Picture an American storyteller who spun gritty detective tales with a booklover’s twist—meet John Dunning! Born in 1942, this Brooklyn native carved a unique niche in the mystery genre, blending hard-boiled crime with the fascinating world of rare books. His Cliff Janeway series, starting with the award-winning Booked to Die, hooked readers with its sharp dialogue and bibliophilic charm.
But Dunning’s story isn’t just about novels. A self-professed ‘raging failure’ in his youth, he overcame a rocky start to become a celebrated author and old-time radio expert. From Denver’s dusty bookshops to the airwaves of his radio show, Dunning’s life was as thrilling as his fiction. Let’s dive into the journey of this literary detective.
The Making of John Dunning
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 9, 1942, John Dunning moved to Charleston, South Carolina, at age three. A high school dropout with undiagnosed ADD, he faced early struggles, including a brief Army stint ended by a broken eardrum. By 1964, Dunning landed in Denver, working odd jobs like stable hand before joining The Denver Post as a copy boy. His time as a police reporter in the 1970s fueled the gritty realism of his later novels. In 1970, he left journalism to write, debuting with The Holland Suggestions in 1975, a suspenseful mystery that marked his arrival.
John Dunning’s Unforgettable Stories
Dunning’s breakout came with Booked to Die (1992), the first Cliff Janeway novel. Janeway, a Denver ex-cop turned rare book dealer, navigates murders and literary treasures with a modern yet classic detective vibe. The novel’s blend of hard-boiled action and book-collecting lore won the Nero Wolfe Award and hooked bibliophiles. Its sequel, The Bookman’s Wake (1995), a New York Times Notable Book, follows Janeway chasing a rare edition of Poe’s The Raven, earning an Edgar nomination.
Other Janeway novels, like The Bookman’s Promise (2004) and The Bookwoman’s Last Fling (2006), delve into historical mysteries, from explorer Richard Burton to rare children’s books. Dunning’s standalone works, like Two O’Clock, Eastern Wartime (2001), weave old-time radio into gripping wartime plots. His style—terse, vivid, and packed with book trade insights—echoes Chandler but feels fresh, appealing to both mystery fans and book nerds.
Before Janeway, Dunning earned Edgar nominations for Looking for Ginger North (1980) and Deadline (1981), showcasing his knack for taut plots. His non-fiction, like On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (1998), reflects his passion for radio history, born from hosting his long-running show, Old-Time Radio.
Why John Dunning Matters
Dunning’s impact lies in his fusion of mystery and bibliophilia, creating a subgenre where books are as vital as clues. His Janeway series inspired a generation of readers to explore rare bookshops, while his radio works preserved a fading era of American culture. Despite health setbacks, including brain surgery in 2006, Dunning’s legacy endures through his vivid characters and meticulous research. He passed away on May 22, 2023, but his stories remain timeless.
- Born: January 9, 1942, Brooklyn, New York
- Key Works: Booked to Die, The Bookman’s Wake, Two O’Clock, Eastern Wartime
- Awards: Nero Wolfe Award (1992), Edgar Award nominations (1980, 1981, 1996)
- Fun Fact: Ran the Old Algonquin Bookstore in Denver for a decade!
About John Dunning
Snag Booked to Die and dive into John Dunning’s thrilling world of rare books and relentless detectives!