Books like Like a hole in the head by Jen Banbury

Jill Jones, who balances a modest bookselling job with a sharp tongue, finds herself in a high‑stakes chase after buying a coveted first edition of Jack London. The mysterious dwarf who sells it back to her immediately returns, this time with a well‑trained assassin eager to reclaim the book. Already sold to a former child actor turned book dealer—who also becomes her romantic interest—Jill refuses to surrender the book without a fight. The pursuit turns chaotic, drawing a motley assortment of B‑movie thugs, shady sellers, and ambitious Hollywood producers into the hunt. Across Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and the Hollywood Hills, Jill navigates motorcycle stunts, hijacked delivery trucks, and betrayals, facing theft, manipulation, drugging, and even forced movie extra work—all while chasing the hidden secret within the prized volume.

First publish date: 1998