I didn't realize that this was #11 in the Bibliophile mystery series so I feel like I'm missing quite a lot to fully love this book but reading it on its own, it was an appealing mystery. The story had interesting and colorful characters but it was a little hard to keep track of everyone. Again, this could be since I'm being plopped in the middle of a long-standing series, I may not have the knowledge to support the storyline. Likable enough that I'll give the first in a series a try and recommend to my voracious mystery readers.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

I enjoy a good mystery. This one has the whodunnit component in spades. While this is part of a series, you can read it independently.

The setting in a quaint San Fransisco neighborhood is alluring. The characters are well done and I didn't feel like I could figure out the culprit early in the story.

Overall, a fun read for anyone who enjoys a little mystery time.

This is the 11th novel by Kate Carlisle in her Biblliophile Mystery series and my first novel by this author. This is a light cozy mystery... a bit too light for me. Boring and uninteresting characters with a very unbelievable ending. This book would probably be appreciated more by fans of this series,

Brookyln and the gang are my total guilty pleasure. There are a lot of people who say they "only" appreciate "literature", which is great., I'm all about literary fiction, however, what many don't realize is that something can be light and still be well written. I have never been drawn into a "cozy" mystery series like I have Brooklyns. Like all 'cozies' it has way too many background stories to be believable(commune/.winery/bookbinding/spy/rich) but it's exactly what I love about it.

This one was better than the last few which I liked but didn't love. This one harkened back to the beginning. Though I will say when moms/dads were getting drunk I was waiting for Brooklyn to get up in the middle of the night and fall them all in bed together.

I really wanted to like this, because it's a 'bibliophile mystery' but (oh no there's a but) it was just meh. For me, the story seemed confused about which direction and the protagonist and her boyfriend were a bit too close to Mary-Sue and Gary-Stu for me.

Before I go into that, here's a brief plot summary (without spoilers). Brooklyn finds a dead body when she goes to look for her shoe repair guy. Apparently, this is quite a regular occurrence and the police let her and her fiancé Derek (who coincidentally owns a security firm so he can basically go anything needed) do their own investigation on the side. And Derek and Brooklyn's parents are meeting for the very first time.

I actually liked the parts about books and thought that the way rare copies of Alice and Wonderland were tied in with the mystery was clever. But, the Book also chose to ramble in a few directions, such as devoting a lot of time to descriptions of pie (I like food too but now I want to read about books and murders) and making the subplot of the parents meeting almost as big as the mystery. I really would have preferred it if all of that was cut down.

As for characters, Brooklyn and Derek are almost too perfect. You need them to do something and they have that exact skill. And they're both rich too so there's really no need to root for them because they already have it all. Or perhaps I'm just being overly picky because of how everything falls into place for them despite them doing some pretty ridiculous (and probably illegal) things.

(Slight spoiler alert) At one point in the book, they break into a house and take something. And keep in mind that they have a very willing inspector friend who does almost anything they ask so this is actually unnecessary, a point proved when the inspector gets said thing for them (and also there's a ridiculous amount of respect for Derek because he was a commander. It almost felt like the police worked for them).

Oh, and I did roll my eyes at a few points. Like when Derek's father asks her to call him by his first name and she gets all "I FEEL THE LOVE". I mean, it's the first meeting and unless I'm wrong there was no opposition to their relationship at all. I don't understand the reaction at all.

Last point, before I forget. There was A LOT of explaining in the book. It was so obvious that this was part of a series because of the way Brooklyn over-explained things and very explicitly referred to past mysteries. This might have worked in third but it was written in first so it felt off to me. I certainly don't greet my coworker and have my inner thought process be: "XYZ is my coworker and mentor. She has (insert description) and is (insert opinion)." That happened quite a lot at the start which annoyed me.

Ok this is a very complain-y review but it's not that bad. I mean, I finished the book (and I've been stopping things that I don't like lately so that has to count for something).

Although now that I've written the review, I don't know if I should give it two or three stars later on Goodreads and Netgalley) because of the ratio of positive to negative things. Maybe I'll give it three for the sections on books...

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

First start at the beginning of this series it great this book lacked the chemistry of the first books which I loved. Brooklyn, our main character, seems to have lost all the gumption, drive and occasional snarkiness that made her so interesting. It took me half way through to start enjoying the book which is unreal for me because this is one of my favorite writes

I adore this series because as a book collector and lover it is always a pleasure to read a book about someone who has a true appreciation and love for books. In this addition to the series Brooklyn spends a fair bit of time coveting a very old edition of Alice in Wonderland. The book, and a few ideas from the story, feature prominently in the mystery. This made it even more of a fun read. Add in the addition of a couple of new, but just as quirky as the rest, characters and the story was an enjoyable adventure. I have read several other books in the series, although not in order, and I have enjoyed them all. If you are a lover of cozy mysteries and you appreciate classic books then you will find this series to your liking.

This was a great book. The story was very entertaining and I held my interest the entire time. The characters were likable and I cared about what happened to them. This is a series I will definitely continue.

When a shop owner is killed in a store across from Brooklyn's home, she becomes involved in solving the mystery of who murdered him. Along the way, she spends a lot of time at Eddie and Terrence's book store in the same building. There is a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland that is a part of the mystery. I loved the information the reader gets about rare books, and also about hand made paper. Little details like that make me happy.

Brooklyn and Derek are wonderful. It is so refreshing to see a couple who are in love and are supportive of each other. They are getting their parents together for the first time prior to their marriage. All of the parents were great and added some humor to the book. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a good cozy mystery.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ONCE UPON A SPINE is the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle. I seem to enjoy this series more and more with each new book. Brooklyn grows and matures more with each book and her relationship with the handsome, debonair Derek is heading toward the next level with their upcoming wedding. I can hardly wait!

I love books – and this is a book (and series) about books – what could be more perfect. Brooklyn is a book binder and antiquarian and each book in the series centers around a rare edition. This one features rare, first edition copies of ‘Alice In Wonderland’.

Brooklyn and Derek are back. We get to meet Derek's parents in this outing as well as having to solve another book related mystery. We also learn about making paper. I really enjoy learning about book crafts through this series.

Kate Carlisle continues her delightful cosy Bibliophile mysteries with Once Upon a Spine. Brooklyn, the book restorer and her boyfriend Derek are about to meet his British parents but murder intervenes. At stake are unique copies of Alice and Wonderland and the fate of the block Brooklyn lives on. Multiple suspects and interesting scenarios. Read with pleasure.

This book was very slow to start. I was not thrilled with the new Brooklyn who is obsessed with eating healthy and looking good for her wedding. There was also not enough focus on the books and bookbinding to suit me.

Now that the renovations have been completed on the apartment, Brooklyn and Derek have more time to spend enjoying their little corner of the city. Brooklyn loves going to the local bookstore and seeing what treasures she can find and is enamored with a copy of Alice in Wonderland that owners Eddie and Terrance have displayed in their store. They also frequent the Rabbit Hole a health food store, with her wedding looming ahead Brooklyn wants to look and feel her best. One morning while running errands Brooklyn noticed something amiss at the Rabbit Hole, she finds the owner Rabbit hurt and another local store owner dead. Brooklyn wants to figure out what happened but with Derek's parents coming to visit she's nervous about what they will think of her and will she have the time. Derek's parents surprise her, not only are they like her own parents Derek's mother wants to be in on helping solve the mystery. While asking questions and searching for clues Brooklyn thinks there is a problem with the Alice and Wonderland book at the bookstore. Is the book in some way responsible for the murder? Why do so many people suddenly have copies of it? Follow along with Brooklyn as she works her way through the many twists and turns that this murder leads her on. Carlisle unquestionably knows how to weave a marvelous mystery together and I look forward to seeing what book Brooklyn works on next!

Rare books, impending nuptials, murder, and even more terrifying for Brooklyn, meeting her future in-laws for the first time come together in a delightful tale! ONCE UPON A SPINE by Kate Carlisle, the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series, captivated me from the very beginning. I love Brooklyn’s relationship with her parents, who are probably some of my favorite characters: a mom who is a hippy, new-age Wiccan and a dad who is a vintner. The fact that her fiancé, Derek, loves them too adds to the appeal. Derek won’t say how he thinks his upper-class British parents will react to meeting Brooklyn’s family, so Brooklyn is doubly worried. When they do meet, the fun starts. No spoilers here but in Brooklyn’s words, “Oh dear God!” and I was laughing out loud.

Brooklyn and Derek live in a small community within the large city of San Francisco and the author paints a vivid picture of how we sometimes see people in our own neighborhoods. People we may see quite frequently yet remain strangers can lead to remorse as it did for Brooklyn when one of her neighbors was murdered. Getting to actually know the people around us is what forms a close-knit community and creates friendships. Brooklyn, with the help of Derek, decides to solve the case and try to bring unity back to their neighborhood. The more Brooklyn asks questions the more puzzling the murder becomes. ONCE UPON A SPINE has a twisty, topsy-turvey plot and ending that is worthy of Lewis Carroll and Alice in Wonderland!

Brooklyn and Derek are good hosts to the parents visiting them and there is lots of delicious foods mentioned and enjoyed throughout the book. Fortunately for the reader, Kate has included several appetizer recipes that the families enjoyed one evening. They all sound delectable but to add to the fun book, each recipe has a very humorous title or play on words. I tried the Cheesy Balls and they are so yummy I had a hard time limiting myself to just a few! These are very easy to mix up and I liked that they could be made ahead of time. Perfect for entertaining…or making for yourself and enjoying with a glass…or two of California wine while catching up on Brooklyn's adventures!

ONCE UPON A SPINE is the eleventh book in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle and it’s seriously become one of my favorites books from this author. I’ve read a lot of Carlisle’s other books and series but I feel like she has the most fun in this series. Not only is Brooklyn such a unique heroine, but I also feel like she has grown a lot throughout this series as well.

This book marks a lot of new things for Brooklyn. She’s taking that next big step in her relationship with Derek and is meeting his parents. However, at the same time, people are ending up dead all around her. So she’s suddenly got a lot on her plate when bad blood starts to boil between the people around her. I found the mystery of this book to be very engaging in interesting. There is excellent pacing and balance in this book. Carlisle weaves together the mystery and romance well so I think if you’re a big Romance fan like I am, you may enjoy this series.

Another thing that I really loved about this book is the focus on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As a big Alice in Wonderland fan, I felt like this addition really added something special to this book. I was right there along Brooklyn obsessing about this book. So I felt like I was really able to connect with her character with this installment.

I can absolutely see why this series is so massively popular and well-loved. I absolutely loved ONCE UPON A SPINE. It’s definitely one of my favorite reads this year and I can’t wait to devour more books in the series!

Will post on blog on release day

Once Upon a Spine: A Bibliophile Mystery
By Kate Carlisle
Berkley
June 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Rare-book restorer and bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright finds herself falling down a rabbit hole of confusion in this 11th delightful Bibliophile Mystery. For weeks Brooklyn has been visiting almost daily the neighboring Brothers Bookshop, where she lusts after an 1866 first edition second issue print of Alice in Wonderland. It’s nowhere near as valuable as a true first edition that was ultimately recalled, but one of the owning brothers-in-law still refuses to sell it. That Eddie Cox and Terrence Payton remain business partners is a mystery, as their continual sparring answers the reason why the sisters they married divorced them. It is not their bodies, but that of Joey Falco and unconscious Will Rabbit, whom Brooklyn and her fiancé Derek Stone have the misfortune to discover when she spots the smoothie/produce market Rabbit Hole in disarray.

Although previous cases have always somehow revolved around books, this time it looks as though jealousy is at the heart of the murder. Joey the Cobbler was one of the many lured in by the Courtyard building’s owner Bonnie Carson, and yet a trail of her perfume may have confused the culprit into just who was being smushed by shelves. So with the intended victim uncertain, it makes determining the motive, much less the murderer, nearly impossible. Derek being a former British intelligence agent and current security specialist gives him some leeway with the San Francisco Police Department, but he and Brooklyn will have another matter keeping them busy. Their wedding date is getting closer and closer, and Brooklyn is finally meeting her British in-laws for the first time. While Brooklyn fears that her hippyish, astral-projecting, Wiccan mother will be appalling to the Derek’s presumably uppercrust parents, Brooklyn couldn’t be further off the mark. Who could have predicted that the mothers could be sisters-from-another-mother, or that they would be absolutely thrilled to be co-conspirators in Brooklyn’s investigation?

This is a thoroughly enjoyable series to read and satisfies on so many fronts. Not only does it take a refreshingly twist on the meeting of in-laws, it provides fascinating details that teach the many aspects of book collecting and bookbinding. The differences between book editions, not to mention Brooklyn’s creation of hand-crafted Alice in Wonderland playing cards, are relayed so engagingly that readers learn without even realizing it. Despite there being a relatively small number of suspects, the confusion over the actual target makes the investigation that much more complicated. A surplus of copies of Alice in Wonderland further increases their bewilderment, not to mention our fun. Brooklyn’s family is so charming and expansive that they never wear out their welcome, and a visit to their home in Sonoma’s town of Dharma can’t come again soon enough. This continues to be the perfect blend of books, food, and family.

With every book in this series I worry that the quality will lessen just because we're at book 11. But honestly this series gets better with each book.

This is a light, enjoyable read, though, I didn't love it to the extent that most reviewers have so far.

The content feels more like chick-lit than the cozy mystery I'd expected. We spend a lot of time on family theatrics, paper-making instructions, and food - I think half the book is devoted to discussing, cooking, and eating snacks and meals. Granted, these scenes are often funny and entertaining. I just found the content low on substance and somewhat repetitious. In fairness, I'm not much of a chick-lit reader, so this is also an issue of my own preferences.

When we get to the mystery aspect, I just couldn't make that leap with Brooklyn's crime-fighting. Some of the things she and her fiance do are over-the-top illegal, and yet their homicide detective friend either shrugs off their law-breaking or encourages them. In the end, the case is not all that difficult to solve, which makes the detective appear incompetent.

The book description gives away almost all the high points of the plot, which is unfortunate. The whodunit culminates with tangled drama that is entertaining and comical, though I couldn't take these characters seriously.

I have not read any of the prior books in this series. This one reads perfectly as a stand-alone. I had no issues orienting myself within the story or Brooklyn's life.

Being a librarian who works with rare books, I loved this latest edition to the Bibliophile mysteries. Kate Carlisle always successfully captures how many people feel about old and rare books. This latest edition was also nice because Brooklyn stuck around her neighborhood and we get a chance to see how she might live on a day to day basis. Her future in-laws also seem to be great, which was a nice change of pace from other books where the in-laws seem to be people to fight with. I will continue to read this series and keep suggesting it to everyone I know.