Booked to Die - Cliff Janeway, Bk 1 Author:John Dunning Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he’s an avid collector of rare and first editions. Bobby Westfall is a local bookscout, a gentle and quiet man who has sold enough valuable books to keep himself and his cats fed and housed. When Bobby is murdered, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearran... more »ge 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. When prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now Janeway’s life is about to change in profound and shocking ways as he attempts to find out who’s dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains.« less
The first in of the Cliff Janeway series, on which I AM NOW HOOKED! Dunning writes from a wellspring of experience in the antique first edition field. Fascinating information woven through a complex, believable plot by carefully drawn, engaging characters.
John Dunning takes you into the world of rare books with a compelling story. I couldn't put it down and had to read all four in the series quickly and in successionl.
Be sure and read the intro on how this first in the series became a best seller,
My husband and I read this novel after a recommendation from a friend. We both enjoyed it. The characters and the subject matter (book sellers)are unique, and the ending is fun. Allison Hoover Bartlett's nonfiction book, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, concerns a similar topic and mentions Dunning several times. My husband has since read two more books by Dunning with the same main character and says he likes them even more
All I can say is "wow", I finished this book last night at 1:30, started it in the morning and I couldn't put it down. Excellent mystery and the author is great. First in the series of Cliff Janeway cop/book lover.
BON S. (bons) reviewed Booked to Die (Cliff Janeway, Bk 1) on
Any chance you get an opportunity to read a John Dunning book, do not hesitate. It guarantees you a good, fast pace mystery from a best seller who deserves that rate. His book Booked to Die is the first of many such book-related and later book/horse-related books Dunning has done. I've read them all. Booked to Die gives you the inside of some of the worst bookstores in big cities, dusty, no organization, boxes unpacked, the sort of stores we find treasures in and dead bodies.
This is his first and best, Bookman's Wake came behind with almost as much mystery as this one. Always pick them up when you see them and hide them in the cubbard because someday you'll read them all like I did.
I don't know why its taken me so long to discover this author. "Booked To Die" introduces is to Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeaway. A recent homicide involving a bookscout has him trying to find the answers as to why this man is now dead.
Whats great about this book is that the people in the books are book lovers themselves, trying to find rare books that they can sell. Janeaway, himself is a book lover, which makes things even more interesting.
As the investigation progresses things in Janeway's life change a bit, but I won't divulge that. The investigation gives us several plausible suspects, which had me guessing til the very end.
I definitely will keep reading this series and recommend it anyone looking to begin a new series themselves.
