The Bookbinder’s Code

Fans of The Shadow of the Wind and The Thirteenth Tale will love this thrilling historical novel, with an intriguing mystery, which is perfect for lovers of books about books.

……….

Read on, if you dare…

Oxford, 1903: Gifted bookbinder Lily Delaney investigates the disappearance of her mentor, John Caxton. His coded journey is the key to unlocking a buried literary crime which took place forty years ago. At the centre is the legendary Book of Numbers. It is said to a book said to be able to predict the future. And it is a book men have killed for, and will kill for again…

Perfect for fans of:

📚Books about books

📜Historical fiction

🔍Hidden mysteries

💗Forbidden romance

🕵🏻‍♀️Strong FMCs

🎭Colourful side characters

😱Twists, turns, and jaw-dropping secrets

Reviews

Praise for The Bookbinder's Secret:

‘Thoroughly immersive and atmospheric … This book has everything; adventure, intrigue, romance and a lead character you can really root for’ YOURS BOOK CLUB, Book Editor’s Pick

'A hypnotic novel with fine writing and a skillful ability to discover the culture and society of the past … as it is a really first-rate debut novel, I have selected it as the best book actually published in 2025' THE CRITIC

'Original, exciting, beautifully written' M. W. CRAVEN

‘I devoured this book! Totally immersive and highly atmospheric, this page-turning debut has a magical allure that is utterly captivating’ EVIE WOODS

‘With its irresistible premise and unfolding mystery, The Bookbinder’s Secret kept me hooked until the final page. A. D. Bell has brought every booklover's dream to life!’ ANITA FRANK

'A delicious mystery, superbly plotted, that wraps you up in a good book in more ways than one' HESTER MUSSON

​'Totally unputdownable for anyone who loves books and mysteries. I loved every moment' LOUISE HARE

Readers gave five stars to The Bookbinder's Secret:

'An incredible read' ★★★★★

'A truly gripping, amazing book' ★★★★★

'It’s what book readers and collectors dream of' ★★★★★

'A mixture of romance, death, sheer willpower and so much more… I never wanted to put it down' ★★★★★

'This is a must read … I honestly can't explain how much I enjoyed this book' ★★★★★

'Wow. What an intriguing book' ★★★★★

'This book throws twists at you constantly. It's brilliant' ★★★★★

'I absolutely loved this read … couldn't put it down' ★★★★★

'A well-constructed narrative, with strong, fully-developed characters and a plot that will keep you reading way past bedtime' ★★★★★

About the author

A. D. Bell lives in Oxford, haunting the city’s bookshops of a weekend, writing in their cafés, and walking the winding paths of her characters.