Cliff is approached by a former colleague from the denver pd to bring back a skip from seattle. After a local bookscout is killed on his turf, janeway would like nothing better than. There are, says john dunning, two lures to a collectible book. When a hapless book scout is murdered, janeways rough handling of the suspect earns him a brutality charge, and he quits the force rather than face suspension. Writing both fiction and non fiction, the american author john dunning has been a detective. It also reminds me of paul therouxs more recent hotel honolulu in tone, and as in that funny novel, some of the chapters here could stand alone as short stories. Dunning won me with his clever character development and janeways tough, earthy methodology. This book drew me in with the first chapter, owing in good part to my own affinity for books. Janeway is a book collector and rare book dealer, and dunning is one of the few authors who gets the world of book collecting right. The setup is preposterousa book collector police detective working the murder of a book scout but its great fun to read.
John always wanted to write, but was a poor student. Unfortunately those two things cause the greatest flaws with the book, he goes into excruciating detail that isnt really necessary to the plot. For a rare book, a desperate buyer turns to violence six days a week, joel beer hunts for books in denver. They are well written, exciting mysteries plus i learned a lot about the book business that i never even thought of.
Writing both fiction and nonfiction, the american author john dunning has been a detective. After a local book scout is killed on his turf, janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspects spine. This is the first of john dunning s whodunit series featuring cliff janeway as a cop turned bookman who uses his street smarts joined with his passion for books to solve murder mysteries involving the world of rare books. After winning a signed edition of a rare richard francis burton book at an auction, cliff janeway comes into contact with josephine gallant who says the book is a family heirloom. Jan 23, 1992 john dunning was born in 1942 in brooklyn, ny. I was pleased to learn some of the ins and outs of the book business while following a great tale. Dust jacket has small rubs on spine and light edgewear. At the start of this book, clifford janeway is a homicide detective with the denver police department. These include the short stories dreamer and bookscout, as well as his early novels holland suggestions and looking for ginger north.
John dunning, the author, is commended as much for his exploration of the book collecting world as he is for the mysteries and puzzles he crafts. His protagonist is a police detective who was once a finder and seller of rare books. Light wrinkles on front of dust jacket, otherwise very fine. Bookscout by john dunning meet your next favorite book. I picture cadillac jack as looking like kinky friedman or richard boone, narrating the story in a texas. His knowledge of the collectible book business is evident as is his knowledge of how a small press making limited editions works. We found 37 books set in taos and 28 others set nearby. The holland suggestions by john dunning author autographed hardcover book first edition, first printing, mint, newunread in a flawless dust jacket in archival acetate cover, signed by the author. The bookmans promise by john dunning read by george. Of course, my wife and i know little about the buying and selling of books. The holland suggestions by john dunning signed first.
Dunning, a beautiful, kind, caring and sweet woman, returned to delaware with her children where her father was a congressman. A wonderful character study, a period piece first published back in 1982, filled with wit and satire and mighty fine writing. Until a friend introduced me to john dunning s mysteries, i had never heard of book scouts. Preorder dead ground washington poe 4 limited edition. A fine, tight, copy in a fine, unclipped dust jacket. Who would want to kill bobby, a lonely book scout, who took in stray cats. John s not been well, and there may not be any more coming, but if you miss out on any of them, youre missing a great read. A mystery with cliff janeway by dunning, john signed by and dated 32095 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. On the edge of downtown denver, out by the county jail, he keeps his loot. Born in brooklyn, he moved to charleston, south carolina, with his family in 1945. He describes himself as a posterchild for add, quitting school in grade 10 to hold a series of interesting jobs. A book scout works independently to track down valuable books which are then sold to dealers or private collectors. John dunning is an american writer of detective fiction as well as nonfiction books. I read and buy books for pleasure not to make money but found it fascinating how other people do this.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Featured books mostly books, gig harbor, washington. May 19, 2012 until a friend introduced me to john dunning s mysteries, i had never heard of book scouts. This copy comes complete with a copy of dunning s limited edition book scout. Mirroring the life of john dunning himself, the denver excop and antique bookseller cliff janeway this time finds himself hot on the trail of both a book and a killer. John dunning is an american author of detective fiction. Bobbsmerrill company isbn 0672521105 dunning s scarce first novel. But i learned a lot about book scouting from him and, also, from another book called book finds by ian c. There is so much pleasure to be had in the book talk, the bookish characters, and the chase that you dont care how far reality is being stretched. As unlikely as it seems that a crime fiction novel about second hand books could be very exciting, this is a pageturner.
We are readers, but we are learning to buy and sell with the assistance of a great staff with decades of experience. Denver homicide detective cliff janeway may not always play by the book, but hes an avid collector of rare and first editions. John dunning was for many years a used book dealer in denver, colorado. The bookmans wake is the second in john dunning s cliff janeway series. Apr 12, 2019 john dunning went on to write four more books in the bookman series, the last one, the bookwomans last fling, published in 2006. Doctorow in billy bathgate or caleb carr in the alienist, john dunning has written a magnificent story of mystery, murder, and revenge that brings to life. For a rare book, a desperate buyer turns to violence.
Denver homicide detective cliff janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. Recent books have their own thrill, but theres just as. He left high school in the tenth grade, partly because of an inability to concentrate and absorb lectures. Dunning received a beautiful package filled with arsenic poisoned bonbons. First in the cliff janeway series from national bestselling author john dunning.
I left the table with a yearning to start my own book business, or at the very least, become a book scout. The job couldnt be simpler, it seems, so janeway jets to dank seattle, gets one look at the. Hello select your address deals store best sellers new releases gift ideas best sellers new releases gift ideas. Denver homicide detective cliff janeway is an avid collector of rare books. This first edition copy is clean and crisp enough to have come straight from the. This is the book that got me hooked on book collecting, and john dunning has graciously advised me along the way. A book scout works independently to track down valuable books which are then sold to. May 01, 2000 john dunning is an authority on rare books, and so is his hero, cliff janeway. The appeal the unique hook used here is that you will be taken not only on a mystery story, but an exploration of the book trade. If he were the only scout in town, he might be able to make a living, but there are close to a dozen fulltimers.
Explore books by author, series, or genre today and. Agatha christie archives joyfully jobless with barbara. After failing to graduate from high school, dunning held a series of odd jobs, first in charleston and then in denver, including work at a glass shop and at various racetracks, before taking a position as a copy boy with the denver post. John dunning has revealed some of book collectings most shocking secrets in his bestselling series of crime novels featuring cliff janeway. He was raised in charleston, sc, is married, and has two adult children. And from what dunning writes, book collecting is a far more dangerous business than most people credit it. Feb 02, 1992 here are the 10 best books of 2020, along with 100 notable books of the year. John dunning is a book scout, a book dealer, a book detective. The book has a twopage introductory essay and an article on kvod classical radio station both written by author john dunning who edited the book. I read constantly, even took a professional speedreading course, but thats no. Here are some of his bestselling novels that are definitely good reads. A priceless copy of poes the raven, and the small press that printed it, are at the heart of the tale. After a local book scout is killed on his turf, janeway is on the book case, while also opening a small bookshop. Author john dunning is the owner of old algonquin books in arvada, colorado.
This is dunning s first book in the cliff janeway series. On the edge of downtown denver, out by the county jail, he keeps his loot locked in a warehouse. When a local book scout is murdered, janeway investigates, sure his seedy nemesis jackie newton is guilty of the crime. Dunning s series of suspense novels has brought him more accolades due to his superb talent and rich mix of horses and books.
He has also written reference books about oldtime radio. This collection has a short preliminary essay by author with tips on buying and collecting books. For a fun fictional account of some the joys of book selling, you cant beat john dunning s cliff janeway series. This book is filled with esoterica on collecting, as well as being a superbly crafted suspense. John dunning was an antiquarian book dealer in denver for many years. But the suspect, local lowlife jackie newton, is a master at eluding the law, and janeways wrathful brand of offduty justice costs him his badge. Buy bookmans wake book online at low prices in india. The main character, cliff janeway is a homicide detective in denver. He also gets involved in trying to find whoever murdered bobby westfall. This book is not only a wellcrafted whodunit but also a revealing glimpse into the rare book trade. Dunning s apparent academic success was amplified that fall, when he entered the freshmen class of dartmouth collegea coveted school for the sons of new england who desired an elite, white, anglosaxon, and protestant education.
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