The Bookman's Promise: A Cliff Janeway Novel - Softcover

John Dunning

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1416513205 ISBN 13: 9781416513209

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2005

Synopsis

Denver cop-turned bookseller Cliff Janeway has just paid a hefty sum to acquire a real gem: a signed first edition by famed nineteenth-century explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton. But does he truly own the rare book? An elderly woman claims her grandfather traveled the American South with Burton just before the Civil War, and not only is Janeway's prized volume rightfully hers, but so is a missing library of Burton material, including an unpublished journal of inestimable worth. When she implores Janeway to recover her grandfather's collection, he sets out on a seemingly impossible search, retracing Burton's travels through the history-rich cities of Baltimore and Charleston-- a search soon cast in a suspicious light and fraught with more questions than answers. When a friend's life is placed in deadly jeopardy, and violence forces them to make a perolous choice, Janeway realizes there is more to Burton's diary than its value as an antique. Someone is willing to kill to keep the shocking secrets of the past--and Janeway is next in the line of fire.

About this title

About the Author

John Dunning has revealed some of 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 of 1995; and the New York Times and Book Sense bestsellers The Bookman's Promise, The Sign of the Book, and The Bookwoman's Last Fling. He is also the author of 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. He is also an expert on American radio history, authoring On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. He lives in Denver, Colorado.

Visit his website at www.oldalgonquin.com.

From AudioFile

Listeners will welcome the return of John Dunning's "bookman," introduced ten years ago in BOOKED TO DIE. Ex-detective turned rare book dealer Cliff Janeway is a minor cult figure among book-lovers. Based in Denver, Janeway travels in pursuit of rare books that have mysterious, murderous, and fascinating histories. Writings by nineteenth-century explorer Richard Burton are the object of Janeway's attention here. George Guidall knows this series well--having recorded the unabridged versions of Dunning's work. Guidall matches the engaging narrative style with his master's skill with pace and characterizations. Only complaint--Dunning's books are full of marvelous detail and minor characters--the abridgment just makes this listener long for the full text (available from Recorded Books in June 2004). R.F.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1416513205
• ISBN 13: 9781416513209
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 496