Shades of The Da Vinci Code in the latest hardback thriller featuring New York sex crimes prosecutor Alex Cooper.

She investigates the attack and later murder of a young librarian and discovers the girl was stealing old maps and books.

New York's mega-rich dynasties are fighting for control a library and at least one is prepared to kill to find a priceless artefact.

Fairstein's book is, as usual, a mix of crime story and history lesson. This isn't one of her best, with sparse characterisation, lacklustre plot and disappointing ending.

David Knights