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STANDPOINT a gripping, action-packed espionage thriller (Thomas Bladen Thrillers Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 1,407 ratings

Do you love gripping espionage thrillers full of great twists and plenty of action?

Meet Thomas Bladen. Smart, sardonic, and in mortal danger.

The woman he's always loved is threatened . . .

Thomas Bladen works in surveillance for a shadowy unit of the British government. During a routine operation, he sees a shooting which will expose a world of corruption and lies.

When his on-again, off-again girlfriend Miranda is drawn into the conspiracy, Thomas must decide who he can trust to help him save her life.

In a thrilling conclusion, Bladen’s life will be on the line and everything he thought he knew will be turned upside down.

If you like Mark Dawson, Rob Sinclair, Lee Child, or Vince Flynn you’ll enjoy these fast-paced thrillers.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT STANDPOINT:

“Complex and
full of twists and turns, this is a very good thriller which keeps the reader on tenterhooks throughout.” Ann S.

One of the best spy thrillers I've read in a long time.” Lacancan

“Good read for anyone who enjoys a thriller that will keep them
hooked from start to finish.” Jfaulknercourt

“If you read one book this year, choose this
brilliant spy thriller that will keep you guessing to the end.” Chris C.

Great pace, action, and characters. An exciting espionage thriller that will appeal to John le Carré fans.” David J.

THOMAS BLADEN SERIES
Book 1: STANDPOINT
Book 2: LINE OF SIGHT
Book 3: CAUSE & EFFECT
Book 4: SHADOW STATE
Book 5: FLASHPOINT

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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Standpoint is the first thriller in a series that follows Thomas Bladen in his work for the UK government's Surveillance Support Unit. Thomas is an everyman. He's not James Bond, not Jason Bourne, just a photographer from Yorkshire who 'spots the details other people miss. Things like betrayal, and murder. Join him as he lifts the lid on the SSU and its secrets, while trying to keep his own from those closest to him. Standpoint is what I call contemporary British noir, combining intrigue, action and dark, distinctly British, humour.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00UVQBVVU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books Spy Thriller Books and Mystery (March 17, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 17, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1262 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 367 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 1,407 ratings

About the author

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Derek Thompson
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Derek has two series published by Joffe Books.

Thomas Bladen Spy Thrillers

Not all spies are suave and sophisticated. Thomas is smart, sardonic, and rough around the edges. Perfect for the Surveillance Support Unit, at the arse-end of British Intelligence.

1. STANDPOINT (Customs & Excise)

2. LINE OF SIGHT (British Army)

3. CAUSE & EFFECT (Benefits Team)

4. SHADOW STATE (Met Police)

5. FLASHPOINT (MI5)

6. PATHFINDER* (MI5 / Rogue)

- Books 1-3 available as SPY CHASER.

- Books 1-5 available as COMPLETE THOMAS BLADEN THRILLERS.

* Available through Sixpence Publishing

Complete Detective Craig Wild Mysteries

Craig Wild couldn’t cut it in London. Forced to swap the Met for a sleepy Wiltshire backwater, he soon discovers that life in the country can be murder.

1. LONG SHADOWS

2. WEST COUNTRY MURDER

3. Being written!

Reviews

THOMAS BLADEN SPY THRILLERS

"Realistic rather than glitzy. This story did not disappoint with its gritty detail and credible characters. Kept me hooked right to the end. Great writing!" VC

DETECTIVE CRAIG WILD MYSTERIES

“…Slid down like a beer at the end of a hard day… engaging and entertaining story that kept me in suspense. A good balance of male & female characters, well written and believable.” Helenmx5

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
1,407 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story exciting and well-written. They describe the book as a great read with an interesting plot. However, opinions differ on the character development, with some finding them believable and colorful, while others consider them strange or poorly developed. There are mixed views on the language, with some finding it well-crafted and enjoyable, while others dislike the British slang and terms that require mental translation for Americans.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention "Suspenseful story"17 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story. They find it interesting and engaging, with a good plot and fast-paced storyline. The book is described as an exciting read for a weekend.

"I enjoyed this thriller, not many wasted words...." Read more

"A very good thriller. The story line moved along rapidly from one intriguing action to another. The ending tied up everything nicely...." Read more

"...Too bad the premises could have made a good story." Read more

"Good plot. Nothing terribly original. Being American, the way find are regarded is new. Felt a couple of times that the plot jumped ahead to quickly." Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it an engaging mystery that kept them hooked until the end.

"...Nothing too heady but enough to keep you entertained. Enjoyed the read." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book and am moving on to book two. Love the wit and intrigue. Well written and developed story." Read more

"...Then the action starts. This is an excellent read for the genre..... ER" Read more

"...Great job, Derek !!" Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"7 positive4 negative

Customers have differing views on the character development. Some find the characters believable and colorful, while others feel the supporting characters are not well-developed and the main character Thomas is not likable. The plot is described as convoluted with sketchy characters.

"...Decent story and characters but unmemorable." Read more

"I don't really know what this book was about. It lacks any context about the characters and reads as if there is a previous novel that explains the..." Read more

"Good character development. Get to know them as well as anyone if life...." Read more

"...Wanted unusual read about intelligence and high value intrigues among characters." Read more

10 customers mention "Language"5 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's language. Some find it well-written with good vocabulary, while others find some English terms and slang confusing and boring. They also mention that the plot lacks clarity and detail.

"...Love the wit and intrigue. Well written and developed story." Read more

"...A lot of very English terms/slang in a plot I could make no sense of and found boring...." Read more

"Well written and with very colorful characters...." Read more

"...There was no real clarity about who the good guys and bad guys were and by the end of the story it wasn't clear if Thomas had chosen correctly...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2017
    I enjoyed this thriller, not many wasted words. We share the nonverbal confusion of the MC as he notices something funny ( funny peculiar not funny ha ha) going on. We gradually get to know more as the book progresses, he picks up more and more signs of something underhand going on. He seems like a decent bloke and struggles with whom to trust when becoming more and more aware of criminal type activity going on around him as well as struggling with his feelings for the two main women in his life. He gets/has some good solid friends and in each their way, they all take a definitive, nonverbal, standpoint when it matters.
    Like another reviewer, I felt it was a bit incongruent that several times when our MC was worried, frustrated, afraid, he felt the approach of tears. He supposedly had had a fairly tough childhood, where words were few, he was not a crybaby and as an adult was himself not a great talker. The writer is a man, so I can't accuse him of using a feminine approach.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
    A very good thriller. The story line moved along rapidly from one intriguing action to another. The ending tied up everything nicely. A book hard to put down.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2015
    Good plot. Nothing terribly original. Being American, the way find are regarded is new. Felt a couple of times that the plot jumped ahead to quickly.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2015
    Thomas and Karl work for a security firm in Britain. Thomson takes very detailed photos while he and Karl do surveillance. Karl is trying to get a feel for putting trust in Thomas and Thomas is likewise.

    I gave up at 43 percent. A lot about girlfriends and an ex girlfriend who is now his boss. Characters came into play that I could not figure out how they related. A lot of very English terms/slang in a plot I could make no sense of and found boring. I have no idea what the "gripping suspense" comes in unless it's somewhere after the middle of the book.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2015
    Quick suspenseful read for a weekend. Characters and plot were good and there were some surprises. Nothing too heady but enough to keep you entertained. Enjoyed the read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2022
    I really enjoyed this book and am moving on to book two. Love the wit and intrigue. Well written and developed story.
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2015
    Difficult to read unless British slang is comfortable. Decent story and characters but unmemorable.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2015
    I don't really know what this book was about. It lacks any context about the characters and reads as if there is a previous novel that explains the background. The story starts with no clear definition and ends the same. It felt as if I was starting in the middle of a story. Every book should stand alone even if it is a series. The main character Thomas was not really likeable...in other words, I wasn't rooting for him...mainly because his relationships with girlfriends, his family, his "girlfriends" family, and also his so-called partner are always chaotic and in question because of his naivete. In fact he was a mostly sad character hoping people would like him and let him back into their circle of family or friendship. There was no real clarity about who the good guys and bad guys were and by the end of the story it wasn't clear if Thomas had chosen correctly. If fact the whole blackmail situation at the beginning of the story did not make any sense either. The bad guys could have left him alone and he never would have been the wiser. The only smart, innovative thing Thomas did involved a snake. Having worked surveillance and counterintelligence cases, which are always convoluted and with unanswered questions, there will still be clarity about events and reactions to events. As far as the British slang, many of the words are used in the American lexicon as well, and with proper context, which is mostly lacking, they are easily understandable. I waded through this and if it is a second book in a series will not be looking for the first one. Too bad the premises could have made a good story.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Avid Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars It kept me hooked right through to the end. Great writing!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2017
    What I like about British thrillers is that the great ones are realistic rather than glitzy. This story did not disappoint with its gritty detail and credible characters. It kept me hooked right through to the end. Great writing!
  • Arvind Nande
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in India on August 6, 2017
    Very good read
  • Bonnieboof
    3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag!
    Reviewed in France on July 18, 2015
    Too many names that make it difficult to get into the theme of the book. I did not find it a 'Can not put down' book and, despite the lexicon at the end, found the many references to 'sat', meaning 'seated', difficult to accept as a lover of English. Sorry, but I can't give this script full marks. Another reader might!
  • jfaulknercourt
    5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure to read from start to finish
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2015
    This book is an excellent read from cover to cover. The storyline is compelling and the characters are deep with many levels of complexity which indicates that the author has an in depth knowledge of the human psyche. The dialogue is sparkling and witty with amusing one liners sprinkled throughout. The character of Thomas is very ordinary and a little seedy and is somewhat reminiscent of the erstwhile George Smiley. The plot is multi layered with twists and turns at every point and one is never too sure where one is going to end up.
    All in all, this book is a jolly good read for anyone who enjoys a thriller that will keep them hooked from start to finish.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good storyline
    Reviewed in Australia on August 12, 2019
    Gripping thriller

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