A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James

A Book Club to Die For

Book Summary

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. 

A Bookless Library

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.

A Bookless Library

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....

A robot at work in a library

My Thoughts

A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James is the third A Beloved Bookroom Mystery.  For those new to the series, the book can be read as a standalone.  A Book Club to Die For is easy to read and it has steady pacing.  There is an interesting cast of characters (they would fit right into any small Southern town).  I do not blame Tru for trying to save the library’s books and opening a secret library (any booklover in her position would do the same).  Tru is having a hard time, though, keeping the secret library a secret.  I cannot imagine a library without physical books. I just love Tru’s cat, Dewey (who could resist that cute face).  The mystery is amusing.  Tru is asked to speak at the elite Arete Society (a fancy book club).  When the president of the group ends up dead before the meeting begins, the police zero in on the hostess of the event.  Unfortunately, the hostess is Hazel Bailey who happens to be Jace’s mother (and Tru is dating Jace).  Jace is not allowed to investigate.  Tru dons her detective cap and sets out to expose the killer.  Tru asks questions and soon learns that here are plenty of people who wished the victim dead.  There is misdirection to keep readers off the trail of the true killer.  I wish the solution had been more challenging.  It can be deduced soon after the murder (before if you are an avid mystery reader).  Everything comes together for Tru, and she sets out to capture the killer.  

A Bookless Library (Children's Section)

When Tru is not busy working or trying to clear Jace’s mother, she is on the hunt for her father.  He has disappeared and no one seems to know where he is located.  Tru must also keep the basement library a secret from Mrs. Farnsworth, her boss (and the fact that Tru brings Dewey to work with her each day).  A Book Club to Die For is told in the first person which leaves us privy to all of Tru’s thoughts.  She tends to ramble.  There are repetitive details (I lost track of how many times we are told that Flossie is dying to become a member of the Arete Society). I am baffled as to why Hazel would serve tuna noodle casserole at what is supposed to a classy event.  There is humor scattered throughout.  I especially found the Tech Bros latest creation hilarious (there is one scene involving yellow dust that cracked me up).  A Book Club to Die For is an upbeat tale with a bag of books, a dead diva, a metal menace, a clever cat, a caffeine conundrum, a missing man, and a casserole killer.  

A Book Club to Die For is available from Amazon*.  The first two books in A Beloved Bookroom Mysteries are The Broken Spine and A Perfect Bind.  You can follow Dorothy St. James on Amazon.  This will allow Amazon to notify you when the author has a new book release.  Thank you for dropping by today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire.  It is the first A Christie Bookshop Mystery.  I am off to continue working on my Thanksgiving displays.  I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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