Hi, this is Robert. I’m that totally handsome dude that works at Pettistone’s Fine Books here in Brooklyn. Ha, ha, just kidding about the handsome. I look pretty regular, I guess…except when I shave off my eyebrows and draw on eyeliner and put in my nose ring and earrings. Then I look kinda bad-ass, since I wear all black, too. Some people get, you know, freaked out when they see someone Goth like me, but I think it’s a good look. Of course, Ms. Pettistone doesn’t let me dress like that for work. And since she’s the owner of the bookstore, I gotta do what she says, though I do get to wear black.
Ms. Pettistone is really nice. She hired me even though I once kind of accused her of killing someone. I mean, she didn’t really, but me and my friends thought it was all her fault. It wasn’t, though. She’s not bad for a boss…I’ve worked for some pretty creepy dudes before, like the guy that runs the porn shop, so it’s nice to have a, you know, regular boss person in charge. Plus she even gives me a discount on books. She has this weird accent because she’s from Texas, but I try not to laugh at it. She probably thinks we talk funny, too.
Oh, speaking about funny, I’ve got this new thing I do. The Big Hoss—that’s Professor James, our store manager—wears these really lame sweater vests all the time since he used to teach at the college before he retired. So I went down to the thrift store with my girlfriend and got some totally retro vests that I wear to work, too. It’s pretty funny. We look like twins…well, except I’m a young white dude, and he’s this old black dude. Anyhow, I think he got the joke. He’s, like, really smart and stuff. I kind of wish he was my grandpa.
Okay, so I’m supposed to tell you about my day. I’ve worked here at the bookstore for almost six months now. It’s a really good job, especially ‘cause I’m eighteen and I don’t have, you know, a college degree or anything. It’s not that hard of work. Mostly I get to stock the shelves and move all the boxes while Professor James recommends books to little old ladies and sells books online for the store. But I get to run the cash register sometimes when it’s busy, and I make sure the security system is running okay, and stuff like that.
On the days I help Ms. Pettistone open up the store, I have to get up really early, like at nine in the a.m.! (Seriously, who gets up then?) While Ms. P. starts the register and goes through the paperwork, I go up and down the aisles and sweep the floors and make sure the books are where they’re supposed to be. You wouldn’t believe how some people are so freakin’ dumb. They think it’s this big joke to put books on the wrong shelf, so I’ve always got to put stuff back in the right place. But one morning I found twenty bucks on the floor when I was sweeping. No one came back to claim it, so Ms. Pettistone let me keep it. Sweet!
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about the coolest thing here. We have this really sick mascot (that means “cool” for all you old people reading this). He’s this huge black cat named Hamlet, and he’s, like, almost a person. I call him my little Goth bro. Ms. Pettistone tells everyone that Hamlet actually is the one who hired me. He chased everyone else out of the store who filled out a job application. But we’re, like, on this same mental wavelength. I taught him how to fist bump and everything. He’s supposed to be Ms. Pettistone’s cat, but I kinda think he likes me best. Well, maybe after Professor James.
Okay, I could tell you more stuff, like about the lady PI who lives in Ms. Pettistone’s building. Her name’s Jake and she’s really sick even though she used to be a cop. (No offense if you’re a cop, or something.) I don’t know if she has a gun, but she could totally beat someone up. And next door at Bygone Days Antiques there’s Miss Plinski and her brother, Mr. Plinski. They’re, like, really really really old. I mean, they’ve got to be seventy, at least. I get to live in the apartment in their basement for really cheap since I help them out sometimes at their store. Sweet times two!
Anyhow, that’s it. I have to get back to work. Chillax!
You can read more about Robert in Words With Fiends, the third book in the “Black Cat Bookshop” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Double Booked For Death. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of “Words With Fiends” to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends November 13; US entries only per publisher’s request.
Meet the author
Ali Brandon is the national bestselling author of the Black Cat Bookshop Mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. Writing under her real name, Diane A.S. Stuckart, she penned the popular Leonardo da Vinci historical mystery series—also from Berkley—which has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as a Florida Book Award. Additionally, she is the author of five critically-reviewed historical romances which will soon be re-released as ebooks. A native Texan with a degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, Diane a/k/a Ali now lives in South Florida. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and the Cat Writers Association. Visit her at www.dianestuckart.com or www.alibrandon.com.
Oh I love the title ! I am adding this to my wish list , and thank you for the chance to win a copy !
I read the first book in the series so far, so would love to win this one! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I haven’t read any books by this author but I would like to start with this one. It sounds good and I love the cover!
Love this title!
I love bookstore cozies.
I like the play on words in the title. This is a fun series, mysteries and bookstores all in one. Thank you for the chance to win
Sounds like a good read. Adding it to my to read list.
I would love to start this series!
My kind of read.
This series is on my tbr pile. Would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
Love the title and “my little Goth bro.” LOL. Sounds like a fun read that needs to be on my shelf.
Read Ali Brandon’s first book, “Double Booked for Death”, and loved it. Looking forward to reading the rest.
Hamlet sounds like my kind of cat
Sounds like a fun read. Would love to win a copy.
I’ve not read this series, but I used to have an on line bookstore and my sister ran a brick and mortar one for years before moving her business totally on line. Love to read cozies that are set in a bookstore because of our background!
I love the series and the store’s location, “BROOKLYN”. If it really existed I know I’d hang out there and buy books from them. I’ve read the first two books in the series (thank you Brooklyn Public Library) and for some reason I think I might actually own one (if I could only find it on my bookshelves).
Dru, please toss my name into the hat… I’d love to win this book for my very own.
Love this series. I have my own black cat named Missy, so I particularly enjoy Hamlet’s appearances. But all the characters in this series are great!
My cousin’s daughter dressed Goth so maybe I could understand better why she does it by reading this book! I haven’t seen this series before so I am really interested in it. Thank you for the chance to win!
Never played the game, but want to read the book.
Love the play-on-words title. Love being in a bookstore. Sign me up for the contest, please. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I love the twin sweater vests!
Would love to win a copy. Sounds like a good read.
Sounds like a great cozy mystery.
Robert wants everyone to know that he appreciates your stopping by. And Hamlet sez Meow!
I have the first two books in the series. I like black cats and have two (Wiggles and Muffin); their sister Suzie is black and white. I like Hamlet and other cats in mysteries. catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
Sorry to say that this is one cozy series that I am not familiar with, but I am going to catch up with this right now. Hope that I will be the recipient of the giveaway and can then order the other two books in the series. Sounds quite amusing and I like to laugh when I read my cozies. Thank you for sparking my interest in this series.
Cynthia
I love cozies with cats so I’m anxious to meet Hamlet and this Goth friend of his.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thanks Ali and Robert for stopping by my blog.
contest is closed.
This sounds like so much fun!