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

Set at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901, this is the tale of Lillian Delaney, living in Oxford with her widowed, bookshop owner, father.

In a world traditionally dominated by men, Lillian goes against the norm and is working as an apprentice bookbinder for the fabulous but elderly Mr Caxton. She is sent to go and meet a prospective client, and whilst there, she aquires a book that will change her life.

Burnt badly and smelling as bad as it looks, Lillian can't help but prioritise this book over all others. It seems to call to her. Only, when carefully lifting away the cover, she finds a letter, or maybe a love story, one that has no beginning or end. She soon realises, by its markings, this is one of six, so where are the other five?

From that moment on, Lillian is pulled into a dangerous world, one she has never had to navigate before, let alone on her own.

On her search, which sends her gallivanting across the country, she meets all walks of life, the good, the bad, and the ugly! And when she is threatened, she knows she has no other choice but to carry on her search, no matter what the consequences.

The atmosphere this tale elicited was phenomenal. It felt like I was walking the backstreets of the set of 'Oliver'. The detailing of every sight and sound literally had me there, walking alongside Lillian.

The characterisation was perfectly executed, and one character in particular, Ambrose Fane, had me wanting to be his friend, I adored his eccentricity.

It's quite obvious just how much research into the magical profession of book binding and restoration the author went to, it added an amazing element to the whole plot, not jist glazing over it but actually explaining it that gave that extra layer of interest.

A mix of mystery, intrigue, romance, suspense, and emotion, this is a must read!

I honestly can't explain just how much I enjoyed this book. It gripped me completely from the very beginning, and I carried it around with me to read at every given opportunity.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

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

Firstly, thank you HQ for allowing me to review this book!
I loved this book! It was right up my street as it is a historical fiction book, a genre I adore. The book is set in Oxford in 1901, with the main character, Lilian Delaney, an apprentice bookbinder. Lilian also has a love of books through her father's bookshop. However, we see the confines of being a woman at this time due to the oppressive nature of society, in which women of Lilian's age are expected to marry and have children. However, Lilian has a strong character and is extremely independent. Her character is lovable throughout and I especially loved her close relationship with Mr Caxton her bookbinder master. Their relationship is nearly more father-daughter than Lily's relationship with her father, which is troubled due to the death of her mother and his depression.

At the beginning of this story, Lily's life takes an unexpected turn when she finds a burned book with a hidden love letter within, which talks of love and murder. This book sets Lily on a quest to find out the truth of this letter and the people within the letter. Her journey sees her discover that there are several other books with secrets laid within, and Lily is drawn even further into this mystery. However, the journey turns dangerous as she isn't the only one seeking these books.

As the reader, you can tell that this book was researched in detail in terms of bookbinding. I found the author included so many interesting aspects of bookbinding in the book as well as clearly showing their love of books as well as making Lily have this love of books. I loved the mystery element to the story within the book with the letters, it was so fascinating and kept me wanting to read more to find out the truth. It definitely gives a sense of mystery, romance, suspense and emotion throughout the book, with a couple of curveballs for Lily throughout. Overall an excellent book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I loved the atmosphere that the author set up and the pacing was brilliant. It's definitely a book I would read again and recommend to other historical fiction lovers.

I enjoyed this novel tremendously. I like a mystery and I love bookbinding: neither element disappointed! The storyline is a bit farfetched perhaps, but is suitably bookish, held my interest throughout, and ultimately doesn't take itself *too* seriously (for example, the elusive author is an Abel Bell... and the writer of this fun and intelligent historical mystery is... A D Bell...). We learn a fair bit of the bookbinding scene at the turn of the 20c and of the bookbinding craft itself in a convincing manner, which is a joy. The writing style is excellent, with economic yet apposite descriptions of place and characters, and a wonderful way of intermingling fact and fiction - real pubs and streets, adapted shops (I loved how an imaginary bookbinder's premises are set in Rochester Row, SW1 where in point of fact one of the best bookbinders in London, Shepherds, has their own!). I hope it is clear I loved this recreation of Oxford, London and beyond!!! in search of the elusive books containing.... but that would be to spoil a good story.... let's just say I am totally looking forward to the next adventure (hinted in the last paragraph of the book) of Miss Delaney. Her career, love interests, mentors and acquaintances have been laid out in such a way that I very much hope have a long life. After all, she is just 25!! An intelligent entertainment indeed. Hope it gets a proper, beautiful cover.

The Bookbinder’s Secret is an entertaining historical mystery set in early 1900s Oxford.
The main character, Lilian Delaney, is an intelligent and brave, young woman who has a job that she loves and responsibilities that consume her days. She finds herself caught up in a dangerous fifty-year-old mystery that needs to be solved. She follows clues that lead her across different parts of England, making for a fun, adventurous read.

I found myself staying up late into the evening, turning the pages quickly, so I could find out what happened in the past and to discover if the main character was able to solve such a complex mystery.

Along the way, I was introduced to some colourful characters that I feel added to the overall sense of time and place. There was a nice mix of people who added to Lilian’s adventures in a positive way, but there were others who added an ominous atmosphere at times.

I like how passionate and knowledgeable Lillian was about books. Her knowledge stemmed not from a strong interest in reading but in a deep love of how books are constructed.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this ARC. I loved every minute of reading this book and didn't want it to end! A beautifully and cleverly written book that truly was a delight to read. Highly recommend to other readers who love stories set in the past and who love historical literary back stories. A fabulous book.

‘A book may hold many secrets, my lady, if you know where to look.’

1901 Oxford, Lilian Delany a young bookbinder discovers a hidden letter inside a burned book that leads her to a dangerous mystery. Forbidden love, murder and a lost fortune this book will grip you and have you stuck in your seat.

There wasn't a single aspect of this book that didn't captivate me. I was drawn into the story within a story. I loved Lilian a remarkably strong female protagonist along with the other fabulous characters. In a single word, this book is sensational!

"Books were so much more than paper and words; they held magic within them and every hand they passed through was touched by that magic, forever changed, even if they did not know it."

I think this book got to me exactly when I needed it. I was hooked from the first few chapters. I love historical fiction and this scratched the itch perfectly. I fully recommend this book if you want to be drawn into a story of intrigue and drama.

I really enjoyed this mysterious literary adventure, written by AD Bell and set in early 20th Century Oxford. Many thanks to the publishers and NEtgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lillian lives with her ageing father above their bookshop and helps him in her free time but her real passion is the work she does as an apprentice bookbinder. When she is sent to the house of a prestigious customer, she finds an almost burned book containing a secret story within its bindings. The real-life story, written years earlier captures her heart and mind and Lillian begins a quest to find out more.
However, this leads her into a dangerous web of unsavoury characters and people who are not what they seem. As Lily races to find the answers, tragedy strikes closer to home and this makes her question whether or not it's worth pursuing the truth.

I thought it was very well paced and written with real observation of the human condition! I loved the secondary characters, especially the Bells and Ambrose Fane.
Would definitely recommend for an autumn's cosy read by the fire!

I was asked by NetGalley to review this and boy was I pleased and privilaged to do so

A story within a story, A bookbinder- there are hidden secret inside a book, throughout the story Lilian searches for missing books to piece this all together. What an historical thriller, well reserched - this author writes well and telld a great story that the reader will not be able to put down.

Such a treat and will be up there in the top ten just in time for the Christmas gift buying this festive season

Loved it due for publication November 6 2025

This is an outstanding book, perhaps in the genre of Dickens. Each chapter is almost a story in itself, so it can be a pick-up and put-down book. I found it engaging right from the very start. However, by the time you get halfway through, you cannot put it down. We follow the main character, Lillian, on her travels around late Victorian England by train. The descriptive sections really capture the atmosphere, and at times, you feel like you are walking alongside the characters. What I found very engaging was that you were never quite sure exactly what the mystery was that she was trying to solve. There was just one little section where she inflicted an injury on herself that didn't quite pass the plausibility test. A masterpiece such that I will be looking for more from A. D. Bell.

This book! It kept me up reading, it kept me reading and ignoring those around me. So rude! And I enjoyed it so much, the book that is. It was such an appealing book to read.

It's an adventure type of story, set in the early 1900's. Miss Lillian Delaney is the young lady who brings the whole thing to life,

Apprenticed to a bookbinder and the daughter of an Oxford bookseller. There is plenty of intrigue in the story and puzzles too, cleverly placed by the author around the book!

It's the combination that I like best, old-fashioned bookshops, history, puzzles and a bit of sleuthing. If a bit of fantasy or magic was also added in I wouldn't complain, but I was really happy to read this book.

An extremely well written enthralling tale. A page turner from start to finish full of mystery twists turns and the odd murder thown in too for good measure. it does get a bit slow going in bits but do stick with Lillian as it is well worth the effort on her journey to find the secrets hidden in the book as nothing is what it seems. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this historical mystery with its strong female lead and romantic interest. A 5 star read for me.

Set in 1901 the story revolves around Lily, a bookbinders, who stumbles upon a burnt book with a hidden tale from 1851 involving forbidden romance, a domineering family and a murder.

This book leads Lily on a chase around the country to find the other five books who hold the remainder of the story. She is competing with an unknown party who attempts to destroy her father’s business and his life.

As she learns more about the blighted romance, Lily is made to question her own life and ambitions. She has to face uncomfortable truths and make decisions about her future.

A story within a story - it captivated me throughout.

5 🌟 Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for allowing me to review a copy.

I really enjoyed The Book Binders Secret, I've never read a historical mystery before and this one didn't disappoint. I felt a real connection to Lilian Delaney, she is a headstrong woman who's forging a career in male dominated world at the turn of the 20th century. The story is well written and flows effortlessly. I never expected the ending and I do hope AD Bell writes a sequel.

Lillian a young bookbinder apprentice discovers a burnt book while visiting a client. She finds the book has a secret, within its covers there lies pages of a story from the 1800s of a young couple and their forbidden love. Finding these pages throws Lilian into the path of a violent man who will do anything to recover these pages for his employer and the missing parts of the story. Can she discover who the story is about and what happened to them?
Will Lilian find the remaining pages and keep her family and friends safe?

Omg this book was an amazing page turning experience with an excellent storyline and beautifully imagined characters. Fell in love with this from the very start give it a read you won’t be disappointed.

Without giving too much away on this well written excellent book. It is one that I would certainly recommend and a must to read. It is not very often I read a book quickly but it held me so intently I just wanted to know the outcome.

The badly burned book Lily (the apprentice bookbinder) finds uncovers a secret. Discovering the facts of this secret proves to be incredibly dangerous for her and sends her all over in search of answers.

This book is highly recommended and I look forward to more from this author.

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*

Gripped me from the beginning. I just wanted to keep going to find out what happened next.

At the beginning it's clear that Lily is lonely but feels stuck between proving useful to her Dad and having her own life, being her own person.

She's a woman on a mission and displays sheer strength and determination with anything she does. She has passion in her work and for books which is beautiful.

Mr Caxton is a lovely human, wants the best for her, but also holding her back from fear of losing her. He seems to offer her the fatherly nurture she craves that is missing from her own Dad. I loved this character and found him wonderful, particularly towards the end after he'd realised.

Her Dad is still grieving and although he attempts to try build relationships with her, it doesn't always work that way. She worries deeply about him, but struggles to know how to just be around him. Touched me deeply when in an early chapter, he has a funny turn and she touches to help and realises it's likely been years since they touched. Sad that their relationship is now this way.

Very raw book so far, however honored to have read it!

I was really unsure whether she'd give up on Harry and go with Charlie for a long time, but they worked through this.

I find the snippets of forbidden story so riveting that I experience the same feeling as Lily; no it can't just end there!!

This book throws twists at you constantly. It's brilliant. I wouldn't have expected such a fast pace from a historical novel, yet here it is and has kept me riveted. I've read it all within 24 hours. It's engaged many an emotion. I made prediction and none of them were close to being accurate, really did keep me on my toes.

Oh the final 30 minutes of this book were a whirlwind.

5🌟

Read it ALL in less than 24 hours. Obsessed. The ending sets up for a sequel, I hope so!

A mix of history, intrigue, mystery and romance this book also taught me about a new skill that would be useful to me in my own local council library. The heroine is a young apprentice bookbinder who is sent to work for an elderly bookbinder who sends her to meet a new client. Once there she discovers an old burned book, when she opens it a letter falls out. She reads the letter and realises that there will be more, telling a story of love or despair. She soon realises from some markings on it that it is one of six. She proceeds to travel the country in an attempt to solve this love story. The atmosphere pervading her quest is like that in Charles Dickens Oliver Twist. She continues and meets Ambrose Fane, an eccentric whose character draws himself to you. The author includes a large amount of information about the art of bookbinding that, as a librarian, I found irresistible. I can recommend this book most highly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who wants to learn more about the ancient art of bookbinding.

I would like to thank both NetGalley and the publisher, HQ for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
@netgalley @HQ
#ajbell

I absolutely loved this read. I enjoy anything with books or bookshops. Characters were brillaint and the depth of the hidden notes in books. Couldn't put this down. Have recommended to others

Firstly thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

*Spoilers Ahead*



Wow. What an intriguing book. This felt like so many stories with a story and honestly it came together so well. I have to say, I did know immediately that Mrs Chand was involved, although I didn't figure out who she was. Lilian hunting the books was just fascinating and the whole plot coming full circle with Dr Ashworth was very clever. The bowler hat man added suspense and I enjoyed reading this, which is evident considering I stayed up until 1am to finish it. Lilian's backstory really set up an understanding of her life and I loved that her relationship with Mr Caxton filled a gap for her father's love and affection. My only thing to note was that I really would have loved for her to have met Isaac. I also wasn't sure what the love affair with Charlie added, as it was clearly always going to be Harry. Overall I really enjoyed this book and am hoping that the end leads to a sequel.

This was one of the those books where the blurb sent shivers down my spine. The premise is that a young female bookbinder (and already I love the fact that it's a female lead in historical fiction) finds a piece of paper secreted in the binding of a burned book. Her desire for answers to the questions it throws up, lead her into the dark underworld of the book business, putting not only her own life, but everything she holds dear, at risk.

As the plot progresses and the reader learns more of Lily's character, I found it increasingly difficult not to think of her as a real person. The challenges she faces - and, more particularly, the ones she has faced in the past - are ones which still face many women today, even in a world where we like to think of ourselves as more enlightened and equitable. The choices she makes and the treatment she receives are so starkly 'female' that when the characters themselves comment on this, I found myself nodding along with them. Whilst this is historical fiction, it has an extremely contemporary feel, but never loses its sense of time and place.

One of the real strengths of this book is that in placing Lily within the bookbinding trade, it allows her to demonstrate that at a time when we, in the twenty-first century, tend to think women had no agency or control over their lives, they were in fact in positions of responsibility and though bound by social constraints, had a degree of control over their lives. Representation of other (what would have been regarded then as) sub-groups within society is also a very welcome side plot, although with one of these, I would have liked more of a sense of closure at the end, as the character seems to simply drift out of the story.

This is a well-constructed narrative, with strong, fully-developed characters and a plot that will keep you reading way past bedtime!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC. I loved this book, after reading, I immediately went to look for a physical copy! Set in Oxford at the beginning of the 20th Century, we follow the life and adventures of Lily, a female bookbinder. Oh to find a real-life mystery within a book, it’s what book readers and collectors dream of. Great story and I’d be happy for more tales of Lily.