Nothing Ventured

William Warwick, Book 1

By: Jeffrey Archer

Narrated by: George Blagden

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller

Nothing Ventured is the first novel in the incredible and thrilling William Warwick series by Jeffrey Archer, the master storyteller and bestselling author of the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel.

This is not a detective story, this is a story about a detective.

William Warwick is eight when he decides to join the police force. Resolute in the face of his prominent QC father’s objections, William graduates in Art History from university and immediately enrols as a constable in the Metropolitan Police.

Gaining insight from his first mentor, an experienced, world-weary constable, his keen mind quickly takes him into a role in Scotland Yard’s Art and Antiques unit and his first case: the recovery of a Rembrandt stolen from the Fitzmolean Museum.

It will take skill and tenacity for William to solve the crime, and along the way he will encounter many who will change his life, from Miles Faulkner, a crooked art collector, and his influential lawyer – who bends the law to the point of breaking – to research assistant Beth Rainsford, a woman with secrets who he falls hopelessly in love with . . .

William Warwick’s destiny is set, the only question is, how far will his ambition take him? Thrilling, absorbing and entertaining, Nothing Ventured heralds the start of a new series from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer and introduces a character destined to become one of his most enduring legacies.

Continue the gripping series with Hidden in Plain Sight.

©2019 Jeffrey Archer (P)2019 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

An easy listen/read

An excellent choice for an audible book. The story remained interesting and easy to listen to throughout. Maybe not as on-the-edge-of-your-seat as some other Archer books, but still well researched and like-able characters. The narrator was excellent with true to character and consistent voices.

Lovely expansion of the Clifton Chronicles

this is a great start to what I hope will become a series I will enjoy. William has just started which makes sense as the story is about the characters including what I expect to be the nemesis to come

Story was good until the last third of the book

How can anyone seriously believe that the crown did not cross examine Faulkner with all the evidence they had from the private detective and Scottland Yard or check his phone calls, bank statements or travels arrangements etc. to disproof his story?
The end was not believable even for as long ago as 1984.

Great new series

I thorough enjoyed this first book interesting as a book about the career of a detective .

Typical Archer!

Such a joy to read! And in the usual Archer style,he delivers the cliffhanger and the end

Captivating

Brilliant narrator, captivating story with interesting twists. Good to see positive character traits like work dedication /passion etc

Great Story until last bit.

A really good story that kept me coming back. The narration was well done too.

However, during the last phase, outcomes become a little untangled & unbelievable in the author’s effort to keep the criminal nemesis in play. Obviously it has been set up to be the first book of another series.

Dare I suggest another new ‘badie’ character replace the last one altogether. Having to put up with another Lady Virginia &/or Fischer type character is a little ho hum especially as Jeffrey Archer has already done it in his last series.

Jeffrey Archer is better that.

Enjoyable back story!

I quite enjoyed this! It is exactly what it professes to be -- not necessarily a detective case, but rather an account of a young man's progression in the early days of his profession, and all the people and experiences that influenced his growth. I especially liked his sister's contributions!

Another Enjoyable read by Archer

Interesting ending for the story. Lost me a bit here and there. Overall outranks any other detective story out there

Enjoyed the book

I’m new to fiction and I must say the storyline was exciting. Could not put the book down.