An unmissable new thriller from the master of the genre
An unsolved historical mystery. A brutal bomb attack.
Only one man can track down the killers that link them both.
It’s 2005: Ben Hope, recently retired from the military, is living in Ireland and using his SAS skills to find and rescue missing children.
But when asked to take on the case of two boys who disappeared centuries ago, he walks away, little realising he’s lit a fuse that will not only destroy the life of someone he cares about, but also lead him on a journey that proves old secrets come with a very modern price.
Ben must follow the trail across Europe, unravelling the mystery and dodging bullets as only he can. As the death toll ramps up, what is the connection between a murdered history professor, an English lord and a pretender to the Tudor throne – and can Ben find out the truth before the killers make him their next victim?
Reaching for the latest in the Ben Hope series, I was intrigued by the title chosen by Scott Mariani. Long a fan of all things Tudor, I was curious to see how Mariani would address the English monarchy and how truths can sometimes be in the pen of the playwright. As Ben Hope finds himself pulled into the middle of a centuries-old mystery, he is also fueled by revenge for the attack on a recent acquaintance. Told with all the details series fans have come to expect, Mariani dazzles and enriches history with his own spin.
Recently retired from the British Military, 2005 proves fruitful for Ben Hope. He’s living in Ireland and using some of his SAS skills to open a K&R (Kidnap and Ransom) business, specialising in missing children. He is pushed to the limits when Ben is asked to locate two young boys who have been missing for many years. How long, Ben will soon find out, and regret his helpful nature.
Learning that the missing boys are from the era of Richard III, Hope walks away, scoffing at the elderly historian who sought his help. That dismissal has not been noticed by some, who stage an attack that will severely injure someone Hope has come to care about a great deal. When the elderly historian is also killed, Hope knows that he will not be able to ignore things, as his sense of justice and vengeance is high.
Connecting with others in the historical world, Hope discovers that the truth about the missing princes is not entirely what the history books would have many believe. Spun by the writings of William Shakespeare, the Tudor era rose to prominence based on an apparent falsehood. Hope tries to learn the truth and discovers that a rightful claim to the English Throne may be part of the reason the attack was so targeted and brutal. Hope finds himself travelling across Europe for answers, while he is still being targeted by a man whose personal wealth and honour will fuel future attacks. But, what Hope discovers could turn things on their head and leave the lineage of the English monarchy impacted a great deal, while rewriting the history books. Mariani provides a great story that keeps the reader on edge throughout.
Scott Mariani has always kept things on edge when it comes to his novels, with this series proving to be more than simply entertaining. Mariani uses history to fuel a great narrative that finds itself gaining momentum as the truth blossoms. Filled with action, brutality, and even some humour, Mariani helps shape the stories to educate the reader while entertaining them throughout. There is something for everyone and Ben Hope has surely added depth as the series keeps moving. Great complementing characters help add flavour to the story as well, a typical going-on for Mariani. With no anticipated ending, Mariani will have to keep the stories coming and pushing Ben Hope into additional danger.
Plot points are key to this series, as history offers many interesting forks that Mariani can utilise to his advantage. Ben Hope tends to gravitate towards trouble and finds himself making many odd decisions, all of which help add flavour to the stories. I am eager to see where this are headed and how Ben Hope will find new and ancient events to keep him active.
Kudos, Mr. Mariani, for keeping me impressed throughout.
I think this book was fell short of its promising plot. The idea of a historical plot that has a modern day mystery is a very interesting one, however, I felt that it was not served justice.
Whilst its execution wasn't great throughout the book, the climax was where I felt it was worst. Hope was able to escape captivity (far too easily) and magically stumble across a group of bikers. I thought their characters were cringe and stereotypical, shown in their names: Rusty, Sprocket etc. This was made worse as they drive on motorcycles into a large courtyard with sawn-off shotguns and orders to not kill anyone. Their opponent, the bodyguards of a Saudi billionaire who is described as a 'world leader' and the bodyguards themselves as being very well-armed, are apparently so disorientated by some engine noise and shotgun fire that they cannot hit single attacker (if that's what the best money buys on the bodyguard market then its a wonder most of the elite world isn't dead). There is more unrealistic padding but the final chapters see the worst of it. Hope captures his man (Lockwood) and for some reason becomes best friends with the Saudi billionaire who's main bodyguard had been torturing Hope the night before. Hope, the expert detective, surely could've put together their connection on ethnicity alone. Anyway, neither the prince nor Hope seem to have anything against each other as they go to the courtyard with Lockwood. Hope then decides that instead of shooting Lockwood or handing him to the Saudis for torture (as he has apparently dreamt about since the first chapter), he is going to duel him because he saw some shooting trophies in Lockwood's mansion. Apparently, Hope is now suicidal. So they begin their duelling walk and Lockwood (the expert marksman) spins early and misses his shot on Hope who still faces away. So what was the point of the duel? I do not know. If it was to cement the fact that Lockwood is a slimy person then I would've thought the pile of bodies he'd caused throughout the book would've been enough, not incorrectly obeying the rules of a pistol duel. But alas, Hope has defeated his enemy with the power of meth, the bikers who gave it to him, and his incredible ability for international diplomacy with a Saudi billionaire that decides he likes him. Even though he has spent the entire book being one step ahead of everyone, the billionaire clearly thinks that his international position is safe in the trust of a man who was tortured at his order about 15 hours ago and definitely won't tell a soul.
One more thing I will mention is the use of chapters in this book. Why does Mariani feel the need to put a chapter every 5 pages even when he introduces no new setting, character, or any sort of change. In my eyes, it simply delays the telling of a story that gets worse by the page.
I haven't read any other novel of the Ben Hope series (and I don't think I will now) but I assume they are similar to the Jack Reacher series where the main purpose is to read about a badass vigilante-type against all odds. Arguably this is achieved and, as a keen enjoyer of the Reacher novels, I am happy to endure some cringe writing in order to be entertained by an awesome plot, even if it is slightly unrealistic. This, however, was just filled with cringe descriptions and poorly written plots that were totally unbelievable and therefore unenjoyable.
I did mostly enjoy the book until the final climax hence why I have not given this the lowest rating but I am annoyed I wasted my time. I'd also like to add that any appreciation about the Richard III plot (which was the book's main attribute) should not go to Mariani. He himself talks at the end about how it is a true story and, therefore, his only contribution is wasting it.
Solid origin story which I am not usually into too but made an exception this time. Ben has to unravel a 500 year old mystery about 2 princes in the time of Richard the third's reign. He's based in Ireland as a K & R consultant.
While the Ricardian background is real (except for a couple of fictional bits re "Perkin Warbeck", they sit rather oddly in what I found a mundane and long-drawn-out thriller. Couldn't really get into most of the story.
The Tudor Deception is a Ben Hope action thriller set around the age old mystery of King Richard III and the Princes in the Tower.
When an historian dies and a bomb meant for Ben leaves a young women with a missing leg, Ben is determined to deal out some justice to the culprits.
This tale takes Ben on a scenic tour around Britain and Europe on a trail which began 500 years ago. While reading it I recalled some of my own history lessons and fascination with the era involved. I liked the idea of the links to the modern day which allowed our hero to have his story. Some of my favourite parts involved the Hells Angels bikers and it brought a bit of humour to break up the heavy action scenes.
It has been a while since I last picked up a Ben Hope story and it has reminded me to look out for more books in the series.
I liked the central mystery, the Tudor Deception itself, although it was a little anticlimactic to discover that the consequences of the whole plot barely affected anything in the grand scheme of things. But still, interesting enough. I didn't like the pacing. The book took so long to get to the point that I nearly gave up a dozen times! Not the book to pick if you're going through a bit of a slump and need to get back into reading. This book will put you further into the slump!
I found Ben boring. The other characters were okay, although the villain was a real caricature conjuring a twirling moustache and an evil cackle. That was weird. The plot was realistic except the bit at the end. Ben just happens to stumble across a bunch of noble bikers who put themselves into the line of fire for a random stranger and escape completely unscathed despite facing the 'best bodyguards money can buy'?? That's cray cray. Also, what the hell was that gunfight duel man??! Seriously!? I mean all throughout, Ben has been fantasising about killing the villain and getting his revenge and blah blah but then he randomly decides that the best way to get revenge is a suicidal tactic??! Why?? What??! EXPLAAAINN!!! Also, he is having qualms about gunning the villain down in cold blood and declares pompously 'I am not a cold blooded murderer.' But where was this attitude minutes ago when he gunned down the bodyguard (who had been following orders of the very maniac who he is now hesitating to kill!) in cold blood!?! The dude wasn't even fighting him at that point!?! Like oh, killing a random bodyguard, especially a foreign one, is no biggie. Cannon fodder. A dime a dozen. Kill them all. But oh no, killing the actual puppet-master who orchestrated 2 people's deaths and maimed a woman for life and destroyed her life and dreams and hope... Oh no, killing HIM can't just be done! It needs to be dramatic! He needs to TRULY deserve it! And how will he deserve it?? When he betrays the gun duel laws, of course! THAT is an actual crime! What's a couple of murders compared to dishonoring ancient duel laws?? IDIOTIC!
P. S. Also, this reminded me quite forcefully of ancient history, where kings could slaughter peasants left, right and centre but noble blood was considered too holy and pure to spill and the king needed to concoct a complicated reason to kill a nobleman, even when he deserved it! Ben did EXACTLY what King Henry (VII?) had done over 500 years ago! Pathetic!
So yeah, I didn't like Ben, not least bcoz of his peak hypocrisy and stupidity at the end. But also in general, his broodiness and aloofness is clichéd, overdone, and trite.
This was my first Ben Hope book, and I don't think I will be reading any more. Like yes, the plot was intriguing but the writing was just not it for me. Also I hate Hope too much now. But if you like history and detailed depictions of action and fights and scenery and just everything, you might like this one. Just too much waffling for my taste.
The latest in the Ben Hope series takes place in 2005 so we have to leave behind a lot of what we already know about Bens life and career as this is set before a lot of that takes place.
The story roughly follows the same formula as the rest of the series with lots of action, suspense, secrets and Ben saving the day as normal, so it’s a familiar and comfortable read. The storyline is quite different to some of the previous books though and focuses around a historical mystery, and as someone who has an interest in history, I found it a refreshing change and an engaging story.
I’ve read this series for many years now and always enjoyed the books overall and this is no exception.
The Tudor Deception Ben Hope #28 By Scott Mariani Reviewed January 30, 2024
Benedict “Ben” Hope is retired from the SAS (Special Air Service), now living in western Ireland and running a covert business of his own, one that specializes in rescuing kidnap victims, doing things the law enforcement agencies aren’t allow to do. Ben reminds me of a variation of The Equalizer, a character who helps those who have no one else to turn to.
In the prologue, Ben is enjoying an evening at the local pub with Aurora, the niece of his housekeeper/surrogate mother figure Winnie, who is visiting her aunt. Ready to head home, Aurora offers to go start the car when a bomb blast rips through the vehicle, severely injuring the young woman. Nearby, a mysterious stranger is watching.
A few days earlier, Ben was approached by Professor Hugh Mortimer, who wanted to retain Ben’s services to locate two missing children. The professor lost Ben’s interest almost from the start when he tried to explain that the children he wanted found, Edward and Richard, disappeared in 1483.
Ben thought the professor eas a nut job and sent him packing back to his home in York. Too bad Ben didn’t listen to Mortimer, as the professor was murdered shortly after returning home.
Later, after learning of Mortimer’s death and trying to piece things together, Ben begins to suspect that the bomb attack and the professor’s murder are connected, but how? And what does any of this have to do with events that took place over 500 years ago?
Angry over Aurora being severely injured in what was meant to be an attempt on his life, Ben goes into action. Heading to York to learn more about Hugh Mortimer, he meets the professor’s younger brother and learns that Hugh was obsessed with the princes in the Tower, which, surprisingly, Ben has never heard of! The story is set in 2005, though, so I guess we can excuse Ben’s ignorance on the grounds that Philippa Langley hasn’t discovered Richard III’s grave, nor has she begun the Missing Princes Project.
It turns out that Prof. Mortimer was investigating the truth behind one of the Tudor “pretenders” – Perkin Warbeck – but his research has had far-reaching consequences and he began receiving threatening letters, which was part of why he had approached Ben. Now, whoever threatened Mortimer is after Ben and has a take no prisoners way of dealing with problems. Tracking down who it is feels threatened by the truth about Warbeck, and who has put Ben on his (their?) hit list make up the bulk of the story.
This is the 28th installment in an ongoing series featuring Ben Hope, but I admit I wasn’t aware of the series nor have I ever read any of the others. I found that didn’t matter, however, as this story can be read as a stand-alone work with no previous knowledge needed about the characters or their past histories. Not only is this a fast paced, well written thriller (I easily read more than 100 pages in one evening) with a connection to one of the best-known historical mysteries, but it is properly edited with none of the typos, punctuation, and grammatical errors that are so prevalent in publishing these days. What a relief to read a book without having the flow of the story interrupted by egregious editing errors.
Mariani also includes shout outs to Philippa Langley (who he refers to as a real-life heroine) and the Richard III Society in his Author’s Notes.
These modern-day action thrillers aren’t my usual cuppa tea, but this story with all its twists and turns, as well as a strong Ricardian theme, made for a nice change of pace. It is perfect for casual reading at the airport, the beach (if it’s summer), or snuggled up in your favorite comfy chair.
This was a spur of the moment book purchase, mainly driven by my passion for history. I didn’t realise this is book 28 of the Ben Hope series; Ben Hope is ex-SAS (British Special Forces) and now spends his time as mercenary for hire, solving missing persons cases and also historical mysteries along the way. Described by a previous reader as a mixture of Jason Bourne and James Bond.
Ben is contacted by a gentleman called Hugh, a professor in history at York, he asks Ben to help solve the puzzle of two missing boys… Very soon Ben is dragged into a series of attempted murders and after finding out that Hugh himself has also been killed, Ben decides to pursue the killers and solve the mystery.
A fast paced and enjoyable, James Bond style adventure with the mystery of the missing Princes in the Tower of London and King Richard III at its heart. The body count grows as fast as the destinations visited. I found it took me a while to get into the story, but I think that’s more because I’ve jumped into a series of books without realising, but it reads easily as a standalone.
I really enjoyed it and might dip into some of the previous Ben Hope novels.
I enjoyed the connection to English history especially interesting was the exploration of an alternate reality related to royal bloodlines. The implication on modern day land ownership and on the ruling monarchy was thought provoking.
I found the main character unbelievable- from his motivation to his unending luck to his feats of strength. None of it seemed plausible.
Still love Ben Hope and as always Scott's writing. Full on action with a touch of mystery.
However I'm starting to feel like the stories are becoming the same over and over. I mean I'm guaranteed to still read them but a little something different wouldn't go amiss.
I really enjoy a great adventure thriller…I have read most of the Ben Hope stories and loved them…always waiting for the next one to be written, that said, I loved the idea of this one, the Tudor period being a very interesting era…but, some of the story line didn’t work for me… There was a lot of action which was great…The beginning was good….and I thought the bikers were a great idea, but, their names were a bit naff, and riding through the estate creating havoc…but not killing anyone…. Sadly I was disappointed.
Put this book down about two thirds of the way through (listen- my rule is a book is read if the halfway line is crossed).
This was my first venture into the author’s work and my draw to this book was from the fascinating title. What is going on here? With a background in history, the biggest blow to my investment as a reader was the historical conspiracy at the center of the mystery. The author clearly tries to evoke Dan Brown’s convincing conspiracies and alternative theories for history, but the problem was that it just wasn’t convincing enough to someone who has studied history and is aware of how historical events are reconstructed by professionals.
The other issue I found was the general story telling. For the entirety of the 2/3s that I read, Ben Hope dots around the world and gathers clues to the story from long conversations with various people he tracks down. The first instance was thrilling, the 3 after were repetitive and got boring really quickly, and even the dramatic action-movie style confrontations and shootouts couldn’t re-engage me. If there was more investigation, and less swinging between talking and shooting making up the progression of events, I may have stayed for the conclusion no matter my opinions on the author’s crafting of the conspiracy at hand.
"The Tudor Deception" by Scott Mariani is an enthralling historical fiction novel that combines elements of mystery, adventure, and espionage. It is the twenty-eighth installment in the Ben Hope series and successfully continues the thrilling and action-packed narrative that fans of the series have come to love.
This plot pre-dates to 2005 and therefore, the readers need to leave back a lot about the Ben Hope they now know. Ben is retired from the SAS and relaxing in his Irish home, when he gets a call from Professor Hugh Mortimer, who has been receiving threatening messages forbidding him to investigate a historical fact that he may be the descendent of the Plantagenet Royal line. Ben must first unravel the mystery behind the story of two princes in the tower during the reign of Richard the Third, about 500 years into the past.
As Ben begins to dive deep into the history of the Plantagenet and Tudor history, their origin, how they ascended the throne, and lineage he infers that there is some truth in the statement of the Professor. Unfortunately, Prof. Mortimer is killed before this revelation. With the knowledge that Ben Hope has been assisting the Prof., the nefarious elements who do not want the secrets exposed orchestrate an assassination attempt on him, leaving one of his so-called close family members, impaired for life.
Ben steps out on a mission to hunt down the assassins that take him from Ireland to Liechtenstein, Scotland, and back home to Ireland. Then there is Lord Lockwood, who has a different version of the history of King Richard and his lineage that contrasts with Prof Hugh Mortimer’s findings. In pursuit of the truth, Ben faces several adversaries including a pretender to the Tudor throne. Amidst this, conspiracy, is a Saudi Billionaire Prince, who prides himself on buying lavish and historical castles adding to their global assets the world over. Ben must dodge his adversaries and find out the truth before they make him their next victim. With his exceptional combat skills and sharp intellect, Ben embarks on the final leg of the mission to uncover a deadly secret that could change the course of history.
Mariani's storytelling prowess is evident in this novel, as he seamlessly weaves together historical facts, fictional characters, and fast-paced action. Set against the backdrop of the Tudor era, the author creates an authentic atmosphere that transports readers to a time of political intrigue and treachery.
The protagonist, Ben Hope, once again takes center stage as a formidable and resourceful character. His relentless determination to protect those he cares about and his unwavering commitment to justice make him a compelling and relatable character.
One of the highlights of Mariani's writing is his ability to craft intricate and layered plots. "The Tudor Deception" masterfully combines historical events, such as the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada, with fictional elements, creating a suspenseful storyline. The author's attention to detail and extensive research shine through, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.
In conclusion, "The Tudor Deception" is a highly entertaining and gripping historical fiction novel that combines history, adventure, and intrigue in an immensely satisfying way. Scott Mariani's expertise in storytelling and his ability to spin a thrilling narrative shines through, making this a must-read for fans of the Ben Hope series or anyone who enjoys historical fiction blended with action and suspense.
Идеалното екшън-криминале за обикаляне с английски влакове на градчета с полегнали от възрастта си средновековни къщи с дебели греди, калдъръмени улици, уютни старомодни чайни и епископски катедри в гигантски каменни църкви от романския или готическия период. Намерил съм си го на лавицата за дарени книги на една от гарите. Главният герой Бен Хоуп, пенсиониран в 30-те си години офицер от Специалните сили (SAS), същи Джейсън Борн, разследва убийства в Мидсъмър, но не си знае огневата мощ. Мотивът му е личен. Взривяват се класически автомобили, палят се потънали в бръшлян идилични селски къщички (cottage, англ.), превземат се укрепени абатствa с дебели по девет фута стени, честолюбиви Ангели от Ада на мотори (Харлей Дейвидсън без изключение) влизат в престрелки с армии костюмирани горили на още по-честолюбиви саудитски шейхове в черни лимузини. Разхождаме се (без непременно да взривяваме котиджи) и по серия добре познати ми от предишни пътувания (не непременно с влак) места – Йоркшър, Хампшър, Голуей, Цюрих, Лихтенщайн, о-в Сарк. Както обича да казва един приятел: каква екзотика ни остана у Джеймс Бонд, след като сме били там? Историческата закачка е добилата популярност алтернативна историческа версия, че към края на XV век Ричард III не е затрил в мазето на Тауър синовете (12 год. и 10 год.) на брат си Едуард IV, защото е преценил, че нямат легитимна претенция към престола му. Версията на Шекспир, че мерзко ги е умъртвил, за да им го отнеме, се определя като чистопробна тюдорианска пропаганда, поддържаща победилата във Войната на розите претенция на Хенри VII Тюдор да започне нова династия, парафирана с брака му със сестра им Елизабет. За време на действието удобно е избрана средата на 00-те, когато все още някакви имотни сделки би могло да е било приемливо да се извършват в брой (8-цифрен в лири стерлинги), технологията на текстовите съобщения не е надхвърлила обикновените есемеси и най-важното - Филипа Лангли, маркетингова служителка от Единбург с аматьорски интерес към темата, все още не е открила костите на Ричард III под паркинга на социалните служби в Лестър. Припомням, че скелетът, открит 2012, доказа правотата на Шекспир поне що се отнася до кривия гръбначен стълб. Историята беше разказана в нарочен филм със Сали Хоукинс. Доколкото знам, кампанията на Рикардианското общество за оборване на Шекспир по обвиненията в убийство на бебета продължава да тече с променлив успех.
Ex-SAS man, Ben Hope, now has a business finding kidnap victims, but when a dotty retired history professor asks him to help in a search for two princes who disappeared in 1483, he dismisses the man as a lunatic. That is until Ben’s prized V8 Jensen Interceptor is blown up, maiming a woman acquaintance—and the history professor is drowned under suspicious circumstances. Ben’s investigation starts by learning about Ricardians, such as the professor, and the Richard III Society, which the professor’s brother describes, thusly: “The so-called Richard III Society. The fan club. They’re not even real historians, most of them. Nothing but a gang of amateur misfits who for some bizarre reason have a bee in their bonnet about wanting to exonerate some psychopathic hunchback from five centuries ago. Freud would have a field day.” (Well, I found it amusing; you have to have a sense of humor.).
Ben is soon set straight about Richard and the princes when he talks with a member of a local branch of the Society. With a few quibbles and some flights of fancy about Perkin Warbeck, the member’s summary is pretty on point. The plot does not involve Ben solving the mystery of the princes; said dotty professor already has solved it. So why did he try to recruit Ben? Ben thinks it was for protection, because the solution jeopardizes the inheritance of a powerful man (no one in the present royal family) who will resort to any means to protect his interests. The novel is, then, a modern crime drama/thriller in which more than one group of thugs are after our hero. I have read my share of Dick Francis novels (horse racing being the lure) so I’m used to the hero being beaten up at least one or two times in a book, but the number of savage beatings Ben sustains as well as the throng of bad guys he overcomes is truly mind-boggling. Not my favorite genre of novel, but it was mildly entertaining. Give me a good medieval dust-up anytime.
Although this is the twenty-eighth book in the Ben Hope series, The Tudor Deception takes the reader back in time, to an earlier point in Ben’s career when he was living in Ireland and using his skills to find and rescue missing children. He is approached by a history professor who wants him to investigate the case of two boys who disappeared centuries ago, but he turns him down. Unfortunately, this decision will have far-reaching consequences and destroy the life of someone he cares about. The author weaves Tudor history and recent research relating to Richard the Third and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower into the narrative in a seamless way. Ben has to do quite a lot of detective work, and put the pieces of the puzzle together before he becomes the next victim. I have been a fan of this series since the very beginning, and what keeps me reading is the character of Ben Hope. I know the plots require suspension of disbelief at times, but I enjoy reading how he gets to the heart of the problem and saves the day. I always learn something new and travel vicariously all over the world. I really enjoyed The Tudor Deception and look forward to Ben Hope’s next adventure later in the year.
( Format : Audiobook ) "We need to have a conversation."
Ex SAS, Ben Hope has built a reputation for finding missing children but rejects the request for help from a man who says the boys he is looking for, two young brothers, have been read for 500 years. But then the man is found drowned and Ben's car is bootstrapped, seriously injuring a young female friend so Ben sets out on a quest to find out what did happen to the famous Princes in the Tower.
Rather reminiscent of Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, the idea of Richard III being the killer of the two brothers is debunked and an alternative, very believable scenario replaces the Shakespearean propaganda, before the second, modern day part of the story begins: what, and who, has made this historical deed suddenly important enough to start the brutal killings?
Good characterisation and an easy reading style make this an enjoyable book.especially in the earlier chapters although the level of violence in the latter stages seemed out of proportion. The performance by Colin Mace further enhanced the storyline and made character identification easy with his individual voicings. An interesting links g of centres o!e history and aspirations of today. ,
As a first time reader of a book in this series, it is also the last time. This derivative, uninspiring story loosely hinged on Tudor history with Ben Hope, the stereotypical hero of the piece, ticking every overworked box and using every move from spy movies, TV drama series and action books gone before. I gave up waiting for something original. Even his new client was a muddled old scholar. The historical tie-in was clever but didn't add anything special for me. With the ad nauseum pace and obligatory alcohol, Ben was supposedly the best of the best SAS but still made glaring mistakes to propel the story forward and create plot points. I was annoyed from the start when he chucked his cigarette stub into the surf. It didn't get any better. He briefly had a girlfriend but the usual surrogate mother, Winnie, a devoted family retainer keeps all the boring domestic stuff under control. Lucky him. Will the Tudor royal dynasty be rewritten for the history books? Ultimately one for the boys and not my kind of read but I guess, deaths aside, justice was mainly served and there's a strong reader fan base out there.
Interesting take on the two princes imprisoned in the Tower and allegedly killed by Edward III, bringing to an end the Plantagenet line, with Henry VII taking over starting the Tudors. The eldest prince would have been Edward IV. Historian Hugh Mortimer believed that the eldest prince was not killed – Edward III had no grounds for doing so and there is no evidence that he did – but was in fact Perkin Warbeck, an ancestor of Hugh’s. Mortimer had death threats and urned to Ben Hope but Ben thought he was a nutter and wouldn’t act. Mortimer however was drowned in the lake of his estate – Ben now came in to investigate. Mortimer’s death was due to his inheritance, not of the royal line which was played out when the Oranges came, of an estate already claimed by the awful but penniless Sir Jasper. He was wanting to sell the estate to a Saudi prince so Mortimer had to be got rid and from there Ben Hope plays his Bond-on-steroids role. He is beaten nearly to death but saved by an unlikely gang of bikies and then the violence really gets going. It is a very good read but I found the bikies rather overdone and glorified, which I think cheapens the Tudor storyline on which Mariani has done a lot of research.
Another fine example of Scott Mariani's writing and imagination. Ben Hope is back in his Irish home, resting between jobs. He is contacted by Professor Hugh Mortimer, who is frightened by having received anonymous letters telling him to stop looking into thee fact he may be a direct descendant of the Plantagenet royal line. Ben refuses to help, but is eventually forced to take up arms. The plot is centred around what really happened to the Princes in the Tower. There's a lot of Plantagenet and Tudor history, written in an interesting way, before we get to the modern day. Ben travels from Ireland to Liechtenstein, to Sark, Scotland, then back home to Ireland, getting caught, shot and beaten for his troubles. With a little bit of help from an unexpected quarter, the mission is successful, despite there being a lot of bloodshed in the process, some of it Ben's. I can't wait for the next instalment. I usually look to see if there's another Ben Hope book due out before I start reading the one I already have.
It's a thriller (in a series of books) but what attracted me to it was the Tudor slant. I have long been an advocate of the position that King Richard III was a scapegoat for the theory of the fate of the lost princes in the Tower and that he is not the one who disposed of the boys. This book ties the fate of those two boys to the modern era.
How can a 500-year-old mystery attach itself to violence in our times? That is the million-dollar question.
I had never read any of this author's work and this one is part of a series with the main character being someone who reunites missing children with their families. This time, his quest is different, but he has to call on his skills as a former SAS agent in order to solve the crimes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book both because I love history as well as the thriller aspect of the story. I've always been attracted to both. The writer has a great way with plotting and tying both eras to the story. It was a quick read and one that I recommend if you like the genre.