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Davina Graham #2
The Avenue of the Dead
M16 agent Davina Graham plunges into a hotbed of international intrigue when she penetrates the inner sanctum of one of the US president’s top aides, and tracks an elusive criminal from the White House to Moscow to Mexico City
Still reeling from the murder of her husband, Ivan Sasanov, at the hands of the KGB, British Intelligence agent Davina Graham has been called back into active service to head off a potential international crisis. The British-born wife of Edward Fleming, the US president’s assistant under-secretary of state and close friend, has appealed to the British ambassador for sanctuary. Elizabeth Fleming claims that her husband tried to murder her because she found out he was passing information to the Russians. Fleming’s first wife died in a fire in their Mexico vacation home, but it was officially ruled an accident. Now the Secret Intelligence Service needs Davina to find out whether Elizabeth’s allegations are true. If so, Elizabeth’s life could be in grave danger. But it may already be too late.
Now a target herself, Davina follows a labyrinthine trail that takes her from the inner circles of Washington to Mexico City and a clinic in the mountains that will bring a fiendishly clever global conspiracy full circle. On the edge of uncovering the truth about two seemingly unrelated murders, she uses herself as bait to trap an elusive criminal known as the Plumed Serpent.
The Avenue of the Dead is the 2nd book in the Davina Graham Thrillers, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Still reeling from the murder of her husband, Ivan Sasanov, at the hands of the KGB, British Intelligence agent Davina Graham has been called back into active service to head off a potential international crisis. The British-born wife of Edward Fleming, the US president’s assistant under-secretary of state and close friend, has appealed to the British ambassador for sanctuary. Elizabeth Fleming claims that her husband tried to murder her because she found out he was passing information to the Russians. Fleming’s first wife died in a fire in their Mexico vacation home, but it was officially ruled an accident. Now the Secret Intelligence Service needs Davina to find out whether Elizabeth’s allegations are true. If so, Elizabeth’s life could be in grave danger. But it may already be too late.
Now a target herself, Davina follows a labyrinthine trail that takes her from the inner circles of Washington to Mexico City and a clinic in the mountains that will bring a fiendishly clever global conspiracy full circle. On the edge of uncovering the truth about two seemingly unrelated murders, she uses herself as bait to trap an elusive criminal known as the Plumed Serpent.
The Avenue of the Dead is the 2nd book in the Davina Graham Thrillers, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
41 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Evelyn Anthony
115 books95 followersEvelyn Anthony was the pen name of Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Stephens Ward-Thomas,
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Started her career as a writer of historical fiction, later switched to writing contemporary thrillers, often with an espionage theme.
She met Michael Ward-Thomas on a double date in The Dorchester and both were attracted to each other.] He worked for the Consolidated African Selection Trust. They switched partners and were married a few months later.
They bought Horham Hall in 1968 but found that it was costly and sold it in 1976 and moved to Naas, County Kildare where she had relatives. Increased income from her writing allowed her to buy Horham Hall back in 1982.
In 1994 she became High Sheriff of Essex, the firswt woman in over 700 years to hold this office.
In 1995 her daughter Kitty died of a heroin overdose, leading Evelyn to not write for another seven years.
In 2004 her husband died of a stroke.
She was survived by her children Susan, Anthony, Ewan, Christian and Luke as well as 16 grandchildren.
NB:Some sources give Ms Anthonys year of birth as 1926.
Additional information added from Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 22, 2011
The Avenue of the Dead by Evelyn Anthony is the second of the Davina Graham series of books. The first book, The Defector, I haven't read. I'm also not quite sure how I heard about this series or why I added this particular book to my wishlist. Mystery books (meaning those I no longer remember adding to my list) are the reason I'm now making an effort to read and review books from that list while I can still remember adding them!
This book opens with the death of Davina Graham's lover, an ex-KGB agent. Her desire for closer puts her on a case involving the ambassador's wife who insists she's in danger. Everyone around her says she's just high strung. Davina's investigations though give credence to her story and leads her to a small town in Mexico.
The book is a complex thriller and in the vein of an Ian Fleming or Robert Ludlum novel. There are times when it feels dated but it's well paced that those moments don't matter.
I liked it well enough that I want to go back and read the book that started the series.
This book opens with the death of Davina Graham's lover, an ex-KGB agent. Her desire for closer puts her on a case involving the ambassador's wife who insists she's in danger. Everyone around her says she's just high strung. Davina's investigations though give credence to her story and leads her to a small town in Mexico.
The book is a complex thriller and in the vein of an Ian Fleming or Robert Ludlum novel. There are times when it feels dated but it's well paced that those moments don't matter.
I liked it well enough that I want to go back and read the book that started the series.
May 3, 2021
The 2nd book in the series did not disappoint either! Some sketchy going ons in DC! Loved it.
September 5, 2025
Trying a different genre, because the writing is so lyrical and effective. The characters, settings, and situations are clearly defined with a minimum of prose and well-placed observations. Will there be enough action, how will it be handled?
Oh, its so good. About half-way in there's a twist that was well setup, but no obvious, and its fun to have been misdirected along with the MCs. The writing is good, it plays as a revelation rather than the all-too-common 'gotcha!' reaction lesser writers invoke. That is, the author plays the story factions against each other so well, there's no sense that the author is competing with the reader.
It does get a little weak in the middle, but still very good.
Unfortunately, the author chose to use a couple of cheap ways 'out' and it brings the book down quite a bit. It goes from being a good thriller to reading like a weak mass-market movie. A bit of redemption at the end, and promise of more in the next book, helps that some.
Oh, its so good. About half-way in there's a twist that was well setup, but no obvious, and its fun to have been misdirected along with the MCs. The writing is good, it plays as a revelation rather than the all-too-common 'gotcha!' reaction lesser writers invoke. That is, the author plays the story factions against each other so well, there's no sense that the author is competing with the reader.
It does get a little weak in the middle, but still very good.
Unfortunately, the author chose to use a couple of cheap ways 'out' and it brings the book down quite a bit. It goes from being a good thriller to reading like a weak mass-market movie. A bit of redemption at the end, and promise of more in the next book, helps that some.
August 12, 2018
Some reviewer said that this series was a bit dated, and I agree; but that doesn't stop it from being extremely exciting, well-written, and compelling. I like what she does with the characters and that she connects us to the heroine's family so that that becomes part of the equation. Since it's the old Communist Russians versus the English/Americans story we are going over well trod ground, and there is much crossing and double-crossing, which makes me wonder whether it is realistic. But, who cares, it reads well, and I'm already on to the third book of the series "Albatross."
June 28, 2023
The Avenue of the Dead
The second book in the series was not as good as the first, but still very entertaining. There is no graphic violence as several people die. The romance is lightly done without sexual scenes. I am most grateful to a good story-teller who does not resort to shoddy writing.
The second book in the series was not as good as the first, but still very entertaining. There is no graphic violence as several people die. The romance is lightly done without sexual scenes. I am most grateful to a good story-teller who does not resort to shoddy writing.
December 30, 2024
Davina Graham is lured out of retirement to check up on a former school mate who has claimed that her husband is going to kill her. Davina goes to Washington and finds things are not as she had remembered them, and also that there is definitely something amiss.
These are a bit dated, but then again, Putin has revamped the Russia of old, and so it is also entirely relateable.
These are a bit dated, but then again, Putin has revamped the Russia of old, and so it is also entirely relateable.
April 23, 2020
Good Cold War Spy Thriller
This was like the first book in the series. You have to figure out who the double agents are and wait to see if you got it right.
This was like the first book in the series. You have to figure out who the double agents are and wait to see if you got it right.
May 31, 2020
Second in the Davina Graham trilogy. As enjoyable as the first. Looking forward to reading Albatross.
August 4, 2022
4 minus.
June 9, 2023
Not as cohesive as the first one, but still good.
September 13, 2024
9/12.24. Ok.
March 15, 2025
Interesting read
Good read. My only reason for less than five star is I felt it to disruptive (wordy) on the inner workings of the Kremlin. It took away the flow of the plot.
Good read. My only reason for less than five star is I felt it to disruptive (wordy) on the inner workings of the Kremlin. It took away the flow of the plot.
September 26, 2024
This second Davina Graham novel is an elaborate, twisted cat-and-mouse game. At the same time, the author plays fair with her readers. The dead-ends are discoveries not red herrings. Much of the cast is the same as The Defector, but the North American setting is less interesting.
November 13, 2015
I first read this series in the early 1980's (yes, I am dating myself) but came across them again recently & decided to read them again. Considering they are now 30+ years old, they hold up remarkably well. I enjoyed them just as much as I did many years ago. I highly recommend this series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews