Booked to Die

By: John Dunning

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 11 hrs

Publisher's summary

Set in the world of rare books, this best-seller was an instant success with mystery fans who find Dunning's adept combination of sharp-edged suspense, compelling characters, and knowledgeable book lore irresistible. The murder of a harmless book dealer draws Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway into an extraordinary quest. Suddenly his sources become victims, and he begins to understand that rare editions can cost lives.

©1994 John Dunning (P)1995 Recorded Books

A great listen.

Absorbing story with my favorite narator. Some minor technical nits, but not enough to detract from the story.

Super Book

Great Book... John Dunning is a master at writing. The story moves right along, I didn’t want it to end !

An unexpected find, and a very good mystery novel

I greatly enjoyed this book. I was not familiar with John Dunning’s work prior to this, but the fact that it was read by George Guidall drew me to it. (He’s such a good narrator!)

Now I have a new series of books to discover.

No better writer in the genre

The plot is rich, the characters are interesting and fully fleshed and the tale moves like lightening. What more is there

Be Patient with Him

It's a good thing I didn't read the Janeway series in sequence because if I'd started with this I'd never have read another. And that would be a shame, because his writing gets better as the years go by.

At this stage, Janeway is a pompous, opinionated blowhard, an antique "tough guy" who would suit an old Shell Scott fan. He's self-important, self-congratulating, and self-absorbed. In his own mind, he's a liberal but, if he said that out loud at a dinner party, all the genuine liberals would roll their eyes. They wouldn't say anything, though, because they'd know in advance that Janeway would dismiss any argument.

The story isn't that good, either, filled with tired, overworked stuff about vulnerability, "the lone cowboy," and the agonies of commitment.

On the plus, there's a good depiction of the dilemma of "helping" a battered woman. But the portrayal of the love-interest's personality is a flop, albeit unconventional.

At one point, Janeway says that there's nothing wrong with writing mysteries provided you do it well, and fortunately the author puts this into practice in later novels.

Audio:

The reader sounds too elderly for the part (Janeway is 36 at this time). He turns reading into pompous pronouncements, over-emphasizing nearly all words. He sounds like the kind of guy who would dominate a group conversation, or tell his date how she ought to dress. This multiplies the offensiveness of the protaganist's personality.

Good Story

I enjoyed this book very much, and was anxious to read every time I picked it up. One of the things that makes a good book for me is the degree that the characters have been cultivated and whether or not I develop an affinity for them. In this case I was able to enjoy just about all of the players. What kept me from giving it another star was the fact that the female character was described as having been paralyzed with fear and paranoia after suffering a brutal attack, and not gradually, but instantly was able to overcome it. The fact that her son was in trouble was a great motivator, but her degree of recovery was just a little over the top for me. I understand the author's purpose in writing about the computer sex... that it was a way to communicate the fact that in spite of her history she still had needs and desires, but I don't think that they were required to be graphic and I therefore found it objectionable. Otherwise, I liked this story.

Great new series!

This intelligent and entertaining novel seems to be the start of a great new series - new to me, at least. Glad to find it! And, as usual, George Guidall is outstanding as a reader. He could read the phone book and I would listen.

excellent

I enjoyed this book, it had so many twists and turns. I also loved that it took place in Denver and I was able to relive my time there in the 1980's. One person complained about the political opining. The character is a very strong personality with a sense of justice and protecting those in need. Plus it added to the protagonist's personality. I didn't agree with everything but that didn't preclude my enjoyment of the book. I'm looking forward to the next book.

a book lovers dream

Wow, this book was so good that when I finished it I started it up the next day and enjoyed it a second time.

delightful find

love books about books. makes me wonder what I have tucked away all these years. also love a good mystery and this was a great one. 5 stars