The Lies That Bind

A Bibliophile Mystery

By: Kate Carlisle

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Book restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright returns home to San Francisco to teach a bookbinding class. Unfortunately, the program director, Layla Fontaine, is a horrendous host who pitches fits and lords over her subordinates. But when Layla is found shot dead, Brooklyn is bound and determined to investigate - even as the killer tries to close the book on her for good.

©2010 Kathleen Beaver (P)2010 Audible, Inc

Disappointed

I was very excited to find a mystery series about someone who binds books. I enjoyed the sections where the author detailed the intricacies involved in the process. Then the storyline plummeted from there. I made myself listen to 21/4 of the 3 books I had downloaded. My husband listened to the 3rd one with me and commented on how terrible it was. Perhaps we are too old (in our 50's) to enjoy the humour & plots. Perhaps if the reader had been more animated and had read in a more fluent manner, it may have been less brutal to listen to the story. Derrick (main love interest through out the series) rendering was terrible.

Reminds me why I don't Read Mysteries

I downloaded three mysteries in the 3-for-2 deal. The plot is trite, lite and goes on for far too long. The reader has a limited vocal range and her characterizations are weak.

Not A Cozy Mystery

I listen to cozy mysteries to avoid foul language and sexual content. This book definitely has foul language and is skirting the line on sexual content.
I love Kate Carlisle’s Fixer-Upper series and was excited to see she had another series. However, I am very disappointed.

meh.

So I guess I'm just not a fan of the "cozy mystery", but the whole thing was too... just too meh. the story was meh. The suspense was very meh. The characters were incredibly meh ( and amazingly stupid if I'm to be honest). I totally did not understand the why of many of the inane decisions and the way it came together was too pat.

The narration was annoying. The male characters sounded just wrong and dear Lord let's not even talk about the British accent issue. The inflections were childish. It was as if kids were talking. I'm sure part of it was the random verbiage, where a character in one sentence would use an outdated word or term like "gosh" or "pip" and then in the next use modern venacular like "lame" or the like.

Let's not even talk about the ridiculous efforts and creating sexual tension. It was painful to listen too. Again, wildly sophomoric.

If you like very simple stories that are easy to follow and get confused by deep plots and intricate characterizations, you will quite possibly like this book. If you are into novels with women who swoon over all the hot men (as it seems they are all hot) and who act like they are 10 around them... just trite and meh and ugh.

A lesser entry

This is not one of the best in the series, but part of that is the irritating mispronunciations and, occasionally, the use of the wrong voice, by the narrator.

Great Series

I have been reading and listening to each of the books in this series and have not been disappointed in any of them. They seem to get better as the author goes along, but maybe that is true of most writers. When I am reading or listening to a book with an involved plot, a moving subject or just bogging down, I stop and pick up one of the bibliophile mysteries and instantly feel lighter and more entertained. I hope Kate Carlisle never stops writing this series!!

Surprised by language

Having read all of the authors fixer upper mysteries I was surprised by the vulgarities used in this series. Great author. Pity.

EXCELLENT! MARVELOUS

This book threw me for a loop it had so many suspects that I did see the real killer till the very end and what a surprise!
Check this out and tell me what you think ok.
Chrissy Stewart

Great Series

I love this series! They’re less predictable than other series and entertaining. I’m going through this series for the second time and it’s as if I haven’t read them. The narrator is awesome and manages a variety of dialects so well that you forget you’re listening to a book.

Engaging and surprising

An engaging mystery, with twists and surprises. The author does manage to further develop some of the major characters in the series. We catch much more than a fleeting glimpse of Gabriel, and Robson (Guru Bob) comes further into focus. Becky's still a delight, and is now getting into Wicca. You'd think no evil spirit would dare be within 100 miles of her! Too bad for several characters that that's not the case.

Some of the descriptions of book binding go on a bit, but the series is about a book binder, after all. And the descriptions are interesting. They've even compelled me to look up a few of the techniques on the 'net.

This is one of my "go to" series, and I've listened to them all multiple times. And I will joyfully continue to listen to them.

Unfortunately, the narrator mangles a British accent. Since a significant percent of the dialogue Derek's, and he's a Brit. It makes for a difficult listen. The narrator is excellent with the female voices, though. She conveys Becky (mom) with a perfect "Sunny Bunny" accent, and Brooklyn (Our Heroine) comes across as adult and competent. The series uses a different narrator starting with the next book. That's an improvement for the male characters, but less so for the non-Brit women. One other thing. Why, oh WHY are the two gay men voiced as so effeminate? Lisps and all. Surely there were other vocal options.

Excellent another great story

I enjoyed the unwinding storyline and the adventure of the. Bookbinder. The story captivates you from beginning to end