Even

David Trevellyan #1

by Andrew Grant

David Trevellyan is a Royal Navy intelligence operative who usually works undercover, sometimes with the approval of his masters—and sometimes not. On a seemingly normal evening, he takes a lonely late-night walk between a restaurant and his New York City hotel. A familiar huddled shape in the mouth of an alley catches his eye—a homeless man has been shot to death. Trevellyan steps forward…and a cop car arrives. A split second too late, Trevellyan realizes he’s been set up.

But Trevellyan isn’t worried. He’s a hard man from the shadowy world of Royal Navy Intelligence. He’s been in and out of trouble a thousand times before. But the NYPD quickly hands the problem to the FBI. Trevellyan is sucked deeper into the system. And the British Consulate tells him: You’re on your own now, mate.

With no idea who’s a friend and who’s a foe, he penetrates deep into a huge international conspiracy. The price of failure will be death, and the reward for success will be redemption, both for himself and the huddled corpse from the alley. The motivation will be his cherished life-long belief: You don’t get mad—you get EVEN.

If Jack Reacher had a younger brother, he’d be David Trevellyan. Lee Child does have a younger brother, and his name is Andrew Grant. A remarkable debut, Even delivers on its own—a tight, fast-paced, modern thriller fueled by adrenaline and revenge.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Espionage, Suspense, Audiobook

341 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Andrew Grant (born 1968, Birmingham, England) is the younger brother of bestselling thriller writer Lee Child. After graduating from the University of Sheffield, where he studied Drama and English Literature, Grant founded a theatre company that produced original material, culminating with a critically successful appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Grant remained in Sheffield after graduating from university but now lives with his wife, the novelist Tasha Alexander, on a nature preserve in Wyoming.

Series:
* David Trevellyan

Reviews

[Berengaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

short review for busy readers:
Fast-paced thriller with a wisecracking Royal Navy James Bond clone who accidentally gets sucked into a rather interesting and multilayered FBI investigation. Not always factually accurate. OTT female villain. Decently written with a high level of setting detail. Perfect to read on long haul flights.

in detail:
🤔 Hyper interested in the details of architecture and room furnishings, who knows why
🤔 Walks the fine line of credibility rather wobbly
🤔 Not accurate on some points of American culture, but has the NYPD and FBI perfect
🤔 Mixes British and American English willy-nilly
🤔 About 150 pages too long
🤔 Blurb and cover text is misleading, as it's not Trevellyan who gets even

In general, a decent thriller idea and the actual crime part is engaging, but major stars off because female villain is too crazy-maniacal and omnipotent to be believable. Total Disney level. Cruella DeVille 2. No, scratch that. Cruella DeVille 15.

The very best thing about the novel is the insight into Royal Navy operative training for "under the radar" foreign ops. Some absolutely phenomenal stuff in there, and it sounds so legit, it just might be real. Very much enjoyed those little gems.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by Andrew Grant I’ve read. He is now, of course, one of the co-authors of the Jack Reacher series, alongside his oldest brother, the original Lee Child, Jim Grant.
David Trevellyan, the protagonist here, does come across as a sort of Reacher-Lite. A big guy, ex-military with keen observational powers and a love of strong, black coffee. However, unlike Reacher, he does appear to have a regular job of sorts and more than one change of clothes.
The story begins with David Trevellyan discovering the dead body of a homeless man in a New York alley. Just as he is about to ring the NYPD, they turn up and arrest him. To make matters worse, the dead man appears to be a federal agent working undercover and the FBI take over the case.
The main plot does hinge around the unlikely coincidence of two, totally separate, serious crimes momentarily and fatally intersecting and David Trevellyan just happening to pass by and witness the aftermath.
However, despite that and other minor implausibilities, this was still an engaging, fast-paced crime/spy thriller; more, perhaps, in the vein of Simon Kernick than Lee Child. An enjoyable enough read, as long as one doesn’t think too much about it.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

***2018 Summer of Spies***

It’s nice when two different reading plans come together. I’m trying to read at least one book by each of the special guests coming to the When Words Collide conference in Calgary in August and I’m spending my summer concentrating on Spy fiction. So I was delighted to find out that Andrew Grant has written a spy trilogy.

If you are a fan of fantasy spy thrillers like The Bourne Identity or Ian Fleming’s fiction, I think you may also enjoy Grant’s adventures of David Trevellyan. If you lean more towards the John Le Carré or Len Deighton style, you may find this tale a bit ridiculous (as I did). Notably, this author is the younger brother of writer Lee Child of Jack Reacher fame (and he’s probably sick and tired of people pointing that out). Several years ago, my real-life book club read a Jack Reacher novel during our Year of Reading Fluff. We hooted with laughter, speculating about Reacher wearing his underwear inside out or backwards to make it last longer without a wash and were amused by the general unreality of his circumstances. In that regard, it is obvious that Grant and Child share DNA—you need to be expert at suspending disbelief to get into this one!

My biggest hurdle was the “evil genius” Lesley (a Bond type evil villain if there ever was one). This woman ran a supposedly intricate empire and kept her minions (all men) in line by threatening castration. In fact David Trevellyan actually witnesses one of these events about halfway through the book. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I was a guy I wouldn’t be working for someone who punished her employees this way. I’m thinking she would need an all-female staff, as men would be gone as soon as the possibility was mentioned.

So, this is spy-fiction lite, as much fantasy as espionage. Lots of action, lots of violence, not much relation to reality. Dick lit, as opposed to chick lit. I will be very interested to hear Mr. Grant’s thoughts at the conference in August.

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to check out Grant as he is about to begin co-authoring one of the greatest series of books ever written with his brother, as the brother heads towards retirement. I’m really glad I did. This mystery was layered and satisfying. The lead character was excellent. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series but will have to wait as the other books aren’t available on Apple Books. That’s frustrating. David is a loner, and I liked the way he went about his business in this story. Give EVEN a shot. It’s well worth the time.

While I’m still horribly disappointed that his brother is looking towards retirement, I think this little brother might do a respectable job and make him proud.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Grant is probably going to always have his works compared to those of his older brother Lee Child. In the same way Grant's protagonist David Treyvellyan' in 'Even' is always going to be compared to Lee's Jack Reacher. While there are many similar traits; military background, ruthless determination and loyalty to name but three, they stand apart. If anything Treyvellyan is more James Bond (Daniel Craig's incarnation) lacking however the Aston Martin, exotic locations and a licence to kill. In deed Trevellyan like Bond is an intelligence officer in the British Royal Navy.

Barring the first each chapter begins with a flashback giving us an insight in to the history and background of David Treyvellyan, and it will be interesting to see if in future books Grant continues to use this hook. Or as sometimes happens with other serial characters regular readers have to endure the same information time and again often repeated rote from book to book.

Peripheral characters are not written with any great depth. This not a criticism as I'm sure that they will not feature from book to book, Grant tells you what you need to know to see where they sit in the grand scheme of the story.

If you are after a good 'boys own' adventure then 'Even' will be a book for you, and I look forward to further episodes with David Treyvellyan.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even by Andrew Grant has my vote for next year's Debut Anthony Award. Loved the first chapter, then Grant almost lost me slogging through the narrative for the first five chapters. The only thing that kept me going was the glimpses of great dialogue dispensed throughout the beginning chapters. Once I hit page 50, Grant's pace was in place and I didn't put the novel down until the end.

His protagonist David Trevellyan, a covert operative in the Royal Navy is a cross between James Bond and Burn Notice's Michael Weston. Grant gave Trevellyan Bond's sardonic humor and Weston's reluctant hero personality a dynamic combination. Trevellyan in New York, walks home from dinner and finds a dead man in the alley just as the police arrive. The police assume Trevellyan killed the man and arrest him. He figures his London bosses will have him out it time for breakfast. Unfortunate for Trevellyan, the London employers wash their hands of their spy and let him swing in the wind. The fun ensues as he tries to rectify this misunderstanding. Grant neatly slipped in the back story in the first paragraphs of each chapter as covert spy tips. We learned how the Royal Navy shaped his character and brought him to his current state with antidotes that read like Dummies For The Would-be-Spies. Nice use of a writing device.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a Kafka like beginning Andrew Grant slowly reveals his new action-suspense hero, David Trevellyan. We eventually find that David is a British undercover operative and a Naval Commander; a military rank you may remember that was shared by James Bond but Trvellyan’s character is more likely to remind one of Jason Bourne than Bond. His analytic efficiency and total lack of empathy have trained him to be a confident killing machine and that allows him to meet his adversaries face to face, completely in control and capable of pointing out the absurdist humor of their situation. He trusts no one and has little regard for excuses. Although well plotted the story is rather far fetched and too convoluted to synopsize in a short review but I think the story line is less important here than the introduction of this new character that I’m sure will appear again. The story moves quickly, takes many twists and turns and carries you on to the next exciting chapter. As one of David’s instructors taught him in training: “In our line of work, you don’t get mad. You just get even.”

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

(1.5)

Like a more boring James Bond with bonus genital mutilation.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even is an action thriller set in New York.

Royal Navy Intelligence officer David Trevellyan gets caught up in a complex FBI case when his ‘Good Samaritan’ actions get him arrested by the police. Having just finished his last assignment, David was on his way back to his hotel when he spotted a suspicious body in a dark alley. He was just about to report his findings when the police arrive and arrest him after a tip-off from a witness who describes David in detail.

Although David initially gets help from British consulate worker Tanya, unsteady diplomacy relationships between the nations mean he’s quickly fending for himself. Other eyes and ears are also trailing David and he’s soon the ‘guest’ of one of New York’s notorious gangs. What follows is a fast paced tale with several thorny problems to solve. It’s filled with enough action and twists to keep the narrative flowing. The ending was my only minor complaint in that it finishes with a cliff-hanger. My copy did have the start of the next book in the series where some of my questions were answered and I was hooked enough to want to continue with book two.

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I liked the bits at the beginning of chapters tying in Trevellyan's training to what is about to happen, I found myself not connecting to anyone. I didn't like Trevellyan. He was too blasé, not caring about anything at all, not really even his love interest, Tanya. Even his recount of a past tryst left me feeling dry mouthed as if cotton had been stuffed in it, not as being excited (even remotely).

Failing to get the part where Trevellyan is getting even with Leslie or Taylor (can we talk for a second about all the damned T names? I'm a bit mift with his agent that this sailed through without changing the names to flow better) and feeling a bit underwhelmed with his scuffle with the feebs, the biggest let down was the ending. Just. No.

So much could have, should have been trimmed to give the reader the prize: getting even; instead it was far too drawn out, the complete opposite of a thriller in this reader's mind. Realizing this was published in '09 and the first in the series, I might pick up a later book in the series to see if it gets better.

[Ron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awkward copy of Jack Reacher in UK guise. It had its moments but overall disappointing. When you're in first person POV you're obligated not to lie to readers. The character is an IT consultant in chapter one and a few chapters later he's a Royal Navy intelligence agent.

[SyaMimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the first 100 pages, and the last 50 pages. In between, I'm lost.

"you don't get mad. You just get even."

3.5/5.0

[Cathy Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good spy thriller.
David Trevellyan is a good action hero. The plot moved along at a good pace and the baddies were really bad.
It did finish rather suddenly which leaves the story open for a further instalment.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third volume I have read by Andrew Grant, well actually it is the first by just him, I have read the two he wrote with his brother Lee Child, published under the name Andrew Child. I believe he has 9 books published under the name Andrew Grant, and two contributions to anthologies. He has also contributed to one anthology as Andrew Child. I picked this up after reading The Sentinel, but had not got around to reading it. After reading Better Off Dead I bumped this to the top of my fiction reading list. It did not disappoint. I believe Grant has three series and a standalone novel. I have yet to decide if I will read series by series or jump around, but between the 2 Reacher novels and this book I am convinced I will read all the books he has published and do so in short order.

If I had not known that Andrew Grant was Andrew Child and had read this story, I would have stated that it reminded me a lot of the Reacher novels. Except this time David Trevellyan if still active duty for the Royal Navy and home office. But his style, panache, and focus are similar to Reacher’s. The story begins with David on a stroll after dinner and an assignment. When he stumbles upon a body in an ally in New York City. He is quickly arrested and things go sideways quickly. David is decisive, determined and resolute. He will see things through his way. He has no qualms about risking his own neck. And lives in the grey areas between what is lawful and what is not. He also Is more than willing to step over the line without hesitation if that is what is called for. The story is interspersed with David’s recollections of his training in the Royal Navy Intelligence. The recollections include training courses, missions, objectives and more. Often something he learned it the past is applied in the present. Not quite maxims or rules, but more of a guiding principals.

David ends up calling in an old flame who does similar work, Tanya, and even once he is free to return home, he stays to help he with her demons. The story has an interesting mix of an evil super villain, Lesley. A military contractor with a very unusual side business. And David caught up in the middle.

Many readers would make comparisons to Reacher, If I was push to, I would say it is a more polite and subtle version of Reacher. More akin to Reacher’s nephew in Diane Capri’s Hunt for Reacher novels. David Trevellyan does not lack strength, skills or smarts. He might be a little short on the empathy scale, but that is what makes him so good at what he does.

This story was an excellent read. After finishing it I picked up the next in this series and the first in the other two. If you want a good crime, suspense, thriller with great action this is a book for you. I am certain fans of Reacher, Bourne, Jack Ryan could all appreciate David and how he gets the job done. A great first read from Grant and I look forward to more!

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its unfair to compare Even written by Andrew Grant with the novels of his older brother Lee Child. Although the comparisons seem hard to avoid since both men write about loners with a military background. However the characters have a lot of differences and Child's books are much more accomplished at this point.

Yet I will skip the comparisons because the books need to be judged on their own.

Even's protagonist is a naval secret agent from England, who is still working there. He is on a mission in NYC when he finds a dead body in an alley and is "caught" redhanded by NY's finest who believe he killed the man, who turns out to be a FBI agent. The plot progresses in little spurts, and ultimately, the story turns into an investigation as to why some ex Marines are killed.

I really found the plot hard to follow. There was a bad mob boss called Lesley who at one point captured our hero but who I didnt get how she became part of the story. There was a point when the story was resolved and then the author got his character to stay in the USA because his friend Tonya wanted him to investigate the Marines who were missing/dead.

I liked the character however and I liked the short little paragraphs that lead off each chapter and kind of gave us a hint of what was going thru the characters mind. I also thought the book had a sufficient amount of action.

I think the plot of the next book needs to be a little more streamlined.

[Mike Nemeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Grant's novel "Even" debuts Royal Naval intelligence officer David Trevellyan with a story that starts with the protagonist getting mistaken for a murderer in a New York City alleyway. Trevellyan goes along with his arrest. He's surprised and still thinks he can make his flight back to London when everything is worked out. He's got other things on his mind. Unfortunately, complications arise. This isn't my first tangle with Grant. He's listed as co-author on one of his brother's books about a certain Jack Reacher. And he may end up taking over the franchise from older sibling Lee Child. That was enough for me. I've consumed all of Child's work, and I love every phrase, every page of his stuff. Grant isn't his brother, and Trevellyan isn't Reacher. But they do share the strong resolve of pursuing justice no matter the cost to themselves. And that makes it interesting. Trevellyan goes from one snafu to another. It seems everyone's out to get him. Grant gives him the ability to think through his troubles then devise a method of resolution. He takes it one step at a time, breaking a few heads along the way. I read this on the airplane, and I didn't even mind that I had five hours crammed in those tiny little seats.

[Stephen]

Lee Child's brother, became an author.

[Valerie Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know people have said you can't compare Grant with his brother and I'm not. I'm comparing him with authors who write good fiction and Grant isn't on that list. His descriptions are overwrought (someone at night at the end of an ally gives a description of you to the police including the exact number of stitches in your scalp??? In your car you saw a piece of A-5 paper on the side of the road???), his dialog doesn't ring true, and many of his characters are just dense. For example: you're with a consulate. You work closely with military intelligence. You're brought in because you have so much to offer while you chase several bad apples, people are dying, you notice your apartment is being staked out. What do you do? Nothing, of course. The next day you notice the same guys are at your apartment, what do you do? Nothing, of course. Later you see the same guys while on the job, what do you say? "Oh, I've seen those guys, they seemed to have been staking out my house. I must be tired." Not even close to believable. I was so glad when I reached the last page.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to EVEN, Andrew Grant's debut novel, on audiobook. David Trevellyan is an agent with the Royal Navy Intelligence. He's wrapping up a job in the U.S. and is out walking after dinner when he encounters a murdered vagrant. But the vagrant turns out to be an American agent and Trevellyan finds himself framed for the murder.

I'm not much of an expert on spy thrillers. I haven't read many, but I would venture to guess that EVEN would be a book that James Bond fans would enjoy. The plot was well developed, a good action story line. I just didn't find myself connecting with the characters in this novel. I thought Tanya, Trevellyan's colleague, seemed to have some inconsistencies in her character. I do think I could grow to like Trevellyan, though, so if there's a follow-up to this novel, I'll probably check into it.

[Robert N · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was hilariously bad. The main villain castrates a man (this is described in vivid detail) in front of the hero (who didn't interfere so as not to blow his cover), then ends up kidnapping his love interest (who they noticed was being followed on about 3 occasions during the last of which they CAUGHT the guys trying to kidnap her, but decided to let them go because they suddenly got a call from the FBI) so then the villain kidnaps her and kills her and is still at large at the books finish.

Not only did he not get Even for that but he never even went to dinner with his "love interest" because on one date He got kidnapped then on the reschedule She got kidnapped.

It's like anytime a romantic scene was supposed to happen throw in a kidnap LMAO so as an author (Lee Childs younger brother) is still a virgin.

[Deborah Sigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bloodier and more violent than I usually read. But the author is visiting our library so I thought I would see what he's all about. And I think my aunt would like his writing since she likes this genre. It will be someone new for her to read (as long as the books are in Large Print or on Nook).

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit confused as to whether the author wanted to write in a British or American style here. The asides into navy training were interesting an the action was all sharp and strong and potent but I didn't really feel a connect with the lead. you can't of course when he's whoopin' ass, but even the emotional side didn't really register with me when he wasn't. Enjoyed for the action.

[Kevin Stumpf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was enjoying this book until….I wasn’t. Plot got jumbled. Story became irrelevant and incoherent, and implausible. Chapter 40 was the old “James Bond moment” where the villain reveals the entire plot in a few paragraphs. And a cliffhanger….really?

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Trevellyan is a Royal Navy intelligence operative. He takes a walk one evening in New York and gets set up for murder!

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending really sucked.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Trevellyan is minding his own business, to the extent that can ever be said about a Royal Navy intelligence agent on assignment in New York City. He has just finished a job, dined alone and started walking back to his hotel when he spots a dead hobo lying in a pile of garbage. No sooner does he observe that the hobo has been executed by a professional than the police show up and arrest Trevellyan for the crime. They have an anonymous tipster's voice describing him as the guy who done it. Their case is so solid, the English consulate sends a colleague to tell him he's been disavowed. Then FBI agents show up, accusing him of killing five real hobos, besides the fake hobo he found, who is actually an FBI agent. Awkward.

If it seems a bit like the opening act of a Jack Reacher novel, you'll have spotted a family resemblence about which more will be said later. But although Trevellyan is a big, hard, highly capable guy somewhat lacking in teamwork skills (to say nothing of empathy for other people), he is also part of a bigger organization and he spends the better part of this book working alongside the FBI to solve an increasingly alarming series of crimes. At first, it seems like it's just a matter of gangsters hanging fake IDs on dead bums as part of a Social Security scam. Then a link emerges between the victims and a private security company that guards a hospital in post-war Iraq. But finally it proves ever so much bigger than a cover-up for some medical jiggery-pokery.

A team player he is not. In this fast-breaking case, however, it pays to be the guy who charges recklessly forward, rather than dotting all the Is and crossing all the Ts FBI-fashion while the evidence disappears and the bad guys get away. On the other hand, hewing to the naval tradition of "Never mind the maneuvers, just go straight at them" (plausibly if fictionally attributed to Horatio Nelson) has its risky side. Like dealing with a female psychopath who literally castrates any man who disappoints her. Like questioning a suspect whose goons are ordered to kill you if you refuse to be bribed. Like having to choose between stopping a weapon of mass destruction and saving someone you care about, because you can't do both at the same time. At least, if you're a man like Trevellyan, there's always the consolation of getting even.

Part spy thriller, part mystery procedural in which the protagonist blows up all the procedures, part case study of the making of an international action hero – especially during the thematic vignettes that head each chapter – this is a gripping, keep-you-guessing piece of entertainment with a hard-to-forget character at the center. Some of his memories of naval intelligence training and prior assignments would be entertaining enough without the main event, for which they are meant to serve as instructive examples. I especially got a kick out of the bit about an office in France where everybody was obsessed with milk. But there's a kick of another kind at the end of the book – a weapon's recoil – which leaves us free to imagine exactly what Trevellyan will do next. It's one of the tightest, toughest, most disturbing and most daring book endings in my recollection.

This is the first of three David Trevellyan spy thrillers by a British author who happens to be the younger brother of Lee Child. Not to be confused with a New Zealand-based author who goes by the same name, this particular Grant is also the author of three Cooper Devereaux novels (False Positive, False Friend and False Witness), the standalone novel Run, and the Paul McGrath novels Invisible and Too Close to Home. The sequels to this book are titled Die Twice and More Harm Than Good.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walking from a restaurant to his hotel in New York City, David Trevellyan discovers the body of an apparently-homeless man in an alley. Almost immediately, the police arrive and David finds himself suspected of committing the murder. David realizes he’s been set up to take the rap.

However, the assistance he expects from the Royal Naval Intelligence Service, for which he works, does not materialize and he must find the answers for himself.

When the FBI becomes involved in the case, David finds himself pulled deeper into the miasma of a convoluted investigation. Can he find the answers he seeks, identify the murderer, and clear his name? Or is he setting himself up to become the next victim?

Told from David’s point of view, the narrative spins out a complex tale of deception and treachery. Despite a plot that is sometimes difficult to follow, the consistently-building suspense draws readers into the story and unexpected reveals keep the tension mounting. David is not particularly likeable, but readers will root for him to emerge victorious.

Each chapter begins with a flashback to David’s childhood or to his military training, emphasizing a particular lesson learned. It’s an effective device to give readers greater insight into the character. However, this is not a tale for the squeamish as the telling of the tale involves some particularly gruesome events, graphically depicted and guaranteed to be off-putting for some readers.

Recommended.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, 2.5- or 3/5 . There is a lot of high pace action in this book, David is a badass British navy dude who gets caught up in a world of crime and bullshit, Lesley was a scary and cool villain, although the stuff where she cuts up a dudes balls was really gross and a bit overly detailed. One of the most disappointing things is how Lesley's conclusion seems to end a bit abruptly, then, she breaks out of Prison, murders Tanya, David's girl, in an attempt to get closer to David and cut of his balls as revenge, and she uses this Iraqi organ smuggling organisation, Tungsten to get to David.

I actually realised that this was Lesley's doing and that they kidnapped Tanya specifically to get David, so I'm ahead of the FBI, yay. It turns out, this organisation which was initially set up as a illegal organisation harvesting the organs of dead soldiers in IRAQ, had been turned into a terrorist / resistance organisation by their leader Taylor, who with the help of some scientists had managed to create a lethal injection which makes people die from slow massive blood loss that seeps out of their body. As we find out, Taylor decides that he can use this to kill thousands of organ patients at once, in a dramatic fashion that gets national attention, as a way to protest the IRAQ war. David finds out about this and has to try save the day.

[Linda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Trevellyan probably should have walked past the dead body in the alley. Had it done that, he would have been on a plane back to London the next day. His assignment for the Royal Naval Intelligence Division had been completed and he was ready for his next job. But Trevellyan walked into the alley to confirm that the man was dead. There really wasn't a question about that once he saw the six bullet holes in the chest. But when Trevellyan turned around to go call the New York city police, he saw that they were already there. A tip had been called in by an eyewitness who had perfectly described him as the murderer. Trevellyan was handcuffed and taken to the police station. He wasn't there long before the FBI came to claim him. It turned out that the victim was an undercover agent. Now Trevellyan needs to extricate himself from this sticky situation and London is not going to assist him. This murder is only the tip of the iceberg. The crime is so complex that it is like a set of Russian nesting dolls. Each one that is cracked open reveals another plot. Excellent first novel by Andrew Grant. I might have discovered him because of his recent collaboration with his famous brother, Lee Child, on the Jack Reacher books. But I intend to read more of his work.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure this series is often compared to the Reacher series. Andrew Grant is Lee Child's brother and is currently taking over the Reacher franchise. David Trevellyan is a Brit, a member of the Royal Navy. He like Reacher is quite smart and not at all unfamiliar to violence.

He works outside the lines A LOT. He sees things or patterns in things that many others do not. He is finishing a job in New York when he discovers what appears to be the dead body of a bum in an alley. Turns out the bum is an undercover FBI agent and David has been identified as the person who killed him.

Arrested and turned over the FBI David quickly takes it upon himself to set things right so he can get back to London. It isn't a smooth process and several other FBI agents end up killed as David uncovers a very strange plot to cause the deaths of a multitude of folks by the release of a blood thinning agent. An agent which has been inserted into the bodies of several hundred people. Inserted without their knowledge.

A woman David is working closely with ends up being killed towards the end of the story. David takes his revenge on the person he holds responsible for her death and plans on keeping a promise he made earlier by taking care of one of the criminals we met earlier in the book.