Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly: Despite this rather fresh looking cover, the book must be from the ’60s. I mean it was written and also set in that time. Angie is ready to go to college and is enjoying her summer after high school. Jack was the typical high school jock but starts to work for his father’s bakery after school. Why these two even get together despite having nothing in common is beyond me. There is no spark, no wit, or any conversation skill. These two are rather bland and boring.
Red Notice by Bill Browder: I bought this book for my flight back from Orkney. Never would I have thought that it would become relevant in such a short time. Reading about the state sanctioned corruption in Russia under Putin and the violence which goes in hand with it, leaves one rather with a lot of food for thought. No need to think what is allowed then during a ‘special operation’ aka the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine. A hell of a story and a must-read to understand what is going in Russia today.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller: the paper palace by miranda Cowley heller: loved the story about Elle, jonas and Peter. But it’s more than a love triangle. It’s about family and choices that one b makes and the impact they have one every one around. There is so much in this book to unpack and discuss, more than enough to fill an evening. The book reads like a charm and sucks you in right from the start. Loved reading it!
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: ‘Shuggie Bain’ is a story that tugs at your heartstrings. Especially when you come from a one parent family. Growing up in the 80s in Glasgow with a single parent and siblings must have been hard. Money was tight and nothing was every easy. Despite a lot of love, alcohol was the driving factor behind a lot of decisions Agnes made. That, and being unhappy in love. Reading about Shuggie and his difference to other boys shows the pains of growing up clearly. Childhood isn’t always easy, especially when the child feels responsible for the parent. It’s a remarkable story of resilience and love.
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If you liked Red Notice try Beyond Enkription – here’s a copy of a review
Beyond Enkription (intentionally misspelt) is a must read for espionage cognoscenti and the first stand-alone spy thriller in The Burlington Files autobiographical series by Bill Fairclough. It’s a raw and noir matter of fact pacy novel that Len Deighton and Mick Herron could be forgiven for thinking they co-wrote. Coincidentally, a few critics have nicknamed its protagonist, Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington, “a posh Harry Palmer”.
This elusive and enigmatic novel is a true story about a maverick accountant (Edward Burlington in Porter Williams International aka Bill Fairclough in Coopers & Lybrand in real life). In 1974 in London he began infiltrating organised crime gangs, unwittingly working for MI6. After some frenetic attempts on his life he was relocated to the Caribbean where, “eyes wide open” he’s recruited by the CIA and is soon headed for shark infested waters off Haiti.
If you’re an espionage cognoscente you’ll love this monumental book but just because you think you know it all don’t surf through the prologue: you may miss some disinformation. If you felt squeamish when watching Jaws, you may find the savagery of the opening chapter upsetting, but it soon passes.
This epic is so real it made us wonder why bother reading espionage fiction when facts are so much more exhilarating. Atmospherically it’s reminiscent of Ted Lewis’ Get Carter of Michael Caine fame. If anyone ever makes a film based on Beyond Enkription they’ll only have themselves to blame if it doesn’t go down in history as a classic thriller … it’s the stuff memorable films are made of.
Whether you’re a le Carré connoisseur, a Deighton disciple, a Fleming fanatic, a Herron hireling or a Macintyre marauder, odds on once you are immersed in it you’ll read this titanic production twice.
For more detailed reviews visit the Reviews page on TheBurlingtonFiles.org website or see other independent reviews on your local Amazon website and check out Bill Fairclough’s background at Everipedia.org.
Thanks for the recommendation. Will look it up. In any case sounds interesting.
If you are an espionage cognoscente you won’t put it down once you reach Chapter 5 or 6