Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore: A Novel

A sort of who done it of a crime that took place almost 20 years earlier. A psychological thriller that, although somewhat convoluted, takes the reader from Lydia’s childhood where she was a surviving victim of the murder of 3 others, through her years since when she has fought in every way to ignore that part of her past, to present day where, through a variety of unwanted circumstances, she finds herself trying to determine who the perpetrator of the murders actually was.Lydia has kept her past well hidden, even denying it from herself, until the day one of the bookstore’s regular customers hangs himself in the store. In his pocket she sees a copy of a photograph of herself with her then two best friends on her 10th birthday. She's known Joey only as a customer over the past few years and cannot imagine how he obtained a copy of the photo! or why? Confusing as this is, Lydia learns that Joey has named her his benefactor for his meager belongings, including a bunch of badly marked up books that seem to contain some sort of cryptic message.Other reviewers have noted that it was the idea of a mystery taking place in a bookstore, in other words, the title) that attracted them to this book. Many noted that they were disappointed. I agree on both points. Note to self, just because the book takes place in a library or bookstore doesn’t mean it’ll be good. I found the characters to be fairly bland and unexciting and the plot to be repetitive and overly detailed which leads to my main complaint, it was just too much of a stretch, all of it. I’m, not listing specific details to avoid giving away too much for the next readers. 2 1/2 stars, rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a book to keep a hard copy of so you can read it again and again. I fell into the story. Got lost in the characters and came out feeling like I just spent an evening at the Bright Ideas bookstore.

I picked this up because I love the cover, not something I do often. Also, the blurb sounded good. And the book is good.Lydia works at the Bright Ideas Bookstore in Denver. She's on the late shift when she finds the body of Joey, one of the so-called Bookfrogs who come into the store hanging from the third-floor ceiling. The young man was a friend so she starts to investigate why he might take his own life. The book alternates with scenes from Lydia's childhood where she was the only survivor of a horrific murder scene where a family was bludgeoned to death by the Hammerman.It's a good story that made me want to keep reading to figure out what was going on. The author has plotted it out well though I felt the central mystery was a bit too insular within the cast of characters. I would have also liked more depth to the relationships between the three main families and backgrounds given as to why they behaved as they did. There seemed to me to be some gaps in motivation in their behaviors, so I never felt I actually understood any of the characters.The setting is great; I loved the bookstore which is not the cute cozy shop in so many books. It's an urban story, set in a rundown section of the city that is slowly revitalizing. It's an interesting book that I'd recommend to those who want a puzzle to solve.

I picked this book up as part of my #readaroundtheusa 2023 Challenge. Set in Colorado, I love a bookstore setting. It is literally one of my favorite settings. The book did drag a bit a certain points, but I did enjoy it overall. In a lot of ways, it was sad, but it was poignant.My synopsis - The FMC, Lydia, has worked in the bookstore long enough to establish relationships with some of the “regulars”. And not all of them fit into society well. Some are sleeping on the street, barely making it. The bookstore is their haven. Then one of her “Bookfrogs” commits suicide, and she finds him and not only that – she finds a photo that completely upends her life. Working out the puzzle that was Joey’s version of a suicide note, Lydia needs to find answers. For her own peace as well as his.

I detected a bit of water damage at top of pages. Otherwise every thing is fline.

Usually books about book stores are light and quirky, but Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore located in Denver Colorado was anything but. The characters were misfits and Denver played a huge part in the drama, which I liked since it connected me with the city in a way I've never experienced as a mere tourist. Lydia is a bookseller who keeps many secrets and has a hard time connecting with people. Just ask Dan her sweet and understanding boyfriend. Though clearly Lydia has a soft spot for the Bookfrogs (strays from the city who spend their days in the store). When one young man, Joey, commits suicide in the book store and leaves a series of reasons why in a unique way for Lydia to figure out, we delve into the complicated story (as life always is) that leads to the reason. Lydia's life is also convoluted and traumatized by an unexpected connection to Joey's death. We humans are so messed up, and in this case, the decision of one person over twenty-one years before created a traumatic ripple effect that tore Lydia and her father apart, caused the death of three people, ruined three other lives, and ended with yet another death. Still I was engrossed in this story that began when Lydia and her best friend Raj were ten, when a third friend tore them apart, and when Lydia witnessed a horrific act of violence. And even though I knew in my gut immediately who The Hammerman was, I still couldn't fathom the extensive winding road it would take to get to the truth. Good read.

This is a good quality, middle of the road kind of psychological thriller which opens exactly where the title says - in the Bright Ideas Bookstore at midnight. The bookshop, in an up-and-coming part of Denver, is a favourite hang-out for lost, down-on-their-luck men. The homeless, the depressed and the lonely. One of these hangs himself amongst the shelves at midnight, and is found by shop worker Lydia. As if that weren't traumatic enough, it transpires he's also left a series of cryptic messages for her to untangle and has in his possession a photograph of her as a child. Seriously worrying for someone who has been fleeing her past ever since being the victim of a horrific crime as a child.Thus the story continues, with Lydia investigating the young man's sad life story and trying to unravel how it relates to the unsolved murders she witnessed as a child. It's more suspenseful than downright thrilling, but it's always absorbing and is an original story which keeps you guessing for just about long enough. Lydia's not a strong lead character, likeable but without being vividly drawn. It's more of a plot driven story about the mystery than about the people in it, who are vehicles for the plot.Overall it's an easy, entertaining read with plenty of intrigue and is a worthy crime novel to enjoy on holiday or a long journey.

It is such a pleasure to read a book which is really well written and has a plot that keeps you guessing right until the end. The characters are well constructed and at the end you are left with true feelings for them in the tragedy that they have lived through. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Book in good condition. Well written but rather strange story. Worth reading although I shall be passing it on, not wishing to read it again in the future.

What a great story . I loved the atmosphere, the lot, the mystery, the denouement. Everything

Great read, day off and couldn't put it down so sat and read the whole thing in a day. It was recommended to me and am very glad I bought it.