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Wright & Tran #1
Face Value
Kara Wright and Tien Tran, former members of an elite intelligence gathering team active in Afghanistan, Iraq, and places still classified, now make their living through Wright & Tran, a PI service that tracks errant spouses, identifies dishonest employees and, just occasionally, takes on more significant cases that allow them to use all their skills. When siblings Zoe and Michael Sterling insist that their middle-aged parents have gone missing, Kara and Tien are at first sceptical and then quickly intrigued; the father, ex-intelligence analyst Chris Sterling, appears to be involved with an elusive Russian thug. Using less than orthodox methods and the services of ex-colleagues with highly specialised talents, Wright & Tran take on the case. But the truth they uncover is far from simple and will shake Zoe and Michael as much as it will challenge Tien and anger Kara. An anger she can ill afford for she is being hunted by others for the killing of a street predator who chose the wrong prey. The only constant in this darkening world is that nothing and no one can be taken at face value.
314 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2015
65 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Ian Andrew
7 books28 followersWriting under the penname of Ian Andrew, his first crime novel, Face Value, won the Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction in 2017. Since then he has continued to add to that series, is also a successful ghost writer and has founded both Leschenault Press and the Book Reality Experience, a publishing assistance service that helps writers become independent authors.
Originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in Western Australia, where he relocated to after serving in the UK’s Royal Air Force as an Intelligence Officer.
Originally from Northern Ireland, he now lives in Western Australia, where he relocated to after serving in the UK’s Royal Air Force as an Intelligence Officer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 29, 2020
Wright & Tran, a London PI team which was run by Kara Wright and Tien Tran, both ex members of a secretive and elite intelligence team who were active in Iraq and Afghanistan – to name a few – did the usual PI jobs, until the occasional case which would utilize all their strengths, all their significant skills. And it was when Michael and Zoe Sterling approached Kara and Tien, saying their parents, Chris and Brenda Sterling, had gone missing that the investigation proved to cover everything – and more.
Kara’s brother David was a detective in the Met and while he knew of Kara’s occasional off-grid investigations, he didn’t want details. But the siblings were close and always had each other’s backs. When the women brought in the rest of their team, their digging located many secrets. The darkness which was flowing through the streets of London was closer than they realized, but they would get results. Wouldn’t they?
Face Value is the 1st in the Wright & Tran series by Aussie author Ian Andrew and wow! It was electric! The pace didn’t let up, the smooth teamwork was remarkable, the complete trust in one another excellent. Gritty, filled with tension, intense and dark, Face Value is definitely one I recommend. Looking forward to #2 already!
Kara’s brother David was a detective in the Met and while he knew of Kara’s occasional off-grid investigations, he didn’t want details. But the siblings were close and always had each other’s backs. When the women brought in the rest of their team, their digging located many secrets. The darkness which was flowing through the streets of London was closer than they realized, but they would get results. Wouldn’t they?
Face Value is the 1st in the Wright & Tran series by Aussie author Ian Andrew and wow! It was electric! The pace didn’t let up, the smooth teamwork was remarkable, the complete trust in one another excellent. Gritty, filled with tension, intense and dark, Face Value is definitely one I recommend. Looking forward to #2 already!
December 17, 2016
WOW! Explosive writing!
My View:
Australian authors are awesome!
What a fantastic discovery! This book easily scores a place in my “Top Reads of 2016”! Fast paced, action packed, explosive, compulsive writing and with not one but two particularly interesting and empathetic female protagonists!
The introduction provides a very tasty and appetising bait – you won’t feel that hook until it is too late and it is after midnight and you are reading “just one more page”… until you have finished! You can catch up on sleep another night.
“It wasn’t the prettiest place to die. But then again, where is? She was taking a short cut through unfamiliar territory. He was running an illegal errand on ground he called his own. Neither would have wanted the street with its vandalised lights and graffiti-covered hoardings, to be their final view of life. But we don’t often get what we want.” (p.1)
Bad things are going to happen, you can feel it, sense it, taste it. But you might just get a surprise or two here. And then there is the rest of the narrative! I was thoroughly hooked, engaged, enthralled.
I cannot wait to read the second in this series “Flight Path.” Thanks Ian Andrew for a consuming read!
My View:
Australian authors are awesome!
What a fantastic discovery! This book easily scores a place in my “Top Reads of 2016”! Fast paced, action packed, explosive, compulsive writing and with not one but two particularly interesting and empathetic female protagonists!
The introduction provides a very tasty and appetising bait – you won’t feel that hook until it is too late and it is after midnight and you are reading “just one more page”… until you have finished! You can catch up on sleep another night.
“It wasn’t the prettiest place to die. But then again, where is? She was taking a short cut through unfamiliar territory. He was running an illegal errand on ground he called his own. Neither would have wanted the street with its vandalised lights and graffiti-covered hoardings, to be their final view of life. But we don’t often get what we want.” (p.1)
Bad things are going to happen, you can feel it, sense it, taste it. But you might just get a surprise or two here. And then there is the rest of the narrative! I was thoroughly hooked, engaged, enthralled.
I cannot wait to read the second in this series “Flight Path.” Thanks Ian Andrew for a consuming read!
August 12, 2017
Reading Face Value was like watching a film. Yes most definitely this book should be snapped up by film companies. A man was killed in a stabbing in Huntingdon. The victim thought to be in his late 30's. His identity was not available, he was found in an alley. Who killed him? Sorry I can't possibly tell you that! Kara Wright and Tien Tran run a private investigations company. Michael Sterling and his sister Zoe need Wright and Tran Investigations to help find their parents who have gone missing. Ian Andrew can most certainly be relied on to deliver a page turning thriller with characters that are very interesting to read about.
October 4, 2015
Ian Andrew has woven a compelling story that breaks from the traditional 'Private Investigator' formula. Each character is realistic, yet extraordinary, with the good, the bad, and the grey areas in between.
Simply put, this is an extremely well written book and confirms that the first offering by this author A Time To Every Purpose was not a fluke, but a sign of things to come. Definitely a worthwhile read.
Simply put, this is an extremely well written book and confirms that the first offering by this author A Time To Every Purpose was not a fluke, but a sign of things to come. Definitely a worthwhile read.
December 31, 2017
After reading the first chapter, I thought to myself, "Wow, this might be a great debut novel." The chapter had all the elements of a "perfect" opening to a mystery/thriller/suspense novel: Immediate tension and danger, instant connection to what the protagonist is thinking and feeling, and enough questions to keep me turning pages but not so many that I got confused.
Unfortunately, the book went downhill from there to the end. Wright and Tran could become two interesting protagonists, but even though they were in most scenes, the author cluttered the plot with so many supporting characters and paused to give backstory on many of these minor characters, that the pace slowed to a crawl for me.
One "glaring" error the "experts" would have pointed out is the introduction of the character named Libby Cooper on page 287 of the Kindle edition. She had a major assignment in the police/swat operation, so we see the scene unfold in her POV. But to introduce any character this late in the book (the last 10%) was so abrupt and unexpected as to throw off the pace and rhythm of the story. New character introductions happened in a few other places too, particularly to one of the bad guys who gets a scene of his own in the last 25% of the book. Those late introductions of minor characters and their accompanying backstories goofed up the flow of the book for me.
My other major quibble was the over-description of minor details and the highly technical "play by play of scenes such as setting up surveillance of Illy's house and the final charge on the compound holding the "hostages." Scenes like these, though plausible and well-laid out, were bogged down by excessive technical detail. I give credit to the author for knowing his stuff. But for many readers who don't get into all the jargon, weapons specifications, and minutiae of carrying out operations like these, such scenes slow the pace to a crawl and lead to skimming. I admit that authors like Tom Clancy sold millions of books that contained these military and police details, so there is a huge readership that wants the details. But I think there's a fine line between enough to satisfy the techies and too much to turn away the rest of us.
Nevertheless, I understand why this book won some awards and garnered excellent reviews and ratings. I would read book two in the series to see if the protagonists started to develop more and the author tightened his style, because the premise, the plot, and the realism were all excellent.
Unfortunately, the book went downhill from there to the end. Wright and Tran could become two interesting protagonists, but even though they were in most scenes, the author cluttered the plot with so many supporting characters and paused to give backstory on many of these minor characters, that the pace slowed to a crawl for me.
One "glaring" error the "experts" would have pointed out is the introduction of the character named Libby Cooper on page 287 of the Kindle edition. She had a major assignment in the police/swat operation, so we see the scene unfold in her POV. But to introduce any character this late in the book (the last 10%) was so abrupt and unexpected as to throw off the pace and rhythm of the story. New character introductions happened in a few other places too, particularly to one of the bad guys who gets a scene of his own in the last 25% of the book. Those late introductions of minor characters and their accompanying backstories goofed up the flow of the book for me.
My other major quibble was the over-description of minor details and the highly technical "play by play of scenes such as setting up surveillance of Illy's house and the final charge on the compound holding the "hostages." Scenes like these, though plausible and well-laid out, were bogged down by excessive technical detail. I give credit to the author for knowing his stuff. But for many readers who don't get into all the jargon, weapons specifications, and minutiae of carrying out operations like these, such scenes slow the pace to a crawl and lead to skimming. I admit that authors like Tom Clancy sold millions of books that contained these military and police details, so there is a huge readership that wants the details. But I think there's a fine line between enough to satisfy the techies and too much to turn away the rest of us.
Nevertheless, I understand why this book won some awards and garnered excellent reviews and ratings. I would read book two in the series to see if the protagonists started to develop more and the author tightened his style, because the premise, the plot, and the realism were all excellent.
June 23, 2022
La premisa tenía buena pinta y el primer capítulo apuntaba maneras.
Peeeero.
Los personajes se me han hecho planos, se da demasiado background de personajes que no aportan nada a la trama y demasiados detalles del paso a paso de cómo se hace una vigilancia o un ataque, con lo que ha habido momentos en los que me he visto gritando al audiolibro para que se acabara de una vez.
Una lástima, pero para mí ha sido un ejemplo más de un hombre que no sabe escribir personajes femeninos. (Nota: una mujer fuerte no es una mujer que se comporta como un hombre. Estaría bien que muchos autores lo tuvieran en mente.)
Peeeero.
Los personajes se me han hecho planos, se da demasiado background de personajes que no aportan nada a la trama y demasiados detalles del paso a paso de cómo se hace una vigilancia o un ataque, con lo que ha habido momentos en los que me he visto gritando al audiolibro para que se acabara de una vez.
Una lástima, pero para mí ha sido un ejemplo más de un hombre que no sabe escribir personajes femeninos. (Nota: una mujer fuerte no es una mujer que se comporta como un hombre. Estaría bien que muchos autores lo tuvieran en mente.)
February 23, 2022
Always difficult when you read a book written by someone you know but this was really good. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it as it's not my normal choice of book. Highly recommend
November 6, 2022
Not sure how I missed these books and this author. I was hooked from the start I could not stop reading this book. Wright and Tran are ex military working as PI's.
The investigation they take on is not as clear cut as they first thought and we are lead on a wild ride.
I cannot stress how good this book was and I have already borrowed the second book.
The investigation they take on is not as clear cut as they first thought and we are lead on a wild ride.
I cannot stress how good this book was and I have already borrowed the second book.
January 29, 2016
I haven’t read a straight thriller for a while - usually I go for a story with a bit of romance as well, but I read the first chapter of Face Value and got hooked. A girl who can take out a man of dubious character using only a stiletto was a someone I wanted to get to know.
Both Kara and Tien were intriguing, each with their own special skills, and the variety of side characters added to the drama. I particularly liked Sammi, and I’d like to see more of her later on in the series. I see from his biography that author is an ex-Intelligence Officer himself, which I’m sure added to the well-thought-out plot and believable descriptions. It kept me guessing to the end. The way the book was written, I could easily picture each scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I look forward to the second book in the series.
Both Kara and Tien were intriguing, each with their own special skills, and the variety of side characters added to the drama. I particularly liked Sammi, and I’d like to see more of her later on in the series. I see from his biography that author is an ex-Intelligence Officer himself, which I’m sure added to the well-thought-out plot and believable descriptions. It kept me guessing to the end. The way the book was written, I could easily picture each scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I look forward to the second book in the series.
June 29, 2017
It was engaging enough that I finished it, so that's good. The older I get the more likely I am to just put a book down if it fails me, so this isn't that. Great premise, interesting characters, not a bad story line. Somehow though I just didn't care very much. I read this very quickly, skipping most of the descriptive stuff looking for action and character development. Give it a go if you're after British female ex-military operatives/spies/combat veterans now working as Private Investigators with a bunch of their friends who are British male ex-military operatives/combat veterans/paratroopers.
January 23, 2018
Thrilling human trafficking
If you like action novels, suspense stories, and police drama, you will enjoy this book.
First of all, the two main private investigators are two women, along with a whole bunch of other assistants, both women, and men. All of them are veterans of some armed forces in Great Britain, like the author, so that the technical side of the story is perfect, or at least you will find it perfect. The author sure proves that women can be particularly effective and powerful in their chase of some organized crime.
The second reason is that it deals with some human trafficking in Great Britain, led by a Russian chap with a lot of helpers too, all of them also veterans from the Russian armed forces and looking for some simple work that is less dangerous than war in Ukraine, Crimea, Chechenia or wherever Russia sends some troops. They work for a Russian criminal for sure but that is a lot easier than war and even when it ends badly no one or nearly no one is killed. Arrested, yes, but not shot dead by police forces because police forces do not like the paperwork that goes along with killing someone who is nothing but a suspect even when caught red-handed in some criminal activity.
The third reason is that this story shows how human trafficking works in our modern world. It works with fake papers and these fake papers require some accomplices within some administration to produce them. One thing is sure though: the introduction of the biometric passport in 2006 and the end of the validity of traditional passports in 2016 prevent that human trafficking from going on. But don’t worry there are other methods that are invented every morning in the mind of a creative criminal somewhere in the world, including next door to home.
The fourth reason is the description of the business: escorts for rich clients in ritzy hotels; pornographic videos spread around on the Internet; and other services like sexy chatrooms in which anyone can ask for this or that from the “model” in the chatroom who will respond positively, of course, provided the customer has paid his subscription with a valid credit card. On the side, there can be some credit card trafficking when some customers are too gullible and do not protect their identity. The other day a scam hiding itself behind a “University of California at Davis Alumni” facade was promising on the phone a phenomenal deal to boost the global image of a “gullible of course” researcher for a few hundred dollars, and to deal with this proposal the “customer” was asked to give the secret security number on the back of his credit card first. This shows how gullible some people can be. Such information is NOT supposed to be given on the telephone to anyone and can only be given on the Internet to services you are sure are clean.
This story should make people think twice when dealing with their privacy and security, but I guess there are quite a few people who have some inner drives that are stronger than their common sense. As for this aspect of the story, I find it rather refreshing.
The fifth reason is that self-defense can be dangerous for the attacker who can be killed by some well-used procedure, and there are too many people who are harassing or assaulting people, in this story women, but more generally anyone, for any satisfaction as a bully, or any profit as a mugger. The police will have to proceed and the person who self-defended himself or herself will be confronted with manslaughter and all it means in court. The story here deals with professionals of such situation, the two main female characters, who leave behind absolutely no evidence because they know the job, but the police are not blind, far from it, just powerless in front of a job well done.
So it ends with a proposal to the two women to become advisers of police forces about the cleaning methods a good criminal can use, and thus the possible means you can use to get beyond these methods. The best persons qualified to fight against forgers, hackers, criminals are in fact the very same forgers, hackers, and criminals who accept to provide the police with their skills to fight against such criminal activities. This end might be depressing to some readers, but it is true the best hackers are paid fortunes just to work for some secret or security services, both public and private.
The last point is probably the fact that immigration is not always criminal and human trafficking but it can be that and there must be some way to prevent it, to stop it. Human slavery does exist and quite often under our noses, in front of our eyes, on our doorsteps. We have to be aware of that to stop it. Such criminal activities need some accomplices within the country and that’s the worst part of the business. Imagine two grownup children who find out that their parents have been criminals for decades and they have not seen it at all. The story is pathetic then and rather discreet about the reaction of the daughter, though we do not know the reaction of the son who is absent at the time of the revelation.
Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU
If you like action novels, suspense stories, and police drama, you will enjoy this book.
First of all, the two main private investigators are two women, along with a whole bunch of other assistants, both women, and men. All of them are veterans of some armed forces in Great Britain, like the author, so that the technical side of the story is perfect, or at least you will find it perfect. The author sure proves that women can be particularly effective and powerful in their chase of some organized crime.
The second reason is that it deals with some human trafficking in Great Britain, led by a Russian chap with a lot of helpers too, all of them also veterans from the Russian armed forces and looking for some simple work that is less dangerous than war in Ukraine, Crimea, Chechenia or wherever Russia sends some troops. They work for a Russian criminal for sure but that is a lot easier than war and even when it ends badly no one or nearly no one is killed. Arrested, yes, but not shot dead by police forces because police forces do not like the paperwork that goes along with killing someone who is nothing but a suspect even when caught red-handed in some criminal activity.
The third reason is that this story shows how human trafficking works in our modern world. It works with fake papers and these fake papers require some accomplices within some administration to produce them. One thing is sure though: the introduction of the biometric passport in 2006 and the end of the validity of traditional passports in 2016 prevent that human trafficking from going on. But don’t worry there are other methods that are invented every morning in the mind of a creative criminal somewhere in the world, including next door to home.
The fourth reason is the description of the business: escorts for rich clients in ritzy hotels; pornographic videos spread around on the Internet; and other services like sexy chatrooms in which anyone can ask for this or that from the “model” in the chatroom who will respond positively, of course, provided the customer has paid his subscription with a valid credit card. On the side, there can be some credit card trafficking when some customers are too gullible and do not protect their identity. The other day a scam hiding itself behind a “University of California at Davis Alumni” facade was promising on the phone a phenomenal deal to boost the global image of a “gullible of course” researcher for a few hundred dollars, and to deal with this proposal the “customer” was asked to give the secret security number on the back of his credit card first. This shows how gullible some people can be. Such information is NOT supposed to be given on the telephone to anyone and can only be given on the Internet to services you are sure are clean.
This story should make people think twice when dealing with their privacy and security, but I guess there are quite a few people who have some inner drives that are stronger than their common sense. As for this aspect of the story, I find it rather refreshing.
The fifth reason is that self-defense can be dangerous for the attacker who can be killed by some well-used procedure, and there are too many people who are harassing or assaulting people, in this story women, but more generally anyone, for any satisfaction as a bully, or any profit as a mugger. The police will have to proceed and the person who self-defended himself or herself will be confronted with manslaughter and all it means in court. The story here deals with professionals of such situation, the two main female characters, who leave behind absolutely no evidence because they know the job, but the police are not blind, far from it, just powerless in front of a job well done.
So it ends with a proposal to the two women to become advisers of police forces about the cleaning methods a good criminal can use, and thus the possible means you can use to get beyond these methods. The best persons qualified to fight against forgers, hackers, criminals are in fact the very same forgers, hackers, and criminals who accept to provide the police with their skills to fight against such criminal activities. This end might be depressing to some readers, but it is true the best hackers are paid fortunes just to work for some secret or security services, both public and private.
The last point is probably the fact that immigration is not always criminal and human trafficking but it can be that and there must be some way to prevent it, to stop it. Human slavery does exist and quite often under our noses, in front of our eyes, on our doorsteps. We have to be aware of that to stop it. Such criminal activities need some accomplices within the country and that’s the worst part of the business. Imagine two grownup children who find out that their parents have been criminals for decades and they have not seen it at all. The story is pathetic then and rather discreet about the reaction of the daughter, though we do not know the reaction of the son who is absent at the time of the revelation.
Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU
June 6, 2018
The book won the Publishers Weekly BookLife Grand Prize 2017! What the judges found "writing [that] is direct, smooth, and especially good during sequences of violence, car chases, and tactical decision making," I found too long, too detailed, tedious, and verging on boring during the car chases and takedowns. I did very much like the "from military training" tactical-decision-making long descriptions. I was surprised at 7 private investigator strongmen after one person. What that must have cost!! I agree with the judges that the motivation for the opening murder was opaque. The premise of the Russian bad guy and his nefarious women slave trade is timely, and how good people are ensnared in it chilling. I was amazed at a major book award winner's book being riddled with typos, punctuation errors, and even grammar misses. I guess "it's all in the story," though I prefer polished delivery.
January 16, 2020
I read this suspense/mystery novel on a recommendation that it had posted this book as the Publisher's Weekly BOOKLIFE Grand Prizewinner for 2017. I was not disappointed. The author has obvious real world experience in Intelligence work, as well as a knack for melding authentic real world impressions with colorful characters. The combination makes for a great read! In addition, the overlap in skill sets between the two women protagonists as they solve operational obstacles makes for a witty and fun partnership. Very well done . A strong base for a future follow-on series.
May 14, 2017
Coming into a genre I usually do not read I was unsure what to expect. This book is gripping, intelligent, fast-paced, gritty, witty and believable. There is a complex simplicity in the story that weaves a number of worlds together causing characters to cross paths. I am definitely a fan of Wright and Tran.
May 25, 2018
Just finished this book and agree with everything other reviewers say. Truly explosive writing and a great plot which races along. It is like watching it unfold before you and would make an excellent film. I am not sure the small screen could do it credit.
Looking forward to reading Flight Path now.
Looking forward to reading Flight Path now.
September 15, 2019
Definitely see this as film material. Really liked the 2 main characters and will read the next in the series. Learned a lot about how pros operate in conducting surveillance. I don’t know that I gave this a truly fair shot as I read it while traveling in many, many fits and starts. It’s the kind of book that could and should be read more efficiently. 3.5 stars.
July 10, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed Face Value, the first in the Wright & Tran series. A definite page turner of a story with strong female leads. If I had one complaint it was that I found I started to get a little bogged down with all the names and then nicknames, but maybe that was just me, lol. A great read and a series I intend to continue reading.
Read for Aussie Readers July book choice.
Read for Aussie Readers July book choice.
December 6, 2020
Just finished! New-to-me author is truly impressive. Well developed characters ,lots of excitement, kept me up last night. Ending was a bit of a surprise but I loved it. I'm an avid reader and have added Ian Andrew to my list of very favourite authors.
August 14, 2017
Loved it!! Just could not put it down. This was my first book by Ian Andrew and certainly won't be my last.
May 11, 2022
This was pretty good and I would probably enjoy the rest of the series.
August 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this first book so much so i couldn’t wait to get the second one. I liked the storyline, the twists and turns and the action.
December 26, 2023
See Chris Norbury's excellent review of the book's shortcomings. It is a little too much like the premise for an action thriller movie for my tastes.
March 20, 2025
I would read another in this series.
October 9, 2016
Face Value by Ian Andrew is a crime thriller which introduces readers to the Wright and Tran series. It’s an intriguing novel with lots of action, driven by strong, believable female characters.
Kara Wright and Tien Tran are partners in a private investigation agency. They are also best friends who met whilst serving as part of a special ops’ team within the military. They both have their own skill set, Kara is more outgoing and handles the client side of the business whereas Tien is a technological whizz. Both characters however are tough, intelligent and not the kind of women you would want to cross. In fact the novel opens with Kara making short work of a would-be rapist in a quite spectacular fashion, involving little more than a red stiletto heeled shoe.
I have to confess that Andrew had me at the shoe but he kept my interest throughout with his well crafted mystery. The story begins when the adult children of Chris and Brenda Sterling recruit Kara and Tien to track their parents’ whereabouts. The problem is, to all intents and purposes, the Sterlings have simply taken off on a holiday to Florida. As the plot unfolds, however, it becomes increasingly apparent that this is not the case and Kara and Tien find themselves drawn into the murky world of a Russian criminal.
Andrew makes his novel even more exciting by structuring it so that Kara and Tien’s investigation is interspersed with the investigation of the police who are searching for the killer of the aforementioned would-be rapist. The two storylines collide dramatically towards the end in a very satisfying finale.
There is much to recommend this novel, not least the central characters themselves. Kara is no-nonsense and forthright with a sharp sense of humour and whilst Tien may be quieter and happy take a back seat, she is no less ballsy. We learn that her military career ended when she lost her hand during a daring rescue mission. A mission that saw her awarded the military cross for bravery.
The military is very much present in this book as Kara and Tien draw on the support of other former military personnel. They are presented as a tight network and Andrew captures the banter between them perfectly. The way the characters use jokes to counteract the danger make the relationships seem authentic.
My favourite thing about this novel is the way that Andrew allows women to shine in what is traditionally viewed as a man’s world. In addition to Kara and Tien there are lots of strong female characters making up both military and police roles. Even the toughest of the villains is a Russian woman called Emilia. It is telling that whilst interrogating her, Kara calls to mind a maxim from 1970s anti-terrorism training – “Kill the women fighters first for they are the most vicious, the most hard line, the least likely to surrender.”
The way in which Andrew chooses to conclude his novel places Kara and Tien in a position to move into a new and exciting direction in the future. He has set up his series very effectively with lots of likeable characters who I for one want to see more of. If you like action packed crime with a strong military flavour then you should give Face Value a try.
Kara Wright and Tien Tran are partners in a private investigation agency. They are also best friends who met whilst serving as part of a special ops’ team within the military. They both have their own skill set, Kara is more outgoing and handles the client side of the business whereas Tien is a technological whizz. Both characters however are tough, intelligent and not the kind of women you would want to cross. In fact the novel opens with Kara making short work of a would-be rapist in a quite spectacular fashion, involving little more than a red stiletto heeled shoe.
I have to confess that Andrew had me at the shoe but he kept my interest throughout with his well crafted mystery. The story begins when the adult children of Chris and Brenda Sterling recruit Kara and Tien to track their parents’ whereabouts. The problem is, to all intents and purposes, the Sterlings have simply taken off on a holiday to Florida. As the plot unfolds, however, it becomes increasingly apparent that this is not the case and Kara and Tien find themselves drawn into the murky world of a Russian criminal.
Andrew makes his novel even more exciting by structuring it so that Kara and Tien’s investigation is interspersed with the investigation of the police who are searching for the killer of the aforementioned would-be rapist. The two storylines collide dramatically towards the end in a very satisfying finale.
There is much to recommend this novel, not least the central characters themselves. Kara is no-nonsense and forthright with a sharp sense of humour and whilst Tien may be quieter and happy take a back seat, she is no less ballsy. We learn that her military career ended when she lost her hand during a daring rescue mission. A mission that saw her awarded the military cross for bravery.
The military is very much present in this book as Kara and Tien draw on the support of other former military personnel. They are presented as a tight network and Andrew captures the banter between them perfectly. The way the characters use jokes to counteract the danger make the relationships seem authentic.
My favourite thing about this novel is the way that Andrew allows women to shine in what is traditionally viewed as a man’s world. In addition to Kara and Tien there are lots of strong female characters making up both military and police roles. Even the toughest of the villains is a Russian woman called Emilia. It is telling that whilst interrogating her, Kara calls to mind a maxim from 1970s anti-terrorism training – “Kill the women fighters first for they are the most vicious, the most hard line, the least likely to surrender.”
The way in which Andrew chooses to conclude his novel places Kara and Tien in a position to move into a new and exciting direction in the future. He has set up his series very effectively with lots of likeable characters who I for one want to see more of. If you like action packed crime with a strong military flavour then you should give Face Value a try.
March 27, 2016
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
Upon seeing the cover, "chick flick" sprang to mind. After reading the back of the book, that impression was replaced by one of a combination between a special forces story and a detective/PI story. Never shying away from either of those, I was immediately intrigued by Face Value. I am glad I didn't, as it was very enjoyable.
Face Value starts off very strong, with a fight between Wright and a street thug, setting the theme for the rest of the book. After disabling the thug, she cleans up the scene so there are no traces left to her. Unmoved by the past ten minutes, she retraces her steps and continues with her day. At this point, after reading but four pages, I already wanted to know more about Wright. The book continues on this very strong tone, keeping up the pace and tension throughout the entire story.
The book was written very well; I could easily picture the scene in my head, which in my opinion is a very important part of a book.
The character development was very nice as well, giving a background story of the characters yet keeping details in the dark, making you want to know more about the spec ops Wright and Tran did before they opened their investigation bureau. The morals and ethics of the women are grey (both will go to great lengths to protect each other), which I feel adds to their appeal. Making choices some would condemn, others would agree with is a daring move by Ian Andrew, but one that worked out very well, resulting in an emotional bond with Wright and Tran at the end of the book.
I hope to find out more about Tran in Flight Path, since Face Value was certainly more focused on Wright. Given how the police is conducting an investigation in Wright, I can understand that Wright played a bigger part, but I am equally interested (if not more, I always had a thing for technology) in Tran.
Being a big fan of Chris Ryan's books, which are generally about the SAS, I was genuinely surprised to see another author writing in the same genre; army veterans conducting investigations, while not shying away from fights should they encounter them. These books are never stagnant.
I slowly changed to reading nearly only fantasy over the years, but this book reminded me why I still enjoy detectives.
Upon seeing the cover, "chick flick" sprang to mind. After reading the back of the book, that impression was replaced by one of a combination between a special forces story and a detective/PI story. Never shying away from either of those, I was immediately intrigued by Face Value. I am glad I didn't, as it was very enjoyable.
Face Value starts off very strong, with a fight between Wright and a street thug, setting the theme for the rest of the book. After disabling the thug, she cleans up the scene so there are no traces left to her. Unmoved by the past ten minutes, she retraces her steps and continues with her day. At this point, after reading but four pages, I already wanted to know more about Wright. The book continues on this very strong tone, keeping up the pace and tension throughout the entire story.
The book was written very well; I could easily picture the scene in my head, which in my opinion is a very important part of a book.
The character development was very nice as well, giving a background story of the characters yet keeping details in the dark, making you want to know more about the spec ops Wright and Tran did before they opened their investigation bureau. The morals and ethics of the women are grey (both will go to great lengths to protect each other), which I feel adds to their appeal. Making choices some would condemn, others would agree with is a daring move by Ian Andrew, but one that worked out very well, resulting in an emotional bond with Wright and Tran at the end of the book.
I hope to find out more about Tran in Flight Path, since Face Value was certainly more focused on Wright. Given how the police is conducting an investigation in Wright, I can understand that Wright played a bigger part, but I am equally interested (if not more, I always had a thing for technology) in Tran.
Being a big fan of Chris Ryan's books, which are generally about the SAS, I was genuinely surprised to see another author writing in the same genre; army veterans conducting investigations, while not shying away from fights should they encounter them. These books are never stagnant.
I slowly changed to reading nearly only fantasy over the years, but this book reminded me why I still enjoy detectives.
September 13, 2016
The Wright of the subtitle of this book is Kara Wright and the Tran is Tien Tran. They are now private investigators having been combat veterans for an elite intelligence unit and I found that this is an action, rather than character, led tale. The story opens with a killing and a brutally efficient one at that and it is this part of the story, and the ongoing police investigation into the death, that takes place in Huntingdon.
Wright and Tran are hired by siblings Michael and Zoe to look into the disappearance of their parents and as a consequence they get to use their former training and while there is much to like about this book I think it was this that interested me most.
Wright and Tran have an extensive network of skilled help they can call on and I really enjoyed the detailed description of how they went about their investigation. There is extreme military precision at play here, a solid knowledge of correct procedure for covert surveillance, following suspects and obtaining the information needed to lay a trap to expose a network of crime and corruption. Clearly Andrew is an author who knows what he is talking about.
Alongside all of this the reader is kept abreast of the ongoing police investigation back in Huntingdon as the net tightens on the killer and I kept wondering all the way through how the first death was going to tie into the rest of the story as it seemed a little abstract but it did all eventually fit together and I thought the ending worked well. Although this is the first in the series be assured that there is a satisfying dénouement here along with a perfect set up for the following book(s).
This story would be enjoyed by all those who like plenty of realistic action along with well-written military style investigation that exposes a seedy world of crime and this author has done a
Wright and Tran are hired by siblings Michael and Zoe to look into the disappearance of their parents and as a consequence they get to use their former training and while there is much to like about this book I think it was this that interested me most.
Wright and Tran have an extensive network of skilled help they can call on and I really enjoyed the detailed description of how they went about their investigation. There is extreme military precision at play here, a solid knowledge of correct procedure for covert surveillance, following suspects and obtaining the information needed to lay a trap to expose a network of crime and corruption. Clearly Andrew is an author who knows what he is talking about.
Alongside all of this the reader is kept abreast of the ongoing police investigation back in Huntingdon as the net tightens on the killer and I kept wondering all the way through how the first death was going to tie into the rest of the story as it seemed a little abstract but it did all eventually fit together and I thought the ending worked well. Although this is the first in the series be assured that there is a satisfying dénouement here along with a perfect set up for the following book(s).
This story would be enjoyed by all those who like plenty of realistic action along with well-written military style investigation that exposes a seedy world of crime and this author has done a
March 22, 2016
‘An exciting and unpredictable thriller. A Red Ribbon Winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Face Value
Author: Ian Andrew
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Covers: 4/10
Of the 18 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
7 felt the pacing was the best part of the novel.
4 felt the best part was the complex plot.
16 suggested the cover is all wrong for the novel.
18 liked the blurb.
Readers’ Comments
‘The cover’s awful but the story is fab! Two strong female characters and a fantastic PI storyline. The style is also good and the author works hard to keep up the pace. A satisfactory ending too.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘This is rather a dark thriller but, for the most part, is pretty page-turning stuff. Excellent light read and populated by characters of often surprising depth. When I saw the cover I thought it was a book about fashion models.’ Female reader, aged 33
‘This author has excellent writing skills. Yes, parts of the plots felt a bit silly but I liked the two strong female leads and I liked the way they met the problems facing them. The title is very apt and the writing style which is not overly descriptive (thankfully) works well for a novel of this genre. The cover illustration would look excellent on a lipstick and makeup magazine! What was he thinking??!’ Male reader, aged 58
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Face Value
Author: Ian Andrew
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Covers: 4/10
Of the 18 readers:
16 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
7 felt the pacing was the best part of the novel.
4 felt the best part was the complex plot.
16 suggested the cover is all wrong for the novel.
18 liked the blurb.
Readers’ Comments
‘The cover’s awful but the story is fab! Two strong female characters and a fantastic PI storyline. The style is also good and the author works hard to keep up the pace. A satisfactory ending too.’ Male reader, aged 43
‘This is rather a dark thriller but, for the most part, is pretty page-turning stuff. Excellent light read and populated by characters of often surprising depth. When I saw the cover I thought it was a book about fashion models.’ Female reader, aged 33
‘This author has excellent writing skills. Yes, parts of the plots felt a bit silly but I liked the two strong female leads and I liked the way they met the problems facing them. The title is very apt and the writing style which is not overly descriptive (thankfully) works well for a novel of this genre. The cover illustration would look excellent on a lipstick and makeup magazine! What was he thinking??!’ Male reader, aged 58
January 2, 2017
Face Value is the first in what will be a series of modern mystery-thrilliers. The book splits its attention among three broad areas: introducing the main cast of characters and providing well-paced backstory, building a plot around a kidnapping, and detailed descriptions of the tactics used in stakeouts. Ian Andrew manages to fit the first two elements together, but focuses on the details of tactical operations at the cost of the pacing of the book. The result of this is that the book is well-paced until the detectives engage in stakeout operations, at which point you feel a sense of slow-motion, only to go right back to full speed once the book shifts attention to character development or plot advancement.
The result of this is a book that will most likely appeal to fans of tactical operations (think Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six) than the casual reader. Wright and Tran, the protagonists, are given a moderate amount of introduction, but lack a complete backstory. Hopefully, Andrew will go deeper into their backgrounds in the second book in the series. Overall, this was a fun vacation read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
The result of this is a book that will most likely appeal to fans of tactical operations (think Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six) than the casual reader. Wright and Tran, the protagonists, are given a moderate amount of introduction, but lack a complete backstory. Hopefully, Andrew will go deeper into their backgrounds in the second book in the series. Overall, this was a fun vacation read, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
January 22, 2016
Interesting to read a book about two female characters who are private investigators with a military background, especially one written by a man.
I did not expect the twists and turns and found the tale really interesting. My husband is now reading it and liking it too.
So if you have any connections or interest in Huntingdon, Camden, Hertfordshire and like a great plot this is worth a read.
I did not expect the twists and turns and found the tale really interesting. My husband is now reading it and liking it too.
So if you have any connections or interest in Huntingdon, Camden, Hertfordshire and like a great plot this is worth a read.
January 24, 2017
Very intriguing
I chose a 5 star rating because the story grabbed me from the first paragraph and stayed intriguing to the end. I'm not sure why the first incident was kept a secret since it wasn't illegal, but it was interesting. I will buy the next book.
I chose a 5 star rating because the story grabbed me from the first paragraph and stayed intriguing to the end. I'm not sure why the first incident was kept a secret since it wasn't illegal, but it was interesting. I will buy the next book.
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