This is a gripping and dark spy story that makes you understand how thing changed in political field. A well plotted page turner that kept me reading.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Best Revenge is the fourth entry in his series about the nondescript MI5 agent Jonas Merrick. Generally despised and overlooked by his superiors and flasher younger colleagues, and not really forgiven for unmasking a Russian spy in MI6 in The Foot Soldiers, Merrick has been banished to the Chinese desk with instructions not to ruffle feathers. But while Merrick seems to be a harmless old fellow waiting for retirement, underneath he is very astute and quite ruthless in his determination. When he stumbles upon a Chinese network, which is targeting a young naive expert in GPS-free missile guidance systems, he sets in place a devious operation that has the potential to strike a blow to China’s espionage network in the UK.

One thing that Merrick is unaware of, however, is an operation against himself by the Russians who have been given the instruction from Putin to ‘bring me his head’.

This is a slow burn of a thriller, that steadily builds its way to a series of tense moments and a bloody climax in England and in far-off Russia. The pace may be slow at times, but the tension is high throughout, and as with most of Seymour’s novels, the outcome is never clear until the final moment.

The details of the operation are credible and interesting, and the various foot soldiers on both sides are well crafted and believable. There are some terrific little vignettes, including an amusing incident involving a tea trolley, and Merrick’s clever efforts to outwit both his foreign enemies and his superiors is fondly reminiscent of Brian Freemantle’s Charlie Muffin books.

An outstanding spy novel for those readers with patience and a love of well executed plots.

This is the latest in a series of books featuring Jonas Merrick who works for MI5. I really like the characterisation of Jonas - he is an older man, past retirement age, but still working at his desk, following his usual routines and doing things his own way. In this novel Jonas is quietly working on the China desk, filtering through intelligence reports and picking up leads possibly missed by others.

I found the storyline of this book quite complicated to follow. It was a book of two halves for me. In the first half, you are learning the background to the case. At times it felt as though the cast of characters was a little overwhelming - there are the Chinese, the Russians as well as references to Albanians and the usual cast of characters from the previous books. Even Olaf, the cat, plays a significant part in this story. I don't think I quite got all of the detail. The references to the yellow beach were a bit lost on me to be honest. But I very much followed the storyline of the deep cover agent and the woman captured by the Russians.

In the second half of the book the pace ramps up significantly. You feel the tension as things are brought together towards the resolution of seemingly separate threads of storyline. The thread of the escaped prisoner in the second half is particularly interesting.

All in all, this was a complex but enjoyable read. I'm not sure how much longer Jonas Merrick can keep going before he is forced to retire, but I will be looking out for his next episode!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another episode in the Jonas Merrick series which again finds this most unlikely hero up to his secret games again. A Chinese sleeper agent discovered by an observant security guard sets Jonas off on his quest. A number of characters giving information in a classic honey trap scenario all found by Jonas aided by an equally unconventional agent who has been seconded to him due to her not fitting in to the standard expectation. There is a subplot where a revenge mission against Jonas by the Russians for deeds from a previous tale all add to this wonderful spy yarn. Another triumph for Mr Seymour.

I’ve only read one other book in the Jonas Merrick series and I found him an intriguing character. He’s quirky, highly intelligent and an individual ignored or derided by colleagues. He lives with his long suffering wife Vera and Olaf the cat. He doesn’t work to normal boundaries and is used to working alone and carefully drawing together intelligence from a range of sources and making the links.

Gerald Seymour presents a frighteningly plausible view of the way in which Chinese agents infiltrate even with British agents embedded, it’s impossible to prevent manipulation of western governments by the Far East. This all feels very pertinent as China struggles to become a dominating world power, one used to electronic control of critical systems which it’s built up over some decades.

This story hits the ground running and doesn’t let up. It’s really well told with excellent pacing and I’ve raced through it, with a couple of heart thumping moments en route in a couple of sittings. Seymour has modern espionage tale nailed and this is gripping.

The Best Revenge sees the return of Jonas Merrick in what is yet another high class thriller from Gerald Seymour.

The writing is first class drawing the reader in until all the strands are cleverly pulled together in a great ending.

High class writing starts 2024

This is my first dip into Gerald Seymour's espionage series featuring the elderly MI5 Jonas Merrick series, a man who gets results but is not appreciated for the manner in which he breaks the rules to get them. Left alone on the China desk, the attraction of his life on the third floor of Thames House is that as an counter intelligence analyst, he is anonymous, operating as a heavyweight peripheral shadow. He tracks and takes note of the People's Liberation Army's Colonel Zhang Dong staking his reputation and life on a GPS free missile guidance system, intended to radically shift the global balance of power. The undercover Jimmy Bolton feels he has successfully embedded himself in the local community, but he and Mary Lou have not gone unnoticed.

The ruthless Merrick is aware of a Chinese honey trap set for young, socially awkward, electronic engineer genius working on innovatory missile guidance systems, Q (Quentin), headhunted by Alpha Engineering, signing the Official Secrets Act once recruited. However, in Moscow revenge is being sought for previous failures, orders have been issued to kill Merrick that have Arkadi, Danil and Pushka drive to Helsinki, the beginning of the journey in an effort to complete their mission. There is betrayal, a Strangeways inmate being taken, and more. It would be a mistake to underestimate just how able Merrick is, particularly as he refuses to be put off doing what he coldly reasons is necessary, even if it lands him in trouble.

Merrick appears to live a life of routine with his wife, Vera, and cat, Olaf, going to work, publicly acknowledged only by the guards, Kev and Leroy. Any of his successes do not prevent him having to face the Kangaroos, intent on eradicating any signs of a culture of independent thought, whilst paying little attention to Chinese espionage. This is a compulsive, intense, engaging and well plotted read, although I did feel that I was coming in late to the game, having not read the earlier books in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Having read most,if not all of Gerald Seymour’s books over the years, I looked forward to this latest offering, but unfortunately I found it a bit flat, and slow to get going, thus spoiling my overall enjoyment. It was certainly not in the same league as his previous work which was a shame.

Jonas Merrick is a marvellous invention by Gerald Seymour, The curmudgeonly veteran is still out there breaking all the rules and giving the impression that he is a doddering anachronism well past his sell-by date. But don't be fooled - appearances can be deceptive as he has a mind like a steel trap and a determination simply to get the job done whatever the consequences however many petty-fogging rules he feels justified to ignore or break.

This is a wonderfully told and researched tale, well up to the enormously high standard Gerald Seymour has set for himself over the years if not past decades.

Yes, it helps of you firstly read the three previous Merrick books starting with "The Crocodile Hunter" but that is no hardship as a veritable treat awaits you. A master still at the top of his game - a verdict that refers to both author and lead character alike.

The Best Revenge sees the welcome return of Jonas Merrick. Past retirement Merrick is an oddball MI5 maverick who tramples over the rules but clings onto his job by getting results. Beneath his public persona, the elderly man with the food stains on his clothes and mild manners,Merrick is a ruthless operator with a mind like a steel trap.

In the latest book in Gerald Seymour's excellent series Merrick is monitoring the actions of Chinese operatives working a honey-trap to get details of a revolutionary missile guidance system. Unknown to him plans are being hatched by people looking for revenge for one of his earlier operations. As he hunts down the Chinese network he in turn is being tracked by old enemies with deadly intent.

Another great book in this series that has the seemingly innocuous Merrick leading an outwardly conservative and routine life with his wife and cat while in his MI5 work dealing with death,would be assassins and making cold-blooded decisions. Making that work requires a deft and skilled writer and master storyteller Gerald Seymour is exactly that.

It's pretty much essential to have read all of the series to get the best from this book,a few loose ends are tidied up and the backstory is a continuation of plots from previous books. Providing you have you'll love it, if you haven't I'd strongly recommend doing so before tackling this one.