Twelve: Time Interventions

by James Sherwood

It seems like a routine post-mortem, when Professor Max Fosse and DS Charles Seymour are presented with a mysterious road accident fatality in central Lancashire. The victim has unusual physical characteristics, including a missing rib, an unknown blood group and evidence of extensive genetic engineering. He is identified as a radicalised British terrorist and linked to the suspicious death of a government scientist in the Lake District. The trail of the ongoing investigation leads to Saudi Arabia, the Punjab, war zones in Somalia and Bosnia, and back to the Spanish Civil War, in an ever-unfolding mystery.

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2015

Reviews

[Janet Gogerty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story; science fiction with real people set in both modern times and a historical context. But I was disappointed that having given Charles Seymour a family and two problems, these themes are not developed. As a police wife (not CID thank goodness ) I thought both Seymour and the author neglected his wife! Seymour's adventures would stand alone, as a James Bond type, but once interested in whether he can save his marriage we need to know more. His wife says they must talk when he returns from his trip; he then goes on many trips and the book ends without them ever talking!
Without giving anything away I also wished Seymour had asked Pascoe a few more questions while he had the chance.