The Show

Clarke and Fairchild #6

by T.M. Parris

It's never a good idea to steal from thieves.

Clarke and Fairchild are pulled into an ambitious and elaborate plan by which British and American security services aim to entrap an international fugitive. Clarke is persuaded to impersonate a notorious crypto fraudster who has deceived criminals and ordinary people alike across the world. On the glitzy resort of Capri, Fairchild plays host to a show designed to attract the world's richest money-launderers and thieves who seek retribution - or revenge.

But the team's carefully-conceived plans to keep Rose safe are derailed, leaving them in a situation far more complicated and dangerous than they could have imagined.

Can they get back to how they were? Or have they themselves fallen into a trap that they can only escape by losing everything, including each other?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

317 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2023

About the author

My name’s Tracey Parris and I live in Belper, a lively market town near the Peak District National Park in the middle of the UK. I’ve been a market researcher and data geek, an English language teacher, a player of the flute, trumpet and Irish whistle (not at the same time), a marathon runner, a baker of fine cakes and a local councillor. I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled a lot, particularly in Asia and Europe, but I’m not done yet!

I’ve been writing since 2011. The Clarke and Fairchild series, my first self-publishing venture, is a result of my fascination with international travel and the moral ambiguities of the world of politics. I've been lucky enough to travel to many of the places featured in my stories. I had the idea for the character of John Fairchild in a moment of homesickness wandering the streets of Beijing, when I really, really wished someone was around who spoke the language!

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Clark/Fairchild espionage thriller. Both Clark and Fairchild are convinced by their respective agencies to participate in a scheme to lure and catch a notorious villian. Just wow!!! Think you know who's who and what's going on? Bang, plot twist. The layers of schemes within the schemes is mind boggling and will keep you turning pages and second guessing right to the end. Bravo 👏 I received this ARC and this is my honest review.

[Big Fat Hairy Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this high-energy, twisty-turning, whodunnit! I was so engrossed with the book that I couldn't put it down until the very end. The ending of The Show was completely unexpected, but not unbelievable. I would definitely recommend this book to avid mystery and thriller readers!

I am a part of the ARC team and willingly, excitedly submitted an honest review of the book.

[Pedro Bedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind was boggled by the complexity of the plot, nearly killing Rose and almost costing Fairchild a chunk of money, or did it as they were playing the con man at his own game although other players were in the game for different reasons. I had to go back a few times to figure out who was who and what their part was but it all made sense in the end.

[Viragored · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series that I've read, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first (which was "Spies without borders").
The story is complex, with loads of deceiving going on, action, chases, mayhem of all sorts. Very well told and written, justly described in the cover blurb as "a caper".
I've signed up to the author's mailing list and will be enjoying more of her work.

[Brenda Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great spy thriller

If you like FBI thrillers this is for you! Well written with twists and turns. The FBI in conjunction with other similar organizations put on a lavish show for charity to catch a woman who supposedly made off with billions in a bitcoin scheme but there is so much more going on! How the author juggles everything is amazing. A real page turner!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story line

Fast read, well developed and believable characters. The story flows from start to finish. It kept me guessing until the end. The author spends a fair amount of pages after the conclusion tying up loose ends.

[Jacqueline M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Show.

I loved everything about this book, The Show. And what a show it was! Capri that's where it all happens. A well written book. It's the 1st T.M. Paris i have read it won't be the last.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series. Fairchild and Rose are placed in the middle of an international operation where nothing is as it seems. Lots of action, deceit, and intrigue in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Highly recommended!

[larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read everyday for over two years and this book was so frustratingly bad it made me not want to read for two days. Without giving up the surprises just know that the premises that are suppose to support the storyline are flawed and ridiculous. That a terrorist would take the bait over only a $2 million fraud or the multiple government task force would spend so much and waste months of people power is just a fraud on the readers. Let alone the real target who seems rather small time to justify any use of mass resources.

[Paula J Raeburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more complex books recently read, Perhaps had I read previous book in the series it would have been easier to understand the twists and turns. I did enjoy the book

[Mrs Mary Curd · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twist at the end. Very good, well written.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

All is revealed at the end. The whole plot is not what it seems. It takes you to Capri, Siciliano. Quite tense at times, and also quite unbelievable but grabbing

[Brett Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a terrible spy caper, clearly well reasoned in its plot twists, and with an interesting balance of personalities behind these characters. I dislike Fairchild because he is sort of an everyman protagonist with exceptional abilities who nonetheless has nothing beyond general character, and am more interested in the less balanced people he clusters around him. The weakness of this book is that beyond about five characters, everyone is a bit part, and that means that there are lots of extras running around being described as "the libertine" or "the Tunisian" or something; these plots could benefit from another five secondary characters instead of legions of FBI agents running around and splashing out money that government does not spend. Keep it tight. The strength of this book is that despite some lengthy talky scenes, stuff happens, meaning that in every scene some event or information passes into the fore which necessitates change and therefore characters act. There is minimal wishy-washy rehashing of the facts and wondering aloud ("why God why") scenery burning like in your average Millennial mystery, and characters never forget their purpose and limits. That means that even in a somewhat credulity-stretch plot involving governments, fashion shows, and helicopters, people are consistent and so the story is believable. The author's side observations about society are also interesting, being a mixture of commonsense and humanism, as are the meticulous character studies and the Le Carre styled intricate plot with repeated themes within. I will probably not read another one but I enjoyed this one.