Five star Amazon reviews for The Code
A Cold War thriller: Book 1 in the Angus McKinnon series
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Pacy, exciting and worryingly prescient
“A highly enjoyable, breathlessly fast-paced thriller that delves into the making of Nick Elliott’s ingenious hero, Angus McKinnon (a man who intriguingly straddles ‘ordinary guy trying to make a living’ and Bond-style adventurer with conviction, determination and impressive skill). I loved learning about this character’s background: what launched him into the world of dark deeds on the international stage and hardened his determination not to let the villains have their way. I was amused to see one of the characters, ‘Nicholas Elliott’, turn up on TV recently in A Spy Among Friends, and particularly enjoyed this author’s slightly different take on the events around Kim Philby’s defection, which kick off this tale of East v West during what must surely have been the frostiest period of the Cold War. The Eastern European setting looks all too plausible today – and justifiably terrifying. That said, with Angus on hand to get to the bottom of it all, I would definitely recommend this as an entertaining holiday read that won’t stop to make you think until the very end, when you can finally breathe again.”
An engrossing Cold War drama
“The Code – this engrossing spy tale begins with a re-enactment of the defection of the British double agent Kim Philby to the Soviet Union in 1963, a deft introduction to the Cold War intrigue that follows in this book. The action begins in Lebanon; we follow its seamless progression to Latvia, Scotland, Austria, Serbia and eventually the Caribbean. The tale is artfully conceived as a prequel to the adventures of Nick Elliott’s hero Angus McKinnon; we learn of his formative years and his near death experiences along the way. It’s a miracle Angus survived to become the author’s hero in his earlier works! – Sea of Gold, Dark Ocean and Black Reef. Now you can read The Code first if you choose to and learn the making of Angus … either way his adventures make for entertaining reading of the first order.”
Frightening reminder of post-Soviet aftermath
“Nick Elliott’s hard-written narrative takes you right out of your comfort zone and back into the cold bleak years following the break up of the Soviet Union. Nuclear warheads are on the loose and available to the highest bidder. You are transported to a Europe which many of us have never experienced – Latvia, Syria, Lebanon and Syria etc and into a world of espionage and treachery where life is cheap and punishment for failure is unforgiving. A powerful book and one you will remember long after you have turned the last page. A more than worthy successor to Nick’s earlier books.”
Highly recommended
“Continuing Nick Elliott’s Angus McKinnon series, The Code is the fourth book to be published but the first in internal chronology, being a prequel to Sea of Gold, Dark Ocean and Black Reef. It is a great read, fast-paced and engaging throughout, and I recommend it highly.
“The Code begins in Beirut in 1963 and ends in Jamaica at the Millennium. In between we pass through various parts of the Middle East, Latvia, Scotland, Austria, Serbia and Greece. It covers a period in recent history when, despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, apparently rogue secret service elements from the old USSR were making fortunes through the illegal trading of highly dangerous weapons, putting international security in jeopardy.
“Let us hope that Nick Elliott will produce a fifth thriller soon!”
A brilliant read, full of exciting action, fascinating characters and a broad geographic sweep.
“Another cracking read from Nick Elliott. Once again, the story moves with breathless pace and, in common with his other books in this series, Nick guides us across an enormously wide geographic landscape – this time from Lebanon, through the Balkans and ending up in the West Indies. It’s also good to know now how Angus McKinnon became the maritime sleuth we know so well from the first three books! Very highly recommended.”
A fast moving thriller that takes you across the world, and is difficult to put down.
“The Angus McKinnon thrillers are set in the maritime industry. Speaking as a ex-seafarer, Nick Elliott’s many years of industry experience, shine through, bringing credibility to the scenes he sets, and depth to profiles of the main characters. A gripping read, I have enjoyed all of the Angus McKinnon series.”
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