After weeks of heavy, murder-laden cases, Isla takes us in a different, yet still crime-ridden, direction: the audacious world of rare book forgery.

We look at the incredible true story of Thomas James Wise, the celebrated 19th-century bibliophile who fooled collectors, museums, and even the British Museum itself. For decades, Wise posed as a gentleman scholar, building a reputation as England’s foremost rare book expert - while secretly forging first editions, inventing non-existent pamphlets, and even tearing pages out of priceless library books to perfect his scams.

Plus: Dee and Isla take a detour into book-world quirks (yes, vellum, watermarks, and antique quiz questions all make an appearance), and wrap up with a themed Ink-quisition featuring author Claire Wilson’s Stephen King tattoo tribute.

This one proves that true crime doesn’t always need murder to shock and intrigue.

👉 Listen now on all podcast platforms, YouTube, or via our website.SOURCES:

• The Book Forger by Joseph Hone 

• Wikipedia

• University of Oregon Book Blogs