Booking In
A Crang Mystery
Published on 25. January 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
328 pages
978-1-4597-3691-7 (ISBN)
Description
Mystery-solving criminal lawyer Crang returns to investigate the disappearance of two rare books.
Fletcher Marshall is a Toronto antiquarian book dealer, internationally respected in the business. One night, someone blows the safe in his office and makes off with the contents, which include an infamous forged first edition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese that is in itself a collector's item. Fletcher, who was still in the process of verifying the book, doesn't even know whether it was the real thing or a clever forgery (of a forgery). But rather than summon the cops to investigate the theft, he turns to his pal Crang, the nervy criminal lawyer, hoping he can retrieve the books before their owner gets wind of the crime. The owner happens to be the richest woman in Canada and a tough cookie who could ruin Fletcher's career.
Crang gets on the hunt, learning much about the trade in musty books and the lucrative business it makes for forgers. Just as he seems to be getting close to answers, a shocking development makes things much more complicated - and much more dangerous.
Fletcher Marshall is a Toronto antiquarian book dealer, internationally respected in the business. One night, someone blows the safe in his office and makes off with the contents, which include an infamous forged first edition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese that is in itself a collector's item. Fletcher, who was still in the process of verifying the book, doesn't even know whether it was the real thing or a clever forgery (of a forgery). But rather than summon the cops to investigate the theft, he turns to his pal Crang, the nervy criminal lawyer, hoping he can retrieve the books before their owner gets wind of the crime. The owner happens to be the richest woman in Canada and a tough cookie who could ruin Fletcher's career.
Crang gets on the hunt, learning much about the trade in musty books and the lucrative business it makes for forgers. Just as he seems to be getting close to answers, a shocking development makes things much more complicated - and much more dangerous.
Reviews / Votes
One of Batten's best. * The Globe and Mail * A perfect escape for book-loving fans of crime fiction steeped in Toronto colour. * Toronto Star * Mystery buffs interested in exploring Canadian crime fiction can't go wrong with this Arthur Ellis Award-nominated series. * Library Journal * It is impossible to read a Crang novel without cracking a few smiles and experiencing a few shudders. * Booklist * Another deftly crafted mystery from the pen of Jack Batten. * Midwest Book Review * Crang's wit and brass pull the story off and make it fun for readers. * Publishers Weekly * There's a lot of old fashioned sleuthing in this book and it was a whole lot of fun. * The Book Trail * Latest Crang Mystery takes an unexpected turn - into world of forging antique books. * Metro News *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
318 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4597-3691-7 (9781459736917)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Jack Batten, after a brief and unhappy career as a lawyer, has been a very happy writer for many years. The author of forty books, Batten has also reviewed jazz for the Globe and Mail, and, for twenty-five years, movies on CBC Radio. He currently writes the biweekly Whodunnit column in the Toronto Star. He lives in Toronto.