not everything is as it seems to be..

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore – Mathew Sullivan

Mystery, thriller, fiction.

Rating 9/10

Lydia as a child survived the Hammerman Massacre and ever since then hasn’t been the same. Every day she lives her life quietly as a bookseller. Joey, one of her Book Frogs, was found hanging in the bookstore. When she attempts to pull him down, she notices a photo of her and her friend Raj and questions how he got ahold of that photo. Later she finds cut up books with mismatched labels. She finds hidden messages within the pages giving clue of his past. She contacts the old detective of the Hammerman Massacre as well as digs up information about Joey. A dark and sinister truth is revealed, and everything was not as it seemed.

This novel was a slow burn mystery which I do like a slow burn occasionally. This one was perfect for what I was looking for. Perfect pacing and intricate plot that slowly unfolded. The character interactions were excellent. I sort of wished this was a longer novel, but a short standalone novel is just as good. I didn’t expect that twist ending but I was theorizing how the story would unfold. What I had learned is to expect nothing other than a possibly good mystery and this one was perfect. I do recommend this mystery if one wants a tame yet thrilling novel. I read this in one sitting honestly and I wished I paced myself, but I could not resist.

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