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brettt's review
4.0
With 2014's The Watchman, English thriller and mystery writer Adrian Magson introduces a new character: the shadowy, competent and brutally efficient bodyguard for hire, Marc Portman.
Magson's so far investigated crimes in DeGaulle-era France (Lucas Rocco), played in the world of spies (Harry Tate) and followed leads on potentially dangerous news stories (reporter Riley Gavin and retired cop Frank Palmer). So he knows the world of the espionage/mystery thriller, and both his plotting and action set pieces are well done, painted with broad, strong strokes -- even if they are familiar, they are executed at a high level.
Portman has been hired off-the-books by a member of the British Secret Service who fears that a ransom negotiation mission for his protege is not exactly what it appears. Overruled in his caution by office personnel who don't mind risking others' necks for their own advancement and prestige, the agent reaches out to Portman, who will hang back and make sure the protege and her military partner are safe. If they're not, then it will be up to Portman to try to get them out or at least make their loss a costly one for their killers.
Magson, as mentioned above, is playing on a field he knows well and handles just as well. Although some of the ins and outs of who is which Somali warlord are a little fuzzy, it doesn't slow down the story and once people start shooting at Portman, it doesn't matter which enemy they are. Magson probably plans on unwrapping some of Portman's history in later books, but meeting him where he is makes for some fine reading diversion in the meantime.
Original available here.
Magson's so far investigated crimes in DeGaulle-era France (Lucas Rocco), played in the world of spies (Harry Tate) and followed leads on potentially dangerous news stories (reporter Riley Gavin and retired cop Frank Palmer). So he knows the world of the espionage/mystery thriller, and both his plotting and action set pieces are well done, painted with broad, strong strokes -- even if they are familiar, they are executed at a high level.
Portman has been hired off-the-books by a member of the British Secret Service who fears that a ransom negotiation mission for his protege is not exactly what it appears. Overruled in his caution by office personnel who don't mind risking others' necks for their own advancement and prestige, the agent reaches out to Portman, who will hang back and make sure the protege and her military partner are safe. If they're not, then it will be up to Portman to try to get them out or at least make their loss a costly one for their killers.
Magson, as mentioned above, is playing on a field he knows well and handles just as well. Although some of the ins and outs of who is which Somali warlord are a little fuzzy, it doesn't slow down the story and once people start shooting at Portman, it doesn't matter which enemy they are. Magson probably plans on unwrapping some of Portman's history in later books, but meeting him where he is makes for some fine reading diversion in the meantime.
Original available here.
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