The Collectors by David Baldacci

"The Collectors" by David Baldacci. This book is published by Pan Macmillan India in 2014 and has 560 pages. This is Book 2 of 'Camel Club' series. 

A powerful anti corruption congressman and a librarian of rare books are dead. Camel club gets involved. A defense contractor is suspected. But he too is killed. Annabel has pulled a long con on a casino King. 

Who is behind this? Will Annabel meet Camel club? Is there an espionage angle?

Camel club is involved in this affair through Caleb Shaw who is assigned as literary executor of the deceased. Inevitably Annabel gets involved. Camel club investigates with its limited resources. The plot thickens with discovery of 12th copy of Song Book. Only 11 are known to exist in the world. They are all in it together. 

Narration is decent. A number of sub plots are played out simultaneously. The angle of selling out of secret information to enemy makes it darker. However using the library of congress, an elaborate procedure and number of persons seems unnecessary. The same could have been done with a simple message drop or even snail mail. The alter ego angle is also conspicuous.

One can not help but think that Camel club has bit more than it can chew. The events are too complex for a group of 4 simpletons lead by an ex assassin and assisted by a con artist. 

Although it's not a great book, it's not boring either. Reader is not tempted to abandon. An OK affair for light reading. 

The book ends but the story doesn't. The espionage chapter is closed but the long con chapter remains open for the next book of the series. 

Don't' read it if you have not read the first and if you do not intend to read the series.