Airline pilot Greg Wilton goes missing in Alaska. After a tale of crime, politics, romance and humour, it ends Ten years later in Russia having 'Tea with Rasputin'.
We start in Alaska in 1992, the cold war over, the future uncertain. In this new world there must be interesting ways of making money and we follow the trail through Hong Kong, Miami and London England. to the grand finale in St.Petersburg Russia.
Travel, crime, politics, romance and humour, they're all there in this international thriller.
Professional Reviews
Reedsy Discovery Book club
REEDSY DISCOVERY
Reentering civilian life is difficult for soldiers, even if they have not experienced combat. Terry Jackson is an amiable Sandhurst graduate searching for a career after leaving the British Army. While he has nothing against his family or his native York, he does not long to return there.
He receives training with British World Airways and while awaiting his first posting, is tasked with what appears to be a routine assignment. A pilot has gone missing in Alaska. Everything should be resolved quickly and without much to do. Instead, Jackson finds himself enmeshed in something that will impact not only his future career, but also his personal life.
Indications are that Greg Wilton, the missing pilot, has gone into Russia. Even though the Soviet Union has recently collapsed, the innate Russian passion for slow-moving bureaucracy and secrecy are still very much alive. What appears to be the case, Jackson learns, is not necessarily the truth. Russia still is, as Churchill said, “A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
Gradually, enough is revealed to Jackson about what really became of Greg Wilton. The mystery involves Jackson’s wife and children, as well as other people from that investigation early in his career, and literally follows him around the globe.
In the hands of a less-talented author, this story would seem, forced, hurried, and confusing. Thankfully, none of that happens here. Every so often there is a gap of a few years, as Jackson assumes new positions with British World Airways. Enough detail is given about these new postings to give sufficient background, but not too much for readers to absorb or to slow down the main action of the plot. Nothing essential is either omitted or thrown in via some Deus ex machine twist.
As with any good story, the action quickens towards the end, and readers are kept in suspense. Readers also get a good feel for the complex characters; no one is totally bad, no one is too good-to-be-true. I heartily recommend this book.
REVIEWED BY
Arthur Turfa
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