Invasion

Luke Carlton #4

by Frank Gardner

2024, and China is massing troops on its coast across the Strait from Taiwan. This time it looks like they're serious about invading an act that would result in a full scale war between the People's Republic and the US and its allies, including the UK.
But Britain's Secret Intelligence Service has an agent in play - a source close to the top of the Chinese Communist Party who's ready to pass on vital secrets that could defuse the looming conflict. But just as the handover is taking place in a backstreet cafe in Hong Kong, the agent's MI6 handler is snatched before she can transmit the data back to London. There are few clues as to who might be responsible. Is it the MSS, China's infamous state security agency? Or could it be another, less predictable player in the game?
Luke Carlton, now one of MI6's most experienced field operatives, is sent to track down the missing agent. It's a highly sensitive mission for a multitude of reasons and accompanying him is his Mandarin-speaking colleague, the highly capable Jenny Li. Following various tip offs, they make their way from lavish Macao casinos to seedy night clubs but Luke senses something's not quite right. Too late they discover that their agent has been kidnapped and now on a rusting cargo ship churning through the South China Sea.
So Luke and Jenny head for Taiwan and find themselves in a country frantically preparing for imminent invasion. It's there, in a remote mountain temple, that they find the missing MI6 officer. But as China's People's Liberation Army begins to flex its muscles, tensions escalate. The world holds its breath and Luke finds himself facing a seemingly impossible choose between losing a person he realises he's come to love and averting what could become a cataclysmic global war. He should really have no choice . . .

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Action, China

389 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2024

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

Hugely respected BBC Security Correspondent and journalist, Frank Gardner, draws on his years of experience reporting on global security stories and using in-depth knowledge of the security services, to produce this tense and frightening thriller - more so because the subject of China and neighbouring Taiwan is very current. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the island's strong objections.

In ‘Invasion’, China is massing its troops on the coast across the Strait from Taiwan. Are they about to invade? If so, this could prove devastating for the US and her allies, not least regarding economic well-being and democratic values.
However, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service has an agent close to the top of the Chinese Communist Party, someone who's ready to pass on vital secrets that could defuse the looming conflict. An arrangement is made for a handover of the information in Hong Kong, but the agent’s handler is abducted before she was able to get this extremely important information back to London.

Enter MI6 operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li, who are dispatched to discover the whereabouts of the missing handler.

What follows is a roller coaster ride as Luke and Jenny are given tip offs from various people (not all of them entirely trustworthy), leading them from one trail to another. This trail takes them from backstreet cafes in Hong Kong, to neon lit casinos and seedy nightclubs in Macao, and finally to Taiwan after they discover that their agent has been kidnapped and is now on a rusting cargo ship churning through the South China Sea towards Taiwan.

Invasion is brilliantly written, although with Frank Gardner at the helm I wouldn’t expect anything less. The storyline is very current - it’s clever, atmospheric and in its best moments nail bitingly tense. Highly recommended!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Geevee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, well-structured and mostly credible thriller about a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Frank Gardner writes with verve and delivers a fast-paced and topical story that gives the reader a believable look into the UK intelligence, political and military communities as well as UK/US military assets and that of the Chinese, too. Taiwan's own military assets and approach are also involved in the story with the added flavour of some espionage operations, use of technology and a few rather unsavoury characters.

Overall, I read this quickly and will be happy to read further from Mr Gardner, who is a well-respected Security/Defence/Foreign Affairs correspondent with the BBC.

[Nick Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of an odd one this, the fourth thriller from Frank Gardner featuring Luke Carlton. I’ve read them all, but this one felt a bit different.
The themes here are China having cunning plans to take back Taiwan and a British “courier” going missing with potentially critical information. Like a Clancy novel, we see the big picture politics while also seeing the operatives on the ground. Here the operatives are Luke Carlton and fellow intelligence agent, Jenny Li. Carlton seems different from previous books, here he is a full tier one operator, in previous books I recall him differently, a background guy with an average military background. Anyway, off they go on the trail of the missing courier, being given very odd clues by very odd people. This is where it falls down really, the motive and opportunity for the bad guys to kidnap the courier and the thread bringing Carlton and Li towards them. Why?
And then this slightly confusing narrative is brought to a rushed end that is somewhat underwhelming.
A lot of knowledge and detail in this but ultimately doesn’t really bring it home in the end.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this espionage thriller, which combined fast paced action with current and well-conceived geopolitics. Set in the context of the Taiwan crisis, this storyline is scarily realistic and offers a grittier insight into the world of espionage than is usual for these sorts of novels.

If I had one gripe it was that the chapters changed more than was necessary, I understood the aim was to maintain the fast pace and keep multiple character arcs underway, but I felt that some of the chapters being only a few pages long prevented in-depth exploration of particular key scenes.

[Steph Ollman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, very short chapters and an engaging story. However some parts of the story were irrelevant and the ending felt rushed and unbelievable.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book number 4 in Frank Gardiner's excellent Luke Carlton spy/action drama series and for me this is the best by far. It was 5 stars all the way until the final couple of chapters, which for me, were rather disappointing.
This book concerns the very live dispute between China and Taiwan and the mainland's determination to reunify what is sees as rightfully theres. China is preparing for a military takeover of Taiwan. The west however, has a determination to support Taiwan, but is far from sure that it has the resources to do so.
MI6 has a source, deep within the Chinese military who wishes to leak intel which could defuse the very tense situation. A 'collector' (a UK civilian) is sent to Hong Kong to collect the intellgence. Unfortunately, she goes missing. Luke and sidekick Jenny Li are sent to the far east to find her. The action moves from Hong Kong to Macau and eventually to Taiwan itself.
This is a topical, fast moving and very insightful thriller set within the context of a very real goe-politial flashpoint.

[Germaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long winded and was just disappointed with this book

[Rob Twinem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Gardner has done it again, the fourth outing for ex soldier (now government troubleshooter) Luke Carlton, as he is sent to Taiwan to divert a crisis that would see the world dragged into a war of annihilation. Hannah Slade known as a collector (a civilian who volunteers to undertake dangerous work for the government) is on a special assignment to Hong Kong to retrieve from an agent, known as Blue Sky, vital evidence that will help stop a third world war. When it all goes wrong MI6 field operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are dispatched to obtain the information and if possible save Hannah.
Frank Gardner as a long time reporter has a brilliant insight into the balance of world power, and how this fragile situation can so easily be abused with fatal consequences. I have the greatest admiration for the author, shot 6 times by al-Qaeda gunmen whilst reporting on growing terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia, he was left partially paralysed and has used a wheelchair ever since. He is still a reporter but equally a brilliant author, his books are high octane, edge of the seat thrillers that do not blind with technical jargon, presenting only what the reader needs to know to enjoy the read. Invasion paints a frightening picture of technical warfare, and how we need to fear those with the capability to destroy the world, and would not hesitate to do so. Invasion is a brilliant book, which I read over 2 days and highly recommend.

[Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The book is well-written by an author with a lot of knowledge about the subject. And the story is very relevant. But unfortunately, the ending is marked by rushed work and ruins a book that could have been good."

[Pierre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun holiday/lazy Saturday afternoon read. As long as you suspend your disbelief it’s decent fun - the chapters are all rapid fire (2-3 pages each max, there are 120+ chapters in a 430 page book) and alternating between four viewpoints so the action never really lets up.

However while the subject matter of the book is very du jour the narrative is undermined by stilted dialogue, actions by key characters that defy logic, and some twists that are a bit too b-movie for my taste, especially the final one. The sprinkling of real-world references (the massive mi6 cockup in Libya in 2011, for example) doesn’t inject enough believability into the plot. There’s also the usual disdain for the creep of “health and safety and legal oversight” into the swashbuckling world of intelligence that suggests the author spent a bit too much time chatting to disaffected former spooks and listening to them pine for the good old days.

In summary, a quintessential 2.5 star book if there ever was one - a review of it could best be summarised by “it’s alright.”

[Hirangi ྀི · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first half and the second half of the book felt like two different people wrote it because how can you go from such engaging, wonderful build up to such dramatic yet unimpressive conclusion. carlton as a lead fell flat, if you go in expecting a jack reacher, you’re in for disappointment. the blurb made me buy this book in a minute, I was absolutely sold and now I am just annoyed.

[Richard Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I've never read any Frank Gardner before. This was taut and pacy, and close enough to reality to make it uncomfortable. There were slight hints of satire of the current UK political system, but I guess this was well-veiled and low-key because of Gardner's day job.

[Glen Hudson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tiresome and a really hard slog with little pay off

[Aaron Oakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but the ending is awful…

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

China appears to be making a move on Taiwan. Invasion or just posturing? In the meantime, the British ref service has a mole in China and now has some information that could save the day. But the collector is not a spy and other people are interested in her as well. Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are sent to rescue her, the prevention of world war three the prize.

A rip roaring tale from Frank Gardner through his spy Luke Carlton. The action doesn’t stop from the very first page and the conclusion is jaw dropping.

[Nathan Toland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much of a fiction reader. However I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It follows MI6 agents attempting to recover a British asset and Chinese plans to takeover Taiwan. The captured asset leads the two agents, Luke Carlton and Jenny Li on a wild goose chase from Hong Kong to Macau to Taiwan. This happens concurrent with the Chinese government implementing their attack on Taiwan.

I plan to read more of this series as I felt gripped by Gardner’s style especially as more of a non-fiction reader. It is written using short chapters following a number of different elements of the storyline happening in different locations. It makes for a very engaging read.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly engaging tale of espionage, written with the kind of detail and authenticity that suggests Frank Gardner has drawn heavily on his long career as a journalist. The story feels well researched, and that grounding in reality makes the plot believable and, at times, uncomfortably close to what one imagines goes on behind the headlines. Gardner has a knack for pacing, keeping the reader hooked without lapsing into overblown theatrics.However, for me, the ending was something of a let-down. After such a strong and convincing build-up, the conclusion seemed rushed—as if the author, having invested so much in the set-up, simply wanted to bring the curtain down quickly. It lacked the same depth and care that made the earlier chapters so compelling, which was a disappointment.That said, the journey was still very much worth taking. The characters, the sense of place, and the insight into the shadowy world of espionage all rang true, and I closed the book with the feeling that I’d been both entertained and informed. Despite my reservations about the conclusion, I’d happily recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys intelligent, well-grounded thrillers, and I look forward to reading more of Gardner’s work in the future.

[Graham Gent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was equally as good as its predecessors, until the last few pages! Why did it end so abruptly? Without giving away the plot, the ending was a great disappointment for me. It is not an overly long book and twenty or so more pages to explain what happened to avert disaster would not have been out of place. Also, it was a completely out of character, Lukes action in the forest. The escape was again, too easy to be believed I assume this is so the story continues in the next book, but I have been left with a feeling of real disappointment.

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frank Gardner’s Invasion is the literary equivalent of a high-speed car chase: fast, loud, full of action, and somehow still kind of a blur. This isn’t a book that lingers on character depth or introspection—no, this is a full-throttle geopolitical thriller, packed with espionage, military jargon, and world-ending stakes. If you’re here for intricate character arcs or emotional depth, well, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you like your fiction adrenaline-fueled and straight to the point, this might just be your ride.

The premise? Classic spy thriller fare. MI6 operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are sent on a high-stakes mission after a crucial intelligence handover in Hong Kong goes sideways. A missing agent, vital intel, and the looming threat of China invading Taiwan—Gardner sets the stage for a globe-trotting adventure through neon-lit Macau casinos, gritty backstreets, and tense South China Sea showdowns. It’s cinematic, action-packed, and feels ripped straight from current headlines.

That said, while the pace is relentless, the execution left me cold. The plot is predictable, and I saw most of the twists coming a mile away. Carlton himself is your standard-issue action hero: competent, stoic, gets the job done. It’s a book that cares far more about gadgets, tactical maneuvers, and international politics than it does about the people caught in the storm. And look, I get it—some readers love that. But for me? I like my stories with a bit more emotional investment, and Invasion just didn’t deliver.

That’s not to say Gardner doesn’t know his stuff. His background as a BBC Security Correspondent shines through, lending the book a sense of realism in its geopolitical details. The world-building is immersive, the stakes feel real, and it’s clear that he knows his way around the corridors of power. But the trade-off is that it sometimes reads more like an intelligence briefing than a novel—efficient, informative, but not exactly gripping on a human level.

Would I recommend it? Well, if you’re a die-hard fan of spy thrillers, love Tom Clancy-style narratives, or are fascinated by the China-Taiwan tensions, then sure, you might enjoy it. But if you need your stories to have characters who feel like more than mission briefings in human form, you might want to pass. Two out of five stars from me—fast-paced, well-informed, but ultimately forgettable.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Invasion’ by Frank Gardner is so lifelike it is terrifying. Fourth in the Luke Carlton series, I enjoyed it so much I’m going back to the beginning, the first book.
The pace of the story is relentless from the first page. China is preparing to invade Taiwan. British intelligence sends a ‘collector,’ a volunteer citizen and ‘clean skin,’ to Hong Kong to collect top secret data from a spy deep in the Chinese Communist Party. But when climate scientist Dr Hannah Slade goes missing, all hell breaks loose. As the Secret Intelligence Service sends its best to Hong Kong to find her, a team of Chinese genetically-enhanced super soldiers are on board black inflatable boats heading for tiny Yanyu Island. Part of Taiwan but too small to defend, the Chinese hail success as they plant a flag on Taiwanese territory. Geo-political tensions rise, the US, the UK and Aukus send ships to the region. Meanwhile the Chinese are planning a full-scale invasion of Taiwan island itself.
Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are sent to recover Hannah. Posing as holidaymakers their cover is quickly blown. But who is giving them the tip-offs, local gangsters, fellow Five Eyes operatives, Chinese agents, Taiwanese agents? Sensing danger everywhere, trusting no-one, Luke and Jenny rely on their phones which allow covert updates to be sent back and forth to Vauxhall Cross; swapping information, identifying faces, receiving approval for their next move. Luke and Jenny move from Hong Kong to Macau, going from one dead end to another, until they are told Hannah was put on a ship bound for Taiwan.
Short chapters emphasize the quick pace of the action, moving from Hannah to Luke and Jenny, back to Vauxhall Cross and then to London politicians and the British navy racing to the danger zone. I lost track of the military details, the jargon, the model numbers of weapons and military kit, but stopped worrying about it; it reminded me of reading Robert Ludlum when I would skip a chapter to get to the action.
Up-to-date and frighteningly real, the tech is so hot it makes you look at your smartphone with suspicion.
Very good and read very quickly.
Next up is the first book, ‘Crisis.’
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...

[William Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is set in England, China, Taiwan and vicinity in the present. The main characters are Dr Hannah Slade, a full time climate scientist at Imperial College, on a ‘collection assignment’ for MI6; Luke Carlton, case officer with MI6; and Jenny Li, intelligence officer with MI6. Hannah is apparently in China to attend a climate conference, but her real mission is to collect a small microchip from a senior agent with access high in China’s military. The microchip contains details about China’s plans to invade Taiwan. She meets the agent, receives the microchip and hides it behind her missing wisdom teeth. Almost at once she is captured and moved to Macau by criminals of a Chinese triad. When MI6 realises that Hannah has gone missing, they send Luke and Jenny to find her and the microchip. Luke and Jenny follow a lead to Macau, where they realise that a powerful triad is involved, and is in the process of moving Hannah to Taiwan. An attempt to recapture Hannah on the sea fails. Luke and Jenny go to Taiwan where they investigate a lavish temple,which turns out to be owned by the shadowy triad boss, Bo. Bo’s intention is to sell Hannah to the highest bidder: China, Taiwan, USA or the UK. Before Bo is able to act, the three Brits escape. Hannah hands the microchip to Luke for safe keeping. Jenny and Luke make good their escape, but they have to leave the injured Hannah behind. When they are back in the UK, Luke and Jenny learn that Hannah, who has fallen into the hands of China, is accusing MI6 of deserting her.

I had expected this novel to be about a fictitious invasion of Taiwan, but the only activities by the Chinese military are the firing of a hypersonic missile by a Chinese warship, the taking over of a tiny Taiwanese island, and preparations to take over Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. This was a bit disappointing, but if Gardener had written what he doubtless knows about an actual takeover, he would have doubtless been censured by the UK government, so the triad had to be inserted as the bad guys.

The book is well written, credible and suspenseful.

[Ben Jeapes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The People's Republic of China is massing for an invasion of Taiwan, knowing it will cause massive international condemnation but ultimately guessing they will get away with it. The one thing that could possibly prevent this is the data leaked by a double agent high up in the party, collected in Hong Kong in a one-off operation by academic Hannah Slade. But Slade has gone missing, and no one knows who has her ... Frank Gardner's usual double act of Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are sent to find her, and as you would expect are caught up in a complex and extremely high stakes plot. The story is told in a series of brief chapters, leaping all around the world, that keep the reader going with effortless momentum. It is very well researched and highly convincing. Unusually, the matter is only resolved by a very dark plot twist that leaves things dangling.

There are some negatives. The stakes are probably higher in the long term than in Gardner's last novel, Outbreak - but that was about preventing a catastrophic disease outbreak and it certainly felt like the reader had more to lose. Luke and Jenny actually seem to be getting along, when part of the fun previously has been watching them rub each other up the wrong way. There are also several questions unanswered, like, exactly who abducted Slade, or why. And Gardner hasn't lost his taste for dropping in acronyms that serve no useful purpose, and then explaining them, rather than just trusting the reader or finding another way to state it. People tell each other things they already know just so that the information can be imparted to the reader. And I wish he would read his dialogue out loud, to himself, just so that he can finally twig this is not how people speak.

[Vicuña · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is genuine edge of your seat, white knuckle ride reading. Frank Gardner is an extraordinary author and one for whom I have the greatest admiration, His in depth knowledge from years of experience as a journalist and reporter and contacts with leaders and officials from around the world really comes into play in his novels, Invasion is just so plausible. China is currently perceived as a potential global threat but as lay Westerners, I suspect we pay little attention to what’s going on in the Far East. The possibility of the scenario outlined here gives much food for thought and Gardener paints a very realistic picture of rising tension and global threat.

The workings of Intelligence agencies are complex and the machinations of agents placed overseas and the dangers they face are well depicted as Carlton and Li from MI6 are sent to find out what has happened to their source. Gardener’s stories are true thrillers; much like Forsyth and very different to Le Carré. Fast paced, tense and likely to leave the reader breathless, this is a book I’ve really enjoyed and my only disappointment was that it was over too soon. Another winner from Gardener.

[Robd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book featuring MI6 operative Luke Carlton. The action takes place in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as China plans an invasion and takeover of its island neighbour and global tensions rise.

Carlton and his colleague Jenny Li are sent to find a missing ‘collector’, a person employed to work undercover, who has now disappeared. The collector had received deeply sensitive intelligence from a mole within the Chinese Communist Party leadership and was tasked in bringing that information back to the UK.

But who has abducted her is unclear and when Carlton and Li also disappear, events become more desperate.

Another great spy thriller with scarily realistic situations and some unpleasant characters. A quick read obviously drawing on Gardner’s experience as a war correspondent. My one gripe is the overuse of acronyms and subsequent explanations, some of them are unnecessary and cutting them down could make it less arduous at times. Otherwise, a gripping, competent and enjoyable thriller.

Rob D

[Greville Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time was when spy thrillers had our brave heroes uo against the KGB or FSB, then it was ISIS and now as the world moves on the real threat has become China. Gerald Seymour's latest novel focused upon the danger they present as does this stinker of a book by the immensely talented and well informed Frank Gardiner.

As China cast covetous eyes upon neighbouring Taiwan and make preparations for an imminent and impending invasion perhaps they can be stopped if British intelligence can get hold of vital inside information relating to their invasion plans.

Of course nothing and nobody is exactly who or what they seem to be and British intelligence operatives Luke Carlton and Jenny Li are sent to save the day against seemingly insurmountable odds.

It is a rollercoaster ride and one that engages and excites from the opening page.

It is the author's best and most authentic book and one that deserves a wide audience given its topicality.

[Alan McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Gardner's previous Luke Carlton thrillers and eagerly anticipated this one. It did not disappoint - the plight of the lady abducted in Hong Kong immediately becomes absorbing and the scary narrative of Chinese expansionist military might is made authentic by the author's extensive knowledge. A couple of minor cavils - the story becomes a bit fragmented by his technique of dividing its many subnarratives - roughly, three in London, two in Taiwan, two in Hong Kong/China and more on Royal and US naval ships, as well as the main Carlton/Li adventure - into sections only two or three pages long. Second, as other reviewers have already said, the ending is a bit abrupt and unsatisfying. However, I don't think he can leave it there, so I look forward to the next episode of Carlton's career.

[John Grinstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Gardner has used his knowledge of defence issues, the UK’s security services and the geo-political landscape to produce a well-paced, reasonably gripping spy thriller for the modern era. With accurate references to allied defence infrastructure, the processes and the profiles of a cross section of SIS employees and set against the currency of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and tensions over Taiwan, he makes a good fist of delivering an entertaining story whilst leaving sufficient loose threads for the reader to be intrigued by the resolution of the plot and invest in the next of the Luke Carlton series.

With a background in defence myself, I found the plot line and the military/security references bearable and credible. The 0lot is both contemporary and, in the current climate, believable - if slightly worrying.

A solid 4/5.

[Tony M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invasion is a taut, relentlessly fast-paced, intelligently-plotted and up-to-the-minute topical thriller. The central premise is the People’s Republic of China’s imminent invasion of near-neighbour Taiwan - an event that would spark a global conflict. British intelligence operatives are despatched to the region to recover vital intelligence which could halt China’s plans in their tracks but they encounter unexpected, powerful adversaries. The narrative is packed with authentic detail about geo-political tensions; electronic and human intelligence gathering; military hardware and operations; and political crisis management. One minor quibble is that the ending, neat as it is, is a little rushed.

[Bill Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

China regards the island of Taiwan, which makes 90 per cent of the world’s top microchips, as its own territory. They want it back.

MI6 spies Luke Carlton and Jenny Li head east to recover a tiny flash drive held by a captured courier that might stop war.

The two agents are out on a limb, confronted by enemy spies and gangsters, as military tensions rise to boiling point. 

BBC correspondent Gardner, paralysed in a terror attack, uses his deep expertise to cut to the molten core of a modern flashpoint in an electric thriller that moves at breathtaking pace.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that there is a great book hiding in here, but there is too much fluff and sub plots that go nowhere that distract from the main story. For example, there's a whole sub plot about Genetically modified Super soldiers, who in the end do nothing.

***Spoiler alert ***
For a book called Invasion, I find it amusing that no actual invasion occurs (other than the silly super soldiers bothering a small island). It should be called "Almost an Invasion", which kinda sums up the book for me.