Scholars of Night

by John M. Ford

[Quirky Cat]

Don't you just love it when a book gets reprinted? I know I do. It gives me a chance to notice books that I missed the first time around. In this instance, the book in question is actually older than I am, which is always pretty cool. The Scholars of Night by John M. Ford is getting republished by Tor Books and is perfect for all the mystery fans in the house.

Nicholas Hansard is a historical analyst who loves to delve into ancient documents and find the truth hidden within. It's a passion and a talent, and one that has brought him a fair share of attention.

Not to mention a second job. Unfortunately for Hansard, his latest exploration refuses to stay in the past, and it pulls him into a murder mystery that he was not prepared for. Yet there's no turning back once it has all been set in motion.

The Scholars of Night was such a fun and different spy novel (at least, for me). I love the idea of a scholar being sent on secret missions to stacks of old documents. There's something oddly endearing about that. That may just be the bookworm in me talking.

The novel itself was set in 1988, and you can see the influence of the times. Thanks to the Cold War vibe, there's this lingering threat, and it plays nicely with the more subtle parts of this spy thriller.
I'm going to give a lot of credit to Charles Stross' introduction (to the reprinted version, that is), as it really helped provide a lot of essential historical context. For me, it also helped to drive home how much John M. Ford was appreciated at the time.

This novel ended up being an absolute delight to read, with so many twists and turns (seriously, it's full of surprises). Once again, I'm grateful to have had a chance to read The Scholars of Night this time around.

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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