The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle

Happy Book Release Day! There are some fabulous new books out today that I want to share with you.  The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair, The Farmer's Bride by Kathleen Fuller, A Patchwork of Clues by Sally Goldenbaum, More than Words Can Say by Karen Witemeyer, A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund, The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White, Wherever You Go by Tracie Peterson, The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle, and The Summer Country by Lauren Willig.  

The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle is the thirteenth A Bibliophile Mystery.  Brooklyn Wainwright Stone and Derek Stone are enjoying the last day of their honeymoon in Paris.  They (meaning Brooklyn) suggest the pair spend the morning visiting the book stalls (called Bouquinstes) along the Seine.  Brooklyn is tickled when she finds a 1962 copy of The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian Fleming because it is the perfect gift for Derek (the spy who loves her).  When Brooklyn catches up with Derek, he is chatting with Ned Davies who he worked with during his days as a spy (though he denies being one).  Ned suggests that when they return home, they check out SPECTRE, a spy shop opened by one of their old friend’s, Owen Gibbons.  

After they settle back in at home, they head to Owen’s shop where Brooklyn is delighted to discover they have escape rooms.  There is a book area in the spy shop where they have Ian Fleming novels on display.  Brooklyn mentions The Spy Who Loved Me which turned out to be worth significantly more than the 7 Euros she paid for it.  Owen wishes to borrow the novel to be a centerpiece for the stores upcoming one year anniversary celebration.  Derek agrees after checking out the stores security systems.  That Saturday they enjoy the escape rooms along with employees from Derek’s company where he currently has a problem worker.  Around 3 a.m. Derek gets a call from Owen stating the shop has been broken into.  The Ian Fleming book was not stolen, but one of Owen’s shot and left to die in an escape room.  A few days later, Derek receives an unusual letter informing him that Ned has been killed and it includes a special request.  Derek and Brooklyn are once again embroiled in a mystery that could have deadly consequences.

The Book Supremacy is the thirteenth delightful installment in A Bibliophile Mystery series.  I have been a fan of this book themed mystery series since the very beginning.  I eagerly await each new installment and then devour it quickly.  The Book Supremacy is a charming story with well-developed characters that takes us to France, wine country, and San Francisco.  Kate Carlisle has a charming writing style that engages the reader and keeps them engrossed until the very last word.  The descriptions of Paris transported me to the location.  I could envision the green book stalls, the Seine, and the streets of Paris.  The same can be said for Dharma and San Francisco.  I especially loved SPECTRE with the various spy gadgets, books, café and escape rooms.  I found the escape rooms to be intriguing and they sound like an hour of good fun.  It is always fascinating to learn more about Brooklyn’s book restoration work and the lovely creations she makes from paper.  The mystery is complex, and I like how everything tied together.  There is action, suspense, a twist or two with the added touch of espionage.  The mystery can be solved by armchair sleuths before the reveal, but that did not hinder my reading experience.  While The Book Supremacy can be read alone, I heartily recommend reading the series in order (you will not be disappointed).  It allows you to learn about Brooklyn, her work, friends and how she and Derek came to be together.  I could not wait to get to the end of the story to find out what happened, but then I was sad that I had finished it (and must wait a year for another installment).  There are recipes at the end of the book (Brooklyn does love good food and chocolate).  The Book Supremacy is a story for fans of the series, the characters, and those who truly love books.  The Book Supremacy has good food, intrigue, spy gadgets, a plethora of books, former spies, a cute cat named Charlie, a murder, escape rooms and one curious book restorer plus her dashing English husband.

The Book Supremacy is out today and available on Amazon as well as other major retailers.  Thank you for reading my review.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Murder, She Uncovered by Peg Cochran.  It is the second novel in the Murder, She Reported series with Biz Adams.  I hope you have a intriguing day.  Take care, stay hydrated (important when it is hot) and Happy Reading!  

Kris

The Avid Reader