Publisher's Weekly Review
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). (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Ivan the Terrible, the sixteenth-century Russian czar, had, or so the legend goes, a vast library filled with gold- and jewel-covered books. It was lost to history, but now the CIA has uncovered a terrorist bank account that could lead to the Library of Gold (the novel's title refers to one of the books in the library). The company turns to Eva Blake, a rare-book collector with a troubled past; as the story opens, she's about to go to prison for a drunk-driving incident that took her husband's life. Sprung early from prison, Eva teams up with Judd Ryder, a former intelligence agent with his own troubled past, and the two of them try to uncover the secrets of the lost library. The book is fast paced and exciting, but it's a bit overwritten: the author has loaded her characters up with a lot of baggage, and readers may wonder whether it's all necessary. They might also wonder how it is that an expert in rare books has never heard of the Library of Gold. But these are small quibbles; the book is, overall, a solid adventure yarn.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
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 (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
