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Gerald Seymour
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No Mortal Thing: Deadlier than the Mafia: the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta Kindle Edition

by Gerald Seymour (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,433 ratings
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Two young men - Jago and Marcantonio - both studying business and finance:
Jago is a kid from a rough part of London who has worked hard to get a job in a bank and is now on a fast-track secondment to the Berlin office.
Marcantonio is one of the new generation in the 'Ndrangheta crime families from Calabria, Southern Italy. He is in Germany to learn how to channel their illicit millions towards legitimate businesses all over Europe.
When Jago witnesses Marcantonio commit a vicious assault and the police seem uninterested, the Englishman refuses to let the matter drop.
But by pursuing the gangster to his grandfather's mountain lair, Jago is stepping into the middle of a delicate surveillance operation, which sets alarm bells ringing in Rome, London and Berlin.
It also leads him to Consolata, a young woman who sees in Jago the chance to turn her non-violent protest campaign against the crime families into something altogether more lethal...
NO MORTAL THING is novel of relentless power and mounting suspense, a brilliant portrayal of organised crime in Europe and the under-resourced men and women who fight it.

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  1. Print length
    417 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hodder & Stoughton
  4. Publication date
    7 Jan. 2016
  5. File size
    3.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Get Seymour's newest book THE FOOT SOLDIERS now

Product description

Review

The portrayal of Bernardo, all-powerful but a virtual prisoner, is Seymour's finest achievement in first-rate thriller with all the strengths of his recent work: audacity, believability, impeccable pacing, a rich, diverse ensemble of supporting characters. ― The Sunday Times

A first-rate thriller with all the strengths of his recent work: audacity, believability, impeccable pacing, [and] a rich, diverse ensemble of supporting characters. ― The Sunday Times

Seymour expertly marshals his plot as Jago inches ever closer to the heart of darkness. A thoroughly engrossing thriller. ― Event Magazine, Mail on Sunday Published On: 2016-01-17

About the Author

Gerald Seymour exploded onto the literary scene in 1975 with the massive bestseller HARRY'S GAME. The first major thriller to tackle the modern troubles in Northern Ireland, it was described by Frederick Forsyth as 'like nothing else I have ever read' and it changed the landscape of the British thriller forever.

Gerald Seymour was a reporter at ITN for fifteen years. He covered events in Vietnam, Borneo, Aden, the Munich Olympics, Israel and Northern Ireland. He has been a full-time writer since 1978.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00T39BN4Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton (7 Jan. 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,433 ratings

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Gerald Seymour

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
1,433 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable. They appreciate the thrilling storyline and tension building throughout, with a great twist at the end. However, opinions differ on the writing quality, character development, and depth of the book. Some find the characters well-developed and interconnected, while others feel the number of different characters is confusing.

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ReadabilityStory qualityWriter qualityCharacter developmentDepthPacing
53 customers mention ‘Readability’45 positive8 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe it as a gripping page-turner with a satisfying conclusion. Readers appreciate the author's analytical skills and research into the Callabrian family. However, some feel the enjoyment is subjective.

"...In this thrilling book we have the Callabrian family, with an ambitious young gun eager to take over from ageing grandfather...." Read more

"...Might be worth a read if you're by a pool in southern Italy with nothing better to do." Read more

"Excellent read and whilst the plot is a tiny bit impossible to believe it is extremely entertaining...." Read more

"Once again Gerald Seymour proves he his one of the best writers in is field,strong characters a very good story with a twist at the end" Read more

43 customers mention ‘Story quality’27 positive16 negative

Customers have different views on the story. Some find it gripping and current, with a great twist at the end. Others feel the ending is disappointing and the plot is highly improbable.

"...he his one of the best writers in is field,strong characters a very good story with a twist at the end" Read more

"There are interesting strands to this story: the 'Ndrangheta, international banking, connivance and corruption, police cooperation, rural Italian..." Read more

"...For me the ending did not feel right although maybe that is just because I like a happy ending...." Read more

"Great story, decent pace, interwoven well, some excellent characters and a great finish...." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Writer quality’11 positive6 negative

Customers have differing views on the writing quality. Some find it engaging and well-written, describing the author as professional. Others feel the book lacks structure and becomes unpleasant to read.

"Once again Gerald Seymour proves he his one of the best writers in is field,strong characters a very good story with a twist at the end" Read more

"i found that this was not as well structured and written as all the previous gerald seymour that i have read" Read more

"...It was well researched and written by an author who is very professional at what he does." Read more

"Very well written as usual but not one of his best . I am a fan so will keep it and try it again later ." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Character development’7 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the character development. Some find the characters well-developed with interconnecting scenes and flaws, while others found the story confusing due to the number of characters introduced frequently. The book has characters from Germany, England, and Italy interacting in a complex plot.

"...I was willing it to end. There's something unsatisfactory about the central character and the ending is a disappointment masquerading as a twist...." Read more

"...Seymour's books always have a fascinating subject and very well developed characters...." Read more

"...It was unnecessarily complicated with lots of characters from Germany, England and Italy converging in an unlikely way to an old Scicilian &#..." Read more

"...Gerald Seymour proves he his one of the best writers in is field,strong characters a very good story with a twist at the end" Read more

8 customers mention ‘Depth’5 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the book's depth. Some find it well-researched and informative, with accurate insights into the underworld of Aspromonte. Others feel it lacks detail and complexity, and needs more explanation.

"...He supposedly has excellent analytical skills but fails to realise that he is out of his depth...." Read more

"...They're brought together skilfully and reasonably informatively. But while the characters have interesting stories they remain one-dimensional...." Read more

"Not for me. Loads of detail, skipping from character to character which made the story hard to follow...." Read more

"...is in analysing the characters and their motives and researching the background well. Not so much in this case...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing. Some find it excellent and great from Seymour again, while others find it boring and depressing.

"Excellent from Seymour again, I've read all his books, the only complaint is the number of different characters in this book and it does get confusing" Read more

"...the authorities' limited success in combatting them, makes for very gloomy reading...." Read more

"Gripping, Seymour at his best. A must read." Read more

"a boring read not up to his normal standard." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Woz n Bruno
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Thriller from the Master!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2020
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    Seymour never disappoints me and in this Mafia adventure, he's right on the money! In this thrilling book we have the Callabrian family, with an ambitious young gun eager to take over from ageing grandfather. A young English banker witnesses a brutal protection racket incident in Berlin, and intervenes. Jaded UK customs officer and a German detective become an odd couple who insinuate themselves with Italian police in investigating the Mafia family. A superbly narrated surveillance, a vicious explosive series of incidents lead to an exciting climax with Seymour's usual lyrical cadences. Brilliant!
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  • MM
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good not Great
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2016
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    Gerald Seymour's books always have a fascinating subject and very well developed characters. This book had all the makings of being one of his best as one young man's moral code took him to do something exceptional. For me the ending did not feel right although maybe that is just because I like a happy ending. The book makes me think twice about visiting parts of Italy.
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  • Paddy B
    3.0 out of 5 stars There's something unsatisfactory about the central character and the ending is a disappointment masquerading as a twist
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 April 2018
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    Makes a large Italian meal of a fairly straightforward plot. I was willing it to end. There's something unsatisfactory about the central character and the ending is a disappointment masquerading as a twist. Might be worth a read if you're by a pool in southern Italy with nothing better to do.
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  • David J. Glazier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read and whilst the plot is a tiny bit ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2016
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    Excellent read and whilst the plot is a tiny bit impossible to believe it is extremely entertaining. The ending is literally almost on the last page and a great surprise.
    Meanwhile, Seymour's description of the lawless peasant Mafias of Calabria, the scenery and the way of life is "spot on" - his research has produced a very entertaining novel.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Superb
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Once again Gerald Seymour proves he his one of the best writers in is field,strong characters a very good story with a twist at the end
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  • Ronald Turnbull
    2.0 out of 5 stars One of his poorest offerings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2016
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    I have read all of Mr Seymours's books and are generally page turners. This offering was one of his poorest to date. An unlikely plot of a banker going to war with the mafia because he saw a woman being assaulted. Supposedly a high-flyer he gives it all up for a chase. OK you could swallow this David as he prepares to hunt Goliath with a pinch of salt but it deteriorates. He magically acquires SAS skills of movement and camouflage because he has attended a couple of bank team building weeks and evades dogs etc. He supposedly has excellent analytical skills but fails to realise that he is out of his depth. The Mafia family is ruthless, killing anyone who might hurt the family business but the daughter who has sussed that the banker was responsible for incidents in Berlin and at the family home as well as being around when her nephew died marries him.

    Mr Seymour's books usually have various plot threads which eventually come together, apart from an occasional false trail, with a twist at the end. This twist usually comes out of left field but is entirely believable. In this book after the author continually telling us that the mafia family puts inner family above all else and trusts no one who is not close family, you get the above twist at the end which is totally unbelievable.
    This should have been picked up by editors before publishing but this may be that well known literature phenomenon of a successful author not being scrutinised in case he takes his books elsewhere.
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  • JJ Diamond
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, thrilling read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 December 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Having really enjoyed The Collaborator by Gerald Seymour I was excited to read No Mortal Thing. Like The Collaborator it is atmospheric and captures the menace and ruthlessness of the Ndrangheta well. I liked Jago Browne - one of the central characters - and found him credible. Not wanting to plot spoil I will stop here but already looking forward to Seymour's next story.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • tpryan
    3.0 out of 5 stars A bit laboured
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 February 2023
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    There are interesting strands to this story: the 'Ndrangheta, international banking, connivance and corruption, police cooperation, rural Italian wife, grim East End estates. They're brought together skilfully and reasonably informatively. But while the characters have interesting stories they remain one-dimensional. To buy into this story you have to believe that a high flying British junior banker in Germany will stake out a mafia padrino on a cold mountainside in Calabria, without food and water, largely on the whim of perceived police inaction following a relatively minor assault on an Italian waitress he doesn't know.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Always factual compulsive reading to the end
    Reviewed in Australia on 14 February 2025
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    A brilliant author
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  • Wendi J. Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars As usual Seymour's intricate intertwining keeps you glued and leaves you empty when you reach the end, wanting more chapters of
    Reviewed in Spain on 21 January 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Brilliant plotted as usual and superbly real characters in each of the separate clusters of the whole. I don't know how he manages to be so prolific and each of his books be so different but always fascinating and brilliant reads, but he does. Now on to the next...
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  • uglygorilla
    5.0 out of 5 stars Seymour is back to his best with "No Mortal Thing"
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 July 2016
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    Seymour is back to his best with "No Mortal Thing", his last couple of books I felt weren't up to his normal standard (but still very readable). For people not familiar with his work, there's lots of characters, at least one sub plot and a slow but relentless build to the finish. This all adds layers and complexity to the story and you feel you know the characters personalities, flaws and motives, if you want a quick and fast paced read this is probably not for you, if you want a read that draws you in and keeps you flipping that page (paper or digital) give this a go.
    Having read all of his books, the ending was a surprise for me and am still not sure if I like it or not, but isn't that what reading should do to you?

    So many people compare Seymour to Le Carre, Deighton or Greene but this is so annoying as I think in some respects he is his own genre and most his books have nothing to do with espionage, MI5, MI6, etc, he is more David vs Goliath.

    As usual the bird references are in there, is Seymour a twitcher?
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  • Ian M Gray
    4.0 out of 5 stars a great plot and character development - but - cold have ...
    Reviewed in Canada on 24 March 2016
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    As usual, a great plot and character development - but - cold have done with some editing.
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  • Lise Becher
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ansigter masterpiece
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 July 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Seymour has done it again: constructed a plot as tight as a knot. The various caracters act and interact- the story unfolds slowly, but with the utmost suspense , thus contributing to the thriller, making it almost impossible to put down.
    I'm already waiting for his next....
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