SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE Paperback – July 21, 2016

This grips you from the beginning, carries you down a whirlpool and dumps you sweating and panting at the other end...

As a reader of the crime thriller genre I was recommended this book by a good friend and I wasn't disappointed. The authors obvious insight to the UK policing and justice system of the 1980's gives the story credibility and the supporting cast characters are surprisingly well rounded adding to the satisfaction of this part of the book. The courtroom drama is well written with sufficient tension and subtle red herrings to keep you reading into the early hours. I will admit that whilst I found some aspects of this book irritatingly predictable the murderer did in fact allude me! Unfortunately though the revelation came and went in the turn of a page and seemed to simply serve the purpose of directing the prose along.The romance was gushing and old fashioned with instant love affairs allowing the story to be sped along, nothing wrong with that of course, just not my cup of tea! I do believe though that the author may have a penchant for this type of writing and I could easily imagine a romantic saga from him.The parts of the novel set in SA are affectionately written and you can't help but feel the authors love of the old country and society life, all the intimate descriptions add a richness to the book whilst the politics are handled head on but sensitively. The backdrops of SA and Bristol are unusual and make it much more interesting than it could have been.All in all I would recommend this book as a good, quick read and to be fair I would look out for this author again.