Alan Parks has officially become my favorite new author of 2026. I blazed through Gunner, the superb historical crime fiction that is set in wartime Glascow, Scotland which was the first in the Joseph Gunner series. I enjoyed Gunner so much that I hurriedly looked for the next in the series.
Deception, the second entry in the series, takes readers to New York City in December 1941, just before America enters World War II. In this gripping novel, Parks skillfully weaves together espionage, murder, political intrigue, and a richly atmospheric portrait of a city on the brink of monumental change.
Joseph Gunner is exactly the kind of protagonist I enjoy: tough, complicated, observant, and never entirely sure whom he can trust. Working for a covert British intelligence operation, Gunner finds himself investigating a murder while navigating a world of secret messages, hidden agendas, shifting loyalties, and master manipulators. As December 7 approaches and Americans remain unaware of the catastrophe about to unfold, Park allows the tension to build masterfully.
What impressed me most was Parks' ability to make the setting feel completely alive. His New York is gritty, crowded, dangerous, and full of fascinating characters. The historical detail never overwhelms the story; instead, it gives the mystery an authentic sense of time and place. Parks also has a terrific talent for keeping the reader guessing without making the plot feel artificially complicated.
The twists are plentiful, the pacing is excellent, and the suspense had me constantly saying, "Just one more chapter." The characters are equally compelling, particularly Gunner, whose personal code of morality makes his role in the shadowy world of wartime intelligence especially engaging.
I went into Deception expecting a good thriller and came away absolutely loving it. Parks has created a series with tremendous potential, and I am already eager for the next Joseph Gunner adventure.
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Barrington Books
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