Spearfish

by Brian Callison

1994, mass market paperback reprint edition, Diamond Books, London, U.K. 222 pages. Acclaimed British adventure writer, Michael Crofts, was a parachute expert, who wanted to live in peace. Others, in the shadows, are not ready for him to retire. By the author of FLOCK OF SHIPS and many other titles.

Genres: Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Brian Callison was a British novelist known for his best-selling thrillers and sea stories. Born in Manchester, England in 1934, he was educated at the High School of Dundee, and went to sea at the age of 16 as an apprentice with the Blue Funnel Line, sailing aboard cargo ships between ports in Europe and East Asia. Callison subsequently studied at Dundee College of Art in Scotland, and went into business. His first published novel, A Flock of Ships, appeared in 1970. In 2008 he completed a three-year appointment as a Fellow of The Royal Literary Fund at the University of Dundee, mentoring staff and students in all aspects of practical writing.
Callison died in Dundee on 5 February 2024, at the age of 89.

Reviews

[Michael Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. This was an interesting book from which action and violence always loomed. The protagonist is an older (~45) soldier then mercenary who has seen a lot of war and action and has recently cashed out and is looking to retire.
He has recently, in one day, fallen deeply in love with a young lady who is less than half his age and who is possibly incentive enough to keep him retired. An accidental (on his side only) meeting with a Royal Navy security officer has led him to a trip to Scotland and a visit with an old mercenary friend. His only other friend is a 9mm Beretta M951.
The friend seems to be in trouble and tied into a complicated plot that seems to involve a secret abandoned cove. The story's plot then becomes quite complicated. Action and violence looms large. However it comes fast and short. The result always impacts the protagonist's knowledge of what is going on and how and who is involved. This always takes up most of the story as the protagonist does a lot of searching and thinking until the next short burst of action pops out.
I do not mean to say that a thriller needs lots and lots of raw violence. However, in some of the best books when there is for example a fight, there would be a couple of blows landed, some furniture would be broken, one might pull a knife, and so on for a page or two. In this book, the fight would be over in a sentence or two.
Not your usual protagonist. Quite interesting nonetheless.

[Eddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average thriller