annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Broken Spine is the first book in a new library cozy series by Dorothy St. James. Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a small-town library murder mystery cozy complete with cat. I found the characters formulaic and "trope-y" and the plotting predictable (down to the does-he-doesn't-he handsome detective slow-burn love interest and over the top denouement). It was, however, an engaging pleasant read and honestly there are reasons why cozy readers like me love their cat-library-cozies. There were some problematic plot issues (like the town-wide conspiracy to stay silent about the library-in-exile which is in the SAME PHYSICAL BUILDING as the new "improved" electronic library and media center upstairs). There was altogether too much pearl clutching school-marm-ish shushing and Victorian rigidity in the characterizations of the librarians and quite a lot of unnecessary antagonism between the "we hate books" library of the future and the "we hate electronics" library of the past. I'm all for the "can't we all get along" majority in the middle and I have yet to see even the most fervent lover of e-readers who thinks paper books are a thing of the past. Furthermore I've yet to see even the most hidebound bibliophile react with hatred to e-music, film, and media collections. The characterizations were predictable and two dimensional (down to the brightly dyed purple stripe in the young female tech-guru's hair).
One of the major (really *the* major) plot device(s) is so beyond the bounds of possibility that it just never really achieved liftoff for me. No spoilers, but it's the main impetus for the first murder and all subsequent plot action.
I do recommend the book to readers who are especially fond of small-town librarian cat cozies, but understand that there are some major issues going in and bring a hefty suspension of disbelief to the party.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Broken Spine is the first book in a new library cozy series by Dorothy St. James. Due out 19th Jan 2021 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a small-town library murder mystery cozy complete with cat. I found the characters formulaic and "trope-y" and the plotting predictable (down to the does-he-doesn't-he handsome detective slow-burn love interest and over the top denouement). It was, however, an engaging pleasant read and honestly there are reasons why cozy readers like me love their cat-library-cozies. There were some problematic plot issues (like the town-wide conspiracy to stay silent about the library-in-exile which is in the SAME PHYSICAL BUILDING as the new "improved" electronic library and media center upstairs). There was altogether too much pearl clutching school-marm-ish shushing and Victorian rigidity in the characterizations of the librarians and quite a lot of unnecessary antagonism between the "we hate books" library of the future and the "we hate electronics" library of the past. I'm all for the "can't we all get along" majority in the middle and I have yet to see even the most fervent lover of e-readers who thinks paper books are a thing of the past. Furthermore I've yet to see even the most hidebound bibliophile react with hatred to e-music, film, and media collections. The characterizations were predictable and two dimensional (down to the brightly dyed purple stripe in the young female tech-guru's hair).
One of the major (really *the* major) plot device(s) is so beyond the bounds of possibility that it just never really achieved liftoff for me. No spoilers, but it's the main impetus for the first murder and all subsequent plot action.
I do recommend the book to readers who are especially fond of small-town librarian cat cozies, but understand that there are some major issues going in and bring a hefty suspension of disbelief to the party.
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
rebeccaelizabeth94's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I absolutely loved this cozy. The setting was ideal. The characters were smart, this is very important. I loved the mystery and it was such a good narrative. I don’t love the cop but you know I only love the 99 so there’s that. This was a cute story. I can’t wait to read the next one.
elinacre's review against another edition
3.0
cute enough cozy mystery, although oy with the stereotypical shushing librarians already! i was also a little annoyed with how passionate tru was about library books (i mean, i'm a librarian too but whoa girl) and also a little uncomfortable with how often the narrator referred to her "kitty" but that might be a personal problem.
sdevine's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
peggyemi's review
2.0
The premise for this book sounded so promising and I was really looking forward to reading this first book in a new series by author Dorothy St. James. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I found it hard to engage with most of the characters. I thought that parts of the mystery were over the top and a bit unbelievable. The investigators seemed to jump to conclusions on the simplest of circumstantial evidence. I don't usually mind if the main character has a romance in a cozy mystery but the one in this book was too distracting and the parties just seemed so mismatched.
I'm sure that there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get through this book and I kept putting it down and starting something else before I went back to the book. I will not be continuing with this series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley.
I'm sure that there will be plenty of people who will enjoy this book, but it just wasn't for me. It took me a long time to get through this book and I kept putting it down and starting something else before I went back to the book. I will not be continuing with this series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley.
reader_cheryl's review against another edition
4.0
The town library in Cypress is undergoing a change no library should suffer. The town’s aggressive town manager, Duggar Hargrove, has announced the library is going high tech. Computers and tablets are in and physical books are out. He hopes the change will bring high tech businesses to the area, revitalizing the economy. Anne Lowery, the newly hired technology specialist, is in charge of the renovation.
Not everyone is happy with the changes. Trudell Beckett, assistant librarian, (and the main character) has fought with Duggar over the changes. Duggar goes forward with his plan and Trudell goes forward with her plan to save the books.
She and several friends set up a secret library in the basement one night after the main library is closed. Morning comes before they finish. Trudell runs up from the basement to investigate a large thud. What she finds is Duggar Hargrove’s body crushed under a fallen shelf.
Suspects in the murder abound. Trudell isn’t the only one who was opposed to the library’s new format. Lida Farnsworth, head librarian and a stickler for the rules, was no fan of Duggar’s. Anne Lowery was in the same area but didn’t come running at the noise. Many of the townsfolk weren’t happy with Duggar either. The investigation also puts the secret library at risk of discovery. Can Trudell discover the murderer and still keep the secret library secret?
Not everyone is happy with the changes. Trudell Beckett, assistant librarian, (and the main character) has fought with Duggar over the changes. Duggar goes forward with his plan and Trudell goes forward with her plan to save the books.
She and several friends set up a secret library in the basement one night after the main library is closed. Morning comes before they finish. Trudell runs up from the basement to investigate a large thud. What she finds is Duggar Hargrove’s body crushed under a fallen shelf.
Suspects in the murder abound. Trudell isn’t the only one who was opposed to the library’s new format. Lida Farnsworth, head librarian and a stickler for the rules, was no fan of Duggar’s. Anne Lowery was in the same area but didn’t come running at the noise. Many of the townsfolk weren’t happy with Duggar either. The investigation also puts the secret library at risk of discovery. Can Trudell discover the murderer and still keep the secret library secret?
leroberts's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookwoman37's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is a 3.5 star review. This is the first book in the series and the characters need to be more developed. Tru is a librarian in the small town of Cypress, South Carolina. The library is going all digital so Tru sets up a secret library in the basement where real books can be checked out. On the final moving day the Town Manager is crushed by a book shelf. Tru sets out to solve the crime and keep her bookroom a secret. I was able to figure out the motive and the mystery pretty early. It was a quick read but it was just OK. Since I really enjoy Biblio cozies I will probably read the next one.