Having seen Jeffrey Archer’s books everywhere, I was keen to give him a try for myself. I admit this is the first in the series I’ve read, which may have some bearing on how I experienced the story. But I was bored!

The characters were good. William was a strong main lead without the stereotypical problems that often occur having a detective as the protagonist. But there was no depth to any of the characters. I’m already struggling to remember their names and who was who. I had no feelings towards any of them.

Likewise, the plot felt mediocre at best. There were three elements to the story. While I could see the way two connected – although they still seemed very separate threads with just one overlapping element – the third part was nothing more than a chance to manoeuvre main characters into position.

Next in Line was a fairly quick read, which is why I kept going with it. Although not engrossed in the plot, I had enough curiosity to see it through and knew it wouldn’t take an age to do so.

I wanted to like this book. I hoped Archer would be the type of author I could dip in and out of his material and be guaranteed a decent read. Unfortunately, the lack of tension, connection to the characters and jumping around of the plot left me feeling I wanted more. An added depth to all elements of the book would have made a more engaging read.

Next in Line is the first book I've read in the Detective William Warwick series and I think to enjoy it more you need to read the first four books to fully understand the characters and the timeline of the story. The writing is good and full of storyline as there are multiple going on at one time which was interesting but sometimes made me confused as to what was happening.

It did make me uncomfortable that the book is using characters based on real people such as Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana etc.

Overall the story was good, writing engaging and good characters. I think to enjoy this book more though you would need to read the full series.

This is another wonderful and engrossing book from Jeffrey Archer, which I loved. I whizzed through it, as it was fast paced and full of action, which kept me excited and eager to read on.

The story is set in the 1980's, which I found very interesting. William Warwick is a chief police inspector, and, along with his team, he is sent to investigate the Royal Protection Unit who are protecting the Royal Family in England. I found this really fascinating.

There was a lot of things going on in this book, and lots of different plots and stories. Reading this book is much like eating a huge meal that has lots of rich and varied ingredients, which leave a pleasant after taste and a feeling of full satisfaction.

This is a great book which I highly recommend!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

This is part of a series which I hadn’t read,but it didn’t stop me enjoying it, once I’d got to grips with the characters and worked out what had happened before.
It’s got several strands,which are all quite entertaining-a fraudulent lawyer ,a criminal and his devious wife ,and a team of Police Protection Officers tasked with protecting Princess Diana and also investigating corruption within the previous protection squad. It ends with a very exciting section which I won’t say too much about as I don’t want to spoil the plot.
It’s an easy read and although it would probably be best enjoyed by readers who were familiar with the series,it’s still enjoyable and would be good holiday reading.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

Next in Line is the fifth book in the William Warwick series but it is the first one I have read; in fact, it is the first book by Jeffery Archer I have read. I watched Kane and Abel when it was televised but that’s not quite the same thing. You may wonder then why I picked this particular book to start with and I guess it was partly because it was set in the world of the Royalty Protection Service and the time of Princess Diana and partly because I knew that I was going to see Jeffrey Archer at Bloody Scotland Crime Festival.
DCI William Warwick and his team are called in to investigate if the Royalty Protection Command are really doing their jobs in line with protocol and the good of the Royal family or if they are now operating as though they are above the law. Ross Hogan is chosen to guard Princess Diana, a highly responsible job and one that keeps him on his toes, whilst the rest of the team have to embed themselves into the close-knit unit to find out what is going on without arousing suspicion of what their true mission is.
Despite me jumping into a series at the latest book I didn’t feel that I couldn’t follow the story. The characters were well developed, and I didn’t need to know their back story to get to like them. Warwick has an old nickname of “the choirboy” and you can see why that is. He is a very by the book’s kind of person (with the exception of maybe one incident that happened prior to the current action) and he hates any hint of corruption within the force so you can see how it goes against the grain for him to blend in with the Protection Command to get the evidence he needs. The other thing you can see about him is that his family is very important as are his team and he thinks nothing of becoming a surrogate parent for Ross Hogan’s daughter so that he can take on his latest mission. As for Ross, I think I liked his character most. He is committed to his job, but he has a certain air of devil may care when it comes to strictly following the rules, though this may not be a bad thing when he finds the lives of those he is protecting are in danger. And his instincts on who can and can’t be trusted are pretty much spot on.
I was expecting this to be a book that was full on from the start with corruption, kidnapping and terrorist plots at its heart, but I was pleasantly surprised. The slower build up allowing the various scenes to be set mean that when it all started to kick off later in the book I was invested in the outcomes and as the pace picked up so did my reading speed as I wanted to find out if everyone would come out ok and those responsible would get their comeuppance.
What I can say is that now I have read Next in Line I really want to find books 1 – 4 in this series and learn more about Warwick and the team and after seeing Jeffrey Archer at the festival he is as much a storyteller in person as he is on the page, and I can see why he is such a popular author

3.5 stars rounded up

This was just like the previous books in the series - fast paced, action filled and with all of our favourite characters. For some reason it didn't grip me quite as much as the previous Warwick books though - maybe the series is getting a bit old. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this one and would recommend to fans.

Jumping into a series with the fifth book is completely out of the norm for me but the storyline here just really interested me. I've never read any fiction with the royal family of the 80s era as a plot concern and I was intrigued here. The royals don't feature very heavily as the author focuses on much more interesting characters but I was pleasantly surprised with the way Diana was portrayed.
I loved all the cloak-and-dagger investigations and the machinations of the villains, of which there are plenty.

There are lots of great characters, William Warwick, of course being the favourite.

I haven't read any of the previous titles in the series but I was able to follow this very easily and enjoy it as a standalone. Nevertheless, reading the first books is now on my to-do list before the next book is published.

Although I have read some books by Jeffrey Archer before, I hadn't yet met William Warwick. I really liked him as a character and look forward to catching up on the previous books in the series. I really enjoyed the plot and the mix of characters (of which there were a lot!). I'm sure Di would have loved it!

I've not read anything by Jeffrey Archer for years but this really didn't disappoint. Fast moving plot with plenty of action. It kept me engrossed and I would highly recommend.

This is the first Jeffrey Archer book I have read. And in all honesty, I wish I had read some of his books earlier!

The story brings in real-life characters, including royalty and politicians, which makes it all so much more readable and engaging!

With modern families interspersed with gangsters, terrorists, politicians, police and royalty, I really didn't know where this story was going to take me. All I can say is what a great crime/thriller novel.

There are a lot of characters that you are introduced to, which can sometimes be a bit confusing, but with the plot thickening the story kept giving and there was never a dull moment.

I didn't realise that this was the fifth book in the William Warwick series, but that did not impact on understanding any of the storyline. I was whisked away on a page turning journey, and will be looking to read more of this series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and give my honest review on this book,.

Predictably following on from his previous saga a Jeffrey Archer popular and easy read that satisfies his fans, delivers a successful adventure mystery yet never quite reaches the heady complexity , three dimensional characters and plot lines of his earliest novels. They remain strong book markers that others unsuccessfully strove to copy. A hugely talented person in many spheres which somehow reflects in his ability to deliver a good (not great) book. Forcing upon himself the discipline, time and self awareness he is easily capable with his talent and skills in writing one of life’s great books, particularly with his knowledge of politics and prime minister’s . This is a good read but frustrated at what could be delivered.

I love Jeffrey Archer novels because they are so easy to read and you find yourself flying through it with ease. Next in Line was another brilliant read by the master of novels. I loved the storyline which took us back to the Thatcher era, terrorists and the Royal Family, all the while linking to the detective series and the previous story of the fraudulent art dealer that Archer has created. I cannot wait for the next page turner in the series.

Next in Line strikes a delicate balance between being as realistic as possible, while dealing sensitively with the complicated and emotionally charged issues around having Princess Diana as one of the characters in the book.

In this book, we catch up with William Warwick and some of his past acquaintances, so there are some ongoing storylines reemerging here. However, this wouldn't prevent you reading it as a standalone story.

Royal protection, fraud and terrorism all combine to make a very tense, action-packed read, obviously well researched and written in an engaging manner.

Some little threads are not neatly tied up at the end - presumably to draw us in to William's next adventure and I don't mind that at all.

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

This was my favourite instalment so far in the William Warwick series, which sees William promoted to Detective Chief Inspector and tasked with infiltrating the Royalty Protection Command who don't seem to be taking their roles as seriously as they should. In the meantime, Miles is back behind bars and scheming his way towards release, while BW has some double-crossing tricks up his sleeve to ensure he gets the best outcome out of everyone. Another subplot sees DI Ross Hogan swooping in to become the chief security protection of Princess Di and doing everything he can to keep her safe in light of intel around anticipated terrorist attacks.

Jeffrey Archer is one of my favourite crime authors and I love how this series carries on from the last while exploring completely new task force squads and dilemmas.

The book is so well-researched and I expect most of the anecdotes are based on true experiences that Archer uncovered during his interviews, which adds a nice layer of realism.

His writing is effortless, easily switching between multiple plots while managing to bring them all together in the climax. It has the perfect pace that makes you not want to put the book down without feeling like the story is moving too fast. There are twists, turns, and action along the way that make for a gripping and exciting read. We're at the point in the series now where the familiar characters feel like old friends which adds even more anticipation to the story.

While the ending is satisfying, it also finishes on a cliffhanger that has got me itching to read the next book the minute it is released! Highly recommend this series to those that enjoy traditional British crime and multi-layered plots.

I love Warwick. I have been following his stories by Archer. This novel puts him and his team inside the palace, trying to catch the corrupt members of the royal household. Good insider knowledge of how the team within the palace works and the type of fraud and embezzlement that can be perpetrated. Up to the usual high standard you expect from Archer. Recommended.

Next In Line
Jeffrey Archer
Published 27th Sept. 2022

*****
Next in Line, but not the last, I hope.

I have to admit that I have come a little late to the party. I was a great fan of Jeffrey Archer’s earlier books but somehow zoned out after the Clifton Chronicles (which at 7 books must have overpowered me). Anyway, here we are with the fifth in the William Warwick series and I haven’t even read the first, but no matter as it stood up on its own perfectly well, and indeed has inspired me to buy in the earlier ones, which is quite a compliment!

Set in 1988 the story initially appears to be about an investigation into a potentially corrupt member of the Royalty Protection Command in charge of the protection of Princess Diana, and it is the Princess that is at the centre of the whole story - however it embraces a great variety of threads including: many aspects of the art world; an escaped fraudster who is ‘repatriated’ to the UK by not entirely legal methods; Libyan terrorists; a self serving QC; a corrupt ex police officer; and many more!

I don’t intend to outline the story, the publishers have given a fair synopsis already, all I need to say is that in true Jeffrey Archer style it is a page turner that you will not regret buying.

I read this book from a pre-publication copy kindly supplied by the publisher, but this is an honest review with no concession to their generosity.

For some reason I’ve never read a Jeffrey Archer book. I can say I’m pleasantly surprised. This book was really really good.
Set in 1988 and everyone loves Princess Diana. Ross Hogan gets the job of her protection officer whilst another team from Scotland Yard lead by Detective chief inspector William Warwick are tasked with cleaning up the office of Royal protection. Are they really corrupt?
Along side the royal protection story there is another story running that just absolutely works. I don’t want to give too many spoilers out. Just read the book. A very quick enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an arc.

In London, in 1988, the British nation is gripped by royal fever; of Princess Diana in particular but the rest of the Royal Family also which means that Scotland Yard is under more pressure to protect them. The tale focuses on the elite Royalty Protection Command which has the responsibility for protecting them. Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick is alerted to malpractice in the team and sends in his undercover squad. DI Ross Hogan, a fine undercover operative, has a pivotal role as does Warwick's wife, Beth, a knowledgeable art-lover who works at the Fitzmolean Museum.

Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer is the fifth book in the William Warwick series. A gripping thriller with multiple plot lines, this latest William Warwick novel reads well as a standalone too. Short chapters leave cliffhangers and make you want to read on just a wee further. With an exciting conclusion, this is an action-packed, tremendously good read.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from HarperCollins via NetGalley.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I think I managed to pick up the plot lines and the characters relatively quickly.

We see 2 main plot lines play out and become interlinked throughout the story. One features corruption within the royal protection that DCI Warwick needs to get to the bottom of. In addition the protection of the Princess of Wales and the difficulties that causes plays into the ongoing corruption.

The 2nd main plot line is the art dealer prisoner, his scheming wife and his dodgy lawyer.

The plot was slightly too much at times and I thought that some of the side plots could have been cut slightly to make for a smoother read. It felt like it took me a long time to read this.

I did enjoy the story and it kept my attention. I would recommend to others that are fans of Jeffrey Archer and in my opinion it can be read as a standalone book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review

This is the first book I've read by this order and it won't be my last!!!

I couldn't get enough of it, it was fast paced and I couldn't put it down.

I do feel that you need to have read all the other ones to really get an understanding of everyone and I felt like it took me a while to understand who was who