NEXT IN LINE

4 stars out of 5

This is the second book I've read - and thoroughly enjoyed - in this series (this is the fifth), and the same thing happened both times: I found them difficult to "get into" for the first several chapters. They're very well written, so it must be that I'm just not used to the style (and the number of characters to keep straight). But when the lightbulb of understanding finally turns on, from that point in both books I didn't want to put them down.

One of the themes of this one, as it turns out, is kind of sad because it focuses on England's Royal Family, more specifically the late Princess Diana (it's set around 1988, when she was one of the most recognized and loved women on earth). Needless to say, her life must be protected at all times; but the detail of officers charged with that responsibility are thought to be corrupt. Enter Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his capable team - most notably Inspector Ross Hogan - who get assigned to the protection detail not only to do that job but unearth the illegal activities of the existing detail. It gets quite exciting, but I daresay the real Royal Family may not be too fond of the details (nope, can't explain - you'll just have to read it for yourself).

There's a concurrent theme as well, this one set in the art world; Warwick's wife, Beth, works in a prominent art gallery. But a prisoner they've put in jail has a duplicitous attorney, Booth Watson (who for whatever reason is always referred to by both his first and last name) more intent on stealing his client's money than defending him and an ex-wife, Christina, who doesn't care about the money but wants the artwork he's accumulated over the years. She's also friends with Beth - or so she's trying to make Beth believe. This one's not a case of determining which one is the "bad guy," but rather which one will end up outfoxing the others.

Both plots are quite complex, woven with detail and, on occasion, a bit of humor. As always, an interesting, entertaining read that makes me eager for the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Excellent!

Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer (HarperCollins, September 2022); 385 pp.

OVER MY DEAD BODY

4 stars out of 5

When I read any book that I'm planning to review, I jot on a 3 x 5 lined pad notes of important characters and events to refresh my memory when I've finished. Well, for this book I ended up with nine pages - far exceeding my usual three or four. That should tell you that if you read this one, you'll need to pay close attention because there are a ton of characters and subplots that switch at the drop of a paragraph. That said, I found it to be quite enjoyable, and it stands alone well despite being the fourth in a series (coming from one who didn't read the first three).

The London Metro Police's Unsolved Murders Unit includes several top-notch investigators such as Detective William Warwick - basically the star of the series - and the more offbeat Ross Hogan, who recently was pulled in to help after some years as an undercover agent. They've got no shortage of cases, though at the top of the list is tracking down Miles Faulkner, a millionaire art collected who's gone afoul of the law. Problem is, he turned up dead a couple of months earlier, as attested to by officers who attended his funeral. Warwick, though, is convinced the death was faked - aided and abetted by his long-time and super-loyal attorney, Booth Watson. To help, Warwick turns to his museum-employed wife, Beth, who's an air-kissing friend of Faulkner's greedy ex-wife, Christina.

While the Warwicks are on a vacation cruise, the detective meets the grandson of a family business dynasty. The young kid hopes to emulate William and go into law enforcement, so they do a bit of bonding - especially after the iron-fisted grandfather turns up dead. Back in the office, other members of the team are trying to bring down a loan shark who doesn't take it lightly when borrowers can't pay up and a husband who may be trying to add his new wife to the list of former wives the team think he also murdered.

Each of these scenarios brings its own set of characters and locales and transition among them all isn't always clear (thus underscoring the caution I made earlier about the need to pay close attention). But the tension - and the team's moving their investigations along to a successful end - kept me reading and, I must say, warming up to Warwick and Hogan (emphasis on the latter) to the point of looking forward to their next adventure. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for introducing me to this series by way of a pre-release review copy. Well done!

Over My Dead Body by Jeffrey Archer (HarperCollins, October 2021); 354 pp.

THIS WAS A MAN

5 stars out of 5

Fans of the author's Clifton Chronicles series, like me, may hate to see it come to an end - it's rather like losing an old friend. For those who aren't familiar with the series, though, my suggestion is to pass on this one (or better yet, go back and read at least a few of the previous six). Why? Because while the author does a great job of wrapping up all the loose ends in the lives of the main characters, I think enjoyment and appreciation of the final product just won't be as satisfying for those who haven't been following along.

And while I absolutely loved the book, I will note, as I've done in describing other of these books - it is reminiscent of the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods (even the Barrington name is common to both). Mostly, it's the matter-of-fact presentation; no matter what happens, no one gets excited, bent out of shape or otherwise emotionally unhinged. Lost your job and your fortune? Bloody sorry, old chap. Unmarried and pregnant? Dreadful. Do you prefer Earle Grey or camomile?

The prologue here takes place in 1978, followed by a section on Harry Clifton and his wife Emma from 1978 to 1979, and at the end are chapters on Harry and Emma in 1992. In between are looks what's happening in the lives of other characters like Sir Giles Barrington and his wife Karin, Sebastian, Samantha and Jessica Clifton and Lady Virginia Fenwick (when it comes to the latter, I'm sure most readers are hoping she finally will get her comeuppance - but whether or not that happens isn't for me to reveal).

Early on, Harry brings an end to his popular book series, deciding instead to turn his attention to writing his best-ever work. Emma, who's spent the last 10 years as chairwoman of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, gets a call from none other than Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who offers her a job. Sir Giles, meanwhile, is ramping up his efforts as a member of Parliament on the opposing side - pitting him squarely against his sister Emma.

One of the endearing points of this book to me, in fact, is the inside look at British politics, some of which, as a personal aside, could well be applied to the current state of affairs here in the United States. Sir Giles, for instance, quips to his wife Karin: "...you have to understand that being a scoundrel is simply part of a politician's job description."

Then there are flashes of the past; Sebastian, who while waiting to visit a jail prisoner, reads a copy of the Daily Mail filled with photos of Prince Charles and Lady Diana talking at a garden party. "Diana looked really happy, while the Prince looked as if he was opening a power station," the accompanying story noted.

Indeed.

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer (St. Martin's Press, November 2016); 432 pp.

MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD

4 stars out of 5

This is the fifth book in the Clifton Chronicles series, and - like the others - I enjoyed reading it. But up front, I'll say this: If you don't like abrupt cliffhangers that won't be resolved until the next book is published - in this case, I'd expect about a year from now - you won't be happy with this one. I've read that there will be two more to close out the series, and most certainly, I'll be among the readers (despite knowing full well by the time the next one is released I'll have forgotten everything in this one). And to those interested in the series who haven't read any of the others, I add this: Start at the beginning. This one, in particular, doesn't seem to me to do quite as well on its own.

Like the others, it follows the family - with emphasis on writer Harry Clifton and his wife Emma, chairwoman of Barrington Shipping, their son, Sebastian, and Emma's brother Sir Giles Barrington - from around 1964 to 1970. Home-based in London, they're all seasoned travelers, and the shipping line regularly travels to the United States. Sebastian, an up-and-coming bank official, proposes marriage to the beautiful Samantha, who is American - thus setting the stage for a very long-distance romance. Sections are divided up by character and time period; and throughout the whole thing, it's interesting to to see how everything and everyone is connected, whether by blood, business or enemies (or any combination of the three).

The book begins as Harry and Emma are traveling on the maiden voyage of the company's Buckingham - when it appears the ship is about to be blown to smithereens by a huge bomb (one no doubt intended to kill Harry and Emma as well). Since this happens at the start of the book, I don't think it's a spoiler to say the pair survive the attack.

Then, Harry visits his New York publisher to get good news and learns that another author, Anatoly Babakov, has been imprisoned by the Russian government, charged with writing a killer tell-all about his work with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. That's a travesty, Harry decides, and launches a campaign to demand his release and publication of the book that will require at least one visit to Russia that puts his own life at risk. Not content to be a sit-at-home wife, while Harry is busy fighting the Communist regime, Emma is kept busy fending off a libel lawsuit filed by long-time foe Lady Virginia Fenwick, Sir Giles's ex-wife.

Sebastian, meantime, runs headstrong into trouble with his proposal to the lovely Samantha. The plot thickens, as it were, when Sebastian's intended climb to the top of Farthing's Bank is thwarted when a rival acquires power that may allow him to accomplish his goal of bringing the talented Sebastian to his knees. While all this is going on, Sir Giles - a minister of the Crown who's looking to move up the governmental ladder himself - heads out on an official trip to Berlin (at this time, the Berlin Wall is standing) that doesn't end particularly well. 

Because of the time period, the author gets away quite nicely with playing the name-dropping game; and because I was a relatively young adult at the time, they're familiar to me as well (Nikita Khrushchev, Harold Wilson and Barry Goldwater come to mind). As for style, the books in this series always remind me of the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods (and is it just me who wonders if it is by coincidence that the Barrington name shows up in both authors' books)? In any event, both authors are British, so here - as in Woods' series - everything is matter-of-fact and the characters just don't get very excited no matter what happens. Someone got bumped off? Too bad, old chap, but let's have a spot of tea and get on with it.

Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer (St. Martin's Press, February 2015); 415 pp.