Read my review of The Failsafe Query here.
‘They were preparing for decades – now it’s time to take them down……’
Hiding overseas with a price on his head, Sean Richardson is tasked to lead a deniable operation to hunt down and recruit an international model and spy. Moving across Asia Minor and Europe, Sean embarks on a dangerous journey tracking an Iranian spy ring who hold the keys to a set of consequences the British Intelligence Services would rather not entertain.
As Sean investigates deeper, he uncovers dark secrets from his past and a complex web of espionage spun from the hand of a global master spy. As he inches closer to the truth, the rules of the game change – and the nerve-wracking fate of many lives sits in his hands.
The second in a set of spy thrillers that have been expertly crafted with stunning plot lines, magnificent locations, and twists that leave you gasping for air. Perfect for fans of Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, Tom Clancy, and Scott Mariani.
*Each book is a standalone adventure
This is a crucial scene that sets the backstory to the novel, and the mission that Sean, the main character, will ultimately be tasked by Jack to undertake. Jack, the head of counter terrorist operations for MI5, begins to explain to the Director of MI5, what he had unravelled at a murder scene that took place in Chelsea the night before. The scene shows the emotion of D and the real concerns that Iranian state sponsored terrorists had mobilised, and were now committing their first assassinations on the UK mainland. The scene leads to Jack setting a plot to flush out an international model and spy….. An Iranian by the name of Nadege.
The Court was D’s very own cabal of hand-picked officers who ran the office and its much larger intelligence fusion centre located out of the city, together with a set of core staff who ran what D called his own active-measures campaigns around the globe. It employed a mixture of freelance ex-intelligence officers in the UK, as well as veteran special forces operators and a mix of former MI6 and MI5 specialists, all highly vetted and sworn to keep The Court’s operations fully secret.
‘Jack, good to see you. Sit down my boy. Did you put the Old Bill straight on all this?’ D asked, standing behind a 1970s vintage President desk that was empty except for a large ink blotter and two pens standing to attention in a wooden stand. His half-moon glasses sat at the edge of the curved desk, with a light blue swivel chair contributing nicely to the vibrant colours of the room.
Jack sat on a pale green seat opposite the desk, a battered and beaten high-back chair, its arms now decaying from D’s guests gripping them and fiddling with its material.
‘What have we got then?’
‘A vicious attack. Definitely Iranian and a professional hit.’
‘Jesus Christ,’ D remarked, slumping into his seat and giving the underside of his desk a fierce kick. ‘The Home Secretary’s going to be chuffed to bollocks with all this happening on our patch. It’s bad enough with the Russians running riot. Now this.’
Jack sat forward to show D a photograph on his phone, which he placed on the desk. ‘I think its Department 15 that’s been activated. What I saw today had all the hallmarks of an MOIS assassination with a bit of Nizari ideology thrown in.’
D grabbed his glasses and took a look. ‘By fuck Jack. This is brutal. Nizaris you say?’
Jack took a few moments to explain that Department 15 of the Iranian MOIS were a team of brutal regime enforcers who, like the ancient Nizaris, carry out assassinations abroad. He explained that victims of MOIS assassins tend to be Iranian dissidents who pose a threat to the regime or key opponents of the regime. The murders carried out are brutal, designed to instil fear into the hearts of any dissenter brave enough to speak out against the regime, and some of the victims of these hit squads had died in the most barbaric way.
D tutted and ran a hand across his chin. ‘Iranian assassins. Sleepers waking. Russian chemical attacks and cyber-attacks. All on my bloody turf Jack. Now a missing diplomat to boot as well.’ There was a pause while D pinched his nose before bloating his suited posture like a kangaroo puffing out its chest. ‘Bloody hell Jack. We’re in the shit here you know.’
I started climbing at 13, survived being lost in Snowdonia at 14, nearly drowned at 15, and then joined the Army at 16. Risk and adventure was built into my DNA and I feel very fortunate to have served the majority of my working career as an intelligence officer within Defence Intelligence, and as an explosive ordnance disposal officer and military surveyor within the Corps of Royal Engineers.
I feel privileged to have served for twenty-eight years in the British Army as a soldier and officer, working in Defence Intelligence and Counter-Terrorist Bomb Disposal operations, rising through the ranks to complete my service as a major. I served across the globe on numerous military operations as well as extensive travel and adventure on many major mountaineering and exploration expeditions that I led or was involved in.
I was awarded the Geographic Medal by the Royal Geographical Society for mountain exploration and served on the screening committee of the Mount Everest Foundation charity for many years. It was humbling after so many years of service when I was awarded the MBE for services to counter-terrorism in 2007.
Giveaway – win a print copy of the book – open internationally.
My thoughts:
Another cracking spy thriller from Michael Jenkins, this time Sean and his team are hot on the heels of a deadly Iranian agent, one Sean has personal history with.
A British diplomat has been kidnapped, a prominent Jewish couple assassinated and someone’s planning a terror attack. How this all ties together and what connection Sean’s late mother has to it is very cleverly revealed as the book unfolds.
Racing against time and trying to get close enough to stop the bomb being built, Sean is often on his own in hostile territory in the Middle East and Asia, with the UK side of things in the hands of Jack and MI6.
Thoroughly enjoyable, gripping, clever and compelling, this was an excellent read.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
