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Ben Sign Mystery #2
The Fifth Man
An Argentinian spy ship, disguised as a trawler, has been sailing around the Falkland Islands. The islanders and British military base on the Falklands are aware of the ship. They think it's harmless and ignore the ship. But one winter night, four islanders get drunk in a bar and decide to sail their boat out to sea to confront the spy ship. Nobody knows what happened that night. What is known is that the four men washed ashore the next day, dead. Former senior MI6 officer Ben Sign and his business partner, former under cover cop Tom Knutsen, are tasked by the British military to investigate the deaths. Sign is reluctant to do so until he's told that there was a fifth man on the boat on the night the men sailed out. The fifth man escaped and is somewhere in the Falklands. His evidence of what happened that night could give Britain the ammunition to go to war with Argentina. Sign and Knutsen agree to take on the case. Their task is to find the fifth man before an Argentinian assassination unit gets to him and kills him.
"Great talent, great imagination, and a real been-there-done-that authenticity. Highly recommended." - LEE CHILD. Author of the Jack Reacher series.
"Great talent, great imagination, and a real been-there-done-that authenticity. Highly recommended." - LEE CHILD. Author of the Jack Reacher series.
205 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2019
97 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Dunn
16 books275 followersMatthew Dunn was an MI6 intelligence officer who spent years operating around the world on matters pertaining to the national security of Great Britain and its allies. For the last decade he has been an author and has written 14 published books. He is the author of the "Spycatcher" series and "Ben Sign" series of espionage-mystery noir novels.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 9, 2025
Shenanigans in the Falklands
This is the second in the Sign and Knutsen series. It’s better than the first one. The setting is exotic, making me wonder if the author has visited the islands. A prowling Argentinian spy boat; four dead Falkland sailors, who look as though they were shot by Argentinians; and a Royal Navy infrared photo showing a fifth man on board, all bring Sign and Knutsen to find the elusive fifth man. While, as I said, this book is better than the preceding one, it still doesn’t bear comparison to the author’s earlier Spycatcher series. The story of the main character, Will Cochrane, was finally brought to a happy conclusion, but a couple of threads were left dangling, allowing me to hope there will be further adventures. If you like spy stories, you can’t go wrong with Spycatcher.
This is the second in the Sign and Knutsen series. It’s better than the first one. The setting is exotic, making me wonder if the author has visited the islands. A prowling Argentinian spy boat; four dead Falkland sailors, who look as though they were shot by Argentinians; and a Royal Navy infrared photo showing a fifth man on board, all bring Sign and Knutsen to find the elusive fifth man. While, as I said, this book is better than the preceding one, it still doesn’t bear comparison to the author’s earlier Spycatcher series. The story of the main character, Will Cochrane, was finally brought to a happy conclusion, but a couple of threads were left dangling, allowing me to hope there will be further adventures. If you like spy stories, you can’t go wrong with Spycatcher.
January 28, 2019
Good read shame about typos and spelling errors
A good read with interesting storyline, just a shame that the proofreading has been poor. For example since when has Eton been called Eaton? One character with two different names- Harry Monk/Pope, plus lots of other typos. The same is relevant with the first book in this series.
A good read with interesting storyline, just a shame that the proofreading has been poor. For example since when has Eton been called Eaton? One character with two different names- Harry Monk/Pope, plus lots of other typos. The same is relevant with the first book in this series.
January 31, 2019
Pretentious bloody drivel
Well that was 99p wasted. Mounted gondoliers? Quarterised wounds? Invade Argentina? With what? How? Bugger all troops or vessels left to do it with. Totally implausible plot written in a pretentious style
Well that was 99p wasted. Mounted gondoliers? Quarterised wounds? Invade Argentina? With what? How? Bugger all troops or vessels left to do it with. Totally implausible plot written in a pretentious style
February 2, 2019
A fairly good thriller set in the Falklands, but not as good as the first book in the series I felt. It would have been improved with some editing and please, do we really have to know what Ben Sign and Tom Knutsen are eating for every meal?
June 10, 2019
Very like a Sherlock Holmes story
A few errors here and there (probably typos), but the story is satisfying with a surprising conclusion. It was nice to see the main character in action, instead of just the brains of the outfit.
A few errors here and there (probably typos), but the story is satisfying with a surprising conclusion. It was nice to see the main character in action, instead of just the brains of the outfit.
November 26, 2021
What a book!!
Most satisfying. A humdinger. Good rapid reading from the beginning. Typical Englishmen picutrised well. A modern day Agatha Christie if you may.Doesn't slag and holds you spellbound. A must read.
Most satisfying. A humdinger. Good rapid reading from the beginning. Typical Englishmen picutrised well. A modern day Agatha Christie if you may.Doesn't slag and holds you spellbound. A must read.
February 3, 2019
Too clinical
The plot was too clinical and too obvious.
Very poor. Not going to purchase the next in the series.
Fireman Sam series has more excitement.
Two Stars.
The plot was too clinical and too obvious.
Very poor. Not going to purchase the next in the series.
Fireman Sam series has more excitement.
Two Stars.
March 16, 2019
Another meaning to a cold war
Fast moving and you certainly get a sense of the desolate cold.
Ben sign is the modern variant of Sherlock
Fast moving and you certainly get a sense of the desolate cold.
Ben sign is the modern variant of Sherlock
March 23, 2019
Enjoyable
This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The remote location, international intrigue and ultimate answers all added up to make it a book I am glad I came across.
This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. The remote location, international intrigue and ultimate answers all added up to make it a book I am glad I came across.
April 6, 2019
The Fifth Man
Good easy enjoyable read with plenty going on. The two make a good pair, and with their mixed past can solve anything.......
Good easy enjoyable read with plenty going on. The two make a good pair, and with their mixed past can solve anything.......
December 16, 2021
Started off intriguing and filled with many suspenseful moments, but the ending was very anti-climactic.
April 16, 2019
Agree with several other commentators. Proof reading and continuity awful, apart from the Harry Monk/ Pope episode, we had Knutsen having a shower in a cottage which only had a bath, and Sign taking his dinner from Knutsen, having walked from the kitchen after cooking the meal. Acorn Antiques in book form.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews