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Absolutely fascinating A must read for anyone enthralled by the value and integrity of books Janice Hallett author of The Alperton AngelsA true detective story from the age of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers the literary crime that fooled the world and the daring young booksellers who uncovered itLondon 1932 Thomas James Wise is the toast of the literary establishment A prominent collector and businessman he is renowned on both sides of the Atlantic for unearthing the most stunning first editions and bringing them to market Pompous and fearsome with friends in high places he is one of the most powerful men in the field of rare books One night two young booksellers one a dishevelled former communist the other a martini swilling fan of detective stories stumble upon a strange discrepancy It will lead them to suspect Wise and his books are not all they seem Inspired by the vogue for Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes the pair harness the latest developments in forensic analysis to crack the case but find its extent is greater than they ever could have imagined By the time they are done their investigation will have rocked the book world to its core This is the true story of unlikely friends coming together to expose the literary crime