Martin Venning - The Value of Luck - REVIEW
Martin Venning is a writer of many talents, and The Book Network previously had the pleasure of chatting with him about one of his earlier thrillers, The End of the Road. As a man of numerous credentials, he had much to talk about and an equal amount of wisdom to impart. His qualifications include project communications and strategic investment advice in the property and construction sector, and engaging with businesses in Continental Europe and Asia. He also trained as a journalist. The business elements of his career in particular may go some way to explaining the intricate understanding of economics and trade as described in his latest thriller, The Value of Luck.
However, these themes aren't the only aspect of this gripping new novel, as The Value of Luck contains an epic cast of characters whose interaction with one another during a crucial investigation alters the course of their lives forever. Venning's new book is a highly cerebral fast-paced tale where greed, corruption, loyalty, and duty to the law take centre stage in a web of mystery, deception and violence. Only the smartest and toughest will achieve their goals, but the price they pay may be too high.
Ciller Terzili is a young Turkish woman set to inherit the larger aspects of her father’s business. However, her family lineage makes this a complex and dangerous endeavour. Not only does her family grieve for the death of loved ones after a tragic road accident but the enterprise cultivated by her father is far from clean, with links to people-smuggling, drug trafficking, and an illegal gold trade. And this isn’t to mention the huge roster of shady characters involved in these unlawful practices. By contrast, her turbulent rise to power represents the perfect opportunity for the UK's National Crime Agency to lift the lid on the Terzili family’s criminal dealings. Henceforth, a team of specialists are dispatched to infiltrate and investigate the various components of Ciller's father's company, as well as getting up close and personal with Ciller herself.
So commences a mysterious delve into the shady underworld of organised crime where the novel’s dedicated protagonists place everything on the line to uncover the truth. Some of these characters are consummate experts in corporate intelligence, Revenue & Customs, corporate fraud, and others are experienced undercover operatives, meaning not only are readers promised a hearty amount of espionage in this book, but also an insight into the inner workings of global business both legal and illegal. Two characters in particular whose role places them in the line of danger are Sunny Purewall, whose investigation into a UK drugs and people trade brings her too close for comfort to unsavoury parties, and Duncan Matheson, a special operative who is tasked with getting to know Ciller Terzili on an intimate level. As one can imagine, this is a mission with no shortage of consequences.
Martin Venning uses these larger-than-life and fully three-dimensional personalities to paint a world with an equal amount of substance, where nothing is clean-cut, and no problem is easily solved. Far be it for a story with this much depth to have an unrealistic portrayal of good versus bad, the book instead poses a quantity of scenarios whereby the seemingly more villainous stars of the show have an ethical standing and principals of their own, and the forces of the law, by contrast, must undertake a few morally deplorable tactics of their own to achieve success. However, an overriding understanding of criminality, as well as the Crime Agencies tasked with combating these crimes, makes justice a prevailing factor across this novel.
It’s clear that this writer is an expert on his chosen subjects, as much of the book goes to great lengths to explain the complex nuances of diplomacy, strategy and negotiation in the global economy. Allegiances are made, deals are struck, and past misgivings are explained in a rich and detailed fashion which keeps the story and its characters fully grounded in the real world. Whilst some prior knowledge of these topics may be beneficial for the reader, it’s more important to understand the tenacity of the people entrenched in these aspects of the business world. As business and trade are complicated, and as much is true in the realm of organised crime, audiences can be assured that it's equally if not more important to be invested in the characters, who remain the driving force behind the story. Their backstories and personal motivations are what give The Value of Luck its true pulse.
Be rest assured that this is no arduous manual in economics, but a high-adrenaline narrative where no placidity is found. From its opening, right until the very last page, The Value of Luck is in the fast lane of storytelling, where danger and deception lie around every corner, and action and drama are never far from a current setting, an astounding achievement for a book with such a broad expanse of detail within its pages. Martin Venning doesn’t just display an astounding level of intelligence but also proves himself to be an expert at telling a good story. The world he portrays in his writing is always vivid, profoundly real and brimming with action, meaning you are guaranteed an immersive read of the highest calibre. Fans of his previous work can rejoice in the fact that his writing only gets stronger with each new title, and there is a good reason why his books are making waves in the world of literature.
To order your own copy of The Value of Luck and to learn more about Martin Venning, visit his website here.
