📖 Book Review ~ Double Pursuit by Alison Morton

 

Pulcheria Press
19 October 2021

Mélisende Thrillers #2

My thanks to the author for my copy of this book

She's hunting arms smugglers. But who is hunting her?

One dead body, two badly injured operatives and five crates of hijacked rifles.

In Rome, former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende des Pittones is frustrated by obnoxious local cops and ruthless thugs. Despite the backing of the powerful European Investigation and Regulation Service, her case is going nowhere. Then an unknown woman tries to blow her head off.

As Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken attempt to get a grip on the criminal network as well as on their own unpredictable relationship, all roads point to the place she dreads - the arid and remote African Sahel - where she was once betrayed and nearly died. Can Mel conquer her fear as she races to smash the network and save her colleague's life?

📖 My Thoughts..

We originally met with Mélisende des Pittones in the first book in this series so we know that she is a highly motivated special intelligence analyst currently attached to the European Investigation and Regulation Service based in Brussels.  In Double Pursuit we meet up with Mel in Rome where she has been assigned to a complex investigation which, in the first few pages, sees her come into contact with some rather nefarious characters, who are definitely working on the wrong side of the law. With the circumstances stacked heavily against her, Mélisende needs to keep one step ahead of those who wish to do her harm, and as tensions run high, and danger is ever present, she soon discovers just who is on her side.

I was a bit alarmed at the start of the novel to see Mel paired with a new intelligence officer and hoped that we hadn't seen the last of Mel's love interest from the previous book. I needn't have worried as Jeff McCracken is definitely back, and who, it must be said, has his own share of the adventure. Throughout the story there is a distinctly European feel which makes for fascinating reading. I particularly enjoy seeing where the fast action of the story takes us, from the mean and moody streets of Rome, to the aridness of the African Sahel, there is never a moment when the plot, the place and the people don't draw you into a world of deadly deals and even deadlier resolutions.

The author is so skillful in bringing these highly complex thrillers to life. Her impeccable research shows in the way that everything feels scarily realistic, and even though Mel gets into more scrapes than an all action hero there is a definite likability to her character which keeps you turning the pages faster and faster just to see what happens next for this feisty heroine.

It is possible to read Double Pursuit as a stand alone story however, as with any series it is better to start at the beginning as that way you see the characters grow and evolve especially in the case of Mel's complicated feelings for Jeff McCracken. One thing is guaranteed with any novel by this talented author, there is a never a dull moment in any of her complex and highly original stories. I am sure we will see more from Mélisende des Pittones in future thrilling adventures.

About the Author

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. Her nine-book Roma Nova series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

She blends her deep love of France with six years’ military service and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.

Alison now lives in Poitou in France, the home of the heroine of her latest two contemporary thrillers, Double Identity and Double Pursuit. Oh, and she’s writing the next Roma Nova story.

Twitter @alison_morton

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