This United State Book

The inherent danger in the regular, prolific output of a writer like Forbes is, of course, a loss of freshness in ideas and characterisation. But Forbes takes measures to deal with this: each new book strikes out in an unfamiliar direction, and if his narratives are sometimes overly ambitious, the sheer storytelling verve carries the reader through. This 25th book has a prophetic edge: Forbes deals with the results of the assassination of the Prime Minister, leaving the island state--Britain--in mortal danger. His protagonist, Paula Grey, saves an important American from a brutal attempt on his life, which seems to be part of a strategy by a giant power to absorb Britain into its own system. And the country is soon under threat from legions of enemies, including the malign Jake Ronstadt and his troop of henchmen. The narrative hurtles towards a dramatic climax on Romney Marsh as an invading naval task force approaches Britain. This is the kind of labyrinthine plot in which a moment's inattention on the part of the reader will leave them adrift. But Forbes more than repays our close attention, and even if some of the characters here are conventionally drawn, there's no denying the ambition and skill. --Barry ForshawRead More