A case of books

Rare book collector Harrison is found stabbed in the back sitting at his desk and his library ransacked. Harrison collected rare 'incunabula' (books printed before 1500) that although valuable, are not really 'steal-able' since the provenance of rare titles is well documented. Bookseller Theodore Terhune is hired by the estate to sell off Harrison's library when another break-in occurs, suggesting the murderer has not yet found what he is looking for. What follows is a cat and mouse hunt for the unknown object of desire, involving book auctions, robberies, mysterious crosses dug in fields and - dictionaries.