The women of The Book Investigators could be called experts on forming a book club; the group has been going strong since 1987, and according to one of the original members, Carol Wilbois, it has pretty much stayed the same ever since. “We started with four or five women from church and then invited a few others as time went on,” she says. Their husbands have jumped on the bandwagon, too; while the book club meets, they have their own social outing. “Our husbands are friends, so they go off to eat lunch somewhere and then usually go play bridge afterward,” Wilbois says. Not much has changed in 29 years. Once a month, they meet at a different member’s house, and the hostess is in charge of choosing the book. “We usually always eat lunch and then discuss the book,” Wilbois explains. But the menu might be the club’s first major change, she jokes. “As we’ve gotten older, a lot of members don’t want to cook anymore! So we might switch to everyone bringing their own sandwich or just doing dessert.”
Their most recent discussion was extra special because the author, who is also Wilbois’ cousin, Shirley Giebel, attended. “It was our first time to have the author at our discussion,” she says. “Everyone made sure they had read it to the end! We had a lot of questions for her. She’s planning a sequel.” It’s safe to say The Book Investigators will be around to read that one as well.
While hiking in northern New Mexico, 30-something Sunny Bay discovers the crucified body of a young man she had befriended. She learns he had a past and had made dangerous new enemies before his untimely death. The tragic events point to a religious brotherhood of laymen known as Los Hermanos Penitentes. When Sunny starts asking too many questions, she becomes the killers’ next target. She must find out if the murder was done by the brotherhood, or if the men were framed. All the while, a betrayed love comes back and influences Sunny’s reaction.
opinions
>> I found it fascinating to speak with the author and hear about the investigation and research that was needed to put this very well-written historical fiction together. I give it five stars; it’s worth the read! — Patricia Owens
>> The book is informative and entertaining, a riveting mystery that holds your interest from start to finish. — Nancy Koller
favorite
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
up next
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Pictured above, seated: Ann Stoecker, Barbara Lind, author Shirley Giebel, Lois Scoville, Pat Owens. Standing: Carol Wilbois, Sue Leopold, Pat Klein, Marilyn McDougall, Carol Cobb, Nancy Koller, Judy Waddell. Not pictured: Judy Toombs, Peggy Sieber, Brenda Hoffman
Photo: Bill Barrett