National Network for Equitable Library Service

Toronto restauranteur and bookshop owner Henry Royce devotes most of his time and energy to running his quirky store and perfecting its collection of rare and used books. But when a body turns up in Crime Fiction and a semi-rare book titled Stylus of Death mysteriously disappears from the stacks near the victim, Royce is suddenly catapulted into the action-packed world of police and private investigators. As Royce launches his own probe into the events surrounding his bookstore, he enlists the help of private eye Dan Fairley, whose training includes a stint in an elite wing of the Canadian armed forces. When the missing book unexpectedly finds its way back to the shop and a gangland execution comes to light, Royce and Fairley begin to hone in on a menacing figure who may be masterminding all of this activity according to an unknown agenda. An historical treasure hunt reminiscent of the novels of Reginald Hill and Umberto Eco, Rolls combines humour, mystery, and intrigue, all woven into an intricate plot that takes in the history of the Seven Years War, a cast of colourful characters from Toronto and Halifax, and a budding connection between the loner bookshop owner and the PI who helps him unravel the mysteries surrounding his shop.