Little Black Book by Kate Carlisle
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Bibliophile Mystery #15
Publication Date: 6/29/21
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 384
** 5-Stars **

The action, intrigue, and adventure begins with the first word on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last word on the last page in this wonderfully well-written book. Expert bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright and her handsome, hunky, international security expert husband take us through San Francisco, to Dharma in the wine country, and all the way to the shores of Loch Ness in Scotland with murder and mayhem following all the way. Be sure to choose your most comfortable reading chair and have all of your snacks, drinks, etc. nearby because you won’t want to put the book down once you start reading.

Brooklyn and Derek have just returned home from a short vacation in Dharma where they are building a nice vacation home near both sets of parents. They are relaxed and ready to get back to work the next day – until Derek brings all of their mail back from their neighbor’s apartment. There is a package – and both are sure the package contains a book – but it is addressed to Derek and not Brooklyn. Uh-Oh. Just after they open the package and discover that it does indeed contain a book – a rare and valuable copy of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca – the entry buzzer sounds. Oh! No! All of their adventures seem to revolve around a rare book – and now they have one – and there is a stranger at their door.

Their caller was Claire Quinn who had worked with Brooklyn on several episodes of the antique show, This Old Attic, and she was inquiring about a package they may have received from her aunt in Scotland. Claire is in danger! Her home has been broken into, her aunt is missing, and Claire is sure someone is stalking her. The adventure really begins in earnest with the discovery of a body in Brooklyn and Derek’s garage and it continues with more bodies as they retreat to Dharma to elude the villains – and then on to the lovely Scottish village of Oddlochen on the shores of Loch Ness.

Where is Claire’s aunt Gwyneth? Is she still alive? What do these villains want with Claire? What does the book have to do with anything? Who is the villain behind it all? Is it the handsome laird of the castle? Is it the equally handsome estate manager? Is it some of Claire’s father’s old associates? Is it the mob to whom the laird’s father owed money? Is it aunt Gwyneth’s nasty antiques competitor? So many suspects! What is the treasure they are seeking and can their copy of Rebecca tell them the answer?

This author never fails to write an interesting and exciting book. The characters are unique, interesting, likable, and you’d love to meet them all. It was lovely to see that we had a full contingent of recurrent characters with Gabriel, Dalton, Robin, Robson, and Brooklyn’s parents. We also met a couple of characters I’d love to see in future books as well. Claire was really interesting and I liked her a lot, so I’d love to see her featured in future books. Since there was a hint of a budding romance for her, I’d love to see that come to fruition in a future book – maybe while working on yet another adventure with Brooklyn and Derek.

I can definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author. I hope you’ll give it a read and love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Fixer Upper Mystery #8
Publication Date: 12/1/20
Number of Pages: 304

OOOOOO – Picture this setting – a dark and foreboding former state insane asylum. The complex includes seven large Victorian style buildings and those buildings have all been acquired by a developer who has plans to turn the complex into an upscale ‘destination’ with upscale shops and a luxury hotel. The complex was originally built in Victorian times by Dr. Jones who firmly believed that a beautiful idyllic setting, pleasant surroundings, outside activities, etc. were all beneficial to his patients and he built the complex with those ideals in mind. The asylum was later privatized and was renamed ‘Gables’.

Shannon Hammer’s best friend Jane Hennessey has acquired the lease to building seven in order to create a small luxury hotel and Shannon’s company has been chosen to do the renovations. It is the biggest undertaking of Shannon’s career and she is looking forward to helping her friend create the hotel of her dreams. Jane’s mother was a patient at the Gables, and Jane wants to create the hotel as a warm, loving place in her mother’s memory.

Things begin to go wrong from the beginning – at the ribbon cutting ceremony that allows the lessees to begin their construction projects. When protestors arrive and the developer is slimed, things begin to go from bad to worse. All of the attention seems to be centered around building seven and Shannon is injured more than once and each of those ‘accidents’ could have cost her life. What is going on? Who could wish this project to go wrong? Who are those protestors who seem to have come out of nowhere?

As we read along, we learn more of the history behind the later years of the hospital and the patients who lived there. Can Shannon and Mac help the police chief, Eric, solve the case – even when there is a murder – or two?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the mystery. We saw a more emotional Shannon this time around. I’m not sure I enjoyed a tearful Shannon, nor am I sure I understood the reasons behind it, but that was a minor part of the story. I loved the growth and changes in the romantic relationships between Shannon and Mac, Chloe and Eric, and Jane and Niall.

You can totally read this as a standalone book even though it is part of a series. I hope you will give it a read and enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.