Distraction: Out of the Silent Suburb

by Andrew Coombs

Part mystery, part love story, this Cold War thriller sees the enigmatic PK, the faithless son of a clergyman, seemingly involved in the disappearance of a schoolgirl. His close friend, Frank, certain that PK holds the key to the missing girl, is determined to find her. But Frank, a former soldier in Northern Ireland, is unaware that he is being targeted by a terrorist with a personal vendetta. Meanwhile, the nuclear countdown continues... This excellent, thoughtful and darkly comic page-turner is set in the decade before the end of the Cold War, and focuses on the twelve days leading up to a potential Armageddon. Will the schoolgirl be found and PK exonerated? Can Frank escape the terrorist's revenge? And, ultimately, what is the distraction that causes a US pilot to hesitate in his defence of the UK? Based on real-life events, finely crafted and realistic, Distraction will appeal to mystery and thriller enthusiasts alike.

215 pages, ebook

Published December 14, 2017

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1970’s with the very real threat of the cold war decimating the UK, this novel follows several characters.

I found this book really easy to get into, the stories flowed and intermingled so I was able to follow each character’s journey.

The opening chapter starts with the main character’s parents, from the beginning I thought this was a novel about a vicar, but very quickly I realised this was wrong.

This well-written novel was a great read and although it is set before I was born, the cold war references reminded me of my childhood, where the Russian’s still wanted to rule supreme.