Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I read and enjoyed 'The late train to Gipsy Hill' and expected this book to be as convoluted and thrilling. However, I felt it was nowhere as good; one of the main clues to finding the killer was from a mistake he made which is extremely unlikely given his years of planning experience. The author is an ex-MP and I thought that some of his personal opinions were voiced in the storyline such as comments on Brexit appeared in the first book and were repeated here. There was some stereotyping of people from various backgrounds such as boarding school which made his characterisation seem less meticulous because it was reliant on impressions rather than providing depth. There were also a couple of places where facts were repeated, as though the author had forgotten he had already told the reader something. An OK read, not excellent.

A good plot and premise. I feel like it was aiming for a James Patterson vibe but slightly missed the mark. Not a bad read though and quite compelling.I will definitely read more from the author based on this.

A government minister has vanished while on holiday in Crete. He is a known walker and he seems to have vanished without a trace except for his mobile which is found on a cliff's edge. The Met sends Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan to assist the Greek Police, but she soon realises that there's more to this disappearance that meets the eye. His wife becoming more and more hostile, a scandal from the minister's past about to come out in the tabloids and something is brewing, but is this linked to the minister or something entirely different...?

I don't know how to write this as I am in two minds over this.

On the one hand, this was something really addictive about it. The chapters were short, the plot had twists and was engaging. But, at the same time, it felt a bit muddled with time jumps (I have no idea if this book took place over the course of a week, month or several), the almost two-dimensional characters and the beats of the story.

It feels like a James Patterson novel: fast and fun, almost a book you buy at the airport but when you finish and come away from it, it didn't leave an impression. Fun while reading/listening, meh when you step away and think about it...

A pacy thriller from Alan Johnson, ideal holiday reading. Or escape to Crete with this mystery if you can't get away

Really enjoyed his debut novel, however, despite returning characters this book was tough going at times. For a espionage thriller the thrills and pace were lacking at times. A decent enough read but not essential.

Great plot and I found myself filling an afternoon reading this in one sitting as I found it so enjoyable.
Recommend!

One of Our Ministers is Missing is an entertaining mystery by Alan Johnson.
In short, as the title suggests, a minister goes missing on the island of Crete, this instigates the UK to send Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan of the Met Police to assist in the investigation…which soon unravels into a lot more than a missing person!
Having read and enjoyed Alan’s previous book I was looking forward to reading this latest novel and I can report that I enjoyed it equally as much. I love his style of writing, he’s a great storyteller and the plots and characters are both interesting and entertaining. I did guess much of the the ending, however, that didn’t spoil the story. My only bug bear is that Alan tends to flip flop characters name, randomly using either the forename or surname, personally I would prefer consistency when referring to a character. I’m looking forward to reading more from Alan in the future.
Big thanks to Alan Johnson, Headline and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

An enjoyable easy read which also works as travelogue for Crete. Rather formulaic but entertaining and uncomplicated. Thanks to Netgalley.

A good enough detective story, but not a real pageturner. The pace could have done with moving up and the dialogue given a little more oomph. However, I enjoyed reading this - until the very end, that is, when it sort of fizzled out. Still worth the read but not one to make my top 10 list.

One Of Our Ministers is Missing by is another great political mystery by Alan Johnson, Not quite so much of a thriller as The Last Train to Gypsy Hill, it nonetheless has an engrossing plot which keeps you guessing to the very end, Set in London and Crete, and featuring an array of characters, the most memorable being Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan, who is tasked with supporting the Greek police in investigating the disappearance of the minister, her Greek counterpart Petros Diamantapoulis, and the hitman Ian Brady, who has one last commission before retiring. The various storylines are cleverly woven together and it was an enjoyable read though it lacks the excitement and tension you might expect - there are no ‘edge of your seat’ moments.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of Our Ministers is Missing is an exciting political thriller, a police procedural and a murder mystery set in London and in Crete,

A disreputable government minister Lord Bellingham has gone missing while hiking in Crete and Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan of the Metropolitan Police has to travel to the island to liaise with the Greek authorities. There are lots of twists and turns in the case, unveiling a lot of murky dealings and side plots involving assassination and people smuggling. I enjoyed it immensely.

Lord Bellingham has gone missing in Crete where he has a holiday home. Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan is dispatched from London to liaise with the local Greek police. This is an enjoyable, somewhat light in tone mystery with lots of twists and red herrings and fleshed-out characters.

With many strands to the story of a minister who disappears on a walking holiday in rough terrain in Crete becomes a complex story, The senior detective assigned to liaise with the Greek police has also to be concerned with the need to protect a forthcoming Turkish Visitor from assassination, so a shooting incident on her patch involved with the arson of a café is a worry. Problems with a stalled mega development that minister is involved with and the prospect of a sexual scandal gives rise to a suspicious disappearance to avoid disgrace. Then the journalist covering his expose arrives in Crete only to disappear and the ministers nanny dismissed for having a boyfriend secretly staying nights turns out to be a hunted criminal involved with drugs and people trafficking also disappears. Bach home a schoolteacher is planning to leave a loveless marriage while an assassin is planning his last big job. So how in the end all the strands tie together and how the detective discovers the truth makes a dramatic ending.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for a review copy of One of our Ministers Is Missing, the second novel to feature AC Louise Mangan of the Met.

Lord Bellingham, a minister in the Foreign Office, has disappeared while hiking in Crete. Given the political sensitivities Louise is sent to Crete to liaise with the Greek Police, but nothing is as it seems. Lady Bellingham has no interest in talking to the police, the nanny is keeping secrets and the press were investigating Lord Bellingham.

I thoroughly enjoyed One of our Ministers Is Missing, which is an engrossing tale with several twists. I admit that I was drawn to the novel by the title, which is so quintessentially British, but it was the writing style that kept me turning the pages. It is warm, inviting and relaxing, although I didn’t know before that writing could be relaxing, but it simply lets the reader go with the flow without asking too much or offering too little.

The plot is told from two points of view mainly, Louise and the mysterious Brady, a hitman of dodgy antecedents. It follows Louise in Crete and London as she investigates Lord Bellingham’s disappearance and deals with security for a high profile event and Brady as he prepares for one last unnamed job before his retirement. Both have interesting tales to tell and credit is due to the author for developing his characters and bringing the reader into their lives.

I found the plot engrossing and entertaining. I liked the Cretan setting and the events that aren’t limited to the disappearance of one Englishman, but throw in several bonus crimes and a good few twists. I think that Brady is fascinating, obviously a psychopath but one who starts to unravel over the course of the novel and naturally there are twists in his story too. The author, however, saves his best twists for the resolution. I was gobsmacked.

One of our Ministers Is Missing is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I enjoyed ‘The Late Train to Gipsy Hill’ the authors first book ( reviewed last week ) so was keen to read this….
Well I enjoyed the settings, London and Crete, was good to see a returning character Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan and was interesting for me that one of the other main characters was a Peer, so we had a little mention of the House of Lords here and there
That aside I found the story at times to be rambling instead of sprinting and you know that ‘whoosh’ that makes a fair book a great book, for me it wasn’t there
Still it plodded along and held my attention in the main ( and I think anything that can do this the last few days we have all experienced has to be worthy of a mention ) but lets leave it at I look forward to the authors next book as he really has all the ingredients for a fantastic read rather than just an ok one

6/10
3 Stars

Edward Bellingham is a rich man with a dirty secret. He is a member of the House of Lords and a Junior Minister but has gone missing on the isle of Crete where he has a holiday home. Assistant Chief Constable Louise Mangan is asked to liaise with the Greek police but she also has pressing issues on the home front as there is an alert that a dissident Turkish author may be the target of an assassination plot. Are they both potential international incidents, or is the answer a lot simpler?
Johnson writes populist books which make a great lightweight read. Here the plot is fast-moving and flips on several occasions before the denouement. The writing is straightforward, it's not high literature, but it is a really entertaining diversion for a few hours!

One Of Our Ministers Is Missing by Alan Johnson is a most enjoyable read with is a very clever storyline ,with excellent, interesting characters. The story moves between Greece and England and is very believable.
There is murder, police corruption, drugs, people trafficking and so much more.
Highly recommended.

Thanks to Alan and NetGalley for allowing me to read One of Our Ministers is Missing.

Brady learned his trade on the streets of Belfast during the troubles. Now he is a contract killer who will retire once he is paid for fulfilling 2 last contracts. Is there another side to this man?

When wealthy property developer Lord Bellingham disappears whilst on holiday in Crete, there are many people who would be more than happy should he never be found.

Having organised security for the upcoming visits of a foreign royal and a controversial author, AC Louise Mangan is sent to Crete to liaise with the British Ambassador and the investigation team.
Lady Bellingham is an abrasive personality who has already arranged for her British lawyer to be present.

Mangan has to navigate the friction between the handsome officer who has been sent from the mainland and the police team on Crete whilst recognising the diplomatic efforts of the Ambassador.

Will Bellingham be found?
Will AC Mangan find a new love interest?

This was a yarn which was too farfetched with too many characters who were stereotyped and/or unbelievable.
I lost count of the number of crimes which took place between London, Crete and the Lake District.

Having been given a copy by the man himself, I was delighted to dive into this second book, having really enjoyed the first The Late Train to Gipsy Hill. Alan, you did not disappoint with this one, it was brilliant!
Again we meet with Louise Mangan, a member of the British Police Force, now in a higher rank and maintaining great skills. The book flits effortlessly between countries, weaving the threads of a variety of sub-plots, involving international police work and investigation along with the story. I found following the plotline through seamless and really felt that there’d been meticulous attention paid in the finer details.
The pace through the book was superb, unexpected reveals made with the suspense being kept on a high.
I managed to get through this latest novel in two days, with full work shifts in-between, such was the eagerness to get to the crux of the mystery of One Of Our Ministers Is Missing. Sometimes a second book, after a great first one, can be a bit of a let-down. This is not the case here, Alans writing just keeps getting better! Roll on number three, I’ll be keen to see how this is followed up...if I could give more stars I would, hopefully this book will be shining brightly in the book charts!