Excellent character development in this new series, I am stoked to see where this character goes in the future. Beautifully written and craftily woven story. This book really was fully entertaining.

This is a new series from Jeffery Archer. I’m not very familiar with his other series or book but I do want to read the back list now..

This new series follows a new detective at Scotland Yard and his journey through his career. I liked the character development and the pace of the story. I look forward to continuing this series and see where it goes.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy. I give this a 3.5.

I always enjoy reading Jeffrey Archer. This book kept my interest and I finished it in one sitting. I look forward to the next book in this series.

“Nothing Ventured,” by Jeffrey Archer, St. Martin's Press, 336 pages, Sept. 3, 2019.

William Warwick has always wanted to be a detective rather than become a lawyer like his father, Sir Julian Warwick. After college, he joins London’s Metropolitan Police Force.

He starts as a patrol officer, a job he has to hold for two years before he can take the detective’s exam. His training officer is Constable Fred Yates. He takes the exam, but before he gets the results, he is ordered to go to Scotland Yard and meet with Commander Hawksby. He’s told that he passed and is assigned to Peckham, but while in the office, he recognizes a painting as a forgery because of his degree in art history.

Warwick is stabbed and Yates is killed during Warwick’s last night on patrol. When he recovers, he is assigned to the Scotland Yard Art and Antiques unit. His first big case is investigating the theft of a priceless Rembrandt painting from the Fitzmolean Museum. Police have been investigating Miles Faulkner.

At an art lecture, he meets Beth Rainsford, who eventually becomes his fiancée. He doesn’t realize that she has a big secret. The ending is two unconnected trials running at the same time in separate courtrooms.

This is the start of a new series. In a letter to readers at the beginning of the book Jeffrey Archer says that Warwick will eventually become police commissioner. He says this is not a detective story, it is a story about a detective. That is true. The novel is more about Warwick’s career than any of the crimes investigated.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

What a delightful story this turned out to be! As we follow new detective William through a series of events in his life, we not only learn fascinating details of the detective life in which he has elected to serve, but a beautiful story of dynamic characters, filled with excellent twists and turns. This is well written and not to be missed for devotes fans (as well as those of us who didn’t know we were fans yet!) of the detective mystery genre! Well done!

Throughout the book I found myself imagining who would play which character in a movie. Strong character development and a solid premise, support an extremely well written tale of mystery and brilliant detective work. Loved the side stories and cases leading up to the main event. All in all, cannot wait to read number two.

I'd forgotten the pleasure of reading a Jeffrey Archer novel. This, like his others, is an exercise in good storytelling and introduces a character you will root for. William Warwick was meant to be a barrister like his father but noooo. First he studied art and then he joined the police. Those two passions merge in this tale. Warwick's expertise is recognized by Scotland Yard and he finds himself on the hunt for a stolen Rembrandt. He also finds himself in love with Beth who works at the Fitzmolean and whose father....(no spoilers!). To be honest, this is not heavy lifting- it's not too complicated- but it's a good read. Warwick is a nice guy with a sense of humor about himself, the villain is someone we'll no doubt see again given Warwick's specialty, and if Beth isn't as well rounded out as you might like, remember this is only the first in a series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A pleasant read for Archer's fans and new readers alike.

Fans of Jeffrey Archer’s previous books will find all the usual elements in his story-telling in this “first in a new series” novels. For those who haven’t read any of his work before, this is not a bad place to start. As in Archer’s previous books, deaths, even murders, are not blood-spattered, romances and relationships are formed quickly and easily (as are enemies, come to that), and there are clearly defined good guys and bad guys. The narrative moves along quickly and, for the most part, will keep the reader’s interest.

Happily, he avoided a technique he overused in the Clifton Chronicles where at the end of nearly every volume there was a cliffhanger that couldn’t be resolved until the next one came out. Given the amount of time between releases, it was truly frustrating and felt like a straight money grab (BUY MY NEXT BOOK). Anyhow, in this book the story wraps up neatly, but there are sufficient dangling threads that could be unraveled in future books.

I have read all of the novels he’s written and would rate this as middle of the pack. His earlier stories were less facile and the characters didn’t have so much just fall into their laps. I wish that he would re-introduce some of that struggle. I also wish there was more character development. I finished this a few days ago and can’t really say I recall many characters in detail.

However, overall it was an enjoyable, easy read and I would probably read the next in the series.

My thanks to NetGallery, the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first time reading anything written by Jeffrey Archer. I have no idea why I haven't picked up one of his books earlier - didn't know what I was missing! First of all I really, really enjoy British detective novels and this fits the bill to a tee.

This is the first in the William Warwick series. William has wanted to be a detective since the age of eight so he chooses to pursue that path - against his father's wishes (his father is an attorney and wants William to follow in his footsteps). William has good instincts and has put in his time learning the trade when he gets tapped for the Arts and Antiquities department in Scotland Yard. It was fun following William through his first cases and seeing both his successes and his failures. William gets wrapped up in a doozy of a case and I enjoyed following the leads with him. I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it becomes available!

Thanks to Jeffrey Archer and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Prior to this novel, the only Jeffrey Archer novel I'd read was Kane & Abel. I loved that one and always intended to read more by him, but I just never got around to it. When I saw that Nothing Ventured was the first book in a new series by him, I was anxious to give it a try.

After finishing the book, I glanced at some reviews by other readers of it to see if other people felt the way I did about it. It seems as if I'm in the minority of people who were not overly impressed by the book.

I liked it well enough, but I never felt like I loved it. Actually, let me change that. I didn't even like it all that much. Sure, it's well-written and there is a decent story, but it just didn't connect with me. I felt that things often came a little too easily for the main character. I saw another reviewer say that they didn't think there was enough conflict in this story. I totally agree.

While I don't see myself reading any more books in this series, I am still interested in trying out Archer's other series, The Clifton Chronicles, which I know has a loose connection to this new series. Despite me not enjoying Nothing Ventured, I still think Jeffrey Archer is a very good writer and I want to read more by him.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Jeffrey Archer is a favourite among many of my library patrons and I've enjoyed the first book from his popular Clifton Chronicles series. Now, Archer is back with a new series which stars Detective William Warwick, one of London's Metropolitan Police Force's newest officers.

Nothing Ventured focuses on two art-themed schemes and readers are given a brief background on Warwick's family life. Art fans will enjoy the mentions of famous art pieces/artists and the ensuing art fraud, but those topics didn't quite hold my interest and I felt the tension was lacking just a bit.

There is a romantic aspect, but their connection happens quite quickly leaving readers to be told about their relationship but not actually witnessing it. The author's blurb states that this book is "not a detective story, but a story about a detective" but I came away feeling that I didn't get to know Warwick as well as I would have hoped. The good news is, this is a series so I figure readers will get to know Warwick better as the series progresses.

While I'm not overly enthusiastic with this first book in the series, this was a good read and I appreciate that Warwick is a smart and eager good guy. He's a breath of fresh air and I'm hopeful that we'll get to know Warwick (and his family who added wit) better in future books.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for my complimentary digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

When it comes to modern age British espionage mysteries there is no name that comes to mind like Jeffrey Archer. I feel like I am still new to the world of Jeffery Archer as the first book of his I read was Heads you Win but from the moment I read it I was sucked into his immersive story-line. I was very excited to read Nothing Ventured and it did not disappoint. Other than the other behind Nothing Ventured what drew me to this book was the story at the heart of it. A missing masterpiece...

Jeffrey Archer NEVER ceases to disappoint his readers!!!! He's done it again by starting a new series and leaving the reader anxiously awaiting the next installment. Kudos for bringing "to life" William Warwick - the fictional detective in the Clifton Chronicles!!!!

This is clearly the beginning of a new series by Jeffrey Archer, one of the best storytellers in current fiction. The lead character is William Warwick, son of Sir Julian Warwick, a famous barrister in London, but rather than following in his father’s footsteps, he is bound and determined to become a police detective. We meet William as he has been accepted into the police department and his first two years find him partnered with a wise veteran approaching retirement, Fred Yates. When Fred is killed on duty on his late day with the department, William becomes even more committed - and is recognized as an up and comer. He is assigned to work with Scotland Yard and becomes involved in the Art and Antiques unit where his education helps him to become deeply and importantly involved in a case of art theft and more. And he meets Beth Rainsforth, assistant curator at an art museum, as he investigates (I only mention this here as she will surely become a central character in future volumes). With two interrelated plot lines, Archer once again has told a story that will evolve into more books in the future. He may not be the best writer in the world, but he is surely one of the best storytellers. My appreciation to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was enfused with several different little mysteries throughout that kept me turning the pages. It will be a long wait for the next in the series.

As a fan of Jeffrey Archer’s Clifton Chronicles, I was excited to read Nothing Ventured. Archer has taken Harry Clifton’s Detective William Warwick to create a new series. This book is a quick easy read. It will be fun to see how William Warwick develops as a crime solver in his position as the new member of the Art and Antiques Squad. In this book, we see Warwick involved in an investigation of silver coins and also finding a missing Rembrandt. Along the way, he develops a love interest and new fiancée Beth whose father is in jail for killing his partner. I look forward to see how Archer develops Warwick’s Detective life and we get to know his family better. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book! I am always awed by Jeffrey Archer's books. He tells such a great story! I read all of his Clifton Chronicles series, and was very excited to hear that he wrote a book about the books that Harry Clifton wrote! He actually wrote the first book in the Detective William Warwick series that Harry Clifton wrote in the Clifton Chronicles! Amazing and awesome! It was a very interesting and hard to put down detective book and I look forward to more of this series! I love Jeffrey Archer and have enjoyed many of his books. Sons of Fortune was another great book of his, as well Kane & Abel and The Prodigal Daughter. If you haven't read these or the Clifton Chronicles do so!! This book, the first in the Detective Warwick series, can be read on it's own. Highly recommend all of his books!

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. It's a nice, easy read that was quite pleasant. Set in 1979, William Warwick is the son of a famed barrister. His father wants him to follow in his footsteps but William wants to be a police detective. He gets his degree in Art History, does some traveling and then joins the police force in London. After two years of patrol duty, he takes the detective exam and passes at number 1.

He is assigned to the Art and Antiques Division where his first case is investigating a missing Rembrandt. He has other small cases including books with forged author signatures. He meets a girl who works at the museum with the missing Rembrandt and discovers her father is in prison for murder. He gets his father to investigate along with his sister, Grace, also a lawyer.

These two case investigations take up most of the book and they are both interesting in their own way. I really enjoyed reading about famous paintings and the market for signed books. I liked the characters in this book. This is the first book in a new series and I am looking forward to reading more. I think it will be a fun series. The ending actually made me laugh which is a good way to end a book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Fans of Lord Archer’s Clifton Chronicles will rejoice at this new series based on the adventure of William Warwick.

The first installment, Nothing Ventured, starts as William leaves university and joins the Metropolitan Police. After his stint on a beat, he takes the detective exam, and because of his Art History degree, is assigned to the art squad.

This new series is sure to win new fans for Jeffrey Archer. Highly recommended.

Fans of Jeffrey Archer rejoice. We have a new series to savor. The first book in this new saga was simply wonderful. We meet William Warwick (who we actually first met as a fictional character in The Clifton Chronicles,) son of Sir Julian Warwick QC as he chooses law enforcement as his career and quickly rises to Scotland Yard in its Arts and Antiquities squad. We already know he is bound for great things. His first major case is solving the theft of a Rembrandt from the Fitzmolean Museum, where he meets his love interest Beth, who has some secrets of her own. Wonderful storytelling and character development. Very entertaining read. Can’t wait for the next installment. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the wonderful Lord Jeffrey Archer for an advance copy. (On a personal note, Archer was my late mother’s favorite author and through her, I discovered his books. Sadly she never got to read the final installments of The Clifton Chronicles which she loved so much. Now every time I finish one his latest books, I feel I am reading it for the both of us. Thanks Mom, you taught me well!)