The Lost Book of the Grail

Starred review from January 2, 2017
Diffident Arthur Prescott, the endearing hero of this thoroughly enjoyable novel from bestseller Lovett (The Bookman’s Tale), has chosen to teach at the University of Barchester, a backwater institution, because he grew up in Barchester (yes, Anthony Trollope’s cathedral city, as Lovett admits in an author’s note). A junior lecturer who’s fond of P.G. Wodehouse, Arthur finds his values at odds with those of many of his colleagues, who prefer teaching seminars on J.K. Rowling rather than Shakespeare. His life is upended by the arrival of an attractive American, Bethany Davis, who has the job of digitizing the local cathedral’s ancient manuscripts, and whom he fears threatens his own private quest for the location of the Holy Grail. Bethany gradually brings Arthur out of his emotional shell, and the two become research partners. The light tone (at one point, Arthur, Bethany, and some allies are described as having read enough classic mysteries “that they had no trouble concocting an unnecessarily complicated plan” for a well-intentioned theft) blends well with the clever academic sleuthing. Agent: Anna Worrall, Gernert Co.

The fictional cathedral city of Barchester, England, is the setting for this rich mix of history, romance, and mystery. Narrator Charles Armstrong recounts the story of a quest to uncover a lost ancient manuscript and the secret of the Holy Grail. Armstrong does a sterling job of bringing to life Arthur Prescott, an English professor who lives for his time in the library. The listener quickly gets a feel for Prescott's dry wit and slightly pedantic nature. Armstrong's characterizations of other key characters are strong, helping the listener to follow the plot, including flashbacks to an earlier time. The narration also allows the humor in the writing to shine, further adding to the enjoyment of this pleasurable novel. K.J.P. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine