Ash Carter is called in to investigate the mysterious death of a commando. Working with Detective Sofia Mackenzie he finds that nothing is quite what it seems and no one is willing to tell the truth.
When another man dies, it appears that the truth lies in the mountains and the mines to be found there. Threatened and working against the clock, Carter and Mackenzie must solve the case or risk
becoming the mountain’s next victims.
Based in Cyprus in 1949, this is the third book of the Near-East series which can be read in any order.
It's such a pleasure to be sharing my review of The Troodos Secret today. Many thanks to Murray Bailey for sending me an advance digital copy of the book.
Another adventure with Ash Carter is always a mouthwatering prospect; The Troodos Secret is the third standalone thriller in the Near-East series which is proving to be as reliably exciting as the books set in Singapore which follow him as a slightly older man. Although this is a prequel series, he's still no wet-behind-the-ears investigator here and is as proficient and principled as ever. He isn't infallible however, and even though any peril he finds himself in is tempered by the knowledge that he is later stationed in Singapore, this is a tense race against time to solve the case before life is made very uncomfortable indeed for him.
In this book, Special Investigations Branch officer Ash is teamed with Sofia Mackenzie, who despite her surname is a Greek Cypriot. Having recently returned from maternity leave, she has limited training and he is happy to offer the guidance she needs. I thought the pairing worked really well, particularly because Sofia is shown to be more than capable and most definitely not a weak link. The personal difficulties she has to deal with are woven into the plot well and reflect some of the issues often faced by women at that time.
When the body of a white man is discovered in the Troodos mountains, Ash quickly realises he is a soldier but even though the commando has been murdered, his comrades are reluctant to talk to Carter. A second murder complicates matters still further and even though it's clear that the two are linked, it's really not obvious how and I was kept guessing throughout. While most of the narrative follows the investigation, some scenes reveal a glimpse into the actions of people who are almost certainly engaged in criminal activities. This is an intricately plotted thriller and the manner in which the various strands of the storyline are interwoven is really clever; greed, corruption, loss and grief are all examined as the novel progresses. One of the most interesting subplots is that of a young girl who Ash first met prior to the murders. Her role is quite pivotal and yet remains mysterious for some time, allowing for suspicious doubts to be raised regarding her treatment but other characters.
The sense of time and place is as superb as I've come to expect from a Murray Bailey book; the Troodos mountains setting makes a refreshing change and allows readers to learn more about perhaps a less well-known side of Cyprus – particularly its mining heritage. The research that must go into writing this series is always evident but it never weighs down proceedings and I enjoyed learning some fascinating information about the processes involved in mining for metals. I must admit to a wry smile too at the assertion that asbestos is the future, which while not incorrect, obviously has different ramifications for readers than it did for the characters in 1949.
With its genuinely shocking revelations, twisty, action-packed plot full of danger and intrigue, and richly descriptive writing, The Troodos Secret is another gripping, illuminating instalment in this terrific historical thriller series. I highly recommend it and look forward to discovering what troubles lie in store for Ash Carter in his next outing.
The Troodos Secret can be purchased from Amazon UK and Amazon US, and is also available on Kindle Unlimited
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