Lydia Smith is a clerk at the Bright Ideas Bookstore in Denver, a sanctuary for "BookFrogs"—the shop’s eccentric, marginalized regulars. Her life fractures when she discovers the body of Joey, a young patron who hanged himself in the stacks. Joey leaves Lydia his meager estate, including books modified with complex puzzles and "book-safe" cutouts. As Lydia deciphers these physical codes, she uncovers links to her own hidden trauma: the unsolved Hammerman massacre she survived as a child. She uses archival research and geographical clues to track a killer from her past before they find her again.
This mystery appeals to bibliophiles and armchair detectives interested in investigative puzzles and cryptic ciphers. Readers gain a grounded look at how personal history and buried memories impact adult identity. The narrative replaces typical detective tropes with a library-centric approach to problem-solving, focusing on the preservation of history and the mechanics of literary puzzles. Those who enjoy intricate plotting tied to architectural settings will find a detailed map of a survivor’s psychological recovery through the process of solving a cold case.
Escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2017
- Language
- EN
