Rare Obsession, A Format: Cloth Over Boards

2026 Oklahoma Book Award Finalist

He thought he’d hit rock bottom―until he found a body.

Desperate for a job, drowning in debt, and heartbroken, newly graduated Ethan Poser takes a custodial position at the Carnegie Library. But when he chances upon the body of his predecessor in a nearby city park and is implicated in the murder, Ethan’s life takes a dangerous turn.

Associate librarian Anna Khole detects that the library’s rare book collection, worth millions, had been pilfered for years, and Ethan’s ghastly discovery may be connected to the thefts. As law enforcement investigates the murder, Ethan finds himself drawn to the mysterious and intelligent Anna, who may hold the key to solving the mystery. But as their attraction grows, so does the danger, and one person’s obsession could lead to a tragic end for them both.

Fans of thrilling mysteries will devour this page-turning novel.

Dr. Sheldon Russell, Professor Emeritus, is the author of fifteen books, including his award-winning historical fiction and his popular Hook Runyon mystery series. His books have garnered three Oklahoma Book Awards for Fiction, the Langum Prize for Historical Literature, and the Spur Award for Best Historical Western from the Western Writers of America. His books have earned starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly. Russell is a graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University. He currently lives on the family ranch in the beautiful Gloss Mountains of northwestern Oklahoma.