Helpful Score: 3
Riveting mystery concerning the search for a missing collection of rare books. Includes fascinating information about explorer Richard Burton and his involvement in the Civil War.
Charlie M. (bookaddicted) -
Helpful Score: 2
I love this series. Mixed in with the mysteries is a good deal of inside info on book trading but, it isn't presented in a dry text book kind of way.
Helpful Score: 2
An excellent read, with a well developed plot. Cliff Janeway is a former cop turned bookseller. His purchase of a rare signed first edition leads to a search for an unpublished journal and an entire library of equally rare volumes. But the search turns violent as it becomes clear that someone else doesn't want them found...
Kelly P. (KellyP) -
Helpful Score: 2
The 3rd Cliff Janeway book. I think these books just keep on getting better. If you are new to this series, start with the 1st one, Booked To Die! If tightly woven, well-developed crime novels are one of your genres, give this series a try!
Helpful Score: 1
Cliff Janeway has to be a booklover's dream of a detective - a retired policeman who is a bookseller. This one is especially fun because of the details of the setting in Baltimore and Charleston. The search for an invaluable unpublished Civil War journal is a true quest. This is a good one.
Helpful Score: 1
Not the best of the series but good.
Raydene B. (Knitbooky) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 136 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
a little more violence than I expected from a book seller, but ...
Helpful Score: 1
A fun read as usual from Dunning, this time about British author Richard Burton, with a nice bunch of women characters.
Helpful Score: 1
NY Times Bestseller..,.Great story, suspense, mystery. Very well written and a pleasure to read.
Cathy L. (KerrvilleCate) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 203 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Such and excellent series! I've enjoyed every one of the stories, Sure hope Mr Dunning keeps on writing about Cliff Janeway!
Helpful Score: 1
Denver cop-turned-bookseller Cliff Janeway has just paid a hefty sum to acquire a real gem - a signed first edition. But does he truly own the rare book. An elderly woman claims her grandfather traveled the American South with the author and the prized volume is rightfully hers, plus a missing library of material by the same author. Janeway sets out on a seemingly impossible search, retracing the author's travels through the history-rich cities of Baltimore and Charleston, where someone is willing to kill to keep the secrets of the past.
Living in Denver I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to say, "I know where that is. I've been to that place." Plus - it was a good mystery and historical fiction.
Living in Denver I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to say, "I know where that is. I've been to that place." Plus - it was a good mystery and historical fiction.
Helpful Score: 1
Anyone who loves books, will love John Dunning and his captivating books about antique book sellers.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoy this series of Denver cop turned bookseller, Cliff Janeway. Reminds me, in some respects, of Robert Parker's series with Spenser. Lots of details about the world of rare books, which involves much history. At times it can distract from the story line and yet these details are integral to the story and fascinating, if you like that kind of thing. Sort of macho meets literate. Always interesting. Very different.
Helpful Score: 1
I wasn't sure about this book when I started, but I am so glad that I did read it. It is wonderful and faxt paced. Enjoy
Helpful Score: 1
This is a very good mystery! I liked it because it had a diferent plot from the usual. Cliff Janeway is the main character and he is a cop-turned-bookseller involved in helping a woman locate her grandfather's missing rare books collection. But his search beecomes
dangerous to himself and those around him as he travels the South to
find the answers he needs. If you are a lover of books, you will find this a VERY REFRESHING READ!
dangerous to himself and those around him as he travels the South to
find the answers he needs. If you are a lover of books, you will find this a VERY REFRESHING READ!
Amy R. (literaryjazz) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This one wasn't as captivating as his previous two Janeway novels. If you've read Booked To Die and The Bookman's Wake, you may get the distinct impression that you've read it all before. A bit too predictable, but still an entertaining read.
Helpful Score: 1
Another gripping novel about Cliff Janeway, and ex-cop turned book dealer. I stayed up until 4 in the morning to finish it---couldn't stand not knowing how it turned out!
From back cover: Denver cop-turned-bookseller Cliff Janeway has just paid a hefty sum to acquire a real gem: a signed first edition by famed nineteenth-century explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton. But does he truly own the rare book? An elderly woman claims her grandfathr traveled the American South with Burton just before the Civil War, and not only is Janeway's prized volume rightfully hers, but so is a missing library of Burton material, including an unpublished journal of inestimable worth. When she implores Janeway to recover her grandfather's collection, he sets out on a seemingly impossible search, retracing Burton's travels through the history-rich cities of Baltimore and Charleston--a search soon cast in a suspicious light and fraught with more questions than answers. When a friend's life is placed in deadly jeopardy, and violence forces them to make a perilous choice, Janeway realizes there is more to Burton's diary than its value as an antique. Someone is willing to kill to keep the shocking secrets of the past--and Janeway is next in the line of fire.
From back cover: Denver cop-turned-bookseller Cliff Janeway has just paid a hefty sum to acquire a real gem: a signed first edition by famed nineteenth-century explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton. But does he truly own the rare book? An elderly woman claims her grandfathr traveled the American South with Burton just before the Civil War, and not only is Janeway's prized volume rightfully hers, but so is a missing library of Burton material, including an unpublished journal of inestimable worth. When she implores Janeway to recover her grandfather's collection, he sets out on a seemingly impossible search, retracing Burton's travels through the history-rich cities of Baltimore and Charleston--a search soon cast in a suspicious light and fraught with more questions than answers. When a friend's life is placed in deadly jeopardy, and violence forces them to make a perilous choice, Janeway realizes there is more to Burton's diary than its value as an antique. Someone is willing to kill to keep the shocking secrets of the past--and Janeway is next in the line of fire.
Helpful Score: 1
If you are interested in rare books, this book, and his other "Bookman" mysteries will delight you!
Judith M. (19Martha44) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 144 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great Read!Many twists and turns and introduction to a new world - the Bookman's World.
Linda S. (dragonlady) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 94 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A perfect book for those who love books! Cliff Janeway is an intelligent ex-cop who solves "book" mysteries. You'll learn a lot about the book collecting trade as well.
Marlene W. (KansasSunflower) -
I think this book is absolutely wonderful. It has everything I enjoy in a book. I couldn't put it down. I have read other books in this series, but I enjoyed this one the most. The past and the present are woven together in an engrossing blend that keeps you begging for more. I really recommend it.
Third in the Cliff Janeway series. I loved learning even more about the rare books field. You'll want to read the fourth in the series as soon as you finish this.
A coworker gave me this book--I had never heard of John Dunning before, so this was my first by him. I started the book once and could barely stay awake to read it, so put it down and started (and finished) another. I recently went back to this book and started from the beginning which was, again, tough for me to get through. However, once I got up to the point where elderly Josephine Gallant visits Mr. Janeway and asks for his help in her quest to return to her precious books that rightly belong to her family, it turned into a totally different book for me.
From there to the end, I was hooked. There may have been times I was rolling my eyes (suspension of disbelief is most definitely required), but I was captured by the story of the great explorer, Richard Burton, and the mystery of the valuable books related to him that had disappeared (and what tragedy befell anyone who tried to unearth the answers to that mystery).
From there to the end, I was hooked. There may have been times I was rolling my eyes (suspension of disbelief is most definitely required), but I was captured by the story of the great explorer, Richard Burton, and the mystery of the valuable books related to him that had disappeared (and what tragedy befell anyone who tried to unearth the answers to that mystery).
I like the Cliff Janeway books so well, I've read them all.
Riveting Cliff Janeway read!
Winston C. (Crabby-doctor) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 296 more book reviews
I have read all of the Janeway/Bookman books (not all in order. This is a really good one!!
Kimberly W. (cluelessapple) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 65 more book reviews
Great mystery, well written.
Cliff Janeway's passion for book collecting continues in this book. A good bit of Civil War history is also a part of the story.
Very good read. I'm a great fan of Dunning.
Cop turned bookseller just bought a rare book but it may ba part of a stolen library and a historically significant volume. The elderly owner of the library asks that the lost books be traced but murders may be the cost of the search.
Interesting murder mystery. Fast read with historical background
Well written, fast paced interesting book.
Ok, John Dunning always a good read. Love the book references.
One of my lesser favorites of this series. Dunning is a very talented writer but i read it because the series is about books and book people. This one wandered onto the horse track and stayed there.
Still,... a fun read, just a little bit disappointing.
Still,... a fun read, just a little bit disappointing.
Allan A. (blackthorn) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 10 more book reviews
John Dunning is one of my favorite authors. He is always a joy to read.
Cameron-Ashley H. (BigGreenChair) reviewed The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway, Bk 3) on + 461 more book reviews
A good read--fun way to spend the evening.
