After finishing "End game" the next book that i picked in the series was the very first one where William Warwick begins his career as a detective. It felt and in reality as well, as if i was watching the origin story of a new super hero comic. But not as cinematic. For those who have followed the "Clifton Chronicles" they may've a different opinion, but since i'ven't read those yet, it felt a refreshing change from the other series that i've been reading off late by different authors.
The story begins with how William enrolls as a policeman, despite his father's wish to see him as a QC(Queen's counsel). The story traces his life as a beat cop, who befriends his fellow partner and learns the tricks of trade from him. A tragedy strikes and on the last day of his beat, post which he was to be promoted to a different role, his partner is killed in a street encounter, in which William is also badly injured. After he joins Scotland yard as detective constable, he encounters his nemesis, Mile Faulkner, who will continue to torment him till the last book in the series. Faulkner is your typical rich man, full of flaws and faults, who will go to any extent to get his way. He owns a super collection of paintings, worth several millions, which is eyed upon with greed by his to be estranged wife. Along with the wife, William tries to being down Faulkner only to be stopped by Booth Watson, a leading criminal lawyer, who along with Faulkner, forms a formidable foe to William and his dad, who happens to be the public prosecutor. The cat and mouse games they play with one team trying to outwit the other forms the plot of most of the books in the series i guess, from the couple that i've read so far.
Curiously, while End game talked about their thirtieth wedding anniversary, this book introduces Beth, his would be wife. There is a small twist as to how she courts William to get her father acquited and how they go about it forms an interesting plot line. The way they fall in love, including the twist, are all typical Archer. Felt as if i was reading Kane and Abel, lite version, of Kane's story. May be Archer wrote the whole series with OTT in mind. My guess is they may be sooner seen on screen as a web series, unless it is already the case. As a series, from the 3 that i've read so far, it is quite engaging and looking forward to finish the rest.
Comments
The Brits are crazy. They are the only one where the National Anthem changes depending on who is the ruler at that time. Since Queen Elizabeth ruled for such a long time, everybody had it as God Save the Queen. When Charles became King, the anthem changed to God Save the King. But every line had a her too, which had to change to him. I am sure many kids and general junta singing the anthem made a mess of the gender !!!
Utterly irrelevant to the book review, but then this blog is such a friendly space that I am bold enough to comment anything :)