, and Mama Eddy who is a hoot. An opinionated Southern woman famous for the “hissy-fits” she is apt to throw. I can’t forget Tru’s cat, Dewey Decimal. She sneaks him into the library every day and he hangs out amongst the books in the Beloved Bookroom. He is also good at helping Tru with her investigations.
The mystery is basically a closed-room mystery. The victim was not well-liked by the Cypress Arete Society members so there is a houseful of suspects. Tru had her work cut out for her. The clues were dropped at a pretty quick pace intermixed with the subplot of Tru’s missing father. I did deduce the killer before the reveal but I was delighted to follow along with Tru as she put everything together. I was surprised by what Tru’s eccentric father was involved in but was happy with the way the plotline played out in this story.
A Book Club To Die For
was another Perfect Escape from Dorothy St. James
. I am still at odds about a library without books but another surprise was revealed in this book that may shake things up a lot so I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for Cypress and its residents.
was another Perfect Escape from Dorothy St. James
. I am still at odds about a library without books but another surprise was revealed in this book that may shake things up a lot so I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for Cypress and its residents.
To really understand the theme of this series I believe the books should be read in order.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No