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The Sign of the Book: A Cliff Janeway "Bookman" Novel |  |
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The Sign of the Book: A Cliff Janeway "Bookman" Novel | |
Packed with "juicy nuggets of bibliophile gold" (Booklist), this irresistibly suspenseful bestseller traces the mark of murder inside the world of rare books.
Assessing a book's value is Denver cop-turned-bookseller Cliff Janeway's expertise. But even a pro like Janeway could be supremely challenged by certain signed first editions. When is an autograph authentic? How can forgeries appear to be so convincingly real? The same questions apply, it seems, to a murder investigation in tiny Paradise, Colorado. Janeway agrees to help his lover, attorney Erin D'Angelo, determine if Erin's estranged childhood friend killed her husband -- or was her confession designed to protect her troubled young son? Then Janeway discovers the dead man's books: an impressive collection that may house some real gems. But it's not their financial worth that draws Janeway deeper into the case of deadly small-town secrets -- it's the hunger for peeling back layers of deception to reveal the genuine sign of the book. And in a case of cold-blooded murder, truth is a priceless commodity.
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From Publishers Weekly
As an antiquarian book dealer and sometime private investigator, Cliff Janeway is unique in contemporary crime fiction, and no doubt that accounts for a good part of his popularity among the book community. But it''s the sure hand with which Dunning renders him (and a large cast of other characters) that makes the Bookman novels so compulsively readable. In this fine fourth volume in the series (after 2004''s The Bookman''s Promise), Janeway is sent, by his lover and partner, criminal defense attorney Erin D''Angelo, to the mountain town of Paradise, Colo., to look into the murder of Robert Marshall, a mysterious figure with a massive collection of signed first editions. But the connection to Erin extends well beyond Marshall''s library: the victim was Erin''s first real love, and his wife, Laura (who confessed to the crime when she was found at the scene, covered in blood), was her former best friend. Naturally, the antiquarian book world serves both as background and plot element, and Janeway combines his experience as an ex-cop and knowledgeable dealer to unravel the mystery. The book-related plot is somewhat arbitrarily grafted onto the main narrative, but Dunning writes with such confidence and assurance the reader cannot help being drawn into this compelling whodunit.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Bookmarks Magazine
In 2004’s The Bookman’s Promise, Janeway searched for a valuable book-and a killer. Here, Janeway explores the murder of a man with a valuable library. Dunning, also an antiquarian bookseller (www.oldalgonquin.com), is a bibliophile whose Bookman novels rise above the standard crime fare. This fourth installment updates readers on Janeway’s personal life and fills in gaps from the previous volume. The elaborate plot, convincing red herrings, and pitch-perfect dialogue eclipse the book’s few stock characters and unbelievable dream scene. Critics disagree on the role of books in the novel-one wanted more; another thought the rare-book dealing theme superficial. Either way, you’re in for a smart literary surprise.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From AudioFile
The latest entry in Dunning''s series about Cliff Janeway, ex-policeman turned antiquarian book dealer, has Janeway investigating a murder in the Colorado Rockies. The victim''s widow has confessed, but only an impossibly dim deputy sheriff believes her confession. The assemblage of characters doesn''t really test George Guidall''s remarkable range, yet all are convincing. His narrative links, told in Janeway''s voice, are a study in warm, well-paced clarity. Of particular note is his portrayal of an elderly small-town lawyer, which reveals a subtle virtuosity. Listeners are guaranteed to stay tuned-in throughout and may want to check out Dunning''s most well-known Janeway mystery, BOOKED TO DIE. R.E.K. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The crime genre''s only hard-boiled bibliophile, Cliff Janeway, is back, this time helping his lover, attorney Erin D''Angelo, defend a woman accused of murdering her husband. Cliff leaves his bookshop in Denver and journeys to remote Paradise, Colorado, hoping to determine if the accused really did kill her husband, or if she is trying to protect her son. That''s the tip of the iceberg, of course, in a case that involves old friends, deep-seated jealousies, and, naturally, rare books. The deceased, it turns out, collected autographed first editions, giving Janeway the opportunity to rummage about on the shady side of the antiquarian book biz, revealing all sorts of fascinating minutiae (including the fact that it''s nearly impossible to find a first edition of the novel on which the movie Laura was based). This is the kind of thing Janeway fans love: juicy nuggets of bibliophile gold. That these tasty morsels come wrapped in serviceable crime plots involving tough guys, gutsy gals, and snappy patter makes the pleasure of devouring them all the sweeter. Bill Ott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Dunning''s best. . . . Top-shelf sleuthing."
-- The Denver Post
"It''s great fun thumbing the pages with Cliff Janeway. . . ."
-- The New York Times
"[With] forensic details that might have Patricia Cornwell turning green with envy, The Sign of the Book will appeal to mystery fans of all stripes."
-- The Denver Post
