Death's Autograph (A Dido Hoare Mystery) [Import] [Paperback]

Marianne Macdonald (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: New English Library Ltd; New Ed edition (November 21, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340671548
• ISBN-13: 978-0340671542
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,488,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid debut . . ., November 22, 2000

By 

kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death's Autograph (Antiquarian Book Mysteries) (Paperback)

Have you made the acquaintance of Dido Hoare? If not, I highly recommend you do so straightaway. You won't regret it. Dido is a modern young woman, newly divorced, daughter of a former academic at Oxford (who seems to have had other assorted former careers, as well) who now owns an antiquarian bookshop in London's Islington area.

Coming home late at night after having purchased a privately-owned library some eighty miles from her home, she is menaced by a white car. Eventually, however, the other driver loses interest, and Dido arrives home, nerve-wracked but otherwise unharmed.

The next day, her father, Barnabas, recovering from serious heart surgery, receives an anonymous letter, and from then on, the pace never lets up. We meet several of London's other antiquarian book dealers, plus Dido's former husband Davey. Briefly, that is, for in just a few days time, Davey and the white car fall victim to a bomb.

The police officer assigned to the bombing, Paul Grant, bids fair to becoming an important part of Dido's life, if only she can figure out why Davey had to die. What does she have that she doesn't realize she has? Neither Davey's new friend, Ilona, nor his mother, Sally, are much help either.

One clue is a book about a possible forger. Or has the forger been forged? This is a wonderfully well-written book that works on several levels. I cannot recommend it highly enough to those who enjoy truly intelligent books. How can you not love a book that includes this line "She continued to watch her drink as closely as though she were waiting for it to change colour and play the National Anthem." You won't regret the acquaintance, I promise.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Death's Autograph, October 31, 2000

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death's Autograph (Antiquarian Book Mysteries) (Paperback)

This first Dido Hoare mystery is the most complex of the four so far; but just as interesting and intriguing.

This novel starts when a mysterious white car follows Dido on her way back home from a book buying trip, late at night through the deserted M40 highway. Soon after Barnabas, her father, receives a mysterious postcard alluding to the incident. Next, Dido's ne'er-do-well ex-husband, Davy, turns up and tries to persuade her that she needs his help to maintain the bookstore. Then her store is burglarised. Barnabas is sure that Davy is somehow responsible for all these events but Dido refuses to consider that possibility. And then Davy's car is blown up with him in it. The police seemed stumped and cannot quite see the connection between all these events. However Dido comes to the reluctant conclusion that Davy was involved in some way. But how? And what can all this possibly mean?

This book is intriguing and complex and I think that if you have the patience to follow all twists and turns of the plot you will be more than amply rewarded. An amazing first installment of an equally amazing series.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mystery!, January 30, 2000

By 

Maria Y. Lima "Chickwriter" (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death's Autograph (Antiquarian Book Mysteries) (Paperback)

A truly enjoyable peek into the world of antiquarian bookselling with the added extra of murder. Dido & her dad are great characters and I look forward to reading the entire series!