No one in the moderately sized rural southern town of Cypress would ever suspect their stalwart assistant librarian of breaking into the library where she worked. ~ Opening of The Broken Spine
Berkley, 2021
Crime Fiction/Cozy; 320 pgs
Source: NetGalley
When I first heard about The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James I knew I had to read it. I cannot resist and cozy mystery series set in a library. This one in particular caught my attention because of the premise. Trudell Becket is a pretty much by the book person who is not known for doing anything out of the ordinary. But when her beloved books are threatened at the library she works, drastic measures have to be taken. The mayor and town council of Cypress, South Carolina have decided their historic library would better serve the public by going bookless, and that means getting rid of all the books. This doesn't go over well with some of the town folk, much less Trudell. As a result, with the help of friends, she secrets the books away into the basement where she plans to open her own underground library. No one is going to take those precious books away from the town!
When the body of the man in charge of the library's transformation is murdered, all suspicion falls on Trudell. I mean, she did make it obvious she was opposed to the idea. In order to clear her name, Trudell and her friends are set on finding the killer themselves---and the while protecting the secret of their underground library.
I had a lot of fun reading The Broken Spine. Tru makes the perfect person behind the secret library just because she's so unassuming. She has a couple of very loyal friends, Tori and Flossie, who have her back at every turn. I especially liked Flossie, who is evidently a best selling author who refuses to tell even those closest to her what name she uses to write under or what books she's written. There's an adorable stray cat with a skull like marking on his head that finds his way into the library and Tru's heart.
There is a hint of romance, but the situation is complicated, and I was glad to see the author did not rush her characters into anything too soon. And who knows? Maybe it won't go in that direction at all. I am just not sure about her possible love interest, to be honest.
I thought the author did a good job with setting up the mystery and motives of possible suspects. I did figure out who was behind it all early on, but that in no way ruined the novel for me. This was a good first start to a series, one I look forward to continuing in the future.
What do you think of the idea bookless libraries?
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I'm not sure if I'd consider a book-less library a library! Wouldn't it be a social center or something else?
ReplyDeleteEustacia - It's hard to imagine a library without books, isn't it? It's evidently not a new concept to have everything available digitally only. I can understand cutting back on paper books and expanding the digital abilities of a library depending on the community served, but to get rid of ALL the paper books seems a bit much to me.
DeleteI found a blog article from 2017 that talks about real-life digital libraries. It seems to be a mixed bag. https://www.allpurposeguru.com/2017/05/whats-library-without-books/.
I love a good cozy mystery series! This one sounds delightful so I'm definitely going to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSamantha - It's definitely a series I hope to continue! I like the idea of an underground library. :-)
DeleteGotta love when a mystery series involves a library! Will definitely be checking this one out. :)
ReplyDeleteLark - Right?! Bookstores and libraries are my favorite cozy setting.
DeleteThe bookless library seems to be something that some library directors would go for... They put a lot of money into ebooks and I think they rather be community centers than have to deal with physical books. But there would be a revolt for sure lol. The Broken Spine sounds like a fun cozy. There are always a bunch in these cozy series so maybe the author is just taking her time with the romance.
ReplyDeleteAdriana - Libraries are so much more than just books these days, so I imagine you are right. But, yes, there would definitely be a revolt in many places if all paper books were taken away! I wouldn't be happy, I know.
DeleteI tend to prefer slow burn romances in cozy mysteries if there is one and so I don't mind at all. :-)
I do love cozies that take place in libraries or bookstores. This sounds wonderful, great review.
ReplyDeleteCarla - Thank you! Me too! Those are my favorite cozy settings. :-)
DeleteI can't imagine a library without physical books, though I've read articles about the idea of digital-only libraries. They kinda baffle me. Not really into mysteries myself, but this one does sound intriguing- if I were to attempt one again, I'd pick this up!
ReplyDeleteJeane - I can't really imagine it either, to be honest. I know for awhile there there was a belief that physical books would go the way of dinosaurs but that hasn't really proven to be the case.
DeleteThis sounds like such a fun cozy. I think there is a book-less library in San Antonio, Texas and one day I may go check it out. It's not too far from me but it sure sounds bizarre doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteIliana - You'll have to let me know what it's like if you do visit the bookless library in San Antonio. It's hard to imagine what one would be like even knowing they exist.
DeleteOh, this does sound like fun. I love the idea of a hidden underground bookstore. Kind of like a speakeasy for books, lol.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne - It was fun. The underground library was what appealed to me most about this one. Speakeasy came to my mind too when I first heard about it. LOL I look forward to reading more in the series.
DeleteA book less library sounds a bit soulless! Books give the place atmosphere and a really "returning to your comfort zone" kind of feel. Doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteStay safe and have a good week.
Mystica - It's hard to imagine a library without paper books, isn't it? I'm with you. I think it would lose that comfort zone feel. Which is actually why Trudell goes to the lengths she does to preserve the books. :-) I hope you have a good week too. Stay safe as well.
DeleteI've been reading some cozy mysteries lately, and the bookstore/library ones are my favorites. I like to start a series with #1, too. I'm working my way through the Amanda Raisin books on audio, but don't like to listen to them one right after the other.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - The bookstore/library cozies are among my favorites too. I hope you like this series if you give it a try!
DeleteI don't like the idea of a bookless library, lol! But this sounds pretty good. I don't read cozy mysteries and I really should start:-)
ReplyDeleteTammy - It's certainly a different take on a library! Even though most of my reading is done via e-reader these days, I still like my paper books. I hope Trudell would invite me to her secret library if I lived in her town. :-)
DeleteCan't resist a book with a library setting. And the characters sound interesting, too. :)
ReplyDeleteMelody - It's one of my favorite settings. :-)
DeleteA new series to me, just added it to my to read list and will see if the local library has them.
ReplyDeleteLinda - I hope you enjoy this one if you read it!
DeleteI love the sound of this book. I can't understand a library without books so I feel like I would be ready to stand behind Tru in this story.
ReplyDeleteCarole - I definitely was championing Tru in this book. :-)
DeleteI haven't ever read a cozy mystery, but people really seem to enjoy them. Perhaps once I've whittled down my TBR shelves, I'll read one. This one looks fun.
ReplyDeleteHelen - Cozy mysteries have grown on me over the years. I used to read them once in awhile and now they seem to make up most of my mystery reading. I think a lot of that has to do with my mood. I hope if you do give the subgenre a try, you enjoy whatever you read. Goodness knows there's a cozy for just about every hobby so you're bound to find something to interest you!
DeleteA bookless library -- LOL! And, an underground library to boot!
ReplyDeleteVerushka - I really like the idea of the underground library myself. :-)
DeleteI had read another much older book from this author that I was a bit meh on so I didn't grab this one but it does sound like a lot of fun. I don't typically mind figuring out the who as long as the read is good so I think I would enjoy this too.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I think it was a promising start to a new series.
DeleteOne of our high schools pruned its collection, stating kids use the computer more for research, which is probably true, but the Internet only takes you so far. I would be lost without books.
ReplyDeleteI've had my eye on The Broken Spine for a while. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for visiting my blog on Monday.
Cheryl - This school year has shown me how much more great a resource computers can be. But I do not believe that takes away from the value of physical books. I hope you enjoy The Broken Spine if you read it!
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