The Widow's Son

Sure to please fans of Lawrence Block, John Dunning, and Christopher Fowler, the new Rare Book Mystery plunges readers into a centuries-old struggle of blood, faith, family, and revenge.
 
In 1844, Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, died at the hands of an angry mob who stormed his jail cell in Carthage, Illinois. Shortly after, a radical faction of Smith’s followers swore to avenge Smith’s death by killing not only the four men deemed most responsible, but to teach their heirs to eliminate future generations of the prophet’s murderers as well.
 
One hundred and seventy years later, rare book dealer Michael Bevan is offered a valuable first-edition Book of Mormon that bears a strange inscription hinting at blood atonement. Within days of handing the book over for authentication, the volume disappears and two people lie dead. Michael soon learns that his friend Natalie Phelan, whose only crime is her genealogy, is the likely next victim. One of her would-be murderers has fallen in love with her, another is physically incapable of carrying out the act, but other avenging angels remain on the loose.
 
When Natalie is kidnapped, Michael must venture into a clandestine camp of vengeful men hell-bent on ritual sacrifice. To save her life, the book dealer needs all his worldly courage, brawn, and wits. But to defeat fanatics driven by an unholy vision, a little divine intervention couldn’t hurt.

Praise for The Widow’s Son
 
“Enthralling . . . [a] tightly-knit series . . . a real page-turner, with great insights into that rare world of rare tomes.”—Mallory Heart Reviews
 
“Exciting . . . intense.”—Journey of a Bookseller
 
“Shawver weaves a tight tale of vengeance that mystery lovers will enjoy.”—The Book Breeze
 
“An extremely twisty tale.”—Reading Reality
 
“If you enjoy mysteries with little violence and an interesting historical plot, you may enjoy this book.”—Nancy Famolari’s Place
 
Praise for the Rare Book Mystery series
 
“A page-turner . . . gripping and engaging . . . or, as dealers rate rare books, definitely VF—Very Fine!”—Carolyn Hart, New York Times bestselling author of the Death on Demand mysteries, on The Dirty Book Murder
 
“An antique book auction, complex characters driven by greed, and bittersweet family tensions come together in this atmospheric thriller. Readers of crime fiction will enjoy the ride and look forward to bookstore owner Michael Bevan’s next adventure.”—Sally Goldenbaum, bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters series, on The Dirty Book Murder
 
“[Left Turn at Paradise is] an entertaining and action-packed adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones, delicately seasoned with the allure of rare old books. Bibliophiles and mystery/adventure lovers will be mesmerized by this epic tale.”—Library Journal