Better Off Read: A Bookmobile Mystery

Not even the storm damage to her library can keep librarian Cleo away from books. She makes rounds in her bookmobile in attempts to rally support to save her beloved library. The plan seems to be working, as she has a strange delivery to make to benefactor Mr. Krandall, but when she gets to his house, she finds his house ransacked and his body on the floor. She has no intention of getting involved in the awful man’s murder, but when the evidence points to her best friend, she can’t let this one go. Matters only worsen when her own family seems to be in the center and the killer makes a bold move to get her out of the way, going as far as cutting the break lines of the bookmobile. But nothing will stand in Cleo’s way of proving the innocence of those she loves.

Nora Page has a unique voice and spins a mystery with busybody and gossiping characters, an intriguing plot, and a shocking twist. A wide range of characters make for a delightful time with a variety of eccentricities, snippy attitudes, and friendly dispositions. The story provides a community-driven effort to investigate the murder as Cleo turns to a number of different characters for help sleuthing, prying, and sneaking into places. The fight for books is at the center of Cleo’s goals as she constantly struggles against the mayor to save not only the local library but her bus of books. Cleo is an amazing voice, with some moments when she’s a sweet grandmother and other moments when she’s a feisty heroine. She’s someone you’d want to go sleuthing with. Better Off Read is a delightful mystery with quirky charm, the fight for the environment, and the love of books.

Better Off Read is the first in the Bookmobile Mystery series.