The Bookman's Promise (Cliff Janeway Series #3)

From the perspective of a young teen...

I am 15 years old, and John Dunning books were recommended for my summer reading this year. I am not one who shuns books, but in the age of the internet, I would rather be typing away with friends instead of reading. However this book captivated me. It is the third in the Cliff Janeway series yet I felt like I had known this character forever. The way Janeway interacts with others and takes charge of situations is riveting. Not only was this a surprisingly wonderful book but I will be reading the next of the Janeway novels, Sign of the Book, as soon as possible. This is definately worth 4 stars, if not more. Good for mystery lovers of all ages!

Hard-Boiled Bookman

THE BOOKMAN¿S PROMISE by John Dunning is the third book of the Cliff Janeway Series, but the only one I have read so far. Janeway, a former cop turned bookdealer and collector is hard on the outside with a tender yolk for a soul. In this novel, he buys a rare copy of a Sir Richard Burton (the explorer) book, which leads old Mrs. Josephine Garrett to him. She tells him that that book and other Burton books had been stolen from her grandfather, Charles Warren, who buddied around with Burton in 1860. The promise of the title is Janeway¿s promise to Jo to find the books and prove their provenance. Jo dies of natural causes, but the book she gives to Janeway leads to murder of an innocent bystander. Although this is set in 1987, it reads like the 1940s. Janeway is the tough but honorable man, who must set things right. Nothing is as it appears and no one can be trusted including the beautiful but tough-talking attorney Erin D¿Angelo. It¿s all Bogey and Bacall between these two. I like Janeway and Dunning has solid writing skills. I understand this is not the best in the series, but it¿s good enough to want to keep me reading the first two and more. -- Leslie Strang Akers

Thank you John!

When you discover John Dunning, the rare book world, comes to life. This new book is a MUST for mystery, fiction, antiquarians, and just book lovers in general. The ride is superb!

fine tale

After getting a little heavy handed with a suspected criminal in his custody, Denver Police officer Cliff Janeway leaves the force to become an antiquarian book dealer. His friendship with rare book collector Judge Leighton Huxley led him to bid and win at auction, PILGRIMAGE TO MEDINA AND MECCA by Richard Burton for just under thirty grand. He¿s very satisfied with his purchase until Josephine Gallant, an elderly frail woman claims that his new purchase and the whole library of Burton¿s books were originally hers until the Treadwells conned them out of her late husband. As she lies dying Janeway promises to find the collection and donate it to a library. She gives him a Richard Burton book to be split between him and Denise and Mike Ralston who took care of her in her final hours. Shortly after Josephine dies Denise is murdered, a homicide that Janeway thinks is linked to the Burton book collection. The bookman¿s search leads him to Koko in Baltimore who used to visit Josephine in the nursing home. Her life is in danger for what she knows so she accompanies Janeway to Charlotte where he intends to learn why Denise had to die and Koko¿s house torched.

John Dunning can always be counted on to give his audience a wonderful reading experience and THE BOOKMAN¿S PROMISE is no exception. Readers learn a lot about legendary explorer Richard Burton and the exhilaration a collector feels when they find the book they consider a treasure. The protagonist¿s search for answers takes him on a long and winding road that circles back to the starting point. This special book will be enjoyed by mystery and readers of mainstream fiction

Harriet Klausner

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