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Nick Belsey #4
A Season in Exile
Nick Belsey's on the run.
Touching down in Mexico City, he doesn't have much in the way of funds, but he has a new continent and surely that's enough to start afresh. But it's not as easy as that. An idyllic interlude in a coastal village is interrupted when men turn up who seem to know exactly who he is. And they have some very urgent questions.
DI Kirsty Craik had also hoped she'd left Nick Belsey behind her, in the wilder days of her career. When a five am call instructs her to track him down or she'll be dead by Christmas, it seems he's walked back into her life with characteristic commotion. Craik is forced to break the rules once more to find out what her former lover is up to.
She needs to save herself, and, just maybe, to save Belsey too.
Touching down in Mexico City, he doesn't have much in the way of funds, but he has a new continent and surely that's enough to start afresh. But it's not as easy as that. An idyllic interlude in a coastal village is interrupted when men turn up who seem to know exactly who he is. And they have some very urgent questions.
DI Kirsty Craik had also hoped she'd left Nick Belsey behind her, in the wilder days of her career. When a five am call instructs her to track him down or she'll be dead by Christmas, it seems he's walked back into her life with characteristic commotion. Craik is forced to break the rules once more to find out what her former lover is up to.
She needs to save herself, and, just maybe, to save Belsey too.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2022
19 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Harris
14 books237 followersOliver Harris's novels to date are The Hollow Man, Deep Shelter, The House of Fame, A Season in Exile - all featuring Detective Constable Nick Belsey - and A Shadow Intelligence, Ascension and The Shame Archive featuring MI6 officer Elliot Kane.
Oliver was born in north London. He has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from UCL, and an MA in creative writing from UEA. His PhD on psychoanalysis and Greek philosophy was published by Routledge in 2016 (Lacan's Return to Antiquity). He currently teaches creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His Facebook page can be found by clicking here.
Oliver was born in north London. He has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from UCL, and an MA in creative writing from UEA. His PhD on psychoanalysis and Greek philosophy was published by Routledge in 2016 (Lacan's Return to Antiquity). He currently teaches creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His Facebook page can be found by clicking here.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 23, 2022
4+
Nick Belsey #4
Nick Belsey arrives in Mexico his life as he knew it is over, he has little money and survival here depends entirely on his wits. He soon realises after sequence of events that he cannot escape who he is, that he has unwittingly stepped into something very big as he finds himself in the clutches of a cartel. Meanwhile, in London DI Kirsty Craik of the Organised Crime Command finds herself drawn into the drama which involves the whereabouts of large quantities of cocaine and in which Nick is embroiled and possibly at the centre.
What a cracking read, no pun intended. Oliver Harris always writes really good, intelligent thrillers with plausible and well thought out plots which are exciting and addictive reading. There are some great settings which add to the building intense story and give a frisson of atmosphere. The characterisation is really good, especially the elusive and audacious Nick but all portrayed adding menace or someone to root for.
Throughout you have big questions about what Nick is up to as the plot tumbles and turns with the tension and suspense growing immeasurably. Fingers are pointed, rumours and legends abound. The danger is immense, walking a tight rope walking style with one false step spelling disaster. It’s exciting and shocking in places, there are some jaw dropping discoveries, it’s violent in certain sections with a rising death toll. As for the ending, phew, it’s a high octane adrenaline fuelled tense drama and you aren’t sure how it will play out until the last minute. There is a wry smile from me at the ultimate end.
If you like thrillers with believable brisk plots which are crisply written with nothing unnecessary cluttering things up then look no further than Oliver Harris!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Nick Belsey #4
Nick Belsey arrives in Mexico his life as he knew it is over, he has little money and survival here depends entirely on his wits. He soon realises after sequence of events that he cannot escape who he is, that he has unwittingly stepped into something very big as he finds himself in the clutches of a cartel. Meanwhile, in London DI Kirsty Craik of the Organised Crime Command finds herself drawn into the drama which involves the whereabouts of large quantities of cocaine and in which Nick is embroiled and possibly at the centre.
What a cracking read, no pun intended. Oliver Harris always writes really good, intelligent thrillers with plausible and well thought out plots which are exciting and addictive reading. There are some great settings which add to the building intense story and give a frisson of atmosphere. The characterisation is really good, especially the elusive and audacious Nick but all portrayed adding menace or someone to root for.
Throughout you have big questions about what Nick is up to as the plot tumbles and turns with the tension and suspense growing immeasurably. Fingers are pointed, rumours and legends abound. The danger is immense, walking a tight rope walking style with one false step spelling disaster. It’s exciting and shocking in places, there are some jaw dropping discoveries, it’s violent in certain sections with a rising death toll. As for the ending, phew, it’s a high octane adrenaline fuelled tense drama and you aren’t sure how it will play out until the last minute. There is a wry smile from me at the ultimate end.
If you like thrillers with believable brisk plots which are crisply written with nothing unnecessary cluttering things up then look no further than Oliver Harris!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2025
Wow…and I do not use this interjection often, just freaking wow! The best installment of this riveting series and I truly hope is not the last.
Craik and Belsey shine in this thriller, police procedural, crime fiction novel that deals like all other books in the series with police corruption at the highest levels. The last installment of this series and what a thrill it was to read. I hope Harris brings him back, the series is outstanding.
I was disappointed at the multiple errors in spelling words in Spanish, Distrito Federal not Federale, the federales are the police and the beer which I love with lime is called Tecate not Techate, dentista not dentisto, funeraria (the place) not funerales, Seguridad Privada not Prividad Securidad and others …I was wincing the entire time. Apart from that….stellar!
Craik and Belsey shine in this thriller, police procedural, crime fiction novel that deals like all other books in the series with police corruption at the highest levels. The last installment of this series and what a thrill it was to read. I hope Harris brings him back, the series is outstanding.
I was disappointed at the multiple errors in spelling words in Spanish, Distrito Federal not Federale, the federales are the police and the beer which I love with lime is called Tecate not Techate, dentista not dentisto, funeraria (the place) not funerales, Seguridad Privada not Prividad Securidad and others …I was wincing the entire time. Apart from that….stellar!
July 23, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of A Season in Exile, the fourth novel to feature former DC Nick Belsey of The Met.
Nick is in Mexico, broke and on the run, where he settles in a coastal village. His peace is shattered when unknown men turn up asking for him by name. In London DI Kirsty Craik receives a phone call telling her she’ll be dead by Christmas if she doesn’t find her former lover Nick Belsey.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Season in Exile, which is a tense thriller with some good twists. I have not read any of the previous novels in this series, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. At first I felt at a bit of a disadvantage because I didn’t have the background on why Nick was on the run, but acceptance soon became a way of life in reading the novel, because realism isn’t a thing.
It is not a long novel, so there is nothing wasted in the narrative after the initial scene setting. It is full of developments that urge the reader to turn the pages to find out more, with many of the reveals left to the latter stages. I was itching to know how it would turn out and the final showdown delivers in a most satisfying way.
The narrative is split between the morally ambiguous Nick Belsey and more, but not totally, law abiding Kirsty Craik. He seems to be able to wheedle his way out of any situation, whereas she is smart enough to work the angles before getting into the situation. It’s an interesting comparison and works well. I would gladly spend more time with Kirsty, not so sure about Nick, who appears to be some kind of superhero with the gift of the gab and ability to escape death on a regular basis.
A Season in Exile is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Nick is in Mexico, broke and on the run, where he settles in a coastal village. His peace is shattered when unknown men turn up asking for him by name. In London DI Kirsty Craik receives a phone call telling her she’ll be dead by Christmas if she doesn’t find her former lover Nick Belsey.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Season in Exile, which is a tense thriller with some good twists. I have not read any of the previous novels in this series, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. At first I felt at a bit of a disadvantage because I didn’t have the background on why Nick was on the run, but acceptance soon became a way of life in reading the novel, because realism isn’t a thing.
It is not a long novel, so there is nothing wasted in the narrative after the initial scene setting. It is full of developments that urge the reader to turn the pages to find out more, with many of the reveals left to the latter stages. I was itching to know how it would turn out and the final showdown delivers in a most satisfying way.
The narrative is split between the morally ambiguous Nick Belsey and more, but not totally, law abiding Kirsty Craik. He seems to be able to wheedle his way out of any situation, whereas she is smart enough to work the angles before getting into the situation. It’s an interesting comparison and works well. I would gladly spend more time with Kirsty, not so sure about Nick, who appears to be some kind of superhero with the gift of the gab and ability to escape death on a regular basis.
A Season in Exile is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 2, 2022
Exciting, engaging, well written and researched. That makes this an excellent book well worth the time and trouble to read.
I have enjoyed the previous Nick Belsey thrillers and whilst it helps to have the back story this can also be happily read as a standalone book.
Based in Mexico he falls into the hands of a deadly drug cartel and must use all of his wits to extricate himself.
I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
More please!
I have enjoyed the previous Nick Belsey thrillers and whilst it helps to have the back story this can also be happily read as a standalone book.
Based in Mexico he falls into the hands of a deadly drug cartel and must use all of his wits to extricate himself.
I read this in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
More please!
May 26, 2024
Nick Belsey is a genuine original amongst the crowded detective market. This, I think, the fourth in the series and they must be read in order to get full value, even though they stand up well in individually. It’s rare to find something truly different like this and the books are so engrossing. First class.
August 13, 2022
Stunner of an addition to the Belsey series.
Belsey has escaped to Mexico but his propensity for attracting trouble has not deserted him. Soon he is being pursued by police and criminals alike.
Tight plotting and great pacing makes for a tense and thrilling read.
Belsey has escaped to Mexico but his propensity for attracting trouble has not deserted him. Soon he is being pursued by police and criminals alike.
Tight plotting and great pacing makes for a tense and thrilling read.
May 19, 2023
Fast paced fun read. Any number of coincidental items occur that require extraordinary suspension of belief, but still fun. Kind of like a James Bond movie or Jack Reacher novel in that respect. Good beach read.
July 1, 2023
Really enjoyed this whole series…hook, line and sinker
I’ve just read the whole series in 10 days..and just couldn’t stop. What a great writer, creates a unstoppable momentum, the plot is a perfectly slow reveal. Now what?
I’ve just read the whole series in 10 days..and just couldn’t stop. What a great writer, creates a unstoppable momentum, the plot is a perfectly slow reveal. Now what?
February 26, 2024
Harris's books move along nicely although in this case the plot stretches the reader's credulity. Nevertheless there are some pleasing twists and contrasting landscapes, all - seemingly - filled with villains.
April 7, 2024
Couldn't put it down! It was so good!
May 22, 2025
A strong 4 stars..a compelling & action packed read, with strong but believable characters.
August 21, 2025
More a Kirsty Craik novel than a Nick Belsey novel! but nevertheless very fast paced and enjoyable. Recommended.
January 21, 2023
Not as good as the earlier Nick Belsey's stories but still an excellent read.
This time Nick escapes to Mexico but unable to escape from trouble. Harris weaves his plot deftly and his mastery of the inner working of the police and criminal gangs is evident.
As usual, Harris fills the story with some very interesting and diverse (and perverse) characters and keep the readers guessing on Nick's intentions.
However, to me there is something missing, albeit if only slightly. Nick was a deeply flawed but brilliant detective in the previous novels. In this book, he seems to be almost normal and have lost some of his eccentricities. I miss that!
This time Nick escapes to Mexico but unable to escape from trouble. Harris weaves his plot deftly and his mastery of the inner working of the police and criminal gangs is evident.
As usual, Harris fills the story with some very interesting and diverse (and perverse) characters and keep the readers guessing on Nick's intentions.
However, to me there is something missing, albeit if only slightly. Nick was a deeply flawed but brilliant detective in the previous novels. In this book, he seems to be almost normal and have lost some of his eccentricities. I miss that!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews