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Herodotus - The Gnome of Sofia
Against a backdrop of political change in South Eastern Europe, the story embraces disgruntled communists, cold war warriors, intrigue, deception and finally murder.
Sir Arthur Cumberpot has an unspectacular career which is swiftly drawn to a close when he is appointed British Ambassador to Bulgaria. Due to some unforeseen mishaps his wife Annabel is accused of being a spy and sent home to their
house in Watlington while her background is checked by MI5.
Annabel is guilty of nothing, other than being the biological daughter of Jim Kilbey, Britain’s most famous spy. It seems that a jealous god has sought to visit the sins of the father upon her, but so has everyone else. She is the victim of serendipity, but also of cover ups, the duplication of thin evidence and exaggeration. But she is also heartless, treacherous, self indulgent
and without shame.
Sir Arthur Cumberpot has an unspectacular career which is swiftly drawn to a close when he is appointed British Ambassador to Bulgaria. Due to some unforeseen mishaps his wife Annabel is accused of being a spy and sent home to their
house in Watlington while her background is checked by MI5.
Annabel is guilty of nothing, other than being the biological daughter of Jim Kilbey, Britain’s most famous spy. It seems that a jealous god has sought to visit the sins of the father upon her, but so has everyone else. She is the victim of serendipity, but also of cover ups, the duplication of thin evidence and exaggeration. But she is also heartless, treacherous, self indulgent
and without shame.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2013
11 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Brigham
11 books50 followersPatrick has been a writer and journalist for many years. He has published many short stories, newspaper and magazine articles. Born in the English home counties, he attended Public School and College before moving to London and embarking on his property career.
Having spent the last twenty years in South Eastern Europe, many of his stories are set in this part of the world as well as in Oxford, London, Hampshire and Berkshire. In the last two years he has only written stand alone literary fiction novels, including Goddess of The Rainbow, and The London Property Boy.
Does author Patrick Brigham write good murder mystery books? Author Patrick Brigham writes good mystery books, many of which are set at the very end of the Cold War and Communism. Featuring fictional police detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert, he is often faced with political intrigue, and in order to solve his cases - which frequently take place in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
There are few good books on the subject of international crime, especially mystery stories which delve into the shady side of Balkan politics, neither are there many novelists who are prepared to address the mystery crime fiction, like the author Patrick Brigham.
As a recently seconded officer to Europol, the new EU federal police force, Chief Inspector Michael Lambert brings a new slant to the European crime fiction.
During the last two years I have become more involved with stand alone fiction, with my two books Goddess Of The Rainbow, and The London Property Boy. The first is about Greece, and a great flood, and the second, a semi biographical account of a career in London property.
Also, I have just published a play called Judicial Review, which is now out and in the shops, It is about the absurdities of justice, when it comes to huge financial and corporate crimes, and the way courts deal with the offenders.
Having spent the last twenty years in South Eastern Europe, many of his stories are set in this part of the world as well as in Oxford, London, Hampshire and Berkshire. In the last two years he has only written stand alone literary fiction novels, including Goddess of The Rainbow, and The London Property Boy.
Does author Patrick Brigham write good murder mystery books? Author Patrick Brigham writes good mystery books, many of which are set at the very end of the Cold War and Communism. Featuring fictional police detective Chief Inspector Michael Lambert, he is often faced with political intrigue, and in order to solve his cases - which frequently take place in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
There are few good books on the subject of international crime, especially mystery stories which delve into the shady side of Balkan politics, neither are there many novelists who are prepared to address the mystery crime fiction, like the author Patrick Brigham.
As a recently seconded officer to Europol, the new EU federal police force, Chief Inspector Michael Lambert brings a new slant to the European crime fiction.
During the last two years I have become more involved with stand alone fiction, with my two books Goddess Of The Rainbow, and The London Property Boy. The first is about Greece, and a great flood, and the second, a semi biographical account of a career in London property.
Also, I have just published a play called Judicial Review, which is now out and in the shops, It is about the absurdities of justice, when it comes to huge financial and corporate crimes, and the way courts deal with the offenders.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 24, 2013
Without spoiling the plot, 'Herodotus' is something between the plot of an older James Bond movie, complete with bungling foreign spy masters and political intrigue and an introspective Russian novel. There is a colourful cast of characters, a smattering of intrigue and plenty of detailed description to really allow the reader to experience the hopes and aspirations of a somewhat pompous, aspiring, British middle class.
In fact, it is this 'experiencing' which makes this book good. The reader is taken on a journey complete with tastes, smells, scenes and experiences almost reminiscent of a good travel guide. Along the way, we share these experiences with characters whose personal situation all too often hints at some degree of mental illness. Cleverly chosen character names add to the sense of satirical irony throughout the story.
What this book isn't is any kind of suspense novel or thriller. Even the expiration of the main character is handled in such a mundane way that it becomes incidental to the story and the perpetrator is so obvious that there's no real mystery.
'Herodotus' is humour, satire and a witty commentary on both the downward political spiral in certain former Communist countries and the smug, foolish, baseless superiority of the west.
In fact, it is this 'experiencing' which makes this book good. The reader is taken on a journey complete with tastes, smells, scenes and experiences almost reminiscent of a good travel guide. Along the way, we share these experiences with characters whose personal situation all too often hints at some degree of mental illness. Cleverly chosen character names add to the sense of satirical irony throughout the story.
What this book isn't is any kind of suspense novel or thriller. Even the expiration of the main character is handled in such a mundane way that it becomes incidental to the story and the perpetrator is so obvious that there's no real mystery.
'Herodotus' is humour, satire and a witty commentary on both the downward political spiral in certain former Communist countries and the smug, foolish, baseless superiority of the west.
December 5, 2013
I enjoyed the refreshing way this book was written. It was from a drawn away look. This idea does not work out well, but it does very well in this book. This way of writing goes and gives you, the reader, lots of details about the characters and the settings with very little action. It is mostly telling than showing.
My only problem with this book is the bouncing of the story line. It talks about the past of the characters and the buildup of how these characters became to be in the same place. Then it jumps to the present time. It did not do this to very chapter, but many times through out the chapter. It became confusing early on in the book. It made it hard to read and keep up with the characters and what is going on in the book.
The characters in this book was easy to fall in love with or hate. The characters were described in great detail that you knew them like your own brother or sister. They were well defined in what settings they were put in. The characters felt very real and you, as a reader could understand why they did what they did in the setting they were put in.
The story itself was very realistic. It was the only reason I kept going through the bouncing story line to get to the end. It was a hard read for me. I did not think this size of book would take me so long.
4 Stars
My only problem with this book is the bouncing of the story line. It talks about the past of the characters and the buildup of how these characters became to be in the same place. Then it jumps to the present time. It did not do this to very chapter, but many times through out the chapter. It became confusing early on in the book. It made it hard to read and keep up with the characters and what is going on in the book.
The characters in this book was easy to fall in love with or hate. The characters were described in great detail that you knew them like your own brother or sister. They were well defined in what settings they were put in. The characters felt very real and you, as a reader could understand why they did what they did in the setting they were put in.
The story itself was very realistic. It was the only reason I kept going through the bouncing story line to get to the end. It was a hard read for me. I did not think this size of book would take me so long.
4 Stars
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews