After the pretty average GHOSTS FROM THE PAST, it's good to note that the second RANDALL & HOPKIRK (DECEASED) novel is a vast improvement.

Following his suitably AVENGERS-ish death in the prologue, Gilda McRae hires Jeff and Jeannie to investigate her husband's death aboard his new toy - a former Russian submarine. However, as you'd expect there's far more to his death than a bunch of disgruntled locals.

Soon Jeff is on his way to Scotland, while Jeannie is left back at the office trying to make sense of a series of numbers found on Duncan McRae's body. But her searching alerts others to the mystery.

Helped - or possibly hindered - by Marty, Jeff investigates the submarine, Gilda McRae and the local pub, while Jeannie meets a pair of Israelis who claim to be interested in investigating in the detective agency, before an undercover flight onboard an airship.

Andy Lane spins an always readable tale of Israeli agents (one of whom can see Marty), a deranged Russian submarine commander, the Russian mafia and his crew and the result of a Cold War military experiment. The novel's original characters are well fleshed out - much more so than the lot from GHOSTS FROM THE PAST - and the regular quarter of Jeff, Marty, Jeannie and Wyvern are all captured well, with some neat lines thrown in as well.

The revived series was always pretty happy to "borrow" form other sources, and no-one could claim that GHOST IN THE MACHINE is the most original spin-off novel in the world. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable read that captures the spirit of the series (particularly season 2). BACK TO THE TOP

GHOST IN THE MACHINE

Written by ANDY LANE

BOXTREE

£5.99


RATING: 8/10


PREVIOUS RELEASE:
GHOSTS FROM THE PAST