There is something surreal about reading a mystery centered around a library going bookless on my e-reader when my local library is closed due to the pandemic. This was a really good cozy mystery. Very likable characters and an original plot that was no obvious. I was figuring out who did it along with Tru. I look forward to reading more stories involving her, Dewey and the secret library.

This is the first in a new series. The library in Cypress is going high-tech. All the books are being removed, replaced with computers and pads and headphones, all the trappings of a bookless library. Many people in town love this library; they come in and visit; they come to check out books. They bring their children for story hour. All this is gone. While curious about the technology, the community wants their old library back. Trudell, one of the librarians, decides to circumvent the powers-that-be and she starts a small library in the basement of the library, with books she has smuggled out of the packed boxes ready to go to the landfill. And then a murder occurs. Trudell faces the accusations of murder and works to solve this murder. Who committed this dastard deed? Who is hiding books in other places in town? What role does the new business in town have with this whole deal?

The book was unevenly written, downright tedious in spots, but I kept on reading to arrive at an ending with most of the strings neatly tied up. Most, but not all. What will happen in the second book in this series?

I enjoyed this book very much. It draws you in from the very beginning and doesn't let go. I loved the characters and especially the cat Dewey. #TheBrokenSpine #NetGalley

First of all DVDs. ...haha. But it goes along with old-fashioned Tru and he desire to remain behind the times and stick with hardcover books. She wasn't the most likeable character. I kinda just felt like she was a generic anybody - there was nothing special about her. But I did like the plot and the mystery. Maybe the author is more focused on that and not into character development.

Trudell Beckett has been assistant librarian in the town of Cypress, South Carolina for 13 years. She is relatively content, with 2 great friends and a job, but the town itself has high unemployment. Then the mayor and and the town manager decide to make the town the next great technology center and the library is forced to become bookless. Trudell takes books meant to go to the landfill and puts them in a basement room where few employees would go and slips them to readers on the side.. Unfortunately one of the two men die on the night she and her friends are sneaking boxes downstairs. Because she cannot tell the truth of what she was doing, she is a suspect and one of the investigators is hometown prodigal son Jace, who nearly cost her a college scholarship many years ago. As she says, "Nancy Drew would never find herself in a knot of trouble this tight.". The characters are believable and make mistakes and there is humor too. As a librarian, I hope I am retired and maybe even dead before libraries are all bookless.

This is the first book in a new series. The library con Cypress is going through a change and a challenge. A book less library is what the mayor and town manager have pushed. A modern library with no books! Seriously!?
People are not happy with the change,especially Trudell who has a plan to save some of the books. She takes them to the basement to start a secret library.
I could relate to not being able to hold a book to read,and not exactly being a tech person would be very unhappy to have a book less library in my town.
A murder is committed in the library which gets everyone mixed up in the investigation. Can Trudell catch a killer and save the books?
I love the cover of the book. Absolutely love Dewey the cat!! Looking forward to the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

This small town’s new and aggressive town manager along with the town council gather in the library’s atrium. Modernization of the town is essential they say they want to turn the library into a “book less library. They would do away with all out of date books and replace them with computers computer terminals and electronic readers. Upon hearing their decision the assistant Librarian takes it upon herself to start moving books to a secret room to save them from being destroyed. Stumbling upon one of the tall wooden shelves that held hundreds of DVDs had been toppled over.when she realized someone was under it seeing a pair of polished shoes sticking out. Calling for help the head librarian comes over with theMayor and his son whom happen to be there at the time. They realize it is the town manager and the Mayor pronounces him dead. The story continues on to save the library and who killed the council man.

As a first in a new series, this book is pretty good. The premise of a book less library seems out of this world, but in Cypress, that’s exactly what happens.
As many folks in this town love the library, they also are interested in seeing what new technologies are available. None of this sits well with the librarians, and when one of them get tangled up in a murder investigation, it literally takes a village to set things right again.
I did struggle with parts of the book, I felt they dragged on, and there wasn’t enough excitement to keep me eagerly turning the pages.
I will look for the next book, however, as firsts in a series tend to have a lot of information to retain.
I loved the title and the book cover, and Dewey the cat was lovable.

Tru Beckett is an assistant librarian at a library that is being turned into a bookless library. When the town manager who came up with this idea is found dead, Tru and her pals try to solve the murder. A fun, southern cozy mystery. Perfect for those who enjoy book-themed cozies.
Although as a librarian, I thought the librarian stereotypes were a bit heavy handed.

This was a great start to a new series. It had a puzzling mystery and fun array of characters. There was also a hint of potential romance. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Completely relatable, library’s turn in to hubs all the time, books tosses for unused maker spaces. More discussion of censorship would be interesting.

I loved this book! It was quirky, funny, and engaging. I'm a sucker for any type of cozy mystery that centers around libraries and librarians, and this one did not disappoint. I thought I figured out who the murderer was, but I was wrong. And I'm okay with that. Add in the romance factor and I simply can not wait for the next book in this new series.

Trudell Beckett’s beloved library is becoming all tech, no physical books. Tru and her friends are working on the secret book room when a murder is committed in the library. Tru becomes a suspect because everyone knows how against the victims idea she was. Can Tru and friends solve the murder? Will they get the secret book room set up before another crime is committed. Fun new cozy series.
Goodreads

I didn’t care for this new mystery for several reasons. 1. The characters seem too much like southern caricatures 2. The plot seemed far fetched. Why would you create a book less library, especially in a very rural area? How many libraries don’t have money to buy any new books, but have the money to buy expensive Technology, computers etc.? 3. Police looked at the main character as the #1 suspect with flimsy reasons, when there were better suspects out there.
What I did like about the book. 1. The cover 2. The title 3. The history of books in the beginning of the book 4. It’s set in a library.