What makes this book so intriguing is the narrator and main character, whose name is only mentioned once. Will is a convicted forger of signatures and manuscripts and successfully passed off remarkable inscriptions in rare antique books as authentic. Though he is incredibly proud of his craft, when he is finally caught (exposed, technically), he swears off forgery forever to satisfy the love of his life, Meghan. When Meghan’s brother Adam, who is also involved in the rare book trade, is horrifically murdered, someone is determined that Will has a guilty conscience (about something). When extortion is threatened Will does whatever he can to ensure that his idyllic life with Meghan is not threatened.
The writing here is so elegant, and the atmosphere is great. I love Will’s voice, his sharp perception, and his adoration of Meghan. He has a checkered past and he is definitely flawed, but he accepts that. He demonstrates both honesty and duplicity with his readers and the characters he interacts with. Such a dubious yet intelligent narrator makes for a fun and engaging novel