Independent reviews for Double Pursuit

From a Quintillion of Words 15 January 2022
Full (detailed!) review: https://aquintillionwords.com/2022/01/15/double-pursuit-book-review/

After finishing the book, I had to sit in silence for a while to process everything Mel had gone through – what a journey! It seemed each book in the series was just getting better and better, and I have no doubt that the author’s next project will be spectacular, no matter what it is.

This author is quickly becoming one of my favourite thriller writers, and I loved this book just as much, if not more, than the first in the series! Morton’s writing is exceptional; her fast-paced plots are perfectly mapped with brilliant twists, and her characters are wonderfully developed with back stories that are genuinely interesting to explore. In this book, Mel faces her toughest mental and physical challenge yet and proves just how strong and determined she is. The most perfect female heroine that the book world needs more of! It’s been an absolute joy to jump back into this series, and I’ve loved every second of Mel’s new journey. If you love crime thrillers, you need to read Alison’s work and you won’t regret meeting Mélisende des Pittones!

 

From Avonna Loves Genres 6 January 2022
https://avonnalovesgenres.com/blog-tour-feature-post-and-book-review-double-pursuit-by-alison-morton/

I was so excited to learn that Double Identity was not a standalone, but the start of an action-packed international thriller series that features one of my current favorite kick-butt action heroines. Mel is such a strong character, with a half French half English upper class heritage, military special intelligence analyst and special forces training in the French Army and now attached to the EIRS in Brussels. With agents from all over the EU and England the operatives all have special talents. With each book, the characters all are all evolving and becoming more fully fleshed. The complex plot is nonstop investigation, action, and advanced military weapons and spy gadgets, but it also remains in the realm of believability in today’s fight against terrorism. I could not stop turning the pages.

I highly recommend this new Melisende Thriller and am looking forward to more adventures in the future!

 

From Paul Bennett, Hoover Book Reviews
https://hooverbookreviews.wordpress.com/2021/12/24/double-pursuit/

“When it comes to creating strong female lead characters, Alison Morton is at the top of my list of authors who possess that ability. Melisende is tough, gritty, extremely capable, and yet vulnerable to the emotional twists and turns put in her path. Double Pursuit is a taut, non-stop thriller, much in the tradition of the author’s Roma Nova tales. This is the second book in the series, but it is sufficiently built upon the first one so that I had no trouble following the plot as it referred back.

The characters are a nice blend of conflicting personalities, so that even the good guys have problems with each other. 😊 The story line keeps the reader on their toes: there be some surprises in there, shock induced page turning surprises. So, my peeps and fellow readers, it is the opinion of this scribbler of reviews that you can’t go wrong with this series. I’m certainly going to rectify my having not read the first volume.
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”

 

Extract from Promoting Crime Fiction/Mystery People
Full review: https://promotingcrime.blogspot.com/2021/10/double-pursuit-by-alison-morton.html

Double Pursuit is the second in the series featuring Mel des Pittones and her colleagues in the EIRS, although it works well as a stand-alone book, with the backstory skilfully woven in. It is a fast-paced, tense novel with an intricate plot and fascinating details of military techniques and special operations. Mel and her colleagues are fallible but likeable protagonists, who come from an interesting range of backgrounds, and all of them develop throughout the story. Double Pursuit is a fast-moving, exciting thriller, which I thoroughly recommend.
Reviewer: Carol Westron

 

From Liza Perrat 7 November 2022 on Goodreads 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4325753336

After thoroughly enjoying the first (standalone) book in this series, Double Identity, I looked forward to catching up once again, in Double Pursuit, with ex-French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisande Des Pittones, as well as ex-cop, colleague and lover, Jeff MacCracken, and other familiar characters. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

This crack-paced, action-packed thriller that delves into the world of secret intelligence, begins in Rome and quickly had me hooked as Mél becomes frustrated by the local cops, her life in real danger when a woman attempts to blow off her head. From Rome, the author transports us internationally to Brussels, London and France, and finally to the fearful and desolate African Sahel, which once almost claimed Mél’s life.

Amidst their battle with the criminal network, Mel and Jeff must also hurdle the obstacles of their own, complicated relationship.

While it’s not entirely necessary to read the first book in this series, Double Identity, to enjoy Double Pursuit, I feel the story is even more enjoyable if you have that background information from the first book.

The settings are atmospheric, the writing and plot solid, the dialogue authentic, the characters so well-evoked, the author’s research impeccable. If you are looking for an action-packed, intelligently-plotted and written story, I would highly recommend Double Identity and Double Pursuit.

Looking forward to reading more stories about Mélisende des Pittones in the future!

 

From Jacqueline Brown on 24 October 2021 on French Village Diaries
http://www.frenchvillagediaries.com/2021/10/book-review-of-double-pursuit-by-alison.html

“Having enjoyed Double Identity, the first book in the Mélisende thriller series, I was looking forward to returning to her action-packed life in Double Pursuit and I wasn’t disappointed.

This book is fast paced from the beginning as Mel and her colleagues continue to investigate the arms smuggling network they attempted to break in book one. In Rome, not only are there dead bodies replacing contacts at each rendez-vous point, but her team are in danger too. In Brussels, she is the one under fire, and as she makes her way to Strasbourg and the south of France, she is being followed. In London, it is only her quick thinking that saves her and Jeff from attack. With her team reduced in numbers and more questions than answers, Mel is in the unusual place of feeling one-step behind a ruthless enemy.

I loved the international chase in this book, and the adrenaline and excitement of not knowing where it would take me, or what would happen next, meant I sometimes forgot to breathe. There was rivalry and hostility, but ultimately cooperation, between many agencies and units, but I was never quite sure who to trust. There is a little bit inside of me who would love to be as fearless, strong and clever as Mel, but I’m not sure I could cope with the adrenaline or danger of her life. For all her strengths and ability to think clearly in a crisis, this book also showed her vulnerability, and the real test came when the enemy targeted her weak spot. I never doubted her, but with a climax so personal, I wasn’t quite sure who would have coolest head at the end of the chase.

This was a great read and sufficiently different to many of my usual books, that it refreshed my mind and awakened my senses. 

If you are looking for a bit of action and a series of books that make you think, I’m sure you’ll love Double Identity and Double Pursuit.”

 

 

Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers –  INCEPTIO, CARINA (novella), PERFIDITAS, SUCCESSIO,  AURELIA, NEXUS (novella), INSURRECTIO  and RETALIO,  and ROMA NOVA EXTRA, a collection of short stories.  Audiobooks are available for four of the series. Double Identity, a contemporary conspiracy, starts a new series of thrillers. Double Pursuit, the sequel, is now out!

Download ‘Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’, a FREE eBook, as a thank you gift when you sign up to Alison’s monthly email newsletter. You’ll also be among the first to know about news and book progress before everybody else, and take part in giveaways.