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Title: The Lucifer Network by Geoffrey Archer ISBN: 0-09-941102-4 Publisher: Arrow Pub. Date: 23 July, 2002 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1

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Average Customer Rating: 4 (2 reviews)

Rating: 5
Summary: Fast-Paced Action in an African and European Setting
Comment: The reviewer from Singapore has given an excellent summary of the book, to which I can add little.

This book was so fast-paced and gripping that I read the whole thing in a single sitting (albeit an all-day-long one)! This book was a complete change from some of Jeffrey Archer's previous novels. (His previous novels are generally pitting two titans against one another in a lifelong conflict.)

This story reminds me a bit of Wilbur Smith's African books, but with slightly less character development and more fast-paced action. (I do find Archer's writing to have masterful character development.) This is a fast-paced action book, with some romance added to the plot. The main character is an M16 agent, which I found extremely appealing.

Rating: 3
Summary: Fast packed action, with a few breathing spaces
Comment: When Harry Jackman died in an ambush, British Intelligence agent Sam Packer thought he'd better take everything before seriously. Harry Jackman, gunrunner in turbulent Africa, wanted out, and wanted immunity from prosecution. His words on the last day hinted at nuclear material shipped to Islamic extremists. With his dying breath, he pointed Sam to his daughter Julie.

Very few clues emerged from Julie, who was warned by Harry's last letter that the British Intelligence might find it more convenient to kill him off. A tenuous link was made to a rogue agent from the former Eastern bloc, but the agent was notoriously hard to find.

Sam Packer was dealt with a double blow - Harry had threatened to expose British Intelligence involvement in a failed African coup, and exposure did come after his death, identifying Sam as the conduit. His second blow came when it was claimed that his father, deceased Naval officer, had passed secrets to the Soviets during the Cold War.

However, Sam was to learn that by keeping his chin up and braving on, the seemingly unwanted cards fate dealt him could have a serendipitious effect, if he perservered.

The author created interesting characters through his main cast - Sam Packer who was brilliant but lecherous, Julie Jackman - neglected child with low self-esteem, and a host of other supporting cast with little foibles which made them not only seem more real, but also contributed greatly to the plot development.

Thankfully, unlike most conspiracist novels which had the bad guys infiltrating every govermental departmental and knowing every move the hero makes, the threat was kept at a fairly realistic level and government departments actually had a chance to show themselves as other than bumbling interference.

The pace picked up fairly early in the book, but the author gave some breathing space for Sam Packer to actually ponder and review his facts and to actually do some thinking.

The tale lacked the pounding thrill of Alistair Maclean but a lot better than the last few works of megalomaniacs such as Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum.