What do you think?
Rate this book
Opera
Listed for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2023
TRUTH NEVER DIES
It had been solely personal. Not anymore.
Determined to put the ghosts of her past to rest, Cassandra Fortune asks a former head of GCHQ for help, only to receive a message from beyond the grave. A riddle to puzzle out and a murder to solve. She revisits an old betrayal in an ancient land, uncovering subterfuge and treason.
As Christmas approaches, a shadowy presence haunts her footsteps. Is it because of the case, or is it the return of an old enemy? His criminal network shattered, is he seeking revenge?
What is real and what only appears to be? Who can be trusted and who is double-dealing? Cassie must find the truth. And survive.
TRUTH NEVER DIES
It had been solely personal. Not anymore.
Determined to put the ghosts of her past to rest, Cassandra Fortune asks a former head of GCHQ for help, only to receive a message from beyond the grave. A riddle to puzzle out and a murder to solve. She revisits an old betrayal in an ancient land, uncovering subterfuge and treason.
As Christmas approaches, a shadowy presence haunts her footsteps. Is it because of the case, or is it the return of an old enemy? His criminal network shattered, is he seeking revenge?
What is real and what only appears to be? Who can be trusted and who is double-dealing? Cassie must find the truth. And survive.
388 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2022
10 people want to read
About the author
Julie J. Anderson
16 books41 followersJulie Anderson is the CWA Dagger listed author of three Whitehall thrillers and a short series of historical adventure stories for young adults. Before becoming a crime fiction writer, she was a senior civil servant, working across a variety of departments and agencies, including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Unlike her protagonists, however, she doesn’t know where (all) the bodies are buried.
She writes crime fiction reviews for Time and Leisure Magazine and is a co-founder and Trustee of the Clapham Book Festival. She lives in south London where her latest crime fiction series is set, returning to her first love of writing historical fiction with The Midnight Man, for Hobeck Books. The first in the Clapham Trilogy, the second, A Death in the Afternoon will be published in April 2025.
Her books are available in bookshops, at Bookshop.org and on Amazon and Waterstones.
She blogs occasionally about things which interest her at www.julieandersonwriter.com and tweets occasionally at Twitter.com/jjulieanderson
She writes crime fiction reviews for Time and Leisure Magazine and is a co-founder and Trustee of the Clapham Book Festival. She lives in south London where her latest crime fiction series is set, returning to her first love of writing historical fiction with The Midnight Man, for Hobeck Books. The first in the Clapham Trilogy, the second, A Death in the Afternoon will be published in April 2025.
Her books are available in bookshops, at Bookshop.org and on Amazon and Waterstones.
She blogs occasionally about things which interest her at www.julieandersonwriter.com and tweets occasionally at Twitter.com/jjulieanderson
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 9, 2022
First we had ‘Plague’ then ‘Oracle’ and now we have Book 3 in the Series ‘Opera’ and we find ourselves back in the world of Cassandra ( now working for the P.M’s office ) and her life of spies,intrigue,Civil Service hierarchy and ‘organised chaos’, an ex colleague has been murdered,minutes before Cassandra arrives to see her and the story really then goes into a Whitehall whodunit with Cassandra’s life also on the line
As always the book is written with the expertise that the author can only bring ( and having worked in the House of Lords I can testify to it’s authenticity ) to this book and her wry humour intercepted with exciting storyline continues to make this Series a fast paced ,bumpy and exciting read,full of despicable characters and changing storylines
Thoroughly enjoyable and will be eye opening for readers
9/10
5 Stars
As always the book is written with the expertise that the author can only bring ( and having worked in the House of Lords I can testify to it’s authenticity ) to this book and her wry humour intercepted with exciting storyline continues to make this Series a fast paced ,bumpy and exciting read,full of despicable characters and changing storylines
Thoroughly enjoyable and will be eye opening for readers
9/10
5 Stars
August 17, 2022
This is the close to a very good trilogy. Cassandra Fortune will be missed by me. Full review to come.
Many thanks to the author for the Advance Reader's Copy.
Many thanks to the author for the Advance Reader's Copy.
September 15, 2022
Cassandra Fortune has to organize an opera night for her boss and some colleagues from out of town. With much else she’d rather be doing the timing is lousy. But when it rains it pours, and this is London after all.
Also her boss is the British PM, the colleagues are a distinguished foreign delegation and her to-do list is soon to say: SOLVE A MURDER. Thus begins the final installment of a thriller trilogy (“Thrillogy!”) that calls to mind the joyfully clandestine dangers of Ian Fleming and John Le Carré.
Learning some key details is all it takes for a reader to catch up from the first two books of the series. Before Downing Street, Fortune worked deep inside GCHQ, fighting His Majesty’s intelligence wars with her stalwart colleague Angela Kayser.
It seems this co-worker confidant was also a guardian angel because Fortune was muscled out of the spy game shortly after Angela stepped away from public service.
The passage of time helps not at all. Cassandra wants an explanation, but visiting her mentor’s cottage for a chat she finds no answers: just the murdered corpse of a dear friend.
OPERA mixes two of England’s best-loved literary specialties into a refreshingly fun swirl of detective/espionage suspense.
The hunt for Angela’s killer leads Cassandra toward the dangerous intersection of crime and politics. Fortune is right at home sleuthing, but her George Smiley tradecraft had better be as sharp as her Miss Marple skills.
The book’s tagline assures us “Truth Never Dies,” but people sure do. Thus was I easily taken in by Cassie’s relentless pursuit of the truth despite Death at her heels, and myriad misdirections to be overcome.
With the curtain fallen on OPERA it won’t be long before I circle back to the start of the Cassie Fortune Mysteries. She’s sound as a pound.
Also her boss is the British PM, the colleagues are a distinguished foreign delegation and her to-do list is soon to say: SOLVE A MURDER. Thus begins the final installment of a thriller trilogy (“Thrillogy!”) that calls to mind the joyfully clandestine dangers of Ian Fleming and John Le Carré.
Learning some key details is all it takes for a reader to catch up from the first two books of the series. Before Downing Street, Fortune worked deep inside GCHQ, fighting His Majesty’s intelligence wars with her stalwart colleague Angela Kayser.
It seems this co-worker confidant was also a guardian angel because Fortune was muscled out of the spy game shortly after Angela stepped away from public service.
The passage of time helps not at all. Cassandra wants an explanation, but visiting her mentor’s cottage for a chat she finds no answers: just the murdered corpse of a dear friend.
OPERA mixes two of England’s best-loved literary specialties into a refreshingly fun swirl of detective/espionage suspense.
The hunt for Angela’s killer leads Cassandra toward the dangerous intersection of crime and politics. Fortune is right at home sleuthing, but her George Smiley tradecraft had better be as sharp as her Miss Marple skills.
The book’s tagline assures us “Truth Never Dies,” but people sure do. Thus was I easily taken in by Cassie’s relentless pursuit of the truth despite Death at her heels, and myriad misdirections to be overcome.
With the curtain fallen on OPERA it won’t be long before I circle back to the start of the Cassie Fortune Mysteries. She’s sound as a pound.
August 20, 2022
If you are interested in political crime thrillers, this is a series you do not want to miss.
Opera is the last in the Cassandra Fortune trilogy and although can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading Plague and Oracle, and the background leading to some of the events in Opera.
Although this is a work of fiction it scarily resembles some current goings on in Westminster.
Cassie is a very strong female lead character. Pushed out of her job at GCHQ soon after her boss retired, she now works as a personal aide to the Prime Minister.
Having already solved murder cases in the previous books, she now wants to investigate the reason she was ousted from her role at GCHQ. She contacts her ex-boss, retired head of GCHQ and whip smart Angela, for help only to make a gruesome discovery when she arrives at her home. Angela has been murdered.
Now Cassie has more on her plate. As well as her personal investigation into losing her job, she is also investigating Angela’s murder and finds clues from her ex boss about a case Angela was investigating in her retirement. Is this the reason she was murdered?
Who can she trust? Is there a traitor inside the government? Is she a target now?
Oh and in her day job she had to make plans for Greek ministers to visit, including organising for them to visit the opera and ensuring security is airtight.
A brilliantly plotted tale with many high ranking players, any of whom could be a murderer.
Many thanks Julie for allowing me to read advance copies for all three of these books.
Opera is the last in the Cassandra Fortune trilogy and although can be read as a stand alone I would highly recommend reading Plague and Oracle, and the background leading to some of the events in Opera.
Although this is a work of fiction it scarily resembles some current goings on in Westminster.
Cassie is a very strong female lead character. Pushed out of her job at GCHQ soon after her boss retired, she now works as a personal aide to the Prime Minister.
Having already solved murder cases in the previous books, she now wants to investigate the reason she was ousted from her role at GCHQ. She contacts her ex-boss, retired head of GCHQ and whip smart Angela, for help only to make a gruesome discovery when she arrives at her home. Angela has been murdered.
Now Cassie has more on her plate. As well as her personal investigation into losing her job, she is also investigating Angela’s murder and finds clues from her ex boss about a case Angela was investigating in her retirement. Is this the reason she was murdered?
Who can she trust? Is there a traitor inside the government? Is she a target now?
Oh and in her day job she had to make plans for Greek ministers to visit, including organising for them to visit the opera and ensuring security is airtight.
A brilliantly plotted tale with many high ranking players, any of whom could be a murderer.
Many thanks Julie for allowing me to read advance copies for all three of these books.
September 16, 2023
I cannot, in all conscience, rate my own book. So I have taken the most often received star rating and added that. Also, Opera was long listed for the Ian Fleming CWA Steel Dagger 2023.
September 15, 2022
It’s 2007, and in a women’s jail in Peshawar, Pakistan, one of the inmates is called out by a guard. She has been waiting for it and goes willingly with him. What happens next to her, and her partner, will have ramifications throughout the UK security services for years to come.
Cassandra Fortune is in the sleepy village of Battle to visit her old GCHQ boss, Angela Kayser. Cassie, ex-spook, ex-procurement minion, is still determined to find out why she suffered such a spectacular fall from grace. But the front door to Angela’s cottage is suspiciously ajar and, when she hears footsteps upstairs and encounters a policeman responding to a 999 call, she knows that the worst may have already happened. Especially when they encounter a horrific scene in the summerhouse…
Now Cassie has another mission; to find out the truth about what happened to Angela on her own doorstep and also the reason for her sending Cassie a mysterious Christmas present. It seemed to be full of hidden clues and strangely, Angela had never sent her a Christmas present before.
And, if Cassie’s life wasn’t busy enough, she is escorting a group of Greek ministers as they visit London and meet with David Hurst, the Prime Minister.
Why was her unit at GCHQ, the Internal Investigations Unit, shut down and she disgraced so suddenly. Someone wants something buried and if a Civil Service mandarin has his way she will be shamed out of office once again. But she has allies in Jack Martineau, Frank Cairns and Sir Rory Newcomen who knows the Palace of Westminster like the back of his hand and has a key to every door within it. But will one of them betray her?
Angela was a vegan so who ate the decidedly non-vegan breakfast with her at the cottage? It was someone she obviously knew and then there’s a familiar voice on the recording of the 999 call that sent police to the cottage. Cassie turns to the current GCHQ Board to try to find answers which all seem to lead back to the events of 2007.
But it’s only been a few months since her swift demotion and then her rebirth and she still missies DI Andrew Rowlands from the first book in the series, Plague. And dangerous and devious Lawrence Delahaye is still around, lurking in the shadows…
It all culminates in an exciting chase through the bowels (literally) of the Palace of Westminster sewage system and a very surprising final line.
This is a novel of skulduggery and secrets at the heart of Government and it is a multi-layered, fast moving plot which asks ’Who can you trust?’ It is also Cassie’s search for the truth as she fights her way through lies, downright malice and with the increasing sense that there is a traitor in the heart of the GCHQ.
As in Plague, London made a wonderful backdrop to the action; black cabs on a rainy December evening as Christmas approaches, the glitter of a performance of Tosca at the Royal Opera House together with the author’s insider knowledge of the Palace of Westminster. This really brought the novel to life especially in the chase scenes near the end.
Cassie is a determined and resilient heroine who will pursue the truth at great risk to herself. She is adept at negotiating her way around Whitehall and Westminster and I am sorry that this series has come to a close.
Cassandra Fortune is in the sleepy village of Battle to visit her old GCHQ boss, Angela Kayser. Cassie, ex-spook, ex-procurement minion, is still determined to find out why she suffered such a spectacular fall from grace. But the front door to Angela’s cottage is suspiciously ajar and, when she hears footsteps upstairs and encounters a policeman responding to a 999 call, she knows that the worst may have already happened. Especially when they encounter a horrific scene in the summerhouse…
Now Cassie has another mission; to find out the truth about what happened to Angela on her own doorstep and also the reason for her sending Cassie a mysterious Christmas present. It seemed to be full of hidden clues and strangely, Angela had never sent her a Christmas present before.
And, if Cassie’s life wasn’t busy enough, she is escorting a group of Greek ministers as they visit London and meet with David Hurst, the Prime Minister.
Why was her unit at GCHQ, the Internal Investigations Unit, shut down and she disgraced so suddenly. Someone wants something buried and if a Civil Service mandarin has his way she will be shamed out of office once again. But she has allies in Jack Martineau, Frank Cairns and Sir Rory Newcomen who knows the Palace of Westminster like the back of his hand and has a key to every door within it. But will one of them betray her?
Angela was a vegan so who ate the decidedly non-vegan breakfast with her at the cottage? It was someone she obviously knew and then there’s a familiar voice on the recording of the 999 call that sent police to the cottage. Cassie turns to the current GCHQ Board to try to find answers which all seem to lead back to the events of 2007.
But it’s only been a few months since her swift demotion and then her rebirth and she still missies DI Andrew Rowlands from the first book in the series, Plague. And dangerous and devious Lawrence Delahaye is still around, lurking in the shadows…
It all culminates in an exciting chase through the bowels (literally) of the Palace of Westminster sewage system and a very surprising final line.
This is a novel of skulduggery and secrets at the heart of Government and it is a multi-layered, fast moving plot which asks ’Who can you trust?’ It is also Cassie’s search for the truth as she fights her way through lies, downright malice and with the increasing sense that there is a traitor in the heart of the GCHQ.
As in Plague, London made a wonderful backdrop to the action; black cabs on a rainy December evening as Christmas approaches, the glitter of a performance of Tosca at the Royal Opera House together with the author’s insider knowledge of the Palace of Westminster. This really brought the novel to life especially in the chase scenes near the end.
Cassie is a determined and resilient heroine who will pursue the truth at great risk to herself. She is adept at negotiating her way around Whitehall and Westminster and I am sorry that this series has come to a close.
September 12, 2022
This is the third and final book in the Cassandra Fortune trilogy and I'm feeling a bit bereft. Having enjoyed the previous 2 books and being a fan of political thrillers and espionage stories anyway, I was excited to finally get to read this. I wasn't disappointed.
I found this the best of the three books. The other 2 were great but this felt on another level. There was less of a historical link like in the previous books. This time the history was more recent. I'm not sure if it was the anticipation of the release date of the book or just seeing what situation Cassie found herself in, but I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed this. Cassie is determined to find out why she was really pushed out of GCHQ and the book starts with her on the way to meet her old colleague Angela. Instead she ends up finding her body, having been brutally murdered. Cue a determined Cassie trying to get to the bottom of things which seems to have links to events in Pakistan in 2012.
The events of the book feel quite real and it is clear that the author has a lot of knowledge of the workings of government departments.
I feel sad that this is the final one of the trilogy and hope that maybe there might be another book or 2 involving Cassie at some stage in the future.
If you like political thrillers and a book full of suspense and intrigue, then this is for you. Start with Plague though and then read Oracle before you get to this one, to really appreciate the series.
I found this the best of the three books. The other 2 were great but this felt on another level. There was less of a historical link like in the previous books. This time the history was more recent. I'm not sure if it was the anticipation of the release date of the book or just seeing what situation Cassie found herself in, but I can't begin to explain how much I enjoyed this. Cassie is determined to find out why she was really pushed out of GCHQ and the book starts with her on the way to meet her old colleague Angela. Instead she ends up finding her body, having been brutally murdered. Cue a determined Cassie trying to get to the bottom of things which seems to have links to events in Pakistan in 2012.
The events of the book feel quite real and it is clear that the author has a lot of knowledge of the workings of government departments.
I feel sad that this is the final one of the trilogy and hope that maybe there might be another book or 2 involving Cassie at some stage in the future.
If you like political thrillers and a book full of suspense and intrigue, then this is for you. Start with Plague though and then read Oracle before you get to this one, to really appreciate the series.
September 5, 2022
"Opera", the final book in the "Cassandra Fortune trilogy" begins with a big jolt that's sure to get everyone's attention (though if you're not paying attention after "Plague" and "Oracle" I'm not sure what you've been doing!). You'll probably expect me to praise the writing, plot, and character development if you've read my reviews for books 1 and 2... and I do (whole-heartedly!)... But all I can think right now is that I'm going to miss Cassie. I guess I'll have to start reading from the beginning, but that won't be a bad thing!
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
November 19, 2022
Opera is the third and apparently final book in Julie Anderson's Cassandra Fortune series. It cleverly ties up some of the storylines that have run through the previous books but still left me hoping for further novels set in this alternate reality. With that in mind, I'd advise reading Plague and Oracle first if possible. Opera can easily be enjoyed as an excellent stand-alone thriller but it has clearly been written to follow an ongoing arc and so is really more rewarding read that way.
Following her recent trip to Greece, Cassie has decided to confront her own past and to finally seek the truth about why she was forced to leave her previous civil service post under such a cloud. However, it quickly becomes apparent that if she wants to find the answer, she has a mystery to solve first – and there can be no denying that she is up against a ruthless, deadly foe. One of the many high points of this series for me has always been the insights we are given into Cassie's thoughts; most of the narrative is written in the third person but throughout the book are brief first-person insights into what she is thinking. It means we can more easily understand her but also helps to give the plot a feeling of immediacy.
The sense of place is as impeccable as ever and the scenes within the Palace of Westminster are particularly fascinating. Julie Anderson's former career as a civil servant means there's an assured authenticity to the book and though it may be fiction, it is entirely believable. Cassandra oversees the visit from the Greek Finance Minister and his entourage, which sees a brief but welcome return of some of the characters from Oracle. More importantly, it also allows for some terrifically nail-biting scenes – including a visit to see Tosca at the Royal Opera House, which leads to intriguing parallels being drawn.
With political protestors seeking to disrupt the visit and those with a personal grudge making their presence known, the suspense is almost unbearable and this sense of tension and ominous foreboding never really lets up. Cassie tries to figure out what the coded message she has been left really means, knowing that somebody has already killed at least one before to prevent the truth being exposed. As well as the potential threat to her life, she also has to deal with the attacks on her reputation, and the man who almost destroyed her before is back, toying with her. The complex plot intricately weaves the three books together and it's important to note that despite always containing the core elements which make the trilogy so enjoyable, these never feel like formulaic reads. The past is always crucial to proceedings but whereas Plague explored some of London's subterranean history and Oracle featured Greek mythology, Opera examines the more recent past – and it transpires that there are plenty of people who may have something to hide.
Cassie has a list of suspects and with all of them acting suspiciously, she doesn't know who she can trust. The murky world of spies becomes a key focus and the Machiavellian scheming and jealous backstabbing is a sheer delight as the tension is ratcheted up time and again. There are shocking disclosures, clever twists and a brilliant final confrontation which again plays to all Julie Anderson's strengths. Her characterisation is first-rate; the dogged, resourceful Cassie is the star of the show, of course but the supporting cast are superbly rendered too. The immersive descriptions and dramatic revelations create a wonderfully chilling sensation of unease as we are reminded how much we don't know about what goes on behind closed doors. I love a riveting, intelligent political espionage thriller and the richly atmospheric, nerve-racking Opera is exactly that. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to reading whatever Julie Anderson writes next.
Following her recent trip to Greece, Cassie has decided to confront her own past and to finally seek the truth about why she was forced to leave her previous civil service post under such a cloud. However, it quickly becomes apparent that if she wants to find the answer, she has a mystery to solve first – and there can be no denying that she is up against a ruthless, deadly foe. One of the many high points of this series for me has always been the insights we are given into Cassie's thoughts; most of the narrative is written in the third person but throughout the book are brief first-person insights into what she is thinking. It means we can more easily understand her but also helps to give the plot a feeling of immediacy.
The sense of place is as impeccable as ever and the scenes within the Palace of Westminster are particularly fascinating. Julie Anderson's former career as a civil servant means there's an assured authenticity to the book and though it may be fiction, it is entirely believable. Cassandra oversees the visit from the Greek Finance Minister and his entourage, which sees a brief but welcome return of some of the characters from Oracle. More importantly, it also allows for some terrifically nail-biting scenes – including a visit to see Tosca at the Royal Opera House, which leads to intriguing parallels being drawn.
With political protestors seeking to disrupt the visit and those with a personal grudge making their presence known, the suspense is almost unbearable and this sense of tension and ominous foreboding never really lets up. Cassie tries to figure out what the coded message she has been left really means, knowing that somebody has already killed at least one before to prevent the truth being exposed. As well as the potential threat to her life, she also has to deal with the attacks on her reputation, and the man who almost destroyed her before is back, toying with her. The complex plot intricately weaves the three books together and it's important to note that despite always containing the core elements which make the trilogy so enjoyable, these never feel like formulaic reads. The past is always crucial to proceedings but whereas Plague explored some of London's subterranean history and Oracle featured Greek mythology, Opera examines the more recent past – and it transpires that there are plenty of people who may have something to hide.
Cassie has a list of suspects and with all of them acting suspiciously, she doesn't know who she can trust. The murky world of spies becomes a key focus and the Machiavellian scheming and jealous backstabbing is a sheer delight as the tension is ratcheted up time and again. There are shocking disclosures, clever twists and a brilliant final confrontation which again plays to all Julie Anderson's strengths. Her characterisation is first-rate; the dogged, resourceful Cassie is the star of the show, of course but the supporting cast are superbly rendered too. The immersive descriptions and dramatic revelations create a wonderfully chilling sensation of unease as we are reminded how much we don't know about what goes on behind closed doors. I love a riveting, intelligent political espionage thriller and the richly atmospheric, nerve-racking Opera is exactly that. I thoroughly recommend it and look forward to reading whatever Julie Anderson writes next.
September 20, 2022
Opera is a smart, sophisticated, page-turning thriller. It's one of those books that keeps you up late, leaves you tired the next day and keeps you up late again the next night. It's that good. Anderson manages to combine an unpredictable but totally credible plot line that is edge-of-your seat exciting from beginning to end with a writing style that is wonderfully descriptive without going over the top - something few writers can do. Opera is a great read.
September 13, 2022
I read this as a standalone and as someone who did so, I don't feel like I missed much from not reading the previous two in terms of it affecting my enjoyment but it has made me want to read more in the series and go back and read this one again.
It is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that kept elevating the storyline with each chapter.
Fast paced and full of mystery and suspense, I didn't know what to believe and who to trust. If you like political thrillers then you will love this.
It is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters that kept elevating the storyline with each chapter.
Fast paced and full of mystery and suspense, I didn't know what to believe and who to trust. If you like political thrillers then you will love this.
August 13, 2023
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3OBqSor.6
Cassandra asked to meet with her old boss only to arrive at a grizzly murder scene. It seems her previous boss has a task for her to undertake from beyond the grave. A task that will shed light on her own removal from the previous institution. Can she find the truth before either this treasonous murderer or a dethroned crime lord from her past kill her first?
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Going into the book I did not know it was not book one. While I feel like I am missing a large piece of Cassandra's past involving the crime lord and all that happened at GCHQ I was able to receive the gist of it in this book and was thereby not completely lost. While this book could be read as a stand-alone, if you don't mind some knowledge gaps, if you plan on reading the others in this series it is probably best to start at the beginning. Personally, now that I have read this one I wouldn't want to read the others because I already know how they play out. While that is fine with romances, it takes something away from mysteries.
Other than this one detail I enjoyed this book. The blame is constantly shifted around to various parties as should be done during a murder mystery. Even if you suspect the murderer, which I did, there are better candidates. You'll see what I mean. The book is fast paced and you don't feel like you are having to work your way through the dialog portions just to get to the action.
I'm also not saying there is only one character in this book you will love to hate. Because the person I hated most in this book wasn't even the killer. Big surprise there. But, he deserved what he got.
Still, this book was exciting and a fun read. I look forward to more from this author, just not in this series since I know how the first books would end now.
Cassandra asked to meet with her old boss only to arrive at a grizzly murder scene. It seems her previous boss has a task for her to undertake from beyond the grave. A task that will shed light on her own removal from the previous institution. Can she find the truth before either this treasonous murderer or a dethroned crime lord from her past kill her first?
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Going into the book I did not know it was not book one. While I feel like I am missing a large piece of Cassandra's past involving the crime lord and all that happened at GCHQ I was able to receive the gist of it in this book and was thereby not completely lost. While this book could be read as a stand-alone, if you don't mind some knowledge gaps, if you plan on reading the others in this series it is probably best to start at the beginning. Personally, now that I have read this one I wouldn't want to read the others because I already know how they play out. While that is fine with romances, it takes something away from mysteries.
Other than this one detail I enjoyed this book. The blame is constantly shifted around to various parties as should be done during a murder mystery. Even if you suspect the murderer, which I did, there are better candidates. You'll see what I mean. The book is fast paced and you don't feel like you are having to work your way through the dialog portions just to get to the action.
I'm also not saying there is only one character in this book you will love to hate. Because the person I hated most in this book wasn't even the killer. Big surprise there. But, he deserved what he got.
Still, this book was exciting and a fun read. I look forward to more from this author, just not in this series since I know how the first books would end now.
September 12, 2022
On 9th of September would have been my spot on a blog tour with LoveBooksTours for Julie Anderson’s Opera. I read this thriller as an ebook for this tour and I’m glad I took part on this blog tour as I liked this novel. I’m posting my review a few days later than expected, as sadly Queen Elizabeth II passed away and as a sign of respect to the Queen I did not post any reviews on Friday.
I found this novel to be thrilling and exciting. It took the reader deep into the world of politics, espionage, corruption, intelligence services and spies. There were so many lies, secrets and plot twists in this novel that I found it very hard to put it down once I started the novel. It most definitely held my interest and attention from start to finish.
I really liked the suspenseful nature of this thriller and the ‘who has done it?’ element. I liked the author’s writing style, the character development and Westminster and Whitehall as a location for the story. This is the first novel which I’ve read by the author and I’m hoping to read more in the future. I found this thriller to be cleverly written, very intelligent, interesting and intriguing reading.
All the way throughout this novel I wished for the main character to stay strong and safe. She was very brave to investigate and get involved solving the awful crimes, but this in turn put her life in danger. This thrilling and exciting novel made very good reading, and I’m giving it 4 stars as I think other readers will like it too, especially if they are fans of political, espionage and crime novels and thrillers.
I found this novel to be thrilling and exciting. It took the reader deep into the world of politics, espionage, corruption, intelligence services and spies. There were so many lies, secrets and plot twists in this novel that I found it very hard to put it down once I started the novel. It most definitely held my interest and attention from start to finish.
I really liked the suspenseful nature of this thriller and the ‘who has done it?’ element. I liked the author’s writing style, the character development and Westminster and Whitehall as a location for the story. This is the first novel which I’ve read by the author and I’m hoping to read more in the future. I found this thriller to be cleverly written, very intelligent, interesting and intriguing reading.
All the way throughout this novel I wished for the main character to stay strong and safe. She was very brave to investigate and get involved solving the awful crimes, but this in turn put her life in danger. This thrilling and exciting novel made very good reading, and I’m giving it 4 stars as I think other readers will like it too, especially if they are fans of political, espionage and crime novels and thrillers.
September 28, 2022
Julie Anderson has done it again with a page-turning political thriller. It's intelligent, realistic, informed, and fun. One of the things that I like the best about her writing is that the character of Cassie Fortune is so believable. I've met people like her.
I don't believe in spoilers so I won't say anything that isn't on the back cover of the book or in the first few pages. Cassandra Fortune is a civil servant, so high-ranking that she floats from one job to the next. She's also been stabbed in the back by colleagues and she doesn't know why. She has a bit of a break between jobs and so she goes on a search for an explanation. She wants to get to the bottom of this very personal mystery. So she contacts her old boss and they arrange to meet for breakfast.
When Cassie gets to her old boss's house, she discovers that the boss has been murdered.
The chase begins.
Will Cassie figure out who killed her boss and why before she herself is taken down? Who can she trust?
I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next one.
I don't believe in spoilers so I won't say anything that isn't on the back cover of the book or in the first few pages. Cassandra Fortune is a civil servant, so high-ranking that she floats from one job to the next. She's also been stabbed in the back by colleagues and she doesn't know why. She has a bit of a break between jobs and so she goes on a search for an explanation. She wants to get to the bottom of this very personal mystery. So she contacts her old boss and they arrange to meet for breakfast.
When Cassie gets to her old boss's house, she discovers that the boss has been murdered.
The chase begins.
Will Cassie figure out who killed her boss and why before she herself is taken down? Who can she trust?
I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next one.
May 10, 2023
Anderson delivered once again!
The third book of the Cassandra Fortune series was delivered flawlessly by Julie Anderson. The plot and the story is so in-depth and detailed that, in my opinion, it would completely work if it was just a stand-alone novel on its own. The story is set as Christmas draws near, Cassie is touring delegates from Greece around London - the opposite of Oracle, where Cassie was in Greece - when another murder appears, this time, someone she knew... With unexpected political mysteries and unlikely duos, Cassie sets out once more to reveal the missing puzzle piece in her story and unveil hidden truths.
With double-agents, betrayals, criminal networks and a revenge plot, this book really well crafted and equally as gripping as the two previous books. The descriptions of the opera and landmarks were truly beautiful and added so much depth, Anderson must have really done her research. She has outdone herself. Loved the book, hopefully it wasn't the last!
The third book of the Cassandra Fortune series was delivered flawlessly by Julie Anderson. The plot and the story is so in-depth and detailed that, in my opinion, it would completely work if it was just a stand-alone novel on its own. The story is set as Christmas draws near, Cassie is touring delegates from Greece around London - the opposite of Oracle, where Cassie was in Greece - when another murder appears, this time, someone she knew... With unexpected political mysteries and unlikely duos, Cassie sets out once more to reveal the missing puzzle piece in her story and unveil hidden truths.
With double-agents, betrayals, criminal networks and a revenge plot, this book really well crafted and equally as gripping as the two previous books. The descriptions of the opera and landmarks were truly beautiful and added so much depth, Anderson must have really done her research. She has outdone herself. Loved the book, hopefully it wasn't the last!
December 9, 2022
This is the third of the Cassandra Fortune trilogy, and is, for me, the best yet. It's a real thriller, with the same twists, gripping narrative and relentless pace, that the author gave us in the first two; and a brilliantly tantalising conclusion! I really enjoy this author's style of writing, as it has just enough description, without slowing the pace, and a few helpful recaps, so that you remember the details without looking back. Definitely the best novel of this genre that I've read for a long time.
October 24, 2022
In her third Cassie Fortune novel, Julie Anderson uses her intimate knowledge of government, the civil service and the security services to deliver a first rate thriller. Some questions posed in Plague and Oracle are answered but new questions are posed. Can't wait for the next instalment!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews