Homicide in Hardcover is the first novel in the Bibliophile cozy mystery series by Kate Carlisle. At the time of this writing, there are 17 books in the series, which is exciting news for people (like me!) who are just now discovering this series. You can binge-read the entire series if you really wanted!
The star and protagonist of Carlisle’s Bibliophile mystery series is Brooklyn Wainwright. Brooklyn is a book conservator, which is someone who repairs, restores, and preserves old books. She’s been practicing her trade since she was 8 years old and now runs her own book restoration business.
At the beginning of the novel, Brooklyn attends a celebration at the local library, which showcases the latest work of her lifelong teacher and mentor. Shortly after arriving at the event, Brooklyn finds her mentor lying dead in a pool of blood and taps into her inner sleuth to figure out whodunit.
Homicide in Hardcover is set in San Francisco, which is a perfect and ideal setting for the bohemian tone of this novel. Brooklyn was raised in a nearby commune in wine country and has several siblings—all of whom are named after cities and countries.
I loved Homicide in Hardcover because it isn’t as over the top or melodramatic like many other cozy mystery series. It’s tasteful, intelligent, and witty, and doesn’t give away obvious clues about the killer’s identity. This book contains no dull, lagging parts, and Brooklyn is incredibly relatable.
Here are my reviews of the next 2 books in the series:
Carlisle also writes a Fixer-Upper mystery series, which is also pretty good! There are now 11 books in this series, and the first 3 are below.
- A High-End Finish #1 (2014)
- This Old Homicide #2 (2015)
- Crowned and Moldering #3 (2015)
What did you think about this book?
Last Updated on November 11, 2025 by Sarah Ann
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