A mysterious portrait ignites an antiquarian bookseller’s search through time and the works of Shakespeare for his lost love. Charlie Lovett’s new book, The Lost Book of the Grail, is now available. Guaranteed to capture the hearts of everyone who truly loves books, The Bookman’s Tale is a former bookseller’s sparkling novel and a delightful exploration of one of literature’s most tantalizing mysteries with echoes of Shadow of the Wind and A.S. Byatt's Possession. Nine months after the death of his beloved wife Amanda left him shattered, Peter Byerly, a young antiquarian bookseller, relocates from North Carolina to the English countryside, hoping to outrun his grief and rediscover the joy he once took in collecting and restoring rare books. But upon opening an eighteenth-century study of Shakespeare forgeries, he discovers a Victorian watercolor of a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Amanda. Peter becomes obsessed with learning the picture’s origins and braves a host of dangers to follow a trail of clues back across the centuries—all the way to Shakespeare’s time and a priceless literary artifact that could prove, once and for all, the truth about the Bard’s real identity.
A thrilling literary mystery costarring Jane Austen from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Bookman’s Tale. Book lover and Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of A Little Book of Allegories by Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice—and ultimately threaten Sophie’s life. In a dual narrative that alternates between Sophie’s quest to uncover the truth—while choosing between two suitors—and a young Jane Austen’s touching friendship with the aging cleric Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books.
Arthur Prescott finds respite from the drudgery of his professorship in the Barchester Cathedral Library, where he researches the Holy Grail and his long-delayed guidebook for the medieval cathedral. His tranquility is shattered by Bethany Davis, a young American academic who has come to digitise the library’s ancient manuscripts. But hostility turns to affection when Arthur discovers Bethany is a kindred spirit, a Grail fanatic. They begin a quest for the lost Book of Ewolda, which could reveal secrets about the cathedral and the Grail, and their connections to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. As Arthur and Bethany delve into the past, the secret history of England—from the Norman invasion to the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and the Blitz—is revealed. A thrilling adventure for history lovers, The Lost Book of the Grail is also an ode to the joys of reading. Charlie Lovett is a writer, teacher and playwright whose books include the New York Times bestseller The Bookman’s Tale and First Impressions. He is a bibliophile and a former antiquarian bookseller. He and his wife split their time between North Carolina and the Cotswolds. ‘In his latest literary mystery, Lovett supplements his trademark meld of books, romance, and adventure with an element of (fairly English) humor and some nods in the direction of P.G. Wodehouse...There's lots of research too...but it's underpinned by a pleasing treasure hunt mixed with the romantic involvement of two genially mismatched figures. A solidly built, innocently bookish diversion with a distinct Masterpiece Theater flavor.’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Former antiquarian bookseller Lovett here does what he did so well in his debut, The Bookman’s Tale.’ Library Journal ‘The Lost Book of the Grail is for every book addict. Full of suspense, delightful twists and turns, this is a tale about friendship, love, and the purpose of life.’ Nina George, New York Times bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop ‘Vivid, engaging...A love story and a detective story filled with wonderful historic detail.’ Kate Alcott ‘A mystery, a history, a pleasure—and a treasure.’ Gregory Maguire ‘Lovett considers topics both contemporary and timeless: the relevance and future of physical libraries; the advantages and drawbacks of electronic documents; love, devotion and friendship; recollection and truth; setting priorities for life; and faith and belief...Lovett’s expertise in, respect for and love of old books is apparent on every page...Not only bibliophiles will be charmed by this thoroughly enjoyable tale.’ BookMooch ‘Merging medievalist erudition, literary sleuthing and romantic comedy, Charlie Lovett’s The Lost Book of the Grail is an entertaining romp the well-read will enjoy.’ Age ‘Lovett explores the nature of faith and doubt while unravelling the long history of the cathedral and its treasures...For bibliophiles, Grail enthusiasts and anyone who loves a good quest, Arthur’s story is a rich, erudite and entertaining adventure.’ Shelf Awareness ‘Charlie Lovett’s charming novel combines Arthurian legend, Christian beliefs, history and a love of books to produce a grown-up’s version of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code...An engaging concoction of mystery, ancient manuscripts, secret codes, literary sleuthing, the real meaning of faith and mild romance. It will enthral those readers who love books and history.’ Canberra Weekly ‘What a fascinating book by Charlie Lovett, author of The Bookman’s Tale. Its denouement sends tingles through the body...The plot meanders through a then-and-now of glorious old books and manuscripts, the thrills of discovery and agony of obstacles. It is eminently engaging.’ SA Weekend
Denver cop-turned-bookdealer Cliff Janeway is lured by an enterprising fellow ex-policeman into going to Seattle to bring back a fugitive wanted for assault, burglary, and the possible theft of a priceless edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." The bail jumper turns out to be a vulnerable young woman calling herself Eleanor Rigby, who is also a gifted book finder. Janeway is intrigued by the woman -- and by the deadly history surrounding the rare volume. Hunted by people willing to kill for the antique tome, a terrified Eleanor escapes and disappears. To find her -- and save her -- Janeway must unravel the secrets of the book's past and its mysterious maker, for only then can he stop the hand of death from turning another page....
As a young man, New York Times bestselling author John Dunning earned his living for several years working behind the scenes on the racetrack circuit. Now he brings his memories of the horse world and his expertise in collectible books to this mesmerizing new Bookman novel rich with the lore of both books and horses. . . . Denver bookman Cliff Janeway would have liked Candice Geiger. She loved books with a true bookwoman's passion. Her collection of first-edition children's books is the best that Janeway ever hopes to see. Sadly, Janeway and Candice Geiger will never meet. She died much too young. Now, twenty years later, her books remain a testament to an extraordinary woman's remarkable vision. Janeway first learns about the juvenilia collection when Candice's elderly husband, H. R. Geiger, passes away and Janeway travels to their Idaho home to assess the collection. The estate can't be distributed until the books are valued, so there's pressure on Janeway to do the job quickly. But one look at the books tells Janeway something's wrong. Valuable titles are missing, replaced by cheap reprints. Other hugely valuable pieces remain. Why would a thief take one priceless book and leave an equally valuable volume on the shelf? The answer may lie in Candice's story. The daughter of a wealthy industrialist, she married horse owner and trainer H. R. Geiger at a young age. They traveled the racetrack circuit with some success, as evidenced by winner's-circle photographs -- in which Candice is always a mysterious background figure dressed in white. Two decades after Candice's strange death, Janeway finds himself deep in a book mystery that may turn out to be much more than a cataloging exercise. It may even involve murder. Candice's daughter, Sharon, may be one of the few people who can help Janeway discover the truth. Sharon has her own Idaho ranch where she takes in sick and injured horses. Janeway worries that her house contains something that could make her very vulnerable: half of her mother's fabulous book collection. The trail of Candice's shadowy past leads Janeway to California's Golden Gate and Santa Anita racetracks, where he signs on as a racehorse hot walker. A novice at racetrack life, he tries to remain inconspicuous while listening to the chatter among the hands. He doesn't like what he hears. And when he goes to the house where Candice died to look for answers, he finds more than he bargained for. With its rich mix of books and horses, The Bookwoman's Last Fling is a classic entry in John Dunning's acclaimed Bookman series of suspense novels, sure to bring this superbly talented author even more accolades.
Book lover and Jane Austen enthusiast Sophie Collingwood has recently taken a job at an antiquarian bookshop in London when two different customers request a copy of the same obscure book: the second edition of A Little Book of Allegories, written in the late eighteenth century by an aging cleric named Richard Mansfield. Their queries draw Sophie into a mystery that will cast doubt on the true authorship of Pride and Prejudice-- and ultimately threaten Sophie's life. In a dual narrative that alternatives between Sophie's quest to uncover the truth -- while choosing two suitors -- and a young Jane Austen's touching friendship with the very same Richard Mansfield, Lovett weaves a romantic, suspenseful, and utterly compelling novel about love in all its forms and the joys of a life lived in books.
Based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this sequel is set twenty years after Scrooge's famous reformation and has him teaming up with a trio of ghosts to help the restless spirit of Jacob Marley.
From the wildly original creator of The Lost House comes an around-the-world seek-and-find adventure! Grandad and his grandchildren are looking at an old photo album when Grandad realizes the children have never met their cousins who are scattered across the globe. It's time to head off on an adventure to go visit them--but finding the long-lost cousins is harder than it sounds! From icy landscapes to bustling cities to vivid jungles, it seems Grandad's got relatives everywhere, and these dazzling spreads are full of both cousins and objects for readers to find. With a dizzying array of dazzling spreads, this is the most global and adventurous LOST book yet and will keep kids (and their adults) entertained for hours on end!
Robert Parrish’s childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series—the Tremendous Trio. Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions. Robert’s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children’s books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island’s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen. The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert’s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children’s series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
A New York Times Notable Book In medieval England, a runaway scholar-priest named Nicholas Barber has joined a traveling theater troupe as they make their way toward their liege lord’s castle. In need of money, they decide to perform at a village en route. When their traditional morality plays fail to garner them an audience, they begin to stage the “the play of Thomas Wells”—their own depiction of the real-life drama unfolding within the village around the murder of a young boy. The villagers believe they have already identified the killer, and the troupe believes their play will be a straightforward depiction of justice served. But soon the players soon learn that the details of the crime are elusive, and the lines between performance and reality become blurred as they discover, scene by scene, line by line, what really happened. Thought-provoking and unforgettable, Morality Play is at once a masterful work of historical fiction, a gripping murder mystery, and a literary work of the first order.
