Archer’s ingredients for royal ripper
Next in Line By Jeffrey Archer, Harpercollins, $45 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
There’s something almost spooky about the latest Jeffrey Archer mystery being released at the very time a new king has come to the throne.
As the title suggests it features the royal family. To be more precise, one former member of the royals. That is King Charles III’S first wife, the former Princess of Wales.
This is the fifth book in Archer’s William Warwick series and this time round the royal protection service is to the fore.
The setting is London circa 1988 and Detective Chief Inspector Warwick’s sidekick, the ex undercover operative, now inspector, Ross Hogan has been appointed to oversee Her Royal Highness’ safety. The appointment is made at the suggestion of the princess’ lady- inwaiting. She met Hogan when Warwick was giving her “boss lady” a conducted tour of the Yard’s infamous Black Museum.
All very Jeffrey Archer, so predictably there’s going to be high drama. There is when HRH’S safety and the country’s security is compromised. In a parallel story line the integrity of some of those policing the palaces and castles is in question.
The royal personage, Warwick and Hogan are only a portion of the cast. Warwick and Hogan’s long-time adversary, billionaire art collector Miles
Faulkner is back. He’s languishing in Belmarsh Prison. His odious double-crossing legal adviser Booth Watson is dancing attendance on him. Warwick’s wife Beth, the keeper of the prestigious Fitzmolean gallery’s pictures, and Faulkner’s duplicitous wife, Christina, have an uneasy friendship.
Warwick’s father, Sir William Warwick, is Mrs Faulkner’s lawyer.
All the intertwining ingredients are there for yet another ripper Jeffrey Archer yarn. so is this book as gripping as its predecessors or has Archer, now into his 80s, lost his touch as a master story teller?
Far be it for me to spoil a trademark Archer cliffhanger question. — Jill Nicholas