Review: The Bookwoman's Last Fling
A Cliff Janeway Novel by John Dunning
A bookseller himself (Dunning owns a bookstore in Denver) and a veteran of West Coast racetracks, the author combines his extensive knowledge of both fields to craft a readable and intricate tale.
"Bookwoman" begins somewhat "touch-in-cheek" with the line "The morning was angry but I was cool," reminiscent of Chandler and Spillane classics. The action, however, grabs the reader almost immediately. The story centers around an avid book collector, Candice Geiger, dead now over 20 years. Her much-older husband has just died leaving her extraordinary collection of juveniles (children's books) to the estate. This isn't just a random collection; most of the tomes are rare, illustrated first editions -- some are one of a few in the world in such pristine condition.
Janeway, who specializes in tracking down rare, lost, or stolen books, is called in to inventory the collection. The problem, however, is that some of the best books have been substituted with much cheaper replacements -- and, as the husband knew next to nothing about books, the theft could have occurred up to 20 years earlier. It seems also that Mrs. Geiger's death -- from an allergic reaction to peanuts -- was never satisfactorily resolved. Was it murder?
As Janeway investigates, he comes across a mixed cast of characters, including the kind-hearted daughter who runs a farm for rescued horses, the psychopath step-son, the surly manager of the Geiger estate, and various men who knew Mrs. Geiger a little too well. His search leads him from the Idaho farm to racetrack life along the California racing circuit.
The pace is crisp and plot surprises are frequent enough to keep the reader's interest. What really makes the book, however, is the liberal use of details about books, bookselling, horses, and racetrack life.
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