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Bibliophile Mystery #11
Once Upon a Spine
In another Bibliophile Mystery by the New York Times bestselling author of Books of a Feather, San Francisco bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright stumbles through the looking glass in a tale of murder, rare books, and a quest for the perfect pie…
Brooklyn's oh-so-proper future in-laws are traveling from England to meet her, and if that's not enough to set her on edge, rumors abound that the charming Courtyard Shops across the street may be replaced by high-rise apartments. Their trendy neighborhood will be ruined unless Brooklyn and her fiancé, Derek Stone, can persuade the shopkeepers not to sell.
But with a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland causing bad blood at the Brothers Bookshop and a string of petty vandalism making everyone nervous, Brooklyn and Derek feel like they're attempting six impossible things before breakfast. Then the owner of the Rabbit Hole juice bar is felled by his own heavy shelves, and the local cobbler lies dead beside him. An accident . . . or something more sinister? Things get curiouser and curiouser when a second priceless copy of Alice is discovered. Will it stir up more trouble within the close-knit community?
As the Brits descend, Brooklyn learns they're not so stuffy after all. Derek's dad is won over with chocolate cream pie, and his psychic mum would kill to help Brooklyn solve this murder—before another victim takes a tumble.
Brooklyn's oh-so-proper future in-laws are traveling from England to meet her, and if that's not enough to set her on edge, rumors abound that the charming Courtyard Shops across the street may be replaced by high-rise apartments. Their trendy neighborhood will be ruined unless Brooklyn and her fiancé, Derek Stone, can persuade the shopkeepers not to sell.
But with a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland causing bad blood at the Brothers Bookshop and a string of petty vandalism making everyone nervous, Brooklyn and Derek feel like they're attempting six impossible things before breakfast. Then the owner of the Rabbit Hole juice bar is felled by his own heavy shelves, and the local cobbler lies dead beside him. An accident . . . or something more sinister? Things get curiouser and curiouser when a second priceless copy of Alice is discovered. Will it stir up more trouble within the close-knit community?
As the Brits descend, Brooklyn learns they're not so stuffy after all. Derek's dad is won over with chocolate cream pie, and his psychic mum would kill to help Brooklyn solve this murder—before another victim takes a tumble.
279 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2017
270 people are currently reading
1797 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 406 reviews
April 10, 2025
Once Upon a Spine is the 11th book in the Bibliophile Mysteries written by Kate Carlisle. I'm a fan of the author's writing style, character creation, and entertaining plots. This is the second series of hers that I'm reading, and in just a few more books, I'll be current on both to devour the upcoming 2022 releases. This series takes place in San Francisco, focusing on an expert bookbinder who finds herself discovering way too many dead bodies along her daily path.
Brooklyn and Dylan are engaged, and it's time for their parents to meet one another. Before Dylan's English parents arrive, the couple visits a courtyard of stores across their street to buy several pies for his father, a dessert lover. We soon learn that a first edition Alice in Wonderland book has a rich history of theft, disappearances, and changing hands in a family. Two brother-in-laws own the bookshop, and they are constantly at odds. There's also a pie shop owner, a cobbler, a hat shop proprietress, the building landlord, and a market manager. One of them is hiding a secret about the book, and when it all comes spilling out, it's Brooklyn who finds the dead body again.
Dylan's parents are fantastic additions to the series. I love their relationship with Brooklyn's parents. They were seamlessly integrated into this story, and it helped to have new characters with ties to the current ones. The mystery was fun and had a lot of angles. My only concern with this book was the big reveal. It was one of those situations where everyone shows up and Brooklyn has to decide who's lying about their alibi and connection to the missing book. Unfortunately, there were so many "he's" and "she's" tossed in that it was super easy to lose track of who was talking. They all claimed responsibility at one point, and many were double-crossing one another. I lost interest in the last two chapters, not caring who actually did the deed because it was out of control in confusion. Oh well! Not typical for the series, and the rest was great. On to the next one!
Brooklyn and Dylan are engaged, and it's time for their parents to meet one another. Before Dylan's English parents arrive, the couple visits a courtyard of stores across their street to buy several pies for his father, a dessert lover. We soon learn that a first edition Alice in Wonderland book has a rich history of theft, disappearances, and changing hands in a family. Two brother-in-laws own the bookshop, and they are constantly at odds. There's also a pie shop owner, a cobbler, a hat shop proprietress, the building landlord, and a market manager. One of them is hiding a secret about the book, and when it all comes spilling out, it's Brooklyn who finds the dead body again.
Dylan's parents are fantastic additions to the series. I love their relationship with Brooklyn's parents. They were seamlessly integrated into this story, and it helped to have new characters with ties to the current ones. The mystery was fun and had a lot of angles. My only concern with this book was the big reveal. It was one of those situations where everyone shows up and Brooklyn has to decide who's lying about their alibi and connection to the missing book. Unfortunately, there were so many "he's" and "she's" tossed in that it was super easy to lose track of who was talking. They all claimed responsibility at one point, and many were double-crossing one another. I lost interest in the last two chapters, not caring who actually did the deed because it was out of control in confusion. Oh well! Not typical for the series, and the rest was great. On to the next one!
June 18, 2017
The setting is every book lovers dream. Bookbinder, Brooklyn Wainwright is a delightful character who is very relatable. Derek, Brooklyn's British former secret agent boyfriend adds sweetness, intrigue and a little romance.
The method of murder was interesting yet comical. A rare book has bookshop owners who are brothers-in-law up in arms which was the appeal to the mystery for me.
Although a confusing ending with many players involved, Once Upon a Spine was an enjoyable read filled with fun family times, heartwarming characters and books.
The method of murder was interesting yet comical. A rare book has bookshop owners who are brothers-in-law up in arms which was the appeal to the mystery for me.
Although a confusing ending with many players involved, Once Upon a Spine was an enjoyable read filled with fun family times, heartwarming characters and books.
June 17, 2017
ONCE UPON A SPINE is the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle and it’s seriously become one of my favorites books from this author. I’ve read a lot of Carlisle’s other books and series but I feel like she has the most fun in this series. Not only is Brooklyn such a unique heroine, but I also feel like she has grown a lot throughout this series as well.
This book marks a lot of new things for Brooklyn. She’s taking that next big step in her relationship with Derek and is meeting his parents. However, at the same time, people are ending up dead all around her. So she’s suddenly got a lot on her plate when bad blood starts to boil between the people around her. I found the mystery of this book to be very engaging in interesting. There is excellent pacing and balance in this book. Carlisle weaves together the mystery and romance well so I think if you’re a big Romance fan like I am, you may enjoy this series.
Another thing that I really loved about this book is the focus on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As a big Alice in Wonderland fan, I felt like this addition really added something special to this book. I was right there along Brooklyn obsessing about this book. So I felt like I was really able to connect with her character with this installment.
I can absolutely see why this series is so massively popular and well-loved. I absolutely loved ONCE UPON A SPINE. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year and I can’t wait to devour more books in the series!
Read an alternate version of this review at Fresh Fiction
May 2, 2017
The latest in the Bibliophile series and is a favorite of mine. I have been fortunate to have read all the books in this series. I followed all of Brooklyn 's adventures and thoroughly enjoyed them. This one does not disappoint. Brooklyn Wainwright repairs damaged books to pristine condition. She is planning a wedding to Derek Stone, a retired British government agent. San Francisco homicide officer, Inspector Lee has become a friend.
Brooklyn is looking forward to meeting Derek's parents who are flying to San Francisco for a week's visit. Her parents will join the group. The is vandalism in the neighborhood and she is worried about the Courtyard building across the street from them. It has a number of small neighborhood stores. She is lusting after, a first edition copy of Alice In Wonderland that is in the Brothers Bookstore. Looking for breakfast, she finds the shelving has fallen over and one shop owner is dead and another unconscious. The parents arrived and all become friends. Both Mother's recognize the talents of each other. Brooklyn and Derek offer to help Inspector Lee as she looks for answers. I highly recommend this book and series.Recipes are included.
I received a free copy from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Brooklyn is looking forward to meeting Derek's parents who are flying to San Francisco for a week's visit. Her parents will join the group. The is vandalism in the neighborhood and she is worried about the Courtyard building across the street from them. It has a number of small neighborhood stores. She is lusting after, a first edition copy of Alice In Wonderland that is in the Brothers Bookstore. Looking for breakfast, she finds the shelving has fallen over and one shop owner is dead and another unconscious. The parents arrived and all become friends. Both Mother's recognize the talents of each other. Brooklyn and Derek offer to help Inspector Lee as she looks for answers. I highly recommend this book and series.Recipes are included.
I received a free copy from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 31, 2024
It is truly hard to believe that this is the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series. This series just keeps getting better and better. I was captivated from page one. We have witnessed Brooklyn and Derek’s characters grow along with their relationship. This book marks a lot of new things for Brooklyn. She’s taking that next big step in her relationship with Derek and is meeting her future in-laws. However, at the same time, people are ending up dead all around her. So she’s suddenly got a lot on her plate when bad blood starts to boil she needs to solve this ASAP to keep the peace. I found the mystery of this book to be very engaging and interesting. There is excellent pacing and balance in this book. Carlisle weaves together the mystery and romance and you are quickly swept up in the whirlwind. In my opinion Carlisle has a knack for presenting food, wine and lovely, old books in her mysteries. I love being surrounded by her world and escaping my reality.
Another thing that I really loved about this book is the focus on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I felt like this addition really added something special to this book. Just like the story of Alice not everything is as it seems. This was a clever mystery that had my brain hopping around like the White rabbit, trying to guess the outcome. I was right there along Brooklyn obsessing about this book. ONCE UPON A SPINE is definitely one of my favorite reads this year and I can’t wait for the next adventure with Brooklyn and Derek.
Another thing that I really loved about this book is the focus on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I felt like this addition really added something special to this book. Just like the story of Alice not everything is as it seems. This was a clever mystery that had my brain hopping around like the White rabbit, trying to guess the outcome. I was right there along Brooklyn obsessing about this book. ONCE UPON A SPINE is definitely one of my favorite reads this year and I can’t wait for the next adventure with Brooklyn and Derek.
May 5, 2017
This is a light, enjoyable read, though, I didn't love it to the extent that most reviewers have so far.
The content feels more like chick-lit than the cozy mystery I'd expected. We spend a lot of time on family theatrics, paper-making instructions, and food - I think half the book is devoted to discussing, cooking, and eating snacks and meals. Granted, these scenes are often funny and entertaining. I just found the content low on substance and somewhat repetitious. In fairness, I'm not much of a chick-lit reader, so this is also an issue of my own preferences.
When we get to the mystery aspect, I just couldn't make that leap with Brooklyn's crime-fighting. Some of the things she and her fiance do are over-the-top illegal, and yet their homicide detective friend either shrugs off their law-breaking or encourages them. In the end, the case is not all that difficult to solve, which makes the detective appear incompetent.
The book description gives away almost all the high points of the plot, which is unfortunate. The whodunit culminates with tangled drama that is entertaining and comical, though I couldn't take these characters seriously.
I have not read any of the prior books in this series. This one reads perfectly as a stand-alone. I had no issues orienting myself within the story or Brooklyn's life.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
The content feels more like chick-lit than the cozy mystery I'd expected. We spend a lot of time on family theatrics, paper-making instructions, and food - I think half the book is devoted to discussing, cooking, and eating snacks and meals. Granted, these scenes are often funny and entertaining. I just found the content low on substance and somewhat repetitious. In fairness, I'm not much of a chick-lit reader, so this is also an issue of my own preferences.
When we get to the mystery aspect, I just couldn't make that leap with Brooklyn's crime-fighting. Some of the things she and her fiance do are over-the-top illegal, and yet their homicide detective friend either shrugs off their law-breaking or encourages them. In the end, the case is not all that difficult to solve, which makes the detective appear incompetent.
The book description gives away almost all the high points of the plot, which is unfortunate. The whodunit culminates with tangled drama that is entertaining and comical, though I couldn't take these characters seriously.
I have not read any of the prior books in this series. This one reads perfectly as a stand-alone. I had no issues orienting myself within the story or Brooklyn's life.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
May 28, 2022
4 stelle e mezza
Questa è una delle mie serie preferite e anche questo libro è stato una piacevole lettura. Non sono riuscita a inquadrare il colpevole e alla fine ho capito il perché... Proprio il finale "da manicomio" non mi ha convinto. O meglio: aveva la sua logica, ma era un pochino troppo esagerato. Comunque sia, a malincuore ho tolto mezza stella proprio per il finale.
Questa è una delle mie serie preferite e anche questo libro è stato una piacevole lettura. Non sono riuscita a inquadrare il colpevole e alla fine ho capito il perché... Proprio il finale "da manicomio" non mi ha convinto. O meglio: aveva la sua logica, ma era un pochino troppo esagerato. Comunque sia, a malincuore ho tolto mezza stella proprio per il finale.
August 27, 2020
Fun Read
I really enjoyed this installment. Derrick's parents are terrific, especially his mother. After meeting her I understand how he deals so well with Brooklyn's mom. The relationship between the 2 moms is fun to watch. I hope we see them in action in future books. The mystery kept me guessing and probably had one of the most comical reveals. I also love the friendship that has developed between Brooklyn and Inspector Lee. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really enjoyed this installment. Derrick's parents are terrific, especially his mother. After meeting her I understand how he deals so well with Brooklyn's mom. The relationship between the 2 moms is fun to watch. I hope we see them in action in future books. The mystery kept me guessing and probably had one of the most comical reveals. I also love the friendship that has developed between Brooklyn and Inspector Lee. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 21, 2018
I am sad to give this only 2 stars, as I'm a fan of the series in general.
I'm very used to the plots being unrealistic, and I'm fine with that. They are usually well-plotted and enjoyable to read, so I put aside the fact that they are quite far-fetched and also the uncanny ability of Brooklyn to discover dead bodies.
But this one got to be too much for me.
The solution to the mystery was so ridiculous and convoluted, depending on a bunch of different people being total whack jobs. The scenes, especially near the conclusion, were just ridiculous.
The narrator says, "It was as if I was at a bad play with horrible actors."
Yep. It was just like that.
A couple of examples:
"Give it back," X cried. "I want to kill him."
And then, one of the criminals, in a room where someone has already been shot shortly before this:
gasped. "What did I ever do to you?"
Despite the shock, everyone in the room guffawed.
And...back to the convenient discovery of bodies...It's a trope of cozy mysteries, of course, that some non-professional sleuth constantly discovers the bodies. It's how series work. But Brooklyn spends so much time pondering this in this book and the previous one or two, wondering about cosmic fates and karma and everything that it just draws MORE attention to the unbelievability of it happening. It makes it more noticeable and less plausible, which is the opposite effect than the author wanted, I'm sure.
I'm sad, because I like this book-centered series. Hoping the next one will be better.
I'm very used to the plots being unrealistic, and I'm fine with that. They are usually well-plotted and enjoyable to read, so I put aside the fact that they are quite far-fetched and also the uncanny ability of Brooklyn to discover dead bodies.
But this one got to be too much for me.
The solution to the mystery was so ridiculous and convoluted, depending on a bunch of different people being total whack jobs. The scenes, especially near the conclusion, were just ridiculous.
The narrator says, "It was as if I was at a bad play with horrible actors."
Yep. It was just like that.
A couple of examples:
"Give it back," X cried. "I want to kill him."
And then, one of the criminals, in a room where someone has already been shot shortly before this:
gasped. "What did I ever do to you?"
Despite the shock, everyone in the room guffawed.
And...back to the convenient discovery of bodies...It's a trope of cozy mysteries, of course, that some non-professional sleuth constantly discovers the bodies. It's how series work. But Brooklyn spends so much time pondering this in this book and the previous one or two, wondering about cosmic fates and karma and everything that it just draws MORE attention to the unbelievability of it happening. It makes it more noticeable and less plausible, which is the opposite effect than the author wanted, I'm sure.
I'm sad, because I like this book-centered series. Hoping the next one will be better.
June 17, 2018
Eleventh in the Bibliophile [cozy] Mystery series and revolving around Brooklyn Wainwright and her fiancé Derek Stone based in San Francisco.
My Take
I'd been looking forward to reading this, hey, it's a cozy mystery about rare books…what's not to love? The odd thing is that I liked the characters, mostly, the neighborhood was a treat, and, hey, books, but the writing was so stiff.
That Brooklyn sounds like an artist, and I very much enjoyed reading about her plans for the matchbook-playing cards-accordion book concept as well as her floating cards concept. But did Carlisle really have to give me every minute step of the process? Nor is it the only instance of too much detail…"with a shot of protein powder", anyone?
Maybe it was Carlisle's first person protagonist point-of-view from Brooklyn's perspective, as it was so annoying how often Brooklyn is whining on about "poor her, and her magnetic attraction to murder, especially murder that involves books, boo-hoo". Oy. It was really annoying that all Brooklyn could think of was "if she'd only gone straight on to the Beanery, she'd never have found the injured men". Well. How christian of her. If only…and it might have taken hours before anyone came along.
I can understand Brooklyn's obsession with the Alice in Wonderland first edition. Eddie is quite patient with her wanting to touch and sniff it, *more laughter*
Derek sounds a treat, although I had my doubts at the start. I do wish I'd paid attention to this being the eleventh book in the series; I hate jumping into the middle. Although Carlisle does give a rather tedious blow-by-blow of practically every other case Brooklyn has solved. Okay, that's not fair. I didn't get all the details; it only felt like I did. Basically, thinly disguised info dumps. It was not appreciated. I have to wonder if my feeling that Brooklyn's relationship with the police inspector is at all realistic isn't due to my leaping into the middle as well…
All Brooklyn's worries about both sets of parents meeting each other? Oh, lol, it was too funny and too perfect. An absolutely lovely time was had by all, with both sides having so much in common.
It's a tale of greed and jealousy accelerated by a couple of players making the rounds. One doesn't care who is hurt while the other is simply having a good time. Surprisingly, it's the jealousy that hits worse than the greed with the brothers-in-law having their own long-term battle. I gotta say, I thought Eddie's and Terrence's bickering was pretty lame. It certainly makes me wonder how they've lasted this long together.
As for the inspector. Excuse me? I couldn't believe how casual she was about Brooklyn's shoes, the breaking-and-entering, confiscating rare books, what the hell?
Oh, boy, that ending where the "exposure" of the criminal occurs was almost Keystone Kops in its silliness. All those rare editions being handed out as party favors?? How is petty vandalism supposed to scare someone into selling? What was the deal with the 1865 copy of Alice that Terrence had stolen from him?
Yeahhh, I don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.
The Story
The rellies are coming! The rellies are coming! And Brooklyn is terrified, hoping she makes a good impression on her future in-laws. She knows how stiff the British can be. And her mother is not normal!It doesn't help when Brooklyn stumbles over a crime scene with two injured people while rumors of the landlady selling the building to developers begin to spread.
The Characters
Brooklyn Wainwright is a bookbinder specializing in rare-book restorations who was raised in a hippie commune. She is not renowned for her cooking. Charlie is their girl kitty. Becky is Brooklyn's mom and has one of those witchy Wiccan-Pagan-Astral-Travel personalities while her dad, Jim, runs the local winery for the commune in Dharma. Ramlar X is Mom's astral-traveling spirit guide.
Commander Derek Stone runs an international private security company and is Brooklyn's fiancé. Seems he'd been in the British military and had been a spy as well. Pretty young for all that, but it does give him such a cozy relationship with the police. Corinne is Derek's assistant. Margaret "Meg" (she's a psychic) and John Stone are Derek's amazing parents. Meg can't wait to hear about all the bodies! Jasper and Ophelia are the Stones' cats at home. Dalton (he and Savannah have been sneaking about) and Dylan are Derek's brothers. Dylan, unfortunately, wants to marry Cruella, er, I mean, Camilla.
The Courtyard is…
…a three-story Victorian-era building that formed a large courtyard square with four shops on each side. Bonnie Carson inherited it, after her husband, Jack, died. She's having a grand time making her way through all the men in the area.
Brothers Bookshop carries…
…new and used books and is run by two men who had married two sisters and then divorced them within weeks of each other. Eddie Cox has a passion for old books while Terrence Payton prefers the new. Furbie is the bookshop cat.
Charles Dodgson, a.k.a., Lewis Carroll, wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1865. John Tenniel did the illustrations. George Bayntun of London bound one of the books. The 1865 edition is known as the "Suppressed Alice" or the "Sixty-five Alice".
The Rabbit Hole is…
…a local produce market and juice bar run by Will Rabbit, Bonnie's nephew.
Sweetie Pies is…
…a fabulous pie shop that makes both sweet and savory pies. Colin works behind the counter.
Kitty owns the hat shop. Joey Falco inherited the shoe repair shop from his father, the original Joe the Cobbler. Thai to Remember is one of the local restaurants while Pietro's is good for great pizza and run by Pete. There's also a lingerie store, the Beanery is a coffee shop, and there's a yoga studio.
SFPD
Inspector Janice Lee is with Homicide and became friends with Brooklyn when she kept finding bodies. Her partner is Inspector Nate Jaglom who has a son in college. Claymore and Peterson are the police officers on scene.
Alex is a friend of Brooklyn's with a fifth-degree black belt in two or three different martial art disciplines and teaches workout classes. Vinnie and Suzie are neighbors with baby Lily. They're sculptors who specialize in burl wood. Bay Area Book Arts (BABA) has an annual festival. Carl Brundidge is Brooklyn's lawyer insisting on a prenup agreement. Abraham Karastovsky had been Brooklyn's mentor, murdered almost three years ago. Stan is a developer with Sequoia. Dr Wan is an acupuncturist.
Dharma in Sonoma County is…
…the commune where Brooklyn grew up. Austin is Brooklyn's brother, and he's recently married Brooklyn's oldest friend, Robin. He and Jackson (another brother) run the winery with their dad. Savannah is her chef sister with an acclaimed vegetarian restaurant in town. Her sister China owns Warped, a popular yarn and knitting shop. Suzette runs a local bakery and sets up a mini-wedding-cake tasting. Guru Bob, a.k.a., Robson Benedict, is the leader of the commune.
The Cover and Title
The cover is sweet with a close-up of the bookshop window in a white Victorian-styled front window with a pale blue door, hanging baskets of pink flowers "frame" the wrought iron table Furbie is sitting on between the bud vase and the white teapot with three cups and saucers…the fourth cup having crashed to the Courtyard floor. Sitting on the folding wrought iron chair is one of the Alice in Wonderland books bound in the scarlet Moroccan leather. An info blurb is at the very top in burgundy with the author's name directly below that in a purple. The series information is in white script on a red peak-edged flag on the left. The title is also in white in a serif font at the bottom.
The title is Once Upon a Spine, and I have no idea how it relates to this story. It makes sense that it's about a bibliophile, but I'd've thought "once upon a title page" made more sense since that appeared to be Brooklyn's focus. Or maybe Carlisle is referring to courage??
My Take
I'd been looking forward to reading this, hey, it's a cozy mystery about rare books…what's not to love? The odd thing is that I liked the characters, mostly, the neighborhood was a treat, and, hey, books, but the writing was so stiff.
That Brooklyn sounds like an artist, and I very much enjoyed reading about her plans for the matchbook-playing cards-accordion book concept as well as her floating cards concept. But did Carlisle really have to give me every minute step of the process? Nor is it the only instance of too much detail…"with a shot of protein powder", anyone?
Maybe it was Carlisle's first person protagonist point-of-view from Brooklyn's perspective, as it was so annoying how often Brooklyn is whining on about "poor her, and her magnetic attraction to murder, especially murder that involves books, boo-hoo". Oy. It was really annoying that all Brooklyn could think of was "if she'd only gone straight on to the Beanery, she'd never have found the injured men". Well. How christian of her. If only…and it might have taken hours before anyone came along.
I can understand Brooklyn's obsession with the Alice in Wonderland first edition. Eddie is quite patient with her wanting to touch and sniff it, *more laughter*
Derek sounds a treat, although I had my doubts at the start. I do wish I'd paid attention to this being the eleventh book in the series; I hate jumping into the middle. Although Carlisle does give a rather tedious blow-by-blow of practically every other case Brooklyn has solved. Okay, that's not fair. I didn't get all the details; it only felt like I did. Basically, thinly disguised info dumps. It was not appreciated. I have to wonder if my feeling that Brooklyn's relationship with the police inspector is at all realistic isn't due to my leaping into the middle as well…
All Brooklyn's worries about both sets of parents meeting each other? Oh, lol, it was too funny and too perfect. An absolutely lovely time was had by all, with both sides having so much in common.
It's a tale of greed and jealousy accelerated by a couple of players making the rounds. One doesn't care who is hurt while the other is simply having a good time. Surprisingly, it's the jealousy that hits worse than the greed with the brothers-in-law having their own long-term battle. I gotta say, I thought Eddie's and Terrence's bickering was pretty lame. It certainly makes me wonder how they've lasted this long together.
As for the inspector. Excuse me? I couldn't believe how casual she was about Brooklyn's shoes, the breaking-and-entering, confiscating rare books, what the hell?
Oh, boy, that ending where the "exposure" of the criminal occurs was almost Keystone Kops in its silliness. All those rare editions being handed out as party favors?? How is petty vandalism supposed to scare someone into selling? What was the deal with the 1865 copy of Alice that Terrence had stolen from him?
Yeahhh, I don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.
The Story
The rellies are coming! The rellies are coming! And Brooklyn is terrified, hoping she makes a good impression on her future in-laws. She knows how stiff the British can be. And her mother is not normal!It doesn't help when Brooklyn stumbles over a crime scene with two injured people while rumors of the landlady selling the building to developers begin to spread.
The Characters
Brooklyn Wainwright is a bookbinder specializing in rare-book restorations who was raised in a hippie commune. She is not renowned for her cooking. Charlie is their girl kitty. Becky is Brooklyn's mom and has one of those witchy Wiccan-Pagan-Astral-Travel personalities while her dad, Jim, runs the local winery for the commune in Dharma. Ramlar X is Mom's astral-traveling spirit guide.
Commander Derek Stone runs an international private security company and is Brooklyn's fiancé. Seems he'd been in the British military and had been a spy as well. Pretty young for all that, but it does give him such a cozy relationship with the police. Corinne is Derek's assistant. Margaret "Meg" (she's a psychic) and John Stone are Derek's amazing parents. Meg can't wait to hear about all the bodies! Jasper and Ophelia are the Stones' cats at home. Dalton (he and Savannah have been sneaking about) and Dylan are Derek's brothers. Dylan, unfortunately, wants to marry Cruella, er, I mean, Camilla.
The Courtyard is…
…a three-story Victorian-era building that formed a large courtyard square with four shops on each side. Bonnie Carson inherited it, after her husband, Jack, died. She's having a grand time making her way through all the men in the area.
Brothers Bookshop carries…
…new and used books and is run by two men who had married two sisters and then divorced them within weeks of each other. Eddie Cox has a passion for old books while Terrence Payton prefers the new. Furbie is the bookshop cat.
Charles Dodgson, a.k.a., Lewis Carroll, wrote Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in 1865. John Tenniel did the illustrations. George Bayntun of London bound one of the books. The 1865 edition is known as the "Suppressed Alice" or the "Sixty-five Alice".
The Rabbit Hole is…
…a local produce market and juice bar run by Will Rabbit, Bonnie's nephew.
Sweetie Pies is…
…a fabulous pie shop that makes both sweet and savory pies. Colin works behind the counter.
Kitty owns the hat shop. Joey Falco inherited the shoe repair shop from his father, the original Joe the Cobbler. Thai to Remember is one of the local restaurants while Pietro's is good for great pizza and run by Pete. There's also a lingerie store, the Beanery is a coffee shop, and there's a yoga studio.
SFPD
Inspector Janice Lee is with Homicide and became friends with Brooklyn when she kept finding bodies. Her partner is Inspector Nate Jaglom who has a son in college. Claymore and Peterson are the police officers on scene.
Alex is a friend of Brooklyn's with a fifth-degree black belt in two or three different martial art disciplines and teaches workout classes. Vinnie and Suzie are neighbors with baby Lily. They're sculptors who specialize in burl wood. Bay Area Book Arts (BABA) has an annual festival. Carl Brundidge is Brooklyn's lawyer insisting on a prenup agreement. Abraham Karastovsky had been Brooklyn's mentor, murdered almost three years ago. Stan is a developer with Sequoia. Dr Wan is an acupuncturist.
Dharma in Sonoma County is…
…the commune where Brooklyn grew up. Austin is Brooklyn's brother, and he's recently married Brooklyn's oldest friend, Robin. He and Jackson (another brother) run the winery with their dad. Savannah is her chef sister with an acclaimed vegetarian restaurant in town. Her sister China owns Warped, a popular yarn and knitting shop. Suzette runs a local bakery and sets up a mini-wedding-cake tasting. Guru Bob, a.k.a., Robson Benedict, is the leader of the commune.
The Cover and Title
The cover is sweet with a close-up of the bookshop window in a white Victorian-styled front window with a pale blue door, hanging baskets of pink flowers "frame" the wrought iron table Furbie is sitting on between the bud vase and the white teapot with three cups and saucers…the fourth cup having crashed to the Courtyard floor. Sitting on the folding wrought iron chair is one of the Alice in Wonderland books bound in the scarlet Moroccan leather. An info blurb is at the very top in burgundy with the author's name directly below that in a purple. The series information is in white script on a red peak-edged flag on the left. The title is also in white in a serif font at the bottom.
The title is Once Upon a Spine, and I have no idea how it relates to this story. It makes sense that it's about a bibliophile, but I'd've thought "once upon a title page" made more sense since that appeared to be Brooklyn's focus. Or maybe Carlisle is referring to courage??
June 6, 2017
ONCE UPON A SPINE is the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle and it’s seriously become one of my favorites books from this author. I’ve read a lot of Carlisle’s other books and series but I feel like she has the most fun in this series. Not only is Brooklyn such a unique heroine, but I also feel like she has grown a lot throughout this series as well.This book marks a lot of new things for Brooklyn. She’s taking that next big step in her relationship with Derek and is meeting his parents. However, at the same time, people are ending up dead all around her. So she’s suddenly got a lot on her plate when bad blood starts to boil between the people around her. I found the mystery of this book to be very engaging in interesting. There is excellent pacing and balance in this book. Carlisle weaves together the mystery and romance well so I think if you’re a big Romance fan like I am, you may enjoy this series.
Another thing that I really loved about this book is the focus on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As a big Alice in Wonderland fan, I felt like this addition really added something special to this book. I was right there along Brooklyn obsessing about this book. So I felt like I was really able to connect with her character with this installment.
I can absolutely see why this series is so massively popular and well-loved. I absolutely loved ONCE UPON A SPINE. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year and I can’t wait to devour more books in the series!
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie ❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
June 5, 2018
Once Upon A Spine is the eleventh book in the A Bibliophile Mystery series.
Another masterfully written book in this very enjoyable series. As with other books in this series, Brooklyn provides the reader with what it takes to repair damaged books and the how to make sheets of paper. Even though I may not understand everything that Brooklyn describes, I do value its addition to the story.
Brooklyn is both nervous and excited as see will soon meeting Derek’s parents for the first time. She is fearful that his mother won’t like her, or that his mother will be off by Brooklyn’s hippie style mother.
A day or two before the parents are to arrive, Brooklyn heads across the street to the Courtyard to get a cup of coffee at the Beanery, but she notices that the Rabbit Hole seems to be open, which is not normal. When she looks through the window she sees the store in disarray. Upon entering she finds a heavy steel shelve has toppled over, trapping Will Rabbitt, owner of the store and Joey, owner of a shoe repair shop. Will has survived the incident, but Joey wasn’t so lucky.
It appears that possibly the owner of the Brother Bookshop might be suspects. It seems that Terrence, one of the owner of the bookshop supposedly had a first edition copy of Alice In Wonderland given to him by Bonnie, the owner of the Courtyard. But he believes she stole back and gave it to Joey. Then she learns that both Bonnie and Kitty Barnes, owner of a hat shop at the Courtyard. Brooklyn’s mother and Derek’s mother couldn’t be happier to help their son and daughter as set off to catch a murderer.
Another well-told and plotted story from Ms. Carlisle and wonderful characters.
Delicious sounding recipes are also in the book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this exciting series.
Another masterfully written book in this very enjoyable series. As with other books in this series, Brooklyn provides the reader with what it takes to repair damaged books and the how to make sheets of paper. Even though I may not understand everything that Brooklyn describes, I do value its addition to the story.
Brooklyn is both nervous and excited as see will soon meeting Derek’s parents for the first time. She is fearful that his mother won’t like her, or that his mother will be off by Brooklyn’s hippie style mother.
A day or two before the parents are to arrive, Brooklyn heads across the street to the Courtyard to get a cup of coffee at the Beanery, but she notices that the Rabbit Hole seems to be open, which is not normal. When she looks through the window she sees the store in disarray. Upon entering she finds a heavy steel shelve has toppled over, trapping Will Rabbitt, owner of the store and Joey, owner of a shoe repair shop. Will has survived the incident, but Joey wasn’t so lucky.
It appears that possibly the owner of the Brother Bookshop might be suspects. It seems that Terrence, one of the owner of the bookshop supposedly had a first edition copy of Alice In Wonderland given to him by Bonnie, the owner of the Courtyard. But he believes she stole back and gave it to Joey. Then she learns that both Bonnie and Kitty Barnes, owner of a hat shop at the Courtyard. Brooklyn’s mother and Derek’s mother couldn’t be happier to help their son and daughter as set off to catch a murderer.
Another well-told and plotted story from Ms. Carlisle and wonderful characters.
Delicious sounding recipes are also in the book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this exciting series.
June 18, 2017
This was a great book. The story was very entertaining and I held my interest the entire time. The characters were likable and I cared about what happened to them. This is a series I will definitely continue.
When a shop owner is killed in a store across from Brooklyn's home, she becomes involved in solving the mystery of who murdered him. Along the way, she spends a lot of time at Eddie and Terrence's book store in the same building. There is a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland that is a part of the mystery. I loved the information the reader gets about rare books, and also about hand made paper. Little details like that make me happy.
Brooklyn and Derek are wonderful. It is so refreshing to see a couple who are in love and are supportive of each other. They are getting their parents together for the first time prior to their marriage. All of the parents were great and added some humor to the book. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a good cozy mystery.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When a shop owner is killed in a store across from Brooklyn's home, she becomes involved in solving the mystery of who murdered him. Along the way, she spends a lot of time at Eddie and Terrence's book store in the same building. There is a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland that is a part of the mystery. I loved the information the reader gets about rare books, and also about hand made paper. Little details like that make me happy.
Brooklyn and Derek are wonderful. It is so refreshing to see a couple who are in love and are supportive of each other. They are getting their parents together for the first time prior to their marriage. All of the parents were great and added some humor to the book. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a good cozy mystery.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2020
i'm glad that everyone gets along but it is a little too sweet/convenient.
but then, there's Brooklyn's propensity to stumble over dead bodies so i guess that makes up for it.
some humor.
since i'm still on hold for one of the books, it seems i missed out on something w/Derek's brother.
he's mentioned in the end & i got the sense that i'd missed something as well as a bit of cliffhanger w/his character. so we'll see...
another good one. and i do like the chemistry b/w all the characters.
but then, there's Brooklyn's propensity to stumble over dead bodies so i guess that makes up for it.
some humor.
since i'm still on hold for one of the books, it seems i missed out on something w/Derek's brother.
he's mentioned in the end & i got the sense that i'd missed something as well as a bit of cliffhanger w/his character. so we'll see...
another good one. and i do like the chemistry b/w all the characters.
August 8, 2018
Once Upon a Spine by Kate Carlisle was another captivating read for me. Each time I listen to one of Ms. Carlisle's Bibliophile mysteries I am immediately in San Francisco enjoying great wine, delicious food, learning new things about books and book binding. The book was filled with red herrings, twists and turns that kept me guessing until the reveal.
June 14, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/on...
Once Upon a Spine
Bibliophile Mystery, Book #11
By Kate Carlisle
ISBN#9780451477729
Author Website: Katecarlisle.com
***
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Brooklyn’s oh-so-proper future in-laws are traveling from England to meet her, and if that’s not enough to set her on edge, rumors abound that the charming Courtyard Shops across the street may be replaced by high-rise apartments. Their trendy neighborhood will be ruined unless Brooklyn and her fiance, Derek Stone, can persuade the shopkeepers not to sell.
But with a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland causing bad blood at the Brothers Bookshop and a string of petty vandalism making everyone nervous, Brooklyn and Derek feel like they’re attempting six impossible things before breakfast. Then the owner of the Rabbit Hole juice bar is felled by his own heavy shelves, and the local cobbler lies dead beside him. An accident . . . or something more sinister? Things get curiouser and curiouser when a second priceless copy of Alice is discovered. Will it stir up more trouble within the close-knit community?
As the Brits descend, Brooklyn learns they’re not so stuffy after all. Derek’s dad is won over with chocolate cream pie, and his psychic mum would kill to help Brooklyn solve this murder before another victim takes a tumble. (Goodreads)
Review:
Once Upon a Spine, the entertaining eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series, is full of family, vandalism, theft, and murder. It is not the best book of the series but amusing reading all the same.
This time around Brooklyn is anxious to meet her fiance Derek’s parents, afraid that she will not meet up to typical English standards. They and Brooklyn’s parents are all coming to stay the week to get to know one another. Brooklyn is pleasantly surprised to find Derek’s mother just as outlandish as her own mother, and their introduction is a great success. The only blight occurs when a neighboring shopkeeper is injured and another deceased. Was the toppling of the shelves at the produce market a terrible accident? Or murder? Was Bonnie, the owner of the Courtyard shops, the intended target? Of course, Brooklyn and Derek feel obligated to enmesh themselves in the investigation, and in doing so learn more about their neighbors than they probably ever wanted to know. Add in some graffiti defacing the shops, theft, and the appearance of too many rare copies of Alice Adventures in Wonderland, and Brooklyn has more than enough to keep her busy.
Most of the action in Once Upon a Spine takes place in the Courtyard shops across the street from Brooklyn’s apartment and in her home. At times I felt like I was in the middle of Peyton Place reading about all of the characters. Bickering brothers-in-law and too many romantic relationships make for some really unlikable suspects. With the exception of Rabbit, everyone is keeping secrets, holding grudges, and is overly dramatic. Bonnie in particular is nasty in the way she manipulates people, seemingly stirring up trouble for no other reason than to entertain herself. I had a hard time relating to any of them.
Brooklyn, though she has grown a lot over the course of the series, still comes across as a bit insecure and surprised by her own lot in life. Derek is as suave as ever, but, at times, their relationship comes across as too saccharine. One of my favorite aspects of this series is Brooklyn’s family, and though we do not see many of them here, Derek’s quirky parents make up for their absence. Both mothers are very similar, and I cannot help but wonder if their eccentricities will wear thin as the series goes on. For now, I greatly enjoy them.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on the family interactions and food. There is so much snacking and drinking wine going on that it became repetitious. Granted, most of the comedy comes from the chatter around their meals, but I feel like the mystery took a backseat to visiting. The mystery has a strong premise, and the climactic scene is over-the-top, but I did find it far too easy to figure out whodunit too early in the story.
Once Upon a Spine is light and entertaining fare and should please fans of the Bibliophile Mystery series. It can definitely be read as a standalone mystery. This is good diversionary reading for when real life becomes too much. Recommended.
Once Upon a Spine
Bibliophile Mystery, Book #11
By Kate Carlisle
ISBN#9780451477729
Author Website: Katecarlisle.com
***
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
Brooklyn’s oh-so-proper future in-laws are traveling from England to meet her, and if that’s not enough to set her on edge, rumors abound that the charming Courtyard Shops across the street may be replaced by high-rise apartments. Their trendy neighborhood will be ruined unless Brooklyn and her fiance, Derek Stone, can persuade the shopkeepers not to sell.
But with a rare edition of Alice in Wonderland causing bad blood at the Brothers Bookshop and a string of petty vandalism making everyone nervous, Brooklyn and Derek feel like they’re attempting six impossible things before breakfast. Then the owner of the Rabbit Hole juice bar is felled by his own heavy shelves, and the local cobbler lies dead beside him. An accident . . . or something more sinister? Things get curiouser and curiouser when a second priceless copy of Alice is discovered. Will it stir up more trouble within the close-knit community?
As the Brits descend, Brooklyn learns they’re not so stuffy after all. Derek’s dad is won over with chocolate cream pie, and his psychic mum would kill to help Brooklyn solve this murder before another victim takes a tumble. (Goodreads)
Review:
Once Upon a Spine, the entertaining eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series, is full of family, vandalism, theft, and murder. It is not the best book of the series but amusing reading all the same.
This time around Brooklyn is anxious to meet her fiance Derek’s parents, afraid that she will not meet up to typical English standards. They and Brooklyn’s parents are all coming to stay the week to get to know one another. Brooklyn is pleasantly surprised to find Derek’s mother just as outlandish as her own mother, and their introduction is a great success. The only blight occurs when a neighboring shopkeeper is injured and another deceased. Was the toppling of the shelves at the produce market a terrible accident? Or murder? Was Bonnie, the owner of the Courtyard shops, the intended target? Of course, Brooklyn and Derek feel obligated to enmesh themselves in the investigation, and in doing so learn more about their neighbors than they probably ever wanted to know. Add in some graffiti defacing the shops, theft, and the appearance of too many rare copies of Alice Adventures in Wonderland, and Brooklyn has more than enough to keep her busy.
Most of the action in Once Upon a Spine takes place in the Courtyard shops across the street from Brooklyn’s apartment and in her home. At times I felt like I was in the middle of Peyton Place reading about all of the characters. Bickering brothers-in-law and too many romantic relationships make for some really unlikable suspects. With the exception of Rabbit, everyone is keeping secrets, holding grudges, and is overly dramatic. Bonnie in particular is nasty in the way she manipulates people, seemingly stirring up trouble for no other reason than to entertain herself. I had a hard time relating to any of them.
Brooklyn, though she has grown a lot over the course of the series, still comes across as a bit insecure and surprised by her own lot in life. Derek is as suave as ever, but, at times, their relationship comes across as too saccharine. One of my favorite aspects of this series is Brooklyn’s family, and though we do not see many of them here, Derek’s quirky parents make up for their absence. Both mothers are very similar, and I cannot help but wonder if their eccentricities will wear thin as the series goes on. For now, I greatly enjoy them.
A great deal of emphasis is placed on the family interactions and food. There is so much snacking and drinking wine going on that it became repetitious. Granted, most of the comedy comes from the chatter around their meals, but I feel like the mystery took a backseat to visiting. The mystery has a strong premise, and the climactic scene is over-the-top, but I did find it far too easy to figure out whodunit too early in the story.
Once Upon a Spine is light and entertaining fare and should please fans of the Bibliophile Mystery series. It can definitely be read as a standalone mystery. This is good diversionary reading for when real life becomes too much. Recommended.
June 14, 2017
I simply love the thrill of discovery that comes with the stories in the Bibliophile Mysteries. As a book lover, the thought of finding a rare edition of one of my favorite books, well, it makes my toes wiggle. I’ll admit, I wasn’t excited about the treasured volume of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland like main character, Brooklyn Wainwright was. I have never liked that tale. But, I was wrapped up in Brooklyn’s excitement about it.
ONCE UPON A SPINE is another well written installment in the Bibliophile Mysteries. And it certainly shares something in common with the story of Alice, not everything it as it seems. This was a clever mystery that had my brain hopping around like a frantic rabbit, trying to guess the outcome.
More than just a mystery, ONCE UPON A SPINE introduced new characters to readers, Derek’s parents. I enjoyed the energy of the story when they were in the scene. They were simply delightful, and fit in perfectly with the already established characters. I’m looking forward to their next appearance in the series.
As if all of that isn’t enough to entice you to read this book, wait until you see some of the sassy recipes included with names like Hot Buttered Rump Bites, and Perky Breast Nibbles. ;-)
ONCE UPON A SPINE is another well written installment in the Bibliophile Mysteries. And it certainly shares something in common with the story of Alice, not everything it as it seems. This was a clever mystery that had my brain hopping around like a frantic rabbit, trying to guess the outcome.
More than just a mystery, ONCE UPON A SPINE introduced new characters to readers, Derek’s parents. I enjoyed the energy of the story when they were in the scene. They were simply delightful, and fit in perfectly with the already established characters. I’m looking forward to their next appearance in the series.
As if all of that isn’t enough to entice you to read this book, wait until you see some of the sassy recipes included with names like Hot Buttered Rump Bites, and Perky Breast Nibbles. ;-)
February 15, 2018
I am wild about this series, and Once Upon a Spine lived up to my expectations in spades. If you haven't read Kate Carlisle, get busy!
June 1, 2017
I finished Kate Carlisle's , Once Upon A Spine this morning. Out June 6th this is the 11th book in the Bibliophile Mystery Series and it is a lovely read. Calm and easy actually this story was lovely to read as main character Brooklyn and her parents meet her future in laws, meanwhile just across the street chaos ensues when one of the shop owners is murdered and another injured. Romance and betrayal, books and bewitching in laws, this is a welcome cozy mystery. I loved the cover of this book and the Alice and Wonderland influence of the story.
October 15, 2019
I really enjoy this series mostly for the characters and Brooklyn and Derek's relationship. I like the info on book binding and in this book paper making. This book is #11 in the series. Not as good as the former books and a little bit too silly but still a fun read. Recommended for cozy readers.
July 18, 2017
Bookbinder Brooklyn is anxiously awaiting the first meeting with her in-laws to be, when she finds two bodies--one dead, one barely alive--in one of the neighborhood shops. The woman who owns the shops enters and Brooklyn realizes that she was having an affair with the dead man. But so was another woman Brooklyn knows. And the co-owner of the neighborhood bookstore is in love with the shop owner. His brother-in-law, the other owner, has a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland. It turns out that Brooklyn's prospective in-laws and her parents get along just fine; the solution to the mystery is more, ahem, convoluted. The reader does learn how to make hand-made paper, though.
July 28, 2017
This one was quite a bit shorter then the others, but just as good. The main book Alice in Wonderland is a favorite of mine so the background on the original publication was interesting, as was Brooklyn's description on how to make paper. I'd really like to give that a try someday. I was sorry to finish this book as it was just released this summer so I'm afraid I'll have rather a long wait for the next book.
June 6, 2017
Now that the renovations have been completed on the apartment, Brooklyn and Derek have more time to spend enjoying their little corner of the city. Brooklyn loves going to the local bookstore and seeing what treasures she can find and is enamored with a copy of Alice in Wonderland that owners Eddie and Terrance have displayed in their store. They also frequent the Rabbit Hole a health food store, with her wedding looming ahead Brooklyn wants to look and feel her best. One morning while running errands Brooklyn noticed something amiss at the Rabbit Hole, she finds the owner Rabbit hurt and another local store owner dead. Brooklyn wants to figure out what happened but with Derek's parents coming to visit she's nervous about what they will think of her and will she have the time. Derek's parents surprise her, not only are they like her own parents Derek's mother wants to be in on helping solve the mystery. While asking questions and searching for clues Brooklyn thinks there is a problem with the Alice and Wonderland book at the bookstore. Is the book in some way responsible for the murder? Why do so many people suddenly have copies of it? Follow along with Brooklyn as she works her way through the many twists and turns that this murder leads her on. Carlisle unquestionably knows how to weave a marvelous mystery together and I look forward to seeing what book Brooklyn works on next!
June 1, 2017
Rare books, impending nuptials, murder, and even more terrifying for Brooklyn, meeting her future in-laws for the first time come together in a delightful tale! ONCE UPON A SPINE by Kate Carlisle, the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series, captivated me from the very beginning. I love Brooklyn’s relationship with her parents, who are probably some of my favorite characters: a mom who is a hippy, new-age Wiccan and a dad who is a vintner. The fact that her fiancé, Derek, loves them too adds to the appeal. Derek won’t say how he thinks his upper-class British parents will react to meeting Brooklyn’s family, so Brooklyn is doubly worried. When they do meet, the fun starts. No spoilers here but in Brooklyn’s words, “Oh dear God!” and I was laughing out loud.
Brooklyn and Derek live in a small community within the large city of San Francisco and the author paints a vivid picture of how we sometimes see people in our own neighborhoods. People we may see quite frequently yet remain strangers can lead to remorse as it did for Brooklyn when one of her neighbors was murdered. Getting to actually know the people around us is what forms a close-knit community and creates friendships. Brooklyn, with the help of Derek, decides to solve the case and try to bring unity back to their neighborhood. The more Brooklyn asks questions the more puzzling the murder becomes. ONCE UPON A SPINE has a twisty, topsy-turvey plot and ending that is worthy of Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland!
Brooklyn and Derek are good hosts to the parents visiting them and there is lots of delicious foods mentioned and enjoyed throughout the book. Fortunately for the reader, Kate has included several appetizer recipes that the families enjoyed one evening. They all sound delectable but to add to the fun book, each recipe has a very humorous title or play on words.
Brooklyn and Derek live in a small community within the large city of San Francisco and the author paints a vivid picture of how we sometimes see people in our own neighborhoods. People we may see quite frequently yet remain strangers can lead to remorse as it did for Brooklyn when one of her neighbors was murdered. Getting to actually know the people around us is what forms a close-knit community and creates friendships. Brooklyn, with the help of Derek, decides to solve the case and try to bring unity back to their neighborhood. The more Brooklyn asks questions the more puzzling the murder becomes. ONCE UPON A SPINE has a twisty, topsy-turvey plot and ending that is worthy of Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland!
Brooklyn and Derek are good hosts to the parents visiting them and there is lots of delicious foods mentioned and enjoyed throughout the book. Fortunately for the reader, Kate has included several appetizer recipes that the families enjoyed one evening. They all sound delectable but to add to the fun book, each recipe has a very humorous title or play on words.
July 26, 2017
Another great addition to Bibliophile Mysteries. Kate Carlisle's Once Upon a Spine is a dynamic addition to her Bibliophile Mysteries. Now that Brooklyn and Derek are engaged, Derek's parents are arriving for a visit and to meet Brooklyn. Needless to say, Brooklyn is a bit nervous. Will her parents and Derek's get along? Will Derek's parents like Brooklyn? Let me just say that Brooklyn is wasting time worrying. With Brooklyn's parents, Derek's parents, Brooklyn, Derek, and a few neighborhood
merchant friends of Brooklyn and Derek, it seems as though I, the reader, am mixed up I'm a Marx
brothers' movie. Great fun for everyone except Joey, of course, including the police. 4 1/4 stars!
merchant friends of Brooklyn and Derek, it seems as though I, the reader, am mixed up I'm a Marx
brothers' movie. Great fun for everyone except Joey, of course, including the police. 4 1/4 stars!
December 26, 2018
I really enjoy this series featuring book restorer Brooklyn and her fiance Derek. In this story, Brooklyn and Derek must solve the murder of a neighboring business owner, as well as solve the rash of burglaries and vandalisms that are occurring in their neighborhood. To add more stress to the situation, Derek's parents are coming for a visit and Brooklyn gets to meet them for the first time. While she is eager to see them, she is very worried about the impressio her own hippie-style parents will have on her very proper, soon-to-be in-laws from England.
December 28, 2019
I enjoyed this book as I do the whole series.
Brooklyn is kept busy between a murder mystery, visiting in-laws to be, her parents and vandalism. I enjoyed the characters, and hope that we get to see more of the in-laws. The shop keepers kept things lively, especially the bickering bookstore owners. The mystery was good, the ending a little chaotic which I actually found amusing. A very enjoyable read and I will continue on with the next in this series.
There is the bonus of some recipes in the back.
Brooklyn is kept busy between a murder mystery, visiting in-laws to be, her parents and vandalism. I enjoyed the characters, and hope that we get to see more of the in-laws. The shop keepers kept things lively, especially the bickering bookstore owners. The mystery was good, the ending a little chaotic which I actually found amusing. A very enjoyable read and I will continue on with the next in this series.
There is the bonus of some recipes in the back.
June 8, 2017
Though this is book 11 in the series, it's the first one I've had a chance to read. It was a great book, and I wasn't confused about any of the characters. This can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book for an honest review. Receiving the book did not influence my opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
DISCLAIMER: I received this book for an honest review. Receiving the book did not influence my opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 12, 2017
Brooklyn Wainwright is worrying about meeting her future in-laws in just a few days when she stumbles upon another body. She and her fiance Derek Stone work together to find out what is going on along with Inspector Janice Lee. The death seems to stem from the ownership of two volumes of Alice In Wonderland, or does it? Could it be that someone is trying to sell the shops across the street from where Brooklyn and and Derek live? Maybe someone doesn't want to see that sale happen?
I usually jump right into these books but I had a little bit of trouble getting started on this one. After a few chapters I was hooked as usual though.
I usually jump right into these books but I had a little bit of trouble getting started on this one. After a few chapters I was hooked as usual though.
April 21, 2017
I really enjoyed this light mystery. It is the 11th book in the series, but it was easy enough to follow along, not having read the others prior to this. I was glad to be given the opportunity to read it through Net Galley.
Brooklyn is a book binder who lives in a quiet community on the edge of San Francisco. She and her fiance have a quiet, peaceful life until Brooklyn discovers the local shoe repairman under a bookshelf at the organic food store. The food store operator is injured, too, and can't explain what happened. Brooklyn's curiosity won't let her rest until she explores the mystery and helps uncover the truth.
I liked the language of the book - it was a serious topic (murder) but it was not portrayed in a blood-and-guts, morbid fashion. The main characters were easy to like, and the lack of angst in the heroine's life was a refreshing change. The plot made me want to curl up and read without stressing about life, or the story, which was perfect for a relaxing read. I am looking forward to going back and reading other books by this author, and beginning the series from the first book.
Brooklyn is a book binder who lives in a quiet community on the edge of San Francisco. She and her fiance have a quiet, peaceful life until Brooklyn discovers the local shoe repairman under a bookshelf at the organic food store. The food store operator is injured, too, and can't explain what happened. Brooklyn's curiosity won't let her rest until she explores the mystery and helps uncover the truth.
I liked the language of the book - it was a serious topic (murder) but it was not portrayed in a blood-and-guts, morbid fashion. The main characters were easy to like, and the lack of angst in the heroine's life was a refreshing change. The plot made me want to curl up and read without stressing about life, or the story, which was perfect for a relaxing read. I am looking forward to going back and reading other books by this author, and beginning the series from the first book.
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