Book Review: Deep Shelter by Oliver Harris - bad boy Belsey's back!
I reviewed Harris’ first book The Hollow Man just after The Crime Warp
was launched. I loved Nick Belsey’s
rebellious, almost anarchic behaviour, which thankfully a real police officer
could never get away with. At the end of
The Hollow Man, Belsey was simply in deep, deep trouble. So, roll forward to 2014 and Belsey is at Hampstead
police station when a street incident leads him to chase someone into a blind
alley, but the person promptly disappears.
Belsey finds a peculiar structure, which turns out to be an entrance to part
of London’s Cold War defence system of underground tunnels and shelters.
Belsey takes his girlfriend Jemma into the shelter for an evening of
frolics and you can guess that things start to go wrong, when the lights go out
and Jemma disappears. Our hero is then locked
into a race against time to find Jemma, whilst being taunted by the kidnapper to
find him and Jemma. However, what Belsey
uncovers is a Cold War past of secrets and tragedies, hidden even more
effectively than the tunnels he’s walking through.
I found this novel really enjoyable.
Belsey hasn’t been tamed by the fallout from The Hollow Man and his
devil may care spirit is still there.
However it’s not just Belsey’s character that makes this book so
good. Harris’ meticulous research into the
UKs Cold War civil defence system, the network of shelters and the general air
of paranoia and secrecy of the time are superbly brought to life. He’s created a rich and convincing plot that
keeps you hooked throughout.
Overall, it’s a fantastic book, with fluent writing, a great plot and the
star of the show is still Nick Belsey, the bad boy who tops it off perfectly.
Romancrimeblogger
PS – if you’re interested in the Cold War/secrecy theme of the novel, try
these links:
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