The rarified atmosphere of antique books…and murder!

The Bookseller (DS Cross Mysteries #7) by Tim Sullivan      

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another intriguing murder mystery with DS George Cross and his partner Josie Ottey at the helm. Their chief DCI Ben Carson as always ready to jump the gun and announce to the media situations that needed to be back tracked on.

A bookseller of rare books is found murdered in the kitchen above the bookshop. His rather strange niece who acts more like a sixteen year old than in her late twenties / early thirties was downstairs attending to some display items and knew nothing.

Edward Squire was the son of well known and respected bookseller, Torquil Squire, the proprietor of Squire Rare Books in Bristol.

With George, we delve into the realm of all things rare books; collectors, including a Russian Oligarch, forging marginalia and signatures, and the selling of stolen goods.

It’s into this world DS Cross and his partner Josie, now a Detective Inspector are immersed.

(Let’s just say that promotion causes Josie and to some extent George some concern with a very DS Cross reaction.)

As well George is looking at how to care for his father Raymond. In the process he learns new things about himself.

As ever, a rewarding read.

A Bloomsbury ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.