The Mozart Conspiracy by Scott Mariani
This is an ambitious thriller with action and adventure mixed with social and political commentary that gives the novel connection to the real world, typical of Mariani. Also, an element of crime scene investigation appeals to readers of the detective genre. Simultaneous storylines are cleverly interwoven into the plot and layers of tension are built…
The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum
Originally published in the 1970s and set at the time of publication, this novel is a clever reflection of the Cold War tensions in the second half of the twentieth century. Ludlum creates a sense of intrigue from the start with an unexpected police presence in a quiet American village and builds layers of tension…
An Illustrated History of the Royal Navy by John Winton, ed. Chris Howard Bailey
This is a bold attempt at an illustrated account of centuries of history. The development of the Navy is well covered in terms of logistics, tactics, technology and its role in British culture. There is a good use of statistics to form a picture and good embedding of primary sources to cement the narrative. There…
Matt Atkins Book Reviews 