Human Assets

by Alex Walters

After her son’s tragic death, a former cop discovers his dangerous secret life—and picks up where he left off . . .

Former police officer Emma Raven has a heartbreaking task ahead of gathering her late son’s possessions from his Cambridge college.

His death was deemed a suicide. But once she enters Paul’s room accompanied by his director of studies, Colin Gormley, and finds it’s been ransacked, she’s troubled. When this is followed by attacks against both Emma and Colin, the two flee.

But the danger doesn’t stop there.

Before long, the grieving mother is entangled in a deadly mystery that puts her right in the line of fire . . .

Genres: Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2022

About the author

Aka Michael Walters

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of Alex Walters for a long time and have enjoyed all of his crime and detective novels. So I decided to give his latest book a go. At first I was uncertain because, although the story seemed interesting, I couldn’t quite get an idea as to what it was really about and where it was going. However, all that changed after chapter 6 – it suddenly seemed to explode into something that appeared to be exceedingly interesting. As the story continued I realised that my initial thoughts were correct and that it’s a spy thriller. But what makes it so exciting is that it’s a different type of spy thriller. It appears to shed a different sort of light on what people believe these organisations actually do and what’s actually at stake. The author has managed to conjure up an idea that is beyond imagination and which keeps the reader guessing all the way through until the very end. It’s one of those situations where every character is a good guy until they suddenly become a bad guy, or in some cases the other way around. In some respects it was very complex and took a lot of concentration to understand what was going on, but that was the whole point because most of the characters had the same problems. Even at the end it was difficult to work out what was at stake but then we had an absolutely enormous twist that I really didn’t see coming, which totally changed the end game. Even in the closing paragraph we are left with a dangling thread and, although I should imagine it’s unlikely, I think it would make a great beginning to a new series. As different as this is to this author’s normal books, I thought it was brilliant and easily one of the best books I have ever read.

[Rosie Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my go-to genre and to be honest, I did enjoy it more than I thought I would.

Fast paced with engaging characters, you're never exactly sure who's betraying who and who you should trust. The author manages to keep you entertained, whilst still maintaining the elements of mystery.

I hadn't read any of the author's previous books but will be looking out for them in the future.

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this ARC, the opinions within this review are my own

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great.
Alex Walters takes you and drags you into the full story pretty much from the start.
Sad start then the ball rolls and uncovers a lot going on underneath.
Really good, fast paced and worth a buy.

[Faye Ridpath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Bloodhound Books.

I don't read this type of book, but the blurb intrigued me so I decided to give it a try.

I'm so glad I decided to step out of my comfort zone.

This book had many twists and it was never boring.

There was also wit and I love tense books that have humor thrown in.

If there are more books with these characters, I would read them.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommended - Five Star Read!

Alex Walters, quite apart from brilliant plotting creates characters who live and breathe, no cardboard cutouts from him. To superb plots and great characterisation he adds understated humour - what more could you ask for in an edge-of-the-seat thriller?

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Another great story by Alex featuring the Security services. A well constructed story with good strong characters and an ending that suggests that there may be more to come.

[Jane Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Just loved this new book. Will it be a stand alone? Just couldn't put it down. A real roller coaster of a plot.

[TS Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story, that starts rather slow, with the pace of action picking up only in the last third of the book.

[Gail Radka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book enjoyed the storyline and the twists. Also good descriptive location

[Dee (readaholic_dee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant.

[Sandra Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book comes out October 26, 2022. The paperback is available October 12 of 2022. This is a heartbreaking story of a mother son is no longer alive. Emma Raven a former police officer she lost her son Paul. She was going to get his possession from his dorm room at Cambridge College. Emma Raven with then guide to his room, Paul, was in by Colin Gormley. As they were walking to be her son last place he lived, she notices the surrounding areas looked sad, and the corridor seems endless, walls blankly beige, and the place the windows grimy to Emma Raven the mother of Paul. Then they enter the former police officer notice the room was searched and the place that someone was looking for something and did they find what they were looking for? This is a gripping story and the end you have to read. This is a real page turner, did Emma Raven's son committed suicide or was he murder you have to read to learn why, when, what, and how of the storyline. I hope you like this novel of mystery.

[Scott Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author I have read.

Emma Raven, a retired police executive, is informed that her son Paul has committed suicide at university. She goes to Cambridge to pick up his possessions where she encounters Paul's Director of Studies. She begins to ask some pr0bing questions and learns that nothing is as it seems. It appears that Paul is a brilliant student who is quite adept at computers. As the plot unfolds we learn that Paul has been involved in espionage and many people are interested in getting their hands on the list of human assets that he has been maintaining on his computer.

He has a couple of buddies who are involved but don't quite know what is going on. They make their way to Emma's seaside cottage where they suspect that Paul has left a clue. Emma and the Cambridge chap encounter them there.

Nothing is as it appears in this novel with the exception of Emma. This novel is not up to the Le Carre standard but it is an interesting read.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author's books and this one is no exception. This time, it's not part of the Murrain or McKay series so it was a totally new experience and a very enjoyable one too.

It starts with the apparent suicide of Paul, Emma's son and from then on, we are catapulted into a world of intrigue where nothing or no-one is what they seem, or so it appears. We have some intelligence agents who are determined to let nothing stand in their way while trying to keep their operation intact. It is a totally fast and gripping read and you're just dragged along in it's wake. You just have to keep reading to see what is going to happen next.

[Rach the Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest this isn’t my favourite book ever. It’s not a genre that I’ve read before and I wanted to try something different to my usual but it wasn’t really for me. I am certain that people who like espionage type stories will enjoy this. It’s fast paced and there are lots of elements to the story to keep you guessing what’s going on. I enjoyed the dialogue elements and they kept the story flowing nicely. I didn’t really have a clue who was double crossing who. I applaud the author’s creativity in writing this novel and keeping all the strands together until the end. It’s a well written novel. Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Danny Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Walters takes us on a journey of espionage and double cross in this fast paced book. It was full of suspense with twists and turns aplenty.

People started being killed and the one person connecting them was a student at  Cambridge who appeared to take his own life. When his mother,  a former police chief,  went to collect his belongings she herself  found herself at risk. Knowing who she could trust became a major issue. 

The author cleverly keeps you wondering what is going to happen next and who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. 

Thank you  to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily 

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites yet. This is a well written story about a grieving mother who finds herself in the middle of a deadly mystery. What happens, you don't want to miss this one. I enjoyed how the characters were able to pull me into their story with ease. This is a fast paced story that is full of action, mystery and twists and turns that you dont want to miss. I enjoyed watching the growth of this story which made it easy and entertaining to read. This is a great story that I highly recommend.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this was an enjoyable read, although at times I found all the talk of assets, and people double crossing each other slightly confusing....but maybe that's just me!
Emma is a likeable main character, and I could see her having more books written about her.
The pace of the book was good, and the weaving together of the different strands worked well.
I think anyone who enjoys spy thrillers would probably enjoy reading this book.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Emma Raven is at Cambridge to collect her son’s belongings after his suicide, she is shocked to discover his room has been trashed.
Along with one of his tutors she flees Cambridge.
Elsewhere Red and Danny have fled to hide in Emma’s seaside cottage, as their flats have also been trashed and their lives threatened.
Emma’s son Paul is the link but to what and why? A really good read.

[Sallie Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Raven, an ex policewoman, arrives in Cambridge to collect the belongings of her son who apparently committed suicide whilst at university. So begins a James Bond style escapade that takes her around the country with her sons tutor and two other men. Secrets within secrets, espionage and counter espionage Emma is on the hunt to find out what actually happened to her son and save her own life.
A fast paced story that constantly keeps you guessing - well worth a read!

[Kairen Harries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new book from one of my favourite authors so I had very high expectations. It is a move away from his usual police procedural into a thriller but was just as good as the other books.

There are multiple threads to the book with an ex-cop mum getting involved after the suicide of her son at university. This leads to the world of espionage and cybercrime.

The characterisation is great and I found the characters likeable.

Great stand alone book.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human assets by Alex Walters.
Former police officer Emma Raven has a heartbreaking task ahead of her: gathering her late son’s possessions from his Cambridge college. His death was deemed a suicide. But once she enters Paul’s room accompanied by his director of studies, Colin Gormley, and finds it’s been ransacked, she’s troubled. When this is followed by attacks against both Emma and Colin, the two flee. But the danger doesn’t stop there.
Brilliant read. Love Emma's character. 5*

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Walters is a new author to me so I sat down with this thriller and just went with the flow. Well, what a flow! It's fast paced, twisty and suspense filled.
The storyline had me hooked from the start and the characters are three dimensional so you believe in them, especially Emma.
It kept me guessing all the way and that's just perfect for me with this genre of book. I hope to see more of Emma Raven in the future.
Great thriller, highly recommended.
Thanks to Bloodhound

[Rock Chick Fee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of this Author and have all of his books to date.

This was a brilliant read, I rarely give five stars, to be honest I think this book deserves 10 stars.

A brilliant strong story line from the beginning to the end of the books, if you like Alex Walters, or even if you have not tried his books yet, you really need to read this book, its Brilliant.

[Caroline Edmondson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you retire from the Police you don't expect to be using your skills to investigate your own son's death: Emma is thrown into the shady world of spooks, double-cross and intrigue. Not knowing who to trust, all is not as it seems....right to the end. Fast-paced, a very good read. I think Emma might return?

[Jill Coates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did eventually enjoy this book though at times found it quite difficult to follow as I didn't understand all the terms used, but did like the way characters evolved.
The book is fast paced and Im pleased I stuck with it after an iffy start.
I think anyone who enjoys spy thrillers would probably enjoy reading this book.
I received this book as an ARC from Bloodhound Books, thanks.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Waters was a new author to me so I didn't really know what to expect. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I don't often read spy thrillers but this was more of a crime thriller with some spies, conspiracies and cybercrime to spice it up. I loved the characters and the way they all came together. The end twist was amazing!
I'll definitely be looking out for more by the author.

[Denise Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had me on the edge of my seat – often hidden under a blanket and waiting for a noise at my door!! For quite a few nights I was diligently checking that I had securely locked up!! The attention to detail draws you in, makes the characters credible and has you questioning your own reasoning. Keeps you guessing right to the end!! A good read.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Emma Raven is told of her son's suicide, she can't believe it. No parent would, but when she goes to get his things and notices things aren't right with her son's room, her 'cop mode' kicks in. Little did she know where this would lead her and what exactly was going on in her son's life. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read, well written with a storyline that held my interest and characters that you liked and some you disliked. I have to say this had twists and turns that had me guessing right to the very end. I won’t write about the storyline as I feel that’s the job of a blurb, to draw you in and peak your interest.

[Helga Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human Assets by Alex Walters was an excellent book from start to finish, especially as this was fast paced and full of great twists and turns.
Alex Walters is a new author to me. He will be on my to look out for authors in the future. I just love finding a new author that has me gripped from the beginning and I found it hard to put Human Assets down.