The Bookman's Tale by Charlie Lovett

In 1592, a group of literary types including Christopher Marlowe and bookseller Bartholomew Harbottle gather at an alehouse discussing, among other things, the unlikely success of an upstart named Will Shakespeare.  In 1983, Peter Byerly finds himself working in the special collections room of Ridgefield University Library.  At his first touch of a first edition quarto printing of Hamlet, he is hooked.  He will find passion for two things there; the lovely Amanda and the world of old books.In 1995, Peter, now a successful book collector is living in the Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye in a cottage he had hoped to share with Amanda.  He is invited into the library of a local land owner to assess some items in that collection and what he finds sends him on a journey across the centuries.

In alternating chapters, murder is committed, forgeries are discovered,  and family feuds are revealed - all in the name of rare books.  This well researched work of fiction will leave the avid bibliophile either questioning or convinced of the existence of a great writer named Shakespeare.  Even if the thought of discovering the "Holy Grail" of antiquarian book collecting isn't on your bucket list, the fast paced mystery will be entertaining enough.