Crime and Thrillers
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In the 1970s computers were beginning to overwhelm the Secret Services. Quickly, too much information was coming into GCHQ and things were being missed. The Collation Unit was set up underground in six floors beneath some old aircraft hangars at Mannington airfield just outside Cheltenham to make connections and prioritise everything.
In April/May 1982 they spotted some very strange things happening in Georgia and Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, London decided to move the only satellite covering this area down to the South Atlantic where some Argentinians had begun to invade the Falklands. When tensions began to develop with London, Mannington had to resort to old-fashioned means of finding out what was going on in the Middle East. They found Mark Tanner, an irrigation engineer from High Wycombe, who was working on new Military Cities in Saudi Arabia. He was there to make enough money to pay off his mortgage after a small difficulty involving a fire. It is true to say that however technology moves on, it still all comes down to people on the ground …
A tense and exciting story with an unguessable ending, this is a must-read for spy thriller enthusiasts and anyone who has always wondered what goes on behind closed doors.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
I really enjoyed this book, not my usual police procedural/whodunnit but a spy thriller set in the early 1980s. If you follow my reviews, you'll know I'm partial to a bit of spy skulduggery. The reader finds themselves transported back to an era when satellites & computers are starting to be used to monitor & collect information, as well as carrying out the actual spying too. However, it becomes clear that a source on the ground is still required. Mark Tanner is that person. An unlikely choice for a spy. They're built of sterling stuff in High Wycombe. A fast paced thriller with twists & turns aplenty, & a very surprising final one. The story draws you in & keeps you enthralled & guessing to the very end
Another great book from David. The setting in the era of the Falklands war played nicely into my university year memories. Some facts I remember, the motivations have since come to light. Empty is another great character, an innocent abroad with excellent troubleshooting skills. The fact supported the fiction in creating a web of intrigue, putting together technological and human observations to imagine how intelligence is discovered more by accident than design. A good satisfying read. Having read the tip of the iceberg another great read I look forward to David's next offering. Thanks for keeping me entertained.
I enjoyed The Collation Unit, especially as I worked at both the old and the new Riyadh Airport. I was on duty at the old airport to kick out the aircraft that had overnighted. My colleagues and I watched the first arrival into the new airport fly overhead.
Finally got round to review The Collation Unit @David_Jarvis_ Not my usual genre however I really enjoyed the character'Empty'...no spoilers...Read it! Great characters, clever plot and humourous too! Took a while to get into as alot of characters but worth reading! 4*from me.
shedevans Sand, London and Sand, Repeat A very well written, realistic novel with convincing characters like 'empty'. It took me a while to get to grips with all the characters and plot, but that may be me. Its quite a complex plot - I think, but amusing in parts. The pace increased as I got further into the book into a humorous but cunning finish. Great detail, and could have been written by an insider!?
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