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Tweed & Co. #20
Das Netz
Tweed faces the most frightening challenge of his career as London becomes the next terrorist target in the wake of September 11th.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Colin Forbes
156 books116 followersRaymond Harold Sawkins was a British novelist, who mainly published under the pseudonym Colin Forbes, but also as Richard Raine, Jay Bernard and Harold English. He only published three of his first books under his own name.Sawkins wrote over 40 books, mostly as Colin Forbes. He was most famous for his long-running series of thriller novels in which the principal character is Tweed, Deputy Director of the Secret Intelligence Service.
Sawkins attended The Lower School of John Lyon in Harrow, London. At the age of 16 he started work as a sub-editor with a magazine and book publishing company. He served with the British Army in North Africa and the Middle East during World War II. Before his demobilization he was attached to the Army Newspaper Unit in Rome. On his return to civilian life he joined a publishing and printing company, commuting to London for 20 years, until he became successful enough to be a full-time novelist.
Sawkins was married to a Scots-Canadian, Jane Robertson (born 31 March 1925, died 1993). Together they had one daughter, Janet.Sawkins died of a heart attack on August 23, 2006.
Sawkins was often quoted as personally visiting every location he features in his books to aid the authenticity of the writing. As a result, there is detailed description of the places where the action in his books takes place.
Fury (1995) was inspired by the courage of his wife before she died, and he set it apart from his other novels “because of the strong emotion and sense of loss that runs through it”.
Just one of Forbes' novels was made into a film: Avalanche Express, directed by Mark Robson and starring Lee Marvin and Robert Shaw, which was released in 1979 to generally poor reviews.
Sawkins attended The Lower School of John Lyon in Harrow, London. At the age of 16 he started work as a sub-editor with a magazine and book publishing company. He served with the British Army in North Africa and the Middle East during World War II. Before his demobilization he was attached to the Army Newspaper Unit in Rome. On his return to civilian life he joined a publishing and printing company, commuting to London for 20 years, until he became successful enough to be a full-time novelist.
Sawkins was married to a Scots-Canadian, Jane Robertson (born 31 March 1925, died 1993). Together they had one daughter, Janet.Sawkins died of a heart attack on August 23, 2006.
Sawkins was often quoted as personally visiting every location he features in his books to aid the authenticity of the writing. As a result, there is detailed description of the places where the action in his books takes place.
Fury (1995) was inspired by the courage of his wife before she died, and he set it apart from his other novels “because of the strong emotion and sense of loss that runs through it”.
Just one of Forbes' novels was made into a film: Avalanche Express, directed by Mark Robson and starring Lee Marvin and Robert Shaw, which was released in 1979 to generally poor reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 19, 2022
3,75 sterren- Nederlandse hardcover
June 23, 2016
One of Forbes' best since the fall of the USSR as Tweed's main enemy. Far more relevant and current, with the 'good guys' also sustaining some injuries and collateral damage. The main problem? Forbes still tries to tie too much together at the end, and he can't see past this idea that 'masterminds' have to be British. Are other nationalities lacking the required intelligence or something?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2014
A very enjoyable read from a very good author.
June 24, 2019
After reading hundreds of books I can honestly say that this one has to be the worst I've ever read.
What is so bad about it you might ask? Well, the simple answer is: EVERYTHING.
Starting with the absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable plot that gets more absurd with each page, throw in flat and stereotypical characters, laughable dialogues, bad writing and non-stop over the top action.
After the first 30-40 pages I honestly thought I was reading a parody, but apparently Colin Forbes really intended to write a thriller.
The story plays in London and a village named Carpford which in Forbes' book both seem to be far more dangerous than Medellin in the Escobar years. A bunch of 'black turban wearing guys' (he really describes them like this) is about to attack London and Detective Tweed and his team of 'goodlooking women' and the 'best sharpshooters of Europe' run into situations where they exchange fire with the bad guys on basically every page.
If I had to guess I would have said it was written by a testosterone-fueled 14-year old with bad writing skills, but it seems that Colin Forbes was actually 79 when he wrote that book.
What is so bad about it you might ask? Well, the simple answer is: EVERYTHING.
Starting with the absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable plot that gets more absurd with each page, throw in flat and stereotypical characters, laughable dialogues, bad writing and non-stop over the top action.
After the first 30-40 pages I honestly thought I was reading a parody, but apparently Colin Forbes really intended to write a thriller.
The story plays in London and a village named Carpford which in Forbes' book both seem to be far more dangerous than Medellin in the Escobar years. A bunch of 'black turban wearing guys' (he really describes them like this) is about to attack London and Detective Tweed and his team of 'goodlooking women' and the 'best sharpshooters of Europe' run into situations where they exchange fire with the bad guys on basically every page.
If I had to guess I would have said it was written by a testosterone-fueled 14-year old with bad writing skills, but it seems that Colin Forbes was actually 79 when he wrote that book.
February 4, 2023
I love a good thriller but really struggled with this one. It's bloated, overlong and feels like it was a real struggle to write because it's an equal struggle to read and make sense of. There's a good book in here somewhere because the story of Muslim terrorists planning to blow up London has merit, even though you get the feeling this was written to cash in on the 9/11 attacks which are constantly referenced. But the 'mystery village' plotline feels nonsensical and tagged on, like something out of CLUEDO. The main characters are two-dimensional at best and just there to serve the plot, and all have indestructible plot armour which makes the action sequences feel oddly inert. Apparently there are over 20 books in this series featuring the same characters, and I can only hope that the others are better! I'd rather stick with Chris Ryan and Andy McNab...
September 19, 2018
Almost gave up half way through.Wish I had ! Absolutely rediculous plot and characters not to mention the spelling mistakes.How old was Colinn Forbes when he wrote this Dribble in his early Teens I guess.Don"t waste your time.
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July 7, 2019awesome british action the only author i can genuinely relate to .. 5 days straight binged it .
August 26, 2020
Keeps you on your toes. Can’t drop the book down without finishing it. But not advisable for readers who want very practical crime fiction.
June 16, 2021
Colin Forbes was such a good writer. Great characters, excellent storyline.
August 24, 2022
Couldn’t put the book down. Once again, Colin Forbes and Tweed keep the momentum going. Characters come to life on the pages. Bit far-fetched at times but, that said, an excellent read.
July 22, 2025
Great book and my second book of the author, I really like the twists in the plot, as if watching thriller movie.
November 15, 2012
London schwebt in großer Gefahr...doch scheinbar will das niemand erkennen, zumindest bis auf Tweed und sein Spezialteam (einer Bande aus Macho-Männern mit großen Gewehren und einer gutaussehenden Frau, die im Umgang mit Schusswaffen jeglichen Kalibers geübt ist, dabei aber trotzdem noch bei jeder Kleinigkeit die klischeehaft überemotionale Frauenrolle einnimmt). Ihm ist es zu verdanken, dass England auf einen Terroranschlag durch die El Kaida vorbereitet ist, der größere Ausmaße als 9/11 annehmen soll...
Die Geschichte ist spannend und actionreich erzählt und spielt zu großen Teilen in einem mysteriösen, total verrückten Dorf namens Carpford, leider sind das aber dann auch schon die Qualitäten. Das Buch könnte sofort in einen handlungsschwachen, dafür aber an Special Effects reichen Actionfilm umgearbeitet werden - bei hübschen Frauen, nervenaufreibenden Schusswechseln, ohrenbetäubenden Detonationen und vielen niedergemähten Terrorverdächtigen mag man(n?) vielleicht darüber hinwegsehen, dass die Geschichte nicht gerade vor Logik oder Glaubhaftigkeit strotzt ;) Mich hat allerdings das Frauenbild und die etwas plumpen Charaktere der Widersacher Tweeds, ebenso wie die Botschaft gestört, die das Buch vermittelt: Oh nein, jeder, der einen Turban trägt, will uns alle in die Luft sprengen!
Die Geschichte ist spannend und actionreich erzählt und spielt zu großen Teilen in einem mysteriösen, total verrückten Dorf namens Carpford, leider sind das aber dann auch schon die Qualitäten. Das Buch könnte sofort in einen handlungsschwachen, dafür aber an Special Effects reichen Actionfilm umgearbeitet werden - bei hübschen Frauen, nervenaufreibenden Schusswechseln, ohrenbetäubenden Detonationen und vielen niedergemähten Terrorverdächtigen mag man(n?) vielleicht darüber hinwegsehen, dass die Geschichte nicht gerade vor Logik oder Glaubhaftigkeit strotzt ;) Mich hat allerdings das Frauenbild und die etwas plumpen Charaktere der Widersacher Tweeds, ebenso wie die Botschaft gestört, die das Buch vermittelt: Oh nein, jeder, der einen Turban trägt, will uns alle in die Luft sprengen!
July 26, 2015
Farfetched plot and actions of characters. Padded, repetitive, and tedious execution trying to build tension and drama but never achieving them. Author seemed torn between portraying Paula as emotional or a super tough version of Wonderwoman and tried too hard. Tries to build the mystery by never letting the reader (or his team) know what he's thinking. Poor novel even by Colin Forbes usual low standards.
September 27, 2012
This was my first colin forbes novella and honestly speaking i did not care too much for it. The characters are too rigid, robotic and stereotypical. You dont identify with either them or the storyline which also feels a bit too washed. Could finish just about half before i gave up on it. Hopefully vorpal blade will be better
September 2, 2014
A book that merely serves as an appetiser, rather like a Transformers movie. Full of action, drama, terrorism, but the characters just fall flat with hardly any character development. Shoddy piece of writing.
June 28, 2015
Al Qaida beraamt een aanslag op Londen. Tweed moet dat proberen te voorkomen. Het verhaal is op een paar punten spannend, maar veel vaker niet. Over het geheel genomen kon het verhaal me niet'pakken'.
April 23, 2008
I loe Colin Forbes, and i won this book.
March 19, 2011
I love Colin Forbes and this is reasonably well-written, but seems like a quick production to take advantage of fears of Al-Qaida and terrorism following 9/11.
July 14, 2011
A very nice novel, but packed with a lot of fiction.
May 15, 2014
Fast paced action but the characters are two dimensional and the setting is too unbelievable.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews