Skinner's Mission (Bob Skinner, #6)

Title: Skinner's Mission (Bob Skinner, #6)

Author: Quintin Jardine

Published in: 1997

Date read: 21st October 2008

Score: 4/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Skinner's Mission" by Quintin Jardine, published in 1994, is the third novel in the long-running Bob Skinner series. It takes the Chief Constable of Edinburgh, Bob Skinner, away from his usual jurisdiction and plunges him into a dangerous, high-stakes international investigation that tests his diplomatic skills as much as his policing instincts.

The story begins with Skinner being "loaned" by the Scottish authorities to the Foreign Office in London. His mission is a highly sensitive one: to investigate the apparent suicide of a prominent British diplomat, Sir Patrick Cadell, who fell from a high window in his Whitehall office. The official line is suicide, but there are strong suspicions of foul play, especially as Cadell was involved in extremely delicate negotiations.

Skinner, a man known for his direct approach and disdain for bureaucratic niceties, finds himself operating in the unfamiliar and often frustrating world of government intelligence and international diplomacy. He quickly realizes that Cadell's death is no simple suicide, but rather a carefully orchestrated murder tied to something far larger and more sinister.

His investigation leads him into a murky world of high-level corruption, international espionage, and a vast criminal network that spans across Europe. He uncovers evidence suggesting that Cadell was close to exposing a major conspiracy involving powerful figures in politics and finance, related to illegal arms dealing or illicit financial transactions on a global scale.

Skinner faces resistance at every turn – not just from the criminals he's pursuing, but also from elements within the British intelligence services who seem more interested in containment and cover-ups than in uncovering the full truth. He is viewed as an outsider, a "colonial" policeman, and his aggressive methods clash with the discreet nature of the intelligence world.

He receives reluctant assistance from a British intelligence officer, but mainly relies on his own instincts and the informal network of contacts he builds. The "mission" becomes a race against time to expose the conspiracy and bring the perpetrators to justice before they can silence him or complete their dangerous plans.

The novel features Jardine's signature blend of intricate plotting, fast-paced action, and Skinner's characteristic blunt humour and determination. The climax involves Skinner infiltrating the heart of the conspiracy, leading to a tense and violent confrontation that exposes the truth behind Cadell's death and unravels the international criminal network. "Skinner's Mission" pushes the boundaries of Skinner's usual policing duties, placing him in a thrilling, high-stakes arena.

Comments:
I am now very tempted to go back and re-read some of these as I remember them very fondly but I just cannot remember them in enough detail to comment. I might try and read the ones that I have missed...when I eventually get time.

Books that we've read by Quintin Jardine (3):
Skinner's Mission (Bob Skinner, #6) (1997), Murmuring the Judges (Bob Skinner, #8) (1998), Stay of Execution (Bob Skinner, #14) (2004)