Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan (2017)
A bookstore based mystery exploring a young woman's traumatic past.
Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Plot: Lydia works as a bookseller at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, which is frequented by a cast of down and out regulars. One of these patrons, Joey, dies by suicide in the shop, leaving Lydia clues to a mystery that may just unravel her life.
Analysis. I was expecting something closer to Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, with a focus on books and riddles leading to something. While this is part of the book, Lydia’s traumatic past and her complicated present play a larger role. Chunks of the plot were darker than I expected (not necessarily a bad thing) and some of the resolution is bleaker than I would have liked. Nonetheless, it was still an interesting read.
I’m not sure what exactly this book was trying to be. It was a riddle, a murder mystery, a family drama, and a love letter to bookstores. Yet, in trying to be all of those things, it was not fully any of them. The tone and central plot of the book continually shifted, making it unclear what the main takeaways should be. Joey’s message? Carol’s legacy? Lydia’s relationships? Lydia’s identity? I enjoyed reading this book but it was a little all over the place.
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