This book is well deserving of five stars. It's a story within a story and kept me hooked. I never wanted to put it down. It's a tale of tenacity by a young book binder called Lilian. I was routing for her all the way through. It's a mixture of romance, death, sheer will power and so much more. It's fabulous

Set in 1901, this immersive story follows Lilly as she uncovers a trail of hidden letters which tell of forbidden love, the consequences of following your heart, and the still present danger of a long-kept secret. All of which mirror the conflict Lilly feels in her own life.

The book’s setting and premise are just perfect: a bookshop in Oxford together with a bookbinder’s establishment is exactly where you would find secrets hidden in the bindings of books. I loved all the references to book-binding and learnt so much. The details are well described and you certainly feel Lilly’s passion for her skill.

The book is a slow burner, which I like, before it races off and the tension builds. It’s a roller-coaster of a ride with a plethora of well-rounded characters and exciting reveals: I enjoyed the chase and I enjoyed the ending though I wasn’t as invested in Lilly as I would have liked to have been.

The Bookbinder’s Secret is well-plotted and beautifully written. It’s wonderfully atmospheric and full of adventure. I hope it does very well.

My thanks to HQ and Netgalley for the chance to read and review The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D.Bell.

Set in 1901 this is the story of Lilian Delaney

Lily is working as an apprentice book binder, she is also caring for her elderly father

When she finds a badly burned book she uncovers a secret. The secret is both a love story but also incredibly dangerous and she is tasked with dicovering the facts.

This is an incredible read and one I really enjoyed. It is a superb tale and Lily is a character I warmed to. Her job is unusual of the times as it is seen as mans job and she works well within the confines of her workspace.

This book is well worth the reading time

The Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. Bell is wonderful period adventure.

This is the story of Lillian Delaney living in Oxford at the start of the 20th century - a bookbinder of excellence in world traditionally dominated by men- who finds herself trapped in world caring for her father in his bookshop whilst working as a bookbinder for the elderly Mr Caxton. Her life changes when she acquires a book that is burnt on its edges and within its endpapers she discovers fragments of a story- a love story of a couple who are separated from one another through the possibility of a murder. This mysterious book is one of six each containing a piece of the story hidden within its cover.A puzzle to be solved.


From this moment Lily finds herself pulled into a world of danger as some people will go to any length to retrieve this book and the remaining five. A story that moves between Lily's journey to track down the remaining novels and the tale of a couple whose love and lives are threatened fifty years earlier. Lily encounters a variety of book sellers and collectors- is everyone who they seem? And when tragedy strikes close to home, she knows that she must compete this challenge to find the truth and fight against the evil that wants to ruin her life.

A. D. Bell's research in to the process of book binding and restoration and the world of book collectors and the desire to acquire rare tomes is fascinating; in many senses this is the key to the book's enjoyment.

The pace is good and Lily is a strong and determined lead protagonist. Although set in 1901, it could easily have been earlier as it had a slight Dickensian feel. Not as gothic or dark in tone as it could have been ( think Shadow of the wind) but certainly a great brooding read for an autumn evening ( with Lily's love life added into the plot for extra intrigue).

An enjoyable race against time adventure

I really enjoyed this book. I do love stories involving books and one with a mystery is always good. The writing was easy to read and follow. The characters felt developed. I did work out the 'real identity' reveal quite early on, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I would say my only complaint about the main character was that she only concluded about 75% of the way though the book that the bad guys were after the secret pages hidden in the books... Like, of course, Lillian! That was very obvious from the get-go and I assumed the character was aware of that, but she makes a sort of proclamation about it well into the book. Apart from that one sort of odd lapse in judgement, I enjoyed the book. As someone who has lived and worked in Oxford, it was nice to be familiar with the various landmarks as well. I think the mystery was built up well and I was just as motivated as Lillian to solve the story - I read this in one afternoon. I also enjoyed the detail about the bookbinding. If you like stories about stories and a little bit of mystery, then I would definitely recommend this book. I hope they give it a cool cover.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to read a copy of this book.

The Bookbinder’s Secret is set in Oxford in 1901 and the story follows Lilian Delaney, an apprentice bookbinder navigating her constrained life as a woman in a male-dominated profession. Lily comes across a burned book with a hidden, fifty-year-old letter that reveals a tale of forbidden love, fortune, and murder. This discovery sparks her journey to uncover more hidden books that deepen the mystery. Her search takes her from eccentric London booksellers to private libraries and dusty archives, facing increasingly dangerous opposition from others vying for the books. This historical novel combines elements of mystery, romance, and intrigue, exploring the lengths one might go to uncover the truth and what sacrifices might come with it.

The story uncovers a tale of forbidden romance and the consequences of love, shedding light on how relationships can come at a price. Books are not just objects in this story—they're carriers of secrets, mysteries, and profound connections, emphasizing how literature can hold both beauty and danger.

This was an enjoyable read and one i would recommend adding to your 'to read pile'.