Mother, Son and Holy Ghost is an unashamed millenium cash-in. Set in London during the last months of 1999, it revolves round the Trinity sect. This quasi-religious group believe that its founder, the eponymous Trinity, will be reborn on the first minute of the first hour of the first day of the new millenium. The cult has gained great following, including a number of influential figures in the world of politics on both sides of the pond.

In to this mess comes Caroline Moorfield, the main protaganist. She is an American whose sister was investigating Trinity when she died in mysterious circumstances. The coroner's verdict of death by misadventure following drug abuse is not acceptable to Caroline so over to London she comes to sort things out. There she meets Alan Rosslyn from an expensive private detective agency and together they unravel the truth about Trinity as New Year's eve approaches rapidly.

So much potential, so many interesting elements. So badly wasted.

This book reads like a wannabe film script. Do you remember those old films starring an Englishman in New York or an American in London? Blatant attempts at getting joint finance. This book follows the tradition, bringing Caroline over to London.

As for the writing, it's competent but little more. One thing I had trouble with was the lack of any main viewpoint character. Multiple viewpoints are fine, but in this book the viewpoint shifts so rapidly it made me dizzy.

The story itself is confused. There seems to be a desire to get so many elements in that none of them are really explored properly. I also found the characters wooden and unbelievable - not to mention stupid. I was especially irritated by the stupendously dumb Caroline (who also seems to leap in to every bed she sees). Again, something that would probably work better in a film.

On the production side one pet gripe of mine is that although this is a thick book (580 pages), it is set with massive margins and a large leading factor. In other words, it's only really about half the size it looks. This is a mean publisher's trick for which the author cannot be held responsible.

As a film script this might be quite exciting, but as a novel it doesn't work.