Czech Mate

by Tom Benson

Bryce Crawford is handed a small package left to him by his recently deceased father. At first, the contents seem insignificant, but they open up a world of mystery and intrigue for the artist. A trip to Prague becomes a matter of life and death as Bryce becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit. His parents died only months apart, but doubt overshadows the circumstances in both cases. Will Bryce determine who he can trust and will he find out the truth about his parents’ deaths? Will he solve the mystery set by his father from beyond the grave?

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2020

Reviews

[Rebecca Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryce is more than an artist and art dealer, and when he receives a letter from his dead father, he goes undercover to discover who murdered both his parents. The hunt for the Chariots, mythical paintings he believes led to his parents’ deaths, leads him deep into Prague’s espionage underworld. Who can he trust? Who is out to kill him? Are his friends really his friends?
Tom Benson has created a well thought out and believable scenario with the hand of a master of covert operations and a great eye to detail. Well-rounded characters, a complex and intricate plot, and an entertaining and suspenseful read. It drew me in from the beginning and kept me guessing to the end. Recommended.

[Lesley Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read a number of Tom Benson’s thrillers now, I am quite convinced that he either is or has been a covert operative for MI5 or MI6. Of course if I were to ask the author outright and blow his cover he would have to kill me, so I’ll just put it out there as a merely fanciful suggestion from one of the many fans of his books. Czech Mate is, I believe, his finest so far. Right from its enigmatic start there is a puzzle to be solved – a cryptic legacy left by Bryce’s recently deceased father. We follow the trail along with Bryce – to all intents and purposes an art expert and gallery owner based in Scotland – across Europe, in search of the answers he needs about a mysterious series of paintings, but more importantly, the truth about his parents’ demise. Along the way we are introduced to a number of fascinating characters, all in their own way holding secrets about their past and their identity. Only in the final chapter are all the mysteries unravelled. By then this particular reader was thoroughly engaged with the story and the various protagonists, guessing some secrets but bamboozled to the very last by others. It was a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying journey, as I have come to expect from one of Tom Benson’s thrillers, leaving me feeling as though I have been on a whirlwind guided tour of the picturesque city of Prague, and learning yet more about the workings of espionage and art forgery. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s a heady five star ride.

[S.K. Holmesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retribution:
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In "Czech Mate" by Tom Benson, artist and art dealer Bryce has one overriding goal: to identify and punish the person who killed his father. There are a myriad of twists and turns in the story and neither Bryce (nor this reader) is ever sure who is friend and who is foe, as Bryce searches for elusive answers and lost art work that seems to be the key to finding those answers. One of this reader's favorite parts of the book is the detail Bryce offers as he tours Prague during his search. As Bryce muses on his winding path through Prague, noting streets and both ancient and modern buildings, I felt as though I were walking (or running / ducking / hiding) with him and part the action, rather than just an onlooker. The story had me reading late into the night (actually, early morning) as I kept thinking "just one more chapter", but was unable to stop until I reached the end. I'm retired, but for those in the work world, I wouldn't start the book on a work night.

[Sarah Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel with Bryce, artist and art gallery owner/dealer, from Scotland to the spectacular beauties of Prague in search of lost paintings – the fabled set named The Chariots. But is Bryce the only one who desires them? Is it his only reason for his visit? Are the people he meets friend or foe?

Czech Mate has more twists and turns than a corkscrew, but will justice prevail in a country whose people fight for freedom and democracy against the old regime of communism?

This is a captivating story from start to finish, but be warned, it is not for the faint-hearted. There is torture and brutal murder before “checkmate”, and who declares victory? The white bishop or the black queen?

Sarah Stuart – Readers Favorite Reviewer

[Cathy Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story. The variety and complexity of the well-written characters held my attention throughout, and the storyline had so many twists and turns that I just had to keep reading. At the beginning, I thought what a nice character Bryce was, but then I realised he was much more complex, and surprisingly brutal when he had to be. I liked unexpectedness of that. The scenes in Prague were so descriptive that if I ever visit there, I am sure it will seem familiar. It was an unpredictable, amazing adventure and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Benson has written a real winner here. A Scot gets something from the family lawyer that puts him on a plane to the lovely city of Prague after his father's death. Both his parents die in mysterious circumstances which have him seeking answers and possibly, revenge.
I'm trying to be careful to not give out spoilers. This one has enough twists and turns to keep you up far later than you should be. But that's what a good book is all about. I'm giving it 5 stars for a tale well told.