*Book source ~ NetGalley

 

From Goodreads:

It’s the dawn of social media; Facebook is unknown and World of Warcraft is the world's biggest online game. An unhinged Hungarian-American Internet magnate is trying to take over it all, using soon-to-IPO web sensation Clamor.us. But nefarious content is coming to light on the Clamor social networking site, pointing to sex trafficking.

 

Enter Natalie Chevalier, glamorous ex-Head of Security at a large Seattle software company... with a father she never knew, a disastrous track record with men and a scandal that forced her from her old job.

 

I had to DNF at 8% due to excessive use of technobabble and mind-numbing stock and financial-type run on. I swear my eyes actually glazed over. 8% in and I had not a single clue about the story and zero feel for the characters. I feared the rest of the book would be just as bad so I jumped ship. The book is fiction, not non-fiction. Being factually correct is one thing, explaining everything in minute detail is another.  An editor should really have culled all that.

   


5* Review:The Harbour Master

The Harbour Master is a fast paced, suspenseful, political thriller set in Holland.

Henk is an experienced police officer based in the harbour district of Amsterdam. Contemplating retirement, partly due to the new regime at work his plans change when he discovers the body of a young woman floating in the harbour. Henk suspects foul play. Murder, prostitution and trafficking all feature in this story. A series of incidents makes him distrust his colleagues and superiors as vital evidence goes missing. Determined to find out why the girl died he circumvents policy and procedure and finds himself excluded from the case. Henk’s family is in danger as his career nosedives. Will the personal cost be too great?

Henk is a strong but flawed character but subtly so without the obvious peccadilloes commonly associated with cynical older detectives in fiction. The story is atmospheric and leaves the reader with a definite flavour of Holland. The Harbour Master is like the successful Scandinavian thrillers of the same ilk but for me this is superior because it avoids the drawn out nature of this type of thriller with a fast paced, twisty plot.

Henk and his wife a journalist make a formidable team. There is potential for more stories here. The depth of character development is impressive for a novella. The plot is interesting and dark but a page turner which I read in a one go.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

5* Review:The Harbour Master II: The Maze

‘The Maze’ is a succinct description for the second in The Harbour Master series. Henk, the seasoned, world worn detective enjoys a short break with his long suffering wife, interrupted by his only political ally, currently working in Brussels. Again Henk puts work before his personal life and risks compounding the family tension with his daughter.

A series of new and unsolved crimes force Henk to question those in authority and make him wary of his peers. Still in the shadow of an unsolved suspicious death Henk finds himself at the centre of a political scandal that only he wants to expose.

The players in this mysterious thriller are numerous all provide essential clues to the true crime. Relationships both personal and work orientated are explored as they entangle but Henk must visit many expertly constructed dead ends before he finds the truth.

Henk is a clever detective, a maverick, he threatens the establishment but is a true advocate for justice. His wife Pernilla and long time army friend Johann thankfully have his back often at great personal cost.

The dramatic ending provides a satisfying conclusion to ‘The Maze’ but reveals a new crime for Henk to solve. There are also problems closer to home for Henk to explore in the next of his adventures perhaps.

A worthy second chapter of The Harbour Master series, ‘The Maze’ is a mind provoking story; fast paced action interwoven with a vivid, realistic setting and detailed characters and relationships.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

5 Review: The Harbour Master III: Ransom

‘The Harbour Master III: Ransom’ follows on from the cliff-hanger ending of book 2 ‘The Maze’. Henk wants to find out what has happened to Lottman, his only ally in the Dutch establishment. As we have come to expect, there are no easy passages for our off beat detective but he forges on regardless and soon begins to find there are some odd connections and strange alliances, which warrant further investigation.

The suspected kidnapping has uncomfortable parallels with Henk’s first case as a young policeman but are these real or imagined? The enigmatic Henk manages to get more answers than his enemies would like but it seems he is doomed to lose the war with the corrupt bureaucrats. Again the settings are vibrant and integral to the plot and there are many delightful minor characters that enhance this political thriller.

The author teases the reader with snippets of information and possible leads, giving the story its realistic edge. The conclusion ties up the immediate story in a satisfying way but there are still queries that need resolving and I am happy to see our intrepid detective will feature in another story in a different setting.

I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

   

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'The Harbour Master III: Ransom' follows on from the cliff-hanger ending of book 2 'The Maze'. Henk wants to find out what has happened to Lottman, his only ally in the Dutch establishment. As we have come to expect, there are no easy passages for our off beat detective but he forges on regardless and soon begins to find there are some odd connections and strange alliances, which warrant further investigation.

The suspected kidnapping has uncomfortable parallels with Henk's first case as a young policeman but are these real or imagined? The enigmatic Henk manages to get more answers than his enemies would like but it seems he is doomed to lose the war with the corrupt bureaucrats. Again the settings are vibrant and integral to the plot and there are many delightful minor characters that enhance this political thriller.

The author teases the reader with snippets of information and possible leads, giving the story its realistic edge. The conclusion ties up the immediate story in a satisfying way but there are still queries that need resolving and I am happy to see our intrepid detective will feature in another story in a different setting.

I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.

5* Review The Harbour Master #1

5* Review The Harbour Master: The Maze #2

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Jane Hunt Writer First Steps

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'The Maze' is a succinct description for the second in The Harbour Master series. Henk, the seasoned, world worn detective enjoys a short break with his long suffering wife, interrupted by his only political ally, currently working in Brussels. Again Henk puts work before his personal life and risks compounding the family tension with his daughter.

A series of new and unsolved crimes force Henk to question those in authority and make him wary of his peers. Still in the shadow of an unsolved suspicious death Henk finds himself at the centre of a political scandal that only he wants to expose.

The players in this mysterious thriller are numerous all provide essential clues to the true crime. Relationships both personal and work orientated are explored as they entangle but Henk must visit many expertly constructed dead ends before he finds the truth.

Henk is a clever detective, a maverick, he threatens the establishment but is a true advocate for justice. His wife Pernilla and long time army friend Johann thankfully have his back often at great personal cost.

The dramatic ending provides a satisfying conclusion to 'The Maze' but reveals a new crime for Henk to solve. There are also problems closer to home for Henk to explore in the next of his adventures perhaps.

A worthy second chapter of The Harbour Master series, 'The Maze' is a mind provoking story; fast paced action interwoven with a vivid, realistic setting and detailed characters and relationships.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.



[a:Daniel Pembrey|7189349|Daniel Pembrey|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1404030220p2/7189349.jpg]

[bc:The Candidate: A Luxembourg Thriller|18803746|The Candidate A Luxembourg Thriller|Daniel Pembrey|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1384786499s/18803746.jpg|26732291]

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Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Google+


'The Candidate' is an enthralling political thriller set in Luxembourg. Nick is a recruitment head hunter although in a previous life he enjoyed a successful career as a sports journalist.

Nick can't remember what he did the previous night and his only clue is a piece of sexy underwear. An unexplained receipt, a distraught landlady and a missing dog all increase the suspense.

Nick needs his journalistic skills to unravel the mystery as these clues throw up new questions and worrying possibilities for Nick.

Tasked with head hunting an executive to manage key Russian and East European business Nick finds himself attracted to the high flyer and wonders if she is the key to his mystery.

The reappearance of his ex girlfriend coupled with work conflicts against a background of political unrest deepens the mystery.

Violence and political intrigue are intrinsic components of this story and the cleverly layered plot leaves subtle clues which all contribute to the satisfying ending.

Nick is a good character but I particularly liked the interesting support cast who make this is a worthwhile read.

I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review.







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