What do you think?
Rate this book
A Booklover's Mystery #2
Unbound
England's prestigious Plumtree Press is about to release a shocking book that exposes coded messages in a famous novel--codes alleged to be printer's errors. The messages are so treacherous, that if discovered at the original time of publication, the author would have been hung for treason. Now, with someone ruthlessly trying to keep this revealing expose out of stores, Alex Plumtree must protect his star author and family's legacy before the phrase "publish or perish" becomes all too real!
417 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 3, 1997
4 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 16, 2007
In the mood for a nice, cozy, English mystery? Look elsewhere, because this one takes itself far too seriously for the genre. The plot was laughably complicated, pulling in terrorist organizations and conspiracies. The protagonist is annoying and unlikable--his relationships with his "girlfriends" and brother are awkward and painful to read. Skip this one!
March 10, 2017
I know alot of people call this book absurd, and it totally is. Absurd is the absolutely correct word for it. But to me it was so absurd that it was a hoot, and I loved the writing style. I had a great time reading this one.
June 10, 2020
"PUBLISH AND PERISH
Plumtree Press is about to launch a bombshell of a book -- a fact-based novel about one of Britain's most revered authors, Marcus Stonecypher, a member of Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury Group. Angela Mayfield's shocking book reveals a series of explosive secret messages in Stonecypher's own novels published at the turn of the century, messages that implicate him in secrets of publishers past and a treacherous plot to topple the monarchy. It soon becomes clear to publisher Alex Plumtree that someone will go to any length to keep Angela's revelations from seeing print -- but why, decades after the fact, should anyone care?
"First come anonymous warnings, then, on the eve of publication, Alex's library of precious first editions is vandalized. When deadly warnings and industrial sabotage imperil the book's publication, Alex realizes he and his author have made some very powerful enemies. And then the titles of Stonecypher's books become actual events and Alex finds himself threatened with censorship of the most permanent kind ..."
~~backcover
Although there was still a lot of violence and mayhem in this second book of the series, I liked it a bit better. I do like the "hero", Alex Plumtree, and enjoy the secondary motif of his seemingly hopeless love for Sarah, granddaughter of Alex's partner Ian. Amd there's a surprise ending of course ... who saw that coming? Not me!
Plumtree Press is about to launch a bombshell of a book -- a fact-based novel about one of Britain's most revered authors, Marcus Stonecypher, a member of Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury Group. Angela Mayfield's shocking book reveals a series of explosive secret messages in Stonecypher's own novels published at the turn of the century, messages that implicate him in secrets of publishers past and a treacherous plot to topple the monarchy. It soon becomes clear to publisher Alex Plumtree that someone will go to any length to keep Angela's revelations from seeing print -- but why, decades after the fact, should anyone care?
"First come anonymous warnings, then, on the eve of publication, Alex's library of precious first editions is vandalized. When deadly warnings and industrial sabotage imperil the book's publication, Alex realizes he and his author have made some very powerful enemies. And then the titles of Stonecypher's books become actual events and Alex finds himself threatened with censorship of the most permanent kind ..."
~~backcover
Although there was still a lot of violence and mayhem in this second book of the series, I liked it a bit better. I do like the "hero", Alex Plumtree, and enjoy the secondary motif of his seemingly hopeless love for Sarah, granddaughter of Alex's partner Ian. Amd there's a surprise ending of course ... who saw that coming? Not me!
June 20, 2015
I am so glad that I found this series. It's a bit like reading a Dick Francis mystery in the horse world, rather it's set in the book world...I love books....
Not to the point of most of the characters in this book. They collect and are always on the hunt for rarities and are willing to do just about anything it takes, pay whatever sum required to obtain.
Main character Alex Plumtree owns Plumtree Press and continues to be in danger just like in the first book in the series, UNSOLICITED. He has some issues against him, like his failing eyesight. It doesn't keep him from finding out what is going on when his life is threatened over the upcoming announcement of a book that Plumtree Press is about to release. It's earth-shattering to a certain group of people and apparently they will do whatever it takes to stop the release.
I need to get the rest of the series, read them and get them to my dad who loves them too. He is the one who turned me onto Dick Francis back in the day. We both enjoy finding books that the other will enjoy too.
Definite recommend.
Not to the point of most of the characters in this book. They collect and are always on the hunt for rarities and are willing to do just about anything it takes, pay whatever sum required to obtain.
Main character Alex Plumtree owns Plumtree Press and continues to be in danger just like in the first book in the series, UNSOLICITED. He has some issues against him, like his failing eyesight. It doesn't keep him from finding out what is going on when his life is threatened over the upcoming announcement of a book that Plumtree Press is about to release. It's earth-shattering to a certain group of people and apparently they will do whatever it takes to stop the release.
I need to get the rest of the series, read them and get them to my dad who loves them too. He is the one who turned me onto Dick Francis back in the day. We both enjoy finding books that the other will enjoy too.
Definite recommend.
December 14, 2007
I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I found it just poorly written and unlikeable. Could it be that I was just not in the mood for it? Perhaps, but life is too short to finish a recreational book that I am just not enjoying.
July 27, 2024
very unrealistic and absurd. i should probably give it a one but since i don't have the ability to write a book i figure even if it's bad she should get points for smthg.
October 5, 2020
This is both a fast-action and a cerebral mystery series. If you read it, you’ll do so because you’ll love Alex Plumtree. If you read it and hate it, you’ll do so because much of the action is absurd by every measure. Someone shoots Alex at one point, and he acts thereafter like a mosquito bit him. The gunshot thing? No big deal at all. He bleeds, he runs, he does it all. Ridiculous.
Alex operates a small press he inherited from his dad. His brother, Max, would have inherited the place, but Max was a strung-out druggie in book one. (He is successfully rehabilitated in this second book).
Alex is about to publish a book that reveals a secret code crafted by another book his company had published after World War I. This first book included deliberate misprints which were actually coded messages that, had they been decoded at the time the original book was published, would have brought down a treason charge on the author and perhaps the publishing company.
There is a secretive cabal who doesn’t want attention focused on the old, misprinted book, and that cabal will force Alex to cease publication of the new book even if its members have to kill the book’s author and Alex.
I’ll read future books in this series, and I’ll hope someone else reads the audio. I didn’t care much for his narration. It was serviceable, but that’s about all you can say for it.
There’s lots of suspense here as Alex is both shot and bricked inside a hidden wall in his press building. Only a bit of luck gets him rescued, and there’s so much of that in this book that it becomes a bit over the top.
Alex operates a small press he inherited from his dad. His brother, Max, would have inherited the place, but Max was a strung-out druggie in book one. (He is successfully rehabilitated in this second book).
Alex is about to publish a book that reveals a secret code crafted by another book his company had published after World War I. This first book included deliberate misprints which were actually coded messages that, had they been decoded at the time the original book was published, would have brought down a treason charge on the author and perhaps the publishing company.
There is a secretive cabal who doesn’t want attention focused on the old, misprinted book, and that cabal will force Alex to cease publication of the new book even if its members have to kill the book’s author and Alex.
I’ll read future books in this series, and I’ll hope someone else reads the audio. I didn’t care much for his narration. It was serviceable, but that’s about all you can say for it.
There’s lots of suspense here as Alex is both shot and bricked inside a hidden wall in his press building. Only a bit of luck gets him rescued, and there’s so much of that in this book that it becomes a bit over the top.
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!)
December 27, 2019
Having read another book in the series, I expected better when I was reading this book. The turns and twists in this book were not interesting but rather frustrating, and were so convoluted that it was impossible to follow. In this particular book, Alex Plumtree was just whiny almost to the point of neurotic and not very interesting at all. The various characters around him were not much better. I was very disappointed with this one, and I hope that the next one that I read will be better. If you want to check out the series, I suggest trying one of the other books first.
August 5, 2023
The redeeming quality of this book was the info on rare books and first editions.
The plot had serious difficulties, the ending was unbelievable and really didn't like the main character.
i could go on and on with spoilers about things that were irritating but feel like it's not worth my time.
The plot had serious difficulties, the ending was unbelievable and really didn't like the main character.
i could go on and on with spoilers about things that were irritating but feel like it's not worth my time.
March 18, 2021
Another great read from this series. It is amazing to me that Alex Plumtree can get into so many dangerous situations and still come out alive. Who would believe that Publishing could be so dangerous to ones health.
May 15, 2017
This time I read the real paperback that I bought back when it was first published. Certainly its been years since I first read it and still a joy to read.
November 14, 2021
Goes a little too far in stretching the plausible.
September 30, 2022
It was a little long winded, but was a really good read.
January 2, 2024
It too a little while, but once the action starts it just doesn't stop! I am enjoying this series.
March 25, 2025
A cozy mystery that is fun to read. The characters in this series are very likable but find themselves in bad situations. They manage to come out ok though.
May 12, 2025
3 1/2 Stars
September 27, 2010
Just finished Julie Kaewert's Unbound as my second book in the AUTUMN challenge. It's a really good book, the story is great and very absorbing. My only complaint would be a little too much introspection on the part of the protagonist. Some of the internal dialogue just goes on forever and I found myself skimming over it. At 415 pages, it's a hefty "cozy" and all that internal dialogue sometimes made what is actually a fast moving story feel as thought it were plodding along. Will continue with this series but am taking a break before starting the next one.
December 11, 2009
Hooray, it's The DaVinci Code for booklovers! This fast-paced, page-turning, highly unbelievable plot makes the book hard to put down. Luckily for us all, it's better written than Dan Brown's bestseller.
I learned a new book term from this: "fore-edge", which is the term for the side of the pages opposite the spine. Now I can say, "I hate it when the fore-edge is all ragged!" I just have to be careful not to accidentally say "foreskin".
Enjoyable read for book nerd / archivist types.
I learned a new book term from this: "fore-edge", which is the term for the side of the pages opposite the spine. Now I can say, "I hate it when the fore-edge is all ragged!" I just have to be careful not to accidentally say "foreskin".
Enjoyable read for book nerd / archivist types.
August 8, 2012
The premise of the mystery involved a world domination plot and of course, our main character is at the center of it and apparently the only person who either knows of it or can save the world. And this small publishing house owner defeats a couple of people and the world is saved. The build up was not too bad but this character is not James Bond and therefore the wrap up was just preposterous, and seemed like the author had gotten to that point and then was told the end had to come in a page and a half and so it did.
March 10, 2009
UNBOUND (Ama Sleuth-Alex Plumtree-Cont) - Okay
Kaewert, Julie - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: When hidden messages are found in a book about to be published that will reveal truths about an ancient scandal, publisher Alex Plumtree becomes victimized by someone who will stop at nothing to deter the book's publication, including murder.
The information about the publishing industry was interesting; however, a woman writing a man's voice just did not ring true.
Kaewert, Julie - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: When hidden messages are found in a book about to be published that will reveal truths about an ancient scandal, publisher Alex Plumtree becomes victimized by someone who will stop at nothing to deter the book's publication, including murder.
The information about the publishing industry was interesting; however, a woman writing a man's voice just did not ring true.
April 5, 2010
I enjoyed this book selling mystery featuring Alex Plumtree. I especially liked how he discovers who is after him and the writer Angela Mayfield and why. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Unprintable.
August 27, 2009
An excellent study in the world of publishers, authors and publishing. Alex Plumtree is in the middle of a mystery as he tries to get an expose bio pubished of a well-known and beloved mystery writer. Mixed with romance and some really evil book nuts, this was a fun read.
April 17, 2012
I have read two other books in this series and enjoyed them far more than this one. This was just too implausible. Alex Plumtree becomes super human in chasing after the bad guys and refuses to get help from the police.
February 19, 2016
I've read several of Julie Kaewert's books about the book publishing business in London. They are light and airy, a little formulaic but each one a fun read with interesting tidbits about the book world.
August 13, 2010
great series. smart writing, not a cozy mystery so much - continual cliff hangers that kept me reading
August 19, 2012
For some reason, this is my least favorite of the series. If you haven't read the others, don't stop at this one.
July 19, 2014
Anyone else just not buying the love story? There are mobile phones so you know it's not a period romance although I reads like it. That or a YA.
did-not-finish
May 3, 2018I got more than halfway through this but had to quit. The story was so implausible and the main character completely boring. Also, I despise the use of "If only I had known..." and the main character said it every other chapter.
July 2, 2018
Better than book #1 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews