Who is the hero on the ridge?
The Colonel
Colonel Douglas Frobisher VC (retired) lives an idyllic life in an affluent community in the North West of England, and is a much respected member of the local golf club. A series of events lead to the revelation of an historic and shocking deception that shatters his cosy existence and leads him on a trail through his past to discover the real truth that has defined his life. The primary themes revolve around naivety and experience, duty and self-interest, trust and betrayal and an underlying thesis of establishment conspiracy, cover-up and deceit. The deeper narrative, though, concerns much more than just institutional corruption, and goes to a very human level of self-discovery and the tortuous quest for redemption, the delivery of which is never guaranteed.
A Harry Wagstaff Future Mystery
Voyage of the
Jupiter Storm
It is the middle of the 24th Century and the cryonic passenger liner, Jupiter Storm, is en route to the giant planet, carrying 5,000 souls, all slumbering in suspended animation. Chief Inspector Harry Wagstaff, on his way to start a new life on the gigantic space station orbiting Jupiter, is woken early by the flight crew, who seek his help in solving a terrible crime...for which they are all suspects. Wagstaff encounters the awesome and malevolent power of artificial intelligence as he uncovers a diabolical scheme and something ancient, twisted and deadly on board the stricken vessel.
What people said about
Voyage of the Jupiter Storm
Not usually a fan of sci-fi but I do like a good crime fiction story. This was fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Without giving too much away the juxtaposition of an historical figure with a futuristic situation provided the gel that binds the story. I also think it was an excellent idea to pitch this novel well into the detective's career thus giving the author the opportunity to move the character forwards and also have the potential to fill in his back story. The dystopian world that he has created is both credible and frightening and the piece in the middle of the book when he enlightens the reader as to how the world has reached its current state reinforces that. I often find that there are two key elements to my enjoyment of a story: being able to empathise with the characters and being able to visualise the setting - the author did both superbly well. The sense of darkness and isolation was almost palpable at times and the characters emotions came across well. I look forward to reading more of Harry Wagstaff.
Gripping and clever, an unpredictable foray into the world of future crime
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2017
I really enjoyed reading this one. It combines what you might call plausible science fiction with the often terrifying face of human nature in its raw state. I wouldn't necessarily classify it in the detective novel genre but there is no doubt that it borrows heavily from this, combining a plot with many unexpected twists and turns with a central character that is entirely believable and human and placing this person in an environment where he struggles to function, often finding himself completely out of his depth.
Spoilers aside, this is an impressive achievement for a first novel and I look forward to reading the next one.
I'm being harsh just giving it 4 stars because it is a fantastic first novel. Even if sci-fi is not your thing, and it's not really mine, you should enjoy it. The plot is complex yet compelling and the science is credible but not intrusive. Burgess has a style that is easy to read and pacy. It wouldn't surprise me if this was picked up by Hollywood. It has all the ingredients to be a blockbuster. Ridley Scott perhaps?
So why not five stars? It's purely a matter of taste, but the plot is so involving with so many twists that occasionally the characters seem secondary. I'm nitpicking. The fact that I could not put it down is testament to what a good read it is.
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