Friday 6 November 2009

THRILLER REVIEW: Library of Shadows - Mikkel Birkengaard

BOOK BLURB:

Imagine that some people have the power to affect your thoughts and feelings when you read, or they read a book to you. They can seduce you with amazing stories, conjure up vividly imagined worlds, but also manipulate you into thinking exactly what they want you to. When Luca Campelli dies a sudden and violent death, his son Jon inherits his second-hand bookshop, Libri di Luca, in Copenhagen. Jon has not seen his father for twenty years since the mysterious death of his mother. When Luca's death is followed by an arson attempt on the shop, Jon is forced to explore his family's past. Unbeknown to Jon, the bookshop has for years been hiding a remarkable secret. It is the meeting place of a society of booklovers and readers, who have maintained a tradition of immense power passed down from the days of the great library of ancient Alexandria. Now someone is trying to destroy them, and Jon finds himself in a fight for his life and those of his new friends.


REVIEW:

A fast moving novel from one of the hottest names in Danish Thriller Fiction brought over to the English Language for the first time. Its pretty gripping with characters that are as harsh as the landscape which is beautifully portrayed within the pages. Whilst the plot may seem overly simplified to those who enjoy the genre, the writing is crisp and really does draw you into the world. Back that up with the sheer pace of the novel and its going to hit that spot that’s just been needing an itch even if it doesn’t set the whole world on fire but for a debut novel its definitely going to make Mikkel a name to watch.

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