Peril in Paperback by Kate Carlisle

"Brooklyn has been invited to the 50th birthday party of game designer Grace, the aunt of her neighbor Suzie. The party is held at her Lake Tahoe estate, where her home is more mystery mansion, complete with a life size mousetrap game and moving walls. Brooklyn is in the library guest room, where she is surrounded by books, which is almost too much, even for a book lover. In addition to the party, Brooklyn is repairing some books for Grace, along with assisting with the cataloging of her collection. When one guest ends up dead from a poisoned cocktail meant for Grace, Brooklyn finds herself in the midst of another investigation. The key to the murder may be in Grace’s new book, soon to be released, that is a thinly disguised memoir. Brooklyn is determined to help to find the killer before death strikes again...."

독극물 살인, 밀실 사건, 유언장, 생일 파티에 모여든 인물들 간의 갈등 등이 섞여 있는 미스터리 작품이다. 작품 자체의 참신함은 없지만 작품 속에서 언급되는 다양한 고전서적 등은 이 책을 읽는 재미다. 초반은 지루한 편이고 막판은 막장이다. 살인하는 이유, 인물들 간의 갈등, 결말에 나타나는 갈등 해소 방법 등이 좀 유치하다 특히 막판에 등장하는 인물들 간의 'I'm your father' 'I'm your mother' 'I'm your daughter' 'I'm your son' 등의 폭로전은 막장의 극치를 보여주는 작품이다.