Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 15 February 2024.
A copy of this column also appeared on the Canberra Daily website.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews for Glenrock, The Tainted Cup and The Murder Inn.
Tag: Penguin
The Gathering by C. J. Tudor
Publisher: Michael Joseph (ebook – 16 April 2024)
Series: Standalone/Book One
Length: 412 pages
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Acclaimed author C. J. Tudor continues her excellent run of clever and dark thrillers with the intense, inventive, and gripping horror murder mystery, The Gathering.
C. J. Tudor is a talented and highly inventive author who has been producing some intriguing reads over the last couple of years. Starting with her 2018 debut, The Chalk Man, Tudor has consistently produced some compelling books with clever horror or psychological thriller elements. Her other books include The Hiding Place (also titled The Taking of Annie Thorne), The Other People, The Burning Girls and The Drift. While Tudor’s intriguing novels have often stood out to me, generally because their unique plots, I unfortunately haven’t had the opportunity to read any of her prior works, which is something I really regret. However, this has recently changed as I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Tudor’s latest book, The Gathering, an intriguing murder mystery thriller with some distinctive element behind it.
Welcome to the small town of Deadhart, Alaska, home to a small population of living humans and a colony of vampyrs. Maligned and hunted beings throughout the world, vampyrs in America now have legal protection from unsanctioned killings, as long as they don’t harm any humans. While members of the Colony attempt to stay away from humans, old hatreds, prejudices and grudges rear their ugly head when a young teenager is found murdered with his throat ripped out and his body drained of blood.
Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings and physiology, is sent to Deadhart to determine if a vampyr committed the murder and authorise a cull if the Colony is unwilling to hand over the perpetrator. Arriving in the small town, Barbara finds the local inhabitants afraid and angry, looking for vengeance for the death of the boy and determined to wipe out the vampyrs for good, especially as this case bears a striking similarity to a previous killing blamed on the Colony 25 years ago.
Beginning her investigation, Barbara soon discovers that there is far more to the case then initially appears. Much of the evidence has been staged, and no one is willing to tell her the truth about what has really going on in town. When more deaths occurring throughout Deadhart and the town in uproar, Barbara deputises former Deadhart sheriff Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous killings nearly left him for dead.
As Barbara and Jenson attempt to discover the culprit, it soon becomes clear that someone is attempting to stir up a conflict between the people of Deadhart and their vampyr neighbours. With both settlements on the warpath, Barbara and Jenson need to dive into Deadhart’s dark history to truly understand the crime before them. But is the killer a bloodthirsty vampyr, a psychotic human with a taste for chaos, or something far worse?
Tudor absolutely blew me away with this exceptional and highly clever read. The Gathering was a brilliant book that expertly combined an inventive and well-established concept with a complex murder mystery. Loaded with intriguing and damaged characters and a dark story of death, revenge and oppression, The Gathering was an extremely awesome book that I could not turn away from.
Thanks to its vampyr focused murder mystery, I knew I was going to really enjoy the plot behind The Gathering well in advance of reading it, and boy was I proven right. Tudor does a wonderful job quickly and effectively setting the scene, and you are soon introduced to the town of Deadhart, the concept of vampyrs and the particulars of the murder. What follows is a complex case as protagonist Barbara Atkins is forced to investigate as an outsider, as most of the town is filled with anti-vampyr sentiment. Further complications are added when Atkins finds a range of dark secrets hidden throughout Deadhart, both in the present and in the past, which have bearing on the modern case. At the same time, the various residents of Deadhart and the Colony react in different ways to the murder, using it to restart old grudges or bring long-festering hurts to the surface.
The Gathering’s narrative progresses at a fast and compelling pace, and you are soon treated to revelation after revelation, as well as several additional killings. I loved the combination of a modern-day investigation and dives back into various periods of Deadhart’s history that emerged, especially as clues in the past have huge bearings on the modern story. Tudor cleverly builds up several simultaneous mysteries and ongoing storylines, and soon the protagonist is not only trying to discover who the killer is but prevent a war between Deadhart and the Colony. Everything leads up nicely to a pretty epic conclusion, which was well foreshadowed, with some pretty awesome revelations coming to the fore. I loved how well several compelling character arcs came full circle during this confrontation, and the main antagonist of the plot proved to be quite sinister and well established. Several other tertiary mysteries are also solved near the end, and Tudor ensures that many storylines are tied off in a satisfying and clever way. There are some awesome twists at the end, including one surrounding one of the book’s most compelling characters, and this last twist in particular is likely to lead to additional books in the series. I honestly was the hooked the entire way through this amazing story, and I really appreciate how Tudor brought it together.
I’m a huge sucker for classic for thrillers with distinctive twists to them, and The Gathering was a great example of this. Tudor managed to pull together a complex murder mystery that not only features an isolated Alaskan town with a dark history and multiple complex and haunted characters, but also contains an elaborate vampiric society and history. All these elements are used extremely well throughout The Gathering, and I was extremely impressed with how Tudor was able to tie everything so effectively together. Tudor makes sure to tell multiple character-focused storylines at the same time, which allows for a more multifaceted plot that goes in some very interesting direction. The split focus on several captivating and distinctive figures works wonders to enhance this, and Tudor uses this to showcase the rising tension in the town, and the various perspectives surrounding it. There are some great plot lines here, and the way that they interacted and came together was very impressive. I was particularly impressed by the chapters that kept coming back to an unnamed figure being held prisoner by a mysterious captor. This storyline was weaved throughout the novel, and I was constantly left guessing about who the figures were and how it would work into the main story. The reveal surrounding it was not what I was expecting, but I loved how well it set up a major twist at the end. Other character-focused storylines also proved to be just as compelling, and the way everything came together was very impressive. I honestly knocked out this book in just over a day, it was that damn good, and I cannot emphasise how cleverly Tudor brought everything together.
One aspect of this book that I really must highlight is just how great a setting Deadhart proved to be as it enhances the plot of The Gathering in so many excellent ways. The well-written depictions of the frigid Alaskan wilderness and secluding storms allows Tudor to bring together a classic thriller background of an isolated, snowed-in town, where the protagonist is unable to get backup and is forced to rely on unlikely help from the local outsider. While this always makes for a great story background, Tudor enhances it by building up a dark history around Deadhart and the Colony, that plays so well into the modern storyline. This unique history of the town was expertly explored by Tudor, and it worked to produce a much more complicated mystery, one dotted with historical grudges and family feuds. I particularly loved how effectively Tudor explored the growing terror infesting Deadhart as the killings continue, as both the humans and the isolated vampyrs begin to fear what is to come. This undercurrent of fear and the resulting rage it leads to is almost palpable at times, and you can fully understand how and why the various characters act the way they do.
Another element of The Gathering that really impressed me was how well Tudor set up an alternate world where vampyrs exist. The whole concept of the vampyrs as biological offshoots with several classic vampiric traits, including blood drinking and an aversion to sunlight, is quickly and effectively established by Tudor, who does a wonderful job of immediately bringing readers into this world. As the book continues, the reader gets a more in-depth look at the vampyrs, their biology, their psychology, and their history, especially when it comes to their interactions with humans. This examination of the interaction with humans is particularly key, as Tudor explores the prejudices that emerged, as humans learned to hate the entire species. Featuring some fantastic parallels between other social rights issues, the relationship between the two species is explored in detail, and then applied to isolated Deadhart. Watching the prejudices of the town come to light again was a great part of the book, especially as it is well contrasted by looks at the vampyr community. As the story continues, you soon realise that there are monsters on both sides of the biological line, and figuring out who is crossing this line is a major part of the plot. Defining vampyrs in both a scientific and social way proved to be very interesting, and I liked the attempts at humanising the figures and making them less of a horror monster. That being said, there are some dark and scary scenes in The Gathering, especially when the vampyrs get angry. Overall, the use of vampyrs is in The Gathering was very cleverly, and Tudor really highlighted her writing ability by setting this up so effectively.
The final element of the book I want to highlight is the amazing group of complex and damaged characters featured throughout The Gathering. Tudor clearly has an aptitude for bringing together a compelling cast, as the reader is treated to a range of different figures, each of whom have their own compelling histories and dark pasts mottled by the troubled relationships between humans and vampyrs. The most prominent of these is the visiting detective, Barbara Atkins, who is forced to battle mystery, local hatred, and her own unique feelings about vampyrs as she determines whether a cull is required. Showcased as the calm and reasonable inclusion to the investigation, Barbara finds herself severely tested by the town’s prejudices and mistrust, while trying to find the truth no matter what. Much of Barbara’s actions are guided by rationality, although there is an intriguing look back into her past, as her own experiences with small towns with vampyr colonies plays a big role in her motivations. As such, she is an excellent central protagonist, and I loved how well she played the outsider figure coming into town.
In addition to Barbara, The Gathering also features a complex group of locals, each of whom have their own connection to Deadhart’s dark history and the hostile relationship between the town and the Colony. Standouts include former sheriff Jenson Tucker, whose previous investigation of a vampyr death left him as the town pariah. Tucker goes through a powerful redemption arc in The Gathering, and he proved to be an able secondary protagonist as he comes to terms with his many secrets. Other great characters include an ancient vampyr, trapped in the form of a child, whose connection to the dark side of Deadhart becomes a driving force for their revenge. There is also a mysterious local preacher determined to bring violence to the vampyrs, and who proves to be an intriguing counterpoint to the main protagonist Barbara. Finally, the various members of an original Deadhart family with a long simmering hatred for all thing vampyr, adds a great amount of drama to the plot, not only because of their connections to the previous killing in town but because their well-established fear of vampyrs leads to much of The Gathering’s conflict. These characters, and more, are very well written, and their dark attitudes, fearful actions and unique viewpoints add a great deal to this already impressive and emotionally charged novel.
C. J. Tudor deeply impressed me as The Gathering turned out to be one hell of a read. Expertly utilising her inventive and clever alternate world in conjunction with a captivating mystery, Tudor wrote a particularly epic tale in The Gathering, and I had such a lot of fun getting through it. An intense and powerful read, The Gathering is one of the best books I have read so far in 2024 and I cannot recommend it enough.
Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz
Publisher: Michael Joseph (Trade Paperback – 20 February 2024)
Series: Orphan X – Book 9
Length: 420 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Leading thriller author Gregg Hurwitz continues his high-octane Orphan X series in a big way with the epic and compelling novel, Lone Wolf.
The Orphan X books by Gregg Hurwitz is an epic series that follows a former elite government assassin, Evan Smoak, known to the intelligence community as Orphan X. Upon leaving the program, Smoak decided to make up for his prior misdeeds by becoming an elite vigilante, The Nowhere Man, who helps those with nowhere else to turn. This series started back in 2016 with Orphan X, although I personally started reading it with the fourth book, Out of the Dark. Out of the Dark had a great plot behind it that really drew me in, as Evan went to war with a corrupt US President. This resulted in an amazing and highly entertaining read that made me a fan of Hurwitz’s writing and ensured I would grab the next book in the series, Into the Fire. Into the Fire was a particularly epic read, and the Orphan X books quickly entered my yearly must-read books list as a result. I have since had an outstanding time reading the following releases, with Prodigal Son, Dark Horse and The Last Orphan being awesome in their own way. As such, when 2024 came around, I had very little choice but to read the latest Orphan X book, Lone Wolf, which took the protagonist in another interesting direction with a deadly adventure.
Evan Smoak, better known as either as Orphan X or the Nowhere Man, is suffering a personal crisis. Having reached out to his long-lost father, Evan is in a dangerous emotional spiral, and is no longer the calm and confident secret agent he once was. Looking for an easy mission to get back into his stride, Evan finds himself with an unusual job, helping a young girl find her lost dog. Initially reluctant, Evan agrees to help, but this unlikely job will lead the infamous vigilant into all manner of trouble.
An elite female hitwoman is in Los Angeles, taking out a range of seemingly unconnected people. Known only as the Wolf, she excels in targeted strikes and apparent accidental deaths, leaving no trace behind. However, her final kill leaves behind two witnesses when Evan arrives on the scene looking for the lost dog. Forced to intervene to save the daughter of the Wolf’s last victim, Evan finds himself a target of an assassin just as deadly as himself.
With the girl he just saved still in danger from a vengeful Wolf, Evan decides to save her and stop this killer terrorising his city. But first, he needs to work out who hired her and what secrets lie behind their deaths. His investigation leads him to two rival tech billionaires, both of whom had a motive for hiring the assassin and organising the killings. To save the day, Evan needs to find out which of them is responsible and destroy them and the psychotic killer they hired. But is the emotionally compromised Nowhere Man up to the task?
Lone Wolf was another outstanding addition to the Orphan X series that really showcased Hurwitz’s distinctive writing style. Blending an intense, action-packed story, with some outstanding character development, this was an amazing book that I deeply enjoyed reading.
Hurwitz comes up with a pretty excellent story for Lone Wolf that dragged me in very quickly. Starting off with some intense and personal character work around Evan Smoak that follows through from the last few books, Hurwitz does a good job setting the scene for much of the story off the bat, especially when it comes to the protagonist’s distracted headspace and his reliance on his unconventional family. The author also spends this time introducing one of the book’s main villains, the Wolf, who serves as an effective mirror for Orphan X. This initial setup works very well, as you quickly get drawn into the plot by the Wolf callous nature, while also getting invested in the protagonist’s emotional well-being. These story aspects quickly collide, as Evan, who finds himself helping his recently discovered niece, accidently intrudes upon one of the Wolf’s kills. The resulting extended action sequence is glorious, as Evan is forced to contend with the assassin and an army of cops, while trying to keep the daughter of the Wolf’s last victim alive. This entire action scene is a major highlight of the first half of the book, and Hurwitz wrote a brilliant continuous and frenetic chase sequence that pushes Evan to the limit.
Following this chase sequence, the pace of the book slows down a little, although Evan still finds himself in trouble as he enters a game of cat-and-mouse with the Wolf over the fate of the bystander he just saved. Forced to determine who hired the Wolf, Evan begins a compelling investigation angle where he probes two rival billionaires with twisted and unique morals. At the same time, Evan also finds himself in several intriguing personal situations, including trouble with his half-brother, mentoring his adopted daughter, and even a rather entertaining side-story about a battle for control of his building’s HOA. These work to keep the unique feel of the Orphan X series intact, and I loved how emotionally rich the book got at times.
The final third of Lone Wolf is mostly awesome, starting off with a great sequence that sees Evan interrogate a gang of thugs who have details he needs about the Wolf. The very entertaining and over-the-top way he goes about getting said information is so damn good, and it was another major highlight off the book. Unfortunately, the rest of the novel seems a little rushed, and frankly Hurwitz could have benefited from including another 100 pages or so to really wrap everything up perfectly. While it is still a fun and exciting read, the reveal about who is truly behind everything isn’t too surprising, despite some attempts at misdirection. In addition, the final confrontation against the main antagonists is somewhat weak, and could have been a little more epic, especially as one character went down way too easily. Still, the deep character development aspects of the story end up being extremely strong, and I liked the intriguing final twist that is going to cause additional drama in the next book. As such, I felt this was a really good story and I got so wrapped up in it.
I really enjoyed how Lone Wolf came together, especially as Hurwitz brought his usual blend of intensity and compelling human moments to this latest book. There is a great balance here between character development and thriller action, which I deeply appreciated. Indeed, I felt this was one of the better-balanced novels that Hurwitz has written recently. While the action sequences are always the highlight of this book, I have really appreciated how Hurwitz seeks to offset them with more typical moments, and the focus on character relationships and ordinary occurrences, such as a funny HOA election, adds a certain level of fun to the book. I really do think this was a great entry in the Orphan X series, and like most of the books in this series, Lone Wolf can mostly be read as a standalone, as Hurwitz is good at revisiting the key plot points from the previous books. However, those readers going in with a greater understanding of some of the characters, especially the protagonist and his complex relationships, will get a bit more out of this book, and it was fantastic to see the further development.
As I have alluded to a few times above, a lot of Lone Wolf’s strength lies in the excellent character work that Hurwitz layers into the story. Much of this is done to attempt to humanise the usually deadly protagonists featured within, especially as many of them are trying to adjust to a more civilian focused life after years being government assassins. The most prominent of these is Evan Smoak, the infamous Orphan X who his trying to redeem himself as the Nowhere Man. While Evan is usually a calm figure, minus his OECD, in this book he finds himself completely outside of his headspace as a bad encounter with his biological father at the start throws him completely out of whack. This was a very interesting situation, and it was really moving to see this implacable figure so out of sorts and relying on his family, both adopted and newly discovered, to find himself. Watching Evan grapple with the many personal battles surrounding him is an amazing part of the book, and you really get drawn into his emotional concerns. At the same time, Evan continues to struggle with the more mundane elements of a normal existence, and the various awkward encounters he has with certain family members and the residence of his building, show you just how lost and damaged he truly is. All this results in a great portrait of a complex figure, and Evan Smoak is honestly one of the best and most unique thriller protagonists out there.
While Evan is the focus of the book, he would be nothing without the unique array of side characters that have been drawn to him over the years and who supporting him in various ways. The most prominent of these is Joey Morales, Evan’s surrogate daughter and former trainee spy who serves as his tech support. Flippant, immature and only slightly more normal than her mentor, Joey serves as the major humanising force in Evan’s life and is a key ally, despite being a teenager. Joey is always a fun highlight, especially as she can push the protagonist’s buttons while bringing out his protective side. However, I liked how Hurwitz showed in Lone Wolf that despite her advanced knowledge of the world of espionage, she is still a teenager girl, and the scenes where Evan talks her through a social crisis, is surprisingly heartwarming and really captures their close relationship. The other major character is Tommy Stojack, Evan’s armourer and one of the few constant figures in his life. While cantankerous and unusual, Tommy serves as Evan’s rock for much of the series, and it was great to see him in this role again. While Tommy isn’t too controversial in Lone Wolf, there were some interesting developments with him that are going to be cool to follow in the next book.
Of course, no thriller would be complete without its villains, and Hurwitz did a great job of this with both the Wolf and the nefarious billionaire who may be behind her. Both are threatening in their own way, although I think I preferred the Wolf, as her deadly skills, ruthlessness, and enjoyment of the kill, made her an interesting opponent for Evan. The billionaire figure was also great, and his various monologues about the state of society and how his control of personal information allows him to control people in so many ways, was nearly as menacing as the killing. Throw in some intriguing new family elements for the protagonist, as well as the eccentric residence of his apartment complex (minus his long-term love interest who has been seemingly cut from the books), and this was an excellent group of characters whose interactions deeply enhanced the narrative.
Gregg Hurwitz continues to impress with his latest addition to the very cool Orphan X series with Lone Wolf. An emotionally charged thriller with powerful character work, Lone Wolf is an outstanding read that comes highly recommended. I cannot wait to see how Hurwitz follows up Lone Wolf in the future and I remain a massive fan of this amazing series.
Quick Review – I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 16 March 2023)
Series: Standalone
Length: 407 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Last year I was lucky enough to read and review the new Harlan Coben novel, I Will Find You. This was the first book I had read from Coben, a man renowned for his twisty and tricky thriller books, and it proved to be a pretty cool read. While I really enjoyed I Will Find You, I never actually got around to reviewing it, which was a pretty major regret I had about my writing last year. However, as I just received a copy of Coben’s new book, Think Twice, I figured this would be a good time to finally review this amazing book.
Plot Synopsis:
David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream – married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew – when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way.
David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own – his son’s. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely.
Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl’s sister arrives – and drops a bombshell.
She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar – and even though David realizes it can’t be, he knows it is. It’s Matthew, and he’s still alive.
David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible – save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.
The first thing I need to point out about I Will Find You is that Coben came up with a pretty awesome standalone concept that really draws your attention from the get-go. An innocent man trapped in prison for a crime he didn’t commit is always a great start to the story, but combine that with proof that his murdered child is still alive and with someone else, and you have yourself a real winning plot that I really fell in love with. Coben easily has the writing chops to back this story idea up, and the resulting book turns into an impressive read.
I really enjoyed so many great elements of I Will Find You, especially as Coben throws in his trademark twists, elaborate action-set pieces, and fantastically complex character motivations. The book starts with an awesome, if slightly coincidental, prison break (thank God for family connections) and develops into a good fugitive storyline with an investigative bent to it. The resulting chase between the protagonist and his pursuers, both official and unofficial keeps the pulse racing, and I loved the combination of two fast-talking cops leading the main pursuit, and a shadowy, influential family invested in his capture/death. The investigation angle works out very well, and the combination of Matthew’s straightforward methods, and the subtler results from Rachel, the sister-in-law, allow for some intriguing progress towards the plots conclusion.
The various resulting twists that lead up to the end of the book are well handled, and I loved how compelling Coben was able to make the plot of I Will Find You. I particularly loved the elaborate, sinister, and slightly oddball motivations behind the actual crime, as well the lengths the antagonist was willing to go to secure what they wanted. The unique relationships that also emerge make for some fun reading, and the compelling and over-the-top main story is well balanced with the inherent tragedy of the protagonists and the sorrow they feel for their loss. The entire book comes to quite a fantastic conclusion which, while it could have used a little more explaining, proved to be very satisfying.
While I did enjoy the story that Coben came up with for I Will Find You, and he presented it extremely well, I did myself disliking certain elements of the plot, namely that the author relied way too much on coincidence and story elements that come out of nowhere. A good example of this is the machinations of a certain mob-boss, which helped lead to the protagonist’s situation. While the eventual confrontation between David and this mobster is really well written, I honestly think their involvement in the whole affair could have been set up better, as their actions, while interesting to the plot, was a bit of a sudden inclusion. This, and other confidences and unanswered questions, conspired to throw me off the groove of the story at key points of the book, so I didn’t have as much fun as I possibly could of. Still, this is a mostly minor issue for me, and I had an overall exceptional time with this book.
I Will Find You was a pretty novel book, and it proved to be a fantastic introduction to Harlan Coben for me. The elaborate and intense story writing really grabbed me, and I loved the author’s ability to pull together a great character-driven twist. As such, I Will Find You is well worth checking out, especially to those who are already fans of the author.
The Murder Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox
Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 13 February 2024)
Series: The Inn – Book Two
Length: 307 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The superstar writing team of James Patterson and Candice Fox produce another wildly entertaining and captivating read with the impressive and over-the-top thriller, The Murder Inn.
As one of the world’s best-known authors, James Patterson needs very little introduction, especially with a huge range of exciting thrillers and gripping murder mysteries to his name. Patterson has been particularly prolific in recent years, as he has been writing collaboratively with talented authors to create a range of unique reads. I have had a wonderful time reading some of the more recent Patterson collaborative books, including Blow Back with Brendan DuBoise, The Perfect Assassin with Brian Sitts, Lost with James O. Born, Death of the Black Widow with J. D. Barker (one of my favourite books of 2022) and the short story collection 3 Days to Live (featuring three additional authors).
One of my favourite authors that Patterson regularly collaborates with is Australian writer Candice Fox. Fox is one of Australia’s best thriller authors with some great books to her name, including the excellent Crimson Lake series, and impressive standalone thrillers like Fire With Fire, Gathering Dark and The Chase. Patterson and Fox have written several books together in the past, including the highly addictive read, 2 Sisters Detective Agency, which saw two mismatched women forced to investigate a brutal crime after finding out they’re sisters. I really enjoyed the intriguing story this fantastic writing team cooked up and I have been keen to read more from this pairing for a while. I finally got my chance this week as I just got my hands on an early copy of the upcoming thriller by Patterson and Fox, The Murder Inn. The sequel to their previous novel, The Inn, The Murder Inn was a particularly fun and enjoyable book that I powered through in no time at all.
Former Boston police officer Bill Robinson has found his life getting increasingly complicated ever since he set up his little coast-side guesthouse. Known as The Inn by the Sea, the picturesque dwelling in Gloucester, Massachusetts, has become something of a safe house for several unusual long-term boarders, including his former FBI agent girlfriend, the town’s sheriff, disturbed veteran Nick Jones, an elderly former gangster, and other mysterious or outrageous residents. However, trouble always seems to find the occupants of the Inn, especially when secrets from their complex pasts resurface.
Bill Robinson once again finds himself on the receiving end of this trouble after attending a funeral for former police colleague Mark Bulger. While Robison has fond memories of his dead friend, Bulger was a particularly crooked cop, whose secret stash of stolen evidence could put many dangerous people away, including notorious drug lord Norman Driver. When Driver’s thugs come looking for it, the Bulger widow, Shauna, finds herself caught in the crossfire, but she quickly proves that she isn’t the frail old lady everyone thinks she is.
As Shauna embarks on a one-woman crusade against Norman Driver, Robinson tries to help, but his actions only put him and the Inn in the crosshairs of the crime lord. At the same time, he also finds himself trying to uncover the secrets surrounding his best friend, Nick Jones. Nick has been receiving threatening messages regarding his former squad in Afghanistan, whose dark deeds might soon come to light. Caught between criminals, dangerous vigilantes, and a dark killer stalking Nick, the Inn soon finds itself under siege, and not everyone will survive the night.
This was an extremely awesome and compelling read from Patterson and Fox that had me hooked the entire way through. Featuring a great story, loaded with action, intrigue and fun characters, The Murder Inn was an outstanding novel and one that proves near impossible to put down.
The wonderful team of Patterson and Fox came up with an excellent narrative for The Murder Inn that really draws you in quickly. Initially starting with background on side-character Nick Jones, The Murder Inn soon introduces several intriguing storylines as protagonist Bill Robinson finds himself drawn into the various troubles of his residents and friends. What starts as a funeral for a friend soon sees Robinson drawn into a war against a crime lord, as his friend’s widow, the wildly entertaining Shauna Bulger, finds a stash of evidence and then goes to war in the name of justice. At the same time, Robinson finds himself drawn into Jones’s military past, as the consequences of a deadly massacre come to light. Throw in a mysterious guest, personal dramas surrounding the various characters, and other dark secrets emerging, and this proves to be a full and compelling story. This explosive mixture of storylines comes together extremely well as the book continues, and I loved how each of the major characters are expertly explored, especially Shauna and Nick, which allows you to get really drawn into their personal histories and demons. Thanks to a series of betrayals and dark secrets, you are never quite sure who is going to survive this dangerous story, and the constant threat and brushes with death upped the ante in a huge way. I loved some of the great twists and turns that emerged, and Patterson and Fox ensured that parts of the story got wonderfully over-the-top in all the right ways, especially when it comes to key character deaths. This was such a fun and exciting story to read, and I managed to blow through it so damn quickly.
Unsurprisingly, The Murder Inn utilised Patterson’s typical writing style, which I think worked extremely well for this impressive and enjoyable story. The use of a huge number of short, sharp chapters really draws the reader in and sets an incredibly fast pace for the story. Due to how quick these chapters are, and the exciting and constantly evolving story that accompanies it, you honestly have a hard time putting this book down; especially as it is so tempting to read a couple more pages just to see what is going to happen next. This frenetic pace really increases the impact of the story in places, and I loved how well the authors continued to transition between multiple point-of-view characters. The intriguing range of perspectives increased the complexity of the plot, especially as you get to see events through the eyes of all the affected characters, including the villains, and I loved the amazing storylines that emerged as a result. Thanks to this, it proves very hard to stop reading The Murder Inn once you start, and the authors reward you with a ton of great action and some joyfully over-the-top moments. Despite being a sequel, The Murder Inn is essentially a standalone novel, and no knowledge of the previous book is needed to enjoy it. This was such a great story, and the team of Patterson and Fox made sure to display in the best way possible.
Patterson and Fox came up with some great characters for The Murder Inn, and there are some amazingly likeable protagonists showcased throughout the plot. A lot of this focus revolves around protagonist Bill Robinson, the proprietor of The Inn by the Sea and a former cop who is trying to find redemption after a questionable police career. Bill is a great straight man for much of the chaos going on in this book, and his dedication to helping his friends no matter what, made him a very likeable figure. I liked how Robinson’s chapters were the only ones told from the first-person perspective, especially as it gave those chapters some additional importance, and the change of pacing surrounding that was quite fun. It also allowed the reader to get a better look at the nice romance arc surrounding the protagonist, and it was great to see him finally get some happiness, if only temporarily. Robinson’s friend, Nick Jones, also gets a lot of focus in The Murder Inn, as one of the primary storylines revolves around him. Jones, an army veteran, is deeply traumatised by his time in Afghanistan, especially after a dark mission made him question everything. Already damaged by his time in the war and the paranoia that followed, Nick finds himself coming to terms with his past in a big way here, and his battle for redemption is a powerful part of the book.
Probably my favourite character in The Murder Inn was new character Shauna Bulger. The widow of a dirty cop, Shauna finds herself in a dark situation when criminals break into her house, searching for her husband’s secrets. Rather than lying down for them, Shauna fights back and this awakens something primal in her that sees her wage war on the local criminals. Shauna proves to be a hilariously badass vigilante, and it was interesting to see how she finally processed years of trauma into such a violent and over-the-top response. Her counterpart, the crime lord Norman Driver, proves to be an outstanding villain for the story, and I loved how despite being a dangerous man with a dark history, even he was overwhelmed by the unusual inhabitants of the Inn and the other deadly people coming for him. Throw in the other great residence of the Inn, many of whom have interesting history and stories that will no doubt get explored in future books in the series, and you have an amazing cast you can’t help but fall in love with.
Overall, The Murder Inn was an exciting, awesome and captivating read that was everything I hoped it would be and more. James Patterson and Candice Fox once again from to be an effective writing team, and I loved the impressively insane and compelling story they came up with here that I absolutely absorbed. A wonderfully entertaining novel that any thriller fan will have an amazing time with, The Murder Inn is really worth reading.
The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman
Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 13 February 2024)
Series: Alex Delaware – Book 39
Length: 293 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Legendary crime fiction author Jonathan Kellerman returns with another outstanding read in his long-running Alex Delaware series with The Ghost Orchid, which presents the reader with another gripping murder mystery.
Over the last few years, I have developed an awesome and highly enjoyable habit of starting the new year off by reading the new Jonathan Kellerman book as soon as I can. An excellent and well-established crime fiction author, Kellerman has been producing amazing reads for decades, with his best-known works being the Alex Delaware novels, following that follow a plucky psychologist and his cop best friend as they solve the most unusual or mysterious murders in Los Angeles. While I got into Kellerman’s work late, I have had an outstanding time with some of his more recent books, including The Wedding Guest, The Museum of Desire, Serpentine, City of the Dead and Unnatural History. All of these novels have been amazing and filled with great mysteries, and I am always very excited to check out a new Kellerman book. That is why I made sure to grab a copy of the new Alex Delaware novel, The Ghost Orchid, as soon as I could, and boy did it prove to be another outstanding read.
Love, revenge and deceit are all in the air when two bodies are found beside the pool in an upscale Bel Air mansion. The two victims have been mercilessly shot down in what appears to be a targeted hit. But who was the intended victim? Was it the rich playboy heir who lived in the mansion or was it his wealthier neighbour with whom he had been having an illicit affair?
Noting the apparent anger behind the case, LAPD homicide detective lieutenant Milo Sturgis calls in his old friend and colleague psychologist Alex Delaware to help unwind the twisted threads of both victims’ lives. Only recently recovered from a dangerous encounter on their last investigation, Alex is keen to get back into the saddle, even for what appears to be a simple case of revenge from a spurned husband. However, it soon becomes clear that this murder is anything but simple.
As Alex and Milo dig deeper into the case, they discover that both dead lovers had troubled pasts and dark secrets that they were running from. To discover who was behind the deadly murders, the two friends will need to uncover everything about their victims’ lives, including any dark connections that could identify the killer or their motives. But neither Alex nor Milo are prepared for just how convoluted the lives of these two Los Angeles elites truly were or just how far they went to escape their pasts.
This was another brilliant read from Jonathan Kellerman that I instantly fell in love with. The 39th entry in the Alex Delaware series, The Ghost Orchid featured Kellerman’s trademark investigative style and iconic character as they dive into another excellent mystery.
The Ghost Orchid’s story proved to be extremely interesting and addictive as it once again followed the protagonists as they embark on another fascinating investigation. Mostly shown through the eyes of main character Alex Delaware, Kellerman paints a fantastic picture at the start of The Ghost Orchid, as he sets up the crime scene and then introduces the reader to the two murder victims. From there, the plot advances at a steady pace, as the protagonists begin to dive into the lives of their victims and learn about their past, their secrets, and their deeper motivations. Much of this investigation involves methodical interviews of the victim’s various friends, acquaintances, and relatives, and the running down of any leads that come their way.
Kellerman effectively moves this story along, and you are soon given some great clues regarding the case, as well as some potential additional crimes. I loved how well the author kept up a level of suspense and uncertainty regarding which victim is the most likely intended target, and the expert blending of their backstories worked extremely well. At the same time, Kellerman also adds in some more personal elements for the main character, including examining the fallout of the last book and his own work as a psychologist. The entire mystery comes together extremely well at the end of the novel, and I loved the compelling story that resulted, especially as one character’s past holds the secrets for the solution of the case. I did think that Kellerman wrapped everything up a little suddenly and with less involvement from the protagonists than you would expect, although there is a certain amount of realism in the final confrontation. However, this proved to be an overall extremely epic story that you can’t help but get drawn into.
I really love how Kellerman structures his outstanding mysteries in the Alex Delaware series, and The Ghost Orchid is a great example of this. Kellerman’s methodical and more realistic style of investigation always stands out to me, and I deeply appreciate how the protagonist’s attempts to solve the crime usually requires talking to multiple intriguing suspects or people with any sort of connection to the case. While some of the dialogue between these witnesses and the protagonists occasionally feels a little off, for the most part Kellerman succeeds in building a powerful and massive picture of events that fills the reader’s mind’s eye and really draws them into the mystery. The entire mystery in The Ghost Orchid was extremely well structured, and the slow move towards answers really drew me in and made for some great reading. Like most of the books in the Alex Delaware series, The Ghost Orchid can be easily read as a standalone novel. While parts of the main character arc do discuss events from the prior book and there are some callbacks to earlier novels in the series, you honestly don’t need any pre-knowledge of these books to completely appreciate The Ghost Orchid. Due to how insular the main mystery is, as well as how well Kellerman effectively covers any relevant prior events, anyone can dive into the series here without any issue, and The Ghost Orchid proves to be an excellent addition to the Alex Delaware books.
Like all the Alex Delaware novels, the heart of The Ghost Orchid lies in the fantastic and heartfelt partnership and friendship of main characters Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. Due to their long association together, the two have become best friends whose insights into the way the other thinks result in them being quite an effective investigative team. These two have a great patter as they investigate their cases, and it always so much fun to see them bounce ideas, suggestions and insights off each other. This friendship is always a great part of the series, and it was interesting to see it changed to a degree in The Ghost Orchid. Due to the closing events of the previous novel, Unnatural History, Alex was badly injured while investigating a case and has been out of action for a while. This led to quite a bit of guilt from Milo, who blamed himself for Alex getting hurt. This changed the dynamic between the two for much of the book, especially as Milo was reluctant to bring Alex into another investigation. It was moving and a little heartbreaking to see this guilt induced damage in their relationship, especially as Milo was a lot more protective as a result. As such, this was a great addition to the series, and I enjoyed seeing Kellerman try to stretch the bounds of this well-established partnership in some new ways.
Aside from Alex and Milo, the two character who impact the plot of The Ghost Orchid the most are the murder victims, Giovanni Aggiunta and Meagin Lea March. While dead for the entirety of the plot, their lives and legacies cast a shadow over the whole book, and the protagonists, as well as the reader, need to dive into the past to find out who the killer is. Kellerman does an excellent job of featuring these two dead characters in The Ghost Orchid, and the slow-burn examination of their lives becomes a key part of the story, as the protagonists talk to family, contacts and more, while also doing copious research. As such, you really get to know both dead characters as the book continues, which proves to be quite intriguing and powerful. Both victims are revealed to have complicated pasts, and the disentanglement of these secrets and the examination of all their interactions, relationships and motivations raises the tension of the plot while simultaneously increasing the reader’s attachment to solving the case. Kellerman ensures that there is a balanced focus on both victim’s pasts for much of the narrative to disguise who the intended target was for. This really enhances the mystery of the story, and you are constantly wondering what new secret or hidden truth will be uncovered to finally allow the reader to pinpoint why they were killed. As such, these dead characters prove just as important to The Ghost Orchid as the protagonist, and I was once again impressed at Kellerman’s ability to make me care about character we never actually see alive.
Even after decades of writing, Jonathan Kellerman continues to produce fascinating and complex mysteries that readers can get so easily lost in. The Ghost Orchid was an outstanding novel, that saw Kellerman’s fantastic protagonists dive into another elaborate mystery. Powerful, loaded with great characters, and making full use of Kellerman’s distinctive style, The Ghost Orchid was an excellent novel from start to finish, and I cannot recommend this latest Alex Delaware novel enough.
Argylle by Elly Conway
Publisher: Bantam (Trade Paperback – 3 January 2024)
Series: Argylle – Book One
Length: 368 pages
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
One of the year’s most intriguing thrillers, Argylle by Elly Conway, proves to be a fantastic and highly entertaining book that I had a wonderful time exploring at the start of 2024.
Vasily Federov, a powerful Russian billionaire, is making a bid to become the new president of Russia. If he succeeds, his ambition, drive, and absolute lack of humanity, could lead to chaos, especially as he seeks to bring together the dangerous right-wing factions of Europe to form a destructive new empire. Determined to secure victory and the absolute loyalty of the Russian people, Federov promises the impossible: finding and restoring a beloved national treasure infamously looted and lost during World War II, the Amber Room.
Recognising what a dangerous threat Federov poses to the world, CIA Chief Operating Officer Frances Coffey is determined to stop him winning the election. To that end, she pulls together an elite team of agents with the goal of locating the hidden Amber Room first and keeping it from Federov’s grasp. However, Coffey believes that her team needs a unique edge, a new member with a different set of skills and outlook on life then her current operatives. To that end, she recruits a complete unknown, Aubrey Argylle.
The son of two international drug dealers, Argylle has been lost since the death of his parents, hiding out in the jungles of Thailand. Argylle attracts Coffey’s attention when he risks his own life to help a team of American agents in need. Drafted to the CIA, Argylle works to prove himself to his new team as they work to stop Federov. As Argylle starts to adapt to the life as a secret agent, his team makes headway in discovering the location of the Amber Room, which leads them on a desperate chase across Europe. However, the closer they get to recovering their target, the more apparent it is that someone on their team is a traitor, and they now have Argylle in their sights.
Before I go into too much detail about what I thought about Argylle, I should probably address the interesting possibilities regarding the authorship of this book. The identity of Argylle’s author has the potential to be one of the biggest literary reveals of the year, and the internet is already buzzing with the possibilities surrounding it. That is because Elly Conway is a pseudonym of a new author, the identity of whom is being kept secret until the upcoming film of the same name is released. While authors writing under pseudonyms is nothing new, certain facts about this particular case, including the large amount of money spent obtaining the film rights from a first-time writer, the insane secrecy surrounding the author’s identity, and the massive cast of famous actors in the adaptation indicate that someone special might be behind the pen. There are several theories currently circulating, including it being written by AI, by the film’s creative team, or it being a massive marketing campaign to raise interest in the film. However, the theory that seems to be getting the most attention is that it was authored by one of the world’s most influential singers, and there are a lot of apparent hints and easter eggs surrounding that theory.
The Argylle novel only came to my attention a few weeks ago; mainly because I had seen the cool film trailer, which features some of my favourite actors, and I figured it might be worth grabbing this related book. It was only when I subsequently dug into the underlying material surrounding the book, including the theories about the author, that I became really curious. I am not going to lie, that very much caught my attention, and it was a major reason why I got a copy of Argylle. If it turns out to have been merely a marketing stunt, at least it was an effective one! I would actually love it if someone surprising wrote this book, and I look forward to seeing how this comes into play with the upcoming film, which really looks quite hilarious. However, I’m not going to let my curiosity about who might have written it impact my review for this book, and I have tried to make a balanced analysis of this intriguing debut thriller.
With that in mind, I am going to come right out that bat and say I quite liked Argylle, and it proved to be a fun and exciting read, with a fantastic plot and a compelling main character. Featuring a fast-paced story, enjoyable writing, and a ton of entertaining action, Argylle was an awesome book that I managed to knock it off in only a few days.
From what I understand, the upcoming film will be set around the planned fourth book in this series and will feature the fictional adventures of Elly Conway when she releases it. Argylle is the first book in this in-universe series, so it serves as an introductory novel, featuring the origins of the titular protagonist as well as some of his supporting cast members. Conway initiates a strong start to Argylle, as you are given compelling visions of the disturbing main villain, as well as a great introduction to protagonist Aubrey Argylle, who risks everything to save several lives in an intense and sudden sequence, before he is recruited into a secretive team of CIA agents. The initial training montages with the new team serve as a good introduction to the spy lifestyle for the protagonist, although it does reveal an early weakness of the book that never really went away, in that there are way too many characters. With fourteen members in this main team, many of whom get cycled around each mission, the reader has a hard time remembering each of them, and with the exception of a couple who are pushed to the front early on, you never really connect to them. The author’s initially rough writing style also takes a bit to get used to, with certain phrases, pieces of dialogue and more feeling a little unnatural. Despite that, I was still really enjoying the story, and these initial introductory scenes slide nicely into the main part of the book.
This central plot of Argylle involves the protagonist’s team zipping around Europe, following hidden historical clues to uncover the location of the Amber Room before their Russian opponents. The search for historical treasures is always an awesome thriller storyline, and I think that the author did a good job of diving into the history of the Amber Room, exploring why it is so significant, and then bringing together a fun and clever hunt for the prize that combines the official historical record with some intriguing conspiracies. This results in a fun story, as the team are required to pull off a series of intricate heists, with the Russians close on their tail. There are some glorious set pieces here, and I loved the fun locations and over-the-top scenarios the protagonists found themselves in. Conway also works in a great spy thriller plot about a double agent in the team, as information about their missions keeps getting leaked to the Russians, with disastrous results. The character arcs surrounding several of the characters develop quite nicely, and it was great to see Argylle get closer to some of the other cast, while also coming out of his shell.
Everything leads up to a pretty big and violent conclusion, as the protagonists battle it out against the Russians for the prize. Most of this was very cool, although the issue I raised before about the large team did come to fruition at the end. In particular, the deaths of some character really were not that impactful, because you had barely gotten to know them, while the potential identity of the traitor was a lot more obvious, as it had to be one of the characters who was prominently featured. Still, the ending was epic and memorable, and I particularly enjoyed how the traitor storyline came full circle in an excellent and moving way. Readers come away from Argylle very satisfied, and there are some fun hints about the planned sequels that I would be quite interested to explore.
While I have noted a few writing issues that I had with Argylle, for the most part I liked how this novel came together. The author maintains a great pace throughout the book while also keeping the readers attached to the story. The jump between several different characters, including the villain, gives the novel some excellent layers, and it is always great to see the antagonist’s schemes in action. I also enjoyed the unique locations the author set the story in, including the jungles of Thailand, an isolated Greek island, and deep in the European wilderness. All these settings, including a few intriguing historical sites, are described in exceptional detail, and you can really imagine the characters walking through these wildernesses and getting up to their shenanigans. Throw in some excellent and high-octane action sequences, as well as some fun humour based around the unconventional protagonist, and I had a great time getting through Argylle.
Another excellent element that I enjoyed about Argylle was the fantastic central character, Aubrey Argylle. I was actually a little surprised by how he was portrayed here as, in the movie trailer, he is played by Henry Cavill in a particularly suave James Bond-esque way. However, the author flips the script around in this book, showing Argylle to be a much more rugged individual with a complex past. The child of two murdered drug smugglers, Argylle had a unique childhood and spends much of the book trying to reconcile his past with his current actions with the CIA. While the author potentially over-endowed him with natural spy abilities, it was not too noticeable, and indeed I quite enjoyed seeing the character’s early uncertainties as he grows into the agent he needs to be.
The book also features several great supporting characters. While much of the protagonist’s support team is not effectively utilised, I quite enjoyed his main friends, Woody Wyatt and Keira Carter, who get a lot of attention throughout the book, and you quickly enjoy the fun trio that forms. I especially liked the character of Wyatt, the cocky muscle of the team who initially serves as Argylle’s main rival. The scene when the two characters meet and Argylle gets the drop on him is one of the funniest in the book, and I really enjoyed the entertaining dynamic that formed between them. On top of them, Frances Coffey, serves as a complicated spymaster character for most of the plot, torn between the needs of the mission and her growing attachment to her agents. The shadowy figure of Glenn Dabrowski has one of the most intriguing storylines in the entire book, and I loved seeing his alternate view of events. Finally, the villain, Vasily Federov, adds a great deal of deadly menace to the plot, and I really enjoyed the fun way he was portrayed. While I still had some issues regarding the extensive cast, I think for the most part his book had an excellent group of characters, which helped added to the emotional impact and enjoy ability of Argylle.
Overall, I really enjoyed Argylle and I thought that it was a great debut novel. While the author has some room for improvement when it comes to their writing, I felt that this was a really good first outing, especially when it came to the fantastic story, intense action and entertaining characters. No matter who actually wrote Argylle, I personally think it was a solid, fun and highly enjoyable thriller, and I would love to get a sequel at some point. As such, I am even more excited for the upcoming Argylle film, and I look forward to seeing what twists it contains regarding the potential author. If some of the suspicions regarding the author are correct, I might re-upload this review again under their real name, but until then, let us leave this one credited to Elly Conway, whose first book is pretty damn wonderful.
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
Publisher: Penguin (Audiobook – 7 November 2023)
Series: The Inheritance Cycle – Book Five
Length: 24 hours and 32 minutes
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Bestselling author Christopher Paolini returns to the iconic world of Alagaësia with Murtagh, a powerful novel that continues his original series while focusing on a complex and damaged protagonist.
I am very excited about this review as it offers me the first chance to review a recently released Paolini fantasy novel. I am a massive fan of Christopher Paolini, having read every single novel he has written in his impressive career, including the science fiction Fractalverse series (To Sleep in a Sea of Stars and Fractal Noise). However, the series that most readers will associate him with are the Inheritance Cycle novels.
The Inheritance Cycle is an awesome young adult fantasy series that follows a young man who bonds with a dragon to take down an evil tyrant. A particularly iconic series, the original Inheritance Cycle consists of Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance, and it told a complex, well-established and exciting tale that saw the protagonist, Eragon, rise to great heights and eventually defeat the big bad. I was gifted the Inheritance Cycle novels when I was growing up and it became a favourite fantasy series that I read multiple times. While I tend to view it with a more critical eye these days, I still love it and its powerful adventure. Due to how much I enjoy this series, I have been eagerly awaiting a sequel for years, and I was so damn excited when I found out that Paolini was releasing a follow-up book. Murtagh was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, especially when I saw that it was going to follow one of the best characters from the original series.
A year has passed since the war to free Alagaësia ended and the evil king Galbatorix was killed at the hands of the Dragon Rider Eragon and his companions. Peace now reigns across the land as the people look to rebuild. But there are two beings in Alagaësia who will never find peace: Eragon’s half-brother, Murtagh, and his dragon, Thorn. Already reviled for being the son of the traitorous Dragon Rider, Morzan, Murtagh is hated by every race in Alagaësia for the involuntary role he played in Galbatorix’s evils. Finally freed from Galbatorix’s iron control, Murtagh and Thorn travel the outskirts of the land, trying to find a semblance of harmony that has been lacking their entire lives.
However, the troubles of the world are always lurking, and the pair soon discover that not everything is as peaceful as it seems. Following warnings and whispers from an ancient dragon spirit, Murtagh and Thorn become aware of a dark conspiracy building in the land, as unusual rumours of brittle ground, the scent of brimstone and mysterious beings reach their ears.
Determined to stop a new evil rising and wreaking havoc, the exiled rider and dragon begin their own investigation and soon uncover the source of this evil: a mysterious cult whose influence stretches across all the races and nations of Alagaësia. Due to their surprising power and ability to manipulate the world, Murtagh and Thorn might be the only people capable of stopping them, and they set out to investigate. However, they are unprepared for the dangerous witch at the centre of this cult, as well as the deadly power she represents. Can Murtagh and Thorn defeat this evil before it is too late, or will they once again find themselves enthralled to a dangerous power beyond their comprehension?
Christopher Paolini returns with another outstanding book that takes the reader on an exciting and emotionally rich adventure which also cleverly expands his already elaborate setting. While I am sure my review might be partially influenced by nostalgia, I found Murtagh to be an exceptional read that brings back all the things I loved about the original novels while also showcasing Paolini’s increased ability as an author.
For this new book, Paolini goes backs to basics and creates a classic epic fantasy around one of his most damaged and compelling characters. Starting off a year after the climatic events of Inheritance, Murtagh follows the titular protagonist and his dragon as they try to unwrap a mysterious warning given to them in the last book. This warning and an obsession with redeeming themselves leads Murtagh and Thorn to investigate troubling rumours and encounter a group of dangerous warriors and infiltrators utilising powerful magic. This forces Murtagh into a search for knowledge while once again traversing areas of Alagaësia where he is the most wanted. There are some intriguing moments as Murtagh embarks on a series of side quests that will allow him to achieve his goal, including infiltrating a city, killing a giant fish, encountering old “friends” and uncovering corruption at the heart of a regiment of city guard. While I will admit that parts of this novel get a little slow in places, Paolini does a great job of reintroducing key elements of lore, building up a new growing threat and showcasing the main character elements of the protagonists, including their trauma, the bond between rider and dragon, and their unfairly given outcast status.
The second half of the book is extremely strong as Murtagh and Thorn come face to face with their new enemy, the witch Bachel and her unusual followers. Paolini writes this entire half of the book extremely well, as Murtagh attempts to at first subtly uncover what Bachel is plotting and what power she controls. Naturally things go wrong and this leads to a pretty dark and traumatic part of the story where Murtagh is at his lowest point. This part of the book is painful to read, especially as you have really grown to care for the protagonist, but it is so damn well-written and emotionally charged. Everything leads up perfectly to a much needed and exceptionally presented climax, where Murtagh manages to fight back and the resulting carnage is very therapeutic after all the dark scenes the reader has been forced to experience. The big confrontation was very epic and really tied into the author’s excellent characterisation of the protagonists, allowing for some impressive moments. The conclusion is both hopeful and worrying as a new big-bad looms on the horizon, and there are still many secrets left to unwrap.
I really liked how Murtagh came together as Paolini presents a powerful, character-driven read that really tries to capture the heart and feel of a classic epic. Murtagh really had all the best elements of Paolini’s first book, with a lone character and his dragon navigating through a complex world, searching for a big bad on the horizon. I loved these story elements, including the loosely connected quests, the elaborate and dark interactions in the second half of the book, as well as the general menace implied by the world’s new hidden threat. This story is so damn good and served as an interesting continuation of the original Inheritance Cycle novels, adding to the overall plot of the series, while also allowing the new protagonist to strike out on his own and encounter the world on his terms. Paolini really hits the right balance of elements in Murtagh, with a great focus on character work blending nicely with the complex story and great focus on expanding Alagaësia. While this series is usually marketed as young adult fantasy fiction, I honestly would consider Murtagh to be more of an adult book due to its elaborate story, big world, and complex older characters. Despite that, younger readers can still really sink their teeth into Murtagh as an early fantasy experience, and Paolini really hits the right balance of violence and other themes that ensures Murtagh is very palatable to a range of readers.
As I have made clear a few times already, Murtagh is a sequel to Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle series, where quite a lot of plot, character histories and elements about the world of Alagaësia were introduced. Due to it being a direct sequel, a large amount of this detail was essential for Murtagh, which does put newer readers at a disadvantage. I think Paolini did a good job of reintroducing these relevant story elements where needed, so new readers can dive into this book without too many issues. However, the re-establishment of these elements does take a little time, so there might be some occasional blind spots for these newer readers, especially towards the beginning of the book. As such, established Inheritance Cycle fans will get a lot more out of Murtagh than new readers, and there are tons of incidental references and callbacks that will make a lot more sense as a result. I was just so glad to finally get a new Inheritance Cycle book, especially one with such an elaborate and well-written story that connects to the original books in some creative and meaningful ways.
One thing I have always particularly loved about Paolini’s works is the insane amount of effort and detail he puts into developing his elaborate fantasy world. He did an outstanding job of this in the Inheritance Cycle, and the resulting world was filled with a fantastic history, some classic fantasy elements, and a complex evil empire ruled over by an all-controlling madman. I had an outstanding time exploring Alagaësia when I was younger, and so one of the things I was most excited about with Murtagh was seeing how much this fantasy world has changed in the aftermath of the protagonist’s victory. Paolini delivers this in spades, showcasing some intriguing changes as the nations rebuild, the other races once again integrate with humanity, and the compelling legends of Eragon’s victory over Galbatorix are built up, even if Murtagh’s role in that victory are largely forgotten. Many of the well-established rules of magic and Dragon Riders are brought back for this sequel, and Paolini makes sure to reintroduce them effectively for new readers.
It was quite interesting to see Murtagh’s less-knowledgeable take on much of this fantasy lore, especially as that cleverly tied it with his more brutal tutoring in magic than Eragon had in the original series. Indeed, Murtagh’s insights into many elements of this world are very different to those of the previous protagonists, and this helped to make a lot of the novel a lot more grounded and approachable. While it was great to see these familiar elements again, I also liked the new fantasy features of Alagaësia that Paolini came up with for Murtagh. While I won’t give too much away here, the new big bad of the series is very intimidating, and I loved how well Paolini set them up. The author is subtle with this introduction, and its gradual reveal really increases its threat level, as it seems potentially even more dangerous than Galbatorix. I look forward to seeing how Paolini expands on this, and I was so impressed with how much additional world building was featured in Murtagh.
A major highlight of this book had to be the compelling character arcs that formed the basis of the book. Murtagh is extremely character driven, perhaps even more so than the other Inheritance Cycle novels, and Paolini writes an exceptional story around his characters. Naturally most of this focus revolves around the titular character of Murtagh, who is the only point of view character in the novel. I was happy that Paolini decided to focus an entire novel on Murtagh, as he was such a great character in the original trilogy whose perspective you never got to experience. The son of a monstrous traitor who served Galbatorix, Murtagh eventually rebelled and tried to escape his fate, only to be captured again after meeting Eragon in the first book. Forced to serve Galbatorix against his will, thanks to the torture levelled against his newly hatched dragon, Murtagh ended up being the secondary antagonist of the series, especially once it was revealed he was Eragon’s half-brother. Murtagh was eventually able to free himself from Galbatorix’s control at the climactic battle however, despite the role he played in killing the big-bad, he is still very much reviled by the people due to the atrocities and murders he was forced to commit.
As such, the plot of Murtagh is essentially what happens if a somewhat redeemed Darth Vader (there are a lot of parallels between the two characters), was wondering the land trying to atone for the evils he caused and reflecting on all the mistakes in his life. I loved that we got to see this unique and compelling character focus, and it proves to be a very intense and powerful central storyline, especially as Murtagh is forced to relive a lot of the pivotal moments of his plot from the original novels, in addition to some previously unseen backstory. You really get to experience Murtagh’s regrets, despair and self-loathing, and Paolini does a great job of focusing on that, while also introducing some additional growth as Murtagh comes to terms with who he is. Paolini writes a fantastic redemption arc in this novel, and Murtagh really grows into a character you can care for. Naturally, Paolini rewards you for caring by showing some extended scenes of Murtagh suffering in some major ways, and some of these sequences, especially in the second half, pull at the heartstrings. The author expertly ties this suffering into Murtagh’s journey of self-discovery, and the scenes where he overcomes major adversity again proves to be some of the most powerful in the entire book. I also appreciated how Paolini portrayed him in a very different way to Eragon, as he is more angry, impatient, and less-well trained in many of the arts of magic. The author portrays these differing character elements in an extremely impressive way, and the character history surrounding the protagonist really explains why Murtagh is so separate from his fellow Dagon Rider and half-brother. I honestly was so impressed with how Murtagh was showcased in this book and he ended being a pretty exceptional character.
Due to their mental connection, Murtagh’s dragon Thorn is also a major character in the novel, and he proves to be an excellent alternative protagonist as a result. Thorn proves to be a fun and over-protective companion to Murtagh, especially with their joint history of abuse, and Paolini always does a great job of showcasing the soul bond that exists between a dragon and rider. In many ways, Thorn is very similar to Saphira from the original Inheritance Cycle novels, being proud, predatory and occasionally playful (very much like a cat). However, unlike Saphira, Thorn has gone through a substantial amount of trauma thanks to the machinations of Galbatorix, who used magic to age him quickly and tortured him the entire way to make him even more vicious. It was fascinating to see a psychologically traumatised dragon , especially as certain things set him off, and watching him try to mentally heal alongside his human is a very heartwarming part of the novel. While he does suffer at times alongside Murtagh, he also gets to cut loose at the end in a particularly cathartic, if destructive, sequence, which was really great.
Murtagh also features an interesting array of new supporting characters, who ensure some interesting interactions with the two protagonists. There is a noticeable lack of major characters from the original Inheritance Cycle novels, which I thought was a very clever move as it helped this novel to stand on its own. I did think that one or two good characters from the previous novel, such as Angela, might have fit into this storyline well, but I’ll settle for seeing them later, especially after how successful their absence worked here. As such, the supporting cast of Murtagh are all new characters, and Paolini did an outstanding job of introducing them and working them into the plot. While many of these characters did not appear in the story for a long period, namely because of the protagonist’s transitory narrative, several characters did stand out.
I loved the Urgal shaman Uvek Windtalker who Murtagh encounters in the second half of the novel, whose interaction with the protagonist leads to some powerful scenes. However, the true standout character in Murtagh had to be the main antagonist, Bachel. A powerful which and apparent profit, Bachel is a mysterious and aloof figure, who proves to be quite sinister. You end up getting quite a good look at just how malicious, arrogant and dangerous Bachel and her minions can be as the book continues, and Paolini does a remarkable job of building her up as someone to really despise. This ensures that you are really pumped up for the big confrontations with her at the end of the novel, and I liked just how effective the author was able to make her. These characters and more really help to push the narrative of Murtagh in some awesome directions, and I liked the more unique figures that were featured in this latest entry in the Inheritance Cycle.
While I did receive a paperback copy of Murtagh, I ended up listening to the audiobook version instead. This is mainly because the last few times I enjoyed the Inheritance Cycle I chose to listen to the audiobook format, and I wanted some continuity from that since they brought back Gerard Doyle, the narrator from the original Inheritance Cycle, to voice this latest entry. Doyle does an amazing job of narrating Murtagh, and I felt that he really enhanced the impact and enjoyment I had of the story. Not only has he got a great basic tone that helps move the plot and lore heavy parts of the book along at a good pace, but he also has some excellent takes on the character voices. His powerful voice for the titular character really hits all the right notes, and I love the range of emotion he can bring to this figure. He brings back the classic ‘dragon’ voice for Thorn that featured in the other Inheritance Cycle books, and I loved the somewhat bestial nature to it, as well as the ethereal nature of a mental communication. The rest of the intriguing cast is also well captured by Doyle, and he especially makes the main antagonist pretty sinister at times. This outstanding voice work really drew me into the Murtagh, and I easily absorbed a lot more of the intense detail and lore in this format. Coming in at 24 hours and 32 minutes, this is a pretty long audiobook (it would rank 15th on my current Longest Audiobook I’ve Listened To list), but it really worth a listen, especially if you enjoyed the original Inheritance Cycle novels in this format.
I think the multi-page ramblings above make it clear that I had an excellent time with Murtagh. Christopher Paolini did an outstanding job of continuing his iconic Inheritance Cycle series, and I loved the compelling direction he is taking this story. I also love how much Paolini appears to have improved as a writer, especially when it comes to complex character work, and I cannot wait to see what the next stage in Murtagh and Thorn’s journey is. Murtagh is very-much worth the read, especially if you grew up reading the Inheritance Cycle books like I did.
Quick Review – The Night House by Jo Nesbo
Publisher: Harvill Seeker (Trade Paperback – 26 September 2023)
Series: Standalone
Length: 263 pages
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Earlier this year I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the intriguing new novel from international bestselling author Jo Nesbo, The Night House. Nesbo is an author whose work I have been interested in checking out for a while as I have heard a lot of about his intriguing crime fiction stories and thrillers. I was really excited to check out something from Nesbo this year, and whilst The Night House is somewhat different from the author’s more typical work, it proved to be a very fascinating and compelling read with a deep story behind it.
Plot Synopsis:
WHEN THE VOICES CALL, DON’T ANSWER…
In the wake of his parents’ tragic deaths fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne.
Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects the new, angry boy is responsible. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie.
No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number that Tom prank called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the woods. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices start . . .
When another classmate disappears, Richard must find a way to prove his innocence as he grapples with the dark magic that is possessing Ballantyne.
Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story.
The Night House was a very unique read that combines several disparate genre elements and turns them into a personal and moving novel set around a damaged protagonist. The book is broken into three parts with three different, if closely related, stories being told in each section of the book. The first story is a great coming-of-age tale that sees an extremely angry teenager, Richard Elauved, witness a series of extremely graphic and strange deaths around town, seemingly linked to a phone number he called as a prank. Blamed for these apparent murders, Richard tries to prove his innocence and face off against a mysterious and dangerous evil threatening his town. There is something very reminiscent of classic Stephen King in this early part of the book, and Nesbo moves this horror infused storyline at a very quick pace, setting Richard up against terrors and mysterious manipulations, with many of his friends dying all around him. There is an interesting conclusion to this part, which really explores the protagonist’s deeper feelings and desire to be the hero, and it proved to be a great self-contained story.
Things start to take an interesting turn as Nesbo suddenly jumps into a whole new story. The second part of The Night House puts a different tint on the prior events as an older Richard appears and shows that not everything is as it seems. There is a great central story that takes some dark twists and turns, while you also get some intriguing continuation of character elements from the first part of the book, especially towards Richard’s past and the events that formed him. Nesbo introduces some key revelations, hints and intriguing differences between the protagonist’s memories of events and what other characters remember, all of which lead up to the big twist revealed in the third part of the book.
I’m not going to dive too deeply into the third and final section of The Night House, as to do so would reveal too many spoilers, but it really ties everything together in an extremely clever way. The overarching secrets, conflicting stories and differing backgrounds are all worked into this short final part of the book, and you get a complete story as the gaps in Richard’s unreliable narration are filled in. This part of the book really brings the story full circle, and you can fully appreciate how clever Nesbo has been in the prior sections of the book, especially with how he was simultaneously telling unique stories while also setting up this finale. There was some brilliant character work involved in building up this finale, especially when it comes to trauma and how it impacts behaviour, and I really enjoyed how the horror elements for the prior parts of The Night House had some great symbolism for the book’s conclusion.
I ended up having a great time with The Night House, and it proves to be a quick and interesting read to get through. Thanks to its excellent character work and the clever way Nesbo sets up the story, The Night House is one of the more unique reads of 2023, and I really appreciated the compelling and heartfelt story that Nesbo told, especially as he managed to work some memorable horror moments into it. A moving and compelling read that proves to be an excellent introduction to Nesbo’s writing.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Publisher: Michael Joseph (Trade Paperback – 17 October 2023)
Series: Ernest Cunningham – Book Two
Length: 318 pages
My Rating: 4.75 out 5 stars
Impressive Australian author Benjamin Stevenson returns with another hilarious and outstanding murder mystery that once again acts as a clever homage to the classics with Everyone on this Train is a Suspect.
Over the last few years, one of the most consistently enjoyable authors of Australian crime fiction has been the remarkably talented Benjamin Stevenson. Best known prior to his writing career for his comedic work with his brother James, Stevenson adapted well to crime fiction and made his first impression with his debut novel, Greenlight. Also released as Trust Me When I Lie and She Lies in the Vines, Greenlight was an outstanding read, and Stevenson quickly followed it up with the cool sequel Either Side of Minute. While both of these books had great murder mystery plots with some unique twists to them, I think Stevenson didn’t truly display his writing ability until his next novel; Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone.
Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone was an exceptional 2022 novel that saw a fictional murder mystery expert try to solve a classic locked room murder that was likely committed by a member of his notorious family, each of whom has killed someone in the past. Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone was so damn good as not only did it feature a clever case but Stevenson excelled at producing a very funny novel in his unique style that parodied the classics of the genre. Due to its entertaining and meta storytelling, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone was such a joy to read and it ended up being one my favourite pieces of Australian fiction in 2022. As such, I have been eager to see what Stevenson would produce next, and while I was initially a little surprised to see that he would be writing a sequel to Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, it was something that really excited me. This sequel, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, was one of my most anticipated releases for 2023, and I had another outstanding time getting through it.
Plot Synopsis:
6 WRITERS. 5 DETECTIVES. 4 DAYS. 3 WEAPONS. 2 MURDERS. 1 TRAIN…
When the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society invited me to their crime-writing festival aboard the Ghan, the famous train between Darwin and Adelaide, I was hoping for some inspiration for my second book. Fiction, this time: I needed a break from real people killing each other. Obviously, that didn’t pan out.
The program is a who’s who of crime-writing royalty:
the debut writer (me!)
the forensic science writer
the blockbuster writer
the legal thriller writer
the literary writer
the psychological suspense writer.
But when one of us is murdered, six authors quickly turn into five detectives. Together, we should know how to solve a crime.
Or commit one.
How can you find a killer when all the suspects know how to get away with murder?
Stevenson once again presents an outstanding and wildly entertaining Australian crime fiction novel that proves impossible to put down. Thanks to his impressive story and wonderfully distinctive style for this series, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was a particularly funny novel that takes some fun shots at classic murder mysteries, modern crime fiction and the publishing world at large.
I absolutely loved the story Stevenson came up with for Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, which essentially traps his returning protagonist, Ernest Cunningham, on the Australian version of the Orient Express with a group of other famous crime fiction authors. Ernest, who has achieved a certain amount of literary fame writing a true-crime book about the familial murder he solved, is the somewhat ostracised newcomer to the group and is currently suffering from writer’s block. Hoping to gain inspiration from meeting some of his fellow authors, most of whom are homages to famous crime fiction authors (Ian Rankin and Patricia Cornwell, for example), Ernest instead finds himself caught up in another deadly murder, this time involving suspicious writers, greedy publishers, scheming agents, angry mega-fans and other fun figures from the literary world. The resulting plot is extremely fun, as an obsessed Ernest attempts to solve the crime, only to encounter additional murders, opposition from his fellow writers, unique interactions, and all manner of ridicule.
This entire story is really well written, as it features all the elements that made Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone great, including a clever mystery, outrageous characters and an irrepressible sense of humour. Just as with Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect is told in the form of a true-crime book written by the protagonist as he recounts the events that unfolded aboard the train. I really enjoyed this fun and clever way of writing the story, especially as the character of Ernest has such an amusing and satirical outlook on life and murder mysteries. The author also believes in challenging the classic ways of writing crime fiction and providing clues to the reader, and as such the book is loaded with a ton of hints from the protagonist about who the killer is and the events to come. For example, he indicates how many times he is going to mention the killer’s name early on and then keeps a running countdown going throughout the book to narrow down the suspect pool. In addition, several characters’ fates, actions and other clues are mentioned well in advance, just to heighten anticipation. While you would imagine that this would spoil much of the plot, I felt it honestly enhanced it, as you eagerly wait to see how these events occur or try to keep track of who is being talked about and in what context. Stevenson also does not always play it fair with these hints, with a few flagrant mistruths sprinkled through by the protagonist to mislead the reader, although this is all done in good fun.
As such, by the time you get to the second half of Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, you are really invested in the overall mystery that Stevenson has cooked up. All the various clues, hints and other interesting story details have been cleverly built up and you are eager to see how everything unfolds. There are a few hilarious set pieces loaded here, including an unnecessary chase sequence, a failed denouement gathering, and some major misunderstandings, all of which add to the chaotic nature of the plot. This exciting and funny story also makes great use of its iconic background setting of the Ghan, one of Australia’s most famous trains, and Stevenson works in some fantastic personal drama for the protagonist who finds that crime solving and romance do not mix. The eventual solution to the mystery is just great, as it blends multiple motivations, character histories and various subtle clues in an outstanding way. Even all the overt clues that the protagonist had been directly feeding the reader come into play, although not always in the way you would expect it to. This leads to an intense and memorable conclusion, which I thought wrapped things up nicely, especially with that fun twist designed to surprise readers familiar with first-person stories.
As with Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, this second novel serves as a great homage and parody of classic murder mystery tropes, as the protagonist once again finds himself in a locked-room scenario. The parallels between this story and Murder on the Orient Express are purposely obvious, and I loved seeing the very self-aware protagonist revel in them as the plot continues. Stevenson also modernises his references by including homages to more modern mystery and crime fiction sub-genres. The legal thriller, forensic science, modern detective and psychological suspense genres are all featured here in some ways, as fictional authors of these genres are present as supporting characters, and all their specialties are considered when it comes to solving the crime. Stevenson works these into the plot perfectly, and it was a great deal of fun to see each of these elements discussed, satirised, and then utilised to a degree. As such, this proves to be quite a fun book for all manner of crime fiction fans, and the fun references, jokes and hints will greatly appeal to the wider murder mystery audience.
Another awesome aspect of Everyone on this Train is a Suspect that I liked was the exploration of the literary world. Due to the events of the first book, the protagonist finds himself as a published author, with all the baggage that brings with it. As such, this sequel is filled with a ton of fun discussions and jokes about being a writer, with Stevenson no doubt utilising his own personal experiences to give it a splash of realism. Most of these inclusions are done to provide another comedic edge to the story, especially as Ernest has been thrown into the deep end with a group of experienced writers who have no respect for him. The scenes where they discuss their works while also putting down his less successful book are so damn funny, although I could not help but feel a little self-conscious with some of the comments (I know I use too many adverbs). Stevenson also really dives into the dark side of writing and publishing, with sketchy agents, dodgy backroom deals, story thefts, and personal compromises all being featured quite heavily in the plot. These elements make for some great potential motives, but you have to appreciate the heavy level of cynicism that Stevenson is throwing into the mix. I deeply enjoyed the way that Stevenson explored the minefield of life as a murder mystery writer, as well as other connected literary issues, and it ensured that the protagonist’s storyline about being a new author was simultaneously funny and intriguing.
Benjamin Stevenson continues to impress as one of my favourite authors of crazy Australian crime fiction. His amazing latest novel, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, is so damn good, as it combines a clever mystery with Stevenson’s unique style that satirises the entire crime fiction genre. Loaded with some brilliant homages to all manner of murder mystery, and mixing an intense murder plot with jokes, outrageous characters, and fantastic way to tell the story, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect was a blast of epic fun from start to finish. A worthy and incredible sequel to Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect is funny, brilliant and occasionally dark, and you are guaranteed to love every second of it.
The Unseen Library 