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A Booklover's Mystery #1
Unsolicited
From bestseller to death-dealer
London's Plumtree Press has a world-class bestseller of a novel. And the sequel is earmarked to get this old family firm out of the red. But its anonymous author, known to Plumtree only as "Arthur," has apparently vanished, leaving the crucial last five chapters undelivered. Alex already knows they reveal the identity of the characters who smuggled British children to America during World War II. But, of course, this is fiction. So when a lead critic previews the book as a nonfiction expose, Alex is shocked. Even more so when the critic is murdered...and Alex finds himself the target of a ruthless hunt for the manuscript and bizarre attempts on his life. Ducking newshounds, government officials, and the sniping of jealous publishers, Alex knows only one thing: If he can't find Arthur and untangle the truth, his next season's list may be a posthumous one.
London's Plumtree Press has a world-class bestseller of a novel. And the sequel is earmarked to get this old family firm out of the red. But its anonymous author, known to Plumtree only as "Arthur," has apparently vanished, leaving the crucial last five chapters undelivered. Alex already knows they reveal the identity of the characters who smuggled British children to America during World War II. But, of course, this is fiction. So when a lead critic previews the book as a nonfiction expose, Alex is shocked. Even more so when the critic is murdered...and Alex finds himself the target of a ruthless hunt for the manuscript and bizarre attempts on his life. Ducking newshounds, government officials, and the sniping of jealous publishers, Alex knows only one thing: If he can't find Arthur and untangle the truth, his next season's list may be a posthumous one.
318 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1994
52 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 9, 2017
I love all the books in this series by Julie Kaewert! Bought the first four books many years ago, in a local bookstore, and searched out the rest of the series. Then I bought several of them a second time, after they were lost in a fire. The narrator reminds me of the best Dick Francis heroes ... he is polite, unassuming, honest, and stronger than he knows, with a great sense of humor. Alex has inherited a small publishing business in London, and he finds that the book business is more dangerous than he ever suspected. If you love books, and enjoy a good old-fashioned hero, this book is for you. I just wish there were more books in the series!
(This is a copy of my review posted on Amazon.com on March 9, 2017. I'm going to copy it into all the books of this series -- they are that good!)
(This is a copy of my review posted on Amazon.com on March 9, 2017. I'm going to copy it into all the books of this series -- they are that good!)
April 14, 2020
PROTAGONIST: Alex Plumtree, publisher
SETTING: London area
SERIES: #1
RATING: 2.75
WHY: Alex Plumtree is the owner and publisher of a small press called Plumtree Press. They have recently experienced great success after the publication of an unsolicited manuscript. The second book which is about the kidnapping of children during World War II to be repatriated to the US is eagerly awaited. But what nobody knows is that the anonymous author has gone missing before submitting the last 5 chapters which would name the villains. Somebody doesn’t want that revealed, and Alex as well as some of his colleagues is threatened. In fact, before the halfway point of the book, Alex is in great danger at least 5 times which stretched credulity. Later, there is a weird encounter on an elevator which was completely ridiculous, more threats. The book showed promise of being a good medium boiled mystery but did not succeed. The author went way overboard in the kinds of things that Alex, a mild-mannered publisher, and his girl friend (soon to be girlfriend) went through .
SETTING: London area
SERIES: #1
RATING: 2.75
WHY: Alex Plumtree is the owner and publisher of a small press called Plumtree Press. They have recently experienced great success after the publication of an unsolicited manuscript. The second book which is about the kidnapping of children during World War II to be repatriated to the US is eagerly awaited. But what nobody knows is that the anonymous author has gone missing before submitting the last 5 chapters which would name the villains. Somebody doesn’t want that revealed, and Alex as well as some of his colleagues is threatened. In fact, before the halfway point of the book, Alex is in great danger at least 5 times which stretched credulity. Later, there is a weird encounter on an elevator which was completely ridiculous, more threats. The book showed promise of being a good medium boiled mystery but did not succeed. The author went way overboard in the kinds of things that Alex, a mild-mannered publisher, and his girl friend (soon to be girlfriend) went through .
February 24, 2024
Refreshing mystery read with some really likable characters. It was fairly clear it was a first book by the author (at least, I think so!) as some of the writing was a little clunky. The first person narrator would often have foreshadowing statements, and the villain's monologue reveal at the end was almost funny because it was so "Let me stop in the middle of this crisis and tell you exactly why I did all of this." There were a number of times in the narrative where the tension ramped and I thought something awful was going to happen...and it didn't. The crazy thing was, this was almost a relief to read, because so many current novels work on the premise of nonstop tension and calamity.
So despite the downsides, I finished the book and kept wondering about what else would happen to the characters, which is a positive sign for me that I enjoyed the story. It was also delightful to "step back in time" to the '90's.
So despite the downsides, I finished the book and kept wondering about what else would happen to the characters, which is a positive sign for me that I enjoyed the story. It was also delightful to "step back in time" to the '90's.
May 6, 2018
This was an interesting book. Definitely a different "flavour" of mystery than I am used to, but I enjoyed it.
I think the difference in feel and tone and pacing that I experienced with this book is likely a result of the author being British [or at least having lived there for some time] and that's not a bad thing per se, but it did make for a very different experience. Different enough that I feel compelled to at least mention it.
What is the difference you may ask? For one thing the feel and tone is understated compared to many of the US mysteries I've read. I presume it's the "Keep calm and carry on" thing the British are so famous for, because even when very dramatic things were happening there was a calm and organized feel to the pace and the plot. The best way I can describe it, is that in an American story everything feels like it has an exclamation mark, whereas here the action felt punctuated with semi-colons and commas instead.
That's not to say this story lacked drama or excitement - that is definitely not the case. It just felt more organized and I guess controlled. I was definitely turning pages quickly at certain points, but the tone of the whole book just felt very quintessentially "British" which to me is under control and calm.
I mostly liked the main character Alex, although his obsession with Sarah kind of got on my nerves at times. I liked how he went about the investigating and mostly his choices made sense and didn't irritate me, as some amateur sleuths have a tendency to do.
I definitely liked all the supporting characters. Some were comic relief - like Lisette, whom I loved! Others, like Sarah, and the other book publisher friends of Alex's helped move the story along. They all worked and I enjoyed the characters in this book.
The plot itself was just so-so for me, but then the second world war isn't a period I'm very interested in to start with so that connection would never have been "my thing" and I can't fault the author or the book for that - that's more about me. If you DO like that era, then you will likely really enjoy that side plot line.
Overall, I enjoyed this, although I don't know if I would go out of my way to read others in this series, especially as my library does not have them in its catalogue. But it was an entertaining read.
I think the difference in feel and tone and pacing that I experienced with this book is likely a result of the author being British [or at least having lived there for some time] and that's not a bad thing per se, but it did make for a very different experience. Different enough that I feel compelled to at least mention it.
What is the difference you may ask? For one thing the feel and tone is understated compared to many of the US mysteries I've read. I presume it's the "Keep calm and carry on" thing the British are so famous for, because even when very dramatic things were happening there was a calm and organized feel to the pace and the plot. The best way I can describe it, is that in an American story everything feels like it has an exclamation mark, whereas here the action felt punctuated with semi-colons and commas instead.
That's not to say this story lacked drama or excitement - that is definitely not the case. It just felt more organized and I guess controlled. I was definitely turning pages quickly at certain points, but the tone of the whole book just felt very quintessentially "British" which to me is under control and calm.
I mostly liked the main character Alex, although his obsession with Sarah kind of got on my nerves at times. I liked how he went about the investigating and mostly his choices made sense and didn't irritate me, as some amateur sleuths have a tendency to do.
I definitely liked all the supporting characters. Some were comic relief - like Lisette, whom I loved! Others, like Sarah, and the other book publisher friends of Alex's helped move the story along. They all worked and I enjoyed the characters in this book.
The plot itself was just so-so for me, but then the second world war isn't a period I'm very interested in to start with so that connection would never have been "my thing" and I can't fault the author or the book for that - that's more about me. If you DO like that era, then you will likely really enjoy that side plot line.
Overall, I enjoyed this, although I don't know if I would go out of my way to read others in this series, especially as my library does not have them in its catalogue. But it was an entertaining read.
March 16, 2017
Unbounded Joyful Read
When I first began reading Unsolicited, I had no idea what a pleasure was in store for me. I
have always enjoyed reading mysteries; however, I had no idea what this book had in store for me! I couldn't put it down. It was very well written and obviously well researched by the author. I highly recommend this book if you want a spellbinding read.
When I first began reading Unsolicited, I had no idea what a pleasure was in store for me. I
have always enjoyed reading mysteries; however, I had no idea what this book had in store for me! I couldn't put it down. It was very well written and obviously well researched by the author. I highly recommend this book if you want a spellbinding read.
November 6, 2014
Read my mini quickie review, part of the Bibliomystery Mania: For the Love of Books About Books blog post at From the Shadows.
April 19, 2015
Loved this book so much that I ordered two more of her titles! If you love mysteries, books, and London this book is for you. It probably is cataloged as a "Cozy" but has a super mystery in it.
January 3, 2024
Unsolicited (A Booklover's Mystery #1) by Julie Kaewert
First published July 1, 1994 by St Martins Press
I read the 318 page Mass Market Paperback pub. in 2000 by Bantam
Summary -
Young Alex Plumtree became the toast of the British book world when a hit novel saved his family publishing firm from bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the sequel upon which Plumtree Books has been banking is unfinished, and its mysterious author - known only as "Arthur" - has disappeared. While he scrambles to stave off his creditors and assure the public that the book is coming, Alex has some unfortunate "accidents" that seem more like death threats - particularly after the murder of a prominent reviewer who read the early chapters. When Alex realizes that Arthur's novel about kidnapped WWII war orphans is more fact than fiction, he has to search London and the American East Coast to find his would-be assassin and his missing author before he and his firm face a very untimely demise.
What I liked best and least -
A couple years ago I came across "Unprintable" - the third in the series - on my shelves. I proceeded to read it and found it thoroughly enjoyable. I felt completely immersed in the world of boutique publishing. This time 'round I decided to go to book #1 in the series and hoped it would not only be as enjoyable as #3 but serve as a steppingstone to the rest of the series. "Unsolicited" is a thriller, not a cozy mystery as identified by a number of reviewers. It's quite an engaging thriller at that. A good thriller for folks looking for a thriller. However, I was looking for something that would transport me back into the world of small presses - another story about an artisan publisher who has gotten involved in something that turns dangerous. Unfortunately (for me anyway), the publishing world aspect, although the backdrop to the story, did not loom large and was almost incidental to the intrigue and main focus of the story. I wouldn't be at all surprised if feedback from this story resulted in the author providing a bigger glimpse into the world of boutique publishing in subsequent releases. I might have to go on to "Unbound", book #2 in the series. But not right away - I have other things I must get to first.
First published July 1, 1994 by St Martins Press
I read the 318 page Mass Market Paperback pub. in 2000 by Bantam
Summary -
Young Alex Plumtree became the toast of the British book world when a hit novel saved his family publishing firm from bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the sequel upon which Plumtree Books has been banking is unfinished, and its mysterious author - known only as "Arthur" - has disappeared. While he scrambles to stave off his creditors and assure the public that the book is coming, Alex has some unfortunate "accidents" that seem more like death threats - particularly after the murder of a prominent reviewer who read the early chapters. When Alex realizes that Arthur's novel about kidnapped WWII war orphans is more fact than fiction, he has to search London and the American East Coast to find his would-be assassin and his missing author before he and his firm face a very untimely demise.
What I liked best and least -
A couple years ago I came across "Unprintable" - the third in the series - on my shelves. I proceeded to read it and found it thoroughly enjoyable. I felt completely immersed in the world of boutique publishing. This time 'round I decided to go to book #1 in the series and hoped it would not only be as enjoyable as #3 but serve as a steppingstone to the rest of the series. "Unsolicited" is a thriller, not a cozy mystery as identified by a number of reviewers. It's quite an engaging thriller at that. A good thriller for folks looking for a thriller. However, I was looking for something that would transport me back into the world of small presses - another story about an artisan publisher who has gotten involved in something that turns dangerous. Unfortunately (for me anyway), the publishing world aspect, although the backdrop to the story, did not loom large and was almost incidental to the intrigue and main focus of the story. I wouldn't be at all surprised if feedback from this story resulted in the author providing a bigger glimpse into the world of boutique publishing in subsequent releases. I might have to go on to "Unbound", book #2 in the series. But not right away - I have other things I must get to first.
November 26, 2017
Alex Plumtree has taken over his family's business, Plumbtree Publishing, after the death of his parents and his older brother's inability to run the business at a profit. He knew from his father's experience that the publishing business was cut-throat, but had no idea it might almost lead to his death, the death of his beloved Sarah, and the ruin of his father's memory.
His first brush with death came two years after he took over the business and seemed merely like an unfortunate accident. At a party given by a rival publisher one of the "decorations" a six foot long, 500 pound roll of printing paper falls from the ceiling and nearly kills him and two other guests at the party. Alex doesn't think anything is suspicious until one of the other guests, a newspaperman who writes book reviews is killed. At first it seems like an accident, but the widow isn't so sure.
Alex decides he must investigate as the last review the newspaperman had written was of the second fiction book published by Plumbtree Publishing. This, and the first fiction book they had published, were written by an author known only as Arthur. He conducted all business with Alex by fax and sections of the book were hand delivered by a delivery service.
In the second book there are hints that this might not be fiction, but rather a true and terrible event during World War II in which three boatloads of children were sent from war-torn England to stay in the states for the duration. Upon arrival in the US the children were told that their parents had died in bombings, while the unharmed parents were told that the children's boat had been sunk by u-boats. In actuality the children were then adopted and exorbitant fees had been paid by the adoptive parents.
Alex becomes aware of this gradually and his life is in danger as he has the only manuscript of the book.. Those following him do not know that Alex has yet to receive the last five chapters of the book in which the villain's name would be revealed. Alex is literally chased from his flat (it's burnt), then from London, to Boston and finally to Nantucket, before the killers are caught.
His first brush with death came two years after he took over the business and seemed merely like an unfortunate accident. At a party given by a rival publisher one of the "decorations" a six foot long, 500 pound roll of printing paper falls from the ceiling and nearly kills him and two other guests at the party. Alex doesn't think anything is suspicious until one of the other guests, a newspaperman who writes book reviews is killed. At first it seems like an accident, but the widow isn't so sure.
Alex decides he must investigate as the last review the newspaperman had written was of the second fiction book published by Plumbtree Publishing. This, and the first fiction book they had published, were written by an author known only as Arthur. He conducted all business with Alex by fax and sections of the book were hand delivered by a delivery service.
In the second book there are hints that this might not be fiction, but rather a true and terrible event during World War II in which three boatloads of children were sent from war-torn England to stay in the states for the duration. Upon arrival in the US the children were told that their parents had died in bombings, while the unharmed parents were told that the children's boat had been sunk by u-boats. In actuality the children were then adopted and exorbitant fees had been paid by the adoptive parents.
Alex becomes aware of this gradually and his life is in danger as he has the only manuscript of the book.. Those following him do not know that Alex has yet to receive the last five chapters of the book in which the villain's name would be revealed. Alex is literally chased from his flat (it's burnt), then from London, to Boston and finally to Nantucket, before the killers are caught.
May 30, 2020
This is a charming mystery with one of the most likable protagonists I’ve read in a while. Open this to enter the world of Alex Plumtree. He’s a single guy with a wayward brother. That wayward brother had initially inherited a multi-generational family publishing business, and when he nearly destroyed it, Alex had to step in and rescue the business.
But the business is in trouble again. Alex had published a book that had been wildly successful. The book’s author offered to write a sequel, which promised to be equally amazing. The sequel has arrived, but it’s missing its final five chapters. The author is a mysterious man who insists on going by the name of Arthur. He never meets with Alex in person, and he sends his manuscript in by courier. Arthur has disappeared, and Alex is nervously awaiting those final five chapters. If they fail to arrive, his publishing company is broke.
To his horror, Alex learns that Arthur’s fictional book is nonfiction. Worse still, someone somewhere desperately wants Arthur’s manuscript because of its tell-all nature. They want it so much that they will kill Alex, if necessary, to prevent Alex from publishing the book.
You’re drawn into this book almost immediately when Alex attends a party hosted by a publishing competitor where Alex is nearly killed in what looks like an accident. Then someone murders a book critic who writes about Arthur’s book, and somebody frames Alex for the murder.
A Goodreads reviewer compares Alex to any number of Dick Francis’s characters. I love that comparison; it’s accurate. Alex is super likable. He’s a polite guy anchored in decency. He is obsessed with Sarah, an American woman with whom he went to university in the states. Her husband died unexpectedly, and Alex has worshipped her from afar for years. I found the obsession charming. Who among us hasn’t been charmed and impressed by someone who never knew they had such an effect on us? So it is with Alex and Sarah, and it’s a lovely thing to read about. I’m up for the next book in this series, Unbound.
But the business is in trouble again. Alex had published a book that had been wildly successful. The book’s author offered to write a sequel, which promised to be equally amazing. The sequel has arrived, but it’s missing its final five chapters. The author is a mysterious man who insists on going by the name of Arthur. He never meets with Alex in person, and he sends his manuscript in by courier. Arthur has disappeared, and Alex is nervously awaiting those final five chapters. If they fail to arrive, his publishing company is broke.
To his horror, Alex learns that Arthur’s fictional book is nonfiction. Worse still, someone somewhere desperately wants Arthur’s manuscript because of its tell-all nature. They want it so much that they will kill Alex, if necessary, to prevent Alex from publishing the book.
You’re drawn into this book almost immediately when Alex attends a party hosted by a publishing competitor where Alex is nearly killed in what looks like an accident. Then someone murders a book critic who writes about Arthur’s book, and somebody frames Alex for the murder.
A Goodreads reviewer compares Alex to any number of Dick Francis’s characters. I love that comparison; it’s accurate. Alex is super likable. He’s a polite guy anchored in decency. He is obsessed with Sarah, an American woman with whom he went to university in the states. Her husband died unexpectedly, and Alex has worshipped her from afar for years. I found the obsession charming. Who among us hasn’t been charmed and impressed by someone who never knew they had such an effect on us? So it is with Alex and Sarah, and it’s a lovely thing to read about. I’m up for the next book in this series, Unbound.
June 2, 2020
"London's Plumtree Press has a world-class bestseller of a novel. And the sequel is earmarked to get this old family firm out of the red. But its anonymous author, known to Plumtree only as 'Arthur,' has apparently vanished, leaving the crucial last five chapters undelivered. Alex already knows they reveal the identity of the characters who smuggled British children to America during World War II. But, of course, this is fiction. So when a lead critic previews the book as a nonfiction expose, Alex is shocked. Even more so when the critic is murdered ... and Alex finds himself the target of a ruthless hunt for the manuscript and bizarre attempts on his life. Ducking newshounds, government officials and the sniping of jealous publishers, Alex knows only one thing: If he can't find Arthur and untangle the truth, his next season's list may be a posthumous one."
~~back cover
The banner under the title on the front cover says "A Booklovers' Mystery" but this was more like a James Bond epic with a few references to books thrown in. Alex is attacked, his house burned to the ground, chased by hired thugs, etc. -- not your ordinary "booklovers mystery", ending in a wild, deadly dangerous stealth attack in the dark near Nantucket Island. Not my favorite genre, but I've collected all the books in this series, so here's hoping the rest will be a little less hair raising.
~~back cover
The banner under the title on the front cover says "A Booklovers' Mystery" but this was more like a James Bond epic with a few references to books thrown in. Alex is attacked, his house burned to the ground, chased by hired thugs, etc. -- not your ordinary "booklovers mystery", ending in a wild, deadly dangerous stealth attack in the dark near Nantucket Island. Not my favorite genre, but I've collected all the books in this series, so here's hoping the rest will be a little less hair raising.
August 18, 2017
The plot behind the book is great. A young man who has taken over his parents publishing business has found success through a mysterious author named Arthur. Arthurs first book is a huge success and proves quite profitable. Arthur disappearrs during the middle of writing of the sequel. A book reviewer reveals Arthurs book about British children that were sent over to America to escape the bombings during the war was actually a money making scam. The book reviewer was killed and thugs are trying to determine who Arthur is.
The plot was great, the character development and writing was ok.
The plot was great, the character development and writing was ok.
July 27, 2018
Good read. This is my first time reading Kaewert, but will not be my last. At first I thought the book dragged a little by being too wordy, but that cleared itself up. The action starts fairly soon into the book and doesn't let up. Alex returns to England to head up the family publishing business. Soon it becomes apparent that a slew of "accidents" aren't so accidental. From stoner brother Max, to a string of fellow publishers, to old family "friends"...who can you trust?
February 21, 2018
Registered on Bookcrossing - http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...
This was a great book. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I will be looking for more in this series. The main character Alex Plumtree is interesting, the story reads like an old Dashiell Hammett book, except this is in modern times and not quite as noir.
This was a great book. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I will be looking for more in this series. The main character Alex Plumtree is interesting, the story reads like an old Dashiell Hammett book, except this is in modern times and not quite as noir.
June 13, 2019
I read this book for the ATY 2019 Reading Challenge Week 12: A book about reading, books or an author/writer.
I wonder if book publishing in real life is as exciting as this? I try to read about 10% of a book in a day. When I get to 80%, I just finish it. Well, I suspended my rule at 60% and finished it. Exciting, fairly realistic, leaves a few questions to keep you reading the series.
I wonder if book publishing in real life is as exciting as this? I try to read about 10% of a book in a day. When I get to 80%, I just finish it. Well, I suspended my rule at 60% and finished it. Exciting, fairly realistic, leaves a few questions to keep you reading the series.
February 6, 2018
Well crafted mystery with a likable main character. I liked the insights into the publishing industry. I’m assuming it’s classified as a cozy but I found it to be more serious than average. Not as light and fluffy as most cozies. Perhaps because of the male protagonist?
December 30, 2019
This was my first experience with Ms. Kaewert's work, and I adored it! A great mystery that takes place in the world of publishing. Fabulous characters and an interesting plot, with lots of excitement and action. I'll definitely be continuing on in this series.
March 26, 2020
Fun to read details on a small British publishing house. Most of the book had a mild, understated, British tone until the end where it swung wildly (and improbably) into action-hero mode. Some unresolved issues at the end, which I assume is a come-on to read the rest of the series.
June 29, 2020
Super fun to time travel (not actually a time travel book) to the early 1990’s when this book was written. Very enjoyable characters and love the book publisher setting. Plan to read the whole series. This is one that probably should be read in order.
May 15, 2017
This is the first and only book available as an ebook (Kindle). I just hope they intend to convert the remaining books in the series and soon!
September 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book, thought some of the actions were super cool, near the end I lost some interest but it returned by the end. Lots of action and mystery for sure.
September 30, 2017
Good read
But during most of the plot is bogged down with details that get a little redundant and boring. Still, it is a good clean book with a few surprises.
But during most of the plot is bogged down with details that get a little redundant and boring. Still, it is a good clean book with a few surprises.
October 16, 2017
Fun to read, but mysteries like this in which the protagonist insists on doing everything themselves without involving the authorities tend to drive me crazy!
February 18, 2018
A bit grittier than a cozy mystery, the characters are engaging, the plot is intriguing and the story moves at a good pace.
March 7, 2018
Don’t really remember this story. Noted it was a first novel about a publishing house owner who decides to solve a crime by himself. Rather far-fetched in some ways.
June 30, 2019
Good mystery with just enough intricacy to keep you guessing. Would like to read the next in the series.
March 7, 2021
Fun read! Looking forward to reading others in this series.
March 15, 2021
What a great start to a new series (at least for me), it was a little slow to start, then the excitement began. Can't wait to start the next one.........
March 28, 2021
An interesting plot
September 17, 2022
4 - Very, Very Good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews