Member Reviews

So we have a new series by the wonderful storyteller Jeffrey Archer. This features William Warwick (William not Bill) who has wanted to be a detective since he was a young lad. After university where he studied fine art, he follows his dream and signs up with the police force, much to the disappointment of his father, a renowned barrister. We follow him through the ranks of bobby on the street to finally detective constable at Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiquities Squad. Jeffrey Archer said this is not a detective novel - it’s about the making of a detective. But there’s some good detective work in there and I’m liking the characters, especially William’s sister Grace who is also a lawyer. Overall it’s a good story which will delight Archer fans.
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

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I loved, loved, loved this new Jeffrey Archer!!! The William Warwick character was introduced as the fictional hero for Harry Clifton's series in the Clifton Chronicles. I think it a very fun twist for Mr. Archer to take that book series and make it a book series. And while I loved this book, I do need to say that it isn't as strong as some of his others, but it is a delight to read.

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A captivating story, populated by warm and well developed characters who you come to know well. While the story is grounded in the law, it is really about the characters and their interesting lives and careers. No one provides a better sense of British life and quirkiness than Archer. Only wish the book was another 300 pages long..

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A wonderful new series by the author of the Clifton Chronicles! Fans of that series will recall that it's central character, Harry Clifton, is the author of the best selling William Warrick detective novels. With this series debut novel, Jeffrey Archer introduces the young William Warrick who is just starting his career as a detective!

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First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jeffrey Archer, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Having loved Jeffrey Archer’s Clifton Chronicles, I was pleased to see this new series that will have my fellow fans just as excited. Those who remember Harry Clifton and his prodigious career as a writer will remember the William Warwick novels that were the author’s bread and butter. Archer has decided to shed some light on these, writing a series of novels about the man who climbed the ranks of the police service. In this series debut, William has decided not to follow in his father’s footsteps and refuses to read law. Instead, he chooses the path of art history before enrolling in the police academy. After passing his entrance exams, Warwick is sent to the beat, where he garners some much needed experience under the tutelage of a seasoned copper. When given the chance to write the detective’s exam, he soars through the experience and is soon assigned to Art and Antiquities, using his attention to detail and past academic experiences. Warwick has much to learn, but is also tossed out to juggle a number of cases, all of which take him in different directions and has him meeting book forgers, currency schemers, and even traffickers in stolen artwork. While not entirely won over by his son’s choices, Sir Julian Warwick QC can see the benefits to Warwick’s choices and works with him on a side project. It would seem the woman who has caught young DC William Warwick’s eye has a secret she has tried to keep her herself. However, as Warwick grows fonder of Beth Rainsford, he cannot fight the urge to unravel yet another mystery. A brilliant launching pad to what I hope will be a sensational series, Archer does not disappoint readers with this piece. Highly recommended to those who love Lord Archer’s writing style, as well as readers who like a light and fast-paced police procedural series with artistic flavourings.

In my long reading career, I can say that I have long loved every opportunity that I have had to curl up with a Jeffrey Archer novel. His ability to keep the story simple and yet enthralling is second to none, while also developing strong characters and a plot that keeps the reader wanting more. As I mentioned above, this is an interesting project, one in which Archer almost assumes the role of Harry Clifton in crafting these stories that appeared throughout the Clifton Chronicles. William Warwick serves as a wonderful protagonist whose early rise as an officer of the law is documented here. From his passion for police work on the beat through to his intuition and ability to find clues where others fail, Warwick is both in tune with his surroundings and a character worthy of the reader’s attention. The novel portrays both his personal and professional sides, injecting the needed passion in each to develop a well-rounded individual who enriches the larger story. There are many threads left dangling, which Archer will hopefully tie-off or add to in the subsequent novels of the series. Others enrich the story and the plot lines, complementing Warwick where possible, but also developing sub-plots that could emerge in future novels. The story was strong and introduced the reader to this most formidable character. While some may worry that there is a need to know the Clifton Chronicles to read this piece, the Warwick novels are independent of the previous series, though I am sure devout fans of Clifton will see tie-ins when Harry mentioned the novels throughout his time as a protagonist in Archer’s earlier work. A mix of short and longer chapters, as well as Archer’s use of themes from past novels—art, policing, court proceedings—allow this series debut to be one that is sure to garner much discussion and anticipation between novels. I, for one, cannot wait to see how William Warwick will rise through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career.

Kudos, Lord Archer, for this great start. As you mentioned in the author’s note, I can only hope you will survive the entire journey as you dazzle your countless fans.

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Nothing Ventured is a new series by Jeffrey Archer that does not disappoint. It is an enjoyable mystery. This is an easy to read book that is nice with a good mystery - limited if any bad words, no gory violence, and no detailed sex. This is a book that you could share with a teen if they are into mysteries and not be embarrassed.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a chance to read an advanced copy of this book.

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Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book. I have read other books by Jeffrey Archer and really liked them. However: this one just didn't catch my interest. I found the plot boring and the characters just seemed flat. I like this author, but this one just wasn't for me.

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Being a fan of Jeffery Archer, I eagerly awaited this book. It did not disappoint.
A mystery, detective, psychological thriller- it will meet every readers expectations.
Written in the clear, easy to understand style of Archer it has lots of twists and turns.
The reader will keep glued to the story until the end.
Looking forward to more books about this detective !

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Jeffrey Archer never fails to write involving multi layered stories.Characters that come alive storylines that keep me turning the pages.Nothing Ventured is another terrific novel that I enjoyed reading.#netgalley#st.martinspress.

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I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

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Excellent first installment in a new series by Jeffrey Archer. Great characters I look forward to following for a few years.

William Warrick has always wanted to be a member of Scotland Yard. When his knowledge of art comes to light he is assigned to the Art & Antiquity department of Scotland Yard where he meets and becomes engaged to Beth Rainford who works at an art gallery. William's father and sister, both lawyers (barristers) team up to have Beth's father's conviction overturned when they prove false police work led the jury to declare him guilty sending an innocent man to prison.

William's investigation into a stolen painting has him doggedly following Faulkner even when doing so causes him to compromise his principles.. The plot twists and turns along with character development was steady and intriguing.

I will definitely be purchasing this series. Hopefully it won;'t be as long as the Clifton Chronicles though each of those seven books were fantastic.

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In the last year or two I became a huge fan of Jeffrey Archer's novels. I'm generally not a fan of a series but the Clifton Chronicles and Kane & Abel series won me over. despite how much I enjoyed The Clifton Chronicles I was not necessarily looking for more information on Harry Clifton's main protagonist in his novels, Det. William Warwick however, I was very excites to read this advance copy of Archer's novel featuring Det. William Warwick. Not surprisingly, I loved it! Based on this book I would say there is another wonderful series coming. Archer has a talent for writing in a simple but interesting and engaging manner. The main character is very likable and this makes for good reading, the escape that a good book should be.

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William Warwick, first introduced in the Clifton Chronicles, is an inspector for Scotland Yard in the art and fraud division. We learn about his childhood and why he decided to become a police officer. Fast forward to present day, Warwick is trying to find a missing Rembrandt, and a clever forger.
Once again, as only Archer can do, great characterization, a great read, and I look forward to this new and entertaining series.

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In Nothing Ventured, Jeffrey Archer gives us the background story of William Warwick of Archer’s Clifton Chronicles. I loved this book, particularly the character development. Having enjoyed the Clifton Chronicles and many other novels by the author, I was delighted to find the same high quality writing and engagement in Nothing Ventured.

The story deals with the choices and challenges an individual faces when bucking family tradition, set in the context of the development of a detective’s career. It includes some of the intrigue of a detective story coupled with in-depth character development and strikes a perfect balance between the two.

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In Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer things seem to always fall into place for the main character. In fact, things seem too easy for this Scotland Yard detective. It is a good, quick read, but with two major cases to solve there is not a lot of tension. It will be interesting to see where this new series takes William Warwick.

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Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
This is the first in a new series featuring William Warwick whose dream has always been to join the police force, much to the dismay of his father, a distinguished barrister. I'm the late 1970's William ends up as a DC on Scotland Yard's Art & Antiques team. There are two main cases: the disappearance of a famous Rembrandt and an antique silver coin scam. While trying to find the Rembrandt, William meets the woman he will probably end up marrying.
I seem to be the only one so far who wasn't as enthusiastic as the other reviewers. The story was ok, William is a good guy and a sympathetic character, but all in all I was not really drawn into the book. Sorry!

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SLIGHT SPOILER - I enjoyed Jeffrey Archer's latest which is a sort of spin off of series written by Harry Clifton of the :"Clifton Chronicles". I enjoyed the character of William Warwick but it stretches credulity that this young man walks in for an interview and as he is passing by spots an error in a Rembrandt that no one else on the team that had been chasing the thief for years had noticed. Young Warwick continues along this type, solving the cases he was assigned with relative ease while the lone female detective in the division doesn't fare as well. It is an en entertaining introduction to what looks to be another must read series from this author with strong similarities to the Clifton Chronicles. Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of Jeffrey Archer's latest novel, Nothing Ventured. It is the first in a series focusing on William Warwick from The Clifton Chronicles series. I flew through the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fascinating to learn about various art heists, frauds and forgeries as well as the police investigations and criminal trials. I loved the character of William Warwick and the development of his professional career and his personal background, and I look forward to the continuation of the series. I appreciated that there was less of a cliffhanger at the end of this book than in the Clifton Chronicles; I was happy to feel like enough was resolved in this book to be a satisfying conclusion. Archer's fans will not be disappointed in this new series; I highly recommend this book.

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Nothing Ventured is a fabulous must read book of the year. Jeffrey Archer is a wordsmith that can weave a masterful story.

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Whenever you read a Jeffrey archer book you can be assured of having an awesome story in your hands. He is an amazing author and I try to never miss one of his books. Everything you could want in a book

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