A novella that introduces book detective Benny Morgan from the acclaimed, multiple award–winning author of the Lake District Mystery series.
Book collecting seems a rather harmless hobby—unless it's someone like Felix de Lisle doing the collecting. He’s rumored to have ties to the mob. What’s been proven is that he has a penchant for the spy novels of Simon Verity. Some might call it an obsession . . .
It’s this passion—and a bag of cash—that draws book scout Benny Morgan into his circle. De Lisle has gotten wind of a dust jacket that was commissioned for his favorite Verity title. It was never used and supposedly destroyed, but if there is a copy that exists, de Lisle must have it. As Benny searches for this elusive art in his world of collectors and dealers, he discovers the missing jacket and a dreadful secret that will put his honor—and quite possibly his life—on the line . . .
Praise for the mysteries of Martin Edwards
“Superb—a pitch-perfect blend of Golden Age charm and sinister modern suspense, with a main character to die for. This is the book Edwards was born to write.” —Lee Child, #1 New York Times–bestselling author on Gallows Court
“[A] triumph . . . impressively channels Agatha Christie.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Mortmain Hall
“A wonderful, absorbing read: a crime deeply rooted in the past, a beautifully evoked sense of the Lake District.” —Peter Robinson, New York Times–bestselling author on The Coffin Trail
“A poignant mystery: atmospheric, haunting, and so tactile you can almost smell the moist air.” —Booklist on The Coffin Trail
Martin Edwards is the author of numerous mystery novels and short stories, including those in the Lake District Mysteries and the Rachel Savernake Golden Age Mysteries. His nonfiction work has won Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating, and Macavity Awards, and he was the recipient of the 2020 CWA Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement. A renowned expert in the genre, Edwards is the series consultant for the British Library’s Crime Classics series, the archivist for the Crime Writers Association and the Detection Club, and the editor of thirty-seven anthologies. He lives in Lymm, England.