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Bibliophile Mystery #9
Ripped From the Pages
When book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright temporarily relocates to her parents’ place in Northern California, she finds that wooden barrels aren’t the only things buried in the wine caves of Sonoma….
Excited to explore the secrets of wine country, Brooklyn attends an excavation of the caves hidden deep under her parents’ commune—and the findings are explosive. A room is unearthed, and it contains a treasure trove of artwork, rare books, a chest of jewelry…and a perfectly mummified body.
A closer examination of the murdered man’s possessions reveals a valuable first edition of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hidden in the book is a secret map that unveils an even greater hoard of treasures brought to California by French winemakers fleeing the Nazi invasion with the commune leader’s grandfather, Anton, among them.
As reporters and art appraisers flock to Sonoma to see the precious bounty, questions begin to rise—did Anton hide these items to protect them, or did he steal them for himself? Who is the mysterious man left for dead inside the cave? But not all crime is buried in the past. When a new presence threatens the town’s peace, Brooklyn decides to do a little excavating of her own and solve the mystery of the treasure before anyone else is written off.…
Excited to explore the secrets of wine country, Brooklyn attends an excavation of the caves hidden deep under her parents’ commune—and the findings are explosive. A room is unearthed, and it contains a treasure trove of artwork, rare books, a chest of jewelry…and a perfectly mummified body.
A closer examination of the murdered man’s possessions reveals a valuable first edition of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hidden in the book is a secret map that unveils an even greater hoard of treasures brought to California by French winemakers fleeing the Nazi invasion with the commune leader’s grandfather, Anton, among them.
As reporters and art appraisers flock to Sonoma to see the precious bounty, questions begin to rise—did Anton hide these items to protect them, or did he steal them for himself? Who is the mysterious man left for dead inside the cave? But not all crime is buried in the past. When a new presence threatens the town’s peace, Brooklyn decides to do a little excavating of her own and solve the mystery of the treasure before anyone else is written off.…
294 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
207 people are currently reading
2793 people want to read
About the author
Kate Carlisle
97 books2,817 followersGolden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game 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. She 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 near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to 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.
A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
January 12, 2024
Ripped From the Pages is the 9th book in the Bibliophile Mysteries written by Kate Carlisle. I'm just over halfway through this series, having read the first eight already. I'm also current on the author's other series about a Fixer-Upper mystery collection of California homes. In Ripped From the Pages, we follow Brooklyn and her boyfriend, Derek, back to wine country where they are staying for 2 months while renovations on their San Francisco apartment are underway. While there, they're helping her former commune with some excavation on a wine cave, but when they uncover the past, Brooklyn finds another dead body.
Guru Bob's grandfather had escaped from the Nazis in the 1940s, taking with him all his friends' precious art and furniture. He promised to return it when the war was over, but then everything fell apart. After the discovery, relatives from France come to claim all their ancestors' belongings, but one of them is holding a grudge. Clearly, no one alive killed the dead body Brooklyn found in the cave from over 70 years ago, but someone tries to kill someone new this time. How's it all connected?
We meet more of Brooklyn's family, which is always a pleasure. A different brother we hadn't heard much about pops up, plus one of her other brothers gets married. They are a wonderful family, but even the newcomers are intriguing. I miss the SF friends but having a break is always a good plan too. I liked the additional details on the wine caves and the bookbinding business, but Brooklyn did spend a lot of time telling us how she repairs books. I don't mind a few scenes, but one was an entire chapter. Oops! Still a great series, and I definitely give this one high praise in comparison to the others thus far. The historical aspects were to notch.
Guru Bob's grandfather had escaped from the Nazis in the 1940s, taking with him all his friends' precious art and furniture. He promised to return it when the war was over, but then everything fell apart. After the discovery, relatives from France come to claim all their ancestors' belongings, but one of them is holding a grudge. Clearly, no one alive killed the dead body Brooklyn found in the cave from over 70 years ago, but someone tries to kill someone new this time. How's it all connected?
We meet more of Brooklyn's family, which is always a pleasure. A different brother we hadn't heard much about pops up, plus one of her other brothers gets married. They are a wonderful family, but even the newcomers are intriguing. I miss the SF friends but having a break is always a good plan too. I liked the additional details on the wine caves and the bookbinding business, but Brooklyn did spend a lot of time telling us how she repairs books. I don't mind a few scenes, but one was an entire chapter. Oops! Still a great series, and I definitely give this one high praise in comparison to the others thus far. The historical aspects were to notch.
July 9, 2015
This is one of those series I read because they are fun, mostly light, and make me smile. This one was no exception. I enjoy the characters - parents who live in a sort of spiritual commune with unusual and very different grown kids - most live in or around the same area. There's a family vineyard, a touristy village, eccentric characters, and "Guru Bob" as the kids say when he can't hear. The main characters are Brooklyn (one of the grown kids), and her life partner, Derek. They live in an apartment in the city with very unusual neighbors. Derek is scary and hunky and very in love with Brooklyn. Brooklyn is a beautiful bookbinder who keeps stumbling over dead, murdered bodies and feeling weak in the knees at the sight of Derek who is British, a Commander in British intelligence, is trained in Special Operations, and formerly a part of MI-6. Now, Derek runs his own top-of-the-pile, state-of-the art security service. Brooklyn's antipathy for blood doesn't stop her inherent curiosity from insisting on investigating every time she finds another murder. Derek reluctantly includes her to keep the peace. As I said, fun and light.
August 16, 2020
I enjoyed this installment in the Bibliophile Mystery series, especially because it took place in Dharma. I love it when we get to see more of Brooklyn's family and this time around we got to know a little bit more about her mysterious brother Jackson. Brooklyn and Derek's relationship is progressing and I like how it is woven into the story. While Derek is very protective of Brooklyn, he is not dismissive of her investigative skills and is willing to utilize her skills in helping solve the mystery. In this book, the discovery of an old murder leads a glimpse into Guru Bob's family history as well as another murder in the current day. While the suspect was not a surprise, I love how this author weaves clues throughout the story and keeps the reader guessing. I am anxious to get caught up on this series and will be checking out the remaining books from my library now that it has reopened.
July 20, 2018
This had a cold case theme, not my favorite book in the series. I did like the ending. Looking forward to seeing what that brings in the next book!
November 13, 2021
Questa serie mi piace un sacco sia per il cast di personaggi sia perché un libro finisce sempre per avere un ruolo centrale nella storia. Qui, poi, si parla di un tema sensibile come gli oggetti d'arte trafugati dai nazisti... davvero interessante.
October 31, 2024
It's always fun to revisit Dharma w/ our favorite bookbinder, Brooklyn, and her hunky boyfriend, security expert, Derek.
In this outing, Brooklyn and Derek are house-sitting in Dharma while their two condos in San Francisco become one. The winery which supports Dharma is expanding its storage cave, when -- of course -- Brooklyn finds a body during an inspection tour. The body is in excellent shape, having been walled into the cave for 70 years, as evidenced by finding a passport and plane tickets dated 1947. The passport identifies the body, and Brooklyn finds a first-edition book in the suitcase. Of course, this intrigues her, especially when she reads an inscription from an Anton Benoit to Jean Pierre Renaud -- the expired person in the cave.
Who is Anton Benoit? Was he the murderer? Why was the body found w/ so much exquisite furniture and beautiful silver objects? Quite the mystery for Brooklyn to solve, b/c of course, she can't keep her nose out of a good mystery! Unraveling the mystery leads to Guru Bob's (the spiritual leader of Dharma) family, and endangers his elderly cousin, who has information on the identities of Renaud and Benoit, as well as possible links to artifacts hidden from the Nazis....
There is a lot to unravel in this mystery, which Brooklyn and Derek manage in due time. I only gave 4 stars to this outing of the Bibliophile Mysteries b/c so much of it reads like Brooklyn's diary: she states a time that she is going to meet w/ someone, then "two hours go by, and I drop into Robin's restaurant, where Robin and I decide to have dinner..." (only an example, not an actual quote). We also find out the identity of the murderer fairly early on; the mystery is unraveling the WHY, along w/ subplot mysteries involving family members. So, not my favorite outing w/ Brooklyn, but the epilogue certainly drops a massive cliffhanger, ensuring that I will read #10 in the series.
In this outing, Brooklyn and Derek are house-sitting in Dharma while their two condos in San Francisco become one. The winery which supports Dharma is expanding its storage cave, when -- of course -- Brooklyn finds a body during an inspection tour. The body is in excellent shape, having been walled into the cave for 70 years, as evidenced by finding a passport and plane tickets dated 1947. The passport identifies the body, and Brooklyn finds a first-edition book in the suitcase. Of course, this intrigues her, especially when she reads an inscription from an Anton Benoit to Jean Pierre Renaud -- the expired person in the cave.
Who is Anton Benoit? Was he the murderer? Why was the body found w/ so much exquisite furniture and beautiful silver objects? Quite the mystery for Brooklyn to solve, b/c of course, she can't keep her nose out of a good mystery! Unraveling the mystery leads to Guru Bob's (the spiritual leader of Dharma) family, and endangers his elderly cousin, who has information on the identities of Renaud and Benoit, as well as possible links to artifacts hidden from the Nazis....
There is a lot to unravel in this mystery, which Brooklyn and Derek manage in due time. I only gave 4 stars to this outing of the Bibliophile Mysteries b/c so much of it reads like Brooklyn's diary: she states a time that she is going to meet w/ someone, then "two hours go by, and I drop into Robin's restaurant, where Robin and I decide to have dinner..." (only an example, not an actual quote). We also find out the identity of the murderer fairly early on; the mystery is unraveling the WHY, along w/ subplot mysteries involving family members. So, not my favorite outing w/ Brooklyn, but the epilogue certainly drops a massive cliffhanger, ensuring that I will read #10 in the series.
June 1, 2015
RIPPED FROM THE PAGES was simply a wonderful book. Author Kate Carlisle has done another fantastic job of penning an edge of your comfy reading chair mystery. Brava!
I really enjoyed the excavation and discovery of the hidden room with all the amazing treasures including, but certainly not limited to, rare books. It’s the sort of place many of us would love to discover, with the exception of the body. Who am I kidding, that would be pretty exciting too, wouldn’t it? Ms. Carlisle’s descriptions of the room were so vivid I could see it as I read. It was so easy to picture myself in the center of it all. My mind began working right away on who the body was, how it got there, and who was responsible.
The characters in the series are so easy to connect to and are a lot of fun to read. As always, it was a delight to spend time with them. Brooklyn’s (the lead character) mom is a hoot. I thought my Mom could be ornery, but this lady is a real handful!
Filled with tons of twists and turns, this was a thrilling read that culminated in a satisfying reveal. If you’re a fan of the Bibliophile Mystery series, you are going to love this installment! If you haven’t read the series, you can start with this book and not feel too lost. It will however make you want to go back and start the series from the beginning.
If you’re looking for a great weekend read, you are going to want to pick up a copy of RIPPED FROM THE PAGES.
I really enjoyed the excavation and discovery of the hidden room with all the amazing treasures including, but certainly not limited to, rare books. It’s the sort of place many of us would love to discover, with the exception of the body. Who am I kidding, that would be pretty exciting too, wouldn’t it? Ms. Carlisle’s descriptions of the room were so vivid I could see it as I read. It was so easy to picture myself in the center of it all. My mind began working right away on who the body was, how it got there, and who was responsible.
The characters in the series are so easy to connect to and are a lot of fun to read. As always, it was a delight to spend time with them. Brooklyn’s (the lead character) mom is a hoot. I thought my Mom could be ornery, but this lady is a real handful!
Filled with tons of twists and turns, this was a thrilling read that culminated in a satisfying reveal. If you’re a fan of the Bibliophile Mystery series, you are going to love this installment! If you haven’t read the series, you can start with this book and not feel too lost. It will however make you want to go back and start the series from the beginning.
If you’re looking for a great weekend read, you are going to want to pick up a copy of RIPPED FROM THE PAGES.
November 16, 2017
Brooklyn and Derek are renting the house next to her parents whilst the owners are away for three months and whilst building work is done on Brooklyn and Derek's apartment (Derek bought the apartment next to Brooklyn's and they are knocking the two of them together to make one large apartment.)
Whilst they are in Dharma (the commune - very RICH commune that Brooklyn's parents live in as founder members) the wine caves are too be extended to allow for a better wine tasting area, so a crowd gathers to see them start off - after only a few minutes though the mechanical digger breaks through into a hidden room crammed with furniture, candlesticks, silverware etc! Oh and unfortunately a dead body..... Brooklyn, Derek and Gabriel need to find out who the corpse is, why all the furniture is there and what does it mean for Dharma and Guru Bob?
Whilst they are in Dharma (the commune - very RICH commune that Brooklyn's parents live in as founder members) the wine caves are too be extended to allow for a better wine tasting area, so a crowd gathers to see them start off - after only a few minutes though the mechanical digger breaks through into a hidden room crammed with furniture, candlesticks, silverware etc! Oh and unfortunately a dead body..... Brooklyn, Derek and Gabriel need to find out who the corpse is, why all the furniture is there and what does it mean for Dharma and Guru Bob?
May 26, 2020
Brooklyn and Derek have temporarily moved into Dharma while the place is being renovated. While they are there, a cave with items from World War II are discovered in an underground cave including a rare copy of A Journey To The Centerr of the Earth and a dead body from seventy years ago. Now Brooklyn and Derek have a whole slew of questions that need answers. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well written and have a realistic quality to them. The mystery was great and I loved that we got to see more of Brooklyn's family.
September 12, 2015
I started reading this series last year and rather enjoyed them. Light, cute, fun mysteries that made for an easy little read. They were always a bit on the cheesy side, but they were fun and I didn't mind.
This one, however, I really didn't like. The cheese factor was amped up. Brooklyn annoyed me. Derek wasn't an interesting love interest anymore... he was boring and predictable. Not that this type of book requires a steamy romance, it doesn't, and I don't expect it... but there was something about the chase and the discovery in the other books that was an intriguing subplot. Now that they are just together, everything about them felt flat and stale. The premise surrounding the hidden treasure in a hidden room was interesting and right up my alley, but when I find myself tuning out the story and my mind straying, there's a problem. I finished the book out of obligation to see it through, not because I really cared one way or the other about what actually happened. I think the author may have hit a wall with these characters. Not sure I'll bother with others if she writes more.
This one, however, I really didn't like. The cheese factor was amped up. Brooklyn annoyed me. Derek wasn't an interesting love interest anymore... he was boring and predictable. Not that this type of book requires a steamy romance, it doesn't, and I don't expect it... but there was something about the chase and the discovery in the other books that was an intriguing subplot. Now that they are just together, everything about them felt flat and stale. The premise surrounding the hidden treasure in a hidden room was interesting and right up my alley, but when I find myself tuning out the story and my mind straying, there's a problem. I finished the book out of obligation to see it through, not because I really cared one way or the other about what actually happened. I think the author may have hit a wall with these characters. Not sure I'll bother with others if she writes more.
June 13, 2015
I love this series! The characters are really fun to get to know, and catch up with as the series continues. Reading these books in order is not necessary and I like that because I started with book 8, but will be reading them all!
Kate's mysteries are quick and enjoyable to read. I didn't want to put this book down because I wanted to know everything! This is a great book to start with even if you haven't read the others, and reading a book that takes place in wine country is even better! Brooklyn comes across another dead body, which is kind of "her thing". The story continues from there and you just never know what is going to happen next or who can be trusted. I will also say that again I felt like sighing after every time Derek did something sweet, or pretty much anything at all he did!
Read and enjoy this book in the Bibliophile Mystery series!
Kate's mysteries are quick and enjoyable to read. I didn't want to put this book down because I wanted to know everything! This is a great book to start with even if you haven't read the others, and reading a book that takes place in wine country is even better! Brooklyn comes across another dead body, which is kind of "her thing". The story continues from there and you just never know what is going to happen next or who can be trusted. I will also say that again I felt like sighing after every time Derek did something sweet, or pretty much anything at all he did!
Read and enjoy this book in the Bibliophile Mystery series!
February 21, 2016
A Treasure Cave
Tension is in the air as the hugh crushing machine enters the cave. Silence takes over as the machine suddenly stops. Brooklyn joins the men of her family. The machine has stopped before cement wall. It is dark inside and the flashlight shows a treasure cove of small brilliant statutes,books and furniture. Suddenly the beam light illuminates a body. Where did all this come from? The mans papers indicated he was a visitor in 1946. The cave had not been enter for 70 years adding to the problem. Brooklyn a d Derek work with Guru Bob to find answers. This is one of my favorite series and I recommend it highly.
Tension is in the air as the hugh crushing machine enters the cave. Silence takes over as the machine suddenly stops. Brooklyn joins the men of her family. The machine has stopped before cement wall. It is dark inside and the flashlight shows a treasure cove of small brilliant statutes,books and furniture. Suddenly the beam light illuminates a body. Where did all this come from? The mans papers indicated he was a visitor in 1946. The cave had not been enter for 70 years adding to the problem. Brooklyn a d Derek work with Guru Bob to find answers. This is one of my favorite series and I recommend it highly.
May 6, 2020
to be honest, this series is so/so. it's one of those where i'll do a book in it when i don't have anything else or i don't feel like starting a new series.
and you have to wonder, Brooklyn keeps finding dead bodies...is she cursed? if i was her friend, i gotta say, i'd be wary about hanging out w/her. (ha!)
and what's up w/the 2 super-sexy men?
but it moves quick. not breezy/fluffy but a light one nevertheless.
interesting story for this one regarding found treasure and WWII refugees.
the negative is the endings, they're always a little lame.
and you have to wonder, Brooklyn keeps finding dead bodies...is she cursed? if i was her friend, i gotta say, i'd be wary about hanging out w/her. (ha!)
and what's up w/the 2 super-sexy men?
but it moves quick. not breezy/fluffy but a light one nevertheless.
interesting story for this one regarding found treasure and WWII refugees.
the negative is the endings, they're always a little lame.
July 31, 2015
Considering this is book nine in the series and the second one I've read, I feel like there is background that I am missing. Certain things get mentioned and I'm like, huh? I liked the book and the background of the main character so I will definitely be going back and reading this whole series.
March 22, 2021
In this book, Brooklyn and Derek are spending a few months in Dharma while their apartment is renovated. While there, they attend an event which is the expansion of a wine storage cave. Breaking through a wall reveals a second and third cave, filled with treasures of paintings, silver, statues, jewels, etc. Not to mention the mummified body of a man who turns out to be the friend of Robson's grandfather. How did all these things get in the cave, who do they belong to, and what happened to cause this man's death seventy years ago?
May 31, 2020
Good themes and issues, but slow at times with too much repetition of some details.
September 27, 2016
I can't explain why, but this one just didn't do it for me. I still like the characters, but it seemed to drag and took me forever to get through.
They are expanding the wine caves at the compound and discover some treasurers and a dead body that had been walled up many years ago. Maybe I just didn't have much interest in discovering the story from the past?
Here's hoping the next one is better.
They are expanding the wine caves at the compound and discover some treasurers and a dead body that had been walled up many years ago. Maybe I just didn't have much interest in discovering the story from the past?
Here's hoping the next one is better.
May 4, 2016
Read with a glass of Dharma wine.
Another delightful visit with Brooklyn, her family, friends, and a cozy mystery. This time the body is found in a wine cave with priceless art. And a book in need of repair. So much fun you don't really care who turns out to be the bad guy.
(I love this series and I usually avoid series.)
Another delightful visit with Brooklyn, her family, friends, and a cozy mystery. This time the body is found in a wine cave with priceless art. And a book in need of repair. So much fun you don't really care who turns out to be the bad guy.
(I love this series and I usually avoid series.)
April 24, 2020
A decades old mystery in Dharma? Yes please! It had a touch of mysterious world war 2 and so many strong women. I liked the solution. It was not straightforward, but not unnecessarily complicated. There was plenty of investigating, but the solution to the modern murders was a fairly quick solution. However it all makes sense. It is so very well done.
December 19, 2015
The plot takes place in Dharma, her parents commune (Dharma redefines the term 'commune', btw) and involves secret treasures discovered in caves, the French and a bit of WWII history - what's not to love?!?!
More wordy review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/120972...
More wordy review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/120972...
July 3, 2015
Oh my gosh....the epilogue!! YAY!!! Now I want the next book, like NOW.
May 30, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Ripped From the Pages is the 9th in Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series and it is the best one yet. I really did not think they could get any better, but low and behold this one is truly even greater. This is a wonderful series with super characters, fun and diverse and intelligent. The writing is exceptional as always. The setting is fabulous, in the home commune of Brooklyn Wainwright. Having Brooklyn and her man Derek staying in Dharma is entertaining and sets up a truly spectacular backdrop for this mystery. Thank goodness for the pair they are staying next door to Brooklyn’s parents and not with them.
When an excavation of the caves under Dharma reveals more than anyone bargained for, this small commune is inundated with reporters, appraisers and lookie loos. A body, a treasure trove hidden and a wonderful French first edition of A Journey to the Center of the Earth are found in a room that is exposed when the excavator breaks through a wall. The book unveils a secret no one could have expected. Not only did the French bring grape vines when they came to America, but the leader of Dharma’s grandfather also brought all the treasures of their French town. Trying to save them from the Nazi invasion that was knocking at their door, the townsfolk sent everything they could with Anton. This is a subject close to me as my mother and her family had to flee the Sudetenland to Germany during the war as well.
The characters of Brooklyn’s home are so entertaining and enjoyable. Every one of them is well developed and different. The way they come together to find answers to all the questions that rise from the discovery of this room and its contents is wonderful. The items are described in depth, but never boring. The mysteries are suspenseful and intelligent. This is a fabulously well written cozy that grabs your attention and never let’s go. The room is the perfect hiding place for all the treasures and everything is just as it was all those years ago. The history involved is well researched and compelling. There are no slow spots in this well paced cozy.
I love this series and never tire of the characters. While I am sure Ripped From the Pages could stand alone, it really enhances the story to read all of them. Kate Carlisle is an amazing author that never fails to come through with the perfect read. This is a book that any reader could get lost in and at the same time keep them engrossed in the fabulous storyline. I would recommend this super cozy to any lover of well written, entertaining, mysteries. Truly a spectacular read that exceeds expectations. Kate Carlisle has once again delivered with this hit! I cannot wait for the next installment of this excellent cozy series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
When book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright temporarily relocates to her parents’ place in Northern California, she finds that wooden barrels aren’t the only things buried in the wine caves of Sonoma….
Excited to explore the secrets of wine country, Brooklyn attends an excavation of the caves hidden deep under her parents’ commune—and the findings are explosive. A room is unearthed, and it contains a treasure trove of artwork, rare books, a chest of jewelry…and a perfectly mummified body.
A closer examination of the murdered man’s possessions reveals a valuable first edition of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hidden in the book is a secret map that unveils an even greater hoard of treasures brought to California by French winemakers fleeing the Nazi invasion with the commune leader’s grandfather, Anton, among them.
As reporters and art appraisers flock to Sonoma to see the precious bounty, questions begin to rise—did Anton hide these items to protect them, or did he steal them for himself? Who is the mysterious man left for dead inside the cave? But not all crime is buried in the past. When a new presence threatens the town’s peace, Brooklyn decides to do a little excavating of her own and solve the mystery of the treasure before anyone else is written off.…(Goodreads.com)
Review:
Ripped From the Pages, the ninth entry in the Bibliophile Mystery series, is perhaps the best installment yet, chock full of zany characters, a palpable love of books, and a murder mystery tied to World War II.
I have always enjoyed Brooklyn Wainwright, her former MI6 boyfriend Derek, and her quirky family. Whereas most of the series has taken place in San Francisco, this installment finds us in the quasi-hippie commune turned town Dharma where Brooklyn grew up and most of her family still resides. I find this change of venue is a breath of fresh air. Brooklyn and Derek are spending a couple of months in Dharma while their loft is remodeled and are as excited as the rest of the town about the excavation of one of the wine caves (most of Dharma’s success has involved the town’s vineyards). What a surprise when the work crew finds a walled off “room” instead of terra firma, and an even greater shock to find valuable art, jewelry, furniture, and a body. The discovery brings the press and the curious to town and death to a local.
I love the historical aspect of this mystery. I read a lot of historical fiction/mysteries, as well as cozies, and am tickled to see two of my favorite genres mesh in Ripped From the Pages. The history of the treasures added some weight to the story, and I cannot imagine what all of the families who entrusted their most valued possessions to Anton went through during the war. I was just as interested in the items as Brooklyn was. Ms. Carlisle does a fine job of highlighting both the past and present murder mysteries, and the pace of the story is goodoverall. Tension builds along with the danger throughout. If I have a quibble, it is small – the climax and ending feel rushed.
Since this is the ninth book in the series, the characters are like old friends at this point. However well developed they are, they still grow and manage to surprise me with each installment. There is a great deal of focus on Guru Bob and his family this time around, and learning his back story made me like him even more. It is also nice to learn more tidbits about Brooklyn’s brothers and sisters, particularly Jackson. I hope his secrets are further explored in a future book. Brooklyn’s family is quirky, especially her mother Becky, but no character ever crosses into caricature, and they are definitely not stereotypical. Even characters that are portrayed as difficult and unpleasant are still easy to read about.
As I stated above, Ripped From the Pages is my favorite book to date in the series, and I look forward to future adventures with Brooklyn and crew. I recommend it to any cozy fan, but especially to fans of the series, those who like a strong emphasis on books, and to anyone who enjoys a touch of history with their murder.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Ripped From the Pages is the 9th in Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series and it is the best one yet. I really did not think they could get any better, but low and behold this one is truly even greater. This is a wonderful series with super characters, fun and diverse and intelligent. The writing is exceptional as always. The setting is fabulous, in the home commune of Brooklyn Wainwright. Having Brooklyn and her man Derek staying in Dharma is entertaining and sets up a truly spectacular backdrop for this mystery. Thank goodness for the pair they are staying next door to Brooklyn’s parents and not with them.
When an excavation of the caves under Dharma reveals more than anyone bargained for, this small commune is inundated with reporters, appraisers and lookie loos. A body, a treasure trove hidden and a wonderful French first edition of A Journey to the Center of the Earth are found in a room that is exposed when the excavator breaks through a wall. The book unveils a secret no one could have expected. Not only did the French bring grape vines when they came to America, but the leader of Dharma’s grandfather also brought all the treasures of their French town. Trying to save them from the Nazi invasion that was knocking at their door, the townsfolk sent everything they could with Anton. This is a subject close to me as my mother and her family had to flee the Sudetenland to Germany during the war as well.
The characters of Brooklyn’s home are so entertaining and enjoyable. Every one of them is well developed and different. The way they come together to find answers to all the questions that rise from the discovery of this room and its contents is wonderful. The items are described in depth, but never boring. The mysteries are suspenseful and intelligent. This is a fabulously well written cozy that grabs your attention and never let’s go. The room is the perfect hiding place for all the treasures and everything is just as it was all those years ago. The history involved is well researched and compelling. There are no slow spots in this well paced cozy.
I love this series and never tire of the characters. While I am sure Ripped From the Pages could stand alone, it really enhances the story to read all of them. Kate Carlisle is an amazing author that never fails to come through with the perfect read. This is a book that any reader could get lost in and at the same time keep them engrossed in the fabulous storyline. I would recommend this super cozy to any lover of well written, entertaining, mysteries. Truly a spectacular read that exceeds expectations. Kate Carlisle has once again delivered with this hit! I cannot wait for the next installment of this excellent cozy series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
When book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright temporarily relocates to her parents’ place in Northern California, she finds that wooden barrels aren’t the only things buried in the wine caves of Sonoma….
Excited to explore the secrets of wine country, Brooklyn attends an excavation of the caves hidden deep under her parents’ commune—and the findings are explosive. A room is unearthed, and it contains a treasure trove of artwork, rare books, a chest of jewelry…and a perfectly mummified body.
A closer examination of the murdered man’s possessions reveals a valuable first edition of Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth. Hidden in the book is a secret map that unveils an even greater hoard of treasures brought to California by French winemakers fleeing the Nazi invasion with the commune leader’s grandfather, Anton, among them.
As reporters and art appraisers flock to Sonoma to see the precious bounty, questions begin to rise—did Anton hide these items to protect them, or did he steal them for himself? Who is the mysterious man left for dead inside the cave? But not all crime is buried in the past. When a new presence threatens the town’s peace, Brooklyn decides to do a little excavating of her own and solve the mystery of the treasure before anyone else is written off.…(Goodreads.com)
Review:
Ripped From the Pages, the ninth entry in the Bibliophile Mystery series, is perhaps the best installment yet, chock full of zany characters, a palpable love of books, and a murder mystery tied to World War II.
I have always enjoyed Brooklyn Wainwright, her former MI6 boyfriend Derek, and her quirky family. Whereas most of the series has taken place in San Francisco, this installment finds us in the quasi-hippie commune turned town Dharma where Brooklyn grew up and most of her family still resides. I find this change of venue is a breath of fresh air. Brooklyn and Derek are spending a couple of months in Dharma while their loft is remodeled and are as excited as the rest of the town about the excavation of one of the wine caves (most of Dharma’s success has involved the town’s vineyards). What a surprise when the work crew finds a walled off “room” instead of terra firma, and an even greater shock to find valuable art, jewelry, furniture, and a body. The discovery brings the press and the curious to town and death to a local.
I love the historical aspect of this mystery. I read a lot of historical fiction/mysteries, as well as cozies, and am tickled to see two of my favorite genres mesh in Ripped From the Pages. The history of the treasures added some weight to the story, and I cannot imagine what all of the families who entrusted their most valued possessions to Anton went through during the war. I was just as interested in the items as Brooklyn was. Ms. Carlisle does a fine job of highlighting both the past and present murder mysteries, and the pace of the story is goodoverall. Tension builds along with the danger throughout. If I have a quibble, it is small – the climax and ending feel rushed.
Since this is the ninth book in the series, the characters are like old friends at this point. However well developed they are, they still grow and manage to surprise me with each installment. There is a great deal of focus on Guru Bob and his family this time around, and learning his back story made me like him even more. It is also nice to learn more tidbits about Brooklyn’s brothers and sisters, particularly Jackson. I hope his secrets are further explored in a future book. Brooklyn’s family is quirky, especially her mother Becky, but no character ever crosses into caricature, and they are definitely not stereotypical. Even characters that are portrayed as difficult and unpleasant are still easy to read about.
As I stated above, Ripped From the Pages is my favorite book to date in the series, and I look forward to future adventures with Brooklyn and crew. I recommend it to any cozy fan, but especially to fans of the series, those who like a strong emphasis on books, and to anyone who enjoys a touch of history with their murder.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
March 15, 2019
Brooklyn and Derek are staying Dharma, near their parents, housesitting for a neighbor/friend, while their place is being modified. While they are there, a cave is opened to be used as a wine bar, but in the process, a body is found. Also, found, treasures - art, furniture, jewels. When Brooklyn and Derek start looking into the treasures and the murdered man, they learn of the plan made by Guru Bob's family to help save the treasures of countrymen in France, during WWII. While all this happens, reporters descend on Dharma and then people start being murdered and attacked. They have to move quickly to find the answers.
The story moved along nicely and it was a fun listen/read (I listened while driving and read when I was sitting still).
The story moved along nicely and it was a fun listen/read (I listened while driving and read when I was sitting still).
April 16, 2022
I’m experiencing mixed feelings about this one. While the mystery itself was good, there were some editing issues. First, there is the fact that there seems to be both a town hall, where the photo exhibit was held, and a city hall, where the press conference took place during day one of the exhibit. There are both in one town?
Second, near the end of chapter 11, Brooklyn arrives at Trudy’s house. In one paragraph it says, “I shut the car door and strolled up to the porch.” The very next paragraph begins, “I climbed out of the car and glanced around Trudy’s neighborhood.” These are back-to-back paragraphs and the sort of shoddy editing that irritates observant readers.
I’m also wondering how likely it would have been for someone to export valuable antiques out of France—out of a still occupied area—during the end of WWII. Before the invasion, maybe. But during the occupation? It seems implausible to me. Still, the discovery of an unknown treasure trove is intriguing.
Second, near the end of chapter 11, Brooklyn arrives at Trudy’s house. In one paragraph it says, “I shut the car door and strolled up to the porch.” The very next paragraph begins, “I climbed out of the car and glanced around Trudy’s neighborhood.” These are back-to-back paragraphs and the sort of shoddy editing that irritates observant readers.
I’m also wondering how likely it would have been for someone to export valuable antiques out of France—out of a still occupied area—during the end of WWII. Before the invasion, maybe. But during the occupation? It seems implausible to me. Still, the discovery of an unknown treasure trove is intriguing.
September 25, 2019
The author is very imaginative with a wide range of unusual information she puts in her books. This one goes from book binding to a particular atrocity by the Nazi's regarding the awful murder of a French town (with a name I can't remember). On the other hand, I think she needs to work on her romance writing. I was not happy with how unimaginative the last scene in the Epilogue was.
April 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this! Wine + books + treasure, sign me up! And of course a murder mystery to tie it all together. I love Brooklyn and Derek so much, but her family and the town of Dharma really shine in this story which made it extra enjoyable. There are many twists and turns, some shocks as the story progresses and more mysteries pilled on top of what we think is the "original" driving mystery. Things are never what they seem and I loved it. The ending had me gasp for a couple reasons and I am so excited to continue the series.
January 13, 2020
4.5
This has everything I'm looking for in a crazy mystery. It's smartly written, hugely entertaining, frequently funny and just an all out good read.
This has everything I'm looking for in a crazy mystery. It's smartly written, hugely entertaining, frequently funny and just an all out good read.
September 18, 2020
2 1/2 stars
July 22, 2024
My favorite one so far ... they just keep getting better and better.
January 8, 2025
I enjoy the characters in these stories and for once Brooklyn doesn't end up almost dead.
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