Book of Souls
A Will Piper Mystery, No. 2

By Glenn Cooper

       Forced into retirement after solving the Doomsday Killer case, former FBI Special Agent Will Piper is contacted by the 2027 Club to learn the truth of the missing volume 1527 which has just surfaced at a British auction. Volume 1527 is the missing volume from the Golden Library that was discovered buried in the Isle of Wight and is now held in secrecy by the US government at Area 51 in Nevada. The books in the library were written centuries ago by scribes and list the names, births and deaths of everyone throughout time.

Two groups want the volume: the government who wants to keep everything to do with the library classified, and a group of former employees who want the world to know about the library and want to discover the truth behind the last date listed: 9Feb2027. Will travels to England, to the Cantwell estate where the volume had surfaced. He has with him a puzzle sonnet by Shakespeare that was found in the volume. With the help of the Cantwell granddaughter, Will uncovers letters from John Calvin and Nostradamus, Their search is filled with danger and leads to the death of many before Will is able to find the solution.

This is a fast paced religious thriller that presents an intriguing plot. It is well researched with well-developed characters. There are three time frames.The first follows the fate of the Abbot of Vectis' priory after he believes the library is destroyed by fire; the second follows how the 1527 volume ends up separated from the others, and the third the present and the attempts to control the volume.

To fully understand this book I will recommend reading its prequel "Secret of the Seventh Son" which establishes the background for this book. This is one of the best books I have read this year. Once I began reading it I was caught in the story and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it.

Highly recommended