Better Off Read: A Bookmobile Mystery
By Nora Page
Crooked Lane
May 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Only a true villain would dream of sacrificing a public library in favor of a fishing pier and floating casino. That’s what the insultingly young new Mayor Jebson Day intends, dismissing the pleas by septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins to instead repair their Catalpa Springs Library. Left with only her beloved, boy scout-renovated, bookmobile to service the entire Georgia County, Cleo makes it a mission to coax irritable library board and town council member Buford Krandall to her side. Even Cleo though, who as a librarian never judges patrons on their reading selections, has to question why DIY-aficionado Buford is suddenly requesting a surplus of true-crime books on unsolved murders. Cleo’s worries were misplaced, as it is Buford who turns up dead in his creepy home, surrounded by torn books (gasp) and one opened to a chapter depicting the exact method of his murder.

Although Cleo’s inherent librarian skills as a researcher and people-reader make her an intrepid investigator, she intends to stay out of the way; at least until the good old ‘boy network narrows the focus upon Buford’s neighbor, Mary-Rose Garland. Mary-Rose’s and Buford’s families had been warring since the Civil War, and most recently his water pump was draining Pancake Springs and polluting her restaurant’s water. That Cleo’s ne'er-do-well grandson seems to have been be-spelled by a tattooed activist only further muddies the water (figuratively, this time), forcing Cleo to intervene on behalf of a misguided Ollie. It will be up to Cleo and the charming rare book store owner Henry Lafayette to determine why Mary-Rose is lying, if Buford’s 20-year-long divorce finally pushed his wife over the edge, and whether their mayor has brought in Vegas “Family” to implement his plans to make Catalpa Springs the Fishing Capital of the Universe.

Book lovers will adore this series that celebrates libraries, librarians, and the power of reading. A surplus of snarky wit elevates the writing and highlights Cleo’s sharp wit, describing Buford as a hypochondriac Dracula, allowing Words on Wheels to become a temporary party bus, and a depicting a scene of “strip bingo” that fortunately – or unfortunately, depending on one’s taste – is not what one first expects. Many will relate to the “book hangover” that occurs after being too immersed in the fictional world, but one might not mind if it left one in Catalpa Springs. Cleo, library cat Rhett Butler, Henry, his wobbly pub Mr. Chaucer, and aspiring librarian Leanna all prove to be a delightful detecting team, ultimately proving that one should never defy the library or harm the books within. This is a wonderful mystery that showcases how librarians should never be underestimated.

Oh my goodness, I loved this book! I haven't read such an enjoyable senior sleuth since Jessica Fletcher. Cleo is just awesome and this was an amazing first book for what I hope is a long series--so much fun!

Cleo Watkins drove the bookmobile bus in Catalpa Springs, GA a lot more now that a storm caused major damage to her beloved library. A local curmudgeon who wasn't well liked but was a library supporter had basically assured her he had a plan. But someone else had a plan for him, murder. Cleo and her gentleman friend Henry, who owned an antiquarian bookstore, set out to investigate along with the help of her college-age assistant Leanna. There were plenty of suspects and when another body turned up, Cleo realized she had to prove her own grandson's innocence along with finding the first killer. She was convinced the killer of both was one and the same.

The mystery did get wrapped up very satisfactorily. I like how all the little odds and ends were addressed at the end. The take down was pretty epic...let's just say Rhett Butler, Cleo's cat and the skunks living in the library were heroes!

I really enjoyed reading about Cleo and all her friends, especially sweet Henry who was ever the gentleman. All the characters that were good were so interesting--Adelaide was hilarious (a neighbor at Happy Trails retirement village). I didn't guess the killer at all, was completely fooled but that's okay, that's the name of the mystery game. I'm so anxious for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book courtesy of NetGalley and Crooked Lane, thanks going out to them.

This was a fun first installment of the new Bookmobile Mystery Series. I enjoyed Cleo, her mobile library and her funny cat Rhett Butler. I felt bad for her as she went up against the young mayor of the town who wants to re-route her much needed library funds to repair storm damage to the town’s library. When one of the few library benefactors in town winds up dead things do get a little crazy. There was a lot going on in this story and maybe a tad too many characters to keep straight but all in all it was a good little cozy.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Better Off Read by Nora Page is the first tale in A Bookmobile Mystery series. Cleo Watkins is the head librarian of the Catalpa Springs Public Library in Catalpa Springs, Georgia. Unfortunately, a storm recently downed a beautiful old tree right onto the library. Mayor Jeb Day does not wish to use city funds to revive the library (they have insurance). Instead, he wishes to make Catalpa Springs a fishing destination with a world class fishing pier and have a floating casino on Tallgrass River. Cleo still wants to get books out to public and starts taking out Words on Wheels, the bookmobile, out every day. Cleo has to stop by Krandall House with books ordered by the eccentric Buford Krandall who is in a feud with neighbor, Mary-Rose Garland. Cleo discovers the front door open, the library in a disarray and Buford dead. The evidence quickly mounts against Mary-Rose. Cleo knows her friend did not harm Buford and sets out to prove it with the help of her friends.

Better Off Read is a humorous cozy with a fast pace. Cleo Watkins is seventy-five and determined to save her library. The mayor is determined Cleo will retire and repurpose the library. Cleo is a smart, spunky strong-minded woman who leads a busy life and has a lead foot when driving (I am amazed she has not had her license revoked). I appreciate her passion for books and helping others find the right books for them to read. There is a cast of quirky characters to accompany Cleo in Better Off Read. There is Ollie, her grandson who does not know what he wants to do with his life. Leanna who works part-time at the library (before the storm) and is going to college to get her degree in library science. Henry Lafayette who is smitten with Cleo and has a pub named Mr. Chaucer. Bitsy Givens is president of the Ladies League, married to the local bank president and puts up with her demanding mother-in-law. Let us not forget Rhett Butler, the library cat who accompanies Cleo on her rounds in Words on Wheels. While there are some interesting characters, I felt the author introduced too many of them. They just kept coming and it is difficult to keep them all straight. I wish the author had limited the number and focused on developing them (they seemed superficial). Catalpa Springs is a small Southern town in Georgia near the Florida border. There is Southern hospitality, plenty of food and gossip flows freely and quickly. There seemed to be one zany antic after another throughout Better Off Read (I just wanted them to stop). There is an amazing amount of dialogue in the story. The mystery had some good components, but it gets lost. I believe when the solution to the murder is revealed, some readers will be scratching their heads. The book has a satisfying ending that wraps up all the storylines. I felt that there was too much going on (I could not begin to describe it all). Better Off Read had a great premise, but the final product was dissatisfying. My rating for Better Off Read is 3 out of 5 stars.

Who wouldn’t be up in arms over closing the town library – the new mayor. He doesn’t want to repair the library after a storm has damage the library. He wants to divert the funds to a fishing pier. Tourism is more important to him that the library.
Great start to a new to me series and author.
What drew me in was the cover and the description. I just love the school bus bookmobile, the cat and dog, and the books. They all make the cover pop and want to be opened.

There is humor, good writing and a good small town plot. I like the range of ages in the characters, their opinions and their interaction.

I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Since my Momma is a senior, I am rather fond of senior ladies who are spunky and smart and capable. Cleo fits that description to a T. She is going to need every bit of resolve she has to figure out the mess that is in front of her. To start off, her beloved library is sorely in need of renovations thanks to an errant tree during a storm. She is having to rely on her bookmobile which has seen better days and the mayor seems determined not only to deny money for repairs but to shut down the library and force Cleo into retirement..
She has one hope to thwart the mayor who has visions of turning their sleepy little town into the fishing capital of the galaxy (his words). A local curmudgeon plans to stop him until he himself is stopped= dead- literally. If that was not bad enough, her best friend and then her grandson rise to the top of the suspect list. It is all rather disconcerting.. Then, it appears, someone wants to cancel Cleo’s subscription too. The brakes on the bookmobile are sabotaged and her car is driven off a bridge.
Who has so much to lose or gain by these murders? Who thinks Cleo is past due? It is a good thing she has her friends and her trusty kitty, Rhett Butler, to assist and protect her. It all comes together to make a highly entertaining read.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book one in a new series.

I know I should judge the book on its own merit, but I can't help but to compare it to another Bookmobile Mystery by another author that I love.

I didn't really care for the protagonist or really any of the characters in this book. That's mostly on me though, because I prefer my main characters to be closer to my age, it makes them more relatable for me.

The book was also a bit slow to get moving. It finally picked up a bit in the middle. The ending surprised me. I wanted it to be the mayor, because no nice person wants to do away with a library, haha.

All in all, probably not a series I will continue to read, again, purely because of my own character preferences.

I really enjoyed this book! Of course, what's not to love about a library and murder?!

The characters were well developed and fun, quirky, strange, lovable...all of the things you would hope to find in a good book. The location of Catalpa Springs, GA was just the kind of place you would expect to find such delightful characters. They had me laughing and cringing and gasping in shock.

I loved Cleo's Words on Wheels bookmobile! Made me want one for myself to toot around all of my books. The mystery kept you wondering until the very end...or at least it did me! While you were sure who was the culprit, you might have been surprised. Though there were plenty of other surprises to go along with the murder mystery.

Just a delightful cozy mystery and a fun read. I hope to read more books in this series. I've come to love Cleo and Henry and the menagerie of animals and characters that make up the town of Catalpa Springs!

Cleo is a seventy-five year old librarian in a small Southern town. After the library suffers storm damage, the mayor threatens to keep it closed. Cleo brings out the bookmobile, and looks for support to keep the library open. Plus, a local is found murdered, and Cleo's best friend is the prime suspect. Cleo stays busy with her librarian duties, and playing amateur sleuth to prove her best friend's innocence.

The 1st book in the Bookmobile mystery series. A charming town with eccentric characters. I especially enjoyed the spry older protagonist. The story was a little awkward at first, but with the characters and setting in place, this could be a fun cozy mystery series.

What I Liked:
I always enjoy a bookish setting and a bookish setting on wheels was even more fun.

I liked that Cleo was a bit older (75) than the standard cozy mystery sleuth. She is also smart and really uses her research skills to her advantage

I always enjoy a small town setting and this one was very well done. I felt like the south Georgia/Florida panhandle area was well represented. I also like that there are the usual small town financial problems.

The mystery itself was enjoyable with a logical and well wrapped up ending.

What I Didn't Like:
This definitely felt like the first book in the series pacing-wise. The beginning felt a little slow as there was so much to be introduced and I didn't feel really hooked until at least a third of the way in.

There were a lot of characters dumped in and at times it was a little challenging to keep them all straight.

Overall:
This was a good mystery with a likable main character and a great premise. While I did have a few issues with this book I feel like most were first book problems and the flow will be better in the 2nd book.

This is book 1 in a new cozy series ,Book Mobile. I downloaded this story because I’m a retired librarian and getting close to Cleo’s age. Cleo is the librarian in a small Georgia town who needs to fund raise for a new roof on the library. The mayor is working hard to keep it closed and use the money for a fishing dock. When murder strikes and funding is in question, Cleo solves the crime with the help of her friends. Older characters who are still active are an inspiration to all readers who enjoy cozy’s.

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.

A welcome, sweet, cozy mystery with Bookmobile librarian Cleo! I enjoyed reading the story, wondering who did it, who was to blame, changing my mind as the story went along. A few laughable moments & a not scary mystery to pass the time. Looking forward to reading more by Nora Page.

This is the first in the Bookmobile Mystery series. Cloe Watkins is fighting the nasty Mayor Day who is trying to use the town's money to build a fishing peer rather than help fix the library which as sustained a large amount of damage. So much damage, that Cloe is working out of the bookmobile, hence the name of the series. However, along the way to get support to save the library, someone is murdered and Cleo wants to help find out who the murderer is, especially when it seems her grandson might be arrested for the crime. This is your typical fun and easy to read cozy mystery! I do so enjoy a "light-hearted" mystery. This book does not disappoint! Looking forward to reading more in the series

Cleo Watkins, is a wonder (Still active member of society) at roughly Seventy-Five years old I am sure she has seen some things. As the cover predicted Miss Cleo drives a converted "book-mobile." called "Words on Wheels". It sounds so cute while there is a scene near the end that has me sad for the bus.

The book opens nicely with Cleo having a disagreement with mayor Jeb Day. Fishing already exists. Why in this Southern Georgia town do they need to take the library. I won't divulge how that part of the story ends. You have to read the book to find out. But it was a great idea to add that feature to the real story. The real story starts with a "vampire-horror-esque" man waving a parasol. This man is Buford Krandall. He is doing some kind of pumping from a large machine while it sucks the water out of Pancake Springs. Why this is such a major detail of the story is because Buford ends up dead.
The Krandall family has had disputes with Mary-Rose Garland, and her family for a long time. There is even talk of peacocks.
Catalpa Springs sounds like a great place. There are some businesses, and there are some nice people. Police officer Gabby is a nice neighbor, and I really took to her rookie issues; especially when dealing with the Chief of police. I really liked the additions of Mr. Chaucer (the pug) and Rhett Butler (the cat) Who funny enough made it on the cover, sort of. The Ex-Wife Kat, and Beast would always come out of no where, even though Beast is a huge dog to me. I was always suspicious of Priscilla PawPaw, and I found her obsession with murder disturbing. The Ladies league led by Bitzy and the mean Maybell, is fun, I kept looking for flamingoes to go running by.

This is a solid, delightful, and intriguing start of a new series, Bookmobile Mystery #1. Cleo and Rhett drew me in from the beginning, and kept my attention throughout. Cleo, best friend Mary-Rose, young deputy Gabby, and best guy Henry are memorable – especially since three of the four are seniors. Ahem. I love seeing more cozy mysteries with folks of a certain age, and Cleo is more active and brilliant than many younger folks. Especially Mayor Jeb Day, who keeps trying to send Cleo off to retire. The snappy dialog, descriptions of Catalpa Springs, and intriguing mystery are part of part of this delightful package. Rhett Butler, of course, is second only to the humans, as the orange Persian is quite a character himself.
The local library, where Cleo has worked for many years, was damaged by a falling tree during a recent storm. She now can only drive Words on Wheels, the re-purposed school bus/ book mobile. Rhett has his own special place to sit when Cleo speeds through the area. She makes deliveries regularly to Buford Krandall, a strong supporter of the library who rarely goes out during daylight hours. He has recently been reading many creepy true crime books. Never did it occur to the curmudgeon that he would end up being in his own true crime. Or at least his remains, for he has been murdered. There is a strange trail of clues, all of which lead to Cleo’s best friend Mary-Rose, then includes Cleo’s grandson Ollie. Cleo and close friend Henry are caught up in looking for clues to who the real bad guy might be.
Cleo, being a librarian and cat lover, is my favorite, then Henry, Leanna and Ollie. They represent some of the very best of their respective generations, and demonstrate how the 50 year gap can be bridged through mutual interests and that certain something available to those open to hearing new ideas from those on the other side of the bridge.
The mystery was definitely intriguing! I enjoyed watching Cleo and her friends working together, and how they managed to get in and out of places such as Miss Pawpaw’s home. The solutions to the mysteries, including a subsequent murder and challenges, are so interesting! The author shows that while sometimes we can anticipate who the bad guys might be, some of those thought to be bad guys are really our friends in disguise. In other words, there were surprises for this reader! This is an excellent start to a new series, and while looking forward to the next in series, I highly recommend this one!
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-arc from the publisher and NetGalley

Welcome author Nora Page !This is the authors debut book one in the fabulous Bookmobile Mystery series and a very exciting mystery read ! I loved this book and read it in one sitting. it is the perfect debut mystery to set the stage for a very successful series. I am looking forward to the next in series.
Our protagonist Cleo Watkins is a favorite of mine because she is seventy Five and a librarian. I appreciate when our older generation of smart independent capable women are represented in mysteries much like Agatha Christie . One does tire of the parade of young, thin divorcees in mysteries! This was a delightful and pleasant change. Cleo is a real woman and passionate about books, smart and does not suffer fools.
Cleo is a very likable protagonist and a passionate librarian devoted to her small town library. When a storm damages the Victorian that houses her library she takes over the bookmobile to make sure her town of Catalpa Spring can have access to books. She serves the community with her charming Persian Rhett Butler by her side driving her libraries books to serve her town while at odds with the town's new young mayor who is deciding to invest in a fishing pier instead of the library. She has a plan to save the library, but it relies on the most hated, resident of Catalpa Springs. She is not to be deterred from saving her library. She joins forces with the towns most hated resident with a plan to move forward for saving the library.

She finds her curmudgeon benefactor murdered, right after he'd ordered a pile of strange crime books. Soon the main suspects are Cleo's best friend, Mary-Rose, and her grandson, Ollie, who are both are arrested. With the help of her gentleman friend Henry and his dog, Mr. Chaucer they follow clues to find the culprit. Soon the clues are evident and the twist and turns of the sleuth lead them in new directions.
This is a perfect beginning for an engaging fun cozy series. I am looking forward to the next Bookmobile Mystery and many more adventures in the series. I loved the quaint location, the Southern charm and the strong supporting characters. The pets in the story are adorable and add humor with fun. The sleuth was very well crafted and kept this avid mystery reader guessing. I loved this book and highly recommend this book to all avid mystery readers.
Thank you with gratitude for the ARC which did not influence my personal review.
Well done to the author. cross posted to Amazon.

This is the first book in a new series, it is fun and has a clever mystery. I enjoyed Cleo and her quirky personality and liked that she isn't your cookie cutter slueth. I know want a book mobile. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

This book has it all - everything that makes a cozy rise to the top of my list. Cleo rocks! She is a librarian, aged 75 years young and ready to fight for her library. It takes all of her strength to not flatten the young mayor on the spot when he tells her there will be no funding for serious weather related damages to the town library. What gives more value to a town than a library? The mayor is set, along with his cronies, to focus on fishing tournaments and a new pier, etc. He has no time for mere books. If that wasn't enough, Cleo's friend, Mary-Rose, is going head to head with a very nasty neighbor who, yes, becomes a corpse, discovered by Cleo. Rule number one - never underestimate a librarian. Do it at your peril. Cleo revs up her beloved bookmobile, Words on Wheels, loads aboard her cat and her 'boyfriend' (an antiquarian bookseller, so perfect) and sets out to get Mary-Rose off of the number one suspect list. If anybody can do it, this awesome librarian can.
Add the typical Southern setting with all of its charm and cast of characters you would like to hang out with over sweet tea and cookies - it all adds up to a well crafted mystery - the perfect escape. I'm looking forward to seeing what Cleo gets up to next.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Better Off Dead is the first book in A Bookmobile Mystery series.

From reading the synopsis of this book I was looking forward to reading about 75-year-old Cleo Watkins, her bookmobile, and her attempt to save the Catalpa Springs library that was damaged in a storm.

But I found that I was repeatedly putting the book down. Although the characters were interesting, I just couldn’t get into the story.

I might try the next book in the series.