What could be more appealing to an avid reader and librarian than a novel about the search for a mysterious book, hidden in a family library for generations?
Taryn’s grief over the loss of her older sister Bea has left her reluctant to feel, unable to really connect with her husband and desperate for some kind of retribution. When this is tacitly offered, Taryn does nothing to prevent it, and is not sorry that shortly after his release from prison, the man responsible for Bea’s death is found dead. Years later, with Taryn now a successful author, the police are still convinced that she is connected to the crime.
Law enforcers are not Taryn’s only pursuers, however, as the publication of her book has revealed her knowledge of the existence of a much sought after book that has survived the destruction of several libraries, and has been in her family’s possession and on their estate in the Wye Valley since the Second World War. Inhabitants of other worlds believe that Taryn can locate this document, which will be the key to saving them.
Characters from different mythologies are drawn into the search for the Absolute Book, crossing through invisible gates into a magical, vividly depicted world, where a whole society and many souls are at risk from forces that are bent on destruction.
Deftly plotted and beautifully written, this novel works on so many levels. Not only is it an exciting fantasy thriller, it is also a study of the destructive effect of grief, acceptance and ultimate redemption, with a strong message of hope in its denouement. I was quickly absorbed in the world of the book, rewarded by the twists and turns of the plot and intrigued by the mystery surrounding the book. It is a book that will long live in my memory, and one of those that leaves you bereft when you have finished reading.
I won't be buying it for my library whose oldest readers are 11, but I will certainly be recommending it through book groups.
