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The Mongoose and the Cobra
BY THE LONGLISTED SPY MASTER BOOK PRIZE 2025 AUTHOR DAVID JARVIS
‘This is the fourth novel in the Mike Kingdom series, and it is the best one yet.’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘David Jarvis again excels in crafting a story that screams of real life.’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘From the opening pages I was hooked. ‘I love this series.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The cost of wealth and power
Valentina Ortiz, the largest political donor in the USA, has made many enemies. That’s made her overprotective of her two her youngest, Chuck, is working under a false name as an analyst for the CIA in London, and the eldest, Diego, never leaves her side as she directs her global business empire.
A mother’s worst nightmare
When Chuck fails to turn up for work in London, the alarm is raised. But when Diego is kidnapped in Switzerland, Valentina faces a mother’s worst nightmare. Desperate about the fate of her sons, she’ll stop at nothing to save them. The US President’s chief of staff is soon pressuring Leonard de Vries, the CIA director in “Find Chuck and get him somewhere safe – real safe.”
A mission for Mike
Leonard De Vries turns to the one asset he truly trusts, analyst Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, who was the last person to see Chuck alive when he turned up unannounced at her woodland home in Oxfordshire. Why was he convinced his life was in danger? And what did he mean when he announced he was “going to see the tulips”? The search for an answer to that riddle will propel Mike on a frightening and life-changing journey.
‘This is the fourth novel in the Mike Kingdom series, and it is the best one yet.’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘David Jarvis again excels in crafting a story that screams of real life.’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘From the opening pages I was hooked. ‘I love this series.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The cost of wealth and power
Valentina Ortiz, the largest political donor in the USA, has made many enemies. That’s made her overprotective of her two her youngest, Chuck, is working under a false name as an analyst for the CIA in London, and the eldest, Diego, never leaves her side as she directs her global business empire.
A mother’s worst nightmare
When Chuck fails to turn up for work in London, the alarm is raised. But when Diego is kidnapped in Switzerland, Valentina faces a mother’s worst nightmare. Desperate about the fate of her sons, she’ll stop at nothing to save them. The US President’s chief of staff is soon pressuring Leonard de Vries, the CIA director in “Find Chuck and get him somewhere safe – real safe.”
A mission for Mike
Leonard De Vries turns to the one asset he truly trusts, analyst Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, who was the last person to see Chuck alive when he turned up unannounced at her woodland home in Oxfordshire. Why was he convinced his life was in danger? And what did he mean when he announced he was “going to see the tulips”? The search for an answer to that riddle will propel Mike on a frightening and life-changing journey.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 3, 2025
4.5⭐
Mike Kingdom returns in another captivating geopolitical thriller.
In this installment, she's working once again with the sometimes over-the-top Leonard de Vries.
After Mike successfully averted disaster in The Violin and the Candlestick, Leonard has regained the CIA's trust and has been appointed as the head of the London station. Although he has undergone a slight transformation, his old habits occasionally resurface, especially when he pulls Mike and the visiting Wazz into an investigation involving kidnapping, underwater cables, and so much more.
The storyline begins when Valentina Ortiz, a billionaire and the largest political donor in the USA, discovers that her son Chuck, an analyst for the CIA in London, has not shown up for work. Just as she begins to raise the alarm, her other son, Diego, is kidnapped in Switzerland. And as a woman with significant connections who helped put the President in the White House, she demands answers and the swift return of her sons, willing to go to any lengths to ensure their safety.
In response, the President's chief of staff orders Leonard to locate Chuck and keep him safe — very safe. It falls to Mike to carry out this mission, especially since, unbeknownst to Leonard, she was the last person to speak with Chuck. And he confided in her that he believed his life was in danger and that he was going to see the tulips.
But why did Chuck seek out Mike? Why was he convinced he wasn’t safe, and what did he mean by that?
And with a storyline that feels highly relevant to today's world. This geopolitical thriller is not only gripping and entertaining but eye-opening and educational and I would happily recommend it to everyone!
My thanks to David Jarvis who kindly provided me with a gifted copy of The Mongoose and the Cobra. All thoughts expressed are my own. ☺️
Mike Kingdom returns in another captivating geopolitical thriller.
In this installment, she's working once again with the sometimes over-the-top Leonard de Vries.
After Mike successfully averted disaster in The Violin and the Candlestick, Leonard has regained the CIA's trust and has been appointed as the head of the London station. Although he has undergone a slight transformation, his old habits occasionally resurface, especially when he pulls Mike and the visiting Wazz into an investigation involving kidnapping, underwater cables, and so much more.
The storyline begins when Valentina Ortiz, a billionaire and the largest political donor in the USA, discovers that her son Chuck, an analyst for the CIA in London, has not shown up for work. Just as she begins to raise the alarm, her other son, Diego, is kidnapped in Switzerland. And as a woman with significant connections who helped put the President in the White House, she demands answers and the swift return of her sons, willing to go to any lengths to ensure their safety.
In response, the President's chief of staff orders Leonard to locate Chuck and keep him safe — very safe. It falls to Mike to carry out this mission, especially since, unbeknownst to Leonard, she was the last person to speak with Chuck. And he confided in her that he believed his life was in danger and that he was going to see the tulips.
But why did Chuck seek out Mike? Why was he convinced he wasn’t safe, and what did he mean by that?
And with a storyline that feels highly relevant to today's world. This geopolitical thriller is not only gripping and entertaining but eye-opening and educational and I would happily recommend it to everyone!
My thanks to David Jarvis who kindly provided me with a gifted copy of The Mongoose and the Cobra. All thoughts expressed are my own. ☺️
February 24, 2025
It was great to pick up with Mike Kindom again and as with all of David's books, there's an explosion, a kidnapping and a missing rich son all within the first few pages.
Mike is being pressured by Leonard, her boss, who is being pressed by the US president. Valentina is the mother of both men. She is insanely rich and will do anything in her power to get them back.
I love that Mike picks up with Wazz, a character she got on well with in the previous book. It's not a romance, Mike doesn't seem the type, but you do wonder at times if it could be. These two create a few little light comedic moments too.
As with all action thrillers the action pings across counties and continents. It's non stop and full on but at no point confusing or difficult to follow.
There is a small subplot in which Mike is trying to uncover a huge drug shipment arriving into the UK, which creates an extra layer of excitement and a couple of extra twists along the way.
Another excellent, high octane, interesting, brilliant thriller from David. I can't wait for the next.
Mike is being pressured by Leonard, her boss, who is being pressed by the US president. Valentina is the mother of both men. She is insanely rich and will do anything in her power to get them back.
I love that Mike picks up with Wazz, a character she got on well with in the previous book. It's not a romance, Mike doesn't seem the type, but you do wonder at times if it could be. These two create a few little light comedic moments too.
As with all action thrillers the action pings across counties and continents. It's non stop and full on but at no point confusing or difficult to follow.
There is a small subplot in which Mike is trying to uncover a huge drug shipment arriving into the UK, which creates an extra layer of excitement and a couple of extra twists along the way.
Another excellent, high octane, interesting, brilliant thriller from David. I can't wait for the next.
February 24, 2025
Mike Kingdom is back in the 4th book in the wildly entertaining series from the brilliant David Jarvis.
This time around Mike and CIA Head Honcho, Leonard De Vries - Quite possibly my favourite character of all time - are mixed up and a plot full of politics, kidnapping, under sea cables and a fair bit more to boot.
With his effervescent and wickedly funny style, David Jarvis again excels in crafting a story that screams of real life - the man has a talent for being completely on the pulse of world events and seems to have a story for them all. And what stories they are.
With the returning “Wazz” adding something more to Mike’s universe, an intelligent and superbly crafted caper with humour and wit abound, David Jarvis again hits the target with another absolute cracker.
David Jarvis is an incredibly knowledgeable author who has clearly got many air miles behind and I’m very glad he’s putting his experiences into these brilliant thrillers.
5 ⭐️ for an author and series that have both quickly established themselves as one of my favourites and most anticipated reads of each year
This time around Mike and CIA Head Honcho, Leonard De Vries - Quite possibly my favourite character of all time - are mixed up and a plot full of politics, kidnapping, under sea cables and a fair bit more to boot.
With his effervescent and wickedly funny style, David Jarvis again excels in crafting a story that screams of real life - the man has a talent for being completely on the pulse of world events and seems to have a story for them all. And what stories they are.
With the returning “Wazz” adding something more to Mike’s universe, an intelligent and superbly crafted caper with humour and wit abound, David Jarvis again hits the target with another absolute cracker.
David Jarvis is an incredibly knowledgeable author who has clearly got many air miles behind and I’m very glad he’s putting his experiences into these brilliant thrillers.
5 ⭐️ for an author and series that have both quickly established themselves as one of my favourites and most anticipated reads of each year
February 24, 2025
Now back in the CIA’s good books, thanks to Mike averting disaster in The Violin and the Candlestick, Leonard is back in the fold and director in London. He has as also changed his ways, but only a little, smartening up his appearance and treating directives with less distain than before. Naturally he has brough Mike into the ‘firm’ for her outstanding analysis skills, but he seems determined to make a field operative out her…
Leonard and Mike are a wonderful combination and readers are spoilt in this story by the return of Wazz the musclebound, former postman, prisoner and personal security for rich ex-pats. Wazz is back in the UK to finish his Open University degree and visit Mike, providing her with a foil as the story progresses. The chemistry of their interactions is wonderful enough to sustain any story through its quiet sections. In many ways they are opposites, yet they can always find common ground or accommodation. There are also hints at a sexual chemistry existing, in the way of unlikely bed fellows so beloved by Hollywood. He also provides the muscle and grunt as Mike could never be a true kick-ass heroine because of her injuries. Hopefully Wazz will stick around, if not let’s enjoy him while we can because he certainly brings this story to life. Much as I love Leonard as a character, he is one of those slightly grotesque over the top ones, who are best not overexposed. There must be a temptation for an author to focus on his best character, but here Leonard is sensibly used in short cameo scenes to add sparkle with the wit or chaos required. This is a brilliant example of an author using his characters in the best way to maximise their impact on the story and it is a joy to read about their exploits.
Once again Mr Jarvis has produced a plot that could have come from today’s newspapers, serendipity indeed. A large part of the Ortiz family business is the laying of undersea cables and the signing of a major contract is at stake. The average person thinks little about the infrastructure, as they stream the latest movie, but undersea data cables are vital to the functioning of the modern world. Currently very much in the news as hostile powers are accused of severing such cables in Europe, it is almost as if they have read an early draft of this book, uncanny timing.
There is a second strand to the plot, seemingly insignificant and overlooked, it comes to the fore in the conclusion and what a great one it is. If you love danger in your thrillers, you will be delighted, as it bookends the story with explosive effect. There is real jeopardy to the finale, to which Wazz helps to bring a touch of realism, with one of those moments that shock the read to their core.
The author is clearly a well-travelled man and as a writer he has that knack of picking great locations, using them to great effect and bringing them to life, such that you can almost see yourself there. This time the story reaches its pinnacle, literally in the city of Bilbao which perfectly blends the old with the new. There is a Basque backstory that brings added meaning and motivation to the plot, one of the need of humans to feel rooted in their past and a desire for a simpler life. Mr Jarvis is also an art lover and intelligently manages to weave an artistic thread through the story, that necessitates a visit to the world-famous Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is now on my list of cities to visit.
Rich in the geopolitical issues of today, The Mongoose and the Cobra is a brilliantly quirky thriller packed with engaging characters, danger and witty observations.
Leonard and Mike are a wonderful combination and readers are spoilt in this story by the return of Wazz the musclebound, former postman, prisoner and personal security for rich ex-pats. Wazz is back in the UK to finish his Open University degree and visit Mike, providing her with a foil as the story progresses. The chemistry of their interactions is wonderful enough to sustain any story through its quiet sections. In many ways they are opposites, yet they can always find common ground or accommodation. There are also hints at a sexual chemistry existing, in the way of unlikely bed fellows so beloved by Hollywood. He also provides the muscle and grunt as Mike could never be a true kick-ass heroine because of her injuries. Hopefully Wazz will stick around, if not let’s enjoy him while we can because he certainly brings this story to life. Much as I love Leonard as a character, he is one of those slightly grotesque over the top ones, who are best not overexposed. There must be a temptation for an author to focus on his best character, but here Leonard is sensibly used in short cameo scenes to add sparkle with the wit or chaos required. This is a brilliant example of an author using his characters in the best way to maximise their impact on the story and it is a joy to read about their exploits.
Once again Mr Jarvis has produced a plot that could have come from today’s newspapers, serendipity indeed. A large part of the Ortiz family business is the laying of undersea cables and the signing of a major contract is at stake. The average person thinks little about the infrastructure, as they stream the latest movie, but undersea data cables are vital to the functioning of the modern world. Currently very much in the news as hostile powers are accused of severing such cables in Europe, it is almost as if they have read an early draft of this book, uncanny timing.
There is a second strand to the plot, seemingly insignificant and overlooked, it comes to the fore in the conclusion and what a great one it is. If you love danger in your thrillers, you will be delighted, as it bookends the story with explosive effect. There is real jeopardy to the finale, to which Wazz helps to bring a touch of realism, with one of those moments that shock the read to their core.
The author is clearly a well-travelled man and as a writer he has that knack of picking great locations, using them to great effect and bringing them to life, such that you can almost see yourself there. This time the story reaches its pinnacle, literally in the city of Bilbao which perfectly blends the old with the new. There is a Basque backstory that brings added meaning and motivation to the plot, one of the need of humans to feel rooted in their past and a desire for a simpler life. Mr Jarvis is also an art lover and intelligently manages to weave an artistic thread through the story, that necessitates a visit to the world-famous Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao is now on my list of cities to visit.
Rich in the geopolitical issues of today, The Mongoose and the Cobra is a brilliantly quirky thriller packed with engaging characters, danger and witty observations.
March 3, 2025
Having read every book in David Jarvis’s series, I can confidently say that Book 4 stands out as the best yet. From the very first page, I was completely hooked, and the story swept me along in a whirlwind of suspense and wit.
In this installment, we follow Michaela, known as Mike—who has found solace in her secluded wooden cabin in the woods. As a CIA analyst who works from home, just going into the London office once a week, Mike is deep in the midst of a drug smuggling investigation. Despite her confidence, a recent misstep forces her to double-check her case when her boss, Leonard, alerts her that a Chuck another analyst might be on his way to her door, although Mike is unsure why.
The plot thickens with the introduction of Chuck (whose real name is Eduardo), the troubled son of the protective businesswoman Valentina Ortiz. Valentina, perpetually on the move to safeguard her children from kidnapping threats, is now in a panic over the sudden disappearance of her eldest son, Diego, in Switzerland.
Just when things seem to be spiraling, a familiar face appears—Waldemar “Wazz” Wasielewski. Formerly a security operative for high-profile clients, Wazz now finds himself juggling his open university studies with work as a bouncer in a strip club. His unexpected visit to Mike’s cabin sets the stage for a delightful exchange of banter, hinting at a budding connection that is especially poignant given Mike’s previous loss. Shortly after Wazz leaves.
The narrative quickly shifts when a disheveled and anxious Chuck arrives, leaving Mike puzzled by his erratic behavior and mysterious followed by his disappearance from her home. The tension mounts as Leonard’s team arrives at Mike’s, just in time as a shocking explosion throws Mike’s world into chaos. Was the explosion aimed at Chuck, or is there something even deeper at play?
Separate to Mike chasing down Eduardo, she is still puzzling over the drug smugglers determined to catch them, she is hunched over her computer when in Spain, with a little help from Eduardo, once she has found him, she has to make it clear she is not there to take him back to his mother, she just wants to see that he is safe and okay. Will they catch the smugglers?
What truly elevates this book is the razor-sharp wit and camaraderie between the characters. Mike’s resilient nature, combined with her one-liners with Leonard and Wazz, this adds a refreshing layer of humor to the high-stakes intrigue. Even as the pace steadily builds towards a climax filled with tension from multiple angles, the character development remains compelling. We get to see a softer side of Mike—a glimpse into her vulnerability that enriches her persona.
While the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, I personally recommend starting at the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the growth and evolution of these richly drawn characters. The vivid settings, especially the atmospheric trip to Bilbao, bring the story to life, making it easy to picture every scene.
Overall, this is a perfectly paced, engaging, and engrossing read. I eagerly look forward to Book 5 and applaud David Jarvis and Hobeck Books for yet another thrilling installment in the series. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.
In this installment, we follow Michaela, known as Mike—who has found solace in her secluded wooden cabin in the woods. As a CIA analyst who works from home, just going into the London office once a week, Mike is deep in the midst of a drug smuggling investigation. Despite her confidence, a recent misstep forces her to double-check her case when her boss, Leonard, alerts her that a Chuck another analyst might be on his way to her door, although Mike is unsure why.
The plot thickens with the introduction of Chuck (whose real name is Eduardo), the troubled son of the protective businesswoman Valentina Ortiz. Valentina, perpetually on the move to safeguard her children from kidnapping threats, is now in a panic over the sudden disappearance of her eldest son, Diego, in Switzerland.
Just when things seem to be spiraling, a familiar face appears—Waldemar “Wazz” Wasielewski. Formerly a security operative for high-profile clients, Wazz now finds himself juggling his open university studies with work as a bouncer in a strip club. His unexpected visit to Mike’s cabin sets the stage for a delightful exchange of banter, hinting at a budding connection that is especially poignant given Mike’s previous loss. Shortly after Wazz leaves.
The narrative quickly shifts when a disheveled and anxious Chuck arrives, leaving Mike puzzled by his erratic behavior and mysterious followed by his disappearance from her home. The tension mounts as Leonard’s team arrives at Mike’s, just in time as a shocking explosion throws Mike’s world into chaos. Was the explosion aimed at Chuck, or is there something even deeper at play?
Separate to Mike chasing down Eduardo, she is still puzzling over the drug smugglers determined to catch them, she is hunched over her computer when in Spain, with a little help from Eduardo, once she has found him, she has to make it clear she is not there to take him back to his mother, she just wants to see that he is safe and okay. Will they catch the smugglers?
What truly elevates this book is the razor-sharp wit and camaraderie between the characters. Mike’s resilient nature, combined with her one-liners with Leonard and Wazz, this adds a refreshing layer of humor to the high-stakes intrigue. Even as the pace steadily builds towards a climax filled with tension from multiple angles, the character development remains compelling. We get to see a softer side of Mike—a glimpse into her vulnerability that enriches her persona.
While the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, I personally recommend starting at the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the growth and evolution of these richly drawn characters. The vivid settings, especially the atmospheric trip to Bilbao, bring the story to life, making it easy to picture every scene.
Overall, this is a perfectly paced, engaging, and engrossing read. I eagerly look forward to Book 5 and applaud David Jarvis and Hobeck Books for yet another thrilling installment in the series. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read.
March 4, 2025
This is the fourth book in the series to feature ‘Mike’ Kingdom a series which I rate extremely highly, one of the joys of last year was discovering the series which continues to grow from strength to strength
I love the way that the author writes the book, there is an ease and familiarity when reading which just make me fall straight into the book, with the quality of writing and storytelling. The author takes you straight to the heart of the action
As usual the book is plotted with plenty of thought, constructed with aplomb on the page, the opening pages allow for plenty of doubt to be cast which gave rise to different ways the story could play out.
The interplay between Mike and her boss Leonard is one which always amuses me, you can see the respect for each, there is a subtlety in which the way the Leonard is able to play Mike to his tune, as a character Leonard is used sparingly, played out mainly as a back drop to the plots, however, in some ways he is central to the story
There is an interesting dynamic between ‘Mike’ and ‘Wazz’ in this book in that Mike due to her past usually comes across as somewhat reserved and not one to open her emotions or feeling up, but you get the sense that there maybe a character shift happening. It will be intersting to see if and how this plays out in future books
The plotting as I have become used to was quite inventive and is set around two story lines, it is the way that writing blurs these together so that your’e never quite who is being hunted and why, there is plenty of deceit and subterfuge within the writing. The back story to Chucks character allows the author to easily move locations, here the main plot is played out in glorious detail in Bilbao with its Catalan heritage
It is a read packed with tension and suspenseful drama, a story which moves at quite a pace, it is also a read which takes plenty of twist and surprising turns which all builds up to an explosive finale, one which I wasn’t expecting and hadn’t seen coming
The use of technology is both fascinating and scary as to how you can be shadowed and tracked within the satellite world
There is a certain dry humour which runs throughout the book, that cuts through the tension in particular the witty one line banter between Mike and Wazz
I usually find when reading the books that there is a striking relevance todays geo political world, the author draws this cleverly into his plots, which for me enhances the read.
It is a slick fast paced read which at times leaves you breathless in the persuit of the truth, the writing forces you to keep turning the pages. From the opening pages I was hooked wondering which direction I was to be taken, a wonderfully engaging read
I love this series and the way that the author writes it speaks to me as an acclompished thriller should, a series I would highly recommend
I love the way that the author writes the book, there is an ease and familiarity when reading which just make me fall straight into the book, with the quality of writing and storytelling. The author takes you straight to the heart of the action
As usual the book is plotted with plenty of thought, constructed with aplomb on the page, the opening pages allow for plenty of doubt to be cast which gave rise to different ways the story could play out.
The interplay between Mike and her boss Leonard is one which always amuses me, you can see the respect for each, there is a subtlety in which the way the Leonard is able to play Mike to his tune, as a character Leonard is used sparingly, played out mainly as a back drop to the plots, however, in some ways he is central to the story
There is an interesting dynamic between ‘Mike’ and ‘Wazz’ in this book in that Mike due to her past usually comes across as somewhat reserved and not one to open her emotions or feeling up, but you get the sense that there maybe a character shift happening. It will be intersting to see if and how this plays out in future books
The plotting as I have become used to was quite inventive and is set around two story lines, it is the way that writing blurs these together so that your’e never quite who is being hunted and why, there is plenty of deceit and subterfuge within the writing. The back story to Chucks character allows the author to easily move locations, here the main plot is played out in glorious detail in Bilbao with its Catalan heritage
It is a read packed with tension and suspenseful drama, a story which moves at quite a pace, it is also a read which takes plenty of twist and surprising turns which all builds up to an explosive finale, one which I wasn’t expecting and hadn’t seen coming
The use of technology is both fascinating and scary as to how you can be shadowed and tracked within the satellite world
There is a certain dry humour which runs throughout the book, that cuts through the tension in particular the witty one line banter between Mike and Wazz
I usually find when reading the books that there is a striking relevance todays geo political world, the author draws this cleverly into his plots, which for me enhances the read.
It is a slick fast paced read which at times leaves you breathless in the persuit of the truth, the writing forces you to keep turning the pages. From the opening pages I was hooked wondering which direction I was to be taken, a wonderfully engaging read
I love this series and the way that the author writes it speaks to me as an acclompished thriller should, a series I would highly recommend
March 8, 2025
Book 4 in the Mike Kingdom Thriller Series and the pace of the previous books continues. After her last adventure, and thanks to Leonard De Vries, Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom has rejoined the CIA and is working as an Analyst/ Operative in their London headquarters. She also works from home, a cabin in woodland in Oxfordshire. As always interaction between Mike and Leonard is great but it’s good to see the return of Wazz, someone Mike can always rely on.
Briefly, after a visit from her colleague Chuck, and shortly after he leaves, her cabin is blown up. Alongside her CIA Boss Leonard , Mike is investigating a drug smuggling operation from Columbia so is she under threat or is it Chuck, the son of billionairess Valentina Ortiz, whose other son Diego has already been kidnapped. Ortiz is a powerful woman and the CIA are ordered to help find and save her sons.
The main storyline, alongside the kidnapping is very apt right now. The Ortiz family are responsible for laying undersea data cables, vital to most everything today. This is a fast paced action thriller that moves from country to country. Alongside the main kidnapping thread there is a good thread about a drug shipment into the UK which really brought back memories of my father’s tales of working for C&E in Weymouth. Great, entertaining adventure thriller.
4.5⭐️
Briefly, after a visit from her colleague Chuck, and shortly after he leaves, her cabin is blown up. Alongside her CIA Boss Leonard , Mike is investigating a drug smuggling operation from Columbia so is she under threat or is it Chuck, the son of billionairess Valentina Ortiz, whose other son Diego has already been kidnapped. Ortiz is a powerful woman and the CIA are ordered to help find and save her sons.
The main storyline, alongside the kidnapping is very apt right now. The Ortiz family are responsible for laying undersea data cables, vital to most everything today. This is a fast paced action thriller that moves from country to country. Alongside the main kidnapping thread there is a good thread about a drug shipment into the UK which really brought back memories of my father’s tales of working for C&E in Weymouth. Great, entertaining adventure thriller.
4.5⭐️
February 23, 2025
Welcome back Michaela (Mike) Kingdom and Head of CIA, London, Leonard De Vries! This is their fourth action packed and unstoppable adventure! The relationship between Mike and Leonard shows they have plenty of respect for each other and has evolved to a friendship.
Billionairess, Valentina Ortiz is truly an over protective mother of her two sons - Diego is cemented to her side as he works for her and the second son, is working under an assumed name "Chuck" for the CIA in London. Valentina is shocked when Diego is kidnapped in Switzerland so she is upset when she learns that Chuck has failed to turn up for work. How are they connected? Who is involved? What is going on? Leonard turns to Mike in the hope she can find Chuck before anything else happens. What Leonard doesn't know is that Chuck visited Mike at her Oxfordshire cabin? Mike is baffled by his last few words "going to see the tulips"? What does mean? All she knows is she is off to track him down and along the way becomes involved with a mystery that leads her to solve the clue. This is a fast paced, gritty, nail baiting read and unputdownable story. All the subplots come together with an explosive finish!!
Billionairess, Valentina Ortiz is truly an over protective mother of her two sons - Diego is cemented to her side as he works for her and the second son, is working under an assumed name "Chuck" for the CIA in London. Valentina is shocked when Diego is kidnapped in Switzerland so she is upset when she learns that Chuck has failed to turn up for work. How are they connected? Who is involved? What is going on? Leonard turns to Mike in the hope she can find Chuck before anything else happens. What Leonard doesn't know is that Chuck visited Mike at her Oxfordshire cabin? Mike is baffled by his last few words "going to see the tulips"? What does mean? All she knows is she is off to track him down and along the way becomes involved with a mystery that leads her to solve the clue. This is a fast paced, gritty, nail baiting read and unputdownable story. All the subplots come together with an explosive finish!!
March 5, 2025
This is the fourth thriller in the Mike Kingdom series. Can you read it as a standalone? I think so. The author gives enough background about the relationship between Mike & her boss, Leonard de Vries, to enable you to understand their dynamics & Mike’s reluctance to work in the field.
Valentina Ortiz has made such a huge fortune that she is the biggest political donor in the USA. She is more than aware that she has made enemies along the way & is consequently very protective of her two sons. Her youngest, Chuck, is working in London as an analyst for the CIA & fails to turn up for work. Her eldest, Diego, is kidnapped. Her worst nightmare is realised.
Leonard turns to Mike as the one person he really trusts & she is pushed to the limit, reevaluating her life along the way.
This is a fast paced enthralling thriller & is a brilliant continuation of the series. I was engaged from the first page to the last.
Valentina Ortiz has made such a huge fortune that she is the biggest political donor in the USA. She is more than aware that she has made enemies along the way & is consequently very protective of her two sons. Her youngest, Chuck, is working in London as an analyst for the CIA & fails to turn up for work. Her eldest, Diego, is kidnapped. Her worst nightmare is realised.
Leonard turns to Mike as the one person he really trusts & she is pushed to the limit, reevaluating her life along the way.
This is a fast paced enthralling thriller & is a brilliant continuation of the series. I was engaged from the first page to the last.
February 24, 2025
I have read all of the thrillers in this series and they have left me torn, desperately wanting to finish the book to see what happens and not wanting to finish it because I am enjoying it so much. That is the sign of a good book. It’s lovely to see Wazz reappear and how their relationship is developing, long may it continue. The analysis Mike and Eduardo do so reminds me on an Intelligence Officer at Heathrow about 30 years ago, who could smell a dodgy airline ticket at 100 paces. Revenue nose we called it. The scenes with Customs were just the way I remembered them with the rummage crews and the welcoming party, this is another sign of a good book, the ability to call up memories. Would I recommend this book, most definitely and I would recommend the whole series
February 25, 2025
It was great to be back in a Mike Kingdom world, I love her storylines and getting to see her in action more and more.
This book is another wonderful addition to the series, and I always know I'm in for a gripping and well thought out plot with this author.
There's a few subplots here woven in, and they kept me interested and on my toes throughout.
An all round captivating read.
This book is another wonderful addition to the series, and I always know I'm in for a gripping and well thought out plot with this author.
There's a few subplots here woven in, and they kept me interested and on my toes throughout.
An all round captivating read.
February 25, 2025
The mind of David Jarvis is a well oiled plot machine. The Mongoose and the Cobra, the 4th book in the Mike Kingdom series is brilliant, gripping and highly entertaining.
April 6, 2025
I love a gritty geopolitical thriller to really get immersed in, and my favourite author for geopolitical thrillers has to be David Jarvis. I just can’t think of anyone who seems to have such an uncanny knack for tapping into current affairs with a foresight that the best writers often have quite like David Jarvis. What works so well is the delicate balance between the storyline and the humour and warmth he interjects into his writing.
In this fourth book in the Mike Kingdom series Mike ends up spending time with Wazz, who was a minor, but immensely likeable character in the second novel, This Is Not a Pipe. There is an undeniable chemistry between Mike and Wazz, as he assists her with her work, and it added an interesting dynamic to the story. I think Mike Kingdom may be my favourite spy character, in part because of her unconventional nature, but also the way in which she uses her skills as a former analyst to assist in her work.
The story takes us from Mike’s cabin in the woods of Oxfordshire to London, and on to Bilbao in Spain. The fast-paced story progresses at breakneck speed from the first chapter to the last, and it kept me completely hooked.
In this fourth book in the Mike Kingdom series Mike ends up spending time with Wazz, who was a minor, but immensely likeable character in the second novel, This Is Not a Pipe. There is an undeniable chemistry between Mike and Wazz, as he assists her with her work, and it added an interesting dynamic to the story. I think Mike Kingdom may be my favourite spy character, in part because of her unconventional nature, but also the way in which she uses her skills as a former analyst to assist in her work.
The story takes us from Mike’s cabin in the woods of Oxfordshire to London, and on to Bilbao in Spain. The fast-paced story progresses at breakneck speed from the first chapter to the last, and it kept me completely hooked.
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