Book of Souls

by Glenn Cooper

Random House. Crime, Mystery, Science Fiction. Paperback rrp $32.95

The Book of Souls is the follow up to Library of the Dead with a third book in the series, Tenth Chamber, due out in March 2010.

What do you think you will be doing on 9 February 2027? According to Glenn Cooper you might be one of the BTH (beyond the horizon) group.

It is October 2010 when a book arrives at a London auction house, sparking the curiosity of a number of people worldwide. The only words on the cover are the year: 1527. Inside is a list of names beside what appears to be birth and death dates. A town’s registry perhaps? But what town in 1527 comprised of people with names from all over the world?

The book is part of a vast ancient library kept hidden underneath the Nevada desert by a US secret agency, Area 51. Will Piper is ex-FBI and once worked at Area 51. Henry Spence was also a member.

Henry wants the book to answer questions about his family and employs Will to collect the book after he has won the auction by phone bidding. Will and Henry soon discover that the book has a sonnet hidden within the bindings. Will travels to London to solve the puzzle, embarking on a journey that could change the history of the world.

The only problem is that both Will and Henry don’t realise the Watchers are keeping a close eye on them. The Watchers will do anything to keep the library’s secret and as Will gets closer to the truth, he and his family could be in danger.

If you think the Da Vinci Code raised disconcerting questions, then the Book of Souls will throw you in even deeper. I loved it. I raved about it to anyone who would listen. I wondered if there actually is a Library somewhere and would I be BTH. In the mean time I will just have to wait for the next instalment.

http://www.glenncooperbooks.com/