The Bibliophile Mysteries
Brooklyn’s World
Welcome to the book-loving world of pre-eminent bookbinder, Brooklyn Wainwright! Brooklyn brings rare books back from the brink of death in her San Francisco workshop. Unfortunately for her, many of the fine books she restores are linked to modern murder, which she feels compelled to investigate with the help of her love, British security expert Derek Stone. The Bibliophile Mysteries feature a quirky cast of characters, from Brooklyn’s Deadhead parents in the wine-country commune of Dharma, California, to lesbian chainsaw artist neighbors.
So kick back, relax and explore Brooklyn’s world. Tap on the map of San Francisco to take an interactive tour of Brooklyn’s favorite spots in the City by the Bay—including some of the crime scenes where she has discovered unlucky murder victims. In addition to seeing where Brooklyn and her friends live, eat, and shop, you’ll find the location of her favorite fictional library, which first appeared in Homicide in Hardcover, and the real-life book arts center that inspired the fictional Bay Area Book Arts in The Lies that Bind. Back on this page, tap on the map of Dharma to get a look at some of the characters’ homes in the commune where Brooklyn was raised. And finally, scroll down to meet the people of the Bibliophile Mysteries—Brooklyn, Derek, and their boisterous, intelligent, opinionated and amusing families and friends.
The inside info on Brooklyn, her friends and family
Brooklyn Wainwright—She’s on the tall side (Brooklyn would say she’s still in her gawky stage), blond, and a self-described book geek. She’s more comfortable in Birkenstocks than Blahniks, but she cleans up well when necessary. A master bookbinder specializing in rare book restoration, Brooklyn has taught book art at universities in New York, Iowa, Texas, and Institut d’histoire du livre in Lyon, France. Locally, she has taught at Bay Area Book Arts Center and Sonoma Institute of the Arts. While her focus is in restoration, Brooklyn is certified in book arts, conservation and authentication. Her bindings have won international acclaim, including Grand Prize in the prestigious Lawton-McNamara Contest. She has an MFA in Book Arts and a MS in Archives and Preservation.
Derek Stone—British security agent, ex-Commander in the Royal Navy and Intelligence officer working for MI6, Derek is tall, dark, dangerous and hunky (think James Bond, only more dashing). He owns his own security firm and meets Brooklyn while heading the security detail for an exhibit of priceless rare books, including a legendary cursed copy of Goethe’s FAUST, at the Covington Library. He discovers Brooklyn kneeling over the murder victim, her hands covered in blood, and his deep suspicion leads to powerful attraction.
Visit the Secret Room to get Brooklyn’s and Derek’s family trees.
Robin Tully—Brooklyn’s best friend, they grew up together in the Sonoma commune. Robin is a talented sculptor and also runs a tour service that specializes in exploring mystical, magical and miraculous places around the world. Robin is petite, dark-haired and loves to party, making her the diametrical opposite of her BFF Brooklyn. In Murder Under Cover, Robin’s world is rocked by a chance encounter with an attractive man.
Guru Bob—otherwise known as Avatar Robson Benedict, Guru Bob is the benevolent, mysterious, highly-evolved being and spiritual head of the Fellowship for Spiritual Enlightenment and Artistic Consciousness in Sonoma.
Gabriel—The gorgeous, mysterious stranger who occasionally shows up out of the blue to rescue Brooklyn—and others—from danger. Brooklyn first met Gabriel in Homicide in Hardcover when he saved her life in a noodle shop on Fillmore Street. Was it coincidence, kismet, or part of a larger plan? Is he a thief or a hero? Perhaps a bit of both, but he’s so dashing that most women can’t resist his charms.
Vinnie (Vinamra) Patel and Suzie Stein—Brooklyn’s favorite neighbors, Vinnie and Suzie are burl wood artists—or lesbians with chainsaws, as they like to call themselves. Because the neighbors work in their loft, they like to go out to dinner every night and love bringing home leftovers for their favorite neighbor, Brooklyn. Brooklyn reciprocates by playing the occasional cat sitter for their two beloved felines, Pookie and Splinters. In Peril in Paperback, Vinnie and Suzie welcome a wonderful new member to their family.
Austin Wainwright—Brooklyn’s oldest brother, he runs the winery in Dharma. Robin has been in love with Austin since third grade.
Lisa and Henry Chung and children—Brooklyn’s neighbors are originally from China. Their youngest son, six-year-old Tyler, has a crush on Brooklyn.
Jackson Wainwright—Second oldest brother, he’s in charge of the vineyards in Dharma, but so far, little else is known about Jackson.
Savannah Wainwright—She used to work at the winery in Dharma but moved to a farm in Point Reyes where she grew organic arugula to sell at the farmers’ markets in the Bay Area. Recently, Savannah shaved her head (it suits her) and moved back to Dharma to open a gourmet vegetarian restaurant called Arugula. In A Cookbook Conspiracy, Savannah brings Brooklyn an old cookbook that sets the story in motion.
Jim and Becky Wainwright—Brooklyn’s mom and dad are former Deadheads who met in the tie-dye booth at a Grateful Dead concert at the Ventura Fairgrounds in 1972. With a wife and family, Jim returned to corporate America, but wasn’t happy until he and Becky packed up their six kids and followed their favorite guru to a commune in Sonoma where they formed the Fellowship for Spiritual Enlightenment and Artistic Consciousness. The commune members built homes, planted vineyards, made wine and grew rich. These days, Dad works his magic with wine and Mom has channeled her new age sensibilities into all things Wiccan.
Meg and John Stone—Brooklyn first meets Derek’s parents (her future in-laws) in Once Upon a Spine. Meg and John defy her expectations in every way. When Meg meets Brooklyn’s mom, the two women develop an instant friendship that spells instant trouble for Brooklyn and her beau.
Inspector Janice Lee—the best-dressed detective inspector in San Francisco, is no longer surprised that books are worth killing for.
Ian McCullough—Head Curator of the Covington Library and an old college friend of Brooklyn’s brother Austin—and Brooklyn’s ex-fiancé.
Jeremy and Sergio—Brooklyn’s fun neighbors in the building, Jeremy is a hairdresser and performance artist and Sergio is a top chef in town. In The Book Stops Here, Jeremy and Sergio have moved to St. Tropez for a year, subletting their loft apartment.
Alexandra Monroe—Brooklyn’s new neighbor, subletting Sergio and Jeremy’s place for a year. Alex is a successful, high-powered businesswoman whose hobby—besides shopping and martial arts—is baking cupcakes. She and Brooklyn and Derek become good friends in The Book Stops Here, especially after Alex plays a small part in catching a killer.
China Wainwright—Brooklyn’s closest sister in temperament, China lives in Dharma, owns Warped, a knitting and fabric shop on the Lane. (Shakespeare Lane, the fashionable street in the center of town where all the best shops and restaurants are located, is currently the hottest destination in the Wine Country).
London Wainwright—Brooklyn’s youngest overachieving sister, London lives a charmed life in Calistoga with her handsome physician/winemaker husband Trevor and their perfect twin babies, Chloe and Connor.
Charlemagne Cupcake Wainwright Stone, aka Charlie—Brooklyn and Derek are the proud new owners of an adorable white kitten. The kitten first appeared in A Cookbook Conspiracy.
Robin Tully—Brooklyn’s best friend, they grew up together in the Sonoma commune. Robin is a talented sculptor and also runs a tour service that specializes in exploring mystical, magical and miraculous places around the world. Robin is petite, dark-haired and loves to party, making her the diametrical opposite of her BFF Brooklyn. In Murder Under Cover, Robin’s world is rocked by a chance encounter with an attractive man.
Jim and Becky Wainwright—Brooklyn’s mom and dad are former Deadheads who met in the tie-dye booth at a Grateful Dead concert at the Ventura Fairgrounds in 1972. With a wife and family, Jim returned to corporate America, but wasn’t happy until he and Becky packed up their six kids and followed their favorite guru to a commune in Sonoma where they formed the Fellowship for Spiritual Enlightenment and Artistic Consciousness. The commune members built homes, planted vineyards, made wine and grew rich. These days, Dad works his magic with wine and Mom has channeled her new age sensibilities into all things Wiccan.
Meg and John Stone—Brooklyn first meets Derek’s parents (her future in-laws) in Once Upon a Spine. Meg and John defy her expectations in every way. When Meg meets Brooklyn’s mom, the two women develop an instant friendship that spells instant trouble for Brooklyn and her beau.
Guru Bob—otherwise known as Avatar Robson Benedict, Guru Bob is the benevolent, mysterious, highly-evolved being and spiritual head of the Fellowship for Spiritual Enlightenment and Artistic Consciousness in Sonoma.
Gabriel—The gorgeous, mysterious stranger who occasionally shows up out of the blue to rescue Brooklyn—and others—from danger. Brooklyn first met Gabriel in Homicide in Hardcover when he saved her life in a noodle shop on Fillmore Street. Was it coincidence, kismet, or part of a larger plan? Is he a thief or a hero? Perhaps a bit of both, but he’s so dashing that most women can’t resist his charms.
Inspector Janice Lee—the best-dressed detective inspector in San Francisco, is no longer surprised that books are worth killing for.
Ian McCullough—Head Curator of the Covington Library and an old college friend of Brooklyn’s brother Austin—and Brooklyn’s ex-fiancé.
Vinnie (Vinamra) Patel and Suzie Stein—Brooklyn’s favorite neighbors, Vinnie and Suzie are burl wood artists—or lesbians with chainsaws, as they like to call themselves. Because the neighbors work in their loft, they like to go out to dinner every night and love bringing home leftovers for their favorite neighbor, Brooklyn. Brooklyn reciprocates by playing the occasional cat sitter for their two beloved felines, Pookie and Splinters. In Peril in Paperback, Vinnie and Suzie welcome a wonderful new member to their family.
Jeremy and Sergio—Brooklyn’s fun neighbors in the building, Jeremy is a hairdresser and performance artist and Sergio is a top chef in town. In The Book Stops Here, Jeremy and Sergio have moved to St. Tropez for a year, subletting their loft apartment.
Alexandra Monroe—Brooklyn’s new neighbor, subletting Sergio and Jeremy’s place for a year. Alex is a successful, high-powered businesswoman whose hobby—besides shopping and martial arts—is baking cupcakes. She and Brooklyn and Derek become good friends in The Book Stops Here, especially after Alex plays a small part in catching a killer.
Austin Wainwright—Brooklyn’s oldest brother, he runs the winery in Dharma. Robin has been in love with Austin since third grade.
Lisa and Henry Chung and children—Brooklyn’s neighbors are originally from China. Their youngest son, six-year-old Tyler, has a crush on Brooklyn.
Jackson Wainwright—Second oldest brother, he’s in charge of the vineyards in Dharma, but so far, little else is known about Jackson.
Savannah Wainwright—She used to work at the winery in Dharma but moved to a farm in Point Reyes where she grew organic arugula to sell at the farmers’ markets in the Bay Area. Recently, Savannah shaved her head (it suits her) and moved back to Dharma to open a gourmet vegetarian restaurant called Arugula. In A Cookbook Conspiracy, Savannah brings Brooklyn an old cookbook that sets the story in motion.
China Wainwright—Brooklyn’s closest sister in temperament, China lives in Dharma, owns Warped, a knitting and fabric shop on the Lane. (Shakespeare Lane, the fashionable street in the center of town where all the best shops and restaurants are located, is currently the hottest destination in the Wine Country).
London Wainwright—Brooklyn’s youngest overachieving sister, London lives a charmed life in Calistoga with her handsome physician/winemaker husband Trevor and their perfect twin babies, Chloe and Connor.
Charlemagne Cupcake Wainwright Stone, aka Charlie—Brooklyn and Derek are the proud new owners of an adorable white kitten. The kitten first appeared in A Cookbook Conspiracy.Bibliophile Mysteries
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
Novella
4
3
2
1