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The Book of Spies

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Spoken of in hushed tones by those who know the story, the Library of Gold is a legendary collection of rare, priceless books from ages past. Lost to the world for centuries, its existence has come to be regarded as myth. But the Library of Gold is real, and secretly controlled by a mysterious cabal of the world's richest, most powerful men, who will stop at nothing to protect their interests.

Eva Blake, a rare-book expert and conservator, is in prison for a drunk-driving accident that she doesn't remember—one that resulted in the death of her husband, an even more famous rare-book expert. When an undercover CIA agent named Tucker Andersen offers to get her released in exchange for her help and expertise on the Library of Gold, she is eager to oblige. A book said to be from the Library of Gold has recently surfaced, delivered anonymously to the CIA, and it is now on exhibit at the British Museum as bait to draw out those with knowledge of the library. Eva is sent to investigate the scene, and while there, she sees the one person she never expected to see again: her dead husband, Charles.

After Charles first flees, then tries to kill her, Eva finds herself in the midst of several powerful, secret forces who either want her dead or want to use her to find the Library of Gold. The only person unequivocally on her side is Judd Ryder, the son of an undercover CIA agent who was killed after he discovered a mysterious bank account tied to Islamic terrorists. Judd believes the bank account is somehow connected to the library, and he is determined to find those responsible for his father's death. Alone against the world, Eva and Judd must fight a wide net of ruthless enemies as they race to unravel the clues to the library's whereabouts before it vanishes once again into the sands of time.

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    • AudioFile Magazine
      Here's yet another twist on THE DA VINCI CODE. This one focuses on the secret Library of Gold and one of its key volumes, THE BOOK OF SPIES, both of which are connected to international terrorism. The plot focuses on rare-books expert Eva Blake, who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in the death of her husband, Charles. But Charles is alive--and is leaving Eva clues that lead to discovery of the book and library. Narrator Kate Reading gives a well-paced performance that conveys the emotions tormenting Eva as she searches for the book, the library, and the ruthless men behind them. Reading never intrudes on the story. Rather, her style complements Eva's intensity, allowing the listener to share in the book's surprising, if somewhat unfulfilling, conclusion. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 31, 2010
      Rare-book expert Eva Blake is pulled into a frantic search for the Library of Gold—a collection of illuminated manuscripts thought to be lost in the 15th century—and embroiled in a conspiracy that reaches to the mountains of Afghanistan. As in the novels of Robert Ludlum, with whom Lynds has collaborated, the pace is unrelenting and the villains unbelievably efficient and prescient. While the story is tense and exciting in some places, the protagonists are too thinly drawn to invite emotional investment. Still, Kate Reading wrings every last drop of drama from the story; she handles the characterizations exceedingly well, creates plausible female and male characters of all age and accents, and keeps her audience enraptured. A St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 15).

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 15, 2010
      A legendary library, containing written works dating back to ancient Rome and Greece, forms the tantalizing background of this winning thriller from bestseller Lynds (The Last Spymaster
      ). When The Book of Spies
      , one of the bejeweled volumes of the Library of Gold (a rare book archive people have sought for centuries) surfaces, the CIA links a terrorist plot with the library and a cabal of powerful men who have been its keepers. Rare-book expert Eva Blake and former intelligence agent Judd Ryder have personal reasons for joining in the hunt for the library. Eva, released from prison for vehicular manslaughter in the death of her husband, learns that her husband, an authority on the library, is alive. A sniper shot Judd's father, a CIA agent, soon after the father claimed to have learned important information from the library. These two complicated, appealing characters complement the satisfying, conspiracy-laden plot that smoothly moves throughout Europe at breakneck speed.

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from July 1, 2010
      In "New York Times"best-selling author Lynds's (www.gaylelynds.com) sixth stand-alone novel, following "The Last Spymaster"(2006), rare-books expert/conservator Eva Blake must work with the CIA to find the Library of Gold, a legendary collection of rare, priceless books. Actress/narrator Kate Reading ("The Agency" brilliantly captures Lynds's colorful descriptions, employing multiple accents and conveying a wide range of emotions. The book closes with a time line illustrating the five-centuries-long real-life search for the Library of Gold. This thrilling tale of intrigue is perfect for audio and will appeal to listeners enjoying a complex story with roller-coaster turns. ["Readers of both espionage and artifact novels…will crave subsequent escapades with these characters," read the review of the St. Martin's hc, "LJ"2/1/10.—Ed.]—Susan G. Baird, formerly with Oak Lawn P.L., IL

      Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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