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Eric Ward #12
The Phantom Murder: The Eric Ward Mysteries, Book 12
PIRACY, CONSPIRACY … MURDER?
An influential shipping firm, Goldwaters, pays Eric Ward a large retainer to work for them, much to his surprise. Then one of the Goldwaters fleet, the Sierra Nova, is “arrested” and is unable to leave port.
The reason?
A crew member, Edwards, has been caught in possession of drugs and is accused of smuggling—but now he’s been removed from the ship, why can’t the voyage go ahead?
Then Edwards is murdered on his way to the courtroom.
Ward soon finds himself sinking into the dangerous world of international conspiracy and modern-day piracy.
An influential shipping firm, Goldwaters, pays Eric Ward a large retainer to work for them, much to his surprise. Then one of the Goldwaters fleet, the Sierra Nova, is “arrested” and is unable to leave port.
The reason?
A crew member, Edwards, has been caught in possession of drugs and is accused of smuggling—but now he’s been removed from the ship, why can’t the voyage go ahead?
Then Edwards is murdered on his way to the courtroom.
Ward soon finds himself sinking into the dangerous world of international conspiracy and modern-day piracy.
- GenresMystery
Audible Audio
Published April 11, 2023
348 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Roy Lewis
174 books74 followersJohn Royston Lewis, who published his fiction under the name Roy Lewis, was a prominent English crime writer who wrote more than 60 novels. He was also a teacher, and he taught Law for 10 years before being appointed as One of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Further & Higher Education. He lived in the north of England where many of his novels are set.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Lewis is also the author of several law texts, which he published under the name J.R. Lewis.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 8, 2014
I picked this novel up at the library a few days ago. I had never heard of the author Roy Lewis. But the blurb about the plot sounded interesting. And this novel was. The plot is described well in the blurb so I won't go into that anymore here.
I was amazed to discover that this is the author's sixtieth book. It is the twelfth in his series featuring Eric Ward but he has a number of other series. This mystery features former policeman turned lawyer Eric Ward. Eric is in the process of getting divorced from from a rich lass whom he still loves. His practice usually involves low low lifes and the seamier side of society. But as the novel begins he gets a retainer from a high end shipping firm Goldwaters to ascertain why one of their chartered ships has been arrested for reasons that are not clear.One of the crewmen has been jailed for possession of and alleged tafficking in cocaine. When this chap is murdered on the courthouse premises the plot thickens. The mystery involves piracy in the South China Sea and phantom ships which are seized and reregistered under another name and flag.
Lewis writes well, bringing you into the scene of the action. And the plot unfolds in an interesting and satisfying way. I will be looking for more of his novels. I recommend him if you want to try something a little different from the bare bones prose of the North American crime bestsellers.
I was amazed to discover that this is the author's sixtieth book. It is the twelfth in his series featuring Eric Ward but he has a number of other series. This mystery features former policeman turned lawyer Eric Ward. Eric is in the process of getting divorced from from a rich lass whom he still loves. His practice usually involves low low lifes and the seamier side of society. But as the novel begins he gets a retainer from a high end shipping firm Goldwaters to ascertain why one of their chartered ships has been arrested for reasons that are not clear.One of the crewmen has been jailed for possession of and alleged tafficking in cocaine. When this chap is murdered on the courthouse premises the plot thickens. The mystery involves piracy in the South China Sea and phantom ships which are seized and reregistered under another name and flag.
Lewis writes well, bringing you into the scene of the action. And the plot unfolds in an interesting and satisfying way. I will be looking for more of his novels. I recommend him if you want to try something a little different from the bare bones prose of the North American crime bestsellers.
August 27, 2020
Sorrow caused by blindness
It is amazing how emotions make it impossible to see what is truth. I continue to enjoy the saga of Eric Ward career solving legal battles interwoven with criminal activities.
It is amazing how emotions make it impossible to see what is truth. I continue to enjoy the saga of Eric Ward career solving legal battles interwoven with criminal activities.
June 18, 2023
This is an interesting story and I enjoyed it but have to register a few caveats. I listened to the audiobook and it was fine but something about the performance always gave me the impression that I was listening to a story set fifty or more years ago. It never felt contemporary, which it essentially is. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it added a certain atmosphere I could appreciate but I was always aware of a slight disconnect between the story and the narrative. I’ve encountered this before with the works of Roy Lewis and it has never been an issue for me but it might be for some readers and/or listeners.
The plot exploits complications inherent in the world of international shipping. There are examples of fraud, piracy, drugs, conspiracy and murder in play when an influential firm pays Eric Ward a large retainer to get involved with a case dealing with a ship that has been arrested and unable to leave port. It is an intriguing look into a world foreign to most readers, a world of merchant banks, marine insurance brokers and many shady and semi-criminal organisations.
The personal or human aspects of the story are there but recessive, which I think is a loss to the narrative arc of the story. There is a strong focus on laws and technicalities but little on the human side of the story and I think the audiobook performance may make this even more prominent. The story is clever and admirable but not engaging. It always felt “old-fashioned’ to me. This might be a plus for some readers though so don't let this keep you away from the book. I enjoyed the look into the seedy underbelly of international shipping and always enjoyed coming back to the book but, ideally, I would have appreciated a story that felt less remote.
The plot exploits complications inherent in the world of international shipping. There are examples of fraud, piracy, drugs, conspiracy and murder in play when an influential firm pays Eric Ward a large retainer to get involved with a case dealing with a ship that has been arrested and unable to leave port. It is an intriguing look into a world foreign to most readers, a world of merchant banks, marine insurance brokers and many shady and semi-criminal organisations.
The personal or human aspects of the story are there but recessive, which I think is a loss to the narrative arc of the story. There is a strong focus on laws and technicalities but little on the human side of the story and I think the audiobook performance may make this even more prominent. The story is clever and admirable but not engaging. It always felt “old-fashioned’ to me. This might be a plus for some readers though so don't let this keep you away from the book. I enjoyed the look into the seedy underbelly of international shipping and always enjoyed coming back to the book but, ideally, I would have appreciated a story that felt less remote.
November 18, 2024
I first came across this author's books in 1981 and I read twenty four of them between then and 1991 so I was intrigued to find this more recent book (2002) in my local library.
This book features Eric Ward, a lawyer based in Newcastle, who appeared in seventeen of the author's books. Eric is retained to discover why a ship has been arrested and finds that things are much more complicated than they first seemed. It's a compelling read which I finished in one sitting.
This book features Eric Ward, a lawyer based in Newcastle, who appeared in seventeen of the author's books. Eric is retained to discover why a ship has been arrested and finds that things are much more complicated than they first seemed. It's a compelling read which I finished in one sitting.
December 28, 2020
Another great story
Another great story in the Eric Ward series and one that moves along at quite a pace compared to some of the earlier books. Finished it in one sitting and found it very enjoyable.
Another great story in the Eric Ward series and one that moves along at quite a pace compared to some of the earlier books. Finished it in one sitting and found it very enjoyable.
January 21, 2021
Enjoyable read.
Well worth the five stars.Great storyline,plenty of depth and action.It's good that the new characters that are being introduced give the storylines in the author's writing more scope.
Well worth the five stars.Great storyline,plenty of depth and action.It's good that the new characters that are being introduced give the storylines in the author's writing more scope.
January 31, 2022
A proper crime detective novel!
An excellent story line. Plausible characters. Plenty of twist and turns and real detective work. Very little padding, no unnecessary gore , foul language and dead bodies all over the place. A perfect bedtime read.
An excellent story line. Plausible characters. Plenty of twist and turns and real detective work. Very little padding, no unnecessary gore , foul language and dead bodies all over the place. A perfect bedtime read.
October 19, 2023
It could be the circumstances during the reading of this book but it was difficult for me to follow. I'm still not quite sure what happened. I still like the characters despite the split but this storyline was strange...and the story started out very dark.
February 1, 2024
"The Phantom Murder" is another fantastic mystery in the Eric Ward series. I least enjoyed "The Marriage Murder," the tenth book in the series, but the two books after that, "The Wasteful Murder" and "The Phantom Murder," are excellent and flawlessly plotted and paced.
June 21, 2021
This series has really strengthened with a return to Newcastle and the introduction of the police detective characters. Another thoroughly enjoyable and well-plotted tale.
July 4, 2022
Good one
Kept me reading as Roy Lewis does. I am intrigued with his story settings and the UK views on things.
Kept me reading as Roy Lewis does. I am intrigued with his story settings and the UK views on things.
August 23, 2020
A good continuation of the series!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews