Even
David Trevellyan Book 1
aka Andrew Child
Minotaur Books
ISBN 9781529054514
eISBN 9781429937849
ASIN B00FO7F6HG
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!
Books by Andrew Grant:
…
David Trevellyan Series:
…
Detective Cooper Devereaux Series:
…
Paul McGrath Series:
…
As Andrew Child with Lee Child:
Jack Reacher Series:
Books Andrew Grant Contributed To:
In the Company of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mayhem in Muskego
No comments:
Post a Comment