Better Off Read: 06/20/18

Better Off Read by Nora Page is the start of the Bookmobile mystery series. The series opens after the a bad storm with a seventy year old librarian at odds with the mayor who is too focused on the development of a fishing pier to care about fixing up the historic (and well used) library.

While the library sits damaged and only partially opened, Cleo is making do with a donated and converted bus, now renamed Words on Wheels. While out doing her rounds in the bookmobile, she's trying to gather together allies who will help fight the mayor's plan and get city hall back on track.

Given the set up, I expected the mayor to end up dead. He doesn't. It's one of the library regulars who ends up being a piece of work and a bit like Harry from The Trouble With Harry (1955).

Another odd thing with this first book, one that made me check numerous times to see if it was in fact the first book, was how everyone in town insinuates that Cleo has poked her nose into mysteries in the past — and not just the fictional kinds. Typically these first books make the murder a new and shocking thing for the protagonist, so it was odd to see someone who had prior, outside of the book, experience.

Oddities aside, the book was a quick and entertaining read. I will keep my eyes out for the second book. At this time, a second one hasn't been announced to the best of my knowledge.

Four stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Monday, July 02, 2018 at 21:43:38

MarthaE

This one looked cute to me. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Comment #2: Monday, July 02, 2018 at 22:05:38

Pussreboots

I did. It had a bit of a Murder She Wrote vibe.