Rating: 
Summary: Too much teaching, not enough writing
Review: Dunning did his homework in the book department, name dropping ever author and how much their book was worth in 1983. But the story is chockful of cliches and mixed metaphores. This reads like a poor mix of every detective novel on the shelves. (I wonder how much a first edition Dunning goes for?) The writer's world of show me don't tell me does not hold Dunning back from telling us every detail of first edition books. I felt like I was in a literature class on how to open a store; not reading a mystery novel. Oh, yeah, that's in there, too; something about a murder or two.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm looking for valuable first editions of King
Review: Dunning is new to me. Reading "Booked to Die" gave me new-found information on the value of first editions...whether old or fairly new. The mystery was intriguing...a cop who quits the force and goes into the book-buying business. I really enjoyed Cliff Janeway and the murders he encountered. The last line of the book is magic. I'll be looking for more of the same from him.
Rating:
Summary: A really fun read
Review: I love mysteries, but there are so few that have solidity from beginning to end. Here, the hypnotic (and more) effect that book-collecting has on the characters is shown - in fact my first foray this morning was into the local thrift shops to see if I could find any jewels (not!). I'm not a book collector, but I loved all the details about book collecting -- whether they were true or not, they were convincingly told, and fun to read.The dialogue was snappy and clear, and there were few wasted words. This was a page-turner through to the end.
Rating: 
Summary: A thrill to the end
Review: Dunning manages to blend quality information about books and the world of book collecting in with a suspenseful murder mystery. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was.Dunning will distract you with book trivia and a budding romance while dropping hints you won't even realize mean a thing until the last chapter. The conclusion is shocking - it held me breathless at 4 a.m! You know you're reading a good book when you go to work or school the next morning looking like a victim yourself. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT READ
Review: I liked everything about this book--the Denver setting, the insights into the used book world, and the mystery angle. I devoured The Bookman's Wake and am hoping Dunning writes another Cliff Janeway novel soon!
Rating:
Summary: A Bibliomaniac's Book
Review: If you love books, then this book is a must! What USED & RARE (by Goldstone) does for booklover's in the non-fiction genre, and PARNASSUS ON WHEELS (by Morley) does in the realm of general fiction, this book (and the sequel, BOOKMAN'S WAKE) is the Holy Grail for bibliophiles in the mystery genre! I've read it 3 times, and the only things that bother me about it is that (A) there hasn't been another Janeway mystery released yet, and (B) there hasn't been a movie version of this book yet (read it and tell me that Bruce Willis isn't Cliff Janeway! ) THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!
Rating:
Summary: Five stars for Highly Entertaining...
Review: It may not be Steinbeck, but this novel kept me very happy for several days. Every time I had to put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it. I kept thinking, This is an elegant idea - books within a book. I learned so much. The main character, Janeway, is a believable, loveable cop-turned-enterepeneur. Rarely have I read of any cop who so thoroughly undergoes a "satori" mid-book. I bought The Bookman's Wake, thumbed through it quickly to see if any of the characters were continued and was disappointed that they didn't. Not a mention of the quirky Rita McKinley, or Ruby, etc. Still, I plan to read it because I'm hoping Mr. Dunning didn't lose his knack for telling a juicy story and teaching me more about writers, writing, books.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book and a Good Mystery
Review: This was an excellent read (in fact I have read it twice now). Some people claim you need to love/collect books to enjoy this book. But that is simply not true. One of the great things about reading is being immersed in a world unfamiliar to you and leaving with a better understanding of it. This is what Dunning has done for the unique world of book collectors and dealers. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: 4/5 Rare Book Treatise, 1/5 Bad Detective Novel
Review: In Booked To Die, Dunning describes the high-stakes world of first edition book book collecting. What's next, the life-and-death world of instant cake mix interstate distribution? Dunning's passion for 20th century first edition books is obvious, , but I found the constant name-dropping of authors and titles that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot quite pretentious. If you are interested in first edition book collecting, read it, but not for the story. If you aren't, keep looking at the reviews - the favorable ones tend to be from first edition book lovers, not necessarily mystery fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Great primer on book collecting, so-so cop novel
Review: Dunning's first Cliff Janeway adventure is unlikely to send you out to the bookstore looking for more of his titles. But you may want to find out more about collecting books. It's really informative on the process and hobby/obsession with book collecting, and any lover of books will be intrigued by these elements of the story. Chapter upon chapter in the middle of the book is dedicated to Janeway's opening of his own shop. But then there's that pesky cop plot to deal with, and you almost feel as though Dunning finds returning to this element of the story as tiresome as you do. And who can blame him? His hero, Cliff Janeway is your basic, one-dimensional TV cop, so it's hard to root for him or even care what happens to him. The only thing interesting about him is his hobby.
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