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The Bookman's Promise
 
 
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The Bookman's Promise [Large Print] (Library Binding)

by John Dunning (Author) "If I wanted to be arbitrary, I could say it began anywhere ..." (more)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

In Nero Wolfe Award winner Dunning's third literate entry in his Cliff Janeway series (after Booked to Die and The Bookman's Wake), 90-ish Josephine Gallant persuades the former Denver cop turned antiquarian bookseller to try to recover a rare collection of the works of Richard Burton, "the explorer, not the actor," that once belonged to her grandfather, a faithful traveling companion of Burton. Eager to fulfill his pledge to Ms. Gallant, who expires soon after their meeting, Janeway begins an investigation that takes him to a seedy used bookshop and other strange haunts in Baltimore, where he runs into a shady writer and a gang of thugs who are obviously looking for the same literary treasures. Midway through the often rambling narrative, a flashback to 1860 steps up the pace when Burton undertakes a possible espionage mission to the South for the British prime minister and encounters Captain Abner Doubleday, who solicits his advice on the defense of Fort Sumter. Two well-intentioned women join Janeway for the final search through historic Charleston, with the inevitable romantic interludes. Too many extraneous characters and some tedious dialogue slow the action, but the book-collecting background is sure to appeal to a wide range of mystery readers.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Listeners will welcome the return of John Dunning's "bookman," introduced ten years ago in BOOKED TO DIE. Ex-detective turned rare book dealer Cliff Janeway is a minor cult figure among book-lovers. Based in Denver, Janeway travels in pursuit of rare books that have mysterious, murderous, and fascinating histories. Writings by nineteenth-century explorer Richard Burton are the object of Janeway's attention here. George Guidall knows this series well--having recorded the unabridged versions of Dunning's work. Guidall matches the engaging narrative style with his master's skill with pace and characterizations. Only complaint--Dunning's books are full of marvelous detail and minor characters--the abridgment just makes this listener long for the full text (available from Recorded Books in June 2004). R.F.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Bookish but not too, Jun 20 2004
By "dobset2899frk" (San Francisco,CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Bookman's Promise: A Cliff Janeway Novel (Hardcover)
Perhaps it was because I was expecting a disaster--after all, an ex-cop turned antique book dealer! Come on! But what I found instead of a joke was a remarkable book with enough twists and turns to keep you busy on a Saturday night! This thing is just fantastic and I have to say that I was mightly impressed with John Dunning's talent as a writer. How does he come up with this stuff? As a crime/mystery novel, the story is good. Janeway is an interesting character, and you quickly become wrapped up in his quest. For me, the element that makes it a special read is the backdrop of book selling. I love books, and I love readingThe writing is great--on the same level as Jackson McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood" or Boyle's "Water Music," and the plot, pacing, and characters are amazing. I highly, highly, highly recommend this book!

Also recommended: McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens."

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3.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment, May 27 2004
By Kathleen Chamberlain (Emory, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Bookman's Promise: A Cliff Janeway Novel (Hardcover)
Some years ago, a bookseller told me that John Dunning had decided not to continue the Cliff Janeway series. I was really sorry, because I had so enjoyed the two Janeway novels. Thus when I saw the announcement of "Bookman's Promise," I was thrilled. I ordered the book and read it at once.

What a disappointment. Gone are the details of the rare book world that made "Booked to Die" so fascinating; gone is the careful delineation of Janeway's initially-complex character.

In their place is a superficial tough-guy private eye caper, complete with scumbag gangsters (in the rare book world, mind you), macho posturing, and that annoying rapid-fire repartee without which private dicks are apparently not allowed to beat up crooks.

According to the bookjacket, Dunning is working on Cliff Janeway #4. But I doubt I'll be reading it, now that Cliff has become just another Spenser clone. I'd suggest that Dunning and Parker collaborate on a cross-over, except that the characters would probably do nothing but trade smart remarks while they punch the crap out of each other.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Dunning Gives The Reader a Cliffhanger, May 27 2004
By H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Bookman's Promise: A Cliff Janeway Novel (Hardcover)
Cliff Janeway is back with a fury. Mr. Dunning begins this novel in 1987 in Denver, the home of Janeway's bookstore. Then the policeman-turned-bookseller travels to Baltimore, Charleston and then back to Denver in his quest to find the murderer of Denise Ralston, who Janeway believes was murdered because the assailant thought she had a rare book by Sir Richard Burton, the l9th Century English writer, not the 20th Century actor, as Dunning would say. To paraphrase Faulker, "once a cop, always a cop" as Janeway's sleuthing skills come back to him. He sets about to solve the several mysteries here in a deliberate, meticulous fashion. As we have come to expect from Dunning's two previous novels, Janeway's relationship with a woman he pursues is rocky. And THE BOOKMAN'S PROMISE ends on a cliffhanger!

This novel flows more easily than the first two mysteries, I thought; apparently Mr. Dunning has found his stride. The reader learns a lot about Richard Burton; and for those who want to know more about this interesting individual, the author gives a list for further reading at the end of the book.

I must say I missed all the referenes to book publishers and first editions and prices that were so entertaining in the first two books of this series and for the most part are absent here, although Mr. Dunning does make a couple of digs at St. Martin's Press.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The perilous world of old books
When ex-cop turned bookman Cliff Janeway takes a giant step into serious collecting, his $30,000 purchase of a volume by British explorer Richard Burton lands him in a quagmire of... Read more
Published on May 23 2004 by Lynn Harnett

4.0 out of 5 stars Our hardboiled book dealer strikes again ...
The third "bookman's" novel finds Cliff Janeway chasing high-end collectibles by the explorer Richard Burton. Read more
Published on May 22 2004 by Harriet M Welsch

5.0 out of 5 stars Dunning's a new favorite
This was my first Cliff Janeway novel and I'm very satisfied with this book. I'm recommending this one to all my friends who like me enjoy a good mystery with a bit of romance... Read more
Published on May 18 2004 by William C. Smith

3.0 out of 5 stars Janeway Jinxed
I loved the first two Bookman novels. Booked to Die is absolutely fantastic, and The Bookman's Wake is labyrinthine and vastly enjoyable. So what went wrong? Read more
Published on May 7 2004 by R. Mitra

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the wait
The newest Janeway thriller -- the first in almost a decade -- finds the bookman chasing mysteries in two centuries -- and both are winners. Read more
Published on April 30 2004 by Michael Schau

4.0 out of 5 stars Janeway's a loveable lug
The BOOKMAN'S PROMISE is an unusual mystery in a lot of ways. Although the lead character will remind you of Travis McGee in respect to his physical prowess and verbal dexterity,... Read more
Published on April 14 2004 by Dave Schwinghammer

5.0 out of 5 stars I hope the next installment comes much quicker this time...
This is a book I've looked forward to for a long time, and I wasn't disappointed. The Bookman's Promise by John Dunning is a continuation of the Cliff Janeway series, and I... Read more
Published on April 13 2004 by Thomas Duff

5.0 out of 5 stars I just loved it . . just loved it!
Perhaps it was because I was expecting a disaster--after all, an ex-cop turned antique book dealer! Come on! Read more
Published on April 7 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars dissapointed
Really enjoyed the first 2 Jameway books a lot!!
This latest story was not up to snuff. I could see no reason at all for the Burton fling in the south, and I wanted it to... Read more
Published on April 1 2004 by Terry J. Pratt

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bookman Returns
I have to confess that it would be very hard for me not to like this book. Like a lot of readers, I am drawn into the worlds of books and the fantasy of being an ex-cop and... Read more
Published on Mar 29 2004 by R. BULL

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