Booktaker

Nameless Detective #46

by Bill Pronzini, Nick Sullivan (Narrator)

The Nameless Detective is called upon to find out how rare books and maps are being stolen from an antiquarian bookshop with a faultless alarm system. He goes undercover in the store, only to be foiled when a theft occurs right under his nose. Then, as he ponders the case (while on a date with the lovely Kerry), he's violently struck from behind by a car that seems bent on driving him off the road. Will Nameless survive this attempt on his life and solve the case?

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Detective, Short Stories, Crime, Suspense

1 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Mystery Writers of America Awards "Grand Master" 2008
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1999) for Boobytrap
Edgar Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) for A Wasteland of Strangers
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) for Sentinels
Shamus Awards "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) 1987
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1982) for Hoodwink

Married to author Marcia Muller.

Pseudonyms:
Robert Hart Davis (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Jack Foxx
William Jeffrey (collaboration with Jeffrey M. Wallmann)
Alex Saxon

Reviews

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent narration but the story was a little meh for me. I guess book thievery isn’t all that exciting.

A bookseller suspects one of his employees is stealing his valuable books. Oh me. Oh my. So he hires a PI.

This was the oldest book in my audible library which I’m trying to get through. I have no idea how I ended up with it in my library but here we are.

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute crime noir type of mystery. The narrator's voice was a perfect match for this type of story and I enjoyed it immensely.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does it bug anyone else when you listen to an audiobook and get credit for reading only 2 pages? :)

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the audiobook for free via a free audiobooks code website!

This short mystery story is just under an hour long in length and is set in an antiquarian bookshop where our main character, a detective who remains nameless is trying to track down the person responsible for stealing valuable maps and books. The narrator was clear and easy to understand. A good read!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleasing freebie audio download featuring Bill Pronzini's Nameless detective. It runs for about 90 minutes and is ably narrated by Nick Sullivan who really nails Nameless's personality. Being a short story the character introduces himself more thoroughly than he does in his full length appearances. I'm sure many people discover great series by a chance encounters with stories like this. He compares himself to actor Richard Boone, which was probably a more useful comparison when this story first saw print in the early 80s. He admits to being a bit of a slob. 'To hell with health clubs and to hell with my belly.' he says... or words to that effect.
For fans of the series the continuity places Booktaker a short time after Hoodwink. Nameless is in the happy period of his relationship with Kerry Wade, some time before Scattershot blew all the happiness to the wind. The story revolves around some mystery thefts at a store dealing in rare books. Nameless is hired by the baffled owner to discover the thief. It's just great to be in the company of one of my favourite private eyes doing everything that he loves best; solving puzzling crimes, reading his beloved pulp mags, eating, drinking cold beer and snuggling with Kerry in front of a roaring fire.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stars for the story. One more because it takes place in a bookstore.

[Dex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on a recommendation from a friend. A first rate "locked room mystery" with some really campy moments. This author should be more known, I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Found in the Locked Room Puzzles anthology edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Bill Pronzini, ISBN: 0-89733-225-3. Recommended to me, and now recommending it to other readers and enthusiasts of the locked room mystery genre.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short audio book

The narrator's efforts made this totally realistic and believable

Worthy of 5*

[Sara Eames · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book - it was a short novel that was easy to listen to.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Booktaker written by Bill Pronzini, and read by Nick Sullivan is a mystery starring the Nameless Detective. I have not read or listened to anything by Pronzini before, so this was my first introduction to this Nameless Detective. In this story, he is hired to figure out how rare books and maps are being stolen from an antiquarian bookshop with a seamless security system. He goes undercover as an employee, but on his second day a theft occurs right under his nose. As he ponders the case (while on a date), he's violently struck from behind by a car that seems bent on driving him off the road. Will Nameless and Kerry survive this attempt on his life and solve the case?

When exploring a new author or series via audiobook the narrator is just as important as the quality of the writing. I have to say that Sullivan's tone and inflections were a perfect match to the hard boiled detective feel of The Booktaker. I loved the atmosphere and description of our detective, his world, and his love interest (Kerry). I really liked that while Kerry did play a part in the story, the relationship di

d not overpower the puzzle offered by the mystery that needed solving. I listened to the story while in my car, and often found myself treating the entire story like a puzzle- something I needed to study closely somehow knowing it would be a detail that would be easily overlooked that would trigger the solution. I am glad to say that that was quite true, and that I had a different answer than our detective- so the final conclusion was a surprise. The combination of deep thought and tense action felt just about perfect to me.

The Booktaker is a great example or a hard-boiled detective story that will inspire mystery fans to get lost in the mystery. Readers that like to solve puzzles and actually have to work a bit to find the answer will enjoy the story. On the other hand, readers that really like to know a character might be bothered that we do not get too incredibly deep into who our detective is- but I think we do learn enough about him to make him a viable person. He is not flat, despite the lack of detail about his life.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Bill Pronzini's 'Nameless Detective' mystery short stories.

The main character (the Nameless Detective), is not a youngster, but a man in the prime of his life at 53. He reminds me of the modern-day version of Mike Hammer.

This short story is about a thief who is managing to get into a locked room and steal books and later maps from an antiquarian book shop.

I found it an entertaining, well written and plotted mystery. Leaving you wanting to read more of the Nameless Detective novels.

Very well narrated by Nick Sullivan.

I have listened to this novella twice since I downloaded it, and enjoyed it both times.

This was, and still is a 'Freebie' on Amazon and Audible. So why not give it a try?

If you like the review and would like to read my other reviews on books I have read, visit my blog at www.finalchapterreadersgroup.wordpres...... like, comment and follow.

[Matthew Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! this is a fun old school detective story, no sex or violence. A true film noir on paper

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Bill Pronzini's 'Nameless Detective' mystery short stories. I got it as an audio book and wouldn't normally have downloaded it but it was free.

The main character (the Nameless Detective), is not a youngster, but a man in the prime of his life at 53 and likens himself to Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlow.

This short story is about a thief who is managing to get into a locked room and steal books and later maps from an antiquarian book shop. It was very well narrated and I found it an entertaining, well written and plotted mystery which has left me wanting to read more of the Nameless Detective novella's

[Peter Longden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small, elegantly formed, pulp crime noir that I could imagine as a comic book as much as a short story. It is pocket-sized on every way: the plot isn’t too demanding to carry off; the characters play their parts well; there’s even a moment of cool dramatic excitement that would be very fitting for a movie (no spoiler, well written!)
All in all, a brief encounter with the Nameless Detective that didn’t disappoint.

[Victoria Pring · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure about this book. It was a shot mystery story and it definitely gets points for me not figuring out what was happening prior to the reveal. The issue I had with this book however is that it made no effort at all for me to become invested in the story, it told us things instead of showing us things. Though this wasn't necessarily a bad book I don't think it's one I can reccomend.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Format :Audiobook )
"Book thefts are a common occurrence."

A short, easy read about an apparently impossible ongoing series of thefts, books and canvasses, from an antiquarian book shop.. Written a little in the sty?e of a Sherlock Holmes novel. OK, if a little flat.
Narration by Nick Sullivan.

[Rhiannon Rickets -Dellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this audiobook. Made me smile in some parts and a well narrated short detective story.

Easy to listen too and characters were good. Some light humour and the conclusion kept me thinking right to the end. Felt like a short story of an Agatha Christie Novel.

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable little audio story from Libby and my library's offerings! Who doesn't like a wee mystery set in a book store? My first Bill Pronzini story and it was cute enough to peak my interest in reading another one.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This are fun novellas, looking forward to more!

[Chastidy Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read. Listened to it as an audio book while driving. Entertaining and kept my attention.

[Tim Wilkins2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice pulp-style story. Not long on creativity but had a nostalgic feel to it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty mild. Private eye hired to find a book thief.

[Steven Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short story about antique maps being stolen from an expensive book shop. This was number 46 in the Nameless detective series.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good narration of this little bookstore noir mystery novella.

[Amber K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Booktaker by Bill Pronzini was a great quick classic private eye mystery story. The audio was well narrated and enjoyable.
Looking forward to more

[Aloha4Ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[z3r0 c00l]

09/12/16

[Paige Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a quick listen it was quite good and loved the accent.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

23. A very short read but written perfectly and I need to read more about the nameless detective. Definitely recommended to the normal crew

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story