# The Bookbinder’s Secret – historical mystery novel

The Bookbinder’s Secret is a historical mystery novel about Lilian Delaney, an apprentice bookbinder in Oxford in 1901. A burned book reveals an old letter about forbidden love, a lost fortune and murder, drawing her into a dangerous search for other hidden books.

- [Original product page](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/product/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [View offer](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- Market: UK
- Language: en-GB
- Currency: GBP
- Category: Books, Music & Hobbies > Books, Music & Movies > Books & Comics
- Price: 12.26 GBP
- Previous price: 20.00 GBP
- Discount: 39%
- Price checked: 2026-11-12T14:57:52.151Z
- Rating: 4.4 / 5
- Reviews: 1817

Prices and deal status are the latest recorded data, not a guarantee of availability. Confirm the price and availability with the store.

## At a glance

- Set in Oxford in 1901 and centred on apprentice bookbinder Lilian Delaney.
- A concealed letter leads into a mystery involving forbidden romance, a lost fortune and murder.
- The plot follows Lilian across bookshops, private libraries and archives as she searches for other books tied to the secret.

## Pros

- The book-centred mystery connects bookbinding and hidden letters with the wider search for the truth.
- Its historical setting is paired with romance, adventure and murder, offering several strands for readers who enjoy mixed-genre fiction.

## Specifications

### Publication details
- Publisher: HQ
- Publication date: 6 Nov. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 448 pages
- ISBN-10: 0008755949
- ISBN-13: 978-0008755942
### Dimensions and installation
- Weight listed: 674 g
- Dimensions: 15.9 x 4 x 24 cm

## A good fit for

- Readers of historical mysteries, especially those drawn to books about books and bookbinding.
- Readers looking for a plot combining hidden secrets, forbidden romance and murder.

## Customer feedback

Customer feedback highlights the bookish setting, descriptions of bookbinding, twists, characters and emotional elements. Some readers find the readability mixed. This may matter if you want an easy-going mystery, since the premise combines historical detail with romance and danger. Overall ratings lean positive, but ratings alone do not establish why any reader liked or disliked the book.
- Positive themes: Customers report enjoying the bookish atmosphere, bookbinding detail, mystery and twists.
- Positive themes: Feedback also praises the storytelling, characters and emotional content.
- Mixed feedback: Readability receives mixed reactions in the supplied customer feedback.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is The Bookbinder’s Secret about?
In Oxford in 1901, apprentice bookbinder Lilian Delaney finds a letter hidden beneath the binding of a burned book. It hints at forbidden love, a lost fortune and murder, and leads her to search for other books containing clues.
### Does the story include romance as well as mystery?
Yes. The listing describes a forbidden romance at the heart of the mystery, alongside a search for hidden books and a murder plot.
### How long is the book?
The listed print length is 448 pages.

## Alternative options

- [FINDING OPAL: Book 1 \(THE PIER & OPAL SERIES\)](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [Finding Home \(Hungary, 1945\)](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [Summer Island: A captivating and tender novel from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The Women](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [The Great Alone: From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of The Women and The Nightingale](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [The Nightingale: The Multimillion Copy Bestseller from the Author of The Women](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [The Women: The Bestselling, Unforgettable Novel That Has Captured Millions of Hearts](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [All the Colours of the Dark: The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller – ‘a wonderful book’ \(Richard Osman\)](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [The Ocean Between Our Hearts](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [Mad Mabel: A twisty, darkly humorous and charming novel that will keep you guessing](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [A Class Forsaken \(A Matter of Class\)](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)

## Add-ons

- [The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris: An Enchanting and Escapist Novel from the Internationally Bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop for 2025](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)
- [The Lost Bookshop: A most charming and uplifting novel, the perfect gift for book lovers\!](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/visit/the-bookbinders-secret-historical-mystery-novel)

## Images

![The Bookbinder’s Secret – historical mystery novel — 1](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/NNxiL757OW5jP4qQHXug3nLF51iY7203GASI008CERCkxnd_aZA5nOaL-JlnGCxoYqzFvuooB8o0dz8-auT0SWmO_Hwg_bC8ieipUfcqoB97DZhLcwdn.jpg)

![The Bookbinder’s Secret – historical mystery novel — 2](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/9AN16ChBgCqIHJufbuhYGYv6YjiOn-bRyvmbtmANhQ32FfpDKLg-JbU7UldjbMGGkj4iEBVsJPe4dlqj2VA3iKHPkC3K4aP-jantM31hoinGQXnrumTd.jpg)

![The Bookbinder’s Secret – historical mystery novel — 3](https://bargainpostbox.co.uk/i/mS--7rMxJZTZk5AAlUdbtCcx2iAbhbgchnufw1nj4BU7Qq3jMdbhqTh48kcpV4eDjYJljABZMZb--Z-1FfHTJpyctaOSnK0Ky3QANHd_hGTKrDTBCEVA.jpg)