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Karen Andersen Series #1
The Missing Activist
Post-Referendum Britain and a country on high alert for terrorist attacks.
When a young political activist goes missing in London, an off the wall Private Investigator Karen Andersen is called to investigate.
In doing so, she uncovers secrets of a party system which prizes loyalty above truth, a serial killer and a female Jihadi plotting deadly revenge on the British government.
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A behind the scenes political thriller and bullying story of poignancy and compassion. The author has had experience of both having been a national candidate during the 2015 General Election as well as the founder of an anti-bully charity during the scandal which rocked the Tories after the tragic death of a young activist later that year. Louise Burfitt-Dons is a former journalist, playwright, and screenwriter of thrillers. This is her first crime novel and all characters and place are imaginary.
When a young political activist goes missing in London, an off the wall Private Investigator Karen Andersen is called to investigate.
In doing so, she uncovers secrets of a party system which prizes loyalty above truth, a serial killer and a female Jihadi plotting deadly revenge on the British government.
_______________________________________________________________________________
A behind the scenes political thriller and bullying story of poignancy and compassion. The author has had experience of both having been a national candidate during the 2015 General Election as well as the founder of an anti-bully charity during the scandal which rocked the Tories after the tragic death of a young activist later that year. Louise Burfitt-Dons is a former journalist, playwright, and screenwriter of thrillers. This is her first crime novel and all characters and place are imaginary.
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First published June 5, 2018
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About the author
Louise Burfitt-Dons
8 books38 followersLouise Burfitt-Dons writes intelligent, emotionally charged thrillers that blend psychological tension, political intrigue, and identity twists. Her novels explore power, betrayal, and moral conflict—from Westminster conspiracies to Cold War espionage.
Her books include The Missing Activist , The Killing of the Cherrywood MP, The Secret War , and the Cold War thriller Our Man in Kuwait.
She is represented by Sarah Such Literary Agency, London.
Her books include The Missing Activist , The Killing of the Cherrywood MP, The Secret War , and the Cold War thriller Our Man in Kuwait.
She is represented by Sarah Such Literary Agency, London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 18, 2020
The Missing Activist is a gripping and completely compulsive spy thriller with plenty of surprises, danger and reveals; this is undoubtedly an intelligently woven must-read. The first in the Private Investigator Karen Andersen series is a powerful, pull no punches race against time and will have your heart thumping and the pages turning feverishly not to mention furiously. Karen is an interesting character but I felt this was tipped slightly more in favour of being plot-driven than character-led at this early stage; that may change once we are introduced to her more in future books, and I certainly look forward to seeing how her character evolves. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-octane thrills and spills with more action than you can shake a stick at, twists and turns that come at you thick and fast and the ultimate high stakes game of cat and mouse then this comes highly recommended. There's never a dull moment and I guarantee you'll have the exact problem I did with not being able to put it down. An exciting and well-written page-turner. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
February 6, 2020
Book#1 in Karen Anderson British Political Thriller series
Post referendum, Britain is a country on high alert for terrorist attacks
Set against a background of Islamist Jihad “The Missing Activist” exposes the shenanigan that goes on in the Tory party. The author writes her story with knowledge and conviction. Her words are strong and engaging.
What a page-turner that is a bit too real but no less gripping. When a young political activist goes missing, private investigator Karen Anderson is called to look into the case. What she finds is a party system whose secrets must be kept at all costs, loyalty above the truth. On her search she unexpectedly dovetails with a female jihadi bride operation.
This fast-paced thriller tackles two controversial topics: the political and religious ideologies which are fuelling jihadi behaviour and how girls are drawn from the West to Syria. It also touches the victims of bullying/scandal /campaign allegations. The author admits to have taken creative license as regards the extent of corruption. The book is presented in bite-size chapters and is specially structured for the thriller genre with all the twists and turns one can expect. The plot is captivating, oh! Boy did I have a hard time setting it aside (darn chores). From page one I was held captive….this is an unputdownable read.
The characters are well drawn and believable, they play their roles perfectly but we do have a plethora to follow so don’t blink or you will miss out. They are introduced in the first quarter of the book and their presence reoccurs throughout the story. What a dark and bloody world these characters inhabit…
Filled with intrigue and thrills “The Missing Activist” is an excellent read. Well-done.
Post referendum, Britain is a country on high alert for terrorist attacks
Set against a background of Islamist Jihad “The Missing Activist” exposes the shenanigan that goes on in the Tory party. The author writes her story with knowledge and conviction. Her words are strong and engaging.
What a page-turner that is a bit too real but no less gripping. When a young political activist goes missing, private investigator Karen Anderson is called to look into the case. What she finds is a party system whose secrets must be kept at all costs, loyalty above the truth. On her search she unexpectedly dovetails with a female jihadi bride operation.
This fast-paced thriller tackles two controversial topics: the political and religious ideologies which are fuelling jihadi behaviour and how girls are drawn from the West to Syria. It also touches the victims of bullying/scandal /campaign allegations. The author admits to have taken creative license as regards the extent of corruption. The book is presented in bite-size chapters and is specially structured for the thriller genre with all the twists and turns one can expect. The plot is captivating, oh! Boy did I have a hard time setting it aside (darn chores). From page one I was held captive….this is an unputdownable read.
The characters are well drawn and believable, they play their roles perfectly but we do have a plethora to follow so don’t blink or you will miss out. They are introduced in the first quarter of the book and their presence reoccurs throughout the story. What a dark and bloody world these characters inhabit…
Filled with intrigue and thrills “The Missing Activist” is an excellent read. Well-done.
August 19, 2018
Usually anything labelled political thriller usually turns me off straightaway. But something made me take a second look mostly because I saw the author's done a lot of work on bullying. Maybe the fact it has had a lot of 5 star reviews. Or, its easy tone. Yes, this is not a heavy book, but a romper. Nor is it political in that it is not about elections or high profile people, but more the grass roots level. That’s unique. A young activist goes missing, not a prime minister or a junior minister, or even an MP. The characters get you in quite quickly. And then you are invested. Oh God. Please find Robin Miler, and quickly. Loved this book. The characters are great and original. There's a complex plot running righ through to the very end and its very well written. Hoping this is part of a series. Definitely worth reading.
December 4, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
What happened to THE MISSING ACTIVIST? Enter a world of political machinations, religious fervor and feminists as one rather quirky and creative Private Investigator attempts to prove herself as she gnaws at a case that is like a many tentacle beast.
Louise Burfitt-Dons as created a twisted tale that entangles a fervent Jihadi woman with young PI, Karen Anderson. And still, the question remains, what happened to Robin Miller, a grassroots political activist who should never have been a target, or should he?
Pure British suspense on steroids, this tale is detailed, sometimes a tad slow, but each page brings readers deeper into the lives of the humans involved. How far will each character go? How powerful the webs that are woven. Where do they intersect? Who will believe in lies and who will know the truth?
I liked this just fine, but I wasn’t wowed. Perhaps because I am from across the pond and this is clearly written with a strong British pen?
I was offered a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial!
Publisher: New Century Digibooks (June 5, 2018)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Suspense | Terrorism
Print Length: 418 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
What happened to THE MISSING ACTIVIST? Enter a world of political machinations, religious fervor and feminists as one rather quirky and creative Private Investigator attempts to prove herself as she gnaws at a case that is like a many tentacle beast.
Louise Burfitt-Dons as created a twisted tale that entangles a fervent Jihadi woman with young PI, Karen Anderson. And still, the question remains, what happened to Robin Miller, a grassroots political activist who should never have been a target, or should he?
Pure British suspense on steroids, this tale is detailed, sometimes a tad slow, but each page brings readers deeper into the lives of the humans involved. How far will each character go? How powerful the webs that are woven. Where do they intersect? Who will believe in lies and who will know the truth?
I liked this just fine, but I wasn’t wowed. Perhaps because I am from across the pond and this is clearly written with a strong British pen?
I was offered a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial!
Publisher: New Century Digibooks (June 5, 2018)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Suspense | Terrorism
Print Length: 418 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 6, 2018
The Missing Activist is a page-turner and keeps you guessing until last page. There's a smack of inner knowledge here. Original on bullying and party politics. Fun to read but also an insight into life as a Tory political wannabe (I'm left wing) and also Jihadi women. Recommend.
June 2, 2018
Karen Andersen is a Private Investigator and quite new to the job. She’s thrilled when D I Patridge known as ‘Quacker’ contacts her to give her an assignment. But it’s not the case she had hoped for which was working on the mysterious ‘suicide’ of a high profile feminist but instead to search for a missing political activist, Robin Miller. In fact he’s only just disappeared the night before. Along the way, she crosses paths with the highly dangerous Zinah al-Rashid, a Muslim convert who lures British teenagers to the jihadi cause by giving the ‘cool’ Islamic names and promising them a splash in the Daily Mail or on Facebook.
This is a story about bullying and the power political parties have over their candidates who want to climb the ladder. Robin Miller, a devotee of his right-wing party has been bullied by other members for being dyslexic and naïve before his disappearance. The apparatchik Simon King, who runs the candidate selection system, wants to quash Miller’s complaint for a number of reasons which aren’t revealed until the end of the book. Activists and ambitious candidates are prepared to turn on each other to save their own futures. And that’s not just the Tories. Even the jihadists run their own grassroots operation delivering leaflets and canvassing support. Overzealous recruits are controlled in case they step out of line and threaten terror plots.
But this book is stunningly different from many thrillers I’ve read recently. There are several murders and a big finish. But using examples like the Kurdaitcha practices in aboriginal culture and other research into group behaviour, it is also a compassionate tale which grips to the very end.
There are some truly original great characters in this book. Haruto, the half Scottish half Japanese love interest of Karen Andersen, Bea Harrison who trains women wannabe politicians and turns a blind eye to her husband’s shortcomings, the long-winded Quacker, the runaway Filipino maids, the charismatic Zinah Al-Rashid who once worked in Harrods, Robin Miller the star-struck twenty one year old with a heart of gold who is wedded to the party which shafts him, Tammy Kell, the cool as ice female Tory candidate, and Andersen herself, the highly sensitive off the wall private investigator who is fighting her own demons with a second-hand foil off the internet.
The story is a complex mystery and hard to relate it step by step without delivering spoilers which give this imaginative book the page-turning quality. It’s original and at times very funny. It will certainly have you guessing to the end. Where is the missing activist?
With thanks to New Century Digibooks and Louise Burfitt-Dons for an advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.
This is a story about bullying and the power political parties have over their candidates who want to climb the ladder. Robin Miller, a devotee of his right-wing party has been bullied by other members for being dyslexic and naïve before his disappearance. The apparatchik Simon King, who runs the candidate selection system, wants to quash Miller’s complaint for a number of reasons which aren’t revealed until the end of the book. Activists and ambitious candidates are prepared to turn on each other to save their own futures. And that’s not just the Tories. Even the jihadists run their own grassroots operation delivering leaflets and canvassing support. Overzealous recruits are controlled in case they step out of line and threaten terror plots.
But this book is stunningly different from many thrillers I’ve read recently. There are several murders and a big finish. But using examples like the Kurdaitcha practices in aboriginal culture and other research into group behaviour, it is also a compassionate tale which grips to the very end.
There are some truly original great characters in this book. Haruto, the half Scottish half Japanese love interest of Karen Andersen, Bea Harrison who trains women wannabe politicians and turns a blind eye to her husband’s shortcomings, the long-winded Quacker, the runaway Filipino maids, the charismatic Zinah Al-Rashid who once worked in Harrods, Robin Miller the star-struck twenty one year old with a heart of gold who is wedded to the party which shafts him, Tammy Kell, the cool as ice female Tory candidate, and Andersen herself, the highly sensitive off the wall private investigator who is fighting her own demons with a second-hand foil off the internet.
The story is a complex mystery and hard to relate it step by step without delivering spoilers which give this imaginative book the page-turning quality. It’s original and at times very funny. It will certainly have you guessing to the end. Where is the missing activist?
With thanks to New Century Digibooks and Louise Burfitt-Dons for an advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.
August 29, 2018
The Missing Activist begins with Zinah Al-Rashid recruiting a teenage recruit for her contingent of jihadi brides. It moves right along at cracking pace to the apparent suicide of a leading feminist and then the disappearance of Robin Miller who’s a Tory activist. The central character is Karen Andersen who is very relatable as a modern private investigator. She’s more used to checking up on false cvs and bullying claims which is how she gets brought into this cracking mystery. The MA is very much a London story. The characters are all strong and get you in straight away. There’s quite a long list of them. The author’s background is she’s apparently been involved in politics and this is an eerie wake-up call to how the party system works. I’ve given this a full rating. It’s a great start to a series and wondering what is coming next. A very complex mystery but gripping. Loved the bite-size chapters and also the fact its been well researched. An unusual find. Great.
September 10, 2018
Tory female candidates, misogyny as a hate crime, bullying in politics and western women being radicalised are all elements in this chilling thought provoking debut novel. Loved it.
March 12, 2020
Robin Miller is a volunteer activist for the Conservative Party but suddenly he goes missing. Karen Andersen is a private investigator and it becomes her job to find him.
I really enjoyed reading this British conspiracy thriller. It was not just about Karen’s job to find missing Robin but stacks of other things too. This novel fully explored the problems of bullying, not just face to face but cyber-bullying online too. Also we have the issue of Jihadi brides being recruited and sent to Syria. Plus we have fun and games within the Conservative Party as teams of unpaid volunteers compete with each other to grapple with the greasy pole of British politics.
I loved how Louise wove real events into her story to add perspective and realism. Early on in this novel, Alesha Parkhurst, a campaigning feminist is found hanged in a Cardiff hotel. On 28th March 2019, British Red Cross worker Dr Deborah Lamont, 44 was found hanged at Cardiff’s Village Hotel. The problems of bullying within the Conservative Party is not just in this novel but currently raging back and forth in the media concerning the Conservative MP Priti Patel.
I found this novel lovely and up to date. It really has the zeitgeist and mentions things like Brexit. There is the threat of terrorism and previous terrorist incidents like the vehicle-ramming into pedestrians at Westminster are mentioned. This all leads to an entertaining and realistic great read surrounding a great plot.
I found the characterisation very good and each character had an authentic ring to them. It was easy to identify with each of the characters, good guys and bad guys, who seemed like the normal people we meet everyday. I enjoyed the realistic dialogue between the characters and when I read the way Fatima and Mia were talking, I immediately thought of Amira and Amani from the successful Channel 4 television series Gogglebox. Louise pitched the members within the Conservative Party and their attitudes really, really well. This is because Louise is one of them, remember the old adage, write about what you know. Louise stood for election in 2015 in the Nottingham North constituency and got 7,423 votes against the standing MP Graham Allen who held his seat for Labour with 19,283 votes. Louise has brought her experience and understanding of the Conservative Party with it’s funny little ways into her novel so that the reader can understand the darkness within the Tory Party.
I think The Missing Activist is a thrilling read and whilst the general public gets bored with politics, remember Brexit, this story is a great conspiracy that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. My lasting impression, what if Teresa May’s little dance onto the stage ended very differently. Shudder, shudder, remember Brighton.
I really enjoyed reading this British conspiracy thriller. It was not just about Karen’s job to find missing Robin but stacks of other things too. This novel fully explored the problems of bullying, not just face to face but cyber-bullying online too. Also we have the issue of Jihadi brides being recruited and sent to Syria. Plus we have fun and games within the Conservative Party as teams of unpaid volunteers compete with each other to grapple with the greasy pole of British politics.
I loved how Louise wove real events into her story to add perspective and realism. Early on in this novel, Alesha Parkhurst, a campaigning feminist is found hanged in a Cardiff hotel. On 28th March 2019, British Red Cross worker Dr Deborah Lamont, 44 was found hanged at Cardiff’s Village Hotel. The problems of bullying within the Conservative Party is not just in this novel but currently raging back and forth in the media concerning the Conservative MP Priti Patel.
I found this novel lovely and up to date. It really has the zeitgeist and mentions things like Brexit. There is the threat of terrorism and previous terrorist incidents like the vehicle-ramming into pedestrians at Westminster are mentioned. This all leads to an entertaining and realistic great read surrounding a great plot.
I found the characterisation very good and each character had an authentic ring to them. It was easy to identify with each of the characters, good guys and bad guys, who seemed like the normal people we meet everyday. I enjoyed the realistic dialogue between the characters and when I read the way Fatima and Mia were talking, I immediately thought of Amira and Amani from the successful Channel 4 television series Gogglebox. Louise pitched the members within the Conservative Party and their attitudes really, really well. This is because Louise is one of them, remember the old adage, write about what you know. Louise stood for election in 2015 in the Nottingham North constituency and got 7,423 votes against the standing MP Graham Allen who held his seat for Labour with 19,283 votes. Louise has brought her experience and understanding of the Conservative Party with it’s funny little ways into her novel so that the reader can understand the darkness within the Tory Party.
I think The Missing Activist is a thrilling read and whilst the general public gets bored with politics, remember Brexit, this story is a great conspiracy that gets the top score of 5 stars from me. My lasting impression, what if Teresa May’s little dance onto the stage ended very differently. Shudder, shudder, remember Brighton.
May 6, 2020
This is the first book in a series to feature P.I. Karen Anderson.
For the first book in a series, the author packs lots into it. Usually a lot of the story is focused on the protagonist so we can get a good sense of who they are. Whilst we do get to know Karen, the story brings to light a variety of topics ranging from bullying to of course, terrorist attacks.
It’s a steady read that picks up pace as it heads towards the story’s climax. Karen’s job isn’t an easy one and I enjoyed getting to see how she works. Using her investigative skills and her process of elimination. The author of course doesn’t give to much away and it wasn’t until Karen had it all figured out that I had any inkling of who was behind what.
The Missing Activist was a different kind of crime thriller for me that made for an engrossing, informative read. You can tell the author knows her stuff and has clearly done her research. A solid setting for a new series that will keep you turning those pages.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
For the first book in a series, the author packs lots into it. Usually a lot of the story is focused on the protagonist so we can get a good sense of who they are. Whilst we do get to know Karen, the story brings to light a variety of topics ranging from bullying to of course, terrorist attacks.
It’s a steady read that picks up pace as it heads towards the story’s climax. Karen’s job isn’t an easy one and I enjoyed getting to see how she works. Using her investigative skills and her process of elimination. The author of course doesn’t give to much away and it wasn’t until Karen had it all figured out that I had any inkling of who was behind what.
The Missing Activist was a different kind of crime thriller for me that made for an engrossing, informative read. You can tell the author knows her stuff and has clearly done her research. A solid setting for a new series that will keep you turning those pages.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 11, 2019
This ‘political thriller’ is significantly stronger on the politics than it is on the thrills, but it offers a thought-provoking insight into activism and it does have its excitements, though – as with politics – a great deal of patience is needed before the hoped-for action occurs.
The sub-title banner bills this campaign as ‘gripping’ which is a description perhaps best viewed through a spin filter. It is interesting frequently, intriguing intermittently and incisive occasionally, but ‘gripping’ is a rallying slogan rather than a manifesto promise kept. It is, though, a rewarding read.
The narrative is certainly democratic with a plethora of characters introduced rapidly during the first quarter of the book. Each is given due diligence and while their inter-connectivity and possible ties to the eponymous role can be contemplated, they also somewhat obscure, and thus lessen the pull of, the main thread of the cover story. The missing character lives up to that description from early in the narrative, and therefore empathy for that person is not as strong as it might otherwise have been, but the book is about much more than simply resolving that strand of the plot.
The insights into the inner workings of political hopefuls are educational for an outsider – the need for a clothing diary, for example, the necessary rungs to be climbed, and the pressures placed on those aiming for even the very beginnings of the trek to selection.
On a more fundamental level, the expectations of devotion to a particular sect of democracy are smartly exposed in parallel with similar requirements when subscribing to extremism. There’s good insurgent knowledge espoused too, with the trimmings and trickery of extremist grooming providing just one of the uncomfortable manifestations of intimidation contained in this tale.
The politics also become personal with an excursion into mature matrimonial interactions in an intriguingly considered chapter. This, in common with a range of other hypocrisies, is shrewdly arrayed to provide echoes across right-wing politics from the temperate near-centre to the fundamentally indoctrinated.
A subtext emerges that suggests that politics is sometimes the polite face of bullying; and at other times it doesn’t bother with the polite part. All this is conveyed by convincing contemporary characters who go about their business in credible, and occasionally amusing ways and ultimately draw things to a satisfying conclusion.
This is a book that I elected to remain with, as opposed to being inspired to be devoted to. It failed to strongly hook me, but I did find it enlightening and entertaining.
In terms of blowing my mind, this book failed to detonate, but it is not without merit and ignites several worthy incendiary musings. It manages to weave an entertaining carpet of conspiracy, whilst also waving thought-provoking flags for several causes. Its political insights are informative and persuasive, while the thrills, for the most part, remain with the activist.
The sub-title banner bills this campaign as ‘gripping’ which is a description perhaps best viewed through a spin filter. It is interesting frequently, intriguing intermittently and incisive occasionally, but ‘gripping’ is a rallying slogan rather than a manifesto promise kept. It is, though, a rewarding read.
The narrative is certainly democratic with a plethora of characters introduced rapidly during the first quarter of the book. Each is given due diligence and while their inter-connectivity and possible ties to the eponymous role can be contemplated, they also somewhat obscure, and thus lessen the pull of, the main thread of the cover story. The missing character lives up to that description from early in the narrative, and therefore empathy for that person is not as strong as it might otherwise have been, but the book is about much more than simply resolving that strand of the plot.
The insights into the inner workings of political hopefuls are educational for an outsider – the need for a clothing diary, for example, the necessary rungs to be climbed, and the pressures placed on those aiming for even the very beginnings of the trek to selection.
On a more fundamental level, the expectations of devotion to a particular sect of democracy are smartly exposed in parallel with similar requirements when subscribing to extremism. There’s good insurgent knowledge espoused too, with the trimmings and trickery of extremist grooming providing just one of the uncomfortable manifestations of intimidation contained in this tale.
The politics also become personal with an excursion into mature matrimonial interactions in an intriguingly considered chapter. This, in common with a range of other hypocrisies, is shrewdly arrayed to provide echoes across right-wing politics from the temperate near-centre to the fundamentally indoctrinated.
A subtext emerges that suggests that politics is sometimes the polite face of bullying; and at other times it doesn’t bother with the polite part. All this is conveyed by convincing contemporary characters who go about their business in credible, and occasionally amusing ways and ultimately draw things to a satisfying conclusion.
This is a book that I elected to remain with, as opposed to being inspired to be devoted to. It failed to strongly hook me, but I did find it enlightening and entertaining.
In terms of blowing my mind, this book failed to detonate, but it is not without merit and ignites several worthy incendiary musings. It manages to weave an entertaining carpet of conspiracy, whilst also waving thought-provoking flags for several causes. Its political insights are informative and persuasive, while the thrills, for the most part, remain with the activist.
July 7, 2019
“The Missing Activist” was a wonderfully written political thriller! The plot was so compelling that once I started it, I couldn’t stop turning pages until I got to the end. What I appreciated the most was that the story was not only relevant to the current events such as terrorism, internet grooming, bullying, domestic violence, and corruption, but it was presented from the points of view of everyone involved, which included both sides - the protagonists and the antagonists. Getting inside the villain’s mind is always fascinating, and I was glad that the author chose to tell a part of the story from the “bad guys’” side.
My favorite character out of all was definitely Karen, a determined private investigator who gets involved with the investigation of a famous activist’s death, which appears to be a suicide. However, someone has a different idea, and soon the whole ring of corruption begins to unravel. Add an ISIS terrorist, Zinah, who is grooming British teenagers to become ISIS brides, into the mix, and you’ll get yourself a truly unputdownable read, which will keep you turning pages until you get to the climax, which you will never see coming. Realistic, fast-moving, and featuring a multi-dimensional, diverse set of characters, “The Missing Activist” deserves more than five stars. Highly recommended!
My favorite character out of all was definitely Karen, a determined private investigator who gets involved with the investigation of a famous activist’s death, which appears to be a suicide. However, someone has a different idea, and soon the whole ring of corruption begins to unravel. Add an ISIS terrorist, Zinah, who is grooming British teenagers to become ISIS brides, into the mix, and you’ll get yourself a truly unputdownable read, which will keep you turning pages until you get to the climax, which you will never see coming. Realistic, fast-moving, and featuring a multi-dimensional, diverse set of characters, “The Missing Activist” deserves more than five stars. Highly recommended!
August 8, 2018
Despite the length of this book, I actually raced through it. Gripped me from early on and kept the suspense right until the very end. DID NOT SEE THE FINAL TWIST. Karen Andersen is a brilliant character and totally believable. She's tasked with finding a young guy who is a Tory supporter but being bullied by members of his own party before he disappears. Then there is Zinah Al-Rashid who cruises the London high streets and recruits impressionable girls to become Isis brides. So many twists and turns in this novel and a lot of insider stuff on the way political candidates are selected. And if you have been bullied at work, you'll love this book. Lively characters. A really good story. Will definitely be waiting for next one..
January 26, 2019
A political thriller with a great female lead. The Missing Activist builds with excitement to a climactic conclusion. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
December 7, 2020
A woman meets a teenager to recruit, then a housekeeper discovers a dead body and an activist report bullying by a Tory politician - so begins this English political thriller involving OSIS terrorist and Tory politics. The unfolding story features Karen Andersen a private investigator trying to connect the pieces as the tension mounts. A well written engaging enough thriller but some may find it lacking sufficient character development, although it is the first in a series. With thanks to the author and publisher for the eBook copy for review purposes - a three-star rating.
October 11, 2018
A whodunit with world shattering consequences, a thought-provoking insight into modern political parties and current societal pressures.
Given the author’s background and experiences her story presents insights into a mix of current problems in modern, western society and for the individuals inhabiting it.
The book starts with a careful, thorough build-up of each character, complete with their individual foibles, idiosyncrasies and family circumstances. Each one is unleashed into the story and we watch as they interact, and the drama builds to it’s climax. We get to follow the actions from inside each person’s head as well as their outward personas.
Several threads weave and intertwine as we try to work out the alter-ego of the woman in the burqa; why do the teenage girls romanticize the ISIS soldiers; and whatever did happen to the missing activist, Robin Miller… It’s a dark and bloody world the characters inhabit and along the way we learn a lot about political party machinations and how these clash with evolving societal mores and changing tribal boundaries.
Given the author’s background and experiences her story presents insights into a mix of current problems in modern, western society and for the individuals inhabiting it.
The book starts with a careful, thorough build-up of each character, complete with their individual foibles, idiosyncrasies and family circumstances. Each one is unleashed into the story and we watch as they interact, and the drama builds to it’s climax. We get to follow the actions from inside each person’s head as well as their outward personas.
Several threads weave and intertwine as we try to work out the alter-ego of the woman in the burqa; why do the teenage girls romanticize the ISIS soldiers; and whatever did happen to the missing activist, Robin Miller… It’s a dark and bloody world the characters inhabit and along the way we learn a lot about political party machinations and how these clash with evolving societal mores and changing tribal boundaries.
December 5, 2018
When a Conservative party activist goes missing having reported being bullied Karen private investigator Anderson is brought on board to help. She’s one of those who constantly goes off grid which tends to get her into hot water but also solve cases. Just when you think there’s little too this case, one of Robin’s friends in the party is found dead.
Along the way Karen also uncovers a link to a white Muslim convert who recruits jihadi brides and another suspicious death.
This book is pure London humour and style. It covers a range of contemporary issues from street life in the City to marital rape and acid attacks. I found it fun and engaging. Great plot and the characters are strong and believable. This is a complex, twisting tale which combines mystery, politics and terrorism. At the heart is the workings of political parties and a simmering love story between Karen and her Scottish / Japanese love interest Haruto. Very enjoyable.
Along the way Karen also uncovers a link to a white Muslim convert who recruits jihadi brides and another suspicious death.
This book is pure London humour and style. It covers a range of contemporary issues from street life in the City to marital rape and acid attacks. I found it fun and engaging. Great plot and the characters are strong and believable. This is a complex, twisting tale which combines mystery, politics and terrorism. At the heart is the workings of political parties and a simmering love story between Karen and her Scottish / Japanese love interest Haruto. Very enjoyable.
December 12, 2018
A book about Conservative party attitude. When an activist complains about bullying and then goes missing, how will they react. Conference season is coming up and the way their staff and MPs go about selecting candidates, deal with activists and behave in general is brought under scrutiny.
We are also introduced to terrorists and their way of working, especially in recruiting British white Muslim girls to be Jehadi brides.
The story covers a lot of ground and up to date issues, I enjoyed it.
We are also introduced to terrorists and their way of working, especially in recruiting British white Muslim girls to be Jehadi brides.
The story covers a lot of ground and up to date issues, I enjoyed it.
January 16, 2019
With the tempestuous political climate in the UK at the moment, and the ever-present shadow of terrorism from the Middle-East, I couldn't have read this story at a better time...The author clearly knows her stuff, and her bio shows she really has experienced much of what she writes about, which shows in the little touches here and there within the book. All this adds up to a really rather excellent experience for me!
Great characters, neat twists and the afore-mentioned touches create an excellent read. Highly Recommended.
Great characters, neat twists and the afore-mentioned touches create an excellent read. Highly Recommended.
January 16, 2019
I thought the start was a bit slow and hard to get into but after a few chapters, it picked up. There was a few errors that need to be edited. I enjoyed reading this book and thought the ending was clever and although I had my suspicions, it wasn't made clear until the end which I love. I would definitely recommend reading this and would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review.
May 21, 2020
If there's one thing that I like doing, it's discovering new authors. Louise Burfitt-Dons is certainly a new author for me but she is an author whose work I will definitely be reading again. I read the synopsis for 'The Missing Activist' and it was certainly a topical story. The synopsis intrigued me and I eagerly started to read. Oh boy 'The Missing Activist' was one very enthralling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I just knew that I was going to find it hard to be parted from the book. I must be psychic because that's exactly what happened. I immersed myself so deeply into the story that I managed to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the story itself. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I think that part of the book's appeal was the fact that the plot could be describing modern day Britain. I had a suspicion of what was likely to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if my suspicions were spot on or whether or not I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. Needless to say that I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. This story kept me gripped and on the edge of my seat throughout, whih was a bit uncomfortable at times! I soon raced to the end of the story, which I was slightly disappointed about. I don't mean that in a negative fashion but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wish that the story had been longer.
Louise Burfitt-Dons has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She catches your eye with a thrilling sounding synopsis and she then subtly draws you into the story. Once Louise has your attention, she won't let you have it back until the moment you read the very last word on the very last page. Not that I would have wanted my attention back. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's thanks to Louise's very vivid and realistic storytelling. This was a gripping story with a fair few twists and turns along the way. The story certainly kept me guessing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Missing Activist' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Louise's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
It took me no time at all to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I just knew that I was going to find it hard to be parted from the book. I must be psychic because that's exactly what happened. I immersed myself so deeply into the story that I managed to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the story itself. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. I think that part of the book's appeal was the fact that the plot could be describing modern day Britain. I had a suspicion of what was likely to happen and of course I had to keep reading to see if my suspicions were spot on or whether or not I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. Needless to say that I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. This story kept me gripped and on the edge of my seat throughout, whih was a bit uncomfortable at times! I soon raced to the end of the story, which I was slightly disappointed about. I don't mean that in a negative fashion but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wish that the story had been longer.
Louise Burfitt-Dons has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She catches your eye with a thrilling sounding synopsis and she then subtly draws you into the story. Once Louise has your attention, she won't let you have it back until the moment you read the very last word on the very last page. Not that I would have wanted my attention back. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's thanks to Louise's very vivid and realistic storytelling. This was a gripping story with a fair few twists and turns along the way. The story certainly kept me guessing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Missing Activist' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Louise's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
February 9, 2019
This is a real change of pace from my usual reads. I'll admit, in choosing books, I am not known to delve deep into politics, religions or movements for that matter. I wasn't sure if this book would hold my interest. You'll never know unless you try - proved true. I didn't even know some of these groups existed!
There is so much jam packed into this book I couldn't put it down. I even learnt a bit about how easily a terrorist could make a phone bomb - realistic & scary stuff!
There is so much jam packed into this book I couldn't put it down. I even learnt a bit about how easily a terrorist could make a phone bomb - realistic & scary stuff!
February 29, 2020
A political thriller by a writer uniquely qualified to understand the levers of power in Britain, this story offers fascinating insights, engaging characters and a cracking plot.
February 11, 2019
Karen Andersen is a Private Investigator who is called in when a young activist goes missing. His parents believe something terrible has happened. Though she is happy for the commission, there are other mysteries she would prefer to work on but, eventually, it seems they may all be connected. Robin Miller has a meeting with an important party member regarding a bullying complaint Robin recently filed. This was the last anyone heard from Robin. Is he hiding from the backlash? On holiday? Dead? The mystery takes many twists as Karen delves ever deeper into his life.
There are so many issues addressed in this one well-written volume. Suicide, bullying, political back-biting and with many layers of intrigue along the way. Woven through all of this is a fanatical Isis recruiter who is promoting her own agenda while procuring brides for Isis warriors. This is an engaging story of how social media can make or break any potential political candidate. The story began slow while the author introduces all the players. Unfortunately, this story is way too believable. Well-written with fallible and believable characters.
There are so many issues addressed in this one well-written volume. Suicide, bullying, political back-biting and with many layers of intrigue along the way. Woven through all of this is a fanatical Isis recruiter who is promoting her own agenda while procuring brides for Isis warriors. This is an engaging story of how social media can make or break any potential political candidate. The story began slow while the author introduces all the players. Unfortunately, this story is way too believable. Well-written with fallible and believable characters.
February 12, 2020
This one was not my usual read, but it was so well done, it held me. Characters were very well fleshed out, so I was able to easily connect with them. I learned a lot about how a government different than the U.S.'s works. Cool read!
If you like political thrillers, this is the one for you!
If you like political thrillers, this is the one for you!
November 11, 2018
The Missing Activist by Louise Burfitt-Donns was my 23rd book of 2018.
I found this book an easy one to pick up and read. Karen Anderson is a private investigator who gets broad on board by a Police Detective (Quacker) to look into the disappearance of a Conservative party activist Robin Miller. Meanwhile she had her own agenda as she didn’t believe that the death of a prominent feminist / women’s rights activist was suicide at all.
Robin the young activist appears to have gone missing further to meeting with a prominent MP to discuss him being bullied by another party member. Soon after going missing one of Robin’s friends in the party is found dead. Among all this Karen also uncovers a link to the feminist and a white Muslim convert who recruits jihadi brides.
I won’t go into too much detail as it would be easy to spoil. The story develops at a good pace and keeps moving you onwards. There is a relatively big twist, but I picked up this relatively earlier and long before it was revealed in the grand finale of the story, I don’t think I would be alone in this, but it didn’t detract from you being sucked into the story. There are other twists also which makes this a really good thriller. There is a good mix of mystery, politics and terrorism, with a side story of building up the Karen Anderson character and her Scottish / Japanese love interest Haruto.
I felt that this could be the start of a Karen Anderson series and I would for sure look out for book number two. Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this. I give this a 4/5.
I found this book an easy one to pick up and read. Karen Anderson is a private investigator who gets broad on board by a Police Detective (Quacker) to look into the disappearance of a Conservative party activist Robin Miller. Meanwhile she had her own agenda as she didn’t believe that the death of a prominent feminist / women’s rights activist was suicide at all.
Robin the young activist appears to have gone missing further to meeting with a prominent MP to discuss him being bullied by another party member. Soon after going missing one of Robin’s friends in the party is found dead. Among all this Karen also uncovers a link to the feminist and a white Muslim convert who recruits jihadi brides.
I won’t go into too much detail as it would be easy to spoil. The story develops at a good pace and keeps moving you onwards. There is a relatively big twist, but I picked up this relatively earlier and long before it was revealed in the grand finale of the story, I don’t think I would be alone in this, but it didn’t detract from you being sucked into the story. There are other twists also which makes this a really good thriller. There is a good mix of mystery, politics and terrorism, with a side story of building up the Karen Anderson character and her Scottish / Japanese love interest Haruto.
I felt that this could be the start of a Karen Anderson series and I would for sure look out for book number two. Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this. I give this a 4/5.
December 15, 2018
Interesting page turner
I took my time reading this novel as there was a fair bit of ground to cover at the beginning, which took me a few chapters to get fully immersed into, with mutiple plot lines and numerous characters to keep track of. Once I'd nailed down who was who and where everything fit together the story flowed nicely.
The story follows the journey of PI Karen Anderson in the search for a missing political activist, Robyn Miller, after being recruited for the job by Detective 'Quacker'.
I enjoyed the mutiple plot lines and how they slowly blended together, leaving no stone unturned or unexplained by the end of the novel. From corrupt politicians to Islamic terrorists, this book packs a punch and was well worth my time.
Not only are the plots well thought out and carefully constructed, but the style of writing is enticing and keeps the pages turning with rapid succession.
Recommend to lovers of thriller novels!
I took my time reading this novel as there was a fair bit of ground to cover at the beginning, which took me a few chapters to get fully immersed into, with mutiple plot lines and numerous characters to keep track of. Once I'd nailed down who was who and where everything fit together the story flowed nicely.
The story follows the journey of PI Karen Anderson in the search for a missing political activist, Robyn Miller, after being recruited for the job by Detective 'Quacker'.
I enjoyed the mutiple plot lines and how they slowly blended together, leaving no stone unturned or unexplained by the end of the novel. From corrupt politicians to Islamic terrorists, this book packs a punch and was well worth my time.
Not only are the plots well thought out and carefully constructed, but the style of writing is enticing and keeps the pages turning with rapid succession.
Recommend to lovers of thriller novels!
December 9, 2018
A quick read, a page turner. Quite gripping, in spite of some „stumbling blocks“: Haruto and Karen hardly know each other, but he becomes her investigative assistant right away? Karen and Quacker meet at a TV show, and he hires her on the spot? And why does the DI stay in hospital? Some die, and you don‘t quite know why... However, all in all The Missing Activist is an exciting story with an up to date plot. I kind of thought that the political dimension - Brexit - would matter more, when I picked a copy of Louise Burfitt-Dons‘ novel from the NetGalley shelf, but I happily read it anyway. After all, bullying, Jihadi brides and domestic violence are highly sensitive political issues, too. Burfitt-Don is, by all means, an excellent example to prove that screenwriters make good novelists, if you care for action, dynamics and suspense. Which I do!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2019
The main plot for the story was excellent and fit well into today's age. However, the lack of in depth background for main characters left me confused at times. The story is told by different characters as their part in the tale takes place. I enjoyed the overall story but felt there was an overload, of some viewpoints, at different times which did not contribute to the overall storyline. I was satisfied with the ending but felt the justice system part of the story was greatly dismissed by the author.
I have rated this book 3 stars. Enjoyable but not unforgettable.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.
Thank you Frank for your review!
I have rated this book 3 stars. Enjoyable but not unforgettable.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.
Thank you Frank for your review!
February 18, 2019
The author’s experience in the political arena shines through in this tale. Activists, political lobbyists, candidates, and the deep underbelly of crooked politics mesh together in a myriad of conspiracies. I loved Haruto’s character, as well as Bea Harrison. Zinah herself was a strong antagonist, and worthy of this tale. I loved how even the secondary and tertiary characters had lives and backstories, true depth beyond their value to the storyline. I enjoyed the action, the humor, and the insight into cultures and customs not my own.
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