The Bookworm: A Novel

In The Bookworm by Mitch Silver, geopolitical professor Larissa Klimt is dragged into a number of conspiracies that all eventually lead back to the seedy political agreements between the unsavory US president and his Russian, and equally immoral, counterpart.

Lara is given six Dictaphone cylinders and told that what is on them will change her thinking about WWII history forever. They are recordings of Noel Coward discussing a plan that would convince Hitler not to attack England but rather to turn his attention to Russia. If this is true, it would turn history on its head. She agrees to listen to them but promises nothing.

Meanwhile, her twin brother is working in the oil fields in Alaska when he discovers that it is simply a ruse set up by the Russian and American presidents, and there is no drilling going on. He manages to get photos but almost dies doing so.

Nothing could be more relevant in the present political climate than a book that brings to light the danger of world leaders trading secrets and making unethical pacts. Unfortunately, though it begins with much promise, the book devolves into confusion and it’s difficult to keep track of the players. Perhaps with a little more focus on the main characters, it would have been better.