The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault

Not your typical mystery, Emily Arsenault’s first novel is an interesting look in the world of lexicographers and the Samuelson Dictionary Company.  Philosophy major, Billy Webb is thrilled to have found his first job after college.   He is a lexicographer in a dictionary company.  There he looks for new words, defines them and answers questions from the public about words.  It’s a solitary occupation, a large room filled with cubicles filled with people doing similar tasks but with almost no interaction.   Billy and fellow lexicographer, Mona find a citation that references a book that doesn’t appear to exist.   They come to believe that someone has planted the citation and others to tell a story.   As they find more citations they find they are putting together the story of a murder.

The story is told with humor and has a sweetness to it that has you rooting for both Billy and Mona.  

Karen – Fort Mill                     ISBN  9780553807332