Devilishly good read!
This book was my first encounter with the work of John Dunning, and I was solidly enmeshed instantly. The glimpses into the shadowy world of books, and book dealers were a great part of the draw. The characters are believable in the extreme, and when hit, they bleed. The antagonists as well as the protagonists are entirely realistic, and the reader gets the sense that Dunning has based these characters on the types of people he has come across in his career with books.
Action and mystery abound, and I was left with the feeling that somehow I just had to meet this bookman/author...although I have yet to figure out how to make that happen, it's on my "buvcket list". I came away not only entertained, but educated. Recommend it to any one with a love of books, or anyone with a love of mysteries. Dunning is an accomplished writer with his ability to add humor in tight situations, and to make his stories both authentic and believable. Cliff Janeway is the sort of protagonist that you like immediately, for all his self-admitted faults, and his dogged pursuit of all things questionable in the world of books. Read them all!
