Merde and Mandarins (Kind Hearts and Martinets #5) review (AD)
I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of Merde and Mandarins (Kind Hearts and Martinets #5) in exchange for an honest review*.
Merde and Mandarins (Kind Hearts and Martinets #5) book blurb
A Defense Secretary shooting. The collapse of the Home Office Secretary. London’s high-ranking civil servants are being targeted, and DCI Jack Austin is drawn out of retirement.
When his wife is kidnapped, inept savant DCI Austin leads the rescue mission while trying to solve the recent mystery, and discover the motives of the master conspirator.
Racing towards the chaotic conclusion, can he find solace in a welcome retirement, and uncover the supreme Machiavellian plot?
My overall thoughts on Merde and Mandarins (Kind Hearts and Martinets #5)
Although this is the fifth instalment of a series it can be read as a standalone book.
Throughout the story there are funny little references and signposting to the previous titles within the series – I think Pete Adams would like us all to read the other four books! Hint duly noted.
Helpfully at the start of the book there’s a bit of overview of the characters which is great if you’re new to them like I was.
It’s definitely a unique comedy/crime thriller which is well written and something a little different for me.
I’m a big fan of the crime genre and Pete is a new author to me and I liked his quirky writing style.
Packed full of action and some surprise revelations as the series reaches its conclusion – will Jack and Mandy ride off into the sunset of retirement? You’ll have to read it for yourself.
I think if you read the earlier books in the series first you will identify better with the characters and you’ll enjoy this one even more.
This book keeps readers on their toes – I found myself laughing out loud but it also made me think.
About author Pete Adams:
Pete Adams is an architect with a practice in Portsmouth, UK, and from there he has, over forty years, designed and built buildings across England and Wales.
He took up writing after listening to a radio interview of the writer Michael Connolly whilst driving home from Leeds.
A passionate reader, the notion of writing his own novel was compelling, but he had always been told you must have a mind map for the book; Jeez, he could never get that.
Et Voila, Connolly responding to a question, said he never can plan a book, and starts with an idea for chapter one and looks forward to seeing where it would lead. Job done, and that evening Pete started writing and the series, Kind Hearts and Martinets, was on the starting blocks.
That was some eight years ago, and hardly a day has passed where Pete has not worked on his writing, and currently, is halfway through his tenth book, has a growing number of short stories, one, critically acclaimed and published by Bloodhound, and has written and illustrated a series of historical nonsense stories called, Whopping Tales.
Pete describes himself as an inveterate daydreamer, and escapes into those dreams by writing crime thrillers with a thoughtful dash of social commentary. He has a writing style shaped by his formative years on an estate that re-housed London families after WWII, and his books have been likened to the writing of Tom Sharpe.
Pete lives in Southsea with his partner, and Charlie the star-struck Border terrier, the children having flown the coop, and has 3 beautiful granddaughters who will play with him so long as he promises not to be silly.
Social media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Peteadams8
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pete.adams.9256
Purchase Links:
Amazon UK
Publishing Information:
Published in paperback and ebook formats by Next Chapter Publishing on 22 August 2019.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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