A great mystery from Kate Carlisle, who has Brooklyn and Derek searching out the killer of an obnoxious developer who threatened her family and her hometown. I always enjoy how the mystery revolves around books and literature.

In this book Brooklyn and her husband Derek Stone are heading to Dharma's first book festival. They hope to help out getting ready for the festival along with Brooklyn repairing a book about Little Women.

When they arrive and see what Rebecca Brooklyn's mom has been dealing with it's a wonder that the festival is still on track! Brooklyn and Derek decide that Rebecca needs their help and will do everything they can to keep her safe and sound.

When murder starts up Brooklyn is determined to find out whose bringing horror to her hometown. The more they dig the more questions arise who would kill a fellow member of the committee for the festival and why? Was it someone trying to buy up property in Dharma or is someone right in front of them causing them all sorts of grief?

I love this series it's fun and mysterious and you find yourself laughing at times totally worth the adventure. We get to see what Brooklyn's family is up to and how things have been going. I love how Ms. Carlisle weaves her stories so you feel like you are traveling along with Brooklyn and Derek and are in for a great ride with a great story!

I really enjoyed the story line. I have really enjoyed the character development of all the characters in this book as well as throughout the series.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Brooklyn Wainwright is excited to attend Dharma’s first book festival with her new husband, Derek. Her mother, Rebecca, is in charge. She has tapped Brooklyn to have a booth doing rare book appraisals since she is an expert book restorer in San Francisco. Rebecca and Meg, Derek’s mother, are hosting a booth where they plan to read palms and tarot cards.
At a festival committee meeting, it becomes obvious that one of the local businessmen isn’t happy with Rebecca’s plans, and doesn’t hesitate to show it. Before it’s over, Rebecca has received personal threats and one of the committee members (who was supposed to be overseeing the bank account) is dead. And most of the money has been removed from the account.
Brooklyn and Derek step up to investigate because there is no way they will let Rebecca take the fall for murder or embezzlement.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery.

Another delightful installment of the Bibliophile Mystery. I enjoyed the setting of a book festival, which I think goes perfectly with Brookyln's occupation. There was a lot of focus on the mystery, which was wonderful. If you have not read a book in this series you will still enjoy this book. A great book.

THE GRIM READER is book fourteen in the Bibliophile Mystery series and although all the mysteries can be read as a standalone, I always suggest reading this series in order because some of the scenes mentioned other parts in the other books. Plus, you can see the romance develop between Brooklyn and Derek, her husband.

Now, after the last book, which became one of my favorite books of 2019, I was really looking forward to see what Kate Carlisle would do next. This time, Brooklyn and Derek are in Dharma at a book festival.

I felt like this book progressed a little more slowly than I would like. Especially in the beginning, it takes a while for things to really get moving. However, I do still enjoy Carlisle’s easy writing and flow. She creates a sense of community really well in this series and it’s nice to see different relationships unfold with their mothers.

I’ve noticed that the books are becoming more and more intense in terms of the mysteries now. I guess that comes with writing so many books in the series. But things are not so over-the-top that they aren’t believable, so I really enjoy that aspect of the book. I look forward to seeing what Kate Carlisle releases next.

The Grim Reader was another winner in the Bibliophile series from Kate Carlisle. I've loved this series from the moment I read the first book featuring Brooklyn Wainwright. I love books, so it isn't surprising how much I love reading about a character that works with restoring books all day. Add in Brooklyn's hunky husband Derek and all of her family in Dharma, and I was hooked from the very first page.

I love each new adventure with Brooklyn and Derek, and love even more when we get time with their families. I have mad love for their parents and their siblings. The town of Dharma is also another character in itself, and I wish it was real so I could visit it. Brooklyn is usually the one to find all the dead bodies in this series, and I loved the switch up where instead it was Brooklyn's mom and Derek's mom finding the dead body. Brooklyn is always protective of her friends and family, but I loved she was in overdrive mode to solve this murder since their moms were involved. 

I can usually follow the trail a bit better than I did with The Grim Reader. I tend to figure out the who done it before Brooklyn and Derek announce it. Ms. Carlisle totally kept me guessing this time, and I loved it. Seriously, even knowing all the clues were there all along, I was still surprised. The Bibliophile books are my favorite cozy mystery series of books. I usually not only read, but listen to the audiobook from the library as well. Fourteen books into this series and I still check for the next book in the series several times a year. Fans of cozy mysteries should totally check this series out! I promise you won't be disappointed at all!

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

Personally, not the best book for me. It was fun to experience the Louisa May Alcott book festival through the medium of these pages. If you can't attend a Louisa May Alcott-themed festival in person (which is likely in short supply)... Then you can at least read all about one -- complete with a murder case.

Minor/frequent mentions of: spirit guides, chakras, psychics, tarot cards, seances, etc.

Foul language level: 4 out of 5 caution rating.

The main thing I enjoyed from this story was learning a bit about Brooklyn's bookbinding activities; I loved when it shared about her processes in repairing a book or about her special tools she used. Very interesting.

This was an alright read, although I will not be returning to the series.

Brooklyn is one of my favorite heroines and I love spending time with her!! The Grim Reader is a delightful and charming mystery that takes place in an amazing location, Dharma. Brooklyn’s Mom has put together a Book Festival in this cozy little community and everything is going great until the body of one of the committee members is found. Now, it is up to Brooklyn and Derek to find another killer before all the Book Festival plans get scrapped for good.

The Grim Reader is a great mystery and even if you haven’t read the rest of the series, it will be easy for you to follow right along. I loved watch Brooklyn and Derek’s relationship grow in this story and I wanted to go visit the First Annual Book Festival in Dharma too. Fun, exciting series and I hope there are many more books to come.

Kate Carlisle comes through with another fun and clever entry in the Brooklyn Wainwright series. Here, the gang comes together for a book festival in Brooklyn’s hometown of Dharma, California. Brooklyn’s whole family is here, and mom Rebecca gets a starring role in the story.

Carlisle continues to develop the relationship between Brooklyn and new husband Derek, which provides a solid footing for all of Brooklyn’s deadly and messy adventures. Fans of the series will enjoy.

Kate Carlisle involves bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright and her husband Derek in murder and book festival in Dharma in the Grim Reader, a Bibliophile mystery. A bully who has been buying up wineries tries to get a booth at the book festival which is organized by Brooklyn's mother and her committee. He threatens her mother and others; then bodies start dropping. Whodunit in this bright and quick moving cozy? A valuable first edition of Little Women that Brooklyn is cleaning up and repairing also becomes a target. Read on.

THE GRIM READER is book fourteen in the Bibliophile Mystery series and although all the mysteries can be read as a standalone, I always suggest reading this series in order because some of the scenes mentioned other parts in the other books. Plus, you can see the romance develop between Brooklyn and Derek, her husband.

Now, after the last book, which became one of my favorite books of 2019, I was really looking forward to see what Kate Carlisle would do next. This time, Brooklyn and Derek are in Dharma at a book festival.

I felt like this book progressed a little more slowly than I would like. Especially in the beginning, it takes a while for things to really get moving. However, I do still enjoy Carlisle’s easy writing and flow. She creates a sense of community really well in this series and it’s nice to see different relationships unfold with their mothers.

I’ve noticed that the books are becoming more and more intense in terms of the mysteries now. I guess that comes with writing so many books in the series. But things are not so over-the-top that they aren’t believable, so I really enjoy that aspect of the book. I look forward to seeing what Kate Carlisle releases next.

Another great Bibliophile mystery. I did feel at some points the plot dragged on a little after the previous entry it would be nice to see victim the family is not connected to somehow. I also miss the humor which was a bigger part of the first few books. Still a good entry in the Bilibliophle series. I look forward to the next book.

This is the 14th cozy mystery in Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mystery series. I love revisiting the familiar characters and settings in cozy mysteries. In this case, it’s Brooklyn, Derek, and the residents of Dharma. The key book in this is Little Women - which I just read before I saw the movie so that was fun. I enjoyed this edition to the series.

An irresistible cozy mystery, with a murder solved by book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright, who is now also a newlywed with a great husband. Book lovers will enjoy this, with all the authentic references to book restoration and preservation.

Kate Carlisle is an amazing author! If you haven't read this series, then you are missing out big time. I love how the tells the story and keeps you guessing about who the murderer is right until the end. I always love finding out who it is and why they would do something so terrible to another human being.

This time we have Brooklyn and Derek post honeymoon going to visit family in Dharma for a book festival. This is the first one and it is a big deal. Rebecca (Brooklyn's mom) is co-chair of the committee for this festival and of course there will be those who cause trouble for others. You get to see how strong Rebecca is and how far the family will go to protect her from any harm. Family stick together and I love their close bond!

This book (as well as the series) is just so wholesome and good. If you are a book lover, librarian, or mystery fan, then you will really enjoy this series. Brooklyn makes a great lead character and it's fun to see her growth throughout the series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

In Kate Carlisle’s fourteenth installment in the Bibliophile Mystery Series, The Grim Reader, Brooklyn and Derek are looking forward to some time away from San Francisco and Brooklyn’s hometown Dharma’s first annual Book Festival. Brooklyn’s mother Rebecca is head of the committee in charge of the weekend festivities, and though overall planning has gone well, it has not been without challenges – namely Saffron, a really negative committee member, and bully businessman Jacob Banyan. Banyan is full of threats for Rebecca, but she is more annoyed than afraid. When the festival’s co-chair is brutally murdered and the festival funds are MIA, Banyan becomes Brooklyn’s prime suspect. Things become quite personal when Rebecca has more than one close call and the body count rises. Brooklyn and Derek do all they can to get to the bottom of things all while trying to keep Rebecca safe.

The Grim Reader can be read as an enjoyable standalone mystery, but characters pop in and out and other books are mentioned throughout so I recommend reading the series in order if possible (all of the books are great fun). This tale takes place in Dharma, a utopian hippie colony turned small town, and it is a nice change of scenery from the series’ normal San Francisco setting. Dharma is nestled in California wine country and definitely a place I would like to visit if it was a real place. Beautiful weather, gorgeous scenic views, and consistently successful residents do make it seem a bit too perfect, but it is a cozy mystery after all.

The murders are a bit gruesome for a cozy mystery but not unbelievable over-the-top. Brooklyn and Derek’s involvement seems perfectly natural, and no one comes across as too nosy. The couple is still newly wed, but they are not too lovey-dovey. However, both of their mothers, as much fun as they are, do come off as saccharine. They express their pride in their children over and over again throughout the book, and it becomes noticeable enough that it jarred me out of the narrative more than once. This is a minor complaint that I am sure will not bother most readers. The mystery is pretty straight forward, and I had my suspicions about whodunit relatively early on. There are, however, enough suspects to keep readers second guessing. There are plenty of book restoration scenes to satisfy readers’ curiosity about Brooklyn’s profession.

The Grim Reader is engaging and entertaining, sure to please both longtime fans of the series and readers new to the Bibliophile Mystery series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

As always, Kate Carlisle has written a fun, captivating cozy mystery! I love the world she has built with these characters, and I love everything bookish in this series.

Brooklyn Wainwright and her husband Derek Stone are going back to visit the small community of Dharma, California, where Brooklyn grew up. Dharma is having their first annual Book Festival, and Brooklyn will be one of the vendors, teaching children how to make accordion books and appraising books for people. She's excited once again to see her family, and Derek's mom and dad have recently purchased a summer home there, since one of their sons is living with Brooklyn's sister, and Derek's mom Meg has become best friends with Brooklyn's mom Becky.

After they arrive they decide to surprise Becky at the festival meeting that she's chairing are are surprised themselves when a big man is standing in front of the group and starts arguing with Becky. Brooklyn and Derek are stunned, but watch the action, happy that Becky can hold her own. The man storms out, and they learn he's Jacob Banyan, and he's been buying up wineries in the county only to turn the wine into boxed wine instead of the fine wine like that produced by Brooklyn's family. He's angry because he's not being allowed into the festival to hawk his boxed wine, and is determined to take it out on the committee members, including Lawson Schmidt, whom he says something cryptic to before leaving.

But Becky is excited that for this first festival they are putting on a musical version of Little Women, and they've managed to snag an ex-Hollywood movie star for the role of Marmee. Everyone's excited about the festival, and Brooklyn is also, though she's happier just to have family and friends around her.

Unfortunately, things aren't going the way they're planned. There's more confrontations with Banyan, her mother has become a target of someone, and then there's a murder...one where Becky and Meg have found the body. Now everyone is on edge, and Brooklyn is trying to protect her mother with people watching her round-the-clock. But when a second murder occurs, the ante is upped and she knows that not only is there a killer out there, but her beloved mom is in danger, and Brooklyn will do whatever it takes to protect her...

This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I do believe that it's just getting better every time. I discovered this series mid-way, and I'm enjoying going back to the beginning 'where it all started.' Saying that, you can see how much I love it. In this book, we get to know more about Becky, which is nice. She has both an inner and outer strength, which she passed on to Brooklyn, but Becky, for her part, isn't bothered by anything little like blood which still makes Brooklyn queasy. (Blood doesn't bother me, either, but my husband isn't real fond of it, ha!)

We learn a little more about about the place Brooklyn grew up, which everyone thinks was a commune but really wasn't, and of course, the author reiterates how Brooklyn and her siblings got their names, which is always nice. I also like how the relationship between Meg and Becky has gotten stronger; and I've always found it funny that Becky is proud of Brooklyn not only for who she is, but the fact that she manages to find dead bodies. It's rather macabre, but still done in a humorous way, so when Becky and Meg find the body, they're almost excited to have done so.

When the police start investigating, they want to know who wanted this person dead and why. But it leads to other things that are discovered and not in a good way - putting more than Becky in harm's way, and now Brooklyn and Derek are trying to find out what's going on while Brooklyn is still preparing for the festival.

The plot is done beautifully, the dialogue is witty and fun, and the characters are given depth and are believable and animated. The area around Dharma is described so lovely that I'd like to visit it someday. Ms. Carlisle has a way with words and a talent for bringing you into the story from the first page and taking you on the journey with her to the end. It all comes to a head eventually, which we know it will; and when the killer is discovered and the motive for the murders, it's as old as time itself, but never dull in the telling. Highly recommended.