The Enigma Affair

by Charlie Lovett

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Enigma Affair is a very well written spy thriller by Charlie Lovett. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Blackstone Publishing, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 2023. 

The author has a definite knack with characterization and setting. The opening scenes are a chaotic and very tense shootout with murder and multiple assassins and hit the reader like an unexpected drop into cold water. Main protagonist Patton is a badass librarian (my favorite combo!) and when a nasty assassin puts a bullet into her refrigerator one peaceful morning, her first thought whilst crab-walking to her floor safe for her gun and ammo is how annoyed she is that her chocolate ganache filled profiteroles are going to be ruined while she deals with the gunfight she's been thrust into. 

It's a fast paced dizzying sprint from rural North Carolina to England and Bletchley Park to try to unravel a deadly mystery from WW2 before the assassins beat her (or her unlikely ally, also a hit-man) to the goods, or permanently take them out of the action.

Four stars. Satisfying and exciting. It's engaging and fast paced with a satisfying denoument and resolution. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.