To put this review into context, one of the first 'grown-up' books I read as a teenager was 'Kane and Abel' by Jeffrey Archer - I thought it was superb and have been a fan ever since. I must confess that I have not read anything of his for a while. So when I found out recently that the man himself was going to be in Ely promoting the latest addition to the Clifton Chronicles I decided to give them a try. If I was going to listen to Lord Archer speak then I should at least have a vague idea what he was talking about.
'Mightier Than The Sword' is the fifth book in the Clifton Chronicles. For those that don't know they centre around Harry Clifton, his life, loves, successes, trials and tribulations (the last of these, literally). These books definitely need to be read in sequence as they build chronologically, following Harry from his early childhood, and each ends with a cliffhanger.
Harry, his wife Emma (chair of the Barrington Shipping board) and Giles Barrington MP and Emma's brother are the main protagonists. They are well developed characters who, though successful, are shown to be human, flawed but likeable. The antagonists, especially old nemeses Lady Virginia Fenwick and Major Alex Fisher are portrayed realistically and give great colour to the action.
With Harry and his fight for the release of a Russian writer Archer gives the plot a firm footing in the political landscape of the relevant Cold War time period. This is further enhanced by Giles and his issues with East Germany.
Sebastian Clifton - Harry and Emma's son - and his troubles and triumphs at the bank he works for provides all the financial intrigue you could wish for. Seb, Giles and their respective love lives provide the romantic angle. Emma and Harry have their own courtroom dramas to negotiate. Emma fighting a libel case brought by Lady Virginia with Major Fisher in tow, the latter being given more character in this book which is enough to let you see what is coming but not quite enough to induce sympathy.
The solution to Harry's Russian dilemma is a little too far-fetched for me and reads a bit like a 'boy's own' adventure novel, but that is about my only complaint.
This is a fast-paced, gripping and dramatic page-turner that I found difficult to put down. The characters interweave brilliantly bringing seemingly separate strands together seamlessly. Overall great storytelling, a book that does not claim to be high literature but is an enthralling saga.
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