Review: Better off Read

Title: Better of Read

Series: Bookmobile Mystery #1

Author: Nora Page

Release Date: May 18, 2018

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: When her best hope of saving her storm-damaged library is found murdered, senior librarian Cleo Watkins hits the road in her bookmobile in search of justice. Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins won’t be shushed when an upstart young mayor threatens to permanently shelve her tiny town’s storm-damaged library. She takes to her bookmobile, Words on Wheels, to collect allies and rally library support throughout Catalpa Springs, Georgia. However, Cleo soon rolls into trouble. A major benefactor known for his eccentric DIY projects requests all available books on getting away with murder. He’s no Georgia peach, and Cleo wonders if she should worry about his plans. She knows she should when she discovers him bludgeoned and evidence points to her best friend, Mary-Rose Garland. Sure of Mary-Rose’s innocence, Cleo applies her librarian’s sleuthing skills to the case, assisted by friends, family, and the dapper antiquarian bookseller everyone keeps calling her boyfriend. Evidence stacks up, but a killer is overdue to strike again. With lives and her library on the line, Cleo must shift into high gear to close the book on murder in Better Off Read, the charming Bookmobile series debut by Nora Page.

My Review: Unfortunately this book really missed the mark for me. It was a great idea that fell flat. Right off the bat I found the story unbelievable. The main character is a 75 yearold woman who drive the bookmobile, and apparently speeds. Although there may be some woman that are up for driving a big bus around town I didn’t really find the story line all that plausible. There were also too many characters introduced too quickly so they got a bit muddled. Overall this book just couldn’t really hold my attention. That being said I do think it was an interesting idea and I may still give the second book another chance.

*I received this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review*