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Cain #1
The Florentine
When Cain retired from the CIA, he moved to Florence, Italy to get away from his past.
He’s had nine years to enjoy fine wine, good food, and the Tuscan countryside.
But now his old boss has tracked him down, and he needs Cain to do one last job.
What starts as a simple trade entangles Cain in a web of secrets involving the mafia, an NSA whistleblower, and his own past.
With the Italian police and international assassins on his trail, he'll have to survive the night to solve the mystery of who wants him dead.
He’s had nine years to enjoy fine wine, good food, and the Tuscan countryside.
But now his old boss has tracked him down, and he needs Cain to do one last job.
What starts as a simple trade entangles Cain in a web of secrets involving the mafia, an NSA whistleblower, and his own past.
With the Italian police and international assassins on his trail, he'll have to survive the night to solve the mystery of who wants him dead.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2022
392 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Tom Trott
10 books28 followersBorn in Brighton, I went to school here, worked many jobs here, and have never lived anywhere else. I first started writing at school, where a group of friends and I devised and performed comedy plays for assemblies, much to the amusement of our fellow pupils. The young ones would cheer (and the old ones would groan) as we stepped up onto the stage, the buzz was tangible. It has been with me ever since.
As an adult I have written a short comedy play that was performed at the Theatre Royal Brighton in May 2014 as part of the Brighton Festival; Daye's Work, a television pilot for the local Brighton channel; and won the Empire Award (thriller category) in the 2015 New York Screenplay Contest. I published my first novel, You Can't Make Old Friends, in 2016; my second, Choose Your Parents Wisely, in 2017, my third, The Benevolent Dictator, in 2018, my fourth, It Never Goes Away, in 2019, and now my fifth, The Forbidden Zone. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing about writing, books, and film on Medium.
My inspirations as a writer come from a diverse range of storytellers, but I have a particular love for the works of Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Joel & Ethan Coen, Arthur Conan-Doyle, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Bryan Fuller, Ira Levin, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Towne, JRR Tolkien, and many, many more books and films beside. If you can't find me, or I'm not answering my phone, I'm probably at the cinema.
I love to hear from readers, so if there’s something you want to say, please send me an email using the contact button. If you want to make sure to get the latest updates on upcoming books, then sign up to my newsletter. And if you’re interested in free and discounted eBooks, follow me on Bookbub.
As an adult I have written a short comedy play that was performed at the Theatre Royal Brighton in May 2014 as part of the Brighton Festival; Daye's Work, a television pilot for the local Brighton channel; and won the Empire Award (thriller category) in the 2015 New York Screenplay Contest. I published my first novel, You Can't Make Old Friends, in 2016; my second, Choose Your Parents Wisely, in 2017, my third, The Benevolent Dictator, in 2018, my fourth, It Never Goes Away, in 2019, and now my fifth, The Forbidden Zone. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing about writing, books, and film on Medium.
My inspirations as a writer come from a diverse range of storytellers, but I have a particular love for the works of Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Joel & Ethan Coen, Arthur Conan-Doyle, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Bryan Fuller, Ira Levin, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Towne, JRR Tolkien, and many, many more books and films beside. If you can't find me, or I'm not answering my phone, I'm probably at the cinema.
I love to hear from readers, so if there’s something you want to say, please send me an email using the contact button. If you want to make sure to get the latest updates on upcoming books, then sign up to my newsletter. And if you’re interested in free and discounted eBooks, follow me on Bookbub.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 26, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
It filled them with a perverse kind of terror to know that a man as bloodthirsty, as ruthless, was living in the same house as them and sometimes needed help to get up off the toilet.
Dolly was poring over the breakfast options, salivating. They were hungry like stray dogs.
On balance, she trusted Cain. It wasn’t so much the things he did or the things he said, it was the way he did them and the way he said them. He felt like your best friend’s dad, the one that didn’t leer at you.
They could solve the world’s problems with the resources they commanded, but they had to be given a shindig like tonight just to part with their small change. Maltby had long come to the revelation that the richest are the meanest. They are the only ones whose compassion you have to buy… But they can understand a free buffet, and they’ll give a twenty-thousand-euro donation if you throw in live entertainment.
Standing just a few meters away was a blond guard with a haircut you could use to sharpen a pencil.
My Review:
This was a riveting, well nuanced, and action-packed tale full of violence, an alphabet soup of spy networks, amusing observations, oddly compelling characters, and an uncomfortably realistic storyline of governmental double-dealing and corruption. The original storylines were multi-leveled and well textured with humor, snark, tension, impending peril around every corner, and the cold-blooded killers who brought it. Tom Trott’s writing has never failed to entertain and always contains several stupendous twists I could never have conjured in my wildest imaginings.
It filled them with a perverse kind of terror to know that a man as bloodthirsty, as ruthless, was living in the same house as them and sometimes needed help to get up off the toilet.
Dolly was poring over the breakfast options, salivating. They were hungry like stray dogs.
On balance, she trusted Cain. It wasn’t so much the things he did or the things he said, it was the way he did them and the way he said them. He felt like your best friend’s dad, the one that didn’t leer at you.
They could solve the world’s problems with the resources they commanded, but they had to be given a shindig like tonight just to part with their small change. Maltby had long come to the revelation that the richest are the meanest. They are the only ones whose compassion you have to buy… But they can understand a free buffet, and they’ll give a twenty-thousand-euro donation if you throw in live entertainment.
Standing just a few meters away was a blond guard with a haircut you could use to sharpen a pencil.
My Review:
This was a riveting, well nuanced, and action-packed tale full of violence, an alphabet soup of spy networks, amusing observations, oddly compelling characters, and an uncomfortably realistic storyline of governmental double-dealing and corruption. The original storylines were multi-leveled and well textured with humor, snark, tension, impending peril around every corner, and the cold-blooded killers who brought it. Tom Trott’s writing has never failed to entertain and always contains several stupendous twists I could never have conjured in my wildest imaginings.
June 5, 2022
Entertaining low key spy thriller with a 60 year old Cain, a former Canadian Spec Ops ex-pat enjoying retirement life in Florence. He gets a request from his old Canadian Intel friend and boss to drop off a briefcase at a vineyard/estate and return with an unspecified package. Sounds like an easy payday but things go sideways quickly with Cain and the package on the run from a German hit squad. Fortunately Cain and his "package" are long on personality, courage and wit. They realize they have no choice but confronting his old boss by crashing his lavish Lake Como estate's charity extravaganza for an eventful confrontation. ..I liked this book mostly because the well developed characters were interesting, lively and original with a fast moving pace in exotic Italian locals.
May 25, 2022
Author Tom Trott’s new spy/crime/action/police thriller, The Florentine, never met a trope it didn’t like. I don’t think any of the characters actually get amnesia, but that’s one of the very few thriller tropes he missed. There are senior citizen spies just trying to retire from The Game, idealistic young whistleblowers, foreign mob hit squads, heroes who get shot but don’t die, quirky foreign police and detectives, disguises, chases, double and triple-crosses, OTT rich people (who are obviously morally bankrupt because… rich people), cliffhangers, exotic and frequently changing settings, unreliable narrators, and enough corpses to start their own zombie apocalypse. (Except somehow, the author missed that one too…) These familiar elements became tropes in the first place because they’re instantly recognizable shorthand for what we already know and understand. When they’re done well, it just works.
As with all good action thrillers, The Florentine starts with a scene that’s…well, thrilling. We watch as a man who is supposed to be the Agency’s scariest bogeyman gets his guts handed to him for garters by a young woman seeking to expose government corruption. (We know he’s bad and she’s good because she takes the time to save her pet fish before bringing down the CIA.) He’s hanging her off a bridge, shots ring out from somewhere, and both of them are hit. Holy Cliffhangers!
Next thing we know, we’re in Florence with Cain, a charmingly cynical ex-spy who just wants to sit in the sun with a good glass of wine. But retirement security takes on a whole new meaning when your former profession involved meeting fascinating people in exotic locales and killing them. Also, whatever the CIA pension might be, it’s not going to float the 007-lifestyle Cain has become accustomed to. So when his former boss asks for help with one last (well-paid) job, Cain decides that while he might not be in the world-saving business anymore, he’s definitely up for the odd bit of additional retirement funding. He outsmarts the first batches of baddies before teaming up with Dolly Lightfoot, a young National Security Agency support staffer who might have proof of bureaucrats behaving badly. (And yes, despite my spending the rest of the book waiting for her to admit that couldn’t possibly be her real name, it actually is.)
As an action thriller, The Florentine definitely gets the job done. The pace is frenetic, the settings dazzlingly fast-changing and exotic, the stakes high, and the secondary characters walking tropes. (“Nazi Postmistress” anyone?) The plot, of course, is a direct descendant of the conspiracy thriller trope-codifier, All The President’s Men, which is basically a good thing because we get to suspend disbelief as the protagonists lie, cheat, double and triple-cross, steal, and even kill but that’s okay because it’s in order to stop the bad guys—who are (obviously) Government, Big Business, The Man, and some really mean women.
I would have preferred more (or any) character development, and perhaps a deeper sense of location than superficial glimpses of Italy in general and titular Florence in particular. But overall, if you like your thrillers fast-paced, your bad guys really mean, and your plots complex, you’ll have a great time with The Florentine.
As with all good action thrillers, The Florentine starts with a scene that’s…well, thrilling. We watch as a man who is supposed to be the Agency’s scariest bogeyman gets his guts handed to him for garters by a young woman seeking to expose government corruption. (We know he’s bad and she’s good because she takes the time to save her pet fish before bringing down the CIA.) He’s hanging her off a bridge, shots ring out from somewhere, and both of them are hit. Holy Cliffhangers!
Next thing we know, we’re in Florence with Cain, a charmingly cynical ex-spy who just wants to sit in the sun with a good glass of wine. But retirement security takes on a whole new meaning when your former profession involved meeting fascinating people in exotic locales and killing them. Also, whatever the CIA pension might be, it’s not going to float the 007-lifestyle Cain has become accustomed to. So when his former boss asks for help with one last (well-paid) job, Cain decides that while he might not be in the world-saving business anymore, he’s definitely up for the odd bit of additional retirement funding. He outsmarts the first batches of baddies before teaming up with Dolly Lightfoot, a young National Security Agency support staffer who might have proof of bureaucrats behaving badly. (And yes, despite my spending the rest of the book waiting for her to admit that couldn’t possibly be her real name, it actually is.)
As an action thriller, The Florentine definitely gets the job done. The pace is frenetic, the settings dazzlingly fast-changing and exotic, the stakes high, and the secondary characters walking tropes. (“Nazi Postmistress” anyone?) The plot, of course, is a direct descendant of the conspiracy thriller trope-codifier, All The President’s Men, which is basically a good thing because we get to suspend disbelief as the protagonists lie, cheat, double and triple-cross, steal, and even kill but that’s okay because it’s in order to stop the bad guys—who are (obviously) Government, Big Business, The Man, and some really mean women.
I would have preferred more (or any) character development, and perhaps a deeper sense of location than superficial glimpses of Italy in general and titular Florence in particular. But overall, if you like your thrillers fast-paced, your bad guys really mean, and your plots complex, you’ll have a great time with The Florentine.
April 27, 2022
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I’m not usually much of an action thriller kind of reader, but having enjoyed this author’s detective mystery series and horror novel in the past, I couldn’t resist giving his new spy novel a go… and I am so glad I did!
I was drawn in from the start, as we see whistleblower Dolly threatened in a tense prologue, then thoroughly hooked on following ex-spy Cain as he is dragged from retirement to deal with the fallout of her actions and finds that his involvement may have deeper roots than he suspected.
This would be a perfect book to bring to the big screen, as it has all of the action you would expect from a big Hollywood blockbuster, with a clever plot to hang it all together and characters you can’t help rooting for (even when their actions are dubiously violent). And the dynamic between the main characters is superbly set, explored and developed – I really believed in all of them.
While I enjoyed my dabble into spies, mafia, bombs and guns, I will confess that my favourite character award went to Baroffio, the Italian Columbo! He is merely a side player here, but managed to steal the show for me, and I would LOVE to read a mystery series with him as the main character.
Action fans, spy thriller fans, classic mystery fans, will all enjoy this one, and it firmly cements my belief that this author can write in any genre he turns his hand to.
‘Like a sudden shower on a clear day, his past had returned, and although the rain had stopped for now there were dark clouds dotting the horizon. And he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.’
– Tom Trott, The Florentine
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
I’m not usually much of an action thriller kind of reader, but having enjoyed this author’s detective mystery series and horror novel in the past, I couldn’t resist giving his new spy novel a go… and I am so glad I did!
I was drawn in from the start, as we see whistleblower Dolly threatened in a tense prologue, then thoroughly hooked on following ex-spy Cain as he is dragged from retirement to deal with the fallout of her actions and finds that his involvement may have deeper roots than he suspected.
This would be a perfect book to bring to the big screen, as it has all of the action you would expect from a big Hollywood blockbuster, with a clever plot to hang it all together and characters you can’t help rooting for (even when their actions are dubiously violent). And the dynamic between the main characters is superbly set, explored and developed – I really believed in all of them.
While I enjoyed my dabble into spies, mafia, bombs and guns, I will confess that my favourite character award went to Baroffio, the Italian Columbo! He is merely a side player here, but managed to steal the show for me, and I would LOVE to read a mystery series with him as the main character.
Action fans, spy thriller fans, classic mystery fans, will all enjoy this one, and it firmly cements my belief that this author can write in any genre he turns his hand to.
‘Like a sudden shower on a clear day, his past had returned, and although the rain had stopped for now there were dark clouds dotting the horizon. And he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.’
– Tom Trott, The Florentine
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 12, 2022
I loved The Brighton’s No 1 Detective Agency series by Tom Trott so I was eager to read The Florentine and try out his different writing styles. I was not disappointed. I love action films with spies and lots of chasing but usually it’s not a book genre that I explore often however I found The Florentine an easy read and really enjoyed stepping out into something new. It was uncomplicated and it was fluid to read.
From the very beginning of The Florentine my brain went into movie mode. It was so easy to watch the whole novel as a film in my brain and I think this work great on the screen too. The action starts from the very first pages and kept me in its grip until the very last pages. I loved it!
Cain is retired from the CIA and enjoying a quiet and peaceful life in Florence, but is anyone every truly retired from the job? When an old ‘friend’ appears back into his life with just one small job as a favour, Cain finds it hard to say no. But, when the one small job turns into so much more, Cain is caught in a tangled web of secrets and lies and suddenly somebody doesn’t want him alive. Can Cain stay alive long enough to find out who is chasing him?
The opening chapter drew me in and I was so frustrated and needed to know how it fit in with the plot. I couldn’t tell if it was past of future events, and I needed to know!
From that point the reader is taken on a ride across the wonderful city of Florence and nearby places. I love Italy and Florence is on my wish list so I adored soaking up the setting whilst reading.
The pace of the novel is fast. It is constantly moving forward and kept me glued to the story. I was often on the edge of my seat, holding my breath to race through a high action section or where there was tension building. I was never sure who to trust or what might happen next which made for a highly entertaining and intense read.
Cain was a fascinating character and it was fun to see more of his personality revealed as the plot moved forward. In the beginning he is quite and intriguing and mysterious character and not much was revealed about it. We mainly saw him through the eyes of those in his local community. The more time spent with him running around, trying to survive – the more the reader learns and becomes attached to him. He was very cleverly developed. There are also other characters who you will love or hate and they all contrast each other really well.
I absolutely loves this hi-tech, espionage, spy, action thriller and really couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend you pre-order yourself a copy of this and block out a weekend in May to immerse yourself in it.
From the very beginning of The Florentine my brain went into movie mode. It was so easy to watch the whole novel as a film in my brain and I think this work great on the screen too. The action starts from the very first pages and kept me in its grip until the very last pages. I loved it!
Cain is retired from the CIA and enjoying a quiet and peaceful life in Florence, but is anyone every truly retired from the job? When an old ‘friend’ appears back into his life with just one small job as a favour, Cain finds it hard to say no. But, when the one small job turns into so much more, Cain is caught in a tangled web of secrets and lies and suddenly somebody doesn’t want him alive. Can Cain stay alive long enough to find out who is chasing him?
The opening chapter drew me in and I was so frustrated and needed to know how it fit in with the plot. I couldn’t tell if it was past of future events, and I needed to know!
From that point the reader is taken on a ride across the wonderful city of Florence and nearby places. I love Italy and Florence is on my wish list so I adored soaking up the setting whilst reading.
The pace of the novel is fast. It is constantly moving forward and kept me glued to the story. I was often on the edge of my seat, holding my breath to race through a high action section or where there was tension building. I was never sure who to trust or what might happen next which made for a highly entertaining and intense read.
Cain was a fascinating character and it was fun to see more of his personality revealed as the plot moved forward. In the beginning he is quite and intriguing and mysterious character and not much was revealed about it. We mainly saw him through the eyes of those in his local community. The more time spent with him running around, trying to survive – the more the reader learns and becomes attached to him. He was very cleverly developed. There are also other characters who you will love or hate and they all contrast each other really well.
I absolutely loves this hi-tech, espionage, spy, action thriller and really couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend you pre-order yourself a copy of this and block out a weekend in May to immerse yourself in it.
March 29, 2022
Opening with an action packed prologue, The Florentine focuses on Cain, an American living in Florence and enjoying his retirement. That is until he gets a phone call from his old friend and boss from his days in the CIA, Jo, offering him ‘one last job’ as a courier. All he had to do was drive to a house in the country, enjoy a nice dinner with the family who lived there and make the exchange. Simple. Not leaving him much choice, Cain reluctantly agrees.
'Like a sudden shower on a clear day, his past had returned, and although the rain had stopped for now, there were dark clouds dotting the horizon. And he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.'
As it happens Cain’s instincts were spot on. From then on he is drawn inexorably into a complex and confusing situation of deceit, secrets and lies, trying to keep one step ahead of those who obviously want him dead. Cain has lots of questions but no answers as to what’s going on, but he’s aided in no small way by Dolly Lightfoot, ex NSA analyst turned whistleblower.
Initially Cain is an enigmatic figure, it was difficult to decide which side of the fence he was on. However, as the story progresses, more of his character slowly emerges, giving an excellent take on his personality, and turning him into a protagonist that the reader can root for. I was also drawn to Inspector Baroffio of the Polizia di Stato, who put me a little in mind of Peter Falk’s Columbo — an underestimated, unassuming but very shrewd character who is also an excellent detective.
Recommended for those who enjoy easy to read, well written, fast paced, espionage/spy thrillers, full of action and intrigue, laced with tension and suspense, with a very satisfactory ending. A contemporary thriller with undertones of the classic about it. The story is told seamlessly from the perspectives of different characters and the settings are imagined extremely well.
'Like a sudden shower on a clear day, his past had returned, and although the rain had stopped for now, there were dark clouds dotting the horizon. And he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.'
As it happens Cain’s instincts were spot on. From then on he is drawn inexorably into a complex and confusing situation of deceit, secrets and lies, trying to keep one step ahead of those who obviously want him dead. Cain has lots of questions but no answers as to what’s going on, but he’s aided in no small way by Dolly Lightfoot, ex NSA analyst turned whistleblower.
Initially Cain is an enigmatic figure, it was difficult to decide which side of the fence he was on. However, as the story progresses, more of his character slowly emerges, giving an excellent take on his personality, and turning him into a protagonist that the reader can root for. I was also drawn to Inspector Baroffio of the Polizia di Stato, who put me a little in mind of Peter Falk’s Columbo — an underestimated, unassuming but very shrewd character who is also an excellent detective.
Recommended for those who enjoy easy to read, well written, fast paced, espionage/spy thrillers, full of action and intrigue, laced with tension and suspense, with a very satisfactory ending. A contemporary thriller with undertones of the classic about it. The story is told seamlessly from the perspectives of different characters and the settings are imagined extremely well.
February 4, 2025
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
-Michael Corleone
Setting:
This story takes place in modern day Italy
Characters:
Cain: Cain is a retired former spy. He’s just trying to live out the remainder of his life in peace and comfort.
Dolly: Dolly is someone who could charitably be called an idealist and uncharitably be called an anarchist. She works with U.S. national secrets and has come across evidence of a very damning one which she wants to share with the public.
Plot:
Dolly has sent out a piece of mail with some very important information that the U.S. government doesn’t want anyone to know. The government is interested in apprehending her and reclaiming the stolen information as quickly and quietly as possible. While this is going on Cain is contacted by an old friend from work who asks him to do one more job and promises it’ll be very easy.
No points for guessing that the job is not as easy as promised or that it’s related to Dolly because of course both of those things are going to be true.
My Thoughts:
Ultimately we wind up with something that feels like a Liam Neeson movie; an aging but still capable former tough guy has to get his hands dirty again. Trott does a perfectly respectable job of telling that tried and true story but there is little to differentiate this particular iteration from any of the other variations you’ve no doubt already encountered.
The character work is limited, Cain doesn’t have much of a personality being trying to do the right thing or as close to right as possible, but not objectionable. The action scenes are not overly prevalent but written well when they do show up.
If you want the story of the aging former pro being forced into “one last job” then this will absolutely scratch that itch. If you want something you haven’t seen before, that’s not here
-Michael Corleone
Setting:
This story takes place in modern day Italy
Characters:
Cain: Cain is a retired former spy. He’s just trying to live out the remainder of his life in peace and comfort.
Dolly: Dolly is someone who could charitably be called an idealist and uncharitably be called an anarchist. She works with U.S. national secrets and has come across evidence of a very damning one which she wants to share with the public.
Plot:
Dolly has sent out a piece of mail with some very important information that the U.S. government doesn’t want anyone to know. The government is interested in apprehending her and reclaiming the stolen information as quickly and quietly as possible. While this is going on Cain is contacted by an old friend from work who asks him to do one more job and promises it’ll be very easy.
No points for guessing that the job is not as easy as promised or that it’s related to Dolly because of course both of those things are going to be true.
My Thoughts:
Ultimately we wind up with something that feels like a Liam Neeson movie; an aging but still capable former tough guy has to get his hands dirty again. Trott does a perfectly respectable job of telling that tried and true story but there is little to differentiate this particular iteration from any of the other variations you’ve no doubt already encountered.
The character work is limited, Cain doesn’t have much of a personality being trying to do the right thing or as close to right as possible, but not objectionable. The action scenes are not overly prevalent but written well when they do show up.
If you want the story of the aging former pro being forced into “one last job” then this will absolutely scratch that itch. If you want something you haven’t seen before, that’s not here
March 7, 2022
I don’t know Tom Trott or his books, so wasn’t sure what to expect when I offered to read The Florentine having spotted it on Linda’s Book Bag.
Set in Tuscany, this digital espionage thriller, with old-school overtones, a whiff of Le Carré, and a touch of Agatha Christie, is a masterpiece of an adventure.
The pace of the action, the intrigue, and the smooth, precise description, meant that I enjoyed reading every single page. This book is not a difficult read. Above all, I revelled in the suspense, the excitement of building tension, and his confident communication of complex motives through many juxtaposed iconic scenes. The story is passed between protagonists with ease.
Without giving away plot details, I will just say that there are plenty of murders, which are portrayed without over-indulgence and devoid of too much gore. This suited me as a reader.
Forensic and elegiac description, a clinical detachment and yet an emotional investment in the leading two characters, provides psychological insight throughout. Quirky details impress, such as the crucial roll of film, smuggled out in a full cup of coffee.
Climactic scenes still echo in my mind, due to the subtle yet stark painting of locations: the wine-producing farm, the old outbuilding in the middle of nowhere where significant details were shared by two people hanging from their wrists, the cocktail bars where the young post for Instagram and the not so young are hoping for a cup of tea.
There are heroes, a beguiling arch villain, and plenty of interesting, yet dispensable foils. There is contemporary interest, with whistleblowing and WikiLeaks. The Florentine is clever, and beautifully written. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did. The ending certainly left me with a big smile on my face.
Set in Tuscany, this digital espionage thriller, with old-school overtones, a whiff of Le Carré, and a touch of Agatha Christie, is a masterpiece of an adventure.
The pace of the action, the intrigue, and the smooth, precise description, meant that I enjoyed reading every single page. This book is not a difficult read. Above all, I revelled in the suspense, the excitement of building tension, and his confident communication of complex motives through many juxtaposed iconic scenes. The story is passed between protagonists with ease.
Without giving away plot details, I will just say that there are plenty of murders, which are portrayed without over-indulgence and devoid of too much gore. This suited me as a reader.
Forensic and elegiac description, a clinical detachment and yet an emotional investment in the leading two characters, provides psychological insight throughout. Quirky details impress, such as the crucial roll of film, smuggled out in a full cup of coffee.
Climactic scenes still echo in my mind, due to the subtle yet stark painting of locations: the wine-producing farm, the old outbuilding in the middle of nowhere where significant details were shared by two people hanging from their wrists, the cocktail bars where the young post for Instagram and the not so young are hoping for a cup of tea.
There are heroes, a beguiling arch villain, and plenty of interesting, yet dispensable foils. There is contemporary interest, with whistleblowing and WikiLeaks. The Florentine is clever, and beautifully written. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did. The ending certainly left me with a big smile on my face.
August 13, 2024
I did not expect to enjoy this book.
I went into it fully aware that my only other attempt at reading a book like this, I’d made it not into twenty pages into the book before giving up. When I started reading this, in fact, I almost stopped, because I kept trying to rewrite it in my mind; ‘This should be in this other person’s point of view, not this one!’ But I remembered someone’s rule of ‘Give a book at least fifty pages before you decide not to read it anymore.’
And I enjoyed it.
Can I even summarize it? Spoiler-free summary: Two main characters: Cain and Dolly. Someone tries to kill Dolly because she retrieved some incriminating files. Dolly escapes. Someone sends Cain, a retired spy, to go get Dolly, and has him believe he’s just delivering her somewhere else. Then someone tries to kill both Cain and Dolly. Now they’re stuck in the middle, trying to figure out who’s after them, and what to do with the files. Pretty basic, huh?
Wrong. Twists. Everywhere. The author clearly loves to write, because this book is over 400 pages long. Not that you’ll feel it. Everyone gets a good description, some backstory. The cop was an interesting character. Even the villains are cool. Do the good guys win in the end? Who even are the good guys? Is anything even worth it anymore?
Four out of five stars.
I went into it fully aware that my only other attempt at reading a book like this, I’d made it not into twenty pages into the book before giving up. When I started reading this, in fact, I almost stopped, because I kept trying to rewrite it in my mind; ‘This should be in this other person’s point of view, not this one!’ But I remembered someone’s rule of ‘Give a book at least fifty pages before you decide not to read it anymore.’
And I enjoyed it.
Can I even summarize it? Spoiler-free summary: Two main characters: Cain and Dolly. Someone tries to kill Dolly because she retrieved some incriminating files. Dolly escapes. Someone sends Cain, a retired spy, to go get Dolly, and has him believe he’s just delivering her somewhere else. Then someone tries to kill both Cain and Dolly. Now they’re stuck in the middle, trying to figure out who’s after them, and what to do with the files. Pretty basic, huh?
Wrong. Twists. Everywhere. The author clearly loves to write, because this book is over 400 pages long. Not that you’ll feel it. Everyone gets a good description, some backstory. The cop was an interesting character. Even the villains are cool. Do the good guys win in the end? Who even are the good guys? Is anything even worth it anymore?
Four out of five stars.
June 14, 2022
An enjoyable read.
Having read a number of Tom Trott books I was both looking forward to this and also concerned. Trott has a lovely writing style which is engaging, light and easy. The pages just fly by.
The concern for me was that most of Trott's previous stories were based in Brighton (where he lives). However, this was focussed in Italy. My concern was short-lived as it feels like he knows the area (not that I do).
The story centres around a woman, who worked for the NSA and a man who worked for the CIA, now retired, but who was asked to do one final job. The two collide, no knowing if they can trust each other even though there are elements conspiring against them both.
This book pays you back for your investment of time, with good characters and story.
Having read a number of Tom Trott books I was both looking forward to this and also concerned. Trott has a lovely writing style which is engaging, light and easy. The pages just fly by.
The concern for me was that most of Trott's previous stories were based in Brighton (where he lives). However, this was focussed in Italy. My concern was short-lived as it feels like he knows the area (not that I do).
The story centres around a woman, who worked for the NSA and a man who worked for the CIA, now retired, but who was asked to do one final job. The two collide, no knowing if they can trust each other even though there are elements conspiring against them both.
This book pays you back for your investment of time, with good characters and story.
July 26, 2023
( Format : Audiobook )
"One day at a time...champagne."
Tom Stott is now officially one of my favourite modern authors. Loved this book, a violent spy thriller packed with very real characters, intriguing plot lines and unexpected twists. His writing style is filled with underlying menace even as humour eases from the edges and, seen from various points of view, the picture is fully rounded and somehow even more surprising. Narration is by Bruce Stone. His performance is both low key and excellent, no histrionics here, allowing the plot itself to shine through. Just one complaint: the terrible English accent of one protagonist.
This is a book which kept me gripped throughout and now - highly recommended.
"One day at a time...champagne."
Tom Stott is now officially one of my favourite modern authors. Loved this book, a violent spy thriller packed with very real characters, intriguing plot lines and unexpected twists. His writing style is filled with underlying menace even as humour eases from the edges and, seen from various points of view, the picture is fully rounded and somehow even more surprising. Narration is by Bruce Stone. His performance is both low key and excellent, no histrionics here, allowing the plot itself to shine through. Just one complaint: the terrible English accent of one protagonist.
This is a book which kept me gripped throughout and now - highly recommended.
May 3, 2022
I was looking forward to this story, and it was brilliant. A fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not predict what was going to happen and because of that I found it a brilliant story. Cain is the main character who has moved away to reside in Italy, he has ghosts from his past that he would rather forget but moving to Italy has been life changing for him until his old boss wants him to do a job for him for the very last time. But does Cain really want to risk his life for it? who wants him dead? It was a great paced thriller, with some very mysterious and interesting characters, a great book to curl up with and forget about the world.
August 5, 2024
a good, complicated story
⭐️ - awful, probably DNF
⭐️⭐️- didn’t like but not terrible, actually finished it
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - it was ok, passed the time
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - good story, good writing, entertaining, just not great
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - great, could not put it down, excellent writing and story
I hovered at 3.5, but finally decided I liked the story enough to place the next Cain book on my amazon wish list, thus the four stars.
I slowly took to liking the book. It took several pages in before I thought it worth my time. What I liked was the lack of special effects. No super hero powers. Just a solid dose of realism.
So on to the next book in this series.
⭐️ - awful, probably DNF
⭐️⭐️- didn’t like but not terrible, actually finished it
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - it was ok, passed the time
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - good story, good writing, entertaining, just not great
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - great, could not put it down, excellent writing and story
I hovered at 3.5, but finally decided I liked the story enough to place the next Cain book on my amazon wish list, thus the four stars.
I slowly took to liking the book. It took several pages in before I thought it worth my time. What I liked was the lack of special effects. No super hero powers. Just a solid dose of realism.
So on to the next book in this series.
May 27, 2022
Great start - weak ending
Such a good start. The book moved quickly and no desire to put it down. Then into the homestretch the last part of the book gravely disappointed. The characters were all interesting except for the female villain who was completely unbelievable. Wanted to give it 5 stars, but probably should have gone with 3 stars due to the ending. I think maybe the author did not know how to create an ending that matched the rest of the book so he just quit on the readers.
Such a good start. The book moved quickly and no desire to put it down. Then into the homestretch the last part of the book gravely disappointed. The characters were all interesting except for the female villain who was completely unbelievable. Wanted to give it 5 stars, but probably should have gone with 3 stars due to the ending. I think maybe the author did not know how to create an ending that matched the rest of the book so he just quit on the readers.
June 7, 2022
A good enough story to make me want to keep reading. It's fast, furious and not at all believable - which makes it kinda fun. Some of the Italian descriptions and references were enjoyable, reminding me of holidays in Tuscany.
Major disappointment for me - it's poorly proof-read and edited. There are so many wrong words that I knocked a star off: Quicky/Quickly; taut/taught; its/it's; stationary/stationery; who's/whose (even in one sentence!); and many more.
If you're not sure the story is for you, give it a try - you might like it.
Major disappointment for me - it's poorly proof-read and edited. There are so many wrong words that I knocked a star off: Quicky/Quickly; taut/taught; its/it's; stationary/stationery; who's/whose (even in one sentence!); and many more.
If you're not sure the story is for you, give it a try - you might like it.
May 22, 2022
This is a terrific action/spy thriller. A wild tale of an off-the books espionage caper gone wrong, including double and triple crosses, the Italian mafia, the NSA and the CIA, and even more! No global world-threatening crisis, just everyday people trying to make small decisions as they go along. But those decisions end up having life-threatening consequences! I enjoyed every moment while reading this book and I will be looking for more by Tom Trott.
May 23, 2022
Proper spy stuff with so much going on it's hard to keep track so you have to concentrate on the main plot and realise that Cain's old friend Maltby is a pawn of his evil "wife" who just wants power over everything and everyone now money is no incentive any more. It's a bit sad at the end to realise Cain is just a fat bald bloke but it helps him escape after he has saved Dolly, or did she save him ? Plot worthy of a Reacher or Bond story well worth a read.
May 27, 2022
Pure Tom Trott is a good thing.
I have read all of Tom Trotts works and always look forward to the next one. Maybe it’s just me, but I always feel immersed in his books as though I am there. I know of no better complement for a book. I hope he continues to turn out such exciting books with such an exhilarating feel. Keep up the good work. Enjoyed it immensely!
I have read all of Tom Trotts works and always look forward to the next one. Maybe it’s just me, but I always feel immersed in his books as though I am there. I know of no better complement for a book. I hope he continues to turn out such exciting books with such an exhilarating feel. Keep up the good work. Enjoyed it immensely!
July 10, 2023
What a ride
The story leads in a wild ride through Europe and also gives us hindsight of America public institutions such as NSA, CIA, and others. A world of corruption and lies and crimes is unearthed. We follow the heroes through thick and thin, death follows them everywhere. What a ride, indeed.
The story leads in a wild ride through Europe and also gives us hindsight of America public institutions such as NSA, CIA, and others. A world of corruption and lies and crimes is unearthed. We follow the heroes through thick and thin, death follows them everywhere. What a ride, indeed.
February 17, 2024
Old school spy thriller!
I was thoroughly entertained by this charming, action packed spy caper ! Starting with an NSA Spy in Hong Kong, we next head to rural Italy where we are introduced to Cain, a man in retirement, who has a past. A favour is asked by a friend from that past, and so, the action begin! This book has a charm slightly emulating Bond, don't let that put you off!
I was thoroughly entertained by this charming, action packed spy caper ! Starting with an NSA Spy in Hong Kong, we next head to rural Italy where we are introduced to Cain, a man in retirement, who has a past. A favour is asked by a friend from that past, and so, the action begin! This book has a charm slightly emulating Bond, don't let that put you off!
May 22, 2022
This is one of those really fun novels that is like a fractal. Every time you turn a page a new situation develops, and yet they all come together in the end. I had a great time reading this. Great characters, excellent pacing, and very good copyediting (which was very much appreciated).
May 21, 2022
Exciting stuff almost ending abruptly with a interesting ending
Several characters which you thought you understood but didn't. The plot moves along nicely with several unanticipated twists. All well that ends well.
Several characters which you thought you understood but didn't. The plot moves along nicely with several unanticipated twists. All well that ends well.
May 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book
This story was a lot of fun. It definitely keeps your attention. I like the characters, especially Cain. Thank you for keeping the yucky stuff out and relying on great story telling.
This story was a lot of fun. It definitely keeps your attention. I like the characters, especially Cain. Thank you for keeping the yucky stuff out and relying on great story telling.
May 25, 2022
Edge of my seat
Very exciting book that was making me nervous as I read it, not wanting to but unable to stop reading. I dislike torture but I was compelled to continue to the end. It was an excellent story and very believable in today's climate.
Very exciting book that was making me nervous as I read it, not wanting to but unable to stop reading. I dislike torture but I was compelled to continue to the end. It was an excellent story and very believable in today's climate.
May 26, 2022
Outstanding Read
This is a story that moves quickly through all the twists and turns of an awesome thriller. Enjoyed this book immensely. Great characters, setting, and twists to keep you entertained beginning to end.
This is a story that moves quickly through all the twists and turns of an awesome thriller. Enjoyed this book immensely. Great characters, setting, and twists to keep you entertained beginning to end.
May 27, 2022
A good spy story
The opening of the story grip my interest. Was not disappointed with what I read . I was sad the way how the family was killed but all in all the story was interested.
The opening of the story grip my interest. Was not disappointed with what I read . I was sad the way how the family was killed but all in all the story was interested.
June 12, 2022
New Author - Impressed
Very well written with great characters and an "could not put down " story. Sequel not out but will sure watch for it.
Now looking for more books from this author.
Very well written with great characters and an "could not put down " story. Sequel not out but will sure watch for it.
Now looking for more books from this author.
July 15, 2022
Full of Surprises
Trott tornado the usual tropes of spy stories on their heads with twists that constantly surprise and engage. The tension mounts building to a credible and satisfying climax.
Trott tornado the usual tropes of spy stories on their heads with twists that constantly surprise and engage. The tension mounts building to a credible and satisfying climax.
July 9, 2023
A GREAT book!
I recommend this novel to any mystery lover.
Also to anyone who love a great novel!
Cain is a wonderful character!
I intend to read other book that he is the central.character!
Don't dkip.this book!
I recommend this novel to any mystery lover.
Also to anyone who love a great novel!
Cain is a wonderful character!
I intend to read other book that he is the central.character!
Don't dkip.this book!
May 18, 2022
Florentine
Not my style, with even a slight sprinkling of f-bombs and worse, profaning that which is sacred to many. Poor taste. I’ll look elsewhere for reading material.
Not my style, with even a slight sprinkling of f-bombs and worse, profaning that which is sacred to many. Poor taste. I’ll look elsewhere for reading material.
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