Nothing Ventured

not a detective story.” How very Jeffrey Archer! His writing is always tinged with wry humor, it’s part of #hat makes reading his books sheer joy. William Warwick, a secondary character from Clifton Chronicles, is the leading character in “Nothing Ventured”, a brand new series by Archer. In a foreword, Archer announced he’s already at work on volume 2 and hopes to live long enough to see this character thru his life; yes please!Characters and pithy dialogue are the lifeblood of an Archer novel. This offering begins when William is still in secondary school and makes a deal with his parents regarding college and his choice of careers, which is NOT following his father’s plan for him. He does meet a compromise with his mother that plays an ongoing, integral role in his future that unites him with His highly political, Q. C. (he’s a judge), father. Aren’t mom’s amazing?There’s a bit of art information, a touch of art history, some romance, a fair amount of courtroom time and investigation stuff; something for everyone in this book. It’s all well written and professionally edited. To make matters even better, it’s Ivory Snow clean (99.44) - there are 2 very soft expletives 🥴, nothing else on the warning scale!I don’t give 5⭐️often but “Nothing Ventured” ticks all my boxes 📚

Those of you who have read all seven volumes of The Clifton Chronicles will remember that Harry Clifton spends much of his free time writing William Warwick novels. "Nothing Ventured" takes William Warwick from boyhood, through college and the police academy to his first two years as a constable on the beat. After passing an exam he is assigned to Scotland Yard. While walking down a hall he glances in an open door and sees painting by Rembrandt. He is invited in and immediately tells the people in that office that they have an excellent forgery. The rest of the book deals with the attempt to locate the original painting, which had been stolen some seven years earlier. In typical Archer fashion, this book ends with a twist.

There is all the makings of a good book but without suspense or passion. Just something told dispassionately, The characters are one-dimensional. I don't want to reveal anything, but the father's reaction to his daughter choice of a companion and his son choice of a fiance does not ring true. Spoiler alert: there is something laughable about the hero "heroically" succumbing to the lures of a woman in order not to spoil his chances of reclaiming a stolen work of art. I plodded to the end, hoping against hope for a spark of something.

At first it seem like another book I read where a relative was was swapping paintings etc, this has two story's going on, father a judge, daughter a lawyer and the son a detective, as They all get involve with a person charge with murder and another case about a missing very valuable painting. Maybe it was me but it took to long to get going into the story. Maybe the next time the detective will be involved in a different department in the police department, no more art expert.

I love his books, but found this one light weight. It’s like he just flipped it off without a meaty choice of characters. More dialogue and less introductions to good characters! I hope he doesn’t go the way of James Patterson who now rips off books in his sleep......get back to a low slow full bodied subject, and characters with flaws, and personalities we can grow to love. This book went so fast I already knew the ending before getting there.....

First of all, I've liked every book by Jeffrey Archer that I've read. This one was different in the sense that it dealt with how a young man started his career as an investigator and how well he did with his first case. In answer to your second and strange question, "what did I use this book for?", well, I read for the pleasure of it and I don't "use" books for anything but entertainment. I also learn a lot from most of the books I read.

I enjoy Jeffrey Archer’s writing style immensely. I have read all of the Clifton Chronicles series and was eagerly awaiting what was next. I was not disappointed. William Warwick and his cohorts are characters worth getting to know. I’ve even begun to appreciate the way he ends his stories with a line that hooks you for the next book. I’m hooked, and eager to continue getting to know the Warwick clan.A nice blend of compelling characters and a rich plot with plenty of twists. Really entertaining reading, as well as showcasing characters with strong character. Once again, I now have to catch up on sleep after reading well past midnight a couple of nights in a row. Why do I do this to myself? I know I’m going to miss the characters. I know I’m going to be impatient for the next book. Still, I keep turning pages until the end, then immediately kinda wish I’d slowed down and savored instead of being such a glutton for good fiction.

This is another Jeffrey Archer feel good novels which goes down as smooth as a glass of good wine. The characters are well developed, necessary if this is going to be a series and there is enough of the Jeffrey Archer twists to make the novel difficult to put down. I am looking forward to see how he further develops the lead character including giving him a couple character flaws just to make things interesting.

You would think that after writing best selling novels for what - 40 years? - that by now Jeffrey Archer would have run out of ideas for his books, but this latest one proves that once again he is the master of storytelling. This book (which I hope is the first in a series) features William Warwick, a character who was first mentioned in the Clifton Chronicles and follows his story from a young man when he becomes a policeman through to becoming a detective and the cases he is involved in. This book is classic Archer with plenty of twists and turns and red herrings and it is all told in such a thrilling way that you simply cannot put the book down until you have read it all. A definite must read.

I have read all Jeffrey Archer's book so feel justified in making criticism about this particular book.Nearly all his other books have been clever, original and real page turners. The characters were always well developed and believable. I normally finish his books in a day as I dont want to put them down.Not with this book. The characters were weak and so predictable. There were no twists and turns to the plot.His knowledge of the artworld seemed shallow . Even the Court scenes were weak which is a surprise. You just knew it was all going to turn out happily ever after . There was no suspense.If this was the first Jeffrey Archer I had read, I would not have bought any more.. I was , quite simply bored.There was nothing clever with this book which you usually get from Jeffrey Archer.With so many books under his belt he should be getting better and better . What's gone wrong.?

Dare I really critisize a book by Jeffrey Archer? One of my favourite authors of all times. A book I have waited for and unwrapped with ecitement a few days ago?Of course "Nothing Ventured" gave me some happy moments. I enjoyed the introduction of new detective William Warwitch and his adventures. However, only to a certain extent.At first, I wondered why, when reading at night, I got tired and postponed continuing to the day after. Usually I read well into the night when a new Archer-book arrives. I cannot wait to find out what happens next….. That did not happen with this book. At times I simply got bored. For the first time ever Archer managed to repeat and describe the most obvious banalities. But most of all was the clever author simply too clever this time.Do people really talk like this? Are they so quick and witty in every conversation, or worse simply daily small-talk, as in this book? Daily life and communication is not cleverly prepared lines in a theatre play.It's not a spoiler to say that all ends well. Even the fairytale part of this books ends in the sweetest bliss. All the main players are good and decent people and the stage is set for the next chapter of young William's adventures.Pleasant entertainment but by far the best I have read by this amazing author. Actually, I recommend his three books written in jail as some of his very best. And that says something.

How very clever to write about William Warwick. A character we are all familiar with from The Clifton Chronicles. I have missed the Clifton family and it seems pure brilliance as it feels like putting on a comfy pair of slippers to dive in to the familiar yet new. I loved it and will await the rest of the series with impatience, the way I waited for every new episode of Harry and co. Excellent!

I’m a fan of Archer but found this to be disappointing compared to his previous series.Characters were a bit shallow and I found it difficult to identify with any of them. Plot was less than interesting and predictable to a certain extend.If this is the first of a new series there will have to be a considerable improvement before I part with any more of my cash!