Gabriel's Bureau

Gabriel has worked for Soviet intelligence, but after the fall of the Soviet Union he has become a private investigator. However, he cannot cut himself off from the surreal world of international politics. Oleg, his former KGB boss, continues to haunt him. 'Would you like to buy,' he asked me once, 'a nuclear submarine? A friend of mine dismantles them up by the Arctic Circle. He will ship them to any part of the world.' As Gabriel struggles with personal problems, an acquaintance from the past asks him to help her when her lover is killed. Touched by her appeal, Gabriel makes promises he cannot keep. 'A deliciously twisted tale of darkness, espionage and murder. A gripping read, with an edginess so often hard to find in a debut novel.' BJ in Buzz Magazine 'As much as you'd think being a spy would have its perks, Gabriel's Bureau illustrates the all consuming pressure of the job and the danger that follows from knowing a little bit too much. Having previously worked for Soviet intelligence, Gabriel has used his contacts to set up his own detective agency and when an acquaintance from the past seeks his help he finds himself unable to say no. The consequences are immense as he investigates the seedy London underworld of art dealings where he learns power is money and death is inevitable when art changes dirty hands. As we follow his quest for the truth, the story focuses on the complex life of Gabriel himself, bringing together his past, his present and his intriguing relationship with his wife and the man 'who is Russia', Oleg. The prose is fluid and poetic... Likewise, there are a few gems in the storyline that throw up a great deal of mystery and intrigue. A seemingly cold and unfeeling novel, which perhaps isn't a million miles away from the life of a private investigator.' Angela Singh Big Issue in the North 'Haugaard has a vivid and quirky imagination.' S.B.Kelly in Scotland on Sunday