Nothing Ventured
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4.1 • 748 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Nothing Ventured heralds the start of a brand new series in the style of Jeffrey Archer’s #1 New York Times bestselling Clifton Chronicles: introducing Detective William Warwick. But this is not a detective story, this is a story about the making of a detective . . .
William Warwick has always wanted to be a detective, and decides, much to his father’s dismay, that rather than become a lawyer like his father, Sir Julian Warwick QC, and his sister Grace, he will join London’s Metropolitan Police Force.
After graduating from university, William begins a career that will define his life: from his early months on the beat under the watchful eye of his first mentor, Constable Fred Yates, to his first high-stakes case as a fledgling detective in Scotland Yard’s arts and antiquities squad. Investigating the theft of a priceless Rembrandt painting from the Fitzmolean Museum, he meets Beth Rainsford, a research assistant at the gallery who he falls hopelessly in love with, even as Beth guards a secret of her own that she’s terrified will come to light.
While William follows the trail of the missing masterpiece, he comes up against suave art collector Miles Faulkner and his brilliant lawyer, Booth Watson QC, who are willing to bend the law to breaking point to stay one step ahead of William. Meanwhile, Miles Faulkner’s wife, Christina, befriends William, but whose side is she really on?
This new series introduces William Warwick, a family man and a detective who will battle throughout his career against a powerful criminal nemesis. Through twists, triumph and tragedy, this series will show that William Warwick is destined to become one of Jeffrey Archer’s most enduring legacies.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Best-selling novelist Jeffrey Archer wrote a seven-volume series tracing the arc of 20th century Britain through the life of one man, crime novelist Harry Clifton. Now, Archer has embarked on a fun new spinoff series starring London policeman William Warwick—who was the hero of Harry Clifton’s novels. In 1982 London, young Master William has defied his upper-crust family to become a constable with the Metropolitan Police. Thanks to his posh upbringing, he’s a natural at spotting fake Rembrandts and outsmarting elite criminals as he races to the bottom of an ingenious art forgery plot. But he’s out of his league when it comes to his feelings for the beautiful researcher Beth Rainsford. You don’t need to have read the Clifton books to enjoy this frothy crime caper. But if you love all things England, from Sherlock Holmes to Princess Diana’s ’80s gowns, this just might be your favorite new detective series.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An opening note to bestseller Archer's enjoyable series launch informs the reader: "This is not a detective story, this is a story about a detective," the detective being William Warwick from the author's Clifton Chronicles (This Was a Man, etc.). In 1979, William, who has always wanted to be a police detective, tells his father he's not going to follow in his father's footsteps and become a barrister. Joining the London police force straight out of school, he quickly proves himself to his superiors and in short order moves from patrol officer to fledgling detective for Scotland Yard's Arts and Antiquities unit, where he investigates forgeries, counterfeit antiquities, a missing Rembrandt, and a master art thief. A fully realized character, the intelligent Warrick is ambitious but naive with a lot to learn. He's surrounded by a distinctive cast of family, colleagues, and villains, while a well-placed romantic situation fills out a near-perfect hand. The final section dealing with dueling courtroom dramas brings genuine suspense to a relatively bloodless, but thoroughly gripping, tale. Archer reinforces his position as a master storyteller. 300,000 announced first printing.
Customer Reviews
Introduction
A great introduction to William Warwick. Looking forward to more
Nothing ventured
Excellent read and story, if a bit over the top in detail. Good read.
Nothing ventured
In true Jeffrey Archer style…..there are twists and surprises throughout. A great read!