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Clarke and Fairchild #4
The Secret Meaning of Blossom
When her brother disappears in Japan, she realises she's not the only one with secrets.
Ambitious British spy Rose Clarke wants to focus on the job she does best and save lives. But a bizarre postcard from her brother in Japan makes her fear for his safety. When she tries to find him she discovers that the anonymous group pursuing him is much more dangerous than she could have imagined.
Plunged into a world of manga cosplayers and the yakuza, she is forced to accept help from cynical information mercenary and entrepreneur John Fairchild, who is intent on uncovering the secrets of his own past. Their stories are already becoming more closely linked, and their presence in Japan precipitates a far greater danger. The FBI gets involved and Fairchild's loyalties are called into question. In her desperation to protect her family, has Rose placed her trust in the wrong person?
Featuring hackers, encryption and crypto currency, The Secret Meaning of Blossom is vividly set in quirky modern day Tokyo where naive innocents are caught up with some of the most dangerous and ruthless criminals in the world. A spy novel with a difference for fans of Daniel Silva, John Le Carre, Mick Herron and the Bourne films!
Book Four in the Clarke and Fairchild series of international spy thrillers.
Ambitious British spy Rose Clarke wants to focus on the job she does best and save lives. But a bizarre postcard from her brother in Japan makes her fear for his safety. When she tries to find him she discovers that the anonymous group pursuing him is much more dangerous than she could have imagined.
Plunged into a world of manga cosplayers and the yakuza, she is forced to accept help from cynical information mercenary and entrepreneur John Fairchild, who is intent on uncovering the secrets of his own past. Their stories are already becoming more closely linked, and their presence in Japan precipitates a far greater danger. The FBI gets involved and Fairchild's loyalties are called into question. In her desperation to protect her family, has Rose placed her trust in the wrong person?
Featuring hackers, encryption and crypto currency, The Secret Meaning of Blossom is vividly set in quirky modern day Tokyo where naive innocents are caught up with some of the most dangerous and ruthless criminals in the world. A spy novel with a difference for fans of Daniel Silva, John Le Carre, Mick Herron and the Bourne films!
Book Four in the Clarke and Fairchild series of international spy thrillers.
- GenresThriller
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2021
129 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Parris
8 books14 followersMy name’s Tracey Parris and I live in Belper, a lively market town near the Peak District National Park in the middle of the UK. I’ve been a market researcher and data geek, an English language teacher, a player of the flute, trumpet and Irish whistle (not at the same time), a marathon runner, a baker of fine cakes and a local councillor. I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled a lot, particularly in Asia and Europe, but I’m not done yet!
I’ve been writing since 2011. The Clarke and Fairchild series, my first self-publishing venture, is a result of my fascination with international travel and the moral ambiguities of the world of politics. I've been lucky enough to travel to many of the places featured in my stories. I had the idea for the character of John Fairchild in a moment of homesickness wandering the streets of Beijing, when I really, really wished someone was around who spoke the language!
I’ve been writing since 2011. The Clarke and Fairchild series, my first self-publishing venture, is a result of my fascination with international travel and the moral ambiguities of the world of politics. I've been lucky enough to travel to many of the places featured in my stories. I had the idea for the character of John Fairchild in a moment of homesickness wandering the streets of Beijing, when I really, really wished someone was around who spoke the language!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2022
Blossom
A writer who feels that occasional use of that which is sacred to many as profanity is acceptable to give the story spice. Not cool.
A writer who feels that occasional use of that which is sacred to many as profanity is acceptable to give the story spice. Not cool.
November 16, 2022
Our heroine is a British agent, but operating in Japan is a bit outside her jurisdiction. But that is what she has to do if she wants to find her brother, even if he does not want to be found.
This is book four of the series. I found that it worked fine as a standalone. I suspect I was missing a bit of backstory, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
This is an action and intrigue story set in modern day Japan. The story is well written and easy to read with all the usual trappings of a spy story that you might expect. At the same time, it also throws in some unusual elements which helps keep things fresh. Personally, I really enjoyed setting the story in Japan as the inclusion of those elements were a lot of fun. The characters are well done and have a nice depth to them that helps support the story. The plot itself starts off a bit slow, but gradually builds until it takes off and won't let go. Overall, I found this to be a highly enjoyable story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
This is book four of the series. I found that it worked fine as a standalone. I suspect I was missing a bit of backstory, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
This is an action and intrigue story set in modern day Japan. The story is well written and easy to read with all the usual trappings of a spy story that you might expect. At the same time, it also throws in some unusual elements which helps keep things fresh. Personally, I really enjoyed setting the story in Japan as the inclusion of those elements were a lot of fun. The characters are well done and have a nice depth to them that helps support the story. The plot itself starts off a bit slow, but gradually builds until it takes off and won't let go. Overall, I found this to be a highly enjoyable story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
March 24, 2023
I am one of those people who reads the "stuff" that comes before the story! I was delighted to discover the statement that this book was written in "British English" as certain "Americanisms" are, to me, unacceptable! (Okay, I'm a purist!). It was disappointing, therefore, to discover the use of the word "fit" when "fitted" would have been "British English"! There were other linguistic errors - all the worse as the author is, apparently, an English language teacher! Did she have the book proof-read? If not, why not? I, too, am an author (non-fiction) and would never dream of publishing a book without at least two consecutive proof-readings - after I have done so myself!
The use, towards the end, of that which is still, to many people, blasphemy, is also unnecessary. It is strange that no-one ever uses the name of Muhammad, or the Buddha, etc., in such a way!
The story itself was interesting.
The use, towards the end, of that which is still, to many people, blasphemy, is also unnecessary. It is strange that no-one ever uses the name of Muhammad, or the Buddha, etc., in such a way!
The story itself was interesting.
August 24, 2021
This story really got my attention from the beginning, it´s fast-paced, with each character with its own motive to help or deceit or lie or simply ignore. Fairchild continues in his search for the secrets regarding his parents and Rose sees herself lacking something which she cannot address and deep in an insane search for her brother. Great plot and characters and beautiful descriptions of Japan this book makes great entertainment!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 10, 2022
I didn’t realize this was book 4 in a series, however I think it was ok as a stand-alone read. There is clearly ongoing stories regarding the main characters but I didn’t feel it was vital to know it for this plot.
The reason I only gave one star and gave up reading around 50% was I’m fed up of the protagonist supposedly being a smart person, great at their job but end up making crazy decisions and end up jeopardizing everyone.
In this case Rose runs in to save her brother with no gun or backup and ends up being caught and tied up as well. I was already getting a bit bored by this point, so I decided I’m not wasting any more time on it.
The reason I only gave one star and gave up reading around 50% was I’m fed up of the protagonist supposedly being a smart person, great at their job but end up making crazy decisions and end up jeopardizing everyone.
In this case Rose runs in to save her brother with no gun or backup and ends up being caught and tied up as well. I was already getting a bit bored by this point, so I decided I’m not wasting any more time on it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2021
Rose is in Tokyo for much of the story. She received a postcard from her brother who went to a conference there. In the land of technology and cosplay, Rose fears for her brother’s life. This is a twisted mystery. Her love-hate relationship with Fairchild makes her unsure if she can trust him since he is following his own search for family history. But who else is so capable to help find her brother? An excellent novel that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.
September 4, 2021
This is a fast-paced, enjoyable read set mostly in Japan, and a short snippet in my favourite country, Taiwan. It's my second encounter with the Clarke & Fairchild series and I feel like the author has really developed her craft since book 1, and it's also nice to see how the characters and their relationships have developed. It's obvious she does her research on the subject matters discussed, and it's refreshing to read novels set in Asia.
February 22, 2022
Thoroughly engrossing read with suspense and espionage and plenty of action, very hard to stop reading once I got into it. Good range of characters and settings all described in detail so you can imagine this being a real spy and hacker type situation with a big organisation coordinating the attacks on the essential systems of the western world.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews