Trouble on the Thames by Victor Bridges

Trouble on the Thames by Victor Bridges
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A classic spy thriller set in pre-war late 1930 's and written by the author at that time. Owen Bradwell a distinguished and courageous naval officer fears his career is blighted by colour blindness but is offered a chance for a career change by checking up on an acquaintance who has been betraying state secrets to the Nazis. His mission starts out as a regular surveillance operation, then bodies start to fall. Lucky to escape he is taken in by an interior decorating partnership, yes no spelling mistakes. Any more and I would reveal the plot, however the the most enjoyable part of his book is the language. As it was written pre-war it appears to give an accurate of reflection of the syntax of the day which is frightfully good and admirable. This apart it is a competent spy thriller.

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Last Date by Uwe Andreas Siebert

Last Date by Uwe Andreas Siebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Internet security is a hot a topic today with only just recently Ashley Madison client details being lost to the cyber thiefs. This book highlights the risks of online dating and the weaknesses of the Internet. Adrian Richter has been trying to meet the right girl but to date no success, he then meets Doreen with whom he has a great connection until she is brutally murdered, with Adrian a prime suspect. Avoiding detention by the police and with the help of his friends they start to track Doreen's killer unaware she is only one of four. This is an excellent translation from German, easy reading and fast flowing exciting story. I should warn those a little squeamish that some scenes are extremely disturbing due to their graphic content. But don't let this put you off it is minimal but I think necessary to get the message across - be safe online.

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The Collector by Anne Laure Thiéblemont

The Collector by Anne-Laure Thiéblemont
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have read a few of Le French Book translations and all have been pretty good and this is no different, except for the ending which for me was disappointing. Marion Spicer is a private investigator within the arts and antiquities market in Paris. Inheriting a huge and prestigious collection from a father she never knew, Marion's life changes dramatically as she is plunged into murderous chaos, while she tries to find three priceless statues which are conditions of her fathers will. The writing style is easy reading and the translation excellent, as no attempt has been made to make it French by adding little words or phases to create the atmosphere, this done solely in English which I prefer. It might have been awarded four stars but the ending on its own prevented this.

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A Spy Came Home by H.N. Wake

A Spy Came Home by H.N. Wake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had it's attractions from the beginning - spies, politics, corruption and gun violence. A mix of subjects that for me were not going to disappoint. But after getting started I realised apart from being an entertaining book it is also very thought provoking. We all know how mad some Americans are about guns and the havoc they reek in schools, malls and theatres to name a few mass shooting locations. In the UK we are conditioned to abhor guns and their use as the laws are very restrictive on guns and their users, so when we are introduced to the Society For Guns, it is difficult to believe such an organisation even has a chance to influence government far less corrupt it. How much is fiction and how much is based on reality we do not know, but it does make you think. Once this is all mixed in with an ex CIA spy using their tradecraft to prevent the gun lobby from stopping the passing of a very important ban on assault weapons, HN Wake has delivered a very good book that not only entertains but educates as well.

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Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney

Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I knew when I selected this book it was not in my normal type of murder mystery with a name like "Killer Jam" and a cover that gave the feel of the WI. I was not disappointed, it did feel like a WI baking / cooking journal with murder and fraud only as the sideline. That aside the actual storyline was okay with with standard murder induced by greed. This style is definitely going to appeal to an older female readership or Great British Bake Off fans. Lucy Resnick has retired from her job as a journalist in Houston, Texas to buy and run her grandmother's farm in Buttercup ( one of the many quaint names which tell me WI ). As she struggles to get set up in her new role of homesteader Lucy is drawn into being a suspect for the murder of a local VIP. This turns her back to her journalistic instincts and she starts to track down the killer to avoid her own incarceration. Not to spoil the book, but you do get the recipes for all the mention jams, cakes and pies at the end.

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Killing Maine by Mike Bond

Killing Maine by Mike Bond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The synopsis of the book was really attractive with a mix of politics and murder mystery set in Maine. Yes it was a good story and merits the three stars on that basis however I found the writing style not an easy one to read. Pono Hawkins a surfer and veteran special forces travels from Hawaii to Maine to help his services colleague prove his innocence of murder and criminal damage of wind turbines. Maine is in the grip of industrial wind corporations who regularly paid off the local politicians in order to line their pockets with federal wind subsidies. To provide additional entertainment the author gives us the lowdown on Pono's attraction to women. Overall the book is a good story but I was distracted by the style which ultimately diminished my enjoyment.

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Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville

Those We Left Behind by Stuart Neville
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A steady and reliable murder mystery crime novel. What does that mean? It is very readable but does not thrill, the story is good but predictable and the ending is not surprising. DCI Flanagan gets involved in an old case she assisted in several years ago. She got to be the only Police person 12 year old Ciaran Devine would talk to after confessing to murdering his foster parent. She believes there is more to his confession than is visible to everyone else. It is now seven years later and Ciaran is being released from lock up. His probation officer Paula Cunningham calls Serena Flanagan to get first hand understanding of her new assignee. As always curiosity is irresistible and his release starts a deadly chain of events.

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