Literature and a Lens

Following a young woman with a hidden past dealing with the suicide at the bookstore where she works, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J Sullivan weaves a multi-thread narrative that flashes back and forth different time periods. The story begins with Lydia Smith finding a photograph of herself in the pocket of Joey Molina after he unexpectedly commits suicide. This discovery leads her on a long and winding path that will ultimately unlock secrets she’s worked years to bury and uncover information about the life she left behind years ago.   Sullivan skillfully creates a tangled mystery and methodically unravels the puzzle to a satisfying conclusion. There was never a moment when any reveals or actions left me scratching my head trying to make sense of things. Much of the novel centers on the theme of motivation. Why does Lydia keep her previous life deeply hidden? Why did Joey hang himself? Why did Lydia’s dad suddenly uproot and relocate the two of...