Reading : Golden Serpent by Mark Abernethy

I grabbed ahold of Golden Serpent by Mark Abernethy (pub. Arena / Allen & Unwin) the other day and have been enjoying a rare treat of a stirring Espionage / Thriller, the likes of which you don't see quite so much. It's Abernethy's debut novel and is quite reminiscent of a Tom Clancy thriller only with a strong Australian flavour to it.

The protagonist is Alan "Mac" McQueen, a spy with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) who is within spitting distance of retirement. But getting out of the intelligence game is a lot more difficult than simply applying for a new job and his superiors give him one last assignment.

It's an assignment that takes him first to Indonesia and on to various other parts of South-East Asia in a story that builds in momentum as the stakes continue to be raised.

Plenty of Aussie dialogue is mixed in with full-on action sequences performed by professional soldiers unencumbered by annoying obstacles like conciences and rules of engagement. When the mission involves using whatever force is deemed necessary you can be sure that there will be plenty of force used.

Fans of high volatile, well-planned covert operations will enjoy Golden Serpent.

A full review will be collowing soon.