Death of a bookseller / Bernard J. Farmer ; with an introduction by Martin Edwards.

Farmer, B. J. (Bernard J.), (author.). Edwards, Martin, 1955- (writer of introduction.).

Series: British Library crime classics

BOOK

Place Hold

Add to basket

Print / Email

Permalink

Disable Highlighting

Available copies

0 of 2 copies available at LARL/NWRL Consortium.
0 of 2 copies available at Lake Agassiz Regional Library. (Show preferred library)

Current holds

1 current hold with 2 total copies.

Location	Call Number / Copy Notes	Barcode	Shelving Location	Status	Due Date
Ada Public Library	M FAR (Text)	33500013761358	New	Checked out	04/12/2023

Bagley Public Library	M FAR (Text)	33500013761366	New	On holds shelf	-

Record details

ISBN: 9781728267722
ISBN: 1728267722
Physical Description: xiv, 265 pages ; 21 cm.
Publisher: Naperville, Illinois : Poisoned Pen Press, [2023]
Copyright: ©2056

Content descriptions

General Note:

Death of a Bookseller was originally published in 1956 by William Heinemann, London.

Summary, etc.:

"An honest policeman, Sergeant Wigan, escorts a drunk man home one night to keep him out of trouble and, seeing his fine book collection, slowly falls in to the gentle art of book collecting. Just as the friendship is blossoming, the policeman's book-collecting friend is murdered. To solve the mystery of why the victim was killed, and which of his rare books was taken, Wigan dives into the world of 'runners' and book collectors, where avid agents will gladly cut you for a first edition and then offer you a lift home afterwards. This adventurous mystery, which combines exuberant characters with a wonderfully realised depiction of the second-hand book market, is sure to delight bibliophiles and classic crime enthusiasts alike"-- Provided by publisher.

Reviews

Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2023 March #1
*Starred Review* The 100th installment of the British Library Crime Classics series, which reissues long out-of-print mysteries primarily from the Golden Age of crime fiction, [ED: is fittingly about rare books and the people who sometimes carry razors and knives to intimidate others seeking the same first editions. We're introduced to this vanished world of cutthroat competition through a chance meeting of a London cop and a rare-books dealer; the latter is pretty wobbly on his legs after visiting a pub to celebrate his discovery of a first edition of Keats' Endymion, signed by Keats himself. The cop and the dealer become friends, with the bookseller introducing the cop into the beauties of rare books and the intricacies and dangers of the trade. Later, on a visit to his new friend, the cop discovers the bookseller in his armchair, a knife protruding from his chest, and the copy of Endymion gone. The cop goes undercover into the demimonde of "runners," whose job is to search out the rarest of books. The plot is fast-paced, the writing jaunty, and the details capture the romance and excitement of the hunt for rare books in the 1950s (the novel was originally published in 1956). An insightful introduction by CWA Diamond Dagger Award winner Martin Edwards nicely complements the tale. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.
Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2023 March #1
*Starred Review* The 100th installment of the British Library Crime Classics series, which reissues long out-of-print mysteries primarily from the Golden Age of crime fiction, [ED: is fittingly about rare books and the people who sometimes carry razors and knives to intimidate others seeking the same first editions. We're introduced to this vanished world of cutthroat competition through a chance meeting of a London cop and a rare-books dealer; the latter is pretty wobbly on his legs after visiting a pub to celebrate his discovery of a first edition of Keats' Endymion, signed by Keats himself. The cop and the dealer become friends, with the bookseller introducing the cop into the beauties of rare books and the intricacies and dangers of the trade. Later, on a visit to his new friend, the cop discovers the bookseller in his armchair, a knife protruding from his chest, and the copy of Endymion gone. The cop goes undercover into the demimonde of "runners," whose job is to search out the rarest of books. The plot is fast-paced, the writing jaunty, and the details capture the romance and excitement of the hunt for rare books in the 1950s (the novel was originally published in 1956). An insightful introduction by CWA Diamond Dagger Award winner Martin Edwards nicely complements the tale. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.