Ash Carter returns to Israel on what should be a straightforward mission except for one small detail. Why did Alfred Duffy go AWOL from the British Army, go to Israel and then hand himself in at Acre Prison.
The mystery deepens when Carter finds that Duffy escaped just as he arrived.
The hunt begins but as the mystery unravels towards an exciting climax, it becomes unclear who is the hunter and who the hunted.
It is such a pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Prisoner of Acre today. Many thanks to Murray Bailey for inviting me and for sending me an advance digital copy of the book.
The Prisoner of Acre is the fourth book in Murray Bailey's Near East series. These books are the prequel to his Singapore series which also features military investigator, Ash Carter. Although there are mentions of events in the previous novels, each can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. I am a huge fan of Murray Bailey's books and have loved following this particular series since the start.
The Troodos Secret saw Carter in Cyprus but he returns to Israel in The Prisoner of Acre, on an apparently straightforward mission to collect an AWOL British soldier, Alfred Duffy. However, if it isn't already strange enough for a deserter to walk away from his regiment in Cyprus, make his way to Israel before voluntarily handing himself in to Acre Prison, when Ash arrives to collect him, Duffy has escaped. The Prisoner of Acre is a thriller and an intriguingly compulsive, multilayered mystery. As well as the questions regarding Duffy's disappearance, Carter also has to figure out how another escaped prisoner fits into the picture. Meanwhile, as well as the chapters narrated in the first person by Carter, there are also chapters told from the perspective of an unknown character. This person is clearly involved in organised criminal activities but who they are and what they are planning isn't revealed until late in proceedings.
As Ash tries to locate the missing Duffy and work out what is going on, he frequently finds himself in mortal danger. He is a trained boxer and is naturally perceptive but both his physical and intuitive skills are found lacking at times during the course of the novel. While it's no surprise that he survives all that he endures – this is a prequel series, after all – the high-octane action scenes and moments of nerve-racking tension are utterly gripping throughout but particularly towards the shocking, exciting conclusion.
However, as much as this is a brilliantly constructed thriller, it is also a sharply observed, illuminating exploration of this hugely significant period in Israel's tumultuous history. Set in 1949, there might be an uneasy ceasefire in place following the first Arab-Israeli war but Murray Bailey ensures the complex dynamics of the area are evident throughout. Perhaps the most interesting element is the recognition of Britain's role in events; relations between Israel and Britain were hostile during the independence period while the Palestinians who fought for Britain in WW2 have good reason to feel let down. As Carter observes,
'On the whole, the Jews hated us, and the Arabs despised their once allies. We'd walked away and left the country at war.'
It's a melting pot of mistrust and grudges and in the wake of the thousands of people who died, Ash has to tread very carefully. The knowledgeable, even-handed examination of the situation is complemented by the rich descriptions which vividly capture the huge variations in landscape, both physical and cultural.
The characterisation is excellent too, allowing for some more thoughtful interludes amidst the more brutal action scenes and genuine shocks. With its immersive sense of time and place and the complex, fast-paced and engaging plot, The Prisoner of Acre is another first-rate thriller from an author who delivers time and again. I thought it was superb and I very highly recommend it.
The Prisoner of Acre is independently published, it can be purchased from Amazon UK and Amazon US. It is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
His first work of fiction, I Dare You, was published in 2016. His books include his ancient Egypt series (starting with Map of the Dead). the Ash Carter series set in 1950s Singapore and the prequel Near East series also featuring Ash Carter, and the Blackjack series set in Hong Kong which overlaps the end of the Singapore series.
Born in Manchester, England, Murray now lives on the South Coast with his wife and family.
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