Jeffrey Archer
The fourth volume of the Clifton Chronicles, and since Archer has made it a point to end each book at a very crucial juncture, the book dives straight in. One of the problems I faced was that I had to do some reading up on the web to remember the plot and the characters.
As with the previous book, the original protagonist Harry Clifton has very little role to play. Most of the plot lines are centred around his wife Emma and son Sebastian. Both of them have to fend off various kinds of attacks from their enemy Don Pedro Martinez. Sebastian’s problems on this account seem relatively small compared to that of Emma’s, as Martinez tries every trick outside the book to bring down Barrington Shipping with the help of Major Alex Fisher and Lady Virginia Fenwick. We are also kept aware of Sir Giles’ political career even as he too becomes a target of Martinez.
There are a couple of characters introduced in the book whom we are bound to see in the remaining volumes as well – Cedric Hardcastle, a banker from Yorkshire who suddenly becomes a part of the Barrington board, and Bob Bingham. (revealing his connection and involvement might serve as a spoiler)
Art continues to be a familiar device in the series, and the pace continues to be absolutely fantastic. The period covered in the book is 1957-64 and the author manages to bring out the changing nature of global citizenship after WWII quite well through some characters and events. The book is standard Archer fare – twists and turns, wit and humour and clear black/white characterisation.
It was revealed recently that there will be seven books in the series, as against the five planned earlier. That should help the author bring the book into the contemporary era, which was the original design.
