The Library Of The Dead, Book Review

Glenn Cooper's Initial Thriller Stimulates Suspense Throughout

Sep 1, 2009

In his debut best-selling novel, Glenn Cooper flirts with an ingenious plot which ventures onto the verge of stark realism and has the reader questioning their own fate.

Will Piper is a veteran FBI Detective on a bow-out last case, assigned to a vibrant, young new partner; Nancy Lipinski. When a series of 'murders' in their resident New York area threaten to bring the city to a halt, and create a media frenzy, it is left up to Will and Nancy to crack the case.

Doomsday Murders

Several seemingly unsolvable murders which threaten to destabilise the foundations of modern-day, New York civilisation, are only linked by one eerie clue: A postcard with a coffin on it, predicting the victim's date of death. Labelled as the 'Doomsday Murders' by the authorities, Will and Nancy are charged with the monumental task of identifying the culprit. Or culprits.

With no obvious clues apart from the post cards, and no evidence to suggest that the murders are linked further, Will's mind begins to wander.

Though utterly determined to solve the mystery, revelling in the media limelight, and reflecting on his successful Harvard college days, become somewhat of a method to channel his frustration.

However, he does eventually find himself contemplating the inevitable: whether advancing his unprofessionalism with a younger colleague is beyond his insufferably large ego.

A Discovery beyond Measure

A medieval monastery is discovered on the Isle of Wight soon after WWII, which carries a secret so great that it heralds the creation of the infamous 'Area 51'. This prompts the beginning of one of the most extreme cover-ups in history and provides a captivating depth to the narrative.

Illuminating Historical Accuracy and Relevance

Throughout the novel, it is evident that Cooper has done his utmost to keep the plot intriguing by linking it to plausible historical context, such as the inclusion of famous figures as Winston Churchill, and Harry Truman in the ever-changing appropriate time transitions as the plot unravels.

The attention to detail is certainly an admirable trait of the book, and while the creative license is obviously omniscient, it appears that Glenn Cooper may well be a worthy challenger to Dan Brown's throne of intertwining fact and fiction so purportedly, if not controversially.

Twist

With any compelling read there is always a twist which has the reader guessing towards the end, and this one is not dissimilar. When Will does find out the truth, it is the last rationalisation that he could have ever imagined. Something so incontrovertible, yet undeniably credible, that he finds himself embroiled in a government scandal beyond the realms of all realistic possibility.

As the remarkable truth unfolds before his eyes, Will must hold his nerve until the end to protect the people he loves the most, while negotiating a delicate truce.

The copyright of the article The Library Of The Dead, Book Review in Mystery/Crime Fiction is owned by Matt Haynes. Permission to republish The Library Of The Dead, Book Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.