THE BOOKBINDER’S SECRET by A.D. Bell

4 stars

This debut novel that takes place in 1901 Oxford centers on a young, talented bookbinder’s apprentice, Lilian Delaney, who discovers snippets of a 50-year-old secret love letter concealed in the binding of a partially burned book by an obscure author. Lillian gets the book as a toss away from a prominent physician who she visits to undertake a new binding on a botany book as a gift to his wife. The note refers to a murder, and Lilian becomes obsessed with finding out more about the “Queen” writing to here “Knave.”

When a man in a bowler hat mugs Lilian and steals the book, she realizes that someone still wants these secret letters undiscovered. The mugger threatens both her ailing father who owns a bookstore and Lilian’s once-boyfriend unless she finds more of the author’s volumes with false titles. Lillian’s both obsessed with the origins of the story as well as terrified for the safety of those she loves. Lilian has to bravely comb through obscure references, track down authors, and visit book collectors in her dangerous search for the remaining books. Each found book reveals another layer of the lovers’ story.

What emerges from her quest for the truth is an inner strength and feminine independence that Lillian embraces in a world dominated mostly by men. There’s also the unraveling on a powerful secret, upon which a fortune rests.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.