The Andalucian Friend

Bullets are flying. A speeding car is swerving in and out of the fast lane and the man in the passenger seat has something to be sorry for. So begins The Andalucian Friend, thrusting us into the action before stepping back a few weeks and introducing a cast of intriguing, desperate and sinister characters.

Sophie Brinkmann has been leading a quiet life as a nurse and single mum when she meets Hector Guzman, a man who clearly has something to hide.  On the other side of the world, the mysterious Jens is making arms deals that are threatening to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, a policeman assigned to watch Sophie develops an unhealthy obsession, and the team he works for seem as dangerous as the criminals they hunt.

In a tightly woven plot, these undesirables gather around Sophie, promising escape from her mundane life, threatening to harm those she loves, and destroying the reality she knows. But no one is quite what they seem, and in this fast-paced thriller people can surprise you, attract you, and scare you in equal measure. At first glance it's a long book, but don't be fooled - the story, and the time, both positively race by. I wanted to keep reading, so luckily this is just book one of the Brinkmann trilogy.