I became a Jeffrey Archer fan after reading his seven-book series The Clifton Chronicles where the character of William Warwick was introduced. In this current series, Warwick has risen up the ranks and has become a star in the London Metropolitan Police Force. Next in Line is the fifth book showcasing Warwick's incredible crime-solving skills.

The series picks up in 1988. Warwick is Detective Chief Inspector and he and his team are called upon to investigate the elite Royalty Protection Command where the Police believe there is a credible threat on the life of one of the members of the Royal Family. Warwick's number two, Inspector Ross Hogan, becomes the lead protection officer to HRH Princess of Wales, Diana and it was interesting to read this fictionalized account of the challenge of protecting someone so famous, beloved and high spirited. In addition to this new assignment, Warwick’s nemesis, Miles Faulkner, a millionaire art collector and thief, is back and is finally incarcerated after an ingenious escape from jail. But the means in which Warwick and his team captured Faulkner crossed the legal line putting his career in possible jeopardy. And Faulker wants revenge. Back in this new installment is the cunning Booth Watson, Faulkner's attorney, who may be just as evil as his client.

Once again, Archer has delivered an entertaining book filled with an appealing cast of detectives as well as Warwick’s loving and supportive family including his wife Beth and their children. Book #5 can be read as a standalone but it would make the most sense to start from the beginning. It’s planned to be an eight-book series and I look forward to reading the next three books. If a fast-paced mystery thriller series with strong characters sounds appealing, check this one out.

Rated 4.25 stars.

I was able to get an advanced reader copy of Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer. I actually haven't read Jeffrey Archer, but this book sounded really intriguing.

It's set in 1988 and centre's around the royals and their elite protection detail. In particular, one of our MC's is assigned to the detail of the "people's princess".

Next in Line had multiple story lines that didn't necessarily tie together, except by the relationship of the characters. I had thought that in the end they might all tie together, but they really didn't. That was ok because each of the storylines was quite interesting. With a couple of them being really thrilling. This is number 5 in a series. You definitely could read as a stand alone, but I wonder if some of the other storylines are carryovers from the other books, so perhaps tie into the other books. Maybe I'll have to go back and read 1-4 now!

My experience reading historical fiction is that while there is a lot of research and care that goes into getting the historical facts correct, it is also fiction. There are elements that are the authors own imagining. I have no idea how accurate the characterization and parts of the story that centre around Princess Diana are. I don't know enough about her life to say. But, for those who really idolized her this book may be difficult to read.

I wasn't disappointed with this book, I enjoyed the pace of it and the authors writing style. I'd definitely recommend for fans of Jeffrey Archer and for those who enjoy police procedurals.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I must confess, I haven't read a Jeffrey Archer book in YEARS. I totally devoured the Cain and Abel series, but he hasn't been on my radar since. So when I saw this was available, I requested it and got it. And I am really glad I did! This is the fifth in the William Warwick series, so I did feel as though I was a latecomer to the party, but the explanations were enough to get me up to speed on the crew and how everyone fit together.

There are two stories going on at once and it took a minute to figure out which was which. The first, a continuation from an earlier book, has to do with a convicted financier and his upcoming trial after escaping and being recaptured. This is fascinating, if only for all the truly repugnant people involved!

The other, main, story is about the Elite Protection Command, who is charged with protection of the Royal Family. One member of the squad has been appointed as the personal protection officer for Diana, Princess of Wales. This assignment is not easy and gets worse, fast, as Diana is known to have a very active private life and must be protected at all times, in part from herself.

This is the 5th book in the William Warwick series. I have read the whole series and also the Clifton Chronicles. Archer is very adept at storyteller so I have enjoyed all these books. Miles Faulkner has been imprisoned for art fraud. Princess Di is also in the book and The Royalty Protection Command is guarding her. There are many twists and turns make this an interesting read. I am now looking forward to the next book in the series. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy for an honest review.

royalty, action-adventure, crime-fiction, Great-Britain, heist, historical-fiction, historical-figures, historical-research, murder, murder-investigation, procedural, thriller, law-enforcement, twisty, international-crime-and-mystery, corruption, 1980s, lawyers, deceit, double-cross*****

Another excellent tangle of a story! Set in several locations in 1988, the protagonists are all working for The Yard. The senior officer is DCI Warwick who is under a superintendent known as The Hawk. The plot revolves around criminal activity in the art world, bent coppers in the Royal Protection team guarding Princess Diana, and more. Impressively meticulous due diligence, devious plot twists, diabolical red herrings, fascinating characters, and great storytelling! Late nite read!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Harper 360/HarperCollins via NetGalley. Thank you!

Next in Line is the fifth installment in the William Warwick series by Jeffrey Archer. If you love detective and family sagas with well developed characters, this Jeffrey Archer series is very satisfying.

This story begins with a new assignment involving an investigation into corruption in the elite Royalty Protection Command. The series also continues to follow criminal activity in the art world. This was a fast, entertaining read, and I can’t wait to see what William Warwick is up to next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The latest installment in the William Warwick series is full of the fun twists and turns that we expect from Jeffrey Archer.

In this book, William and his team are taking on the Royal protection officers. DI Ross Hogan even gets a gig protecting Princess Diana. Of course our main nemesis Miles Faulkner is still up to no good, as is his lawyer Booth Watson.

Overall, fun and entertaining! You must read the series in order.

Next in Line is full of twists and turns that keep the pages turning.

William Warwick is sent to investigate the current Command's for Royal Protection team.

Its never that simple though.

First of all there is Diana who DI Hogan is assigned to and that is never an easy assignment

Then Miles Faulkner , a lifetime but very clever , criminal story continues

There is a terrorist aspect.

Jeffrey Archer masterfully ties them all together and this results in a tale with twists and turns that rushes forward at a fast pace.

I cant wait to see what William Warwick has in store for him in Book 5. I will be among the first in line to see.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360, Harper Collins for a entertaining read.

This is the 5th William Warwick novel and of course has his arch nemisis Miles Faulkner and his lawyer, Booth Watson. But it also involves the world's favorite royal, Princess Diana. I've only previously read the 1st book in the series but found it pretty seamless to jump to this 5th book. There are additional cast members from the 1st book and Warwick is now Chief Inspector moving on to Superintendent. I enjoyed Warwick and his team in action. As well as the daring special ops rescue that happens at the end. Only critique I have is that I find Archer's writing, at least for this book to be missing emotion/passion. And that any displayed is quickly sorted out in a sentence or 2. I'm not sure if it's restricted to all his writing our just this book/series (I read the 1st Warwick book months ago and any other Archer book I read was decades ago). Otherwise a good read. 3.5 stars.

This is the fifth in the William Warwick series. It is the third I have read. Some are better than others and I thought this one of the better ones.

Taking place in 1988, there are a couple of plot lines with related characters, all revolving around Scotland Yard’s DCI Warwick. His wife, Beth, works for the Fitzmolean. One line finds Warwick and his team investigating possible misdeeds wtihin the Royalty Protection Command, assisted by DI Hogan, working undercover as Princess Diana’s body guard. The second is a continuation of a story involving a career criminal, his angry former wife, art thievery and a crooked lawyer; lots of opportunities for double crossing. And there is a related scheme about terrorists.

This is a fast, entertaining, engrossing read. Most of the characters have a certain charm, even some of the crooks! While there are different stories woven throughout, I never felt confused or lost.

Reading number four in the series prior to this one gives a lot of background for Next in Line, better helping to understand some of the action. However, I think it can work as standalone. I am looking forward to the next Warwick novel.

Thank you (Net Galley and Harper Collins Canada) for the opportunity to read an ARC of Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer.

This was a great read. The story was well developed and the characters were also well written and I found myself cheering them on.

The story is based on protecting the HRH both personal detail and the Royal Family detail, mixed with art dealings, crooked lawyers and millionaires. William Warwick and his team develop throughout the novel, both in their personal lives and professional lives. Lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and guessing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. 4.5/5 stars.

#killercrimeclub #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #harpercollinscanada

This is the second book I've read - and thoroughly enjoyed - in this series (this is the fifth), and the same thing happened both times: I found them difficult to "get into" for the first several chapters. They're very well written, so it must be that I'm just not used to the style (and the number of characters to keep straight). But when the lightbulb of understanding finally turns on, from that point in both books I didn't want to put them down.

One of the themes of this one, as it turns out, is kind of sad because it focuses on England's Royal Family, more specifically the late Princess Diana (it's set around 1988, when she was one of the most recognized and loved women on earth). Needless to say, her life must be protected at all times; but the detail of officers charged with that responsibility are thought to be corrupt. Enter Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his capable team - most notably Inspector Ross Hogan - who get assigned to the protection detail not only to do that job but unearth the illegal activities of the existing detail. It gets quite exciting, but I daresay the real Royal Family may not be too fond of the details (nope, can't explain - you'll just have to read it for yourself).

There's a concurrent theme as well, this one set in the art world; Warwick's wife, Beth, works in a prominent art gallery. But a prisoner they've put in jail has a duplicitous attorney, Booth Watson (who for whatever reason is always referred to by both his first and last name) more intent on stealing his client's money than defending him and an ex-wife, Christina, who doesn't care about the money but wants the artwork he's accumulated over the years. She's also friends with Beth - or so she's trying to make Beth believe. This one's not a case of determining which one is the "bad guy," but rather which one will end up outfoxing the others.

Both plots are quite complex, woven with detail and, on occasion, a bit of humor. As always, an interesting, entertaining read that makes me eager for the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Excellent!

This is a hard one for me. I've been wanted to read a Jeffrey Archer book for ages, but sadly I didn't realize that this was book 5 in a series. Even though I was assured it works as a stand alone but for me it didn't work. There was just to much that I felt I was missing.

I will go back and start this series from the beginning at some point.

DCI William Warwick is given a new assignment - the Royal Security Protection unit with his first assignment being to investigate the current staff of that elite unit. One of his team is assigned to HRH Princess Diana, whose marriage to Prince Charles is already in trouble creating a significant challenge to all involved. Of course, Warwick’s very unlikeable foes - Miles Faulkner, art collector and financial thief, and his attorney Mr. Booth Watson - continue their deceitful activities in the art world and in the courtroom to the consternation of both William and his father, Sir Julian. There is plenty of tension given the rivalries as well as more unscrupulous characters operating from the Royal Prison. The multiple storylines are loaded with twists and turns leading to a satisfying conclusion. This is the fifth book in Archer’s William Warwick series (which was announced as a five book series but apparently a sixth will arrive in 2023). As I have said many times before, Jeffrey Archer will never win a Booker Award or Nobel Prize for Literature, but he is one of the best storytellers around - throughout his last two series, he has woven real life characters into his story lines which makes for fun reading. My thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC of this book which will be available on September 27.

Terrific. Importantly, I haven’t read the first four books in the Warwick series and I thought this one works wonderfully as a stand-alone. I had read the Clifton Chronicles in order and expected to do the same with this series, but sometimes life gets in the way. I will look forward to reading the next book as Next in Line left me wanting more.

Book was great! Really enjoyed the continuation of the story arc. One suggestion, there seemed to be a lack of character development. People who have not read the rest of the series would be lost for the first few chapters.

This transported me back in time, I was one of those who fell in love with the fairytale romance we all thought it was. I loved the immersion and writing in this novel. I loved losing myself in the story and the memories it evoked.

I don't know how many books Jeffrey Archer has written but I have enjoyed the ones that I've read - and this one is no exception. In typical Archer fashion, the mystery brings together many unexpected elements- the world or art and museums, the Royal Family (well, Princess DI), Scotland Yard, Libyan terrorists- and the author weaves them together in an exciting story.
As always, Archer uses complicated themes and unexpected twists (that I couldn't guess), to complete this action packed story. with a lot of cunning, deceit, and double crossing.
I did have to make a list of characters - especially the Scotland Yard personnel and their positions. The characters nevertheless were personified as authentic people with everyday issues and joys.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC to read. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a fantastic book, Jeffrey Archer brings back William Warwick for his fifth instalment in the fabulous Next in Line.

In this book his team have to protect Princess Diana and it has a real royal theme to it, brilliant for the Platinum Jubilee year.

There's lots going on with all his family and colleagues and of course Miles Faulkner. His books are so good and so well written and researched, you feel they could be true. A fantastic series.

Very excited for the next book in this series. If you haven't read any or many of Archers' books, start at the beginning of the series, so you don't miss out. so many treats in store for you.

A big thank you to Harper360, HarperCollins and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, As usual Mr Archer, it's been a pleasure.

Many of the characters and criminal activity carry over from “Over My Dead Body”, but could be read as a standalone. The fifth in this series has Chief Inspector William Warwick back for a new assignment in Royalty Protection Command. Warwick and his team will be undercover looking for corruption in the unit responsible for protecting Her Royal Highness. Meanwhile Inspector Ross Hogan has his work cut out for him as he’s assigned to protect the free spirited Princess.
Booth Watson QC, the corrupt lawyer representing Miles Faulkner (in jail as he awaits trial) is up to his old tricks playing both sides. Christina Faulkner is now divorced from Miles, but they continue to dispute terms of the valuable art collection ownership. Booth is playing both sides of the feuding divorced couple, but ultimately consumed with increasing his own bank account.
There’s a deeper peak into family dynamics at the Warwick home with a new addition. William’s wife, Beth, is quite the knowledgeable art lover working at the Fitzmolean museum. Circumstances change and Beth’s friendship with Christina is tested almost beyond repair. There could be ill fated partnerships. The betrayals in this twisted plot will have you taking notes to sort out who’s double crossing who!
The action in this had my head spinning, there is one ruse after another. There’s a suicide bomber, a Libyan terrorist, national security risks, jail breaks, cons conning cons, and many double crosses between the criminals, daring rescues on land and sea, thefts, kidnapping and murder. There was even a chapter about a Cricket match, which I tried but failed to understand. The use of some real royalty names in the case was a unexpected surprise. There are some new romantic interests simmering, too.
While I have not read all in the series, this is hands down, my favorite yet.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital copy of “Next In Line,” by Jeffrey Archer, and to HarperCollinsPublishers. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.