‘Dark Powers’ by Raymond Haigh

Published by Robert Hale,
28 August 2015.
ISBN: 978-0-7198-1757-1

When young Annoushka witnesses a murder at a high society party and records it on her mobile, she cannot imagine the danger she puts herself in. The evidence she holds could bring down many of the aristocracy

and people in government.

On the instructions of the Prime Minister Special Agent Samantha Quest is sent to protect Annoushka and retrieve the 'phone. However, the mobile goes missing and so begins a frantic search by the two women closely followed by men employed to destroy the evidence and them.

Also unknown to Annoushka, her father, a wealthy Russian oligarch has powerful enemies intent on tracking her down and disposing of her and Samantha. The two have to keep one step ahead all the time and it becomes imperative that they recover the mobile as it is the only thing they have to bargain for their safety.

This was a great story of intrigue and corruption in high places. The two women have to outwit pursuers from every direction and it makes for exciting reading. They have many a close shave avoiding all the would be assassins.

I found it refreshing to read the exploits of a female Special Agent instead of the usual testosterone fuelled male!

I laughed out loud at a couple of remarks by H.R.H. Prince Philip, Raymond Haigh certainly has a hidden sense of humour! For the main part though, this book is full of “dark powers” that are easy to imagine actually do exist in high places. It lends belief to probably most people's suspicions that there must be many a cover-up in the government and among the super rich.

Apparently this is Haigh's seventh book involving Samantha Quest, and I shall be looking out for the other six.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Raymond Haigh was born in Doncaster where he went on to work in local government design departments. He is married with four children and seven grandchildren. Haigh's crime writing spree began in the 1980s with the publication of the first of his five Paul Lomax novels. Dark Powers is his seventh Samantha Quest story.

  

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf  (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.