One Book in the Grave
Read One Book in the Grave Online
Authors: Kate Carlisle
Tags: #Fiction, #Mystery & Detective, #General
Praise for the Novels
of Kate Carlisle
Murder Under Cover
“A terrific read for those who are interested in the book arts and enjoy a counterculture foray and ensemble casts. Great fun all around!”
—
Library Journal
(starred review)
“With interesting characters, inviting locales, exceptional dialogue, and great visualization of bookbinding techniques, this is the best one yet in this fantastic and brilliant series.”
—The Cozy Chicks
The Lies That Bind
“Kate Carlisle weaves an intriguing tale with a fascinating peek into the behind-the-scenes world of rare books. Great fun, and educational too.”
—
Suspense Magazine
“When it comes to rare books and antiquities, Brooklyn Wainwright is a master….
The Lies That Bind
is full of sexual frustration, lies, manipulation, and murder: all the things that make a good mystery story…. Kate Carlisle is a strong writer who weaves an interesting tale that keeps the reader engaged until the very end.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“I highly recommend this series to any book conservator…who enjoys encountering a cast of quirky characters and a heroine who just can’t keep herself out of trouble.”
—The Bonefolder
“The writing in this cozy is sophisticated, the career details new and fresh, the characters sympathetic, vivid, and realistic, and the mystery compelling. This is a cozy that even nonfans of the genre would enjoy.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)
If Books Could Kill
“If you’re headed to the Edinburgh Book Fair this month, you should pack comfortable shoes, a raincoat with a hood, and a copy of Kate Carlisle’s bonnie little mystery.”
—
Fine Books & Collections
“Carlisle’s story is captivating, and she peoples it with a cast of eccentrics. Books seldom kill, of course, but this one could murder an early bedtime.”
—
Richmond-Times Dispatch
“The mystery plot is lighthearted and cozy but with depth enough to keep me guessing for a while, and the romance that is intertwined and humor amongst the eclectic cast of characters kept a smile on my face throughout the book.”
—Gumshoe
“A witty, thrilling, and suspenseful story…excitement bounds off each page! This twisty tale will keep you guessing until the very end.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“Brooklyn’s uncommon occupation drives the well-constructed and smoothly executed mystery. Offbeat secondary characters contrast nicely with the more levelheaded Brooklyn.”
—
Romantic Times
“Funny, fast-paced, and romantic all at once,
If Books Could Kill
is not to be missed!”
—Reader to Reader Reviews
“A smart, sassy, fast-paced mystery with quirky characters that make me laugh and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing through most of the book. Her vivid descriptions of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas are captivating and the bookbinding tidbits and trivia that are seamlessly woven into the story, fascinating, but it’s the characters that make this tale shine…. For an enjoyable mystery with plenty of quirky humor, I highly recommend both of Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mysteries.”
—The Romance Dish
Homicide in Hardcover
“Saucy, sassy, and smart—a fun read with a great sense of humor and a soupçon of suspense. Enjoy!”
—Nancy Atherton, author of the Aunt Dimity mysteries
“A cursed book, a dead mentor, and a snarky rival send book restorer Brooklyn Wainwright on a chase for clues—and fine food and wine—in Kate Carlisle’s fun and funny, delightful debut.”
—Lorna Barrett, author of the Booktown mystery series
“A fun, fast-paced mystery that is laugh-out-loud funny. Even better, it keeps you guessing to the very end. Sure to be one of the very best books of the year! Welcome Kate Carlisle, a fabulous new voice in the mystery market.”
—
New York Times
bestselling author Susan Mallery
“Who’d have thought book restoration could be so exciting? When Brooklyn Wainwright inherits the job restoring the priceless copy of Goethe’s
Faust
from her murdered mentor, her studio is ransacked, she’s stalked, and the bodies pile up around her. Is it the famous
Faust
curse? I’m not tellin’. But, trust me, you’ll have fun finding out.
Homicide in Hardcover
is good reading in any binding.”
—Parnell Hall, author of the Puzzle Lady crossword puzzle mysteries
“Beautiful and brilliant Brooklyn Wainwright thought bookbinding was a low-risk occupation, but she soon discovers her mistake in Kate Carlisle’s smart and sophisticated page-turner.”
—Leslie Meier, author of
English Tea Murder
“Brooklyn is my kind of detective! She loves books, wine, chocolate—and solving mysteries! Kate Carlisle has crafted a fabulous new series with great food, great books, and lots of fun.”
—Maureen Child, author of
Beguiled
“Welcome to the fresh and funny world of bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright. A delicious mix of San Francisco, book restoration, and a lingering counterculture beset by murder. Who knew leather and vellum could be so captivating?”
—Jo Dereske, author of the Miss Zukas Mysteries
“Kate Carlisle. Remember that name. I have the feeling you’ll be seeing it a lot in years to come. Carlisle bursts onto the publication scene with…a Bibliophile Mystery that kicks off what I hope will be a very long-running series.”
—Romance Novel TV
“This first in a new series is going to launch Carlisle to a bestselling position and have readers looking forward to the next installment of delightfully eccentric characters, droll dialogue, and a meticulously planned crime. Bibliophile heroine Brooklyn Wainwright is brilliant, feisty, and funny.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)
O
THER
B
IBLIOPHILE
M
YSTERIES
Homicide in Hardcover
If Books Could Kill
The Lies That Bind
Murder Under Cover
Pages of Sin(e-book novella)
O
NE
B
OOK IN
THE
G
RAVE
A Bibliophile Mystery
Kate Carlisle
AN OBSIDIAN MYSTERY
O
BSIDIAN
Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Obsidian, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, February 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Kathleen Beaver, 2012
All rights reserved
EISBN: 9781101575260
Obsidian and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is dedicated to my favorite Beast, my brother,
Daniel Patrick Beaver, and to his beautiful and very
clever wife, Deborah, and their amazingly perfect
children, Campbell and Callan.
I love you all!
As always, I’m indebted to so many people for their help in getting this book written. My grateful thanks go to:
My brilliant editor, Ellen Edwards, whose support, encouragement, and guidance are invaluable to me.
My wonderful agent, Christina Hogrebe, for her wit, enthusiasm, and good counsel.
Obsidian senior editor Sandy Harding, and everyone at NAL and Penguin, who work so hard to make book magic happen.
Illustrator Dan Craig, whose artistic talent makes my beautiful book covers the envy of all the others on the bookshelf.
Bookbinder Rhiannon Albers at the San Francisco Center for the Book, who shared the story of Dard Hunter and suggested that a mystery about a papermaker might be interesting.
Book artist Wendy Poma, for making it look so easy.
My fabulous sis-in-law, Jane Beaver, who drove to the ends of the earth and walked for miles in the rain with me, just to find the perfect spot for a Marin County goat farm.
My inner circle, my lovely and generous writer friends, who keep me sane, sort of. Thanks and love to Maureen Child, Susan Mallery, Christine Rimmer, Theresa Southwick, Jennifer Lyon, Hannah Dennison, Laura Bradford, Daryl Gerber, and the notorious Romance Bandits.
The many bookbinders, librarians, booksellers, and readers who have taken Brooklyn into their hearts. I can’t thank you enough.
Finally, to Don, my bartender and partner in crime. Thanks, lovey. You make it all worthwhile.
Chapter 1
Hello. My name is Brooklyn Wainwright and I am a book addict.
It was Friday morning and I was on my way to the Covington Library to sniff out my personal version of crack cocaine: books. Old, rare, and beautiful.
I didn’t need a twelve-step program; I just needed more bookbinding work to keep me off the streets. That was why I’d driven over to Pacific Heights to see my good friend Ian McCullough, head curator of the Covington Library in San Francisco. He’d called earlier to let me know he had a job for me.
I found a lucky parking spot less than half a block away.
Lucky
was the perfect way to describe how I was feeling that day. As I walked up the broad concrete steps of the imposing Italianate mansion, I took a moment to appreciate this beautiful building, its setting at the highest point of my favorite city, and this glorious early-fall day.
A few months ago, after coming within striking distance of yet another callous criminal bent on killing me and a few close friends, I had made a vow to be grateful for every wonderful thing in my life. My family; my friends; my gorgeous, exciting lover; the career I enjoyed so much; my books; pizza—I was grateful for them all. Life was good.
So now I stopped to breathe the crisp, clear air; smile at the colorful sight of newly planted pansies lining the sidewalks; and savor the stunning view of San Francisco Bay in the distance.
The moment passed and I strolled up the last few steps. Pushing open the heavy iron doors, I walked through the elegant foyer of the Covington, with its broad checkerboard marble floor, coffered ceiling, and sweeping staircases. Those stairs led to the second and third floors, where dozens of rooms held priceless artwork and countless collections of the greatest books ever written. In almost every alcove and nook, a visitor would find a comfortable chair with a good light for reading. It was the most welcoming place for a book lover I’d ever known and I loved it as much now as I did the first time I went there, when I was eight years old.