'The multiple award-winning Leon has lost none of her talent for weaving intrigue, and the atmosphere of Venice is as beguiling as ever.' Living North A Washington Post Bestseller A New York Times Bestseller A Seattle Times Best Mystery and Crime Novel of 2014 __________________________________ By Its Cover is the much anticipated twenty-third instalment in Donna Leon's bestselling crime series, where Commissario Brunetti is better than ever as he addresses questions of worth and value alongside his ever-faithful team of ...
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'The multiple award-winning Leon has lost none of her talent for weaving intrigue, and the atmosphere of Venice is as beguiling as ever.' Living North A Washington Post Bestseller A New York Times Bestseller A Seattle Times Best Mystery and Crime Novel of 2014 __________________________________ By Its Cover is the much anticipated twenty-third instalment in Donna Leon's bestselling crime series, where Commissario Brunetti is better than ever as he addresses questions of worth and value alongside his ever-faithful team of Ispettore Vianello and Signorina Elettra. When several valuable antiquarian books go missing from a prestigious library in the heart of Venice, Commissario Brunetti is immediately called to the scene. The staff suspect an American researcher has stolen them, but for Brunetti something doesn't quite add up. Taking on the case, the Commissario begins to seek information about some of the library's regulars, such as the ex-priest Franchini, a passionate reader of ancient Christian literature, and Contessa Morosini-Albani, the library's chief donor, and comes to the conclusion that the thief could not have acted alone. However, when Franchini is found murdered in his home, the case takes a more sinister turn and soon Brunetti finds himself submerged in the dark secrets of the black market of antiquarian books. Alongside his ever-faithful team of Ispettore Vianello and Signorina Elettra, he delves into the pages of Franchini's past and into the mind of a book thief in order to uncover the terrible truth.
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Good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very Good. Very Good Jacket. Size: 6x1x9; Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
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Used book in very good and clean conditions. Minor cosmetic defects may be present. Pages and cover intact. May include library marks notes marks and highlighting. Fast Shipping.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
Donna Leon, I think, is the Queen of Atmosphere. Not long after starting one of one of her books, I feel that I am in Venice -- for the good, bad and all. The author has many avocations and I'm so glad she is able to mingle them amongst her mysteries.
This story about rare books is a case-in-point; I spend a great deal of time in libraries and find their special collections of antiquated and rare books to be fascinating. Thus, this story really sparked my interest.
Brunetti gets involved in this case when he is called by a Venice scholarly library reporting the desecration of some rare atlases and ancient books. As Guido is clueless about the value (or why anyone would choose to harm or steal old tomes), he starts a quick study of book thefts. (Oddly enough, my library friends have been talking about the sharp rise in book thefts or damages each year.)
Don't expect any car chases or rushing around; Guido takes his time gathering information. Because Guido and Paola are consummate readers, they value the books for what they can learn from them. However, Guido is surprised to learn that some people only value books as objet d'art (items of beauty or that are interesting).
Signorina Elettra, always worthy of note, plays a very small part in this case. Books get their value from what someone is willing to pay for them, therefore it is very subjective. It is hard to use the Internet to learn much about rare books except for the prices they bring in auctions or sales.
As Brunetti and the library staff try to find the thief or thieves, a murder occurs. Before long, Brunetti figures out that the thefts and murder are related.
