Book of Spies

This is the first Gayle Lynds book I’ve read. Previously I’ve noticed that Gayle was co-writing/ghost-writing for Robert Ludlum, so she has that espionage-thriller background.
Why did I choose this one, well the opening line (the one authors want to grab your attention with) begins – “A library could be a dangerous place.” And then proceeds to murder the Librarian in the Prologue. Of course I kept reading.

The recommendations on the back cover include one by James Patterson the quote "Da Vinci Code meets Bourne Identity", and that’s correct. It has:
Hero in the run √
Faithful side-kick √ (though in this scenario the hero is female and the side-kick male – a twist on the usual formula)
Deadly Secret Society/Cult/Group √
With menacing henchmen √
Mysterious ‘lost’ ancient artefact √
Race against time √
Though a variety of cities & exotic locations √
Friends & associates who prove to be untrustworthy & working for the other side √
And the romantic tension √

Ex-convict Eva Blake is a manuscript curator, who the CIA enlist to track the “Book of spies” a be-jewelled book part of the legendary Library of Gold - Ivan the Terrible's collection of lost works, apparently lost for hundreds of years. In fact it is in the possession of a secret cabal known as the Book Club. The Book Club operatives too are searching for the "Book of Spies" (which has been smuggled from the Library), to 'return it to the library' as we all should do.
Judd Ryder ex-Army & part-time CLA agent is tasked with assisting Eva.
Having just watched the Cities of the Underworld DVD, I could clearly place the Roman tunnels and Istanbul’s hippodrome, etc., which helped visualise the scene.
This book has the plot twists, the action scenes, everything to keep you turning the pages.