The Bookman's Wake (Cliff Janeway Series #2)

by John Dunning

Overview

Denver cop-turned-bookdealer Cliff Janeway is lured by an enterprising fellow ex-policeman into going to Seattle to bring back a fugitive wanted for assault, burglary, and the possible theft of a priceless edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." The bail jumper turns out to be a vulnerable young woman calling herself Eleanor Rigby, who is also a gifted book finder.
Janeway is intrigued by the woman — and by the deadly history surrounding the rare volume. Hunted by people willing to kill for the antique tome, a terrified Eleanor escapes and disappears. To find her — and save her — Janeway must unravel the secrets of the book's past and its mysterious maker, for only then can he stop the hand of death from turning another page....

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780671567828
Publisher:	Pocket Star
Publication date:	03/01/1996
Series:	Cliff Janeway Series , #2
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	470,457
Product dimensions:	4.19(w) x 6.75(h) x 1.00(d)

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.

Editorial Reviews

Boston Sunday Globe Magazine Not only kept me up far too late one night, but got me up two hours early the next morning.

Associated Press Stunning.

Kirkus Reviews Mad, fantastical, and darkly original. Bookbinding has never been so compelling.

The Denver Post Nail-biting suspense.

From the Publisher

In the long-awaited sequel to Booked to Die, Denver policeman-turned-bookdealer Cliff Janeway is hired by sleazy ex-cop Clydell Slater to retrieve Eleanor Rigby (really), who has jumped bail and fled to Seattle. Things get complicated when she turns out to be young, pretty and a talented book scout. The latter, almost by itself, seems to convince Janeway that she is innocent. Rigby may have the key to the location of a previously unknown fine press edition of Poe's The Raven. When Eleanor disappears, Janeway teams up with reporter Trish Aandahl, biographer of the Grayson brothers, who produced the rare Poe volume. Aandahl is convinced the brothers were both murdered over 20 years ago. To find Eleanor and The Raven, Janeway and Aandahl must connect the killing of the brothers with five other violent deaths. Dragging at the narrative are frequent long passages that either provide extensive background or serve to show off Janeway's bookhunting knowledge. While not uninteresting, these sections interrupt the novel's flow. Readers who loved the first Janeway appearance may find this entry somewhat disappointing. Author tour. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Unexpected danger and chilling intrigue attend a Denver bookstore owner's trip to Seattle for the purpose of escorting a purported book thief to jail. Ex-cop Cliff Janeway, introduced in Booked To Die (Scribner, 1992), agrees to act as bounty hunter only because of his interest in rare books; he soon realizes, however, that his employer has a hidden agenda involving the years-ago murder of two brothers who were owners of a publishing company known for its limited editions. Seattle marks the beginning of Janeway's physical and mental journey, a quest described with finely textured prose, knowledgeable bibliographical details, and full-bodied characterization. A definite plus for any collection.

Library Journal

Like old books? Like rumaging in used book stores? Dream to find a perfect jacketed first edition? Like great murder mysteries? Then this is the book for you! John Dunning is an authority on rare books, and so is his hero, Cliff Janeway. This book is filled with esoterica on collecting, as well as being a superbly crafted suspense. A priceless copy of Poe's The Raven, and the small press that printed it, are at the heart of the tale. Avarice and deification are the ongoing motives. A master of timing and nuance, George Guidall brings Janeway to life from the first sentence. This is one of those paradoxical books that you can't wait to finish, while you don't ever want it to end. The only hope is for a sequel. B.H.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

FEB/MAR 01 - AudioFile