The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

What if a reference to an undiscovered William Shakespeare play is found in a seventeenth-century letter used in the binding of a book? For the two lead characters, Albert Crosetti, an aspiring filmmaker, and Jake Mishkin, an intellectual property lawyer, life changes forever. The discovery of the letter, written in Old English and cryptically by a seventeenth-century soldier who claims to have knowledge of the exact location of a Shakespeare play, is only the beginning of a novel steeped in mystery and intrigue. Further speculation arises as news of an English professor, known for his work on Shakespeare studies, is found dead. As the mystery surrounding the letter unfolds, Crosetti and Mishkin face Russian thugs and danger as they sift through truth and fiction. Failure to find the undiscovered Shakespeare play could leave them and their families dead. With a storyline that could be compared to The Da Vinci Code, The Book of Air and Shadows will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Gruber tells the story in three voices: through the soldier Richard Bracegirdle's letter; through the third person voice following Crosetti; and through the first person voice of Mishkin. The letters, written in seventeenth-century English, will slow the pace of readers, making reading at times quite complicated and frustrating. The storyline of the characters may also get in the way of readers' enjoyment - there is quite a discussion of Mishkin's lustful desire for women, for example.

If you did not like The Da Vinci Code, chances are you may not like this book. There is some discussion of religion in this novel, though it does not play as huge a part in the overall story as it does in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code.

To me, The Book of Air and Shadows is thrilling and compelling. I did enjoy reading it, even with the Old English! I love Shakespeare, and after reading the synopsis on the jacket of the book, I was hooked. I found myself staying up late at night trying to find out what would happen next. Will they discover the play? Does the play even exist? Why is Carolyn Rolly so secretive? How far would some people go to get their hands on an authentic Shakespeare play?

Reviewed by Jessica