Deception
Carrying on from the very enjoyable first in the series, Gunner, the man of the title Joseph Gunner, a policeman from Glasgow, is now in New York on a mission to get the US involved in the conflict raging in Europe by fair means or foul. It is 1941, and things are getting desperate. As usual with these things, there is a world beneath the surface where deals are done, threats are made and espionage is the modus operandi. Gunner`s involvement in a honey trap with a prominent politician – all readers will recognise the name – goes badly wrong when the girl in question ends up mysteriously dead in the river.
The smells and feel of New York are conveyed effectively to the reader, from the tenements of Harlem to the grand hotels where the rich and powerful hang out. The exoticism at this time of items such as mozzarella and sushi, for someone from the UK, are evident. Gunner is lost in a web of deception and deceit, unsure of who to trust. This is a fast-moving plot which is conspiracy-laced and character driven.
This novel is as enjoyable as the first book, and I`m already looking forward to more of the adventures of Gunner. The author has been compared to Philip Kerr, Rory Clements and Robert Harris, and as a fan of these writers, I can definitely see the connection. While possible to read as a stand-alone, it does work a little better as a continuation and anyway, why miss out? Evocative, compelling and well worth a read.
