Let's get the party started. Here's the latest I wrote in a Gilded Age with sorcerers I'm currently working on:
"The first thing she pulled out was the small book she'd been commissioned to steal. It seem like nothing more than an old notebook or journal, but she knew better than to guess a book's worth by its appearance. Seeing no damage and confirming the character of the book by the description given her, she placed it in one of her inner jacket's pockets and moved to the next item."

I admit not too thrilling on it's own. I am also debating calling any magical book "codex" to distinguish between the mundane type. I know grimoire is a standard word for magical text but I want to play with words a bit.