The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

The Bookman's Tale is an interesting mixture of mystery, romance, antiquarian books and booksellers, and forgery.  

Peter Byerly, a grieving widower, is trying to get on with his life by returning to his career and passion as an antiquarian bookseller.  In a small bookshop in Hay-on-Wye, tucked in an antique book a small watercolor is a watercolor that looks like his late wife. The portrait, however, is Victorian and signed only by initials.

In efforts to ascertain more information about the artist, he finds himself gradually more interested in his chosen field as well.  The small watercolor initiates a search that leads Peter back to books and their provenance...and to Shakespearean forgeries.

The novel has time shifts that illuminate Peter's background, especially his relationship with his wife; the Victorian period and the artist and model of the watercolor; and the provenance of a book that dates from Shakespeare's time and travels through one bookseller and book collector to another all the way to the present.

Interesting details:  
1)  Peter has a social anxiety that requires medication and still often curtails his ability to          mix easily with people.  
2  )The information about rare books and book preservation and book forgeries.

A perfect mystery for a booklover!

NetGalley/Penguin Group, Viking.

Mystery/Historical.  2013.  Print Version:  368 pages.

• ISBN-10: 0670026476