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Final Harbour
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 4, 2026
I finished reading this at about 3am as I couldn't put it down, and then was too tired to write a review that made sense!
This was almost like reading a set of different stories, discrete from each other and yet linked, all colliding together to provide a delicious conclusion. It took me a few chapters to fully get into it and cement in my mind who was who, but then I just could not put it down. I found that my favourite story thread was that of Sofia and the human traffickers, I was so desperate for her to have a happy ending.
This book really felt so real, the blurb says it's "ripped from tomorrow's headlines" and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I saw these events in the paper. The public reactions to immigration and the"small boats" is exactly how a lot of people feel in real life, we know that trafficking and modern slavery is an issue, and MI12 is a secret organisation so who knows on that front!
This was almost like reading a set of different stories, discrete from each other and yet linked, all colliding together to provide a delicious conclusion. It took me a few chapters to fully get into it and cement in my mind who was who, but then I just could not put it down. I found that my favourite story thread was that of Sofia and the human traffickers, I was so desperate for her to have a happy ending.
This book really felt so real, the blurb says it's "ripped from tomorrow's headlines" and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I saw these events in the paper. The public reactions to immigration and the"small boats" is exactly how a lot of people feel in real life, we know that trafficking and modern slavery is an issue, and MI12 is a secret organisation so who knows on that front!
July 6, 2026
Here is my review for Final Harbour by Mark Batey
I found this to be an intriguing, espionage thriller with some political twists as well. It was very descriptive and everything was described in great detail. The story was set in different countries and included some trafficking of people. The story was well plotted and was well thought out but there was a lot going on with a lot of characters. It was quite pacy.
Blurb :
The daughter of Andrey Gavrilov, a Russian intelligence planner, is seized in Moscow while he plots upheaval in the UK — retaliation for Britain’s support of Ukraine.
Across the Channel, Sofia, a terrified young Eritrean, is pulled from the storm after her dinghy capsizes in the dark waters. Her traffickers are traced back to Zoltan Zamba, the reclusive Maltese corporate boss suspected of running the gang that smuggled her to the UK.
On Zamba’s trail is British intelligence officer John Stirling, who joins forces with Fabiana, a Maltese journalist desperate to find her missing brother.
When their paths collide, the fallout is explosive — and deadly.
A tense thriller ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, Final Harbour grips with espionage, human struggle, and the shadow networks that bind them all.
I found this to be an intriguing, espionage thriller with some political twists as well. It was very descriptive and everything was described in great detail. The story was set in different countries and included some trafficking of people. The story was well plotted and was well thought out but there was a lot going on with a lot of characters. It was quite pacy.
Blurb :
The daughter of Andrey Gavrilov, a Russian intelligence planner, is seized in Moscow while he plots upheaval in the UK — retaliation for Britain’s support of Ukraine.
Across the Channel, Sofia, a terrified young Eritrean, is pulled from the storm after her dinghy capsizes in the dark waters. Her traffickers are traced back to Zoltan Zamba, the reclusive Maltese corporate boss suspected of running the gang that smuggled her to the UK.
On Zamba’s trail is British intelligence officer John Stirling, who joins forces with Fabiana, a Maltese journalist desperate to find her missing brother.
When their paths collide, the fallout is explosive — and deadly.
A tense thriller ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, Final Harbour grips with espionage, human struggle, and the shadow networks that bind them all.
July 6, 2026
‘Final Harbour’ is definitely the definition of a thriller, although it was a slow start for me, it was an action packed read and there was a lot of tension. I loved that the book was set in three different countries (Russia, UK and Malta) I found this fascinating.
I really liked Sofia as a character, she had been through a lot of trauma since arriving in the UK but she was focused and driven to make sure she had a safe place for her child. The letter Sofia had written to her unborn child made me emotional, it was beautiful.
I also loved Roisin, she did everything she could to protect Sofia and her unborn child and to keep them both safe.
I admired how the storyline of human trafficking was portrayed, the author wrote this with care, unfortunately although ‘Final Harbour’ is fiction, this is a real life issue and in a way this book does raise awareness to that.
If you love thrillers with tension, then add this to your TBR!
I really liked Sofia as a character, she had been through a lot of trauma since arriving in the UK but she was focused and driven to make sure she had a safe place for her child. The letter Sofia had written to her unborn child made me emotional, it was beautiful.
I also loved Roisin, she did everything she could to protect Sofia and her unborn child and to keep them both safe.
I admired how the storyline of human trafficking was portrayed, the author wrote this with care, unfortunately although ‘Final Harbour’ is fiction, this is a real life issue and in a way this book does raise awareness to that.
If you love thrillers with tension, then add this to your TBR!
July 1, 2026
Final Harbour by Mark Batey
☀️☀️☀️💫
Political thriller, espionage, double agents, betrayal, human trafficking - this book had it all
I couldn't put it down, and even though i hadn't read the 1st book, I didnt miss out
Set in Malta, Russia and the UK. The characters are either ones you love or hate. My favourite was Andrey. His lovely family, a daughter called Luba who he would do anything for
Sofia, who wants a better life for herself, embarks on a journey to find freedom. Unbeknown she is being trafficked. Becoming friends with Rosin, who offers to help
The brutality in the book is off the scale.
I found some of the coincidences unrealistic, and questioned if they would happen. But, the story flowed and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next
☀️☀️☀️💫
Political thriller, espionage, double agents, betrayal, human trafficking - this book had it all
I couldn't put it down, and even though i hadn't read the 1st book, I didnt miss out
Set in Malta, Russia and the UK. The characters are either ones you love or hate. My favourite was Andrey. His lovely family, a daughter called Luba who he would do anything for
Sofia, who wants a better life for herself, embarks on a journey to find freedom. Unbeknown she is being trafficked. Becoming friends with Rosin, who offers to help
The brutality in the book is off the scale.
I found some of the coincidences unrealistic, and questioned if they would happen. But, the story flowed and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next
July 1, 2026
This is a book that had me hooked! A thriller that brings espionage, politics, and human trafficking together to create a blood-pressure-raising read. There is a previous book to this but I had no problems starting here.
Not only is it a riveting read, it is also pretty fast-paced. Set in Malta, Russia, and the UK, we meet characters who are all unique and well-created.
Mark Batey is an author who I haven't heard of before. His writing feels authentic, the brutality is apparent and the fear is of the scale in parts. The harsh reality of human trafficking is laid bare. I needed to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen!
Glad I discovered this author and I highly recommend Final Harbour.
Not only is it a riveting read, it is also pretty fast-paced. Set in Malta, Russia, and the UK, we meet characters who are all unique and well-created.
Mark Batey is an author who I haven't heard of before. His writing feels authentic, the brutality is apparent and the fear is of the scale in parts. The harsh reality of human trafficking is laid bare. I needed to keep turning the pages to find out what would happen!
Glad I discovered this author and I highly recommend Final Harbour.
July 7, 2026
If espionage thrillers are your thing im sure you will enjoy following British intelligence officer John Stirling on his missions as he navigates the geopolitical landscape. I mean this in the best way possible but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Contemporary political thrillers aren’t my usual vibe but I loved the writing style of this, the tension and the multi layered plot was really fast paced and visceral..
Im new to Marks work but I was able to appreciate ‘Final harbour’ as a standalone without reading ‘Starfish’ first. There were a lot of characters introduced and while I didn’t struggle at all, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read both books as they have the making of a fantastic series. I honestly can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Im new to Marks work but I was able to appreciate ‘Final harbour’ as a standalone without reading ‘Starfish’ first. There were a lot of characters introduced and while I didn’t struggle at all, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read both books as they have the making of a fantastic series. I honestly can’t wait for the next book in the series.
June 30, 2026
Wow! This is a book that when you start you cannot stop various locations and people and I really wanted to know what was going to bring it all together.
As the chapters sped past it all started to come together, but then the action goes up a notch.
This was such a great read, hard in parts as the horror that happens to people was written with a realistic feel to it, the human trafficking was really brought to life and the brutal people who exploit those who just want to live.
A new author to me but I will definitely be looking out for the next John Stirling instalment
Fantastic read
As the chapters sped past it all started to come together, but then the action goes up a notch.
This was such a great read, hard in parts as the horror that happens to people was written with a realistic feel to it, the human trafficking was really brought to life and the brutal people who exploit those who just want to live.
A new author to me but I will definitely be looking out for the next John Stirling instalment
Fantastic read
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews