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Beloved Bookroom Mystery #1
The Broken Spine
When small-town assistant librarian Tru Beckett sets up a secret book room in her newly modernized library, she discovers that protecting the printed word is harder than she'd ever imagined. In fact, it's murder.
Trudell Becket, known to her friends as Tru, finds herself in a bind when her library in lovely Cypress, South Carolina, is turned into a state-of-the-art bookless "technological center." A library with no books breaks Tru's book-loving heart so she decides to rescue hundreds of beloved tomes slated for the town dump. Under the cover of darkness, Tru, along with her best friends--coffee shop owner Tori Green and mysterious bestselling author Flossie Finnegan-Baker--set up a secret bookroom in the library's basement and prepare to open it to their most loyal, trustworthy patrons.
But as Tru and her crew are putting the finishing touches on their new book room, the town manager, who was behind the big push for the library's transformation, is crushed by an overturned shelf of DVDs. Tru becomes the prime suspect as she hadn't hid the fact that she hated having all of those wonderful books replaced by tablets and computers. But if she gives the police her alibi, she'll have to explain about the secret book room and risk losing the books.
Tru knows she's in a heap of trouble, and it doesn't help that the officer in charge of the case is her old crush from high school, who broke her teenaged heart. To keep herself out of jail and her beloved bookroom up and running, Tru--with the help of Tori, Flossie, and a brown tabby stray cat named Dewey Decimal--decides to investigate. And faster than you can say "Shhhh!" Tru quickly finds herself on the same page with a killer who would love to write her final chapter. . . .
Trudell Becket, known to her friends as Tru, finds herself in a bind when her library in lovely Cypress, South Carolina, is turned into a state-of-the-art bookless "technological center." A library with no books breaks Tru's book-loving heart so she decides to rescue hundreds of beloved tomes slated for the town dump. Under the cover of darkness, Tru, along with her best friends--coffee shop owner Tori Green and mysterious bestselling author Flossie Finnegan-Baker--set up a secret bookroom in the library's basement and prepare to open it to their most loyal, trustworthy patrons.
But as Tru and her crew are putting the finishing touches on their new book room, the town manager, who was behind the big push for the library's transformation, is crushed by an overturned shelf of DVDs. Tru becomes the prime suspect as she hadn't hid the fact that she hated having all of those wonderful books replaced by tablets and computers. But if she gives the police her alibi, she'll have to explain about the secret book room and risk losing the books.
Tru knows she's in a heap of trouble, and it doesn't help that the officer in charge of the case is her old crush from high school, who broke her teenaged heart. To keep herself out of jail and her beloved bookroom up and running, Tru--with the help of Tori, Flossie, and a brown tabby stray cat named Dewey Decimal--decides to investigate. And faster than you can say "Shhhh!" Tru quickly finds herself on the same page with a killer who would love to write her final chapter. . . .
326 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 19, 2021
157 people are currently reading
3796 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy St. James
11 books588 followersPseudonym for author Dorothy McFalls
Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, tiny little dog and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.
Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.
Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, tiny little dog and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.
Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the tales that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
December 9, 2020
As a librarian for 20+ years, I couldn't resist the premise of this book. A library is discarding all of its books and going totally electronic and Tru, the assistant librarian, wants to rescue the books from being sent to a landfill. Then there is a murder in the building, and she is a suspect, despite it being obvious that she had nothing to do with the crime. Sadly, for me this book was filled with unlikable characters and a lame mystery plot--very disappointed, Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
October 8, 2022
Trudell Becket is shocked when she hears that the library where she works is going to become a bookless technology center -- digital only. In a panic to save what books she can, she enlists the help of some fellow employees to hide a stash of books in a hidden room in the library's basement. When the man responsible for the change is killed...in the library, no less....Trudell is a suspect. She and her secret bookroom crew have to do some amateur investigating to keep Trudell out of trouble!
I love my local library's digital site....but I would really hate it if the 3 libraries I use suddenly got rid of all their physical books, movies and music offerings!! I can see the benefits....but it would leave so many patrons wanting "real'' books! Not to mention those without a computer or device would be left out in the cold! I silently cheered Trudell as I read about them sneaking books to the basement....and I kinda didn't feel too badly about the guy who got offed. :) Just kidding....but still...he was a bit of a wanker. Taking books to the landfill??? Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!
I liked the characters and setting. The plot moved along at a nice pace and there was plenty of sleuthing and suspects. Very entertaining and fun to read!
Excellent start to a new cozy series! I'm eagerly awaiting book 2 in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I love my local library's digital site....but I would really hate it if the 3 libraries I use suddenly got rid of all their physical books, movies and music offerings!! I can see the benefits....but it would leave so many patrons wanting "real'' books! Not to mention those without a computer or device would be left out in the cold! I silently cheered Trudell as I read about them sneaking books to the basement....and I kinda didn't feel too badly about the guy who got offed. :) Just kidding....but still...he was a bit of a wanker. Taking books to the landfill??? Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!
I liked the characters and setting. The plot moved along at a nice pace and there was plenty of sleuthing and suspects. Very entertaining and fun to read!
Excellent start to a new cozy series! I'm eagerly awaiting book 2 in the Beloved Bookroom mystery series!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
June 7, 2021
When a town councilman is killed in her library, Trudell Becket, a prime suspect, investigates.
St. James gives us a solid plot that moves at a steady pace with abundant sleuthing, strong characters, and a host of suspects. The protagonist is lively, brilliant, and determined. The settings are well-described. And there's an adorable cat.
A fabulous start to a new cozy mystery series.
St. James gives us a solid plot that moves at a steady pace with abundant sleuthing, strong characters, and a host of suspects. The protagonist is lively, brilliant, and determined. The settings are well-described. And there's an adorable cat.
A fabulous start to a new cozy mystery series.
January 21, 2021
Tru Beckett is the assistant librarian in her small town. She’s always loved books, so when the town manager comes up with a plan to turn the library into a bookless “technology center,” she does the only thing she can think to do. She saves as many books as she can to set up in a secret bookroom in the library’s basement. She and her friends are almost done with their book rescue mission when the town manager is murdered, killed under a shelf of DVDs in the main library. The police are looking at Tru as a suspect, certain she is hiding something from them. But in order to keep her secret, and the books, safe, True has to find the real killer. Can she do it?
As a book lover, I immediately sympathized with Tru in her quest to save the books, and I love how that secret added an extra layer to her motivation to solve the murder. A couple of times, I thought the plot was slowing down, but then something would happen to jump start it again. The result was a book I never wanted to put down. I loved how everything came together at the end. The characters were all strong, even a couple who only had a few scenes. This is a strong, fun debut, and I can’t wait to visit Tru again.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As a book lover, I immediately sympathized with Tru in her quest to save the books, and I love how that secret added an extra layer to her motivation to solve the murder. A couple of times, I thought the plot was slowing down, but then something would happen to jump start it again. The result was a book I never wanted to put down. I loved how everything came together at the end. The characters were all strong, even a couple who only had a few scenes. This is a strong, fun debut, and I can’t wait to visit Tru again.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 15, 2021
When the town manager of Cypress, South Carolina plans to turn the library into a bookless "technology center" to draw tech companies to Cypress which will become the "Silicon Valley of the South," Trudell Becket's heart breaks! A bookless library? The horror! It's not just the books she loves like old friends but the library itself. It's been her home, her place of refuge, and her job. The mayor is all for getting rid of the moldy books and sending them to the landfill. He supports his friend's plan 100%. Trudell can't just let all those precious books go to the landfill! Tru gets the idea to build a secret library in the basement where loyal patrons can come and check out their favorite books without anyone the wiser. She carefully curates a collection and enlists the aid of her best friend Tori and her friend Flossie, a mysterious writer to help. Tori brings along her new man, Charlie, for muscle. Charlie seems to be a fellow bibliophile but who is he and can he be trusted? As night turns to morning and the library opens for the day, Tru hears a terrible crash and rushes upstairs to find Mr. Duggar, the town manager, crushed to death under a bookcase. Where is everyone else and why didn't they hear the noise? To make matters worse, Tru's high school crush who broke her heart, lied and cheated is back in town as a detective for the police force. Tru can't help thinking about the boy he was and that makes her extra nervous when he questions her. He knows she's hiding something. Tru tries to use the stray cat she found inside the building as an excuse. Her boss, Mrs. Farnsworth would fire Tru if she found so much as a cat hair upstairs. While Jace seems to love cats, he isn't buying her excuse. Then he's pushed aside as the state sends a more experienced detective, someone who believes Tru is the murderer! Tru is determined to find out who did this horrible thing and clear her name.
Ohhh nooooo! This book did not appeal to me. I tried to keep an open mind about the bookless library plot, which is preposterous in and of itself (I know of two bookless academic libraries, likely there are more). I tried to forgive the word descendant used for deceased. (Cringe! Where are the editors? Berkley has a bad track record of errors). However, I just couldn't get into this book. I pretty much abandoned it a little more than halfway through. I figured out who the murderer was and why right away. Maybe it was supposed to be obvious because Tru makes a reference to the villains in her favorite Carolyn Keene mysteries being obvious from the beginning. I did pick the book back up again in the morning and finished it but it just didn't appeal to me. I'm too much of a librarian for the plot to make sense to me. I DO wish authors who plan to write book themed mysteries consulted actual librarians. Not digital and emerging technology librarians but people who have worked in libraries for years. Jenn McKinlay's Library Lovers mysteries are perfect because Jenn McKinlay worked in a library for many years and her mom was a librarian! She knows what she's writing about. Dorothy St. James, sadly, does not.
The whole idea of a bookless library is stupid and doesn't make financial sense, especially in this town. If people are dirt poor, poorer than dirt poor, how do they have the money to pay taxes to support the digital library? How can they afford the technology? Will the library give out wifi hot spots too? Will they teach digital literacy? Setting aside the books for a moment, libraries are more than about books. They're community spaces where people can go to look for a job, learn English, learn new skills, learn a new language. Libraries are places where babies and toddlers go to experience literacy sometimes for the first time. They meet other babies/toddlers and learn to socialize. They learn to sit still and pay attention before they start school. They learn language. Moms meet other moms and have a chance to get out of the house. Kids have a safe space to go after school to do homework and hang out. Libraries provide community meeting spaces as well. While the technology center can do some of those things, if they eventually lock the doors, what will all those people do? Why would the mayor and town manager have absolute control over this project? Also, there are such things as library grants! There's also such things as library directors. Library directors plan budgets and buy books. They apply for grants and get grants to do things like fix up the library, add technology. The maker space sounded cool! My city library just got a grant to add a teen maker space in the basement. Books, media and technology can co-exist! Adding a CAFE to a technology center is asking for trouble. Liquids, food+ technology=disaster. E-books are expensive and only allow for so many checkouts. See This article for more reasons. SO... no... just no to the whole idea of a bookless library. Also, the town manager and mayor need to watch the 1957 movie Desk Set with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
Second, librarians come in all shapes, sizes and types now. No more old ladies in jackets and skirts shushing everyone. See also cat lovers. Not all librarians are cat lovers either.
Third, the villain's motive was INSANELY weak. No. Just no to that too. I love cozy mysteries but this one just missed the mark.
The plot might be forgivable if the characters were more appealing. I wanted to like Tru. She has a huge heart and she loves books so much! She even loves Georgette Heyer, presumably the mysteries because Heyer was listed in the company of Dorothy Sayers, Carolyn Keene, Daphne du Maurier and of course Agatha Christie. I thought, surely I'll click with a fellow Heyer lover?! Sadly, not so much. I didn't wish for Tru to be arrested but I wished she would grow a backbone, get a lawyer, stop suspecting one person, be a better friend and figure it all out. It was obvious! She would, of course, need evidence and that would be tough. Tru still hurts from the wrong a guy did her in high school 19 years ago. That makes sense because he did steal from her and his actions nearly cost her her future. That is unforgivable and he should be forced to make it up to her somehow. When Tru sees this guy again, she turns into Jell-O. He suspects she's guilty because she acts like it. What would Nancy Drew do? Tru is not a very good friend. It's all about her and her drama. Then she has the audacity to suspect her best friend of murder? What the heck? I admire Tru's dedication to helping patrons but she's selfishly motivated. When my neighborhood library was closing, they weeded their collection and sold it so I was able to grab my childhood favorites at a decent price. If the books are going to the landfill, why not wait until they're dumped and sneak out and go get them? Then you can legally start a library anywhere! Try starting with A Little Free Library box! That's what I would do in Tru's situation. Her job is on the line and she doesn't even really consider that. All she cares about is her secret library. What can Mrs. Farnsworth do if she finds out? Fire Tru? For what? My plan is better.
Tru's sleuthing skills need work. She is fixated on one person as the murderer just because she doesn't like that person. She's told not to mess with a scary, book ripping guy and yet she does. She continues to investigate even after someone is arrested. When the police don't tell her everything, she assumes she's still on the hook but they seem to have evidence that says otherwise. She does so many dumb things. Tru does have a big heart though. I'm not a cat person and I don't know if I'd go through as much trouble for Dewey as Tru does. I do love animals and I can see how he would work his way into my heart though.
Tru's BFF, Tori, is not my cup of tea. She's apparently a man-eater, married 4 times and everyone thinks her latest man toy will be #5. Tori, however, is a successful businesswoman so she must have brains. She could teach Tru a thing or two. She's a loyal friend and willing to break rules for Tru's secret library even though it doesn't seem like she's much of a reader. Flossie, an elderly writer, is a hoot. She's a spitfire with a snazzy wheelchair and a secretive manner. She never lets anyone see her writing. Flossie has a lot of sarcastic comments to make and is not a fan of the changes to the library. I don't think either of them would commit murder though.
Tru's dad seems cool, he's a bibliophile too. Her mom, however, is just AWFUL! She treats Tru like a child, constantly monitors what Tru eats and only worries about Tru not finding a man. Mrs. Becket wants grandchildren ASAP. UGH! I hate women like that. With a mother like that, it's no wonder Tru is so mousy. Maybe her mother killed Duggar to protect her baby's job?
Charlie is new in town. He comes from Las Vegas and wears a custom made suit. He clearly has money. He's strong and silent at first but then he opens up and reveals he's a bibliophile. His knowledge is astounding and better than Tru's. I think they would be a better match that Tori and Charlie. Charlie is mysterious about his past though. He says he was in law enforcement but how did he get the money to open a used bookstore? He knows a scary dude so I suspect by "law enforcement" he may mean the mob. I don't think he's the murderer but I think he knows more than he is revealing.
Mrs. Farnsworth is the stereotypical librarian. She's old and always shushing people. She rules the library with an iron fist. Is she the library director? Does she answer to the mayor? She seems to be under his thumb and as much as she hates the idea of a bookless library, doesn't complain. She was next on the murder scene after Tru so why doesn't anyone suspect her? Jace is not a very competent cop. First, he comes on the scene and uses the word descendant to mean deceased. I thought maybe he misspoke because he failed high school English but no, the local officers repeat the word in the context of deceased. Stop using auto correct people! Editors get a dictionary. Jace has a heart as big as Tru's though. He ends up courting her CAT! It's a little weird. One minute he suspects her of murder and the next he is bringing her cat presents. They gradually become friends but he doesn't quite trust her and she is afraid to reveal her secret. I think he would be surprised if he knew and I think he would keep her secret. The cat, Dewey, a tabby with skull-shaped markings on his head, grew on me. I'm not big on cats. He is a wild, wily one but ends up being good for Tru.
Duggar Hargrove, the town's new, aggressive town manager, is a moron. He's probably never read a book in his life. A bookless library? He's all about the future and bringing businesses to town and that's all well and good but someone else brings up gentrification and how soon the locals won't be able to afford their own houses. The library is the same thing. It's a refuge and a gathering place, a source of information and a source of pleasure. He bulldozes in with his plan. It's not much of a plan. Just slap in some technology and hope no one shows up so we can shutter the doors of the building for good. Um how exactly is that going to help the town? Where are the voters, the taxpayers? The library board? Can he even legally do that? Like Tru, I didn't weep when he was murdered. It was poetic justice. His buddy, Mayor Goodvale is just as bad. The two of them have giant egos. Mayor Goodvale doesn't understand the intrinsic worth of books. He's a vain, selfish man. At first I assumed his son Luke was cut from the same cloth but then I realized Luke was put in a tough spot. He failed adulting and is back home with his parents. His dad has high expectations, no doubt of his son succeeding him as mayor for a Goodvale dynasty. Luke may have other ideas. He seems like a nice guy but I don't quite trust him.
Anne is supposed to be a stereotypical millennial. She doesn't read! I wanted to slap her when she was so condescending and rude to Tru. Millennials do read, usually on their screens. I have a newsflash for Anne: there are movies based on books, book podcasts and book social media sites! GASP! I love technology too but Anne is over-the-top. Why didn't she hear the crash? Did she have headphones on/earbuds in? Typical millennial. Perhaps the acoustics in the library are bad because no one seemed worried about the second crash either. Anne has a strong motive for murder but not when it happens. If she were older and more jaded, she would have known the good ol' boy network would be at work, especially in the south. I don't think she killed Duggar.
Then there's the scary, book ripping dude. He's the most obvious suspect! Grandle, the money lender. Gambling. Money lenders. Am I in a Georgette Heyer novel? What century is this?! One last, late suspect is Delanie. She loves the library, or so she claims but she hasn't told Tru everything. Tori doesn't like Delanie and seems to know something that Tru doesn't. Could Delanie be the murderer? She seems too much like a southern belle to have done it. If it wasn't premeditated then I would suspect her.
Verdict: Not for librarians/rare book people. Authors, please read A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books to mine more plausible plotlines. I think I'm giving up on reading any new book themed mysteries.
Ohhh nooooo! This book did not appeal to me. I tried to keep an open mind about the bookless library plot, which is preposterous in and of itself (I know of two bookless academic libraries, likely there are more). I tried to forgive the word descendant used for deceased. (Cringe! Where are the editors? Berkley has a bad track record of errors). However, I just couldn't get into this book. I pretty much abandoned it a little more than halfway through. I figured out who the murderer was and why right away. Maybe it was supposed to be obvious because Tru makes a reference to the villains in her favorite Carolyn Keene mysteries being obvious from the beginning. I did pick the book back up again in the morning and finished it but it just didn't appeal to me. I'm too much of a librarian for the plot to make sense to me. I DO wish authors who plan to write book themed mysteries consulted actual librarians. Not digital and emerging technology librarians but people who have worked in libraries for years. Jenn McKinlay's Library Lovers mysteries are perfect because Jenn McKinlay worked in a library for many years and her mom was a librarian! She knows what she's writing about. Dorothy St. James, sadly, does not.
The whole idea of a bookless library is stupid and doesn't make financial sense, especially in this town. If people are dirt poor, poorer than dirt poor, how do they have the money to pay taxes to support the digital library? How can they afford the technology? Will the library give out wifi hot spots too? Will they teach digital literacy? Setting aside the books for a moment, libraries are more than about books. They're community spaces where people can go to look for a job, learn English, learn new skills, learn a new language. Libraries are places where babies and toddlers go to experience literacy sometimes for the first time. They meet other babies/toddlers and learn to socialize. They learn to sit still and pay attention before they start school. They learn language. Moms meet other moms and have a chance to get out of the house. Kids have a safe space to go after school to do homework and hang out. Libraries provide community meeting spaces as well. While the technology center can do some of those things, if they eventually lock the doors, what will all those people do? Why would the mayor and town manager have absolute control over this project? Also, there are such things as library grants! There's also such things as library directors. Library directors plan budgets and buy books. They apply for grants and get grants to do things like fix up the library, add technology. The maker space sounded cool! My city library just got a grant to add a teen maker space in the basement. Books, media and technology can co-exist! Adding a CAFE to a technology center is asking for trouble. Liquids, food+ technology=disaster. E-books are expensive and only allow for so many checkouts. See This article for more reasons. SO... no... just no to the whole idea of a bookless library. Also, the town manager and mayor need to watch the 1957 movie Desk Set with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
Second, librarians come in all shapes, sizes and types now. No more old ladies in jackets and skirts shushing everyone. See also cat lovers. Not all librarians are cat lovers either.
Third, the villain's motive was INSANELY weak. No. Just no to that too. I love cozy mysteries but this one just missed the mark.
The plot might be forgivable if the characters were more appealing. I wanted to like Tru. She has a huge heart and she loves books so much! She even loves Georgette Heyer, presumably the mysteries because Heyer was listed in the company of Dorothy Sayers, Carolyn Keene, Daphne du Maurier and of course Agatha Christie. I thought, surely I'll click with a fellow Heyer lover?! Sadly, not so much. I didn't wish for Tru to be arrested but I wished she would grow a backbone, get a lawyer, stop suspecting one person, be a better friend and figure it all out. It was obvious! She would, of course, need evidence and that would be tough. Tru still hurts from the wrong a guy did her in high school 19 years ago. That makes sense because he did steal from her and his actions nearly cost her her future. That is unforgivable and he should be forced to make it up to her somehow. When Tru sees this guy again, she turns into Jell-O. He suspects she's guilty because she acts like it. What would Nancy Drew do? Tru is not a very good friend. It's all about her and her drama. Then she has the audacity to suspect her best friend of murder? What the heck? I admire Tru's dedication to helping patrons but she's selfishly motivated. When my neighborhood library was closing, they weeded their collection and sold it so I was able to grab my childhood favorites at a decent price. If the books are going to the landfill, why not wait until they're dumped and sneak out and go get them? Then you can legally start a library anywhere! Try starting with A Little Free Library box! That's what I would do in Tru's situation. Her job is on the line and she doesn't even really consider that. All she cares about is her secret library. What can Mrs. Farnsworth do if she finds out? Fire Tru? For what? My plan is better.
Tru's sleuthing skills need work. She is fixated on one person as the murderer just because she doesn't like that person. She's told not to mess with a scary, book ripping guy and yet she does. She continues to investigate even after someone is arrested. When the police don't tell her everything, she assumes she's still on the hook but they seem to have evidence that says otherwise. She does so many dumb things. Tru does have a big heart though. I'm not a cat person and I don't know if I'd go through as much trouble for Dewey as Tru does. I do love animals and I can see how he would work his way into my heart though.
Tru's BFF, Tori, is not my cup of tea. She's apparently a man-eater, married 4 times and everyone thinks her latest man toy will be #5. Tori, however, is a successful businesswoman so she must have brains. She could teach Tru a thing or two. She's a loyal friend and willing to break rules for Tru's secret library even though it doesn't seem like she's much of a reader. Flossie, an elderly writer, is a hoot. She's a spitfire with a snazzy wheelchair and a secretive manner. She never lets anyone see her writing. Flossie has a lot of sarcastic comments to make and is not a fan of the changes to the library. I don't think either of them would commit murder though.
Tru's dad seems cool, he's a bibliophile too. Her mom, however, is just AWFUL! She treats Tru like a child, constantly monitors what Tru eats and only worries about Tru not finding a man. Mrs. Becket wants grandchildren ASAP. UGH! I hate women like that. With a mother like that, it's no wonder Tru is so mousy. Maybe her mother killed Duggar to protect her baby's job?
Charlie is new in town. He comes from Las Vegas and wears a custom made suit. He clearly has money. He's strong and silent at first but then he opens up and reveals he's a bibliophile. His knowledge is astounding and better than Tru's. I think they would be a better match that Tori and Charlie. Charlie is mysterious about his past though. He says he was in law enforcement but how did he get the money to open a used bookstore? He knows a scary dude so I suspect by "law enforcement" he may mean the mob. I don't think he's the murderer but I think he knows more than he is revealing.
Mrs. Farnsworth is the stereotypical librarian. She's old and always shushing people. She rules the library with an iron fist. Is she the library director? Does she answer to the mayor? She seems to be under his thumb and as much as she hates the idea of a bookless library, doesn't complain. She was next on the murder scene after Tru so why doesn't anyone suspect her? Jace is not a very competent cop. First, he comes on the scene and uses the word descendant to mean deceased. I thought maybe he misspoke because he failed high school English but no, the local officers repeat the word in the context of deceased. Stop using auto correct people! Editors get a dictionary. Jace has a heart as big as Tru's though. He ends up courting her CAT! It's a little weird. One minute he suspects her of murder and the next he is bringing her cat presents. They gradually become friends but he doesn't quite trust her and she is afraid to reveal her secret. I think he would be surprised if he knew and I think he would keep her secret. The cat, Dewey, a tabby with skull-shaped markings on his head, grew on me. I'm not big on cats. He is a wild, wily one but ends up being good for Tru.
Duggar Hargrove, the town's new, aggressive town manager, is a moron. He's probably never read a book in his life. A bookless library? He's all about the future and bringing businesses to town and that's all well and good but someone else brings up gentrification and how soon the locals won't be able to afford their own houses. The library is the same thing. It's a refuge and a gathering place, a source of information and a source of pleasure. He bulldozes in with his plan. It's not much of a plan. Just slap in some technology and hope no one shows up so we can shutter the doors of the building for good. Um how exactly is that going to help the town? Where are the voters, the taxpayers? The library board? Can he even legally do that? Like Tru, I didn't weep when he was murdered. It was poetic justice. His buddy, Mayor Goodvale is just as bad. The two of them have giant egos. Mayor Goodvale doesn't understand the intrinsic worth of books. He's a vain, selfish man. At first I assumed his son Luke was cut from the same cloth but then I realized Luke was put in a tough spot. He failed adulting and is back home with his parents. His dad has high expectations, no doubt of his son succeeding him as mayor for a Goodvale dynasty. Luke may have other ideas. He seems like a nice guy but I don't quite trust him.
Anne is supposed to be a stereotypical millennial. She doesn't read! I wanted to slap her when she was so condescending and rude to Tru. Millennials do read, usually on their screens. I have a newsflash for Anne: there are movies based on books, book podcasts and book social media sites! GASP! I love technology too but Anne is over-the-top. Why didn't she hear the crash? Did she have headphones on/earbuds in? Typical millennial. Perhaps the acoustics in the library are bad because no one seemed worried about the second crash either. Anne has a strong motive for murder but not when it happens. If she were older and more jaded, she would have known the good ol' boy network would be at work, especially in the south. I don't think she killed Duggar.
Then there's the scary, book ripping dude. He's the most obvious suspect! Grandle, the money lender. Gambling. Money lenders. Am I in a Georgette Heyer novel? What century is this?! One last, late suspect is Delanie. She loves the library, or so she claims but she hasn't told Tru everything. Tori doesn't like Delanie and seems to know something that Tru doesn't. Could Delanie be the murderer? She seems too much like a southern belle to have done it. If it wasn't premeditated then I would suspect her.
Verdict: Not for librarians/rare book people. Authors, please read A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books to mine more plausible plotlines. I think I'm giving up on reading any new book themed mysteries.
December 23, 2020
The premise for this book sounded so promising and I was really looking forward to reading this first book in a new series by author Dorothy St. James. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I found it hard to engage with most of the characters. I thought that parts of the mystery were over the top and a bit unbelievable. The investigators seemed to jump to conclusions on the simplest of circumstantial evidence. I don't usually mind if the main character has a romance in a cozy mystery but the one in this book was too distracting and the parties just seemed so mismatched.
I'm sure that there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get through this book and I kept putting it down and starting something else before I went back to the book. I will not be continuing with this series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley.
I'm sure that there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get through this book and I kept putting it down and starting something else before I went back to the book. I will not be continuing with this series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley.
July 12, 2022
Cypress, South Carolina. Present Day. Dorothy St. James’ The Broken Spine (Beloved Bookroom Mystery, #1) finds Trudell Becket, Assistant Librarian of the Cypress Public Library facing a true horror. The powers that be have decided to renovate and reform Cypress Public Library into a book-less library. Ms. Beckett presents “A (Very) Short History of Books” at the beginning of this book, and in the short history she mentions in 2014, “the world’s first bookless library opened in Bexar County,
Texas”. Now, the second bookless library is about to open in Cypress, SC, but Tru and her friends, Tori and Flossie, decide to save as many of the printed books such as Nancy Drew Mysteries, The Hardy Boys Mysteries, The Maltese Falcon, gardening books and many others which are headed to a landfill.
Tru and her friends work at night to move boxes of books to the basement room which had been built as a bomb shelter in the late 1950s/1960s. If I had been there, I would have helped them as holding an actual book is paramount to me. Then, there is a loud noise. Tru investigates and finds one of the ‘powers’ crushed to death by shelves of books. I was hooked! Book lovers unite and read this delightful story. 4.5 stars.
Texas”. Now, the second bookless library is about to open in Cypress, SC, but Tru and her friends, Tori and Flossie, decide to save as many of the printed books such as Nancy Drew Mysteries, The Hardy Boys Mysteries, The Maltese Falcon, gardening books and many others which are headed to a landfill.
Tru and her friends work at night to move boxes of books to the basement room which had been built as a bomb shelter in the late 1950s/1960s. If I had been there, I would have helped them as holding an actual book is paramount to me. Then, there is a loud noise. Tru investigates and finds one of the ‘powers’ crushed to death by shelves of books. I was hooked! Book lovers unite and read this delightful story. 4.5 stars.
September 17, 2021
Interesting read!
January 24, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Like me, Trudell Becket loves books. Being a librarian brings her so much joy. But the Cypress city manager is on a mission to bring tech companies to town so he has decided the way to do that is to make everything computerized and digital. His first major project is to make the library completely digital and send all the print books to the landfill. Trudell just can’t accept that so she comes up with a plan to rescue as many books as she can. She pitches her idea to her friends and they agree to help her. While executing her plan she hears a loud crash. Rushing to the noise she finds the city manager crushed beneath a media shelf that was filled with DVDs. A shelf that had been tampered with. Because she is the one that found him Trudell becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Now with a little more help from her friends, she decides to find the real culprit before she is booked for the crime.
Stop, full stop! A library with no physical books! Yes, technology is great but libraries hold our history. They are a gathering place. A place where dreams are born and goals are set. There is nothing like that new book smell, except maybe that old book smell. The joy that is felt as you open a book and set off on a new adventure. Yes, stories can be read or listened to on devices and loved but there of many types of books that just need to be in print format. All formats can coexist together, there is no need to just trash books especially first editions of some classics. Okay, I will get off my soapbox and tell you more about this book but I must say the premise of the story just broke my heart. That does not mean I did enjoy the book. If the job of a book is to evoke emotions this story truly does that.
I found Trudell to be a very interesting protagonist, a girl after my own heart. She has a diverse group of friends and co-workers, one of who I identified with completely. One has me on the fence. I feel we have just scratched the surface on these key characters. I want to get to know them all better. Dewey, the cat, was a favorite of mine. I found him to be quite captivating.
The mystery had a nice pace with twists and turns. I did hone in on someone very early in the story, I just needed to suss out all the reasons why. Trudell worked her way through all the suspects and did come around eventually to my way of thinking as all the clues finally fell into place for her. It was fun to see her process everything. I think the theme of the story, a bookless library, grabbed all of my attention at first and I was thrilled that the city manager was the victim. Had I been a character in the story I may have topped the suspect list myself. The motive ended up being a bit of a surprise but my thinking was definitely on the right track.
The Broken Spine is a very pleasing start to the Beloved Bookroom Series. I am curious to see where the author takes these characters and how they will develop. I am still trying to wrap my head around the bookless library idea. Ms. St. James has sure piqued my interest. A Perfect Bind will be released on September 7, 2021.
Like me, Trudell Becket loves books. Being a librarian brings her so much joy. But the Cypress city manager is on a mission to bring tech companies to town so he has decided the way to do that is to make everything computerized and digital. His first major project is to make the library completely digital and send all the print books to the landfill. Trudell just can’t accept that so she comes up with a plan to rescue as many books as she can. She pitches her idea to her friends and they agree to help her. While executing her plan she hears a loud crash. Rushing to the noise she finds the city manager crushed beneath a media shelf that was filled with DVDs. A shelf that had been tampered with. Because she is the one that found him Trudell becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Now with a little more help from her friends, she decides to find the real culprit before she is booked for the crime.
Stop, full stop! A library with no physical books! Yes, technology is great but libraries hold our history. They are a gathering place. A place where dreams are born and goals are set. There is nothing like that new book smell, except maybe that old book smell. The joy that is felt as you open a book and set off on a new adventure. Yes, stories can be read or listened to on devices and loved but there of many types of books that just need to be in print format. All formats can coexist together, there is no need to just trash books especially first editions of some classics. Okay, I will get off my soapbox and tell you more about this book but I must say the premise of the story just broke my heart. That does not mean I did enjoy the book. If the job of a book is to evoke emotions this story truly does that.
I found Trudell to be a very interesting protagonist, a girl after my own heart. She has a diverse group of friends and co-workers, one of who I identified with completely. One has me on the fence. I feel we have just scratched the surface on these key characters. I want to get to know them all better. Dewey, the cat, was a favorite of mine. I found him to be quite captivating.
The mystery had a nice pace with twists and turns. I did hone in on someone very early in the story, I just needed to suss out all the reasons why. Trudell worked her way through all the suspects and did come around eventually to my way of thinking as all the clues finally fell into place for her. It was fun to see her process everything. I think the theme of the story, a bookless library, grabbed all of my attention at first and I was thrilled that the city manager was the victim. Had I been a character in the story I may have topped the suspect list myself. The motive ended up being a bit of a surprise but my thinking was definitely on the right track.
The Broken Spine is a very pleasing start to the Beloved Bookroom Series. I am curious to see where the author takes these characters and how they will develop. I am still trying to wrap my head around the bookless library idea. Ms. St. James has sure piqued my interest. A Perfect Bind will be released on September 7, 2021.
December 8, 2020
"The Broken Spine" the first instalment in the "A Beloved Bookroom" Mystery series by Dorothy St. James . OMG what a great start to a wonderful cozy mystery series! I just loved this book.
I really enjoyed this story, there was humor, murder and a cat. What’s not to like! I read almost in one sitting but finally succumbed to sleep with only a few chapters left.
The mystery moved at a good pace, was interesting and I thought well plotted. I loved the characters living in Cypress South Carolina especially Tru and BFF Tori Green and mysterious bestselling author Flossie Finnegan-Baker. I did suspect whodunnit fairly early but was never 100% sure.
Overall I found it to be a very entertaining read and I’m looking forward to book two to find out what Tru does with Dewey and the bookroom.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this story, there was humor, murder and a cat. What’s not to like! I read almost in one sitting but finally succumbed to sleep with only a few chapters left.
The mystery moved at a good pace, was interesting and I thought well plotted. I loved the characters living in Cypress South Carolina especially Tru and BFF Tori Green and mysterious bestselling author Flossie Finnegan-Baker. I did suspect whodunnit fairly early but was never 100% sure.
Overall I found it to be a very entertaining read and I’m looking forward to book two to find out what Tru does with Dewey and the bookroom.
I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2020
As a first in a new series, this book is pretty good. The premise of a book less library seems out of this world, but in Cypress, that’s exactly what happens.
As many folks in this town love the library, they also are interested in seeing what new technologies are available. None of this sits well with the librarians, and when one of them get tangled up in a murder investigation, it literally takes a village to set things right again.
I did struggle with parts of the book, I felt they dragged on, and there wasn’t enough excitement to keep me eagerly turning the pages.
I will look for the next book, however, as firsts in a series tend to have a lot of information to retain.
I loved the title and the book cover, and Dewey the cat was lovable.
As many folks in this town love the library, they also are interested in seeing what new technologies are available. None of this sits well with the librarians, and when one of them get tangled up in a murder investigation, it literally takes a village to set things right again.
I did struggle with parts of the book, I felt they dragged on, and there wasn’t enough excitement to keep me eagerly turning the pages.
I will look for the next book, however, as firsts in a series tend to have a lot of information to retain.
I loved the title and the book cover, and Dewey the cat was lovable.
January 23, 2021
The small town of Cypress, South Carolina is getting a major overhaul of their library. In fact, they are removing all print books and turning it into a "bookless" library, complete with all the current technology services. Assistant Librarian, Trudell “Tru” Becket, is not happy with this turn of events. She’s not about to let this travesty happen.
As the print books are sent to a landfill, Tru teams up with a couple of friends to redirect the books to the library’s basement, where Tru sets up a secret library. She even finds a cat there and names him Dewey.
Tru is determined to provide the people of Cypress with library books, but she can’t let anyone know what she is doing. Then, the major supporter of the “bookless” library is found dead under a library shelf. Of course Tru is the primary suspect. The case happens to be investigated by her ex-boyfriend detective
Since the police only seem focused on her as the killer, Tru conducts her own investigation. She enlists the help of her friends, as well as her new feline pal, Dewey.
I always enjoy a cozy mystery set in a library. I never heard of a "bookless" library and I hope I never see one. Although I have primarily become an e-reader over the last few years, I still believe print books never go out of style. Readers should be able to choose their method to read.
That aside, I was so enchanted with this book. I loved Tru’s strength and determination to save her books. Another great aspect is Tru has two friends that stood by her throughout it all and helped her find the real killer. Of course, the addition of a cat who helps Tru also won me over.
The mystery is fast-paced with so many possible suspects. I was totally off on who I picked as the cuprit. I was surprised at the ending. I hope we’ll get more books in this series as I look forward to getting to know these characters even better.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
As the print books are sent to a landfill, Tru teams up with a couple of friends to redirect the books to the library’s basement, where Tru sets up a secret library. She even finds a cat there and names him Dewey.
Tru is determined to provide the people of Cypress with library books, but she can’t let anyone know what she is doing. Then, the major supporter of the “bookless” library is found dead under a library shelf. Of course Tru is the primary suspect. The case happens to be investigated by her ex-boyfriend detective
Since the police only seem focused on her as the killer, Tru conducts her own investigation. She enlists the help of her friends, as well as her new feline pal, Dewey.
I always enjoy a cozy mystery set in a library. I never heard of a "bookless" library and I hope I never see one. Although I have primarily become an e-reader over the last few years, I still believe print books never go out of style. Readers should be able to choose their method to read.
That aside, I was so enchanted with this book. I loved Tru’s strength and determination to save her books. Another great aspect is Tru has two friends that stood by her throughout it all and helped her find the real killer. Of course, the addition of a cat who helps Tru also won me over.
The mystery is fast-paced with so many possible suspects. I was totally off on who I picked as the cuprit. I was surprised at the ending. I hope we’ll get more books in this series as I look forward to getting to know these characters even better.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 24, 2021
I had never heard of a bookless library until this book and there was a mention of one in Texas. I had to look it up and it is located in San Antonio and is called BiblioTech. Apparently, there are actual locations but there doesn't seem to be any books and it is much like how the library in Cypress will be after the conversion, you can borrow a tablet or use a computer to access the information.
On to this book. This is the first in a new series and it starts off with a bang when the small town politicians decide to turn Cypress into the Silicon Valley of the South. To do this, they decide they need to get rid of the books in the library and make it all digital. Tru and several others think this is a very bad idea, and I tend to agree with them. But sometimes there is no changing stupid ideas made by those without a vision for the future. Then one of them ends up dead and for some reason, Tru becomes the main suspect. It is a race through the book to try and discover who the actual killer is and take the heat off of Tru. I liked how Tru realized that even though she has read mysteries, the clues in real life are not obvious.
I really like the cast of characters, it is a mixed bag between sane and just a little bit crazy. Tru's mom is quite a handful as well. Since this is the first book of a new series, you don't learn everything you need (or want) to know about the characters. We are given tidbits here and there and hopefully, in future books, we will learn more and the characters will become more rounded.
The mystery took me by surprise, and while I had some suspicions, I didn't know if I was on the right path until the end. Perhaps in future books, the police won't jump to conclusions based on flimsy evidence.
A good start to a new series and we give it 3 1/2 paws up.
On to this book. This is the first in a new series and it starts off with a bang when the small town politicians decide to turn Cypress into the Silicon Valley of the South. To do this, they decide they need to get rid of the books in the library and make it all digital. Tru and several others think this is a very bad idea, and I tend to agree with them. But sometimes there is no changing stupid ideas made by those without a vision for the future. Then one of them ends up dead and for some reason, Tru becomes the main suspect. It is a race through the book to try and discover who the actual killer is and take the heat off of Tru. I liked how Tru realized that even though she has read mysteries, the clues in real life are not obvious.
I really like the cast of characters, it is a mixed bag between sane and just a little bit crazy. Tru's mom is quite a handful as well. Since this is the first book of a new series, you don't learn everything you need (or want) to know about the characters. We are given tidbits here and there and hopefully, in future books, we will learn more and the characters will become more rounded.
The mystery took me by surprise, and while I had some suspicions, I didn't know if I was on the right path until the end. Perhaps in future books, the police won't jump to conclusions based on flimsy evidence.
A good start to a new series and we give it 3 1/2 paws up.
December 27, 2024
A well worked mystery with plenty of suspects
February 1, 2021
“Librarians were superheroes dressed in plain clothes.”
The Broken Spine is the first book I’ve read by Dorothy St. James (to my recollection) but I immediately fell in love with her writing voice and specifically the 1st person narrative for Tru. It was fun and lighthearted in tone – which is exactly what I needed after reading some intense suspense novels lately. Not to mention Tru is a character after my own bookish heart – with her library going high-tech (aka ‘no more print books’), she’s hiding a secret vault library in the basement that she’s salvaged from books she just couldn’t bear to let go to the landfill. And don’t all we bookworms support her in that?
I also loved getting to know Flossie and Tori – each of whom has a unique personality and maybe a couple of secrets too, possibly to be unearthed in future books. And then there’s Charlie and Jace who add a definite swoon factor to the mix. Of course I can’t forget to mention Dewey the cat who’s definitely a hero in his own right, with his quirks bringing plenty of opportunities to smile.
The mystery was well-plotted, in my opinion and the library setting certainly didn’t hurt. Not terribly hard to figure out the culprit once things got going but it wasn’t glaringly obvious either. Definitely a bevy of twists and turns and suspects to choose from, too, so while I was pretty sure I knew who it was I wasn’t 100% convinced until the villain was actually revealed.
Bottom Line: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James is more than just a cozy mystery – it’s a love letter to libraries and bookworms alike. Tru is a fabulous heroine whom readers will instantly rally behind & cheer for, and even though I’m not a cat fan I can truly say that Dewey steals the show! Quirky supporting characters will leave you chuckling and caring about them at the same time, and a dash of romance was icing on the cake for me. I’m looking forward to following this series. All around this book just made me smile!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
The Broken Spine is the first book I’ve read by Dorothy St. James (to my recollection) but I immediately fell in love with her writing voice and specifically the 1st person narrative for Tru. It was fun and lighthearted in tone – which is exactly what I needed after reading some intense suspense novels lately. Not to mention Tru is a character after my own bookish heart – with her library going high-tech (aka ‘no more print books’), she’s hiding a secret vault library in the basement that she’s salvaged from books she just couldn’t bear to let go to the landfill. And don’t all we bookworms support her in that?
I also loved getting to know Flossie and Tori – each of whom has a unique personality and maybe a couple of secrets too, possibly to be unearthed in future books. And then there’s Charlie and Jace who add a definite swoon factor to the mix. Of course I can’t forget to mention Dewey the cat who’s definitely a hero in his own right, with his quirks bringing plenty of opportunities to smile.
The mystery was well-plotted, in my opinion and the library setting certainly didn’t hurt. Not terribly hard to figure out the culprit once things got going but it wasn’t glaringly obvious either. Definitely a bevy of twists and turns and suspects to choose from, too, so while I was pretty sure I knew who it was I wasn’t 100% convinced until the villain was actually revealed.
Bottom Line: The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James is more than just a cozy mystery – it’s a love letter to libraries and bookworms alike. Tru is a fabulous heroine whom readers will instantly rally behind & cheer for, and even though I’m not a cat fan I can truly say that Dewey steals the show! Quirky supporting characters will leave you chuckling and caring about them at the same time, and a dash of romance was icing on the cake for me. I’m looking forward to following this series. All around this book just made me smile!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 25, 2021
The main character is dangerously naive, withholding evidence and such but not in the manner of most cozy mysteries. The police are sketchy at best, but not in a loveable bumbling way. The cat was about the only thing I enjoyed about this book.
June 23, 2021
This was really good. I am looking forward to the opportunity to read book 2.
August 12, 2021
Absolutely horrible!!!! An insult to ACTUAL librarians.
March 22, 2021
The Broken Spine is the first book in the new Beloved Bookroom cozy mystery series. The book centers around Tru Beckett, a librarian in a small southern town. The library where Tru works is going completely digital, but - with the help of several friends - Tru decides to make a Beloved Bookroom "secret" library in the basement of the building. She saves old books for the bookroom -- not realizing that someone wants some of the books enough to kill for them. Tru works with her friends to solve the mystery.
I wanted to read this novel because I have enjoyed the author's Southern Chocolate Shop series of mysteries. I also am partial to cozy mysteries set in libraries.
This was a fun read and a great start to a new series! As a book lover (especially vintage books) I loved the book details and Tru's love of old books. She also loves the Nancy Drew series and there were some fun references to this series through this book.
The mystery was well paced. I figured the killer out a bit before Tru, but enjoyed watching her solve the crime.
I also liked Tru's romantic interest, the high school crush who went horribly wrong years ago. Tru also has a lovable and mischievous rescue cat who adds some enjoyable scenes.
I recommend The Broken Spine for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys library and small-town settings.
I wanted to read this novel because I have enjoyed the author's Southern Chocolate Shop series of mysteries. I also am partial to cozy mysteries set in libraries.
This was a fun read and a great start to a new series! As a book lover (especially vintage books) I loved the book details and Tru's love of old books. She also loves the Nancy Drew series and there were some fun references to this series through this book.
The mystery was well paced. I figured the killer out a bit before Tru, but enjoyed watching her solve the crime.
I also liked Tru's romantic interest, the high school crush who went horribly wrong years ago. Tru also has a lovable and mischievous rescue cat who adds some enjoyable scenes.
I recommend The Broken Spine for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys library and small-town settings.
January 20, 2021
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Cozy Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Broken Spine is the first installment in author Dorothy St. James Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. Trudell Beckett of Cypress, South Carolina, is a book loving assistant librarian who loves her job at the library among the books, or "friends," as she likes to refer to them. But Mayor Goodvale and town manager Duggar Hargrove and new Library IT tech Anne Lowery have a new plan to push their poor town into the future. They want to create a modern, bookless library. They plan on removing all the books and purchasing tablets for the patrons to check out.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Cozy Mystery
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
The Broken Spine is the first installment in author Dorothy St. James Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. Trudell Beckett of Cypress, South Carolina, is a book loving assistant librarian who loves her job at the library among the books, or "friends," as she likes to refer to them. But Mayor Goodvale and town manager Duggar Hargrove and new Library IT tech Anne Lowery have a new plan to push their poor town into the future. They want to create a modern, bookless library. They plan on removing all the books and purchasing tablets for the patrons to check out.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
February 4, 2021
The Broken Spine has some interesting moments, is written by a seasoned veteran, and has a great plot. Unfortunately, it also has a main character that isn’t very likable, has anger issues, and is on the childish side. The fact that she wants to save print books at the library she works for is terrific, but no one, no matter how much they love books, would risk going to prison for murder if they had an alibi they could prove. This is the main drawback in this story for me, other than Tru herself. I love books, print books imparticular, I would be heartbroken if someone took my books away, especially to the dump. But Tru is obsessed and enraged beyond the norm.
There is no appeal to me of an all-digital library, and apparently, many people in real life and in Tru’s world agree. But when the man behind the change from print to digital is murdered at the library, and Tru is the first person on the scene, even though she shouldn’t have been, Tru becomes the prime suspect. In and of itself, this is a great start to the book; I love the idea of the secret library. It’s only normal for Tru to want to save the books, be angry and even try to find ways to stop the wanton destruction of books. But the way she goes about it causes people to wonder if she isn’t a killer or mentally unbalanced. There are, of course, other suspects, and the killer wasn’t hard to figure out. The motives varied quite a bit from person to person, but in the end, it became apparent that this motive was as old as time.
I am interested to see where the author can take this series. The main characters need to grow and quickly to become more likable. I enjoyed the interaction between the stray cat, Dewey, the library patrons, and Tru; he may even have been the best character in the story. I enjoyed Tori and Flossie but did not care for the detective who is looking like Tru’s love interest. I love the idea of a secret library within a library; I think all libraries should have one. The Broken Spine needed more work, and the characters needed more depth. A plot centered around the love of books can quickly destroy a series if it is the only thing the characters and future books are based on; I certainly hope this is not the case with this new series. I hope that Tru matures in the next addition, becomes more likable, and learns to deal with her past and insecurities.
There is no appeal to me of an all-digital library, and apparently, many people in real life and in Tru’s world agree. But when the man behind the change from print to digital is murdered at the library, and Tru is the first person on the scene, even though she shouldn’t have been, Tru becomes the prime suspect. In and of itself, this is a great start to the book; I love the idea of the secret library. It’s only normal for Tru to want to save the books, be angry and even try to find ways to stop the wanton destruction of books. But the way she goes about it causes people to wonder if she isn’t a killer or mentally unbalanced. There are, of course, other suspects, and the killer wasn’t hard to figure out. The motives varied quite a bit from person to person, but in the end, it became apparent that this motive was as old as time.
I am interested to see where the author can take this series. The main characters need to grow and quickly to become more likable. I enjoyed the interaction between the stray cat, Dewey, the library patrons, and Tru; he may even have been the best character in the story. I enjoyed Tori and Flossie but did not care for the detective who is looking like Tru’s love interest. I love the idea of a secret library within a library; I think all libraries should have one. The Broken Spine needed more work, and the characters needed more depth. A plot centered around the love of books can quickly destroy a series if it is the only thing the characters and future books are based on; I certainly hope this is not the case with this new series. I hope that Tru matures in the next addition, becomes more likable, and learns to deal with her past and insecurities.
January 15, 2021
The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James has Trudell Becket, assistant librarian, distraught that her beloved library in Cypress, South Carolina is becoming bookless. The books are the heart of the library. The library and its books helped Trudell get through some difficult times growing up. When Trudell learns that the town manager, Duggar Hargrove is having the books tossed into the landfill, she comes up with a plan. Trudell along with a couple of trusted friends are transporting books into the basement vault when she hears a large crash. She rushes upstairs to find Duggar dead underneath a bookcase. Trudell is surprised to discover that the lead detective is Jace who humiliated her in high school. As if that is not bad enough, Trudell learns she is the prime suspect. Trudell with help from two close friends works to prove her innocence by finding the guilty party. The Broken Spine is the debut of A Beloved Bookroom Mystery series. I thought The Broken Spine had an interesting premise. A library with no books. This is the first time that I had heard of this concept. I found The Broken Spine was easy to read with some interesting characters. I do hope the author will provide more background on Trudell in the next book. I would like to see her fleshed out more (I want to know more about this book loving librarian) along with the other regular characters (Tori, Flossie, Jace, Charlie). I just loved the cat, Dewey. He is a cute and smart feline. I also liked Charlie who is new to town and opening The Deckled Edge. I thought that was a clever name for a bookstore. The mystery was clear-cut. There were a couple of suspects, a red herring, and direct clues. I would like to see that mystery in the next book to be more of a challenge. I was not a fan of Jace and the way he treated Trudell. I think Trudell deserves someone better as her romantic partner (maybe Jace will redeem himself in the next book). I did find the book slow in spots and there was repetition of information. I felt the story needed more depth. I am curious to see if Trudell can keep her secret library hidden from her boss along with Dewey. The Broken Spine is a unique cozy mystery with a bookless library, a clever cat, a demanding mayor, a bevy of beloved books, a determined detective, and a lockpicking librarian.
February 27, 2021
The Broken Spine earns 5/5 Shhh-es...Exciting Entertainment!
Is there anything worse than finding out your neighborhood library is going high-tech? What do you do when you discover all those “sensory fulfilling” paper and ink, hard and soft, well-worn or sparkling new favorites will be discarded? If you are an assistant librarian Trudell Becket, you decide to rescue those classics and contemporary books and set up an “old-school” library in the basement for only the most discerning who can keep her secret. However, things get complicated when Duggar Hargrove, the man spearheading the digital paradise, is found crushed under DVD shelves. Murder? Tru is believed to have the best motive, opportunity, and means, but if she is honest about others who were visiting her underground library at the time of the murder, she’d lose everything! So, Tru decides she needs to get some answers and channeling her inner Nancy Drew might be the only way to clear up this mess, especially when the detective in charge is a nightmare from high school.
I really enjoy Dorothy St. James’s first in her new series, Beloved Book Room Mystery, but I felt very guilty, too. I love my iPad with its setting for brightness control, font size, and bookmarking and highlighting without ruining the pages. But, to each his own! The premise is still exciting with a clever mystery and conundrum, descriptive images and witty banter, and enjoyable investigation and “Wow” ending, but it’s the characters that I really enjoyed...I’m excited about this series! Additional kudos go to the extras provided. Authors often include extra bits like Notes, Prefaces, or Glossaries to provide insight or background, and sometimes those extra bits are written from the perspective of one of the characters. Do not miss the “A (Very) Shirt History of Books” by Trudeau Becket, Assistant Librarian.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Berkley Publishing thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Is there anything worse than finding out your neighborhood library is going high-tech? What do you do when you discover all those “sensory fulfilling” paper and ink, hard and soft, well-worn or sparkling new favorites will be discarded? If you are an assistant librarian Trudell Becket, you decide to rescue those classics and contemporary books and set up an “old-school” library in the basement for only the most discerning who can keep her secret. However, things get complicated when Duggar Hargrove, the man spearheading the digital paradise, is found crushed under DVD shelves. Murder? Tru is believed to have the best motive, opportunity, and means, but if she is honest about others who were visiting her underground library at the time of the murder, she’d lose everything! So, Tru decides she needs to get some answers and channeling her inner Nancy Drew might be the only way to clear up this mess, especially when the detective in charge is a nightmare from high school.
I really enjoy Dorothy St. James’s first in her new series, Beloved Book Room Mystery, but I felt very guilty, too. I love my iPad with its setting for brightness control, font size, and bookmarking and highlighting without ruining the pages. But, to each his own! The premise is still exciting with a clever mystery and conundrum, descriptive images and witty banter, and enjoyable investigation and “Wow” ending, but it’s the characters that I really enjoyed...I’m excited about this series! Additional kudos go to the extras provided. Authors often include extra bits like Notes, Prefaces, or Glossaries to provide insight or background, and sometimes those extra bits are written from the perspective of one of the characters. Do not miss the “A (Very) Shirt History of Books” by Trudeau Becket, Assistant Librarian.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Berkley Publishing thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 24, 2021
This first instalment in a new series by mystery writer Dorothy St. James sees assistant librarian Trudell (Tru) Becket at sixes and sevens when a decision is made to modernise her beloved library in Cypress, South Carolina. Instead of borrowing physical books, patrons will be downloading them or borrowing tablets containing pre-downloaded titles. This is too much for Trudell who cannot bear the thought of all those paper versions of classics being consigned to landfill or resold so takes it upon herself to create a secret library in the basement. But then Duggar Hargrove, the man behind the library policy change is discovered... killed by a shelving unit.
The Broken Spine was a riveting and thoroughly enjoyable introductory instalment in a promising series. Tru was determined and dedicated to her cause and I also loved the contributions of many of the secondary characters, particularly her best pal Tori Green. The brown tabby stray library cat, Dewey Decimal, was a big hit too. The mystery was very well done and the novel fast-paced. Engaging from the very beginning, there were potential suspects aplenty and I had fun trying to work out who committed the crime. The motive was equally flummoxing and I found myself suffering from 'just one more chapter' syndrome and reading late into the night. I am already looking forward to meeting up with Tru again in the next instalment, A Perfect Bind.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Great Escapes Book Tours at my request and this review is my unbiased opinion.
The Broken Spine was a riveting and thoroughly enjoyable introductory instalment in a promising series. Tru was determined and dedicated to her cause and I also loved the contributions of many of the secondary characters, particularly her best pal Tori Green. The brown tabby stray library cat, Dewey Decimal, was a big hit too. The mystery was very well done and the novel fast-paced. Engaging from the very beginning, there were potential suspects aplenty and I had fun trying to work out who committed the crime. The motive was equally flummoxing and I found myself suffering from 'just one more chapter' syndrome and reading late into the night. I am already looking forward to meeting up with Tru again in the next instalment, A Perfect Bind.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Great Escapes Book Tours at my request and this review is my unbiased opinion.
November 16, 2023
The bookless public library is an idea tossed around when someone thinks libraries need to modernize without understanding how libraries have evolved over the past 100 years. Generally, libraries in the United States currently function as community hubs containing a host of resources, with technology representing a massive subcategory. Yet, there’s an occasional push for libraries to ‘go bookless’ in favor of computers, makerspaces, 3D printers, and a massive catalog of ebooks. You know, all things readily available in many libraries … next to all the physical books. Fortunately, it’s a mostly harmless idea, with polling suggesting libraries in their traditional form remain popular in their communities.
In The Broken Spine, first in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, author Dorothy St. James taps into the strong emotions a lot of patrons and librarians would feel after finding out their library plans to go bookless. It’s the perfect backdrop for a cozy. I know plenty of readers who would be mad enough to kill if someone tossed their books. Which yes, is not healthy, but facts are facts. It’s also why when the town manager and bookless advocate is found dead, all eyes point to book-loving library assistant Trudell Becket.
While she didn’t kill anyone, she’s not totally innocent. Upset over all the books being tossed, she hatches a plan to steal back and set up a hidden room for patrons in the library basement. It’s a genuinely fun side plot to the broader investigation and, while the logistics of hiding a vault of books with non-employees zipping in and out of the basement is murky, St. James does a remarkable job of making it believable. And really, who wouldn’t want to visit a book speakeasy run by a rogue librarian? There’s also an adorable cat if you need another selling point.
The mystery itself is solid. Trudell does dash into some dangerous situations and she’s a little loose with the information she gathers, but not in a way that’s unbelievable or foolish. Instead, St. James puts her in world where she doesn’t know quite who she can trust—including friends—and the resulting risks she’s forced to take ultimately give the mystery more depth. Things are life and death, after all.
With a charming setting, twisty investigation, and plenty of feline moments, The Broken Spine is worth checking out.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
In The Broken Spine, first in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series, author Dorothy St. James taps into the strong emotions a lot of patrons and librarians would feel after finding out their library plans to go bookless. It’s the perfect backdrop for a cozy. I know plenty of readers who would be mad enough to kill if someone tossed their books. Which yes, is not healthy, but facts are facts. It’s also why when the town manager and bookless advocate is found dead, all eyes point to book-loving library assistant Trudell Becket.
While she didn’t kill anyone, she’s not totally innocent. Upset over all the books being tossed, she hatches a plan to steal back and set up a hidden room for patrons in the library basement. It’s a genuinely fun side plot to the broader investigation and, while the logistics of hiding a vault of books with non-employees zipping in and out of the basement is murky, St. James does a remarkable job of making it believable. And really, who wouldn’t want to visit a book speakeasy run by a rogue librarian? There’s also an adorable cat if you need another selling point.
The mystery itself is solid. Trudell does dash into some dangerous situations and she’s a little loose with the information she gathers, but not in a way that’s unbelievable or foolish. Instead, St. James puts her in world where she doesn’t know quite who she can trust—including friends—and the resulting risks she’s forced to take ultimately give the mystery more depth. Things are life and death, after all.
With a charming setting, twisty investigation, and plenty of feline moments, The Broken Spine is worth checking out.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
January 26, 2021
The Broken Spine is the first book in a new series by author Dorothy St. James. The premise for this book caught my attention immediately when I first heard it and it went straight to the top of my to read list. The idea of a public library being converted to a book less, all digital library just hurts my soul. I loved the thought of a librarian saving books destined for the landfill and opening up a secret library in the existing library’s basement.
Trudell “Tru” Beckett is the librarian that saves many of the library books but in the process of saving them has to deal with both a murder and an assault inside of the library. To make matters worse, a guy from her high school days has shown back up in town and is now the detective investigating the library murder, and is determined to figure out what secret Tru is keeping.
I loved this story. I thought the premise behind the story was fantastic, I loved the characters, and all the librarian/book talk included. I thought the mystery was solid and I was stumped by who the killer was until Tru began to figure things out. This was a highly enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Trudell “Tru” Beckett is the librarian that saves many of the library books but in the process of saving them has to deal with both a murder and an assault inside of the library. To make matters worse, a guy from her high school days has shown back up in town and is now the detective investigating the library murder, and is determined to figure out what secret Tru is keeping.
I loved this story. I thought the premise behind the story was fantastic, I loved the characters, and all the librarian/book talk included. I thought the mystery was solid and I was stumped by who the killer was until Tru began to figure things out. This was a highly enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
July 10, 2021
Not a bad start to the series. The story has an interesting concept and I'm curious how the author is going to continue with it throughout the stories. I like the main characters Tru and Dewey. They make a cute human/pet team!
September 1, 2022
The Broken Spine is the first book in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery and Tru is trying to save what she can of her town's library. The town manager and mayor are dead set on making the town of Cypress, SC a technology hot spot to the detriment of the town library. They are turning the library into a bookless library filled with electronics like tablets, 3D printers, and more. When the town manager winds up dead, Tru is a likely suspect, since her dislike of Duggar's plans was no secret.
I really enjoyed this one, even more than I thought I would. The pacing was quick. I really loved Flossie, Tru, and Dewey. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series and getting to know the town and characters more.
I checked this out of the library for book club and am voluntarily sharing my honest review. My review is not influenced in any way.
I really enjoyed this one, even more than I thought I would. The pacing was quick. I really loved Flossie, Tru, and Dewey. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series and getting to know the town and characters more.
I checked this out of the library for book club and am voluntarily sharing my honest review. My review is not influenced in any way.
March 23, 2021
My inability to believe in this book began on the first page. The librarian has to break into her library? She doesn't have a key? The hidden book room. Really? In a small town they're going to open this to a few patrons and think it's going to remain a secret?
And then we get to the cat bite. I've been bitten by a cat, and I'm here to tell you that when those sharp fangs go in, no one is going to simply grit their teeth and continue holding the cat and the conversation. It is horrifying and extremely painful. In addition, this is a stray cat, and she's not concerned about rabies or tetanus?
Then there were the minor irritations. "Clicking eyelids." "Flaying blows." The constant reference to the "kitty." The flashing "it's me" above the villain's head from the moment of introduction.
About 30% of the way into the book I couldn't stand it any more and skipped to the ridiculous and melodramatic confrontation at the end.
And then we get to the cat bite. I've been bitten by a cat, and I'm here to tell you that when those sharp fangs go in, no one is going to simply grit their teeth and continue holding the cat and the conversation. It is horrifying and extremely painful. In addition, this is a stray cat, and she's not concerned about rabies or tetanus?
Then there were the minor irritations. "Clicking eyelids." "Flaying blows." The constant reference to the "kitty." The flashing "it's me" above the villain's head from the moment of introduction.
About 30% of the way into the book I couldn't stand it any more and skipped to the ridiculous and melodramatic confrontation at the end.
November 15, 2021
Being a library lover I completely sided with the protagonist, Trudell, on saving the books. If her her shoes I probably would’ve done the same thing. The storyline was great and the mystery was well plotted. This being a first in series the characters at not very complex but this leaves room for the to develop over the series. The characters are relatable and for the most part likable. I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
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