The Book of Air and Shadows

A Novel

By: Michael Gruber

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

"Tap-tapping the keys and out come the words on this little screen, and who will read them I hardly know. I could be dead by the time anyone actually gets to read them, as dead as, say, Tolstoy. Or Shakespeare. Does it matter, when you read, if the person who wrote still lives?"

Those are the words of Jake Mishkin, whose seemingly innocent job as an intellectual property lawyer has put him at the center of a deadly conspiracy and a chase to find a priceless treasure involving William Shakespeare. As he awaits a killer (or killers) unknown, Jake writes an account of the events that led to this deadly endgame, a frantic chase that began when a fire in an antiquarian bookstore revealed the hiding place of letters containing a shocking secret, concealed for 400 years. In a frantic race from New York to England and Switzerland, Jake finds himself matching wits with a shadowy figure who seems to anticipate his every move. What at first seems like a thrilling puzzle waiting to be deciphered soon turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, in which no one - not family, not friends, not lovers - is to be trusted.

Moving between 21st-century America and 17th-century England, The Book of Air and Shadows is a modern thriller that brilliantly re-creates William Shakespeare's life at the turn of the 17th century and combines an ingenious and intricately layered plot with a devastating portrait of a contemporary man on the brink of self-discovery...or self-destruction.

©2007 Michael Gruber (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"A wonderful story" ( Kirkus)
"A wild story....Engrossing." ( The Washington Post)
"[With] intelligence and engaging style...Gruber raises the thriller stakes." ( Booklist)

Too many flip flops

Some listeners may have enjoyed the jumping back and forth between the 17th and 21st centuries that this book provided, but I didn't. The good part was that I started to understand the 17th century dialogue about halfway through and it was probably germane to understanding the plot. I think the author had too many contrivances and twists built into his story and the characters were a little bit like those found in comic strips. Still, with all the perceived inperfections in the story, I enjoyed the listen and think most others will too. The narrator did a great job.

Promising but disappointing

An interesting plot, fine writing, intellectually engaging treasure hunt and realistic depiction of the past, all contribute to an enjoyable book. Stephen Hoye's narration is excellent. Yet, the characters disappointed me. The author, I feel was very unfair to one particular likable character who was portrayed in a very negative light not because the story demands it but because he wanted to contrast a pair of saintly characters with a couple of sinners. Many of the secondary characters too, seem nicer than they are allowed to be.

Hum...

Not sure how I feel about this book. Great character development, but felt the author rushed the ending.

So, fine writers still exist!

If you could sum up The Book of Air and Shadows in three words, what would they be?

Deceptive and alluring. He hooks you and then he reels you in....

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mishkin and Crisetti

What does Stephen Hoye bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I didn't like SH's narration at first, I found his voice a tad tedious, but he won me over.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really liked it, just like I found "The forgery of Venus' enthralling.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Gruber is making me lose sleep.

Lame

Sorry but I couldn't get past the narrator's blase approach to the story, the authors apathy to his main character and the main characters apathy to the story in general.

I have tried to listen to this twice and just can't do it.

If you love language

The narrator has done a great job with this book. The story is excellent. The use of language steals the show for anyone who appreciates english written and spoken well.

Outstanding in many ways

I hope that Audible will include some more of this author in its listings. This plot is thoroughly engaging, his characters are well drawn, memorable, and vivid, and the narrator, in many voices and dialects, is expert. Moving us back and forth in time, and through the neighborhoods of New York as well as other environs, Gruber keeps us completely involved. No spoilers here-- enough to say that the story will draw you in instantly,and I guarantee that you will be finding all sorts of excuses to hook up the ipod and listen till it's over. Enjoy!!

Oh Hoye

Once again Stephen Hoye brings the story to life. I thought the book began a little slow but once you get in you are trapped.

Fun story but...not very interesting

Any additional comments?

Michal Gruber is one of my favorite fiction writers of all time. This book was disappointing. It was an interesting story but didn't go deep enough.

Made me want to find more Michael Gruber novels

I downloaded "The Book of Air and Shadows" after it was recommended to me by my local independent bookseller. It was just the diversion I needed while driving to Maine last summer.

My companion and I felt that the 17th century sections were a little slow--at least in the beginning--but once we were past the introduction, we were hooked. Noyes does an excellent job of separating the three separate narrators, so it's always clear who is speaking.

The story itself provides both mystery, romance and action. It was a great summer "read."