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Delhi Laine Mystery #1
A Novel Death
Like many other used booksellers, Delhi Laine, proprieter of Secondhand Prose, dreams of making the Great Find--if not a Shakespearean Folio, then at least a fragment of an Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allen Poe manuscript. But after receiving a very rare and valuable children's book into her collection, she finds out such treasures can come at a terrible cost--the suspicious death of one colleague and another left for dead days later.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2011
15 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 17, 2023
Fun little cozy about books and booksellers, and a mystery to solve.
Nancy Drew for grown-ups?
Still uncertain whether I felt the main character was fit to be in the middle of a murder investigation…that part of the story was a bit murky, but, because it was a short novel, it was easy to get through it.
Nancy Drew for grown-ups?
Still uncertain whether I felt the main character was fit to be in the middle of a murder investigation…that part of the story was a bit murky, but, because it was a short novel, it was easy to get through it.
March 31, 2013
I was really touched by this story. More than a mystery, it's the story of a woman.
April 26, 2021
"A Novel Death" by Judi Culbertson, first in the Delhi Lane series, is a fast fun read set in the bookselling world. That alone gets it an extra star because I have spent much of my adult life collecting books, and occasionally selling them.
And book collecting is more than a hobby. Four decades on I can still vividly recall the day I hadn't got enough cash to buy a bound volume of 'The Daily Courant' I found in a bargain bin outside Rodney S. Danker's shop in South King Street. All might have been well if I hadn't stupidly asked Rodney to hold it for me while I raised the cash - ah, the foolishness of youth!
Meanwhile, back at "A Novel Death": Delhi's poet/academic husband, Colin, has pulled the plug on their marriage, and she is trying to pull her life back together. Books are her lifeline, offering a way to escape, and possibly enough cash to keep her going.
Among her friends is Maggie, owner of The Old Frigate Bookshop in Port Lewis. When Maggie is found unconscious in her shop after an apparent fall Delhi steps in to run the shop until she comes out of her coma. Then Maggie's assistant, Amil, is found dead, and Delhi receives a potentially valuable book in the post from Maggie.
Could it have something to do with the fall, the death, the subsequent ransacking of the shop, and the threatening messages Delhi has been receiving?
There is also a peculiar moment at the two-thirds point of the book, in which Delhi recalls the loss in Stratford, England, either by death or kidnapping, of her daughter, Caitlyn. It is not mentioned again but will surely re-surface.
The ending comes a bit quick and is not particularly satisfying but as the starter in a series it is a cut above the usual cosy mystery.
I'll be reading more about Delhi very soon.
And book collecting is more than a hobby. Four decades on I can still vividly recall the day I hadn't got enough cash to buy a bound volume of 'The Daily Courant' I found in a bargain bin outside Rodney S. Danker's shop in South King Street. All might have been well if I hadn't stupidly asked Rodney to hold it for me while I raised the cash - ah, the foolishness of youth!
Meanwhile, back at "A Novel Death": Delhi's poet/academic husband, Colin, has pulled the plug on their marriage, and she is trying to pull her life back together. Books are her lifeline, offering a way to escape, and possibly enough cash to keep her going.
Among her friends is Maggie, owner of The Old Frigate Bookshop in Port Lewis. When Maggie is found unconscious in her shop after an apparent fall Delhi steps in to run the shop until she comes out of her coma. Then Maggie's assistant, Amil, is found dead, and Delhi receives a potentially valuable book in the post from Maggie.
Could it have something to do with the fall, the death, the subsequent ransacking of the shop, and the threatening messages Delhi has been receiving?
There is also a peculiar moment at the two-thirds point of the book, in which Delhi recalls the loss in Stratford, England, either by death or kidnapping, of her daughter, Caitlyn. It is not mentioned again but will surely re-surface.
The ending comes a bit quick and is not particularly satisfying but as the starter in a series it is a cut above the usual cosy mystery.
I'll be reading more about Delhi very soon.
November 25, 2020
I must confess I’ve never read anything by this author before. Our female protagonist, Delhi Laing, Jason much more than an online book seller. She, in her own way, is a detective of sorts. Divorced, living on her own, storing her mini book treasures in her office in an old barn, she makes a living (Barely) by selling old books.
When a friend of hers, who owns the bookstore “the old frigate” is injured in what appears to be a robbery and a murder in the bookstore, Delhi stepd in to help her friend. What might seem like a simple matter to resolve, actually becomes much more involved.
Found this to be one enjoyable, and relaxing read.
When a friend of hers, who owns the bookstore “the old frigate” is injured in what appears to be a robbery and a murder in the bookstore, Delhi stepd in to help her friend. What might seem like a simple matter to resolve, actually becomes much more involved.
Found this to be one enjoyable, and relaxing read.
March 3, 2022
My Recommendation: PASS. Not worth the time and I'm not sure the rest of the series would be engaged. The protagonist had a chip on her shoulder that felt like we had to hear about every chapter, the rest of the characters were one-dimensional, and there was an overwhelming number of unanswered questions, unexplained red herrings, and it just didn't work for me. But, if you love books and read mysteries/thrillers like I read romances, then give it a go it may work for you.
My Response: This was one big "MEH . . ." Some of it was the writing, a lot of it was the characters, and the nail in the coffin was the overall storyline.
I got a copy of this back in March 2013 and it has sat on my Kindle ever since, not for any particular reason, I just never got to it. I'm a little surprised I didn't read it sooner since it's a mystery/thriller about a book with bookstores and libraries involved and those, in general, are like catnip for me.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
My Response: This was one big "MEH . . ." Some of it was the writing, a lot of it was the characters, and the nail in the coffin was the overall storyline.
I got a copy of this back in March 2013 and it has sat on my Kindle ever since, not for any particular reason, I just never got to it. I'm a little surprised I didn't read it sooner since it's a mystery/thriller about a book with bookstores and libraries involved and those, in general, are like catnip for me.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
February 16, 2014
Love books? Then you’ll love this one about struggling bookseller Delhi Laine. Finding her bookseller friend unconscious and in a coma and then her assistant dead, stuffed in a climate controlled closet in her friend’s bookstore, Delhi, always visiting estate sales and other potential book sales for her stock, hears about some treasure her unconscious friend apparently now owns.
Pursued by other booksellers and threatened online as well, Delhi has her friend’s key that may unlock where the treasure is hidden.
But Delhi, trying to help her friend, learns more than she bargained for and soon finds herself frightened and unsure just who to trust.
Suspense rules and books seem everywhere and Delhi has her friend’s prize. But that leads to even more problems.
If you love books and like to look for books in bookstores and at sales and lust after that one forgotten valuable rarity, then snap this one up and settle down for excitement and pleasure – you won’t be sorry!
Pursued by other booksellers and threatened online as well, Delhi has her friend’s key that may unlock where the treasure is hidden.
But Delhi, trying to help her friend, learns more than she bargained for and soon finds herself frightened and unsure just who to trust.
Suspense rules and books seem everywhere and Delhi has her friend’s prize. But that leads to even more problems.
If you love books and like to look for books in bookstores and at sales and lust after that one forgotten valuable rarity, then snap this one up and settle down for excitement and pleasure – you won’t be sorry!
February 25, 2014
A quick, fun read. The writing isn't great and the end sort of fizzled out on me--it wrapped up pretty quickly with few real clues--the story just sort of works itself out and the main character explains how she found some information online that helped her put it together. The plot basically follows a woman who's trying to pull her life together after her professor-husband leaves her. She starts an online book selling business. After a couple people around her are found murdrered and one is brutally attacked, she fears she may be next because of a valuable book someone seems to be after. The main character has some baggage that haunts her throughout the book, which veers, at times, away from the cozy mystery into something more serious.
Despite the pitfalls of the writing and plotting, it was a fun, cozy-read and I'd like to see how this series develops. There are two more novels in the series so far. I'll continue with the series.
Despite the pitfalls of the writing and plotting, it was a fun, cozy-read and I'd like to see how this series develops. There are two more novels in the series so far. I'll continue with the series.
August 13, 2013
Glad this was a freebie. The second half was MUCH better and moved along more smoothly, the first half was clunky and had a lot of weird sentence structure. I didn't care about ANY of the characters and that is always a bad thing. I mean, not one! I could hardly stand the main character and for as much life experience as she had she was pretty dumb! I hate dumb. Some of the historical content was interesting and the setting descriptions were good. It was just eeh for me.
I did have one quote I enjoyed:
"But death is a funny thing. Although it is news that will never change, there is a fearsome urgency to letting people know once it has happened. In an odd way it seems unfair to let them continue to live their lives without knowing." (945)
I did have one quote I enjoyed:
"But death is a funny thing. Although it is news that will never change, there is a fearsome urgency to letting people know once it has happened. In an odd way it seems unfair to let them continue to live their lives without knowing." (945)
September 25, 2013
We recently got cable after about 2 years. I have been feasting on a diet of Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. The thing these both have in common is the quest for the elusive Big Find... the thing that will make them rich.
I think that's what I loved about this novel from the beginning: the story of booksellers and the search for the Big Find.
Things I loved:
The setting. The back story of Little Black Sambo. The ending. Well edited and fairly well written (how many e-books these days simply aren't?).
Things I did not love:
The title. Confusing at times.
The story itself was just a bit better than okay. What made this book 4 stars for me were booksellers' community and its dynamics and the story of Sambo.
I think that's what I loved about this novel from the beginning: the story of booksellers and the search for the Big Find.
Things I loved:
The setting. The back story of Little Black Sambo. The ending. Well edited and fairly well written (how many e-books these days simply aren't?).
Things I did not love:
The title. Confusing at times.
The story itself was just a bit better than okay. What made this book 4 stars for me were booksellers' community and its dynamics and the story of Sambo.
July 14, 2016
As I began to read A Novel Death, I thought I had chosen a simple, pleasant mystery filled with fascinating information on rare books. It didn't take long for me to realize that there was much more to this mystery than had originally met my eye.
Besides that rare book information, I found the plot engaging and with excellent pacing. Delhi is an interesting character who doesn't know when to quit. Working my way through all the suspects, their true identities, and their motivations kept the pages turning, and by book's end I knew I wanted to read more about Delhi Laine.
Besides that rare book information, I found the plot engaging and with excellent pacing. Delhi is an interesting character who doesn't know when to quit. Working my way through all the suspects, their true identities, and their motivations kept the pages turning, and by book's end I knew I wanted to read more about Delhi Laine.
June 25, 2016
A Novel Death (Dehli Laine Mystery #1) is a quick read. This murder mystery takes place in the world of old books. Dehli's on line business is Secondhand Prose. She loves the rush of estate sales, turning any find into a profit, and looking for the lost treasure that will secure her credibility. She never thought she would find herself in the middle of a murder investigation. As the story evolves, you gather pieces of Dehli's personal life. The hook has been set. I'll be reading more in this series.
March 23, 2013
This was a really fun mystery. As I said earlier it reminded me of Nancy Drew for grown ups. There was some in-continuity but I still enjoyed the premise. I would give this author another go. With experience I think she will pull it all together.
January 6, 2015
It was a good, quick read. I enjoyed the details of the fictional Port Lewis knowing immediately it was really Port Jefferson. Dehli Laine was a likable character who I wouldn't mind reading about again.
May 1, 2012
I was pretty good. Some portions were tedious. However, overall it was pretty good.
March 9, 2013
Great premise but there was a jarring lack of continuity in the story line.
March 22, 2013
Awful . Great premise but bad writing. I couldn't even get half way through.
April 30, 2013
Fun little cozy about books and booksellers. I thought the solution came out of left field and some loose ends were left dangling, but I still enjoyed reading it.
July 27, 2013
cute but sort of disjointed in parts.
September 2, 2013
Meh. Just never really got anywhere.
January 18, 2014
Easy read after Solitary house, and so enjoyable!
April 22, 2014
Wasn't the very best book, but it gets extra points by being about booksellers and also being a mystery.
Read
April 29, 2015I just can't.
December 29, 2014
A fun, quick, little whodunit. Silly and engaging. I enjoyed it.
December 10, 2014
A free book from Kindle. And worth every penny. Barely.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews