I love a book that teaches me stuff!
I had not known that Thomas Edison spent time in Florida, so obviously I didn't know that he'd owned an estate there, complete with beautiful gardens.
Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield, who run the Read 'Em and Eat bookstore and café in Fort Meyers, have several book clubs for area readers. Since their Cool Reads/Warm Climate club has just finished reading The Florida Life Of Thomas Edison by Michele Albion, they decide to take the members on a day long field trip to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, now a National Register Historic Site.
They rent a van and because he's friendly and garrulous, they request Oscar Frieland as the driver. Oscar does tend to flirt, however, and this time it annoys some of the women. Sassy and Bridgy change the subject and the tension decreases, but someone was still upset.
After they return to the café, and are settling the clubbers with tea and snacks, Bridgy realizes she's left her expensive sunglasses in the van, and rushes out to get them before Oscar leaves. She finds him bleeding, with a pair of scissors stuck in his neck.
Because she's the one who found the body, Bridgy comes under severe scrutiny from the police. Worried that her friend is being suspected of a crime that she didn't commit, Sassy does her best to find another person for the police to focus on.
The relationship between Sassy and Bridgy is amazing. The two women live and work together, and still have a healthy friendship. And, they've built a thriving business and strong support group far from their hometown.
It's a joy to read about the way they run Read 'Em and Eat, the innovative ideas for book clubs. Reading about the delicious food is hunger-inducing though. Thank goodness recipes are included!
The publisher has generously offered a copy of Read to Death to one of my readers. Please comment below before 12:01 a.m. on July 18, 2016. Entries from the US only, please.
Please don't forget to include an email address where I can contact you if you win!
FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book.