Death and Bright Water

Callan #3

by James Mitchell

From the US Hardback A Greek political exile named Sophie Kollonaski wants to hire David Callan, the most efficient killer in Europe, to 'kidnap' her beautiful daughter on Crete, where she is under the protective custody of Michael Vardakis, Sophie's cousin. But Callan isn't a freelance. He works for Special Branch, a secret British agency, and besides, the job is too dangerous, so Callan refuses the assignment. But Hunter, Callan's boss, tells him to accept it. Hunter sees possibilities..

Genres: Espionage, Fiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

James William Mitchell (12 March 1926, South Shields - 15 September 2002, Newcastle-upon-Tyne) was a British writer of crime fiction and spy thrillers. Mr. Mitchell also wrote under the pseudonyms James Munro and Patrick O. McGuire. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from Oxford.


Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not up to the standards of the first two books in the series, however, the book is still quite enjoyable.

Read in 1980.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating between 3.5 & 4

A very good read that expands the Callan characters out of their usual locations of seamy pubs, bedsits, small offices etc and pushes Callan (with Lonely) into the brighter, sunnier Mediterranean island of Crete.
A book of two halves really ... setup of and execution of the caper.
The book is slightly dated in places but you would expect that for a book over 30 years old and set even earlier (at least it felt that way to me)
The main characters were all well drawn and felt like the tv characters had continued after the final episode.
Hard to rate between 3 & 4 but as it was a good nostalgic read it became a 4

Overall a very good read and a definite recommendation.

[Chris Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Mitchell is an excellent writer of dialogue, and his plot construction is second to none, but as good as this is, it isn't as exciting or as urgent as the previous title in the series, Russian Roulette. But I guess that was a tough one to follow up.
Death and Bright Water is a highly recommended read, especially for Callan fans, and for lovers of 1970s thrillers.
There's a bit of a scenery change, as Callan and Lonely travel to Greece to rescue the daughter of a Greek revolutionary. Sounds silly, but it isn't.
Some excellent new character creations, too. But that's all I'm saying. I don't want to spoil it for you.
Next on the Callan list - Smear Job. I'm looking forward to it.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous two perhaps because there are more subplots of different intrigues. Also as a comparison to the last James Lee Burke, this moves Callan & Lonely to Crete.
Callan is at his best in London with all its failings.This is much more Bond like, and would be a terrific movie.
His cynicism and fatalism is much less on show here as he plans and executes the job, dealing with the hurdles in his way.
Strangely the most absolutely Callan like claustrophobic incident is back in Bayswater.
Still a fantastic read. Taught, exciting & great fun.

[Tim Trewartha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid spy novel, despite the casual racism. The third in the Callan series.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great retro Callan story

[Shadow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and Bright Water , published in 1974 and authored by James Mitchell, is the third book in the brilliant Callan spy-fi series, which began as a popular British TV show in 1967. After spending the first two novels in the tense, gritty and claustrophobic confines of London, hunting and being hunted by enemy agents and his own Section secret agency, Callan finally goes on a proper spy mission abroad. It’s an unusual one for him, as it doesn’t involve the straightforward killing of an enemy agent, but rather the rescue of a young woman named Helena being held captive on an islet in Crete. Helena is the daughter of a rich Cretan named Sophie, leader of a leftist political party who is now living in exile in London following the right-wing military junta takeover in Greece.

Callan’s mission is complicated by the fact that three parties are bidding for his services—Sophie, her rich and powerful cousin Michael, and Callan’s treacherous boss at the Section, Hunter—each with a very different agenda. Callan accepts Hunter’s bid, on the condition that he can take his smelly but loveable sidekick, the petty thief Lonely, along to assist him. For not only does Lonely possess a genius for sniffing out surveillance, but he’s a very talented locksman who can pick the top-of-line locks holding Helena captive in Crete.

There’s considerable intrigue in London before Callan departs for Crete, as Sophie’s Greek restaurant is fire-bombed and Lonely himself is a suspect, a dogged cop named Kyle is determined to find Lonely, Hunter is determined to squash the investigation, Section agents brutally beat Callan as a reminder that he works for them, a rifle is fired at Callan, Lonely is terrified that he will be arrested for arson, a gay dentist Party member named Blythe is enlisted to help in the operation, and arsonist thug Nutter Bradley is a wildcard who adds chaos and violence to the mix.

Eventually Callan and Lonely get to Crete, and there are some amusing moments as the very provincial and downscale Lonely gets a little taste of the good life as a jet-setting tourist. But soon they get down to business, as Callan meets his contact, does recon on the target, acquires a boat, gun and lockpicks and puts his plan in motion to raid the target home and rescue Helena. There are several twists as plans change at the last minute, Nutter Bradley shows up and wants Callan dead, and everyone seems to be crossing everyone and looking out for themselves. Callan is a master of this game though, and he’s the most cynical and mercenary of the lot. He’s also the most lethal and competent, as he demonstrates during the tense climax of the rescue, as coppers lay in ambush and Bradley tries to cross him. Even idealistic Helena can’t resist his rugged competence, and soon has Callan in her bed.

While the plotting is intricate and the action is tense, what really elevates this book above run-of-the-mill spy thrillers are the well-drawn characters: working class smart-ass killer Callan, his bent but loveable and hilarious pal Lonely, his utterly ruthless and cynical boss Hunter, the sinister Section enforcers Meres and Fitzmaurice, the gay dentist Blyth, the unhinged thug Bradley and the dedicated do-gooder cop Kyle. Mitchell is just a great writer, who reminds me more than anyone of crime fiction great Donald Westlake, creator of the incomparable Parker series.

Callan is one of my all-time favorite spy-fi series, and Death and Bright Water is another outstanding installment—highly recommended. Get a copy here.