Chasing the Codex: A Mystery by 24 Authors

by Amy Beth Arkawy, Patricia Rockwell (editor), Bart J. Gilbertson

Bryndis Palmer, owner of The Neglected Word bookstore, invites her fourteen-year-old niece Frida to visit her so that the precocious, Jane Austen-loving young girl can accompany Bryn to the “Midwest Booklovers’ Convention” being held in nearby Saint Louis. Never mind that Bryn has just broken up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Holt Furst, or that said boyfriend has suddenly disappeared from his apartment above her shop––possibly in a violent kidnapping. Bryndis dutifully heads to the airport to pick up Frida, only to discover that Frida has also disappeared––reportedly swooped up by a chauffeur and whisked away in a limousine. Who would kidnap her niece? Where could they have taken her? Where could Holt be? Brynn is an amateur sleuth from her childhood days of reading Nancy Drew mysteries, and she barges ahead with her own investigation, certain that the local police and the airport authorities will bungle the job, and fearing the wrath of her sister Lia if anything happens to Frida. Of course, Bryn doesn’t know that the disappearances of Holt and Frida are actually connected, and as she begins her search, a mystifying tale starts to unravel––introducing her to a host of strange characters, all more unusual than those in the murder mysteries she’s accustomed to reading. Along the way, she discovers that she herself is somehow at the center of it all, and swirling around her are other strange curiosities––a missing Bible, a famous frontier hero, and a hidden secret code. Will she find Frida? And Holt? How does it all connect? And how is Bryn involved? It will all be revealed in CHASING THE CODEX.

Genres: Mystery

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2015

About the author

Author of the Eliza Gordon Mystery Series: Killing Time, Dead Silent; 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Award Winner, Murder, She Tweets (Cozy Cat Press); featured in Chasing The Codex, the Cozy Cat Press Group Mystery, Short Story "Dangerous Appetites" featured in Hen House collection "Fiction Noir." Author several plays including: "Psychic Chicken Soup" (McClaren Comedy Award nominee); "Full Moon, Saturday Night;" "The Lost Mertz;" "The Postman Always Writes Twice;" "Rage Amongst Yourselves;" Plays have been produced in festivals in NYC & across the country; several published in anthologies.

Host popular radio talk show featuring compelling conversations with authors & other storytellers.And help others find their voices as a creativity coach/writing teacher.

B.A. Sarah Lawrence College; M.F.A. Fellow University of Massachusetts; M.S./Counseling; Long Island University

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

It sounded like a fun concept for 24 authors to write a mystery. The reality turned out to be something else entirely.

[Leah Speller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do belive this was the most funniest roller coaster of a mystery that had the strangest twists I have ever read. But, and this is a BIG, HUGE, BUT, I enjoyed every moment of it. In fact it reminded me of a time when I met with a group of players in second life.

Now I am not sure how many of you know about that game and I don't wish to distract from my critique so lets just say it was another medium that was used for people to get together and chat. We would get together once a week a topic would be chosen by the host and he would begin with the opening. Then we would go around the room from one to the next in what was called round robin. Just as these authors did but with chapters. No one knew what the next would do with the characters and you just kept going based on what the previous people had written, just as it was done in this wonderful book.

With out knowing which author wrote which chapter I would never had known though there is one thing I will say that did bug me greatly and that was the use of "you all" as a southerner we do not say "you all" when meaning a few or a group we say "y'all"....just had to throw that out there. Made that chapter a little difficult to read.

Other than that it was a great ride. You never knew what was going to happen next. Nor could you ever figure out who was that bad guy cause well that kinda just kept changing. So HOOORAAHH for coming up with instalment and I actually would like to see more. I was a refreshing change.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant example of “round robin” writing.

CHASING THE CODEX is a creative mystery written twenty-four amazing authors from Cozy Cat Press. Each author was responsible for a chapter, and is credited at the beginning of their chapter.

I have read books by many of the authors of this book. They all have their own unique style of writing. That being said, this story flowed flawlessly from chapter to chapter with each author bringing his and her own vision to the story without undoing the work of the author before them.

Having been written the way it was, the overall story was intriguing, and had just the right combination of mystery and action. The twists that developed were excellent and made for a read that I won’t soon forget.

I would love to see another story done this way. Way to go authors!

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book by 24 authors; each writing a chapter. It is the story of a book seller, Bryndis Palmer, who gets pulled into a mystery regarding a bible and a treasure. Her 14 year old niece , Freida, is visiting from California and is kidnapped by baddies.

The apparent goodness of several characters changes frequently and the drama and threat to the main characters are dire.

[Elisa A. Linderman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read.

Keeps your attention. Into see different writers techniques. Lots lists and turns. But never actually found out why the the mystery started.