Fiona McIntosh (1) (1960–)

I was thrilled to receive Myrren’s Gift, a reissue of the first book in Fiona McIntosh’s trilogy, The Quickening. Years ago I read The Scrivener’s Tale, a stand alone novel set in the same world but centuries later, and I adored it. I’ve always meant to read the series but obviously got sidetracked, and I’m planning to correct that now.

Myrren’s Gift is set in the imaginative landscape of Morgravia and opens as fourteen year old Wyl Thirsk is called to take up the mantle of his show more birthright as Commander of the Morgravian Army after the death of his father. Wyl, good-natured, principled and a talented swordsman, quickly earns the respect of the King and his court, but the lasting enmity of the black-hearted crown Prince Celimus. Their differences are never so obvious than when Prince Celimus delights in the brutal torture of a young woman accused of being a witch, while Wyl attempts to ameliorate it, unwittingly earning himself a gift from the dying girl that will change everything.

This novel bears several of the hallmarks of the epic fantasy genre including intricate world-building, magic, court intrigue, tense conflicts, and the heart of a fair maiden to win, but it also has a sword & sorcery feel as Wyl embarks on a heroic quest to save his kingdom from the avaricious rule of Celimus.

Strong characterisation gives us a hero, albeit one with a unique twist, to rally behind, and a villain, or two, to despise. The main characters generally have well-crafted backstories and a layer of complexity, while the minor characters are easily categorised as either good or evil. I grew very fond of Fynch, a young boy who pledges his loyalty to Wyl; and of Wyl’s dog, who has a raft of enigmatic abilities.

McIntosh isn’t afraid to describe the brutal aspects of her fantasy world. There are elements of the story which may offend sensitive readers in the present climate, however I also suspect some critics willingly, or otherwise, overlook the nuance of the authors intention.

Not a short book at around 500 pages, the story nevertheless moves forward at a lively pace. I was caught up in the tension of the plot, reading it in one sitting. I wasn’t surprised to find it ended on a cliffhanger, luckily I can move straight on to the reissued editions of Blood and Memory and Bridge of Souls.

An entertaining and thrilling fantasy adventure, Myrren’s Gift is a great read from an accomplished storyteller. show less

It’s been more than a decade since I read the first two books to feature DCI Jack Hawkesworth, Bye Bye Baby and Beautiful Death, so I picked up Mirror Man with only a vague memory of the storyline, however it’s not necessary to have read either to enjoy this third instalment of the series.

Mirror Man begins when DCI Jack Hawkesworth is reassigned from his role as a Counter Terrorism International Liaison by Martin Sharpe, the Acting Chief Superintendent of the Homicide and Serious Crime show more Branch at Scotland Yard, to investigate a possible link between three bizarre murders. Given a promotion to Detective Superintendent and a small team to command which allows him to reunite with DI Kate Carter, DI Malek Khan and analyst DS Sara Jones, Jack is tasked to figure out if there is a serial killer loose in London targeting recently paroled criminals.

The reader knows who is responsible for the deadly string of crimes from the outset of the novel but Jack and his team have to find evidence to first prove they are linked before they even begin to search for a suspect. As a police procedural, Mirror Man works well. The murders offer little in the way of forensic evidence, the killer has been careful to leave no trace of themselves behind, so the taskforce must painstakingly investigate every possible piece of information. The killer’s goal is more obvious, a vigilante seeking his own form of justice, though his exact motivation is not known to the team.

It’s rare to be ambivalent about the capture of a serial killer, but when his victims include an unrepentant, violent rapist; an abuser who beat his wife to death; and the drunk driver who annihilated the man’s wife, daughter and granddaughters you can’t help but feel a little conflicted. I liked that McIntosh explores this morally grey area, as well as issues surrounding sentencing, rehabilitation, early parole and how they impact on the victims of crime.

Once again Jack finds himself blurting the line between his professional and personal life when journalist Lauren Starling gets wind of Operation: Mirror Man. Much is made in this series of Jack’s good looks which leaves women swooning in his wake, including Kate whose crush on her boss is still as florid as ever. At Kate’s suggestion, Jack also seeks advice from Anne McEvoy, his former lover, and serial killer, who is serving several life sentences after Jack exposed her in Bye Bye Baby. A psychologist and criminologist, she provides a profile that offers some insight into the case.

Though the reader is led to believe they have all the answers the police are searching for, there are several well placed surprises in Mirror Man. The pace and tension accelerates as Jack grows closer to identifying his quarry, and the lives of several characters are at risk.

With its provocative theme and well crafted plot, Mirror Man is a gripping police procedural, sure to entertain crime fiction readers. show less

A confession: I picked this novel solely because one of the characters is called Blakeney and has a family secret, and I was desperate for even a passing nod to Orczy's books. But no. This is actually the type of romance/Aga saga that I try to avoid, and took me a full week to get through.

On the positive side, I did enjoy reading about Rowntree's in York, as my grandma used to work at Rowntree Mackintosh's in Halifax, and Alex, the main character, has a satisfying quotient of independent show more thought for a woman in a historical romance, although that could also be entitlement.

On the negative, she is also as dumb as a box of hair. Alex, honey - MATTHEW IS GAY. And that's not even a spoiler. The whole first half of the book reminded me of that scene from Clueless where Cher has to be told in no uncertain terms that Christian is a 'disco dancin', Oscar Wilde readin', Streisand ticket holdin' friend of Dorothy'. I know the story is set just after the First World War, but come on. I also didn't like that Matthew was depicted as a sly charmer who dodged conscription, while his lover is repeatedly referred to as smug and mocking - both in contrast, of course, to the morally upright Harry, who survived the war and is duty bound to marry a woman he doesn't love, etc. The final chapters, where Matthew releases Alex after Harry engineered a Darcy-esque rescue, Alex gets her magical chocolate shop, and Harry's wife gives her blessing and then dies, contained more sugar that a vat of fondant.

And I know that this is a book about chocolate and the history of Rowntree's, but Alex's ambition to open a chocolate 'salon' was the most unbelievable plot point of all. So she has always loved eating chocolate, which is fairly typical for a privileged child who lives in York, but then decides that confectionary is her vocation? She wants to work in the factory but her parents are naturally aghast, so wangles a job as a 'tour guide' because of her RP accent and regal bearing. Walking dignitaries through the factory for two years equals an education in the process of making chocolate, through osmosis, and then after two years of melodrama being married to a gay man and having a Brief Encounter style affair that is everybody's fault but hers ('Alex couldn't even bring herself to respond to his slur' - girl, what?), Alex is a master chocolatier with a chain of shops!

I know this is all standard fare for romance novels but I still have no clue how readers not only swallow such nonsense but actively seek the improbable HEA. show less

The Spy's Wife was a fabulous read full of emotion and suspense, and I found it difficult to stop reading once I had started. I have struggled with many of Fiona McIntosh's recent novels but, personally, I would rate The Spy's Wife as one of her best. It was gripping and I loved how it swept the reader across the beautiful Yorkshire dales and into pre-war Germany. These locations were brought to life by the lush descriptions, especially Munich with its beauty and culture, and the impact show more Hitler and his henchmen were having on the city.

Evie was a worthy protagonist and easy to like. I admired her daring and courage, and the risks she took for her country and the man she loved. Once she and Max were in Germany I was on the edge of my seat, terrified that her subterfuge would be discovered and she would end up in a Nazi prison or worse!

There were some wonderful secondary characters including Evie's father and Hugh, but my favourite was young Jonas, Max's six-year-old son. He was adorable and I loved the beautiful relationship that developed between him and Evie. Giselle, on the other hand, was a cunning, malicious woman who had become a fanatical Nazi with an unhealthy obsession for Max. Readers will quickly come to despise her and I thought McIntosh did a great job with her persona.

Containing a dramatic, historical storyline with lots of twists and turns, The Spy's Wife was a very exciting read with an extremely moving ending. Loved it! show less