Book Review: The Sign of the Book

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

The Sign of the Book     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
John Dunning
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Cliff Janeway # 4
Scribner/Simon & Shuster, 2005, 353 pages

Many readers of suspense fiction have been waiting rather impatiently for Dunning to present another Cliff Janeway book - and in a little less than a year, we have two! Following last year's enjoyable THE BOOKMAN'S PROMISE the latest entry has Janeway assisting an attorney friend in defending a woman accused in the death of her husband.

Janeway is drawn into the case because of books (what else?) owned by the dead man. At first blush the wide variety of titles and editions seem to be quite valuable - each has been signed either by the author or by someone closely connected with the book - a cast member of a movie based on the volume, the subject of a biography, or some other connection. But as Janeway traces the history of the collection he becomes suspicious of the authenticity of the signatures. Which brings up the next question, how was such a massive forgery scheme (if that's what it was) accomplished?

Janeway and the defense attorneys also identify a challenge to the prosecution case based on the ineptitude of the arresting officer.

The story is set in a high mountain village in the Colorado Rockies, and approaching winter weather complicates much of the action. As the story unfolds all the disparate threads intertwine with each other more and more closely - and the final moment of truth caught me by surprise.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM