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Jan the Dutchman
When a deadly enemy from her past appears alive and well, can Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom finally face up to her demons?
On holiday in The Gambia, Terry Bailey is enjoying his retirement from MI6 when he receives a shock. He spots a man in a car. It’s a fleeting glimpse. But it’s enough. He swears it is Jan the Dutchman, a drug overlord linked to a Colombian cartel. It can’t be Jan, as Jan is dead. Terry should know, he killed him.
Only one other person knows that Terry killed Jan – Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, a CIA analyst based in London. Seven years ago, Jan had orchestrated the ambush in Holland that had killed Mike’s husband Dylan leaving her severely injured.
Was Terry tilting at windmills, Dutch windmills, or was Jan really alive seeking revenge? Terry tells Mike about the sighting and it re-opens wounds they both thought were long-healed.
It is now the beginning of a race to find Mike’s nemesis. But where to start? All Mike knew for certain is that he was not called Jan and he wasn’t a Dutchman. Apart from that, the search should be straightforward, shouldn’t it?
Jan the Dutchman is a thought-provoking and gripping sixth geo-political thriller that will delight fans of Frederick Forsyth and Mick Herron.
On holiday in The Gambia, Terry Bailey is enjoying his retirement from MI6 when he receives a shock. He spots a man in a car. It’s a fleeting glimpse. But it’s enough. He swears it is Jan the Dutchman, a drug overlord linked to a Colombian cartel. It can’t be Jan, as Jan is dead. Terry should know, he killed him.
Only one other person knows that Terry killed Jan – Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, a CIA analyst based in London. Seven years ago, Jan had orchestrated the ambush in Holland that had killed Mike’s husband Dylan leaving her severely injured.
Was Terry tilting at windmills, Dutch windmills, or was Jan really alive seeking revenge? Terry tells Mike about the sighting and it re-opens wounds they both thought were long-healed.
It is now the beginning of a race to find Mike’s nemesis. But where to start? All Mike knew for certain is that he was not called Jan and he wasn’t a Dutchman. Apart from that, the search should be straightforward, shouldn’t it?
Jan the Dutchman is a thought-provoking and gripping sixth geo-political thriller that will delight fans of Frederick Forsyth and Mick Herron.
304 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 18, 2026
This is the sixth book in Mike Kingdom series, but it can be read as a standalone novel.
Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom is an American CIA analyst based in England. She’s suffered a lot of personal trauma: whilst working undercover in the Netherlands with her husband, Dylan, they were both attacked and Dylan died.
Terry Bailey is a retired case officer for the MI6. While on a bird watching holiday in Gambia, he spots a ghost, a man whom he had killed seven years before. How come Jan the Dutchman is still alive?
Terry makes contact with Mike, which reopens the old wounds from the past. All Mike knows about Jan is that he isn’t called Jan, and he isn’t a Dutchman.
At the same time, Mike is working on a potential threat to an airship carrying machines which will enable the US and the UK to build microchips.
Is her current case linked to what happened in the Netherlands seven years ago?
You’ll have to read this one for yourselves to find out.
I loved this geopolitical thriller and I was racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
I loved how Mike is finally opening up to Wazz, her fiance, about her past and wishing to include him more in her life. Wazz is of Polish descent, he works as a gardener and a handyman, a man with a van. He’s quiet, doesn’t say much, and he’s the opposite of Mike, probably that’s why they work together so well.
I cannot wait for another book in this series. Be prepared to be at the edge of your seat while reading this one!
I definitely recommend it.
Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom is an American CIA analyst based in England. She’s suffered a lot of personal trauma: whilst working undercover in the Netherlands with her husband, Dylan, they were both attacked and Dylan died.
Terry Bailey is a retired case officer for the MI6. While on a bird watching holiday in Gambia, he spots a ghost, a man whom he had killed seven years before. How come Jan the Dutchman is still alive?
Terry makes contact with Mike, which reopens the old wounds from the past. All Mike knows about Jan is that he isn’t called Jan, and he isn’t a Dutchman.
At the same time, Mike is working on a potential threat to an airship carrying machines which will enable the US and the UK to build microchips.
Is her current case linked to what happened in the Netherlands seven years ago?
You’ll have to read this one for yourselves to find out.
I loved this geopolitical thriller and I was racing through the pages to find out what happens next.
I loved how Mike is finally opening up to Wazz, her fiance, about her past and wishing to include him more in her life. Wazz is of Polish descent, he works as a gardener and a handyman, a man with a van. He’s quiet, doesn’t say much, and he’s the opposite of Mike, probably that’s why they work together so well.
I cannot wait for another book in this series. Be prepared to be at the edge of your seat while reading this one!
I definitely recommend it.
April 14, 2026
Life is settling down nicely for Mike. She is spending most of her time remote working from her home in Wiltshire. Boyfriend Wazz has finished his university degree and has joined her in the countryside, setting up as a gardener and handyman ‘Wazz with a van’ for now. Commitments made they are shortly to be married, with a happy future ahead.
Retired MI6 man Terry Bailey is birdwatching in Gambia when he sees a ghost; a man he knows to be dead for he killed him. Terry contacts Mike, the only other person who knows about the incident and her world comes crashing down. The case that saw her husband killed and her seriously injured is about to become active again and Mike now has a target on her back. Who did Terry kill in Amsterdam if it wasn’t Jan and who is after revenge.
The plot weaves two strands together, the questions about who is Jan and the delivery of two precision silicon chip manufacturing machines to the UK and USA. Once again the author has drawn from current geopolitical environment, in this case the US President’s determination to return key manufacturing to home control. This produces a story that is interesting and feels credible, with plenty of twists and some big surprises. There is also a rich seam of danger and jeopardy for Mike and Wazz to negotiate, mixing the usual cerebral espionage with real action thrills.
Mike’s exploits remain a joy to read as her character develops. Here she must face down the demons of her past for her own safety and that of Wazz. The revealing of her painful past to Wazz proves not only difficult but feels like a watershed moment in any relationship. Bodybuilder Wazz is a true rock, he may say little and not give much away emotionally, but he exudes a calm confident persona. A perfect foil for Mike. Leonard is evolving too following his near-death experience, now becoming a formidable player and wise head for Mike to rely upon. Quite a transformation.
The author is a natural wit which is reflected in the subtle humour, sly observations and a sense of the ironic throughout. I do miss a bit of the slapstick of the earlier stories, but this time we have the delights of some rather incompetent criminals to enjoy. There is an inherent amusement about the exploits of useless henchmen in fiction, with their inane conversation and natural stupidity. They may not be able to carry out instructions, but they can still do lots of damage.
A clever, witty blend of the geo-political and espionage worlds in a first-rate thriller.
Retired MI6 man Terry Bailey is birdwatching in Gambia when he sees a ghost; a man he knows to be dead for he killed him. Terry contacts Mike, the only other person who knows about the incident and her world comes crashing down. The case that saw her husband killed and her seriously injured is about to become active again and Mike now has a target on her back. Who did Terry kill in Amsterdam if it wasn’t Jan and who is after revenge.
The plot weaves two strands together, the questions about who is Jan and the delivery of two precision silicon chip manufacturing machines to the UK and USA. Once again the author has drawn from current geopolitical environment, in this case the US President’s determination to return key manufacturing to home control. This produces a story that is interesting and feels credible, with plenty of twists and some big surprises. There is also a rich seam of danger and jeopardy for Mike and Wazz to negotiate, mixing the usual cerebral espionage with real action thrills.
Mike’s exploits remain a joy to read as her character develops. Here she must face down the demons of her past for her own safety and that of Wazz. The revealing of her painful past to Wazz proves not only difficult but feels like a watershed moment in any relationship. Bodybuilder Wazz is a true rock, he may say little and not give much away emotionally, but he exudes a calm confident persona. A perfect foil for Mike. Leonard is evolving too following his near-death experience, now becoming a formidable player and wise head for Mike to rely upon. Quite a transformation.
The author is a natural wit which is reflected in the subtle humour, sly observations and a sense of the ironic throughout. I do miss a bit of the slapstick of the earlier stories, but this time we have the delights of some rather incompetent criminals to enjoy. There is an inherent amusement about the exploits of useless henchmen in fiction, with their inane conversation and natural stupidity. They may not be able to carry out instructions, but they can still do lots of damage.
A clever, witty blend of the geo-political and espionage worlds in a first-rate thriller.
May 4, 2026
Book 6 in the highly acclaimed series featuring Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom, a series which goes from strength to strength.
In this book it seemed to me we see a more mellow and warmer Mike, maybe brought about by her upcoming marriage to Wazz, that being said it still an outstandingly gripping thriller. I like the way that their relationship has built up over the series, always there for and looking out for each other.
I love the way that the author is able to create twisty plots with multiple threads and tie them together. Here we find Mike firmly routed in the UK with the danger coming to find her. I also like the fact you have a little more to her backstory.
David Jarvis is a writer who always seems to have his finger of today’s geo political world, and creates his plots with a credible sense of realism, he also writes with a confidence and a depth to the books, the wring is always crisp and on point. The story has a richness.
The plotting within this book is slick, wonderfully constructed, the book ripples with an undercurrant of tension, there is an urgency to story brought about by the plot-lines, fluidly paced guaranteed to keep the pages turning. There are moments in the book where you fear the worst, the writing drawing out the fear within the characters.
David Jarvis is very adapt at writing and creating believable characters, always well rounded, I particularly enjoy the way Leonard is always subtly able to press ‘Mikes’ buttons to get his way. All the main protagonists come across with an air of belonging.
I also like the use of location within the books, the landscape vividly brought to life, you get a tremendous sense of place and time.
A read which poses many questions about the past, just who was Jan, at times it is also quite an emotional read, with Mike and Wazz put through a rollercoaster. All along the though the book builds up the drama and suspense, as a read there are definitely questions unanswered maybe to be explored in future books.
As i’ve come to expect there is a subtle dry humour which runs through the book, at times there to lighten away from the darkness of the events.
This was one of those reads where once I started I found it hard to put down, a clever thriller set among the world of espionage. As compelling a read as it is gripping.
This is a book, a series and an author which I can’t recommend highly enough. For me David Jarvis is a thriller writer to watch it for.
In this book it seemed to me we see a more mellow and warmer Mike, maybe brought about by her upcoming marriage to Wazz, that being said it still an outstandingly gripping thriller. I like the way that their relationship has built up over the series, always there for and looking out for each other.
I love the way that the author is able to create twisty plots with multiple threads and tie them together. Here we find Mike firmly routed in the UK with the danger coming to find her. I also like the fact you have a little more to her backstory.
David Jarvis is a writer who always seems to have his finger of today’s geo political world, and creates his plots with a credible sense of realism, he also writes with a confidence and a depth to the books, the wring is always crisp and on point. The story has a richness.
The plotting within this book is slick, wonderfully constructed, the book ripples with an undercurrant of tension, there is an urgency to story brought about by the plot-lines, fluidly paced guaranteed to keep the pages turning. There are moments in the book where you fear the worst, the writing drawing out the fear within the characters.
David Jarvis is very adapt at writing and creating believable characters, always well rounded, I particularly enjoy the way Leonard is always subtly able to press ‘Mikes’ buttons to get his way. All the main protagonists come across with an air of belonging.
I also like the use of location within the books, the landscape vividly brought to life, you get a tremendous sense of place and time.
A read which poses many questions about the past, just who was Jan, at times it is also quite an emotional read, with Mike and Wazz put through a rollercoaster. All along the though the book builds up the drama and suspense, as a read there are definitely questions unanswered maybe to be explored in future books.
As i’ve come to expect there is a subtle dry humour which runs through the book, at times there to lighten away from the darkness of the events.
This was one of those reads where once I started I found it hard to put down, a clever thriller set among the world of espionage. As compelling a read as it is gripping.
This is a book, a series and an author which I can’t recommend highly enough. For me David Jarvis is a thriller writer to watch it for.
April 16, 2026
4.5⭐️
David Jarvis is quickly establishing himself as the master of the geopolitical thriller, especially after this latest addition, which is just as intriguing as the last.
As retired MI6 agent Terry Bailey is happily enjoying a bird-watching holiday in the Gambia, he spots a man he knew as 'Jan the Dutchman', only it can't be him as he's dead, and Terry knows this as he was the one who killed him.
But his instincts are telling him the man he saw is Jan, and so he contacts Michaela 'Mike' Kingdom, after all, it was Jan that orchestrated the ambush that killed Mike's husband Dylan and left her injured, and Mike was the only one who knew that Terry had killed Jan.
This leads Mike to start hunting for Jan again. The only problem is he's not really called Jan, and he's not a Dutchman. Apart from that, the search to track him down should be simple...right?
But of course, this isn't just a story of revenge; it also has a real political aspect. This time, David draws on the current political environment in the United States, with a president keen to bring key manufacturing back under home control, and Jan is playing a part in this.
Which makes it all very credible, interesting and enjoyable to read. Plus, there is plenty of danger and jeopardy for Mike and her boyfriend, Wazz, to negotiate as she faces down the demons of her past.
And with edge-of-your-seat moments, ever-evolving characters, and subtle humour. Jan the Dutchman is an extremely clever geopolitical thriller in a series that is going from strength to strength, and I would thoroughly recommend it to all.
My thanks to Hobeck Books for my copy of Jan the Dutchman. Look out for my stop on the blog tour on 21 April! 😊
David Jarvis is quickly establishing himself as the master of the geopolitical thriller, especially after this latest addition, which is just as intriguing as the last.
As retired MI6 agent Terry Bailey is happily enjoying a bird-watching holiday in the Gambia, he spots a man he knew as 'Jan the Dutchman', only it can't be him as he's dead, and Terry knows this as he was the one who killed him.
But his instincts are telling him the man he saw is Jan, and so he contacts Michaela 'Mike' Kingdom, after all, it was Jan that orchestrated the ambush that killed Mike's husband Dylan and left her injured, and Mike was the only one who knew that Terry had killed Jan.
This leads Mike to start hunting for Jan again. The only problem is he's not really called Jan, and he's not a Dutchman. Apart from that, the search to track him down should be simple...right?
But of course, this isn't just a story of revenge; it also has a real political aspect. This time, David draws on the current political environment in the United States, with a president keen to bring key manufacturing back under home control, and Jan is playing a part in this.
Which makes it all very credible, interesting and enjoyable to read. Plus, there is plenty of danger and jeopardy for Mike and her boyfriend, Wazz, to negotiate as she faces down the demons of her past.
And with edge-of-your-seat moments, ever-evolving characters, and subtle humour. Jan the Dutchman is an extremely clever geopolitical thriller in a series that is going from strength to strength, and I would thoroughly recommend it to all.
My thanks to Hobeck Books for my copy of Jan the Dutchman. Look out for my stop on the blog tour on 21 April! 😊
April 17, 2026
I’m not quite sure how David Jarvis has such a prescient skill with his geopolitical thrillers but they are always realistic, believable and locked into current affairs in such a way that his books create a world that will totally immerse you. Jan the Dutchman is the sixth book in the Mike Kingdom series.
I have loved this entire series, and in this instalment Mike has a much softer side as she approaches her wedding to Wazz. I have loved Mike and Wazz together since they first met much earlier in the series, and it has been wonderful witnessing their growing connection through the series. In this book it seems that Mike is considering walking away from her career for a quiet life, but I’m not sure that she can resist the temptation by her boss Leonard, who seems to know which buttons to push to keep her involved.
There are interwoven stories as Mike realises that the person responsible for the death of her husband and her injuries seven years earlier, that she believed was dead, is alive and looking for her. To make matters worse, he is known as Jan the Dutchman but he is not called Jan and he is possibly not from the Netherlands.
While she tries to locate Jan before he finds her first, she is also working on a case to prevent terrorist attacks on the deliveries of two revolutionary machines that will help America and Britain produce microchips to reduce the reliance on Asia for the manufacturing of microchips for their electronics.
The two converging stories create a fast paced clever geopolitical/espionage thriller with David Jarvis’ signature dry humour. This is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated geopolitical thriller series out there, and if spies and geopolitics interests you, you really need to read the series!
I have loved this entire series, and in this instalment Mike has a much softer side as she approaches her wedding to Wazz. I have loved Mike and Wazz together since they first met much earlier in the series, and it has been wonderful witnessing their growing connection through the series. In this book it seems that Mike is considering walking away from her career for a quiet life, but I’m not sure that she can resist the temptation by her boss Leonard, who seems to know which buttons to push to keep her involved.
There are interwoven stories as Mike realises that the person responsible for the death of her husband and her injuries seven years earlier, that she believed was dead, is alive and looking for her. To make matters worse, he is known as Jan the Dutchman but he is not called Jan and he is possibly not from the Netherlands.
While she tries to locate Jan before he finds her first, she is also working on a case to prevent terrorist attacks on the deliveries of two revolutionary machines that will help America and Britain produce microchips to reduce the reliance on Asia for the manufacturing of microchips for their electronics.
The two converging stories create a fast paced clever geopolitical/espionage thriller with David Jarvis’ signature dry humour. This is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated geopolitical thriller series out there, and if spies and geopolitics interests you, you really need to read the series!
April 20, 2026
I cannot believe this is already the sixth book in the Mike Kingdom series. Wow! And once again, I finished it within a couple of days. Although this instalment felt slightly slower in pace, this change worked exceptionally well for the setting of this particular story. The more measured tempo allowed for deeper insights into Mike’s past and the personal demons she continues to confront, as she moves forward in her life with Wazz.
This story centres on Mike being contacted by a retired MI6 agent with whom she previously worked on a tragic but quite high-profile case. He is convinced he has seen a man who should be long dead, Jan the Dutchman, a key suspect and figure in that same investigation. Mike is equally shocked and naturally does what she does best, tries to track him down and uncover whether he is truly still alive.
I particularly appreciated how this instalment weaves together Mike’s history with detailed, realistic geopolitics and espionage elements, so convincing that I often found myself wondering how much of it mirrors real-world events. As always adored the humour, the characters that are complex and three-dimensional. There were also a few twists and scenes that kept me on edge (I’m looking at you, Wazz) and very immersed. Jarvis’s writing continues to be exceptional (‘chef’s kiss’). Rarely has a book and the writing can get me this immersed as books in this series do. I genuinely believe Mike Kingdom's stories would translate brilliantly into a TV series.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy geopolitical thrillers, espionage, strong character development, and the best humour.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
💀 A ghost from the grave, and the reckoning it demands. 💀
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
“The past doesn’t knock. It waits—patient, certain—until you open the door yourself.”
There’s something deliciously unsettling about a villain who refuses to stay dead—and in Jan the Dutchman, Davis Jarvis leans into that unease with sharp, unrelenting precision. What begins as a flicker of doubt—a face glimpsed, a memory stirred—quickly spirals into a taut, global hunt where truth feels as slippery as identity itself.
I adore Mike Kingdom—she's a heroine carved from grief and grit, her past never quite buried. As the narrative tightens, so does the emotional chokehold: this isn’t just about chasing a ghost, it’s about confronting your past. Jarvis balances high-stakes espionage with something more intimate and bruising—the cost of unfinished business.
As I've come to expect from Jarvis, the pacing is razor-clean, the tension quietly relentless, and the twists land with satisfying, needle-sharp precision. Fans of Frederick Forsyth and Mick Herron will feel right at home, but this story carries its own pulse—cool, controlled, and quietly devastating.
Verdict: A smart, simmering thriller that proves some ghosts don’t haunt—they hunt. If you've not yet encountered Mike Kingdom, you're missing out!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
“The past doesn’t knock. It waits—patient, certain—until you open the door yourself.”
There’s something deliciously unsettling about a villain who refuses to stay dead—and in Jan the Dutchman, Davis Jarvis leans into that unease with sharp, unrelenting precision. What begins as a flicker of doubt—a face glimpsed, a memory stirred—quickly spirals into a taut, global hunt where truth feels as slippery as identity itself.
I adore Mike Kingdom—she's a heroine carved from grief and grit, her past never quite buried. As the narrative tightens, so does the emotional chokehold: this isn’t just about chasing a ghost, it’s about confronting your past. Jarvis balances high-stakes espionage with something more intimate and bruising—the cost of unfinished business.
As I've come to expect from Jarvis, the pacing is razor-clean, the tension quietly relentless, and the twists land with satisfying, needle-sharp precision. Fans of Frederick Forsyth and Mick Herron will feel right at home, but this story carries its own pulse—cool, controlled, and quietly devastating.
Verdict: A smart, simmering thriller that proves some ghosts don’t haunt—they hunt. If you've not yet encountered Mike Kingdom, you're missing out!
April 24, 2026
Book 5 of the Mike Kingdom thriller series and if this is your first read Mike is actually Michaela, a near 40 year old CIA analyst, based in the UK. This is a really fast paced and gripping geopolitical thriller and could be read as a stand-alone, the plot is timely but a bit far fetched I though, but what do I know and it’s fiction so I’m fine with it either way.
Briefly, Terry Bailey, a name from her past, contacts Mike to say he has seen a man he killed 7 years earlier! That man was Jan the Dutchman, the person responsible for Mike getting seriously injured and her husband dying in an ambush in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the CIA are working alongside MI5 to ensure the safe delivery of a massive new machine which is to be lifted by an airship from Holland to the UK. Mike has picked up chatter which suggests there will be an attempt to blow it up. As the two events move along side by side it becomes likely that the two events are connected.
Expect adrenaline fuelled and violent action as Mike fights her corner. She really is a great character and we are seeing hints of a softer side in the run up to her wedding to Wazz, a gardener come handyman. I do enjoy these books. They are exciting, with a touch of humour, and most entertaining.
Briefly, Terry Bailey, a name from her past, contacts Mike to say he has seen a man he killed 7 years earlier! That man was Jan the Dutchman, the person responsible for Mike getting seriously injured and her husband dying in an ambush in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the CIA are working alongside MI5 to ensure the safe delivery of a massive new machine which is to be lifted by an airship from Holland to the UK. Mike has picked up chatter which suggests there will be an attempt to blow it up. As the two events move along side by side it becomes likely that the two events are connected.
Expect adrenaline fuelled and violent action as Mike fights her corner. She really is a great character and we are seeing hints of a softer side in the run up to her wedding to Wazz, a gardener come handyman. I do enjoy these books. They are exciting, with a touch of humour, and most entertaining.
May 4, 2026
I was late to the party where the Mike Kingdom thrillers are concerned as I jumped in at book five but it's definitely a case of better late than never as they are fantastic. Jan the Dutchman is book six in the series and it's an absolute belter. I think you could read it as a standalone and you will be hooked on Mike's story, like I was with the previous book.
Mike (Michaela) thought Jan the Dutchman was dead after causing the death of her husband and leaving her injured. Now Jan is back and wants to finish the job, which puts Mike in terrible danger. With her wedding day just around the corner, will Mike and Wazz get to the registry office on time?
Wow! I could not put this book down! The pacing is blisteringly fast and the plot is sharper than a razor blade. There is so much going on, but it never gets confusing, and I think I was gripping the book tighter and tighter when Mike started to get closer to identifying Jan and the danger levels ramped up. That ending, though! Chef's kiss, Mr Jarvis!
Exciting, suspenseful and highly original, Jan the Dutchman is an outstanding thriller that kept me riveted from first page to last. A very highly recommended read that is sure to result in new fans of this magnificent series.
Mike (Michaela) thought Jan the Dutchman was dead after causing the death of her husband and leaving her injured. Now Jan is back and wants to finish the job, which puts Mike in terrible danger. With her wedding day just around the corner, will Mike and Wazz get to the registry office on time?
Wow! I could not put this book down! The pacing is blisteringly fast and the plot is sharper than a razor blade. There is so much going on, but it never gets confusing, and I think I was gripping the book tighter and tighter when Mike started to get closer to identifying Jan and the danger levels ramped up. That ending, though! Chef's kiss, Mr Jarvis!
Exciting, suspenseful and highly original, Jan the Dutchman is an outstanding thriller that kept me riveted from first page to last. A very highly recommended read that is sure to result in new fans of this magnificent series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have loved this series from the very beginning. Michaela Mike Kingdom is a great character, incredibly smart, feisty, strong, and recently in love, engaged to be married to Wazz.
This has given her a slightly gentler side, or maybe less selfish, which makes her more real.
The story travels around the UK, London, Salisbury and the deserted cottage Mike lives in, then across to Holland and Spain.
These books have a sort of easy conversational tone which means they wrong foot you easily and frequently. You're quite happily reading along when bam something big happens, as normal as you like.
I loved some of the baddies in this, even though you aren't supposed to, and I really want to meet Gabbys macaws!
There were hints in this that Mike may be becoming tired of this life, I really hope thats not the case. This is such a brilliant, intense, fast paced series, im not ready yet.
This has given her a slightly gentler side, or maybe less selfish, which makes her more real.
The story travels around the UK, London, Salisbury and the deserted cottage Mike lives in, then across to Holland and Spain.
These books have a sort of easy conversational tone which means they wrong foot you easily and frequently. You're quite happily reading along when bam something big happens, as normal as you like.
I loved some of the baddies in this, even though you aren't supposed to, and I really want to meet Gabbys macaws!
There were hints in this that Mike may be becoming tired of this life, I really hope thats not the case. This is such a brilliant, intense, fast paced series, im not ready yet.
April 14, 2026
Mike “Michaela” Kingdom is in trouble again, a message from an old colleague raises phantoms from the past , of the Dutch operation where Mike was badly injured and her husband murdered.
Britain and America are looking at a revolutionary way of making microchips. Another country is rather opposed to this idea and is about to make sure the investment doesn’t pay off. A previously dead target appears to be no longer dead and revenge is on the agenda, and Mike is a lynchpin in both scenarios.
As ever David Jarvis is on the mark with current events and geopolitical developments. Drawing on these and developing Mikes back story creates a thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing who is Jan the Dutchman all the way to the end. Another great read by David and long may they continue.
Britain and America are looking at a revolutionary way of making microchips. Another country is rather opposed to this idea and is about to make sure the investment doesn’t pay off. A previously dead target appears to be no longer dead and revenge is on the agenda, and Mike is a lynchpin in both scenarios.
As ever David Jarvis is on the mark with current events and geopolitical developments. Drawing on these and developing Mikes back story creates a thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing who is Jan the Dutchman all the way to the end. Another great read by David and long may they continue.
April 20, 2026
I wanted to read this book without even bothering to read the blurb; Mike Kingdom is a brilliant character. For those of you familiar with this series, you will not be disappointed. If you’ve not come across her before, you could read this as a standalone but I would recommend reading the previous books as this one takes us right back to the beginning when she was seriously injured.
Mike is contacted by Terry Bailey, a retired British agent, who informs her that he has seen a face from their shared past. A man who was supposed to be dead. That’s it, I’m not saying anything more about the plot.
Once again, David weaves a tale that is so very plausible with inevitable twists & taut storytelling. This is a thriller you will not want to put down, as always Mike is in the thick of the action despite supposedly only being employed as an analyst. A fabulous read.
Mike is contacted by Terry Bailey, a retired British agent, who informs her that he has seen a face from their shared past. A man who was supposed to be dead. That’s it, I’m not saying anything more about the plot.
Once again, David weaves a tale that is so very plausible with inevitable twists & taut storytelling. This is a thriller you will not want to put down, as always Mike is in the thick of the action despite supposedly only being employed as an analyst. A fabulous read.
April 14, 2026
Terry Bailey, recently retired from MI6 is on holiday in The Gambia, spots a face from his past. Only problem is Terry is sure he killed Jan The Dutchman years ago after Mike's husband had been killed on an op in Holland. Terry tells Mike as she was the only person he told at the time. This leads to Mike becoming involved although in the background. Although, things happen that draws Mike into the hunt. It was great to catch up with Mike, fiance, Wazz and her Station Chief, Leonard De Vries. The action takes us from the UK to Holland to the Gambia. It was entertaining, full of unexpected twists and turns, mind blowing, suspenseful and thrilling. All the sub plots are brought together with a dramatic ending!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I am sure every new addition to this series I comment that it goes from strength to strength and this latest instalment is no exception. Another edge of seat read with Mike in the midst of chaos yet the feisty heroine is showing no signs of slowing down. A punchy plot, packed with intrigue and a few surprises along the way too. My love for this series only grows as Mike's web gets ever more tangled.
Intoxicating.
Intoxicating.
April 20, 2026
This is book six in this series with Michaela ‘Mike’ Kingdom. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. Although I always find it good to know the characters from the start and watch them grow.
Terry Bailey is on holiday in The Gambia. Forced into retirement at 60 from being an MI6 operative and a functioning alcoholic, he’s spending his time birdwatching, until he sees someone he knows shouldn’t be alive. Jan the Dutchman. A man Terry is certain he killed. In truth, no one even knew Jan’s real identity, but Terry knows what he did… and the sight of him is enough to shake him to his core.
Only one other person knows the truth about that shooting, Mike Kingdom. Before Terry shot Jan, Mike’s husband Dylan had been killed and Mike herself badly injured on a mission gone wrong. So when Mike receives a cryptic message, she immediately knows who it must be from and agrees to meet. But both she and Terry are left wondering, if it really is Jan, where has he been all these years, and why resurface now?
When Terry fails to appear for a second meeting, Mike grows concerned. What she discovers when she goes to check on him is far from reassuring.
Mike is an analyst for the CIA, based in London. She has negotiated a flexible arrangement with her boss, Leonard De Vries, working mostly from home in Wiltshire, where she lives with her fiancé, Wazz. He knows who she works for, but not the details of what she does.
With their wedding fast approaching in July, Mike already has enough on her plate. But her work is anything but quiet. She is monitoring communications surrounding a highly sensitive government project involving microchips and two enormous machines built in the Netherlands. Each weighs sixty tons, and transporting them safely is a major operation. One is destined for Herefordshire via airship, weather permitting, while the other will be flown to Arizona aboard a Lockheed C-5 Super Galaxy, carefully secured to minimise vibration. The problem is the people Mike has been monitoring keep changing their methods of communication, making it difficult to follow what their plans may be
But someone wants these machines destroyed.
At the same time, Mike is tracking a dangerous new drug entering the UK, fifty times stronger than heroin, with no clear indication of how it’s being smuggled in. Until one name crops up again!
With multiple threads unfolding, the tension builds steadily. Will Mike and Wazz make it to their wedding? Can the sabotage be prevented? Is Jan the Dutchman really alive, and if so, who is he? And who is behind the deadly drug trade?
This is another brilliant and gripping instalment in the series, which just keeps getting better. There’s so much going on, yet it never feels overwhelming, just utterly compelling. At times, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, unsure what will happen next.
A perfect thriller.
Terry Bailey is on holiday in The Gambia. Forced into retirement at 60 from being an MI6 operative and a functioning alcoholic, he’s spending his time birdwatching, until he sees someone he knows shouldn’t be alive. Jan the Dutchman. A man Terry is certain he killed. In truth, no one even knew Jan’s real identity, but Terry knows what he did… and the sight of him is enough to shake him to his core.
Only one other person knows the truth about that shooting, Mike Kingdom. Before Terry shot Jan, Mike’s husband Dylan had been killed and Mike herself badly injured on a mission gone wrong. So when Mike receives a cryptic message, she immediately knows who it must be from and agrees to meet. But both she and Terry are left wondering, if it really is Jan, where has he been all these years, and why resurface now?
When Terry fails to appear for a second meeting, Mike grows concerned. What she discovers when she goes to check on him is far from reassuring.
Mike is an analyst for the CIA, based in London. She has negotiated a flexible arrangement with her boss, Leonard De Vries, working mostly from home in Wiltshire, where she lives with her fiancé, Wazz. He knows who she works for, but not the details of what she does.
With their wedding fast approaching in July, Mike already has enough on her plate. But her work is anything but quiet. She is monitoring communications surrounding a highly sensitive government project involving microchips and two enormous machines built in the Netherlands. Each weighs sixty tons, and transporting them safely is a major operation. One is destined for Herefordshire via airship, weather permitting, while the other will be flown to Arizona aboard a Lockheed C-5 Super Galaxy, carefully secured to minimise vibration. The problem is the people Mike has been monitoring keep changing their methods of communication, making it difficult to follow what their plans may be
But someone wants these machines destroyed.
At the same time, Mike is tracking a dangerous new drug entering the UK, fifty times stronger than heroin, with no clear indication of how it’s being smuggled in. Until one name crops up again!
With multiple threads unfolding, the tension builds steadily. Will Mike and Wazz make it to their wedding? Can the sabotage be prevented? Is Jan the Dutchman really alive, and if so, who is he? And who is behind the deadly drug trade?
This is another brilliant and gripping instalment in the series, which just keeps getting better. There’s so much going on, yet it never feels overwhelming, just utterly compelling. At times, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, unsure what will happen next.
A perfect thriller.
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