It's a deep, complex, and thought-provoking book. It all feels so real. I loved how it portrays the horror of tackling the Cosa Nostra and the sinister menace of the Mafia. I became immersed in the battle law enforcement faced, the cost to the individuals who fight corruption and are true believers in justice, and the not-so-perfect system which has infighting, jealousy, and competition. There's nothing romantic about this warts and all story. I was on edge to see how it would end. I loved that this book takes the real world and adds layers of drama and characterisation to bring this story alive.
A young English schoolteacher, Charlotte Parsons, is invited to resume her job as nanny to the children of a well-to-do Sicilian family. But this time Charley is the centre figure in a desperate plot by the US Drug Enforcement Agency to trap Mario Ruggerio, would-be head of the Sicilian Mafia, the man who masterminds a multi-billion dollar international drugs trade. Charley is to be the bait in the trap and, in deciding to return to the Ruggerio family in Palermo, is about to enter the killing ground...
This is an intriguing and scary story. It's premise - that Germany won the second world war - turns the world upside down. It read like a cautionary tale. I loved the way Harris wove the murder mystery together with the political climate, drawing in the culture dominating the fascist regime, and what happens when people challenge the propoganda and spin to find truth. I wrote down quotes and the story stayed with me long after I'd finished reading.
_________________________ 'The highest form of thriller . . . non-stop excitement' The Times
NOW AVAILABLE: THE SECOND SLEEP, ROBERT HARRIS'S LATEST NOVEL _________________________
What if Hitler had won the war?
It is April 1964 and one week before Hitler's 75th birthday. Xavier March, a detective of the Kriminalpolizei, is called out to investigate the discovery of a dead body in a lake near Berlin's most prestigious suburb.
As March discovers the identity of the body, he uncovers signs of a conspiracy that could go to the very top of the German Reich. And, with the Gestapo just one step behind,…
Another John le Carre classic. I love the way this defies the tropes of spy thrillers. The book doesn't revel in glamour and action, instead I found a deep immersing story, about very real people trying to do their best in an imperfect system. It exposed the weaknesses of the International collaboration model and as such, still seems very relevant to our worl today. This book was provocative, challenged my expectations, and was very thought-provoking. My favourite kind of book.
'One of the most sophisticated fictional responses to the war on terror yet published' Guardian
An illegal Muslim immigrant arrives in Hamburg with a traumatic past and the key to a fortune held in a private bank. He says his name is Issa. To the idealistic young human rights lawyer Annabel, determined to save him from deportation, he is a worthy cause. To the intelligence services of Britain, Germany and America, however, he is a potential jihadist - and a pawn between them as they seek to make a kill in the war on terror.
Secrets ultimately unravel. When Laura’s husband dies suddenly, the shocking autopsy results make her question everything she believed. Then his research documents delving into his employer’s Iraqi operations are stolen from the home office. Who wants these documents? and why?
As she searches for answers, Laura stumbles upon a lifeless body in a deserted office car park. The woman looks strangely familiar.
Laura’s investigation navigates a treacherous landscape where the lines between trust and betrayal blur. Every step brings her closer to the truth, but also deeper into a deadly conspiracy involving organised crime and corruption. The stakes are high. Powerful people will kill to protect their secrets and maintain their hold on power.
Will Laura expose the truth and keep herself and her family safe? Or will she become the next victim in a dangerous game of deceit and betrayal?
