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Booked Twice: Booked to Die and The Bookman's Wake
Together for the first time in a single volume -- the two critically acclaimed Bookman crime novels that helped inspire America's passion for modern first-edition book collecting and that belong on every bookshelf.
Includes "The Book Collector," advice and special tips from John Dunning on collecting rare books.
BOOKED TO DIE
Denver cop Cliff Janeway probably knows as much about books as he does about homicide. His living room resembles an adjunct to the public library. He's aware that some Stephen King first editions can bring more money than most Mark Twain firsts, and a copy of Raymond Chandler's Lady in the Lake is worth more than $1,000. And he realizes that, contrary to popular belief, "older" doesn't necessarily mean "more valuable."
He also knows that valuable volumes can be hidden in plain view among otherwise ordinary book collections. It's not easy to find such books, but some people seem to have an extraordinary talent for honing in on the treasures.
Such a man is bookscout Bobby Westfall. Bobby once earned $900 in a single weekend and has generally spotted enough valuable books to keep himself and his beloved cats fed and housed.
Now Bobby is dead, murdered at the witching hour on Friday the thirteenth, his body dumped under a ladder in a dark alley. It's not a good end for a superstitious man. Janeway is sure he knows who did it. But can he catch him? And, in the process, will Janeway's own life change forever?
THE BOOKMAN'S WAKE
The story starts and ends, aptly, with a very special book: a 1969 edition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, published by the tiny, prestigious Grayson Press of North Bend, Washington. The Grayson bibliography mentions no such edition. If, indeed, it exists, it could be worth a fortune to the right collector. It's the kind of book somebody might kill for. In fact, somebody probably already has.
Ex-Denver cop Janeway is happily at work selling rare and used books when former police colleague Clydell Slater arrives with an offer. Slater runs a detective agency and he wants Janeway to go to Seattle to pick up a young female fugitive and deliver her to Taos, New Mexico. The woman is wanted for burglary and assault. More to the point, as far as Janeway's concerned, she may also have in her possession a stolen copy of the 1969 Grayson Press Raven, taken when she ransacked a Taos home.
The rare-book angle gets to Janeway every time. He could turn down thousands of dollars in fees, but he can't say no to The Raven.
Janeway signs on to the case because of a book, but he stays because of a vulnerable young woman. He will discover not only her painful story but the poignant tale of a once-great small press, where paper and ink became beautiful books in the hands of a master craftsman.
Includes "The Book Collector," advice and special tips from John Dunning on collecting rare books.
BOOKED TO DIE
Denver cop Cliff Janeway probably knows as much about books as he does about homicide. His living room resembles an adjunct to the public library. He's aware that some Stephen King first editions can bring more money than most Mark Twain firsts, and a copy of Raymond Chandler's Lady in the Lake is worth more than $1,000. And he realizes that, contrary to popular belief, "older" doesn't necessarily mean "more valuable."
He also knows that valuable volumes can be hidden in plain view among otherwise ordinary book collections. It's not easy to find such books, but some people seem to have an extraordinary talent for honing in on the treasures.
Such a man is bookscout Bobby Westfall. Bobby once earned $900 in a single weekend and has generally spotted enough valuable books to keep himself and his beloved cats fed and housed.
Now Bobby is dead, murdered at the witching hour on Friday the thirteenth, his body dumped under a ladder in a dark alley. It's not a good end for a superstitious man. Janeway is sure he knows who did it. But can he catch him? And, in the process, will Janeway's own life change forever?
THE BOOKMAN'S WAKE
The story starts and ends, aptly, with a very special book: a 1969 edition of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, published by the tiny, prestigious Grayson Press of North Bend, Washington. The Grayson bibliography mentions no such edition. If, indeed, it exists, it could be worth a fortune to the right collector. It's the kind of book somebody might kill for. In fact, somebody probably already has.
Ex-Denver cop Janeway is happily at work selling rare and used books when former police colleague Clydell Slater arrives with an offer. Slater runs a detective agency and he wants Janeway to go to Seattle to pick up a young female fugitive and deliver her to Taos, New Mexico. The woman is wanted for burglary and assault. More to the point, as far as Janeway's concerned, she may also have in her possession a stolen copy of the 1969 Grayson Press Raven, taken when she ransacked a Taos home.
The rare-book angle gets to Janeway every time. He could turn down thousands of dollars in fees, but he can't say no to The Raven.
Janeway signs on to the case because of a book, but he stays because of a vulnerable young woman. He will discover not only her painful story but the poignant tale of a once-great small press, where paper and ink became beautiful books in the hands of a master craftsman.
704 pages, Hardcover
Published February 21, 2004
2 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
John Dunning
64 books319 followersJohn Dunning was an American writer of non-fiction and detective fiction. He was known for his reference books on old-time radio and his series of mysteries featuring Denver bookseller and ex-policeman Cliff Janeway.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 12, 2008
This collection of John Dunning's superb mystery series about a retired Denver Police Detective who goes into the rare book trade is a lot of fun. Start with both books and see if you're not hooked.
October 13, 2011
If you love books or collect them, you'll find the Bookman series by John Dunning fascinating and very entertaining. They are mysteries, starring Cliff Janeway, cop turned bookman and bookshop owner. A bookman is a person who engages in buying and selling books or a person who loves books; a collector. There are five books in the series, all at JDL. John Dunning has been a bookscout (a person who looks for old books,) worked at race tracks all over the west, been a copyboy, investigative reporter, journalism/writing professor, radio host, political press secretary and bookshop owner. The first book, Booked to Die, introduces Cliff Janeway as a tough cop going after even tougher criminals. Cliff is also an avid collector of rare and first editions. When Cliff beats up a bad guy, he is suspended and starts hanging around his favorite bookshop, eventually becoming a bookscout and bookshop owner. He finally gets the bad guy, but in doing so, decides he likes the bookman's life better that being a cop.
The Bookman's Wake, The Bookman's Promise, The Sign of the Book and The Bookwoman's Last Fling complete the series, although I sure hope he hasn't finished his stories about Cliff Janeway. Dunning is also an expert on old-time radio shows and has written Tune in Yesterday: the ultimate encyclopedia of Old-time Radio.
The Bookman's Wake, The Bookman's Promise, The Sign of the Book and The Bookwoman's Last Fling complete the series, although I sure hope he hasn't finished his stories about Cliff Janeway. Dunning is also an expert on old-time radio shows and has written Tune in Yesterday: the ultimate encyclopedia of Old-time Radio.
February 22, 2008
I love all of the Cliff Janeway mysteries. Dunning creates great seedy characters, interesting twists, and never fails to make me want to give up my career to run a used bookshop.
October 20, 2009
very fun read. if you like dog stories you read about dogs, if you like detective stories ..., if you like books this one puts together a fascinating detective and the wonderful world of books.
July 13, 2014
These are terrific books by a hell of a writer. Enjoyed them all, and read the first one a second time.
November 4, 2020
Enjoy reading stories that take place in Colorado. He does a good story line, also.
March 30, 2018
Liked this mystery a lot. The main character is sympathetic as are the supporting cast. The best part of this series is that Janeway is a dealer - not only of old books but also of newer books which are collectable. There's a lot of information about why one book is collectable but another is not. All booklovers will like this novel - but they'll read the next Janeway book because they enjoyed the story.
July 18, 2014
I love this series!!! I had no idea, whatsoever, that there were certain modern books that were so collectible. This series has mixed reality with suspense/murder/detective stories. I would love to learn more about "Bookmen/women", and I think this is the author to teach us all. His characters are very real, and personable...believable. I hope Mr. Dunning never stops writing this series!!!
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August 19, 2014The story was a little above average, character development pretty good. The thing that I like most about this book was the information about what makes a book collectible. I am currently reading "Booked to Die" and it also continues to educate the reader on rare and collectible books and the book store industry.
October 19, 2007
after I read these books I went around my house and my parents houses and found all first editions! All three of them!!!
October 22, 2007
We enjoyed the first 2 books from the used book collector/detective series.
August 18, 2008
cliff janeway is my new favorite detective.
February 26, 2013
I really enjoyed Booked to Die - learned a lot about the antique book trade and it was an interesting mystery. Book Two was overly plotted, unbelieveable, and I just didnt care about it by the end.
June 21, 2013
Absolutely loved it!
December 19, 2014
Dunning draws you into a story and captures you. The world he writes about is unknown to most of us, I find it fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews