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The Elusive Mole
Industrial espionage. Kidnap. County Lines. It used to be such a great town.
Green Ocean is in the grip of an epidemic. Contract after contract lost to local rivals. Jobs slashed on a monthly basis. Now the axe is coming down on Jack's department, and if he loses his job he'll have to tell Beth, and that's not a conversation he's ready for.
Simon Smith, local journalist, has an uncanny knack of knowing Green Ocean's business before anyone else does. But where is his information coming from? To Jack, it's obvious. Green Ocean has a Mole. Someone is getting rich at the cost of good people, and that doesn't sit right with Jack.
Can one man make a difference? Jack believes so. But when Simon Smith disappears, so does Jack's best (and only) lead. Suddenly he is drawn into the dangerous world of County Lines, and with Beth's questions getting increasingly difficult to answer, it will take all of his deceptive ability to hold his marriage together and uncover the identity of the Mole before his time runs out.
The Elusive Mole is an amateur detective story for fans of M.C. Beaton, Ian Moore, Richard Osman, Fiona Leitch, Robert Thorogood and Helena Dixon.
Green Ocean is in the grip of an epidemic. Contract after contract lost to local rivals. Jobs slashed on a monthly basis. Now the axe is coming down on Jack's department, and if he loses his job he'll have to tell Beth, and that's not a conversation he's ready for.
Simon Smith, local journalist, has an uncanny knack of knowing Green Ocean's business before anyone else does. But where is his information coming from? To Jack, it's obvious. Green Ocean has a Mole. Someone is getting rich at the cost of good people, and that doesn't sit right with Jack.
Can one man make a difference? Jack believes so. But when Simon Smith disappears, so does Jack's best (and only) lead. Suddenly he is drawn into the dangerous world of County Lines, and with Beth's questions getting increasingly difficult to answer, it will take all of his deceptive ability to hold his marriage together and uncover the identity of the Mole before his time runs out.
The Elusive Mole is an amateur detective story for fans of M.C. Beaton, Ian Moore, Richard Osman, Fiona Leitch, Robert Thorogood and Helena Dixon.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2023
11 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 22, 2026
Office Politics Meets High-Stakes Peril: A Gripping Debut
If you’ve ever felt the soul-crushing dread of a "restructuring" meeting, The Elusive Mole will resonate with you instantly—before it whisks you away on a high-stakes investigation. E.S. Catley’s first installment in the Jack Havelok Files is a refreshing blend of relatable "everyman" anxiety and gritty crime thriller.
What’s It About?
Jack Havelok is a man on the edge. His company, Green Ocean, is bleeding contracts, and the "axe" is hovering dangerously close to his own neck. While most would just polish their resumes, Jack realizes the company's downfall isn't just bad luck—it’s sabotage.
When his primary lead, a local journalist with a suspicious "inside scoop," goes missing, Jack is propelled out of his cubicle and into the dark underbelly of County Lines drug trafficking.
Why You’ll Love It
The Relatable Hero: Jack isn't a retired super-spy; he’s a husband trying to keep his life from unravelling. His struggle to hide the truth from his wife, Beth, adds a layer of domestic tension that feels incredibly grounded.
A Perfect "Cosy Noir" Blend: If you enjoy the wit and charm of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club or the investigative spirit of M.C. Beaton, you’ll find that same DNA here—but with a sharper, more modern edge.
High Stakes: The transition from industrial espionage to the dangers of organized crime keeps the pages turning. It transforms a "whodunnit" into a "will-he-survive."
"Someone is getting rich at the cost of good people, and that doesn't sit right with Jack."
Final Verdict
The Elusive Mole is a stellar start to a series. It captures the decay of a once-great town with heart and explores how far an ordinary person will go when pushed into a corner. It’s clever, tense, and surprisingly human.
If you’ve ever felt the soul-crushing dread of a "restructuring" meeting, The Elusive Mole will resonate with you instantly—before it whisks you away on a high-stakes investigation. E.S. Catley’s first installment in the Jack Havelok Files is a refreshing blend of relatable "everyman" anxiety and gritty crime thriller.
What’s It About?
Jack Havelok is a man on the edge. His company, Green Ocean, is bleeding contracts, and the "axe" is hovering dangerously close to his own neck. While most would just polish their resumes, Jack realizes the company's downfall isn't just bad luck—it’s sabotage.
When his primary lead, a local journalist with a suspicious "inside scoop," goes missing, Jack is propelled out of his cubicle and into the dark underbelly of County Lines drug trafficking.
Why You’ll Love It
The Relatable Hero: Jack isn't a retired super-spy; he’s a husband trying to keep his life from unravelling. His struggle to hide the truth from his wife, Beth, adds a layer of domestic tension that feels incredibly grounded.
A Perfect "Cosy Noir" Blend: If you enjoy the wit and charm of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club or the investigative spirit of M.C. Beaton, you’ll find that same DNA here—but with a sharper, more modern edge.
High Stakes: The transition from industrial espionage to the dangers of organized crime keeps the pages turning. It transforms a "whodunnit" into a "will-he-survive."
"Someone is getting rich at the cost of good people, and that doesn't sit right with Jack."
Final Verdict
The Elusive Mole is a stellar start to a series. It captures the decay of a once-great town with heart and explores how far an ordinary person will go when pushed into a corner. It’s clever, tense, and surprisingly human.
Displaying 1 of 1 review