In this dystopian vision of London, public safety is in private hands—and nobody is beyond the reach of the ‘law’.
The constant threat of terrorism has left London under round-the-clock surveillance and in the tightening grip of privatised security firms. Journalist Antonia Conti suspects one such organisation—GRM—not only of being behind several women’s disappearances, but of financing the widespread violence it claims to fight.
When a gang of hitmen use rampant state surveillance to track Antonia down, she narrowly escapes with her life. But then one of them turns up dead—covered in her DNA—and Antonia finds herself the prime suspect in his murder.
DS Russell Chapman needs to bring her in. But evidence that Antonia has been framed quickly stacks up and when a personal grudge between her and GRM’s shadowy head of security is revealed, he begins an uncomfortable partnership with her.
Together, the pair delve beneath the surface of the corporate machine and soon find themselves embroiled in a dark and violent underworld even they had barely dared imagine. Will they find the evidence to bring GRM down? And can they keep Antonia’s name off the list of missing women?
It's such a pleasure to be sharing my review of A Long Shadow today. Many thanks to David Beckler, Amazon Publishing and Capital Crime organisers for my copy which was in the tote bag I received at the Capital Crime festival in October 2022.
I had a real hankering for a good action thriller when I picked up A Long Shadow by David Beckler and I'm delighted to say it more than lived up to my hopes. I've found a new favourite in Antonia Conti, so thank goodness this is the first in a series! Set in a dystopian London which feels uncomfortably possible, particularly at present, it's an ambitious, intricately plotted novel which kept me gripped throughout.
The book certainly hits the ground running with a tense first chapter which is exactly what the start of a high octane thriller should be; there's a claustrophobic sense of menace even this early in proceedings and as Conti is introduced and almost immediately finds herself in mortal peril, I was intrigued by what we discover about her here and desperate to know more. It very soon becomes evident that her past is at least as challenging as her present, and there are as many questions as answers raised about her during the course of the novel. I loved that she's immensely capable, yet still vulnerable, particularly so due to the Government's draconian policies regarding people not born in the country – or those whose appearance isn't judged British enough... There's a really ominous undertone to A Long Shadow; this is a London where terrorist attacks and increasing privatisation have led to the city gripped by constant surveillance and fear-induced security checks.
As the book progresses, it becomes increasingly complex with multiple subplots which meant it was impossible to figure out how the storyline might develop. The fascinating pairing of Antonia Conti with DS Russell Chapman is made especially interesting by the manner in which they first meet and what this means for them to be able to trust one another. Violent altercations are never far away in this city and there are numerous bruising encounters and nerve-jangling cliffhangers. It's perhaps the more insidious threats which are even more frightening, however, with Antonia's friend, Sabirah being the most powerless against corruption and intimidation. It's particularly chilling because everything, even the scientific and technological developments, are so plausible. There are some deeply moving scenes too, both in the present and in Antonia's past – not everything is revealed here but there is enough to make what she suffered as a child obvious, and I have no doubt the impact will continue to influence her as the series continues. The mortal peril she finds herself in is expected, of course, but the nature of it is still utterly shocking, while being completely convincing.
A Long Shadow is everything I love in an action thriller; the compelling plot is pacy and intelligent, the claustrophobic setting is full of atmosphere, and the characterisation is excellent, with both protagonists and antagonists making a real impression. I loved it and am thrilled I had a copy of the next book in the series, A Stolen Memory here to read immediately! Very highly recommended.
A Long Shadow is published by Thomas & Mercer and can be purchased here.
About the Author
David Beckler was born in Addis Ababa in 1960, and spent his first eight years living on an agricultural college in rural Ethiopia where his love of reading developed. After dropping out of university he became a firefighter and served 19 years before leaving to start his own business.
Manchester has been David’s adopted home since 1984. In his spare time he tries to keep fit, listen to music, socialise and feed his voracious book habit.
David began writing in 2010 and uses his work experiences to add realism to his fiction. He writes fast-paced action thrillers populated with well-rounded characters.
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