The Book of Air and Shadows

By Michael Gruber
(William Morrow Paperbacks, Paperback, 9780061456572, 496pp.)

Publication Date: March 2008

Other Editions of This Title: Google eBook, Hardcover, Compact Disc, Compact Disc, MP3 CD

Categories: Suspense, Thrillers

New York Times bestselling author Michael Gruber is the author of five acclaimed novels. He lives in Seattle.

1. What is your view of Jake Mishkin's character? Do his personality and profession aid in the search or are they more of a hindrance? Do his flaws make him more likeable?

“(An) intelligent thrill ride.”
-Tampa Tribune

“If you love books, make room on the shelf for a new guilty pleasure.”
-Washington Post

“One of the best new writers in the genre.”
-Charlotte Observer

“Another one of [Gruber’s] patently intricate thrillers.”
-TheMorningNews.com

“A dead genius, a sleuthing couple with romantic chemistry, and some bad guys...it’s a fun party.”
-Entertainment Weekly

“Entertaining. A wild ride.”
-Charlotte Observer, Best Books of Summer

“A crackling whodunit. Characters (with) rich inner lives that transmute genre fiction into literature.”
-Dallas Morning News

“An intricately crafted and literate work (that) should give the (thriller) genre a good shake.”
-Denver Post

“A wonderful book, brimming with energy, suspense, wit and fascinating details about the rare book business. A fast-paced yarn that is part Henry James, part James Bond.
-Chicago Tribune

“Quirky, flawed characters, tricksy first-person narration, and nimble, witty prose. Gruber is the real deal.”
-Salon.com

“MIchael Gruber pulls out all the stops (in) an elaborate game of cat-and-mouse.”
-Newsday

“Gruber is no ordinary writer.”
-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Ingenious...engaging...a gripping, satisfying read.”
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Few thrillers will surpass [this book] when it comes to energetic writing, compellingly flawed characters, literary scholarship and mathematical conundrums.”
-USA Today

“(An) intoxicating mix of fact, fiction, secret codes and ancient conspiracies...well-written and cleverly told. A terrific thriller.”
-Edmonton Journal (Canada)

“Smart and irreverent.”
-Arizona Republic

“A gripping literary thriller. A taut novel that offers ingenious puzzles plus murderous threats along the way.”
-Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Fearless, intricate and intelligent. Stylish and confident prose. Dialogue that respects a reader’s intelligence. A smart and original plot.”
-Seattle Times

“Finely-honed prose, ambitious structure and captivating characters...This is a whip-smart adventure that surpasses its competitors with dexterity.”
-Rocky Mountain News

“A wild ride of a thriller. The characters have depth, histories and believability.”
-Wichita Eagle

“A smart thriller. Gruber’s themes may be lofty but his people are fully fleshed. An engaging adventure.”
-Boston Globe

“Very good...ingenious and suspenseful.”
-Maclean's

“(An) entertaining thriller with Da Vinci Code appeal but far better writing.”
-Ventura County Star

“Gruber deftly raises the thriller stakes and accelerates the plot while still creating convincing personal journeys for his characters.”
-Booklist (starred review)

“Not since Bayatt’s POSSESSION has an author so successfully combined literary puzzle, tempestuous duplicity, human adventure and good storytelling.”
-BookPage

“A fast-moving tale about the world of rare books. A wonderful story with absolutely superb casting.”
-Kirkus Reviews (starred)