A Book Club to Die For - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A BOOK CLUB TO DIE FOR by Dorothy St. James
The Third Beloved Bookroom Mystery

Invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society Book Club, librarian Trudell Becket knows the night will be a disaster, she just doesn't know how bad it will actually turn out to be. When she agreed to speak to the women about how she's circumventing the no book policy of the town's all electric library, Tru forgot that her boss was a member of the group. The boss who doesn't have an inkling about the secret real book library Tru runs. The excitement of her friend, Flossie, and the rudeness of the book club president have Tru in a state, but the biggest shock comes when she finds the club's president dead in the kitchen. Now her boyfriend's mother is the prime suspect, she's having doubts about Flossie's innocence, her father is missing, and robots have invaded the library! 

The idea of a library without books and a book club that censures you for reading unapproved books is an anathema to me. Fortunately, Tru is of the same mind as are many of the citizens of Cypress. I love how "good girl", rule follower Tru continues to break the rules to share the joy of reading books, whatever the genre. 

In the third Beloved Bookroom mystery we see elitism and literary snobbishness as well as cliques and the desire to belong. Duplicitous behavior makes for a confounding mystery that had me captivated. Subtle clues, and not so subtle ones, provide readers with many aha moments...which in one case led me to think I had it solved...and I did solve something, just not the main thing. Doubts about loved ones amp the anxiety while help from unexpected places eases the tension.

A BOOK CLUB TO DIE FOR is a delightful mystery that captures both the humor and pathos of technology and book clubs. The story and characters engaged me from the start and never let go. I absolutely love this series and can't wait to see what happens next!

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 A Book Club to Die For (A Beloved Bookroom) by Dorothy St. James

About A Book Club to Die For

A Book Club to Die For (A Beloved Bookroom)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Cypress, South Carolina ‎
Berkley (November 1, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

When a member of an exclusive book club is checked out, spunky librarian Trudell Becket must sort fact from fiction to solve the murder.

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join.

But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.

With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation....

About Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James is a former Folly Beach beach bum. She now lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with her family, slightly (OK, terribly) needy dogs, and the friendliest cat you’ll ever meet. Author of a dozen novels, Dorothy enjoys writing both cozy mysteries and romance.

Follow Dorothy Online:  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothy.stjames  

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothywrites 

 Instagram: www.instagram.com/dorothymcfalls  

Website: www.dorothystjames.com  

Purchase Links - Amazon - Penguin Random House - B&N - Kobo - IndieBound 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James. This book is the third in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series and was released yesterday.

Invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society Book Club, librarian Trudell Becket knows the night will be a disaster, she just doesn't know how bad it will actually turn out to be. When she agreed to speak to the women about how she's circumventing the no book policy of the town's all electric library, Tru forgot that her boss was a member of the group. The boss who doesn't have an inkling about the secret real book library Tru runs. The excitement of her friend, Flossie and the rudeness of the book club president have Tru in a state, but the biggest shock comes when she finds the club's president dead in the kitchen. Now her boyfriend's mother is the prime suspect, she's having doubts about Flossie's innocence, her father is missing, and robots have invaded the library! 

A Perfect Bind - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A PERFECT BIND by Dorothy St. James
The Second Beloved Bookroom Mystery 

Secrets make life difficult, especially for honest librarian Tru Beckett. But she must keep the bookroom in the basement of the library a secret. Ever since her beloved library abolished real books, Tru made it her mission to save them. But as more and more people utilize the space and bring their friends, Tru is worried her secret will get out. A secret that is especially hard to keep from Detective Jace Bailey. A secret also hard to hide when vandals are breaking in creating a mess and destroying books. When Doris runs in declaring there's a dead body behind the library Tru is sure it couldn't have anything to do with her bookroom. Could it? Between dispelling rumors about her love life and fervor about the upcoming apple pie contest Tru will try to determine who is vandalizing their bookroom and perhaps who is a murderer as well.

While Tori's histrionics are a bit much, I love the characters here. They all have depth and so many shades of gray. While I don't like Anne and her ideas about technological superiority, we find some positive traits about her in the second Beloved Bookroom Mystery. The same can be said for the stern Mrs. Farnsworth who refuses to bow down to members of the community trying to ban library programs. Jace and Charlie are both irresistible and I can't help laughing at the rumors about Tru and Jace. The addition of a possible poltergeist is fantastic!

A PERFECT BIND is a perfect blend of books and murder. Local history and tradition add interest and fun and that dash of romance makes a great read even better.

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 A Perfect Bind (A Beloved Bookroom Mystery) by Dorothy St. James

About A Perfect Bind

A Perfect Bind (A Beloved Bookroom Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Publisher: ‎ Berkley (September 28, 2021)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

Librarian Tru Beckett, ardent defender of the printed word, is about to find out that keeping murder checked out of her beloved library is much harder than she thought...

Tru Beckett succeeded in building a secret book room in her now bookless library, where book lovers from lovely Cypress, South Carolina, can rejoice in the printed word. Now she's working hard to maintain the little library downstairs while keeping her "real job" upstairs in the bookless technology center. The last thing she needs is a mysterious vandal who seems intent on breaking into her secret book-filled sanctuary and creating chaos. The nasty interloper doesn't steal anything, but brutalizes the books, damaging them and knocking them off shelves. 

A patron of the secret book room tells Tru that there have been creepy goings-on at the library for years, especially in the basement where the secret book room is located. He's heard rumors of a poltergeist that haunts the library, determined to scare off readers. Tru is certain it's hogwash, but she's at a loss to think of who might be vandalizing the beautiful books she fought so hard to protect. And when a dead body shows up right behind the library, Tru is certain that it's not a ghost but a cold-blooded killer that she and her trusty tabby Dewey Decimal will need to uncover.

About Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James is the author of the White House Gardener Mysteries and the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries. She lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her sculptor husband. Dorothy is a member of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sister’s in Crime (SInC). This is her second Beloved Bookroom Mystery.

Follow Dorothy Online:  

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothy.stjames  

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothywrites 

 Instagram: www.instagram.com/dorothymcfalls  

Website: www.dorothystjames.com  

Purchase Links - Amazon - Penguin Random House - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound 

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The Broken Spine - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

THE BROKEN SPINE by Dorothy St. James
The First Beloved Bookroom Mystery 

Books mean the world to assistant librarian Trudell Becket, so when the city manager decides to make the Cypress Public Library a bookless library, she devises a plan. Sneaking her friends into the library after hours, they transport as many of the books headed for the landfill down to the basement as possible in order to create a secret library of real books. A loud crash makes Tru realized they've worked too far into the morning. Quickly telling her friends to leave the library Tru heads upstairs to find the reason for the crash. What she finds is a multimedia shelving unit that has toppled over-right onto the city manager. The very dead city manager. Soon becoming a prime suspect, Tru realizes that in order to protect the books and her secret library, she'll have to prove her innocence and find the real murderer.

Trudell Becket is a hero! The quiet reserved assistant librarian who has been pretty invisible for most of her life has a mission. She will do everything in her power to save the town's books. And when it comes to her cat, Tru becomes a fierce momma bear! I love her transformation and her inner fire. It goes to prove you should never underestimate the quiet ones. I dislike her mother immensely and look forward to meeting her father. Of course, I adore Dewey and would happily supply him with toys if I could!

The first Beloved Bookroom Mystery is a story about growth and quiet rebellion. It has you rooting for the underdogs, the book lovers, and stalwart friends while wondering who dun it. There are several twists and turns that had me unsure of who I could trust.

THE BROKEN SPINE is a charming novel that kept me engaged with its well plotted mystery and unique cast of characters.

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 The Broken Spine (A Beloved Bookroom Mystery) by Dorothy St. James

About The Broken Spine

The Broken Spine (A Beloved Bookroom Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Berkley (January 19, 2021)
Hardcover: 320 pages

The first in an exciting new series featuring Trudell Becket, a spunky librarian who will stop at nothing to save her beloved books and catch a killer!

Trudell Becket, book-loving librarian, finds herself in a bind when the library where she works is turned into a state-of-the-art bookless library. In a rare move of rebellion, Trudell rescues hundreds of her library's beloved books slated for the recycle center. She sets up a secret book room in the library's basement and opens it to anyone who shares her love of the printed book.

When the town councilman, who was the vocal proponent of the library's transformation into a "futuristic technological center," is crushed under an overturned shelf of DVDs, Trudell becomes the police's prime suspect for his murder. She was the only person in the library at the time of his death, or so the police believe. But that's not true. For the past month, Trudell had been letting a few dozen residents into the building through the basement entrance so they could read and check out the printed books.

But if she tells the police about the backdoor patrons who were in the library at the time of the murder, she'd have to explain about the secret book room and risk losing the books. In order to protect herself from being arrested for a murder she didn't commit, Trudell--with the help of a group of dedicated readers--decides to investigate. She quickly discovers you can't always judge a book by its cover.

About Dorothy St. James

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, a crazy 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.

* Dorothy St. James is the alter-ego of award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls. She enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing", "perfect", "filled with emotion", and "lined with danger."

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.dorothystjames.com  

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dorothywrites 

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothy.stjames  

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/dorothy-st-james  

Purchase Links - Amazon - IndieBound - Bookshop - B&N -  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James. This book is the first in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series and was released yesterday.

Books mean the world to assistant librarian Trudell Becket, so when the city manager decides to make the Cypress Public Library a bookless library, she devises a plan. Sneaking her friends into the library after hours, they transport as many of the books headed for the landfill down to the basement as possible in order to create a secret library of real books. A loud crash makes Tru realized they've worked too far into the morning. Quickly telling her friends to leave the library Tru heads upstairs to find the reason for the crash. What she finds is a multimedia shelving unit that has toppled over-right onto the city manager. The very dead city manager. Soon becoming a prime suspect, Tru realizes that in order to protect the books and her secret library, she'll have to prove her innocence and find the real murderer.

Asking for Truffle - Review

Review

ASKING FOR TRUFFLE by Dorothy St. James

The First Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery

Charity Penn, who eschews the name Charity, is far too familiar with charlatans and con artists to be taken in by the scam offering her free chocolate making classes in South Carolina. Especially since Penn never enters contests. Curious, however, she asks her childhood friend to do some Internet checking for her, but he decides to visit the town in person. Shortly after calling Penn to tell her to come down in person, Skinny winds up dead-in a vat of chocolate. Feeling responsible for his death Penn descends on the town only to discover a run down struggling beach community inhabited by strange residents. Now Penn will try to discern the truth as she tries to sort out the motives of the townsfolk while dealing with her horribly behaved dog and learning to make sublime chocolates. 

There's an interesting vibe to ASKING FOR TRUFFLE. Penn is a very jaded, suspicious person with a fairly dim outlook on life. While it's understanding given her past, it doesn't make her very likable. The residents of Camilla Beach also have a dark cloud around them. We see unpleasant sides to nearly all of the characters and so nearly all become suspects and none are trustworthy. Yet in this derelict world, there's something more, something good. Penn's viewpoint starts to change and ours with her. 

Unlike most cozies, ASKING FOR TROUBLE is more negative. Not dark, but drab, yet somehow compelling. Penn's attitude toward her dog as well as her relationships with her surrogate granny and her half sister show that there is a light inside of her. There is some humor to be found here along with some wonderful descriptions of chocolate to lighten the outlook. I'm curious how Penn will continue to grow and how the community of Camilla Beach will change with her as the series progresses.

Recipes included.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Asking for Truffle by Dorothy St. James. This book is the first in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery series and was released September 12th.

Charity Penn, who eschews the name Charity, is far too familiar with charlatans and con artists to be taken in by the scam offering her free chocolate making classes in South Carolina. Especially since Penn never enters contests. Curious, however, she asks her childhood friend to do some Internet checking for her, but he decides to visit the town in person. Shortly after calling Penn to tell her to come down in person, Skinny winds up dead-in a vat of chocolate. Feeling responsible for his death Penn descends on the town only to discover a run down struggling beach community inhabited by strange residents. Now Penn will try to discern the truth as she tries to sort out the motives of the townsfolk while dealing with her horribly behaved dog and learning to make sublime chocolates.

Currently Reading...

I am just about to start Flowerbed of State by Dorothy St. James. This book is the first White House Gardener Mystery.

Green Thumb

I have garden designs in my head. I love pouring through seed catalogs, gardening magazines, and Pinterest, looking at all the lovely plants and imagining them in my yard. While I enjoy reading and dreaming about my garden, I don't actually do much with it. Sadly, I tend to neglect my houseplants and most die of thirst. As for the yard, I tend to let things fend for themselves. Perhaps that's why I enjoy the gardening cozy mystery. I get to think about the garden while others do all the work!

Gardening cozies feature, of course, gardeners. Most are professionals working as landscape designers, florists, or people having other, similar careers. Many of these books also include gardening tips.

Looking for an educated look at plants? Want a unique gardening shop in which to putter around? Check out The Peggy Lee Garden mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene. Peggy Lee is a botanist who owns a garden shop in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I love the scent that engulfs you when you enter a florist shop. If you can't make it to your local florist, why not try a fictional one? Kate Collins pens the Flower Shop mysteries. Set in New Chapel, Indiana the series features Abby Knight, owner of Bloomers Florists. Bretta Solomon also owns a flower shop, the Flower Shop, in River City, Missouri in the series by Janis Harrison.

Nina Quinn is a landscape designer with a difference-she does surprise garden makeovers in the Nina Quinn mystery series by Heather Webber.

In Virginia, near Washington DC we find Louise Eldridge, an organic gardener who becomes the host of a PBS gardening show on TV in the series by Ann Ripley. While Louise is close to Washington DC and politics (her husband is a CIA agent) Casey Calhoun is even closer. She's a gardener for the White House in The White House Gardener mysteries by Dorothy St. James.

Garden Clubs are great ways for gardeners to get together. They're also a way to find murderers. Alisa Craig gives us the Grub-and-Stakers series which takes place in Lobelia Falls, Ontario, Canada while Susan Wittig Albert takes us back to the 1930's in Darling, Alabama with the Darling Dahlias.

As outdoor gardening is coming to a close for the season, at least in my part of the world, now is the perfect time to pick up a gardening mystery. I hope you'll give one a try!