A Covert War

by Michael Parker

Marcus Blake's ramshackle security agency has no clients to speak of until Susan Ellis walks into his office and asks him to help find her brother who has gone missing in Afghanistan. In that moment, Marcus' world is turned upside down and he is plunged into a covert war where arms and drugs are traded by renegades within the CIA. Now, in his quest to find Susan's brother, Marcus faces terror and betrayal in a murky world where one cannot easily tell a friend from a foe.

Genres: Thriller

294 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2010

About the author

Brought up in London. Attended Sir Walter St. John's Grammar School for boys in Battersea until the family moved to Portsmouth in 1954. Continued education at Southern Grammar. Left school with no qualifications and started work as a Junior deigner at Twilfits (Corset/Brassiere manufacturer). Left after one year and joined the Merhcant Navy as a Steward. Two years later married Pat, my teenage sweetheart and went to work on a building site. Three months later I joined the RAF as an electrician. Left 16 years later on a redundancy package and worked in a food factory for a couple of years. Left and worked in the Middle East for a year. Then back to another food manufacturer (Mars) for 17 years until early retirement in 1996. Moved out to Spain with Pat in 1997. We have four sons, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Sadly, my wife passed away with terminal cancer. We'd been married 60 years. Pat and I moved back to England in 2014.

I have written all my adult life with moderate success. My first novel, NORTH SLOPE was published by Macmillan in 1980. My second, SHADOW OF THE WOLF in 1984 by Robert Hale. My third, HELL'S GATE was published in 2007 by Robert Hale followed by THE EAGLE'S COVENANT (2007) and THE DEVIL'S TRINITY in 2008. This was followed by THE THIRD SECRET, in 2009 and then A COVERT WAR in 2010. THE BOY FROM BERLIN was released in December 2011, and has now been picked up by Harlequin who have purchased (leased) the paperback rights for North America and Canada. Harlequin have also released my thriller, THE EAGLE'S COVENANT in paperback. I have self-published WHERE THE WICKED DWELL, NO TIME TO DIE and A SONG IN THE NIGHT. I have also written and publsiehed three Cozy Romance novekls under the pen name of Emma Carney. I also have three non-fiction titles poublished.

Robert Hale published my novel, PAST IMPERFECT, in January 2015. This is an romance with a hard edged back story. It has now been published by The Wild Rose Press in America.

Reviews

[Michael Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is from: A Covert War (Hardcover)
An up-to-date fast-paced thriller from the reliable pen of Michael Parker, A Covert War starts with the words of David Ellis, relating his firsthand experience of a massacre in Afghanistan. These words were written in a notebook now in the possession of his sister, Susan. The mysterious Sir Giles Cavendish gave her the book as possible proof that her brother was alive, though missing.

So begins Susan's quest to find her brother. She recruits a private investigator, Marcus Blake. Apparently, David was a journalist and worked for the organisation called The Chapter; they ran a mission in the Afghan mountains. Yet there's more to The Chapter than this - much more... And Cavendish is more than he seems.

Marcus has a friend from university days - Maggot, from northern Pakistan - and they train in martial arts together. This training proves useful as Marcus begins to uncover odd connections that lead him to a US base in the UK and high echelon contacts in the government.

As the danger mounts, it seems that the only way they'll be able to free David is to travel to one of the most dangerous spots on earth, Afghanistan. Here, David is being used as a pawn and bargaining chip, with his very life as the stake.

And while some villains are American servicemen and rogue CIA operatives, others are hidden, awaiting their moment of betrayal.

There is a strong sense of foreboding as the pages turn, leading on to an inevitable and bloody confrontation. The tension mounts as friend and foe seek to silence their enemies. A satisfying quick read.

This is not the first Parker thriller I've read and, based on this outing, it won't be the last.

[Michael Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author of this book so naturally I would give it top ranking. However, I have confidence in my own ability as a story teller, having had eight novels published in hardback. My novels are not all one theme; they are stand alone thrillers set in different locations, countries, genres etc, but each one has received terrific reviews and comments. My latest novel, which was published in December 2011 has been picked up by Harlequin for publishing in Canada and North America, so I can't be that bad, can I? I believe this book will hold the reader and comfortably survive comparison with other top thriller writers. You can see reviews for A Covert War on Amazon. It is also available in Kindle.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel starts with an attack on a Mission in Afghanistan and proceeds from there. One of the victims of the attack is a British journalist, or so his twin sister thinks, and he has disappeared from the Hospital where he was taken after the attack. She wants to go there to locate him if possible. She joins up with an Investigator who has agreed to help her pro bono. MI6, the CIA, rouge military and spies are all involved as are Afghani Warlords. Lots of action and adventure. Great rainy day summer reading.

[Steve Bruce]

It was ok , two and half stars.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good fast-paced thriller with lots of suspense