Tracers

Harry Tate #2

by Adrian Magson

Second in the brand-new Harry Tate thriller series - In western Baghdad, a suicide bomber blows up a fortified house, killing everyone inside. In Norfolk, England, a runaway Libyan banker is assassinated. Different events, half a world apart - but closely linked. Former M15 agent Harry Tate has been hired by a government fixer to find two runaways, but then both are assassinated. Despite his misgivings, he is persuaded into a third assignment, but when he tracks down the supposed Israeli professor, things start to go very wrong . . .

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Adult

253 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Adrian Magson is a British crime-writer, his books often involve conspiracies, and have two repeating main characters - Riley Gavin, a young female investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former RMP (British Royal Military Policeman) now a private investigator.

Reviews

[Patrick SG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good thriller, but it probably could have been edited a bit more. The story moves along at a rapid and engaging pace, but as it nears the end it tended to get a bit more convoluted and confusing - which is fine with a thriller, but at times it became so convoluted my mind tended to wander. The climax of the piece, in particular, is one of those situations where a person is on the phone watching a situation unfold as the person on the other end of the phone is explaining everything that you thought up to that point is wrong. It struck me as a bit contrived.

I also found myself in several point wondering if I had read the same book before as there are plot points that must have appeared in other novels - mistaken identity of murder victims, lonely English country roads where killers ride motorbikes, etc. Maybe I'm just reading too many of the same stories.

At the risk of being overly critical of the book I did enjoy reading it and do look forward to the next one in the series, which, given the way it ends, must be in the offing.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Harry Tate thriller. I found it easier to put down, and it didn’t grip me as much as the first. All in all, a good read.

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead.

The writing is easy to read and get into. But it was very slow going. Sometimes a book grips me and brings me along, like I'm on a raft barreling down a river. This one feels more like hard paddling. It was just that the action took a long time to develop, or rather they developed at a snail's pace. Yes, the protagonists found clues that led them to the next step and people shot at them, but the prose was neither enthralling nor exciting. This book took me a relatively long time to finish, and during the reading I found numerous reasons to check the news, do the dishes, fold my clothes or do one or another of many things I avoid when I'm in the middle of a good book. So the least I can say about this book is that I did a lot of chores around the house. If you find yourself lacking in motivation to do chores, try this book.

Short summary: Harry and Rik are ex MI6 who now use their skills to find people of all kinds, people who don't want to be found. Their boss Jennings, who seem to be involved with the government or is ex-government, send them to find a trio of people, one after another.

Starting off with a Libyan expat who ran away with some of his country's money; an accountant who absconding with money and a Jewish professor. Things start to look weird when both the Libyan and accountant were mysteriously shot to death after they were found.

As they dig deeper on their 3rd subject, they discover he might not be who Jennings said he was. It starts to become a good spy (or mystery) protocol book where they follow clues that lead to more clues. But as I said before, it was just slow going and written in a way that was as unexciting as possible.

And for some reason, I never got vested into the main protagonist Harry. He lacked personality or the author lacked the ability to make him interesting. I finished the book without any conscious desire to continue the series. All of this together is why I gave the book 3 stars.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Harry Tate thriller! This is the second in the series I've read and I found this one just as good as the first. I thought the first book could have been a Le Carre story - this one even more so. Harry is ex-MI5, but reduced to mundane private eye tasks to make a living. He has the knack of reading between the lines and digging deeper than the assignment requires. Much involvement of various unidentified agencies and devious, deceitful orders. The reader knows Harry is being played and wants him to survive victorious, but we don't know how he will succeed. The storytelling is excellent - I can't wait to keep reading more in the series.

[Pauline Liu-Devereux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'm hooked.

There were times when I almost put this book aside but I read on and found myself gripped. I like Harry Tate and Rik. I'm a bit disconcerted to see the capable woman turn out to be the deadly enemy again though. Come to think about it, I can't remember any other females apart from the odd waitress. Whatever happened to the florist? Anyway I can't wait to read the next one.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had enjoyed one of the author's books featuring a police officer in France in the 1960s so thought I would give this a try.

This is a very different sort of book though. Set mainly in present day London this is a thriller featuring an ex-secret agent type character. I suppose it's quite exciting with tracking down people who don't want to be tracked down and where nothing is quite what it seems. Sadly this is not the sort of book which I want to read.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I did book 1, but I did enjoy it. Things happened that I could figure out, so why didn't Harry? He's a darn intelligence operative, and I'm nowhere close to being one. That, to me, was a huge flaw, and the main reason I was disappointed.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of a former British agent as he searches for people who don't want to be found.

[Gail Barrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good spy series. Harry Tate is tough but likeable, on a mission to right the wrong done to him by his own MI5 bosses. Obviously it is going to take several more books to get it fixed. Fun reading.

[Cindy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the twists and turns in his stories. Makes for good reading.

[Diane Tait · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The second book in the Harry Tate series. Not as good as the first - too many characters and too complicated

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sort of slow burn, intriguing spy/mystery story. I found myself liking Harry and Rik.

[Ksb Nh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced suspense with little character development. Straight-forward plot with some surprising twists.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series. I didn't find it as good as the first one. Harry misses some obvious clues, and the ending is too similar to the previous book.
It's still worth reading.

[Tigger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced with some neat twists at the end.

[Dan Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

Pretty good read, lots of action plus some twists and turns. The usual suspects for any thriller but pretty well written.

[Pocosnoopy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second Harry Tate book was very good. The author has a good feel for location. Like in the first book in the series I was quickly sucked into time and place.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read

Quick and easy read. However he made his main character and sidekick kinda stupid. Many things they assumed and it got ridiculous. I hope the next book is better.

[Doug]

Good Story