Book review : Lucifer's Network

Geoffrey Archer’s TheLucifer Network.

This novel possesses all the elements of an excellent spy story : half truths from a dying man, misunderstandings, red herrings, exotic locations, enigmatic secret service chiefs and unexpected plot twists. The style is on par with the superb organisation of the storyline : it is clear, fluent and beautifully balanced. There are not too many characters. The reader has therefore no problem knowing who is who, and who does what : not such a widespread quality among spy story writers.

Sadly, the interest one might feel towards this beautifully constructed novel, is marred by a heavy-handed left-wing approach. For Goeffrey Archer, the millions of illegal muslim immigrants in Europe are not to be feared, and anyone who thinks otherwise is mentally retarded. Instead, we should concern ourselves with the tiny organisations preaching a fiercely anti-immigration attitude… You means, against muslims ? Hardly : these organisations would like, according to Archer, to stop both Jews and Eastern European immigrants. It’s enough, apparently to mobilise the vast resources of MI6 and other countries’ secret services ; so much more useful, is it not, than chasing arab terrorists… This unbelievably stupid attitude empties the novel of any trace of credibility.