Ash Carter and Bill Wolfe are in Israel hunting a group of British Army deserters known as the Killing Crew. Some people think they were a myth, others believe they were the most hated of British soldiers.
In the newly formed state that’s at war with the Arab nations, hated by Jews and despised by Arabs, the two SIB officers think they face an uncomfortable task.
But when they become targets they realise this is more than just a job. It’s life or death.
It's such a pleasure to be rounding off the blog tour for The Killing Crew today. Many thanks to Murray Bailey for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the book.
The Killing Crew is the second book in Murray Bailey's Near East series but Ash Carter was also the protagonist in his Singapore thrillers meaning these prequels are equally as enjoyable for those who are already familiar with the character and those who are just discovering him now.
There are a number of reasons why I choose to continue to be drawn to these books but it's perhaps the way in which the time and place are evoked with such assured authenticity that is always a particular highlight. The Killing Crew is set in the newly formed state of Israel and although a fragile peace currently exists, there is an underlying sense of tension running throughout the novel. Carter is again working alongside Bill Wolfe and both have recently been promoted, to Captain and Major respectively. Ash knows that their higher ranks have been awarded as an attempt for them to gain more respect but though they have permission to be in Israel, it's evident throughout that they are not welcome. I was fascinated to learn more about the desertions to both Arab and Jewish sides as British troops withdrew from what was Mandatory Palestine. Carter is reminded several times that the British are now hated and as a principled, thoughtful man, it's clear that he has deep empathy for those who feel betrayed by Britain.
Nevertheless, he and Wolfe have been sent to the country on a mission to discover whether stories about the Killing Crew, a group that possibly includes former British soldiers and which may have been responsible for some of the unexplained bombings and killings during the conflict prior to partition, are true. The prologue sets the scene for a plot filled with misdirections and that certainly proves to be the case but although the simmering risk of violence is implied throughout, this isn't an all-out action thriller and the painstaking work needed to identify likely suspects ensures the investigation is as believable as it is intriguing. Ash's innate sense of moral justice at the start of the book results in a sub-plot involving money-lenders and debt collectors and the clever way it intertwines with and complements the main storyline is excellent.
Of course, this is still effectively a warzone and Carter and Wolfe - joined by their new Jewish assistant, Sylvia Rom (whom they suspect to be a spy) and the eager, inexperienced young Sergeant Finney who is fresh off the boat - are met with resistance that leaves them and readers in no doubt as to the ruthless capabilities of those they are pursuing. There are some shocking developments and as they begin to suspect that the Killing Crew have an explosive finale planned, the friction between Ash and Bill in particular becomes increasingly tense. As they gather the scraps of clues they uncover and try to figure out the identities of those involved - no easy task when changes of name have become commonplace - they also need to work out who can be trusted.
The doubts that are cast about several characters engenders a nerve-wracking sense of ominous suspicion which becomes almost unbearable as the novel nears its exciting conclusion. The Killing Crew is a complex, thoughtful thriller that rewards its readers with a memorable, intelligent plot that vividly and sympathetically explores the complicated politics and cultural issues that still persist today. I highly recommend it and look forward to the next book in this reliably compelling series.
The Killing Crew will be published on 1st March and can be purchased here.
Don't miss what my fellow bloggers had to say about The Killing Crew, details are below.
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