3 out of 4 stars
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The Meal of Fortune by Philip Brady takes the reader into the realm of arms dealing, espionage and TV cookery. Dermot Jack is a failing celebrity agent who might have one chance to retain his reputation when a mysterious Russian oligarch visits London and asks the agent to represent his daughter. Anna Preston is a disaffected MI5 office who gets a chance to resurrect her career. They both will now find their paths crossing again as they are catapulted into a world of deceit and treachery. What will happen when the Meal of Fortune finally stops spinning?
The narrative takes the reader to a world of mystery and intrigue and keeps the reader guessing what the next step will be. I felt that this was a beautiful story that amalgamated elements of comedy with serious fiction. The author has managed to produce a unique narrative that keeps the reader wanting more. The plot of the book is quite strong and the reader will often be astounded by how the story takes a turn. I certainly felt that there were some elements in the plot that could’ve been more refined and it could’ve been a bit more intense at some points in the narrative, but overall I found it to be a thrilling read. This story is for adults who love exhilarating tales and are fans of this genre.
When it comes to the characterisation in the story, the author doesn’t disappoint. I felt that the characters in this story were strong and intriguing. I also felt that the author managed to bring together the stories of different characters to form a beautiful narrative that was often character-driven. I loved the central characters and found them to be very human in how they were projected. The author has refrained from creating one-dimensional, idealistic characters who only see life in black and white. This idiosyncratic quality of the author has brought a lot of colour and exuberance into the narrative.
While this element is a bit sidelined in stories of this genre, the setting seems to be very important when attempting to understand the overall story. The settings delineated in this work seem to project the dominant emotions and turmoil that the character is going through at that point, and this makes the narrative unique.
I also felt that the writing style of the author was absolutely wonderful. From the very beginning, the author has the reader hooked. It is difficult to put away this book until the very end, despite the fact that it is a bit long. For all these reasons, I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Like I said, the plot of the book weakened in some places, and for that reason, I have taken off a point. I do strongly recommend this book to all adults who love this genre.
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The Meal of Fortune
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