Dollycas's Thoughts
Following storm damage the Catalpa Springs library has been closed for repairs and renovations and now is preparing for its grand re-opening. Head Librarian Cleo Watkins would love for a book checked out over 40 years ago to finally be returned. Dixie Huddleston has had the book in her possession all these years and has played several tricks on Cleo over the years but never returns the book. This time Dixie has vowed to return the book. She tells Cleo she has seen the signs and that her death is imminent and she wants all her affairs to be in order.
Cleo doesn't take Dixie's words seriously but then when Cleo and Henry Lafayette, her gentlemen friend, arrive at Dixie's home, they find her dead body. She was clearly murdered but adding Cleo to the list of suspects is just plain nuts and she intends to prove it by catching the killer. It isn't going to be easy especially when the killer is terrorizing the good people of Catalpa Springs in the form of death threats delivered in an eerie way. They also vandalize Cleo's bookmobile, Words on Wheels.
With the library set to reopen soon Cleo has to deal with the killer but she also has to deal with a new employee being forced on her. Can she catch a killer and save her beloved library or will she be checked out permanently?
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Librarian Cleo Watkins stole my heart just a few pages into Better Off Read, the first book in this series. She is a strong, savvy, smart septuagenarian who loves her library and her books and everything they have to offer. When the library was damaged in the storm she loaded up the library's old bookmobile and she and her Persian cat Rhett Butler traveled near and far to be sure everyone who wanted to read got their books. Cleo has been grooming her assistant Leanna to take her place when and if she decides to retire. They have a great plan until Mercer Whitty, president of the library board springs Belle Beauchamp on them. Belle wants to modernize the library in a way that would break every bibliophile's heart. I love Cleo's dedication to the library and Leanna is walking right in her footsteps. They have to deal with all the quirky residents of Catalpa Springs. Ms. Page has created a diverse cast of people for readers to love and a few we can dislike. She has surrounded Cleo with a group of likable friends. As I had hoped, the core characters had more depth in this installment leaving room for continued growth.
I really enjoyed the murder mystery twisted up with what was happening at the library. Both held my interest. When Dixie's best friend asks Cleo to look into her death, Cleo can't say no. I had a good time following along with Cleo as clues were revealed and as she followed where they led usually with Henry by her side. Henry had an interesting little adventure of his own too. What I really liked was that Cleo's neighbor and her favorite deputy Gabby Honeywell listened to what Cleo had to say and used what Cleo found and suggested to move the investigation forward. She also looked out for Cleo at all times. The killer was my top suspect and I was pleased with the reveal and takedown.
I loved the small town setting of Catalpa Springs. It is a close-knit town full of southern charm. There are events held through the school and library for all ages.
Cleo reminds me of a few librarians that I grew up with and I admire her for how she handled everything thrown at her in this story.
Read Upon Arrival is a clever addition to this story. I was delighted to get to know Cleo and her friends better. This was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading the final book in the series, Read or Alive soon.
Following storm damage the Catalpa Springs library has been closed for repairs and renovations and now is preparing for its grand re-opening. Head Librarian Cleo Watkins would love for a book checked out over 40 years ago to finally be returned. Dixie Huddleston has had the book in her possession all these years and has played several tricks on Cleo over the years but never returns the book. This time Dixie has vowed to return the book. She tells Cleo she has seen the signs and that her death is imminent and she wants all her affairs to be in order.
Cleo doesn't take Dixie's words seriously but then when Cleo and Henry Lafayette, her gentlemen friend, arrive at Dixie's home, they find her dead body. She was clearly murdered but adding Cleo to the list of suspects is just plain nuts and she intends to prove it by catching the killer. It isn't going to be easy especially when the killer is terrorizing the good people of Catalpa Springs in the form of death threats delivered in an eerie way. They also vandalize Cleo's bookmobile, Words on Wheels.
With the library set to reopen soon Cleo has to deal with the killer but she also has to deal with a new employee being forced on her. Can she catch a killer and save her beloved library or will she be checked out permanently?
_____
Librarian Cleo Watkins stole my heart just a few pages into Better Off Read, the first book in this series. She is a strong, savvy, smart septuagenarian who loves her library and her books and everything they have to offer. When the library was damaged in the storm she loaded up the library's old bookmobile and she and her Persian cat Rhett Butler traveled near and far to be sure everyone who wanted to read got their books. Cleo has been grooming her assistant Leanna to take her place when and if she decides to retire. They have a great plan until Mercer Whitty, president of the library board springs Belle Beauchamp on them. Belle wants to modernize the library in a way that would break every bibliophile's heart. I love Cleo's dedication to the library and Leanna is walking right in her footsteps. They have to deal with all the quirky residents of Catalpa Springs. Ms. Page has created a diverse cast of people for readers to love and a few we can dislike. She has surrounded Cleo with a group of likable friends. As I had hoped, the core characters had more depth in this installment leaving room for continued growth.
I really enjoyed the murder mystery twisted up with what was happening at the library. Both held my interest. When Dixie's best friend asks Cleo to look into her death, Cleo can't say no. I had a good time following along with Cleo as clues were revealed and as she followed where they led usually with Henry by her side. Henry had an interesting little adventure of his own too. What I really liked was that Cleo's neighbor and her favorite deputy Gabby Honeywell listened to what Cleo had to say and used what Cleo found and suggested to move the investigation forward. She also looked out for Cleo at all times. The killer was my top suspect and I was pleased with the reveal and takedown.
I loved the small town setting of Catalpa Springs. It is a close-knit town full of southern charm. There are events held through the school and library for all ages.
Cleo reminds me of a few librarians that I grew up with and I admire her for how she handled everything thrown at her in this story.
Read Upon Arrival is a clever addition to this story. I was delighted to get to know Cleo and her friends better. This was a fun read and I am looking forward to reading the final book in the series, Read or Alive soon.
Read on Arrival is the second installment in the Bookmobilie Mystery series set in the small town of Catalpa Springs, GA and featuring librarian and bookmobile driver, Cleo Watkins. Cleo is looking forward to the grand reopening of the town library, there are just a few last minute renovations and repairs to be completed.
Cleo is devastated when the bright shiny Airstream pulled by the gaudy and overbearing Belle Beauchamp arrives in town. Belle has arrived from nearby Claymore, and claims that her bookmobile is what the people really want - loud music, loud colors, streamers, a tiny horse named Lilliput and absolutely no books. And unfortunately, Library Board member, Mercer Whitty has fallen head over heels for the woman, and is now determined to have her join the library staff as a full time employee.
In addition to dealing with Belle, Cleo and her friends Henry Lafayette and his little pug, Mr. Chauncey have accidentally stumbled into another murder scene. For over forty years Cleo has been taunted by Dixie Huddleston, who borrowed the book "Luck and Lore" a compilation of good and bad omens found in the Deep South. The woman has never paid the overdue fines and several times has offered to return the book to Cleo but the circumstances surrounding the exchange have always ended in a nasty prank.
This time though is going to be different, according to Dixie. She tells Cleo that the luck of the book has run out and she needs to make amends to everyone that she has wronged in the past and that includes Cleo. Full of doubts, Cleo and Henry arrive at Dixie's house only to find the woman trapped in her pantry and dead from bee stings. Sheriff Culpepper is quick to point the finger at Cleo but with the help of her neighbor Deputy Gabby Honeywell and trusty sidekicks Henry and his pug, Cleo sets out to check out the real killer.
A fun, fast paced plot with returning characters and a delightful bookmobile. This addition to the series can read as a stand alone but I recommend if you haven't read the debut yet go and do it so that you have a better understanding of the characters and their histories.
Cleo is devastated when the bright shiny Airstream pulled by the gaudy and overbearing Belle Beauchamp arrives in town. Belle has arrived from nearby Claymore, and claims that her bookmobile is what the people really want - loud music, loud colors, streamers, a tiny horse named Lilliput and absolutely no books. And unfortunately, Library Board member, Mercer Whitty has fallen head over heels for the woman, and is now determined to have her join the library staff as a full time employee.
In addition to dealing with Belle, Cleo and her friends Henry Lafayette and his little pug, Mr. Chauncey have accidentally stumbled into another murder scene. For over forty years Cleo has been taunted by Dixie Huddleston, who borrowed the book "Luck and Lore" a compilation of good and bad omens found in the Deep South. The woman has never paid the overdue fines and several times has offered to return the book to Cleo but the circumstances surrounding the exchange have always ended in a nasty prank.
This time though is going to be different, according to Dixie. She tells Cleo that the luck of the book has run out and she needs to make amends to everyone that she has wronged in the past and that includes Cleo. Full of doubts, Cleo and Henry arrive at Dixie's house only to find the woman trapped in her pantry and dead from bee stings. Sheriff Culpepper is quick to point the finger at Cleo but with the help of her neighbor Deputy Gabby Honeywell and trusty sidekicks Henry and his pug, Cleo sets out to check out the real killer.
A fun, fast paced plot with returning characters and a delightful bookmobile. This addition to the series can read as a stand alone but I recommend if you haven't read the debut yet go and do it so that you have a better understanding of the characters and their histories.
Read on Arrival is the second novel in A Bookmobile Mystery series. While it can be read alone, I believe it is best to indulge in Better Off Read first. Read on Arrival is nicely written with steady pacing and unique characters. Cleo Watkins is 75 ¾ and has no intention of retiring from her position as head librarian at Catalpa Springs Library. She has discovered she enjoys tootling about the countryside in her bookmobile-Words on Wheels. Cleo has Leanna, her assistant, to keep an eye on things at the library for her. There are a variety of quirky characters in the story ranging from Cleo's gentleman friend, Henry to Deputy Gabby Honeywell to Rhett, the bookmobile's Persian cat mascot. Catalpa Springs is a typical small Southern town where gossip spreads faster than maple syrup on a hot stack of pancakes and there are some unusual residents like Dixie. Humor is rampant throughout the story. It reminded me of the slapstick comedy reminiscent of I Love Lucy and The Three Stooges. There is plenty of activity in Read on Arrival with Dixie's murder, death threats on coffin shapes items, Cleo investigating, and Belle trying to ruin the library. I did have to remind myself that this was a work of fiction (reality cannot be applied). Someone cannot get away with keeping a book checked out for 40 years today (twenty years ago, but not now). The situation with Belle is also unrealistic. Libraries do wish to attract readers, but they will not toss out their books to accomplish it (or rip off the covers because the colors do not match their color scheme). The mystery was straightforward, and I easily identified the killer (it was a piece of cake). There are pointed clues and a limited number of suspects. My favorite phrase from Read on Arrival is âdon't wake the slumbering human bedâ from Rhett, the cat. Read on Arrival is a lighthearted, humorous cozy mystery with killer bees, death threats, a delinquent book, mimes, two dead bodies, a sleuthing librarian, an âinnobrarianâ, and a mascot named Rhett.
