A royal task

William Warwick is now on his fifth thrilling adventure, and this time he and his team are moving in royal circles. After Crown Princess Lady Di visits the Police Museum, Chief Inspector Warwick finds himself in contact with the charming princess. Soon afterwards, ‘Hawk’ tasks the team with investigating the Royalty Protection Command amid suspicions of tampering and sabotage. Scotland Yard and Warwick’s team face a formidable challenge. While a few members go undercover in the RPC, Ross Hogan is charged with protecting ‘the people’s princess’.

At the same time, Warwick must contend with Booth Watson and the now-recaptured Miles Faulkner, adding even more tension. Warwick’s wife, Beth, also feels the ripple effects of the case. After being passed over for a senior role at the Fitzmolean Museum, she strikes out on her own, with unexpected support from Miles’ ex-wife, Christina Faulkner. But can she really trust Christina?

Meanwhile, lawyer Booth Watson is plotting to make off with Faulkner’s fortune and art collection—but Miles has a few tricks of his own to prevent disaster.

This series remains utterly compelling. Warwick first appeared as a minor character in the Clifton series, but when readers wanted more, Jeffrey Archer created this spin-off to explore Warwick’s past in depth. Warwick is a family man and a determined inspector who has risen through the ranks of London’s police force. Over the course of the series, he faces clever and powerful adversaries, yet his greatest nemesis remains Miles Faulkner, always seemingly one step ahead—or trying to be—with the aid of his equally devious lawyer, BW.

Once again, Warwick and his team are fully committed to protecting the then-enormously popular British Crown Princess and the royal family from countless threats. The books offer not only a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s but also a glimpse into a time when the monarchy commanded great respect, in no small part thanks to Lady Di’s enduring popularity. Archer’s tale is entirely fictional, with events adapted or imagined, much like The Crown, the acclaimed Netflix series about the British royal family.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series for anyone who enjoys a touch of nostalgia, clever cat-and-mouse games, fast-paced storytelling, and a perfect mix of humour and suspense. With three more books in the series yet to come, I’m eagerly awaiting the Dutch translations of the remaining volumes. A definite must-read!