The Best Laid Plans by Russell Govan – Review.

About The Book

Undercover police officer Josh Gray, a former soldier, rescues a young woman, Amelia Harris, from assault by two men late at night. Days later Harris reappears as an old friend of a member of the terrorist cell that Gray has infiltrated. Will she blow his cover?

Her re-emergence is a further unwelcome complication in a fraught operation to investigate a terrorist group bent on detonating multiple explosive devices in densely packed public spaces. Gray’s instincts suggest that the threat might involve more than just the lone cell – headed by Ryan Watson, a charismatic ideologue whose frustration with conventional politics has driven him to embrace extremism.

The threat to national security grows, at the same time that Gray feels increasingly isolated in the operation. 

When a practice attack by the cell against a soft target succeeds in causing significant damage, albeit at the cost of one of the terrorists lives, Gray realises that the quality of equipment provided means the cell is incredibly well funded, and that Watson’s disregard for human life extends to members of his own team.

As the operation reaches its climax, a sudden terrifying twist sees Gray involved in a race to neutralise a new threat, as Watson embarks on an unexpected mission to strike at the very heart of the British establishment.

My Review

With thanks to the author for the copy received. All over the world you hear reports of terrorist attacks where sadly innocent people die or suffer terrible injuries. This novel shows the attempts of the police and security services to try and stop them.

Josh is an undercover police officer, his real character was totally different to the one where he was part of a small but dangerous group of people. His true character was one I liked a lot, even his unconventional ways of dealing with people who he felt needed to suffer for their actions. I found myself sat waiting in anticipation for who he would be dealing with next, there were quite a few in his queue! I also liked his relationship with Molly and his pain at the way it had deteriorated. 

I knew that the person he was portraying as part of the group wasn’t real but he came across as more grounded than the others. The leader, Ryan, was a character who made me feel extremely uncomfortable with his beliefs and desire to cause as much mayhem as possible. I saw him as a cult leader who brainwashed his group into thinking the same way as him, but where they couldn’t see what was really happening or how far he was prepared to go. His team seemed to consist of those who had been damaged by society or people who should have known better and I imagine this to be a true reflection of what many groups similar to this are like in the real world. 

I hope that this is the first in a new series, I would definitely be interested in reading more about Josh in future novels. 

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