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A review by lizdbooks
Booked to Die by John Dunning
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I heard about this book on the podcast Strong Sense of Place, and I'm so glad I read it! It's extreme backlist, a book I never would have discovered otherwise.
Cliff Janeway is a homicide detective in Denver, and a book collector on the side. When a local book scout is murdered, Cliff is on the case. Unfortunately, the trail goes cold, and later Cliff finds himself quitting the police force and opening a bookstore (of course!).
When a new lead arises in the old murder case, Cliff can't resist the pull to figure out what happened, so cop-turned-bookseller ends up dragged back into the mystery. As they say...shenanigans ensue.
Murder mystery is not my typical genre, but the cop-turned-bookseller shtick sold me. I loved when Cliff gave it all up to follow his dream of opening a bookstore, the camaraderie between he and the neighborhood booksellers, the hunt for priceless books, a mystery around valuable books that someone would kill over (?!!), and so much more bookish content that would bore you if I listed it here but is entirely fascinating in the book.
This novel would make a great fireside or beach read; it's cozy and entertaining in the best ways. And if you love this one, it's the first in a series of Cliff Janeway novels!
Cliff Janeway is a homicide detective in Denver, and a book collector on the side. When a local book scout is murdered, Cliff is on the case. Unfortunately, the trail goes cold, and later Cliff finds himself quitting the police force and opening a bookstore (of course!).
When a new lead arises in the old murder case, Cliff can't resist the pull to figure out what happened, so cop-turned-bookseller ends up dragged back into the mystery. As they say...shenanigans ensue.
Murder mystery is not my typical genre, but the cop-turned-bookseller shtick sold me. I loved when Cliff gave it all up to follow his dream of opening a bookstore, the camaraderie between he and the neighborhood booksellers, the hunt for priceless books, a mystery around valuable books that someone would kill over (?!!), and so much more bookish content that would bore you if I listed it here but is entirely fascinating in the book.
This novel would make a great fireside or beach read; it's cozy and entertaining in the best ways. And if you love this one, it's the first in a series of Cliff Janeway novels!