Jeffrey Archer can be relied upon to tell a good tale; maybe not to Booker standard but certainly entertaining, flowing, with great characters and immensely readable.
William Warwick is a character from the Clifton Chronicles – another interesting saga – and this proposed series of books will follow his career. This first in the series sees Warwick join the police force and to solve several cases. However his personal life is as interesting as his work life and we are allowed access to his successful family.
Yes some aspects are implausible – but just sit back and enjoy the story!


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I haven't read Jeffery Archer for years and I had forgotten what a great storyteller he is. I love the plot and William Warwick is a character that is a delight. You will love this book. It's an easy read, great characters, and the ending is superb. I cannot wait for the second and third books to be available. Jeffery Archer i.e. Become a fan again.

This is the BEST book I have read in a long time. Archer pulls out all the stops for another one of his anying good reads I hope there are a few sequals in the life of William & Beth on his way to the top met job or if the bubble bursts ....

I was quite excited to read Archer’s latest offering and even though it wasn’t as brilliant as his previous books, it was quite good. This time the author delves into the art world and it’s quite entertaining. I will definitely read the next one as the characters are quite interesting.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

my first encounter with william warwick a new police officer much to his fathers disgust who wanted him to follow in his footsteps, their banter is quite funny but you can feel that they are very fond of each other and would listen to each other when needed...

william studied art at uni and found that since joining the police his destiny seems to be in finding lost art with a small group of other officers, he is on the bottom rung and that is the way he wants it...

william meets beth who works in a museum but she has a secret and one that could end their relationship, as they find themselves falling for each other

have to admit this was a book that hooks you in and has two different storylines going on at once but related and it was great to see how they pan out...and i loved the ending

going to be keeping an eye out for more in this series

William Warwick a graduate with degree, in Fine Art History has not followed in his father and sisters profession as a lawyer, but joined the Police Force.
Following the leads of a theft seven years ago of a Rembrandt from the Fitzmolean Museum, William uses his art background to try and trace the missing painting.
Twists and turns follow William along the road to discovery. William has his private life turned upside down when he learns of his girlfriends father is in prison for murder.Can he approach his father ,Sir Julian for help ?

A good yarn somewhat unbelievable but does not assault the senses too much. ,Perhaps a book to enjoy on a long flight or indeed on a holiday.Not too challenging .

I got very excited to be approved for the latest Jeffrey Archer. He really is the master storyteller. It's an interesting concept to see the William Warwick books of the Clifton Chronicles brought to life. Characters full of life, an interesting, plausible storyline set in the London of the 1980s that I knew, what. could be better? I like knowing that this is the beginning of a new series and this first novel is setting the scene for what's to follow. And while a detective story is a good read, a book that admits it is a story about a detective really appealed to me. I often find myself wanting to know more about the characters, here Archer indulges himself and the reader, with the world of Sir Julian Warwick, his daughter who is following his footsteps and his son, our hero, William, who defies his father by becoming a policeman, all he has ever wanted. Many books would have had William disowned, but here we see normal family relationships with mutual respect and teasing. The wife/mother who puts them all in their place, and ordinary family dynamics, despite a high achieving, potentially domineering father. A storyline with intriguing cases for William, and the opportunity to involve his family. And as always a challenge in the last sentence. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series. #nothingventured #netgalley

I usually love a Jeffrey Archer book but I can’t say this one particularly gripped me. The story brings to life the William Warwick series that featured in the Clifton Chronicles following william’s career as a detective.

Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

An easy enjoyable read written in Jeffrey Archers usual style. I have read better books by this author but I also enjoyed reading this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The last time that a Jeffrey Archer book crossed my path was several decades ago and so, when the opportunity arose to read his latest creation, I thought why not. Just like his novels of decades ago, this was a very rapid read and, whilst the book was reasonably interesting, it seemed as if my reading clock had been turned back 30 years! Conceivably, the intention was that, as the story was set in the 1980s, the style was to emulate those times but it did not feel as if that was the case, rather more that the 80s is Mr Archer's writing style. I also had the oddest feeling whilst reading the book that I was reading a rather odd, London based version of "Young Morse".

I am not eagerly awaiting the next volume.

William Warwick has always wanted to be a detective, and decides, much to his father’s dismay, that rather than become a barrister like his father, Sir Julian Warwick QC, and his sister Grace, he will join London’s Metropolitan Police Force. After graduating from university, William begins a career that will define his life: from his early months on the beat under the watchful eye of his first mentor, Constable Fred Yates, to his first high-stakes case as a fledgling detective in Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques squad. Investigating the theft of a priceless Rembrandt painting from the Fitzmolean Museum, he meets Beth Rainsford, a research assistant at the gallery who he falls hopelessly in love with, even as Beth guards a secret of her own that she’s terrified will come to light.

Any reader of The Clifton Chronicles will remember Harry Clifton's work as an author and creator of William Warwick, now Archer has brought Warwick and those books to life by writing them. I was so excited to start reading this and intrigued by Archer writing fiction about fiction, a great literary twist.

I was not to be let down either. I should quickly say you do not need to have read The Clifton Chronicles to read this, although I highly recommend you do read them, they are such a great series! Anyway back to this book and we follow Warwick as he takes his first tentative steps into the adult world and into his career as a policeman, we learn about his family and background and can slowly piece together Warwick the man.

Then we follow Warwick on his first few cases as a policeman before his involvement in an art theft case, I have to stress how enjoyable and well written this is. The investigation is enticing, full of twists and I for one could not put it down. I was enthralled by Warwick's world and his work and relished getting to follow their investigation. On paper it does not sound the most exciting of investigations but I promise you Archer has worked his magic and created a gripping plot.

The characters in this are fantastic too, all of them are well developed with interesting stories to tell. Obviously we gain a deeper understanding of some more than others and they are the characters that I cannot wait to follow up with next time. Warwick and Beth are two terrific characters who lead the plot well and I enjoyed my time with them.

'Nothing Ventured' is the beginning of a brilliant new series from Archer and one blessed with the character of William Warwick. I adored this read and cannot wait for the next instalment into Warwick's life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.

At first I thought it was a bit Endeavor/ Morse but I really enjoyed it. Loved the two course cases running side by side.
Can't wait for the next episode in the life of William Warwick

Jeffrey Archer does it again. He promises this is the first novel in a new series and I wish we had the next ones right now! From page one,Archer grips the reader and makes it hard to take a break from the story. William Warwick is a privileged young man who breaks from his father's expectations to forge a career that he wants. His father is dismayed but supportive. Then Warwick gets to use his degree in art history to the advantage of the police unit he has been posted to. His astuteness emerges immediately and he has laid the foundations for a successful career about which we need to await the next books in the series! There is no need to say this is well written but it also has carefully drawn characters who bring out the readers' sympathy,fury,distaste which is essential to the relishing if this powerful book.

Jeffrey Archer is a good story-teller, and I have enjoyed a number of his books. However, this story is rather formulaic and stretches credulity rather too far. The simplistic style of writing and awkward dialogue spoil what could have been a cracking tale.

Another true to form Jeffrey Archer novel that starts another series in his well trodden formula of excellent storytelling. As it states at the start not a story about a policeman but his whole story. The lead character appeared in the Clifton Chronicles but this is his story long before then, so I imagine there will be plenty more adventures to come. Art theft and murder all come into the mix and the principal villain lives to reappear as our hero's adversary in the next edition I hope. As always solid dependable stuff. Recommended!

William Warwick has always wanted to a detective. A detective starting out at the bottom despite the fact he is a university graduate and the son of Sir Julian Warwick QC. His knowledge of Art leads him to the Art and Antiques squad at Scotland Yard. Whilst investigating the theft of a Rembrandt from the Fitzmolean Musuem he meets his future wife Beth Rainsford and the story begins.
This is Jeffrey Archer at his best. A good read and the start of a new series. Bring on the next one!

I LOVED The Clifton Chronicles, so when I heard Jeffrey Archer was writing another saga akin to that, I was very excited. I enjoyed the book, it was a great, easy read, with a classic Archer style story. Lots of ridiculous parts, but I did devour it.

I felt like the timeline was a bit weird - William and Beth's relationship seemed to go from zero to "We're getting married" really quickly, which I didn't quite connect with. There were lots of convenient coincidences and things that were a little outside the realms of reality too, BUT, it was a great read and I would read more of these books. A really good one for a holiday.

‘Nothing Ventured’, the first in the William Warwick series by Jeffrey Archer. Never Bill but William, sees our amiable arts history graduate arrive at Hendon Police College where he commences a lifelong ambition to be a detective much to his father’s chagrin.

Following his passing-out parade, William is directed to attend Lambeth Police Station having rejected the accelerated promotion scheme in favour of the grass roots up approach. He is mentored by a Dixon of Dock Green character called Fred Yates who sadly never sees retirement.

Following success at his detective’s exam and a lucky break, he joins the Arts and Antiques unit at New Scotland Yard, a position most suited to his passion for art.

What follows next is William becoming involved with the recovery a national treasure, a romance with a Fitzmolean research assistant and his father and sister teaming up to overturn a guilty verdict in a murder case.

I really enjoyed reading Nothing Ventured, it had a feel good factor. Not challenging but neither was it dull. I am sure it will be a good seller for Mr Archer. I mentioned previously that it’s one in a series and in the next William Warwick will be assigned to a new department. This may have our amiable detective lose his comfort zone of art, so we’ll have to see how he shapes up.

A rather simplistic tale about a young policeman’s early years on the force. I’ve read books by this author in the past and they were very detailed thrillers, however this was just formulaic - everything was too neatly solved. Not one of his best.

A quick easy read so great for the beach, a rainy day etc. It was great to meet the character of William Warwick who is so lauded about in the Clifton Chronicles and I am excited to see what happens to him next. This would make a great Sunday night BBC drama series.