The Body in the Bookcase: A Faith Fairchild Mystery

Fatith Fairchild from the fictional Aleford, Massachusetts is the kind of woman you'd like to have for a friend. Her habit of falling into mysteries and murders makes for fun, quick reading. This book explores the somewhat shady world of NE antiques, after Faith's house is broken into and a friend is killed when her house is burglarized. As other readers have noted, the ending is somewhat contrived but up till then, I really loved this book. Start with her earlier novels as Faith has grown from a new young wife, to mom, to mom of two. My only problem with these books? Faith's kids are SO good. Never fuss, whine, wet their pants at the wrong moment. Course if they were written as normal kids, Faith would never get anything done, like the rest of us moms!!

Katherine Hall Page returns to Aleford in this newest entry to The Body in the series. I recommend this series to everyone, but I also urge you to start with the first in the series, The Body in the Belfry rather than starting with a later entry. I believe readers should enjoy the growth of the characters and the depth of detail one finds when starting a series at the beginning.The only problem with this series - I have a whole year to wait for the next one.

I was excited to find that KHP decided to bring her story back to Aleford and center it around the wonderful character, Faith Sibley. I like the mix of everyday life and sleuthing, which gives the story a more "real" feeling. And, like "Body in the Fjord," where I got to glimpse into Norweigen life, "Body in the Bookcase" is filled with interesting tidbits about the inner workings of antique dealing. And you'll never guess who did it!

Being married to a minister in a small Massachusetts town means visiting members of the congregation. Transplanted New Yorker Faith Fairchild understands that all too well as she puts her catering business on hold until she completes her current obligation. However, the nuisance of the trips take a back seat when Faith arrives at the home of the elderly librarian, Sarah Winslow. Apparently, someone broke in to Sarah's home, killed her, and stole selected items. When Faith becomes a victim of a break-in, she decides to investigate by making the rounds of the pawn shops and antique stores in search of stolen valuables. Everyone, including loyal friends and workers, are suspect as a paranoid Faith continues her inquiries even though she may be placing her own life on the line. The ninth Fairchild amateur sleuth tale is one of the best entries in a wonderful series. The plot is crisp and the who-done-it is well designed. However, what makes THE BODY IN THE BOOKCASE a superb book is that the story line rings so true because of the reactions of the townsfolk, especially Faith feeling violated, to the robberies. Using her own experience, Katherine Hall has scribed one of the sub-genre's best novels of the year.Harriet Klausner

The author has turned her personal experience of being robbed into a plot for character Faith Fairchild (amateur sleuth and professional chef, caterer).This book is more of what I expect of K.H.P. than her last book. After the death of a close friend in a robbery and her own robbery, Faith takes it upon herself to find her cherished belongings as well as the culprits. Not as easy as it sounds due to the nature of antiques and collectibles.Of course Faith is still trying to juggle motherhood, catering, friends and being a wife as well as her detective work. All in all a very good mystery.