The Hadrian Memorandum [Mass Market Paperback]

For readers who are unfamiliar with Allan Folsom's novels I can best describe him as a writer in the tradition of Robert Ludlum who crafts globe trotting thrillers involving often innocent men (his leads are always male) caught up in implausible hidden, potentially world changing conspiracies. His first two novels, The Day after Tomorrow and Day of Confession were overblown affairs with plots that involved, respectively, a secret Nazi conspiracy and the Vatican. In other words utter hokum, but very enjoyable hokum none-the-less (or at least that's how I remember them from ten or more years ago).

After a very long break the author then returned with The Exile. This fitted the same mould as his previous works, but dealt with plans for world domination centred around Russian politics instead. Again the plot was utter tosh but unlike his previous two books this one was not enjoyable tosh, bar a very good opening Act set in LA. It also introduced readers to Nicholas Marten, former LAPD officer turned UK based Landscape gardener (don't ask). Marten would return in a quasi sequel to The Exile, THE MACHIAVELLI COVENANT, which was a truly dire effort that should be avoided at all costs.

Now Marten is back again in Folsom's latest effort, The Hadrian Memorandum, and despite the diminishing quality of the author's last two books I have been persuaded into reading it by the hope that it might mark a return to the form of his best book, Day of Confession.

Unfortunately it doesn't even come close, although time may have clouded my positive judgement of 'Confession'. 'Memorandum' is however, a significant improvement on the Machiavelli Covenant. Marten remains an utterly uninspiring and bland heroic lead (why Folsom keeps using him is a mystery. Anyone could have fulfilled his role in the book), but at least the plot stays vaguely within the realms of plausibility this time and actually makes some sense. There are none of global cabals with mystical rituals or reincarnated Romanov princesses that blighted The Exile and The Machiavelli Covenant. In fact bar a few dodgy details the conspiracy uncovered during the course of 'Memorandum' could potentially happen.

This new found 'realism' makes events on the page far more compelling. Add in some bad guys who, with the exception of a horribly conceived SAS-officer-turned-mercenary (Folsom really cannot do British characters, as proven by the Exile), feel pretty much believable with a tight, low key approach that avoids ridiculously OTT action sequences and for the most part 'Memorandum' remains a pretty straight conspiracy-cum-chase thriller.

What lets it down badly is a combination of some borderline-terrible prose from the author, pacing that is far too slow and tortuous for this sort of story, and poor characterisation. In the latter case, in addition to the anonymous Marten and implausible SAS office Conor White you have the femal lead, Anne Tidrow. I assume that she is meant to be a glamorous femme fatale of dubious loyalty and motives in the tradition of such books, but in Folsom's hands she's just plain annoying and her behaviour utterly illogical. Since the reader is forced to spend most of the book in the company of both Marten and her it suffers as a result. With dialogue between characters that is of questionable quality and some passages of ridiculously overblown prose, including an OTT and overly detailed sex scene, the book needs a blistering pace that doesn't give these problems time to register with the reader. It is after all, mostly a chase across Europe in pursuit of some compromising photographs; it should be fast and adrenalin pumping.

Instead however, we get a narrative that at times slows to an absolute crawl, robbing the book of any sense of real excitement. At 425+ pages, 'Memorandum' could be 100+ pages shorter and not lose anything. At least two characters and one subplot could be cut out completely with no loss to the story. Doing so would have left a leaner, tighter and far more entertaining story. Events should certainly move with a greater sense of urgency and less padding.

This will almost certainly be the last Allan Folsom novel I read. It will certainly be the last I pick up in hardback (it was reduced for sale). Although 'Memorandum' marks a vast improvement on his previous novel its still only a second rate and very flawed thriller. I can recommend it only for diehard fans of the author...

Not much to say about this one, except that I expected much more.

The book is very slow to start as we try to understand the exceptional relationship between Nicholas Marten (a former LA detective and now landscape architect in the UK) and the US President, John Harris. But Marten can call Harris whenever he wants, irrespective of how trivial the matter is.

Little of this book rings true : we have the above strange relationship; numerous fictitious entities trying to wrest control of oil interests in Equatorial Guinea; shady and corrupt characters with influence in all corners of the world. And the long-winded chase.

I'm not sure I can extol the virtues here: a rather unbelievable plot is populated with plastic characters and incredible scenarios which become tiring to observe.

An outstanding piece of mystery and intrigue, up among the top best sellers. An author I think better than Dan Brown.

Alan Webb
Watercolourist.