Book Log 2007 #30: Harvard Yard by William Martin

Peter Fallon, the hero of Martin's earlier book Back Bay, is at the center of another historical mystery entwined with family history. In this case it's a lost Shakespeare play, the text of which has been hidden at Harvard since its inception. The book follows the hunt for this priceless object - both in the present-day and throughout the centuries.

I was a little reluctant to pick this one up - you hear enough about Harvard around here - but I think this is likely my favorite book of Martin's. Both the historical and present story lines hold up well, and is certainly more engaging than the likes of Annapolis. It also helps that I've read this book much closer to its original publishing date. I picked up Back Bay about 20 years after it was published, and the present day story was, in some respects, pretty dated.

Fallon is also at the center of Martin's newest book. Given the Harvard connection, it seems like a matter of time before Fallon and Robert Langdon cross paths. Just as long as Dan Brown doesn't do the bulk of the writing.