Come autumn and rises the anticipation for the new Jeffrey Archer release. Such has been the pattern for the past few years that the William Warwick series has become an inseparable part of the season for me! And so, here I was – all set and waiting with my copy of Traitor’s Gate pre booked well in advance.
My first impressions of the book were pretty clear, this 6th book in the Warwick series promised to be the best. To begin with, we have all the regular characters returning back – William, Beth, Miles Faulkner, Booth Watson, Sir Julian Warwick and last but not the least Christina! It is a pleasure to meet these bunch of people yet again for a fun filled adventure.
As with each Warwick book, William gets another promotion here and is now Chief Superintendent. Commander Hawksby’s team is this time tasked with the safe transit of the Imperial State Crown & Sword of State to & from The Tower of London for the Queen’s Speech. A perfect setting for one devious mind to set ticking? But of course Miles Faulkner! Seeking revenge from the Hawk, Williams and Ross he scripts a heist with the assistance from his usual lot of Lamont, Booth Watson & Co.
Sir Jeffrey Archer at his admirable best weaving a thoroughly enjoyable cat and mouse game between Warwick and Faulkner. Although unfamiliar with the geography of the place which Sir Archer details so minutely, I completely was sold to Faulkner’s heist and later Warwick and Co. getting even. You can’t help but admire Miles Faulkner’s sharp mind and near perfect plan to bring down Warwick.
Another enjoyable aspect of the book is the parallel story of Colonel Blood that runs through with the kids preparing their school project. The similarities drawn with Faulkner makes you think if Colonel Blood was the inspiration behind this character?
Coming to what I enjoyed the most about the book. All through the Warwick series, you find abundant mention of art, museums, paintings. I love this backdrop and it is one of the things that makes these books so enjoyable. Both Warwick and his nemesis Faulkner are linked in their love for it. While Faulkner may be a criminal, you have to admire his taste for art. Besides the main plot, we have a parallel subplot with either some painting being stolen or an entire collection being tarnsported and so on. Here too, we have a painting being replaced in the Fitzmolean where William’s wife Beth is the director. And the role Cristina plays in it is hilarious! She is undoubtedly my favorite character of the Warwick Series! This heist I probably enjoyed more than that of the Crown Jewels. And my only complaint would be, Christina’s role in this book ends quite early and is nowhere to be seen in the later half of the book.
Conclusion
A delightful book with lovable characters from the master story teller of our times. This has to be my favorite book of my favorite series – William Warwick. The thrill & adventure you get in a Jeffrey Archer book is unmatched. It was 10 days of pure joy and festivity as I read this book. I feel disappointed the book has ended, but happy that it ends saying – Warwick will be back in 2024! So here’s to William Warwick and Sir Jeffrey Archer!!