Title: Turn a Blind Eye
Author: Jeffrey Archer
Series: William Warwick Series
Publisher: Pan MacMillan
Genre: Crime, Mystery Thriller
First Publication: 2021
Language: English
Major Characters: William Warwick, Sir Julian Warwick QC, Grace, Beth Rainsford, Miles Faulkner, Christina, Jerry Summers, Assem Rashidi
Narration: Third Person
Book Summary: Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer
In the third instalment in the life of Detective William Warwick, following on from Hidden in Plain Sight, international bestseller Jeffrey Archer once again displays his mastery at the art of storytelling.
Detective Inspector William Warwick is tasked with a dangerous new line of work, to go undercover and expose corruption at the heart of the Metropolitan Police Force.
His team focuses on Detective Sergeant Jerry Summers, a young officer living an extravagant lifestyle. But Summers develops a personal relationship with a WPC on William’s team and the investigation hangs in the balance.
As his undercover officers draw the threads together, William realizes that the corruption may go far higher than his initial assessment, and that more of his colleagues than he thought possible might be willing to turn a blind eye . . .
Book Review: Turn a Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer
If you are the kind of reader who seeks out well-written and engaging books to be obsessed with, then you have undoubtedly read books by Jeffrey Archer. Archer is the author of the seven-book series known as The Clifton Chronicles, which is considered to be one of the finest in its genre. His latest series follows the adventures of Detective William Warwick. The third book in the series is titled “Turn a Blind Eye.” You could read it as a standalone book, but it would be much more effective to go back and read the previous two novels in the series first, since this is the kind of series that is best read from the very beginning. There are several references to the events from earlier novels in the series; nonetheless, the narrative provides sufficient contextual information for new readers to be able to follow along with the story. Those who have been following the series from the first book will, of course, have the most significant reading experience overall.
The events of this book begin immediately after the climax of the previous volume, Hidden in Plain Sight. Now in the year 1987, William Warwick has been promoted to the position of Detective Inspector. His new role requires him to take charge of an anti-corruption unit with the mission of digging out corrupt activities inside the Metropolitan Police Force. DI Warwick and team start investigating a young detective named Jerry Summers, who has an impressive track record of arrests but has become a suspect due to the fact that he lives a lifestyle that is wildly extravagant in comparison to his income. It seems that he is hoarding some of the valuable stolen things he recovers during his investigations of theft cases. As the squad investigates Detective Summers, who seems to be living above his means, DI William Warwick is faced with difficult moral conundrums. The investigation is complex and challenging since so many individuals seem to ignore the obvious.
In addition to that, the book focuses on the proceedings of the trial of the drug lord Assem Rashidi, who was arrested in the second book of the Detective William Warwick series. The criminal will now face legal consequences for his actions. This case involves not only Detective Inspector William Warwick as he testifies against Rashidi but also his family, considering that his father and sister are the ones who will be representing the Crown’s case. It does not seem to be a case that can be solved easily at this point. Warwick, now a married man and the father of twins, discovers that even law-abiding citizens are sometimes inclined to turn a blind eye. In this book, several of the familiar characters from the previous books return, while a few completely new characters are introduced.
“Turn a Blind Eye” has many apparently unrelated elements that really work together in clever and surprising ways. Things that seem a little insignificant or irrelevant at the moment often turn out to have major implications down the road. The legal proceeding and courtroom drama are the primary focus of the story, with strong and well-developed characters and an adequate level of suspense to compensate for the limited amount of high-stakes action. Since Jeffrey Archer is familiar with the inner workings of the judicial system, it would not surprise me if the character of Sir Julian Warwick, the father of DI William Warwick, was inspired by a real-life legal expert. Mr. Booth Watson, QC, displays an appropriate amount of slippery behaviour while representing his client, Mr. Assem Rashidi, a crooked drug lord.
The principal female characters are given roles that are both interesting and realistic. Although the friendship between William’s wife Beth and Christina Faulkner, the ex-wife of criminal financier Miles Faulkner, is stretching, I think William’s sister Grace’s character showed the right aplomb in her interactions with such situations. There are some cliched moments, but the church confessional scene and the undercover “taxi driver” officer Danny who picks up William to the chagrin of real passengers were particularly amusing.
The story does not take place during the present day, which explains why there is a noticeable absence of the use of mobile phones and computers. However, the absence of surveillance cameras is the most surprising aspect, since it allows for blind spots to exist in the storyline. With his expert storytelling style and lightning-fast chapter pacing, Jeffery Archer knows just how to keep his readers involved in the story he’s telling. The novel never slows down, and you will not find a dull moment throughout the book. The plot simply keeps becoming more intriguing as it progresses. Jeffrey Archer constructs a storyline that is not only entertaining but also really thrilling. His unique approach to writing and deft handling of subtle nuances both deserve praise.
The book is filled with smart and captivating characters, as well as multiple unexpected story twists and interesting settings. Even for a minor supporting role, the author never creates flat, one-dimensional characters in any of his works. These secondary characters provide a lot of entertaining moments throughout the story. The main character, William Warwick, makes impressive progress during the course of the series. Being a good parent and a competent investigator, he manages to keep a healthy balance in both of his freshly upgraded roles, which appears to reflect strong character growth on his part. Reading his account was a real pleasure. There are a number of unexpected turns and twists in the narrative. And because of all of the covert activities, the meticulous court proceedings, and the intriguing situations that take place in the courtroom, readers are in for an entertaining journey.
