The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
I would like to thank Transworld for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – Transworld
Published – Out Now
Price – £16.99 hardback £5.99 Kindle ebook
Because some doors should never be opened.
New York bookseller Cassie Andrews is not sure what she’s doing with her life. She lives quietly, sharing an apartment with her best friend, Izzy. Then a favourite customer gives her an old book. Full of strange writing and mysterious drawings, at the very front there is a handwritten message:
This is the Book of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.
Cassie is about to discover that the Book of Doors is a special book – a magic book. A book that bestows extraordinary abilities on whoever possesses it. And she is about to learn that there are other magic books out there that can also do wondrous – or dreadful and terrifying – things.
Because where there is magic there is power and there are those who will stop at nothing to possess it.
Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is Drummond Fox who has a secret library of magical books hidden in the shadows for safekeeping, a man fleeing his own demons. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .
Because this book is worth killing for.
Books about books are often catnip for readers. Reading is such a joy that libraries, books and the power fo reading are to us readers unique. Fantasy increases such power tenfold from Genevieve Cogman’s Invisible library series to TL Huchu’s The Library of the Dead and Terry Pratchett’s wonderful idea of L-Space. In Grath Brown’s contemporary fantasy we get a thriller style adventure using the power of books again but ultimately it treads an overly familiar path too much to stand out.
In New York Cassie lives her life day to day as a not that well paid bookseller but who loves her job. One night the kindly old regular Mr Webber has one of their familiar chats but passes away in the store but leaves Cassie a mysterious book. A book that Cassie finds can give the holder the power to imagine a door to anywhere. Cassie and her flatmate Izzy soon find they can see Venice or appear at a luxury bar. But just before this becomes too much fun, they find other people want this Book of Doors. A sadist named Hugo Barbary is on the trail and Drummond Fox a man all too aware of the dangers of the books is desperately trying to find Cassie to warn her before things are too late. These books of power all have unique abilities, and they are both rare highly valuable, but they also can be used for great good and evil so some people will do whatever they feel is right to get hold of one.
This was a frustrating read for me. On the one hand Brown excels at structure and pacing. This is a fast-paced thriller that starts with a little strange mystery and Cassie finding out about a magical world where people, pay or do anything for magical Books. The Book of Doors has other less known powers that are a very cool idea. The story switches global locations and there is a strong set of action set pieces, revelations and dangerous foes to face. There is a doozy of an idea in the final sections that is quite unique in how a character prepares to face a foe again.
But the problem for me is largely this is just another magical object tale. It reminds me so much of many movies I’ve found where someone finds a magical object or ability, finds the world is not what you think it is and then peril ensues. We have Cassie as the unknown reader and Drummond her exposition/mentor/companion. We have the villains and the villain behind the villain and Izzy the funny but strong friend carried along. Its all very well poised but feels incredibly mechanical. The action sequences follow the standard path; allowing ability to be used/learnt and things progress. The doozy of an idea is ultimately a good one, but its use is a little too dull to really make things work. Brown’s style of writing is good but with a slight tendency to really underline a point that a character is already making or a lot of exposition and backstory that feels a little clunky.
The Book of Doors often feels like a movie script. This is because you and I have probably seen this type of story many times – its delivered as said with call the characters, pace and structure of one. But its missing adding anything really new to this type of story. Add the right actors, director, music, and special effects, then you could I’m sure create something special but ultimately in a book I expect that to be in the novel itself and this feels a little soulless as a consequence. Brown has lots of potential, so I’ll be interested to see how they develop but for now not a book that lasts in the memory.
