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John Dunning brings together his knowledge of Denver cops and the rare book world in this striking new mystery. When a freelancer who searches for valuable books is murdered, burned-out cop Cliff Janeway suspects he was onto something big. But who would kill for a book?
About the author
John Dunning (1942–2023) revealed book collecting’s most shocking secrets in his bestselling series of crime novels featuring Cliff Janeway:
Booked to Die, which won the prestigious Nero Wolfe Award;
The Bookman’s Wake, a
New York Times Notable Book; and the
New York Times bestsellers
The Bookman’s Promise,
The Sign of the Book, and The
Bookwoman’s Last Fling. He also wrote the Edgar Award–nominated
Deadline,
The Holland Suggestions, and
Two O’Clock, Eastern Wartime. An expert on rare and collectible books, he owned the Old Algonquin Bookstore in Denver for many years.
Summary
First in the Cliff Janeway series from national bestselling author John Dunning.
Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. After a local book scout is killed on his turf, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspect’s spine. But the suspect, local lowlife Jackie Newton, is a master at eluding the law, and Janeway’s wrathful brand of off-duty justice costs him his badge.
Turning to his lifelong passion, Janeway opens a small bookshop—all the while searching for evidence to put Newton away. But when prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now, Janeway’s life is about to start a precarious new chapter as he attempts to find out who’s dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains.
