Running an antiquarian bookshop in London might seem like a nice, quiet job, but bookseller Dido Hoare has had more than her share of adventures. Die Once is the next entry in Marianne MacDonalds wonderful mystery series featuring Dido Hoare..

When Timothy Curwens check bounces, Dido Hoare is amazed. Curwen had been a good customer, spending freely at her antiquarian bookshop. The morning paper says that Curwen committed suicide, but the police soon suspect murder. When Dido sets out either to retrieve the book or to obtain payment of it, her quest leads her down a twisted trail of cover-up and betrayal surrounding Tims death.