Pleasant enough!

I struggled a bit with this one. I think I may have enjoyed the story more with a different narrator. His voice was good, but, even allowing for the author’s injection of humour throughout the story, he was just too loud and perky for me. Also, I felt the characters were a little lacking in depth. It is interesting and unusual to have an espionage tale where the protagonist is not intense though. I would consider listening to another offering by this author, narrated in a more sober tone, allowing the humour to be less ‘in your face’.

I was given a free audio copy of this by by the author, via Bookboom, in exchange for an honest review.

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1 person found this helpful

You're not George Smiley and you're not James Bond

Book five in the excellent Tales of MI7 series, but these can be read in any order.
With a general election imminent, the established order is shocked by the unexpected rise of a new political party, Real Alternatives, or R.A., led by the charismatic Chapman, which was rapidly gaining attention and supporters. John Mordred, from MI7, is ordered to investigate, coils an assassination attempt and discovers his sister, Julia, loves, and believes herself loved by, Chapman.
A delicious mix of family, British politics, spies, Russians and murders, plus the mysterious fact-or-fiction? Constantius Soper, all bound together with humour and mystery. This book is well written with good, natural dialogue and a truly convoluted plot so bizarre it could easily be true - even down to poisoned umbrellas.

James Ward has written a great series based around the unlikely young spy, John Mordred. Sent in various books in different locations around the world, this book is based mostly in London. The reader is given a great sense of place, the atmosphere and surroundings conjured up with few words. Similarly, characterisation is excellent, the protagonists living their way through the stories. This is enhanced by the very English narration of Colin Watts who reads with humour, great pacing and intonation. Although he does not attempt to give individual voices to each of the characters, instead reading rather than performing, this perversely adds to the character of the book rather than detracting from it.

I was very fortunate in being freely gifted with a complimentary copy of The Social Magus, by the rights holder, after I requested it via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. I have enjoyed every one of the John Mordred books that I have read. They are not always an easy read, demanding attention if the reader is not to get lost in the complexity of the p!ot, but so well worth the concentration as they are quirky, amusing and very satisfying. Highly recommended.

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