The Bookbinders Secret

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

When a burned book falls into the hands of a young bookbinder, she uncovers a tale of forbidden love, a fortune lost and murder which puts her own life in jeopardy.

The Shadow of the Wind meets Enola Holmes in this thrilling historical novel, with an intriguing mystery, ideal for lovers of books about books.

'Original, exciting, beautifully written' M. W. Craven

I devoured this book! Totally immersive and highly atmospheric, this page-turning debut has a magical allure that is utterly captivating Evie Woods

With its irresistible premise and unfolding mystery, The Bookbinders Secret kept me hooked until the final page. A. D. Bell has brought surely every booklover's dream to life! Anita Frank

.

What danger could lie within a book

I wish you had not killed him.

Lilian Delaney, apprentice to a master bookbinder in Oxford in 1901, chafes at the confines of her life, caught between the oppressive walls of her fathers bookshop and the limitations of being a woman in a mans profession. But when a burned book comes into her possession, she finds hidden beneath the binding a fifty-year-old letter speaking of love, fortune and murder.

Lily is drawn into the mystery, which hints at a forbidden romance between young lovers, and learns there are other books which conceal more of the story. Lily becomes obsessed with finding them, but she is not the only one looking, and what began as a simple intrigue quickly turns dangerous.

Her journey takes her across the country, to the eccentric booksellers of London, private libraries of unscrupulous collectors and the dusty archives of society papers, as she delves further into the heart of the secret. But with sinister forces closing in, willing to do anything to obtain the books, Lilys world begins to fall apart, and she must decide if uncovering the truth is worth losing everything.

'An incredible read'

'A truly gripping, amazing book'

'A mixture of romance, death, sheer willpower and so much more I never wanted to put it down'

Reviews

Praise for The Bookbinder's Secret:

'A deliciously twisty and vibrantly plotted historical mystery set in the world of rare books in turn-of-the-century England, The Bookbinder's Secret is a must for booklovers everywhere Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author

For all who cherish the magic of books, reading The Bookbinders Secret is like falling into another world Sewn together with the threads of mystery, romance, and a fiercely determined woman, The Bookbinders Secret is impossible to put down Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

Atmospheric and propulsive, The Bookbinders Secret chronicles a passion for books and the cost of obsession Perfect for fans of Diane Setterfields The Thirteenth Tale Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library

Author Bio

A. D. Bell lives in Oxford, haunting the city's bookshops of a weekend, writing in their cafes, and walking the winding paths of her characters.