‘Double Exposure’ by Michael Simmons

Published by The Book Guild Ltd,
28 May 2018.
ISBN: 978-1-9123625-30

Sophie and Hannah Hoare are exceedingly precocious, identical twins.   Born to a vicar and his librarian wife in a village a cycle ride from Oxford and more or less abandoned to the care of a lazy and corrupt “treasure”, the twins racketed their way through schools and university, not to mention more or less every young man they could get their hands on, before emerging beautiful and clever from their student days.

Before they take up their professional positions as lawyers, and become more independent of each other, the twins agree that a little variety might not go amiss so they adopt different clothes and hairstyles.  Hannah marries a lost and lonely Russian student, Igor, and “takes over” a dormant law practice in vibrant Acton.  Sophie remains single, makes other businesslike arrangements for her sex life, and becomes a partner in a huge and prestigious city law firm

The trouble starts when Igor’s Russian connections introduce Bronia Seratov to Hannah’s firm.  Bronia wants a divorce, and a huge settlement from her Russian oligarch husband.  He wants a divorce but doesn’t want to part with his money.  Open warfare follows which, after various twists and turns, results in Sophie charging round Europe with Hannah’s two children whilst she tries to escape the wrath of ruthless, rich Russians.

An ability to suspend disbelief is essential whilst reading Double Exposure. With only 167 pages, and each of the characters describing their part in the plot in a series of very short sections, it would make an ideal travelling companion.  However, I would have to admit that once I started to read it, I couldn’t put it down.

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Reviewer: Angela Crowther

Michael Simmons was educated at St Paul's School in London and Emmanuel College in Cambridge, Michael worked as a solicitor in a private practice for 50 years. Drawing on his experiences in law, Michael later turned to writing gripping legal thrillers and his first book, Low Life Lawyer received rave reviews from The Times, Law Society Gazette and Solicitors Journal, to name but a few. Double Exposure is the second thriller in the lawyers' library series by lawyer turned author,

michaelsimmonsauthor.co

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.