Then We Die

Inspector Carlyle #5

by James Craig

'I need to talk to you...about your father.' Inspector John Carlyle gets the shock of his life when his mother announces she is getting a divorce after 50 years of marriage. But that's nothing compared to the storm that erupts when he stumbles across an execution of a wealthy businessman in a luxury London hotel room. The victim is the latest in a line of bodies being left across London by a ruthless Israeli hit squad. Going up against this deadly crew could prove to be fatal to Carlyle, but compared to his troubles at home, however, tracking them is something of a relief. But the body count continues to rise and then it gets personal...Can Carlyle sweep the killers from London's streets before more innocent people die?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, London, British Literature

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

James Craig has lived in London for more than thirty years, working as a journalist and consultant.

He lives in Bloomsbury with his wife and daughter.

Reviews

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REVIEW: THEN WE DIE by James Craig

This is the third mystery I've read in James Craig's series about middle-aged London Met Inspector John Carlyle, a really different kind of "hero." Carlyle' s career nearly derailed early on during the Miners' Strike, when his integrity prevailed against a fellow copper' s abuse of a civilian, but he himself is not lily-white: his buddy of thirty years, Dominic Silver, is a criminal, and Carlyle uses Silver's information and occasionally, assistance. In this novel, Carlyle early on gets a metaphorical knockout punch about his parents, then his attempt to interfere with a crime in progress results in a policeman' s death. His skeins seem to unravel throughout this utterly riveting mystery, as his every act has horrible consequences.

[audrey]

Take your disbelief and just fling it hiiiiigh into the air. Spies executing each other, publicly, all over London and the tabloids ignoring it! Double-digit executions with Carlyle in attendance and he's given a stern glance and left on the street! Someone actually connecting the dots between Carlyle and Dom Silver and then dismissing it as a coincidence!

Bah.

[Donna]

I was surprised by how relevant a lot of the themes of this book felt for today with mossad and hamas agents chasing each other across London. Carlyle stumbles across an assassination in a hotel endangering his sergeant. His quest for revenge was interesting though I think I did lose track of which side which characters were on so was baffled by Carlyle’s actions in some places. Always glad to visit this series.

[Inger Alice]

I gave up counting the bodies at ten, the whole thing was just too unbelievable. It made it seem like Carlyle and his partner were the only ones working on solving the ongoing killing spree, and they didn’t do it very well either.

[David]

As always a good quite fast paced book.

[Rob]

A great read from James Craig, with John Carlyle involved in a complex plot which features arms dealers, terrorists and the Mossad. Exciting and strongly recommended.

[Ships]

Review to follow...but I will say James Craig just gets better and better, I was engrossed loving the gritty multifaceted plot.

[Bunmi]

Best of the series, by far. A highly enjoyable read.