The Bookman's Wake

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 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 hand of death from turning another page... |...| [Amazon.com Review] The sequel to the popular Booked to Die. Cliff Janeway, Denver cop-turned-book-dealer, finds himself chasing down a charming young fugitive named Eleanor Rigby, who has stolen a rare copy of Poe's "The Raven" for reasons of her own. Trouble follows, and Eleanor disappears into a city filled with people who want the book, and don't care what they have to do to get it. Stuffed with fascinating book lore, this mystery is a bibliophile's dream. |...| [From Publishers Weekly] Continuation of the Cliff Janeway series, in which the cop turned rare book dealer pursues a fugitive and a priceless edition of Edgar Allan Poe. |...| [From Library Journal] 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. |...| [From Booklist] Dunning brings a fine new voice to the mystery genre. The award-winning Booked to Die (1992) introduced the likable rare bookman and sometime sleuth Cliff Janeway, who returns here in his second adventure. Obviously based on Dunning's experience as a Denver bookstore owner, the story features an engrossing, inventive plot about rare books and the people who print, collect, and sell them--sometimes at a murderously high price. Former Denver cop Janeway is intrigued by his newest case: he's supposed to find a young woman named Eleanor Rigby, who appears to have stolen a valuable collector's edition of The Raven. The book was printed by the Grayson Press, a highly respected Seattle publisher run by two maverick brothers in the fifties and sixties. Dunning writes catchy prose and engaging dialogue, and his hero is an intriguing blend of the erudite and the down-to-earth. The liberal sprinkling of rare-book factoids throughout the narrative may not fascinate everyone, but the action-packed story, mounting suspense, and riveting plot twists are certain to draw readers. An outstanding novel in a terrific new series. Emily Melton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.