Today I’m pleased to bring you my review of a newly published cold war thriller, Banshee by Lindsay Rumbold, published by Resolute Books.
I’ve known Lindsay for several years, formerly as a member of my local writers group, and have listened to her reading early passages from this book, so it has been thrilling to see her complete and bring this novel to publication, knowing how long she has worked on it.
My 5-star Review
This Cold War Spy Thriller story is set in Warwickshire in an area roughly approximating to Gaydon and is written in two timelines: 2022 alternates with 1964. I liked the way the story was structured in this way: I found it increased the mystery and the suspense.
In 2022 a hidden RAF bunker is discovered underground by a digger preparing to clear the land to build a new Wind Tunnel Facility; in the bunker is a skeleton in a suit, and lots of classified RAF Security Papers. Alex Farnsworth of the RAF is asked to investigate the identity of the skeleton, in collaboration with Warwickshire Police.
In 1964 Tony, a Vulcan pilot on the RAF base, has discovered a dangerous flaw in his aircraft and he is furious. The story continues from here, between the two timelines 60 years apart, and the tension builds up as it becomes clear in 2022 that these buried papers are even now to be regarded as Top Secret, UK Eye Only. It also becomes clearer and clearer that the skeleton belonged to a murder victim, but the investigation into his background and situation involves ever more complex webs of espionage, revenge and betrayal; and there is always the temptation to leave well alone.
The author is herself an aerospace engineer and the depth of expertise and minute knowledge of Vulcan aircraft, bomb bays and secret weapons that she weaves into her novel is astonishing. Alongside this, the story contains at least thirty-three different named characters over the two timelines, in the RAF, the police, MI5, and amongst diplomats and spies. I advise the general reader to hang in there, for the human interest side of the story becomes much more intense and compelling: the identity of the 1964 murderer; the inescapable evidence of sabotage by a double agent embedded in the RAF, leading to tragedy; and the need to uncover and expose the truth about two spies, both past and present.
In 1964, Gordon Thompson, Junior Engineering Officer, is the key protagonist; and Alex is our main viewpoint focus in 2022. I liked both of them and was keenly following their progress and the challenges that came their ways. Throughout the story I feel I learned an enormous amount, and gained insights into the constant need for vigilance at the highest level in a world where double agents are ever present.
I loved the way in which the complex puzzle is finally unravelled, finding it ingenious and ultimately both poignant and moving. I felt particularly engaged by the theme of long-held secrets coming to light many decades later through the involvement of the next generation, and perfectly integrated with a spur-of-the-moment decision by one individual sixty years before. To me the ending was sad, contained a satisfying element of poetic justice, and gave me so much to reflect upon and to speculate about, especially the subsequent destiny of one particular key character!
Highly recommended to lovers of Cold War spy thrillers.
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