Margaret M - (trying to catch up. It doesn't help that email notifications have been removed's Reviews > Night Manager

“Every man has his personal devil waiting for him somewhere.”

Jonathan Pine, is an ex-soldier working at a luxury hotel until he finds himself involved in an arms deal programme. The Night Manager is used by the government to infiltrate an organised crime faction owned and led by Richard (Dicky) Roper.

Roper is one of the most unscrupulous and villainous characters with no moral compass or backbone. Yet I loved him as a book character because he was portrayed more cunning than violent. He was more astute than your typical crime lord who relied on his heavies to compensate for the lack of brain power.

Review and Comments

The Plot twists are excellent, the dialogue between the characters is sharp, intelligent, and sometimes ribbing. There is so much going on that you need to stay focused - it would be easy to miss some important details. However, you will be rewarded with lots of fascinating characters and incredible twists that will keep you engrossed in the story. Overly complicated – I would say no. I love complex crime / thrillers that feel unpredictable and suspenseful.

So, yes this is a complicated story of corruption, arms trading, geo-politics, and counter intelligence all of which felt very credible to me. The plot itself is intricately woven, intense, and clever. That is until the last part of the book, and the ending, which unfortunately let the book down overall.

After feasting on a banquet through the book with all it had to offer to tickle the crime / thriller taste buds, I was left me feeling hungry and unsatisfied. What a shame because I love this author.

I have watched the film series and read the book, and I have to confess the series was better. The ending more satisfying and the tension felt more electric. However, the book itself felt more authentic and written by someone who understood this world. That in itself is ingenious although it did not compensate for the ending.

And for a powerful and impactful quote that resonated with me…

“Guns have their own silence. It is the silence of the dead to come.”