Book 1 of the Brandy Broot Mysteries

Some mysteries are written in the margins.

When quirky librarian's assistant Brandy Broot buys a used poetry collection from Finch & Folios bookshop, she expects nothing more than a quiet evening read. Instead, she discovers a hidden diary sewn into the binding—and by morning, the shop's beloved owner, Theodore Lang, has vanished without a trace.

The diary is written in code. Cryptic entries reference page numbers, book titles, and mysterious meetings at midnight. But Mr. Lang's most damning clue isn't in the diary itself, it's hidden in the margins of books he sold weeks ago, a breadcrumb trail only someone as curious and stubborn as Brandy would follow.

With her pragmatic best friend Peter Pruit trying (and failing) to keep her out of trouble, Brandy decodes marginalia, chases down forged first editions, and uncovers a rare book fraud scheme worth millions. But the elegant and ruthless dealer at its center, Hollis Crane, won't let anyone, especially a meddling amateur sleuth, —expose his operation.

As threats escalate and evidence disappears, Brandy must risk everything to find Mr. Lang before his investigation costs him his life. Because in the quiet world of antiquarian books, some people will kill to keep their secrets bound between the covers.

A cozy mystery that proves the most dangerous stories are the ones someone doesn't want you to read.

Perfect for fans of small-town sleuths, bookish mysteries, and gentle romance that builds one page at a time.