Helpful Score: 3
First in the Booklover's Mystery series featuring Alex Plumwood, owner of a small family-owned publishing house in London. Plumwood Press is in trouble as the author of their one and only fiction bookâwhich became a bestseller and is supporting much of their planned expansionâdisappears with the last five chapters of the sequel. 'Arthur' is an anonymous author who takes great steps to maintain his privacy as he tells a tale of unfolding scandal revolving around a large number of children who were supposedly orphaned during the Blitz. After it's leaked that this fiction book is actually non-fiction, the book critic who broke the story is found dead in his home. After Alex loses contact with Arthur and a series of accidents and attacks begin to plague him, it becomes apparent that someone doesn't want the second book published. While I enjoyed this story, and especially the premise for it, I did find the main character to be a bit stuffy and the writing style a bit stiff and wordy. Alex did some pretty stupid thingsâwho gets attacked twice and has both their home and office broken into and trashed and doesn't call the police even once? Anyway, I spotted the bad guy and figured most of the mystery out halfway through, but will probably read at least one more in the series before giving up if I can come by it easilyâwon't be looking too hard, though.
Helpful Score: 2
Someone recommended this series to me, so I thought I would try the first book to see how I liked it. I now have the rest of the books in the series either ordered or on my Wish List. There is a great mix of English cozy, suspense, romance and humor all rolled into this novel. The main character, Alex Plumtree, is great. It is nice to see a good mystery written with a male main character for a change. Try this series - you'll love it!
Helpful Score: 1
Great series. This is the first in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
Cute, cute, cute. Loved the Hero, Alex. Set around a bookstore. This is a great series!
Helpful Score: 1
Main character owns a publishing company. Great read for those who love books and mysteries
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Always on the lookout for engaging mysteries, especially those in a series, I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn deeply into this one.
One of the most popular authors of the day doesn't make personal appearances. This is because no one, not even the publisher, knows who he or she is. But someone is willing to commit crime, even murders, to find out. The owner of the publishing house is caught in the middle. He comes close to death several times, his home and offices are invaded and vandalized and he doesn't know who to blame.
Could it be his brother, his secret love, the British government? Red herrings abound in this convoluted mystery I stayed up late to finish.
One of the most popular authors of the day doesn't make personal appearances. This is because no one, not even the publisher, knows who he or she is. But someone is willing to commit crime, even murders, to find out. The owner of the publishing house is caught in the middle. He comes close to death several times, his home and offices are invaded and vandalized and he doesn't know who to blame.
Could it be his brother, his secret love, the British government? Red herrings abound in this convoluted mystery I stayed up late to finish.
This is the first book I have read by this author. It is a mystery & there is suspense until the end.
London's Plumtree Press has a bestselling novel. Alex Plumtree is depending on the sequel to bail out the family business. But after the anonymous novelist vanishes, a respected critic announces that the novel is based upon a true World War II scandal.
