Review of "The Bookbinder's Secret: A Historical Novel" by A.D. Bell

Oxford, England, 1901: Twenty-five-year-old Lilian Delaney has been an apprentice bookbinder to Mr. John Caxton for three years.

Lilian also assists in her father's bookshop, which sells current books as well as rare editions.





At the bookbinder's, it's Lilian's task to maintain order in the shop, with its endless drawers and shelves of cloths, velum, leather, paper, gilt leaves, presses. blocks, sewing frames, spools of thread and sacks of glue, as well as 'tools so numerous it would take a lifetime to use them all: awls, knives, scalpel blades, bone folders, rulers, brass trindles, needles, shears, hammers, and hog-hair brushes.'





In addition to keeping the shop neat, Lilian has become an accomplished bookbinder herself. This is evidenced by a request from the distinguished physician Dr. W. Ashburn, a renowned book collector from Bath. Ashburn recently acquired some books at auction, and he wants Lilian to bind a botany book for his wife.



Lilian goes to Bath by train, and while she's picking up the botany book from Dr. Ashburn, she asks about a partially burnt book in the same crate. Ashburn says the seller sent it gratis, he doesn't want it, and Lilian can have it.



On the train home, Lilian examines the damaged book, which was published 50 years ago. The novel, which has a purple cover, is titled 'A Song For A Knave' by Abel Bell.



Under the book's endpaper, Lilian finds a hidden letter that's burnt, but partially legible. The missive reads, in part:

To my Knave,

Our story. Our love. I send it out to the world in the only way....will not look here....My confinement now has meaning. As do these books....will find their way to you....it is my last hope....I wish you had not killed him....will set us both free....

I, Your Queen

From the phrase 'these books', Lilian understands there are hidden letters in other novels by Abel Bell, and she sets out to find them. From a second missive Lilian learns the letter-writer is a beautiful heiress in love with a commoner.....



.....and that the romance is forbidden by her father.



To read the woman's entire story, Lilian proceeds to track down other books in the set.



Unfortunately for Lilian, a hired ruffian in a bowler hat is also searching for the secret letters, and he'll do ANYTHING to get them. As a result, Lilian is mugged, threatened, and robbed, and the miscreant even threatens Lilian's loved ones.



All this leads to perilous adventures, as well as the revelation of a secret love affair stymied by a self-interested father.

While Lilian is putting together the thwarted couple's tale, she's also working at the bookbinder shop; applying to 'The Guild of Women-Binders'; concerned about debt collection letters coming to her father's bookstore; having dalliances with two men (Lilian was certainly ahead of her time for the 1900s); and facing risk at every turn.



By the end of the story, we know why the letters are important, and what happened to the people they talk about.

Though this novel contains a bit of romance, it's a good adventure story with an admirable heroine - an early 20th century woman determined to have a career and live on her own terms. As a bonus, it's fun to 'watch' Lilian create a beautiful binding for the botany book.





In addition to perusing the digital book, I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Olivia Vinall, who does a fine job.

Thanks to Netgalley, A. D. Bell, and Macmillan audio for an ARC of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars