The World of Tim Frazer

First of what is apparently a trilogy of thrillers about Tim Frazer, engineer turned secret service agent. As the book opens, Frazer is dealing with the aftermath of his erstwhile partner in their small engineering firm having treated the company funds as his own. Harry Denston has disappeared as the firm is liquidated, but Frazer receives a message telling him to meet Denston at a remote fishing village, as Denston has got onto a new source of income.

Frazer might not believe the story about money, but he wants to find Denston -- both to kick his backside and reassure himself that his former partner is all right. But when he arrives, there's no sign of Harry. What he does find is an interesting selection of odd happenings, and a temporary job offer from a rather secretive office in Whitehall.

Competently written and entertaining; while there's nothing out of the ordinary here, it's an enjoyable bit of escapism. ( )

When Tim Frazer goes into business with Harry Denston he gets more that he bargains for. Denston becomes involved in some dodgy deals and promptly disappears. This leaves the business in deep trouble and Frazer out of a job. Shortly after this he is contacted by the head of a anonymous 'government agency' "we are not MI5,but run an similar lines" he is told. Frazer is offered a job with them to find Denston and report back. This is a cross between crime and spying,and very good it is too. ( )