Having previously reviewed The Shadow of the Albatross, the first Greg Travers adventure, I was eager to dive back into the world of MI5 intelligence operations and high-stakes espionage. I enjoyed the first book and found it to be a fun, classic-style thriller. The Cerberus File continues where the first book started, expanding the scope in exciting ways. Where the first novel kept most of its action contained to the UK, this sequel takes us to Jersey’s criminal underground and the political corridors of Germany, giving the story a slightly more international flavor.
I appreciated the prologue recapping the prior events of Greg’s life from the previous novel. This touch ensures that new readers won’t feel lost jumping into the series midstream, while also serving as a helpful refresher for returning fans like myself. The story picks up with Greg Travers investigating a people-smuggling operation in Jersey, but things quickly spiral into something far more dangerous. When his partner Claire Powell is brutally murdered—her body found strangled with broken vertebrae and dumped in an industrial waste bin—and a German politician is assassinated, Greg is pulled into a conspiracy that threatens to bring down the British government itself.
At the heart of the mystery is the titular Cerberus File, introduced in a tense exchange between Greg and his new superior, Wing Commander Steph Le Sueur (an admittedly strange name). This ultra-classified dossier contains names of high-ranking British officials guilty of corruption and collusion with foreign powers, in other words explosive information that could topple governments if exposed. The concept itself is intriguing and thoughtfully conceived, tapping into anxieties about institutional corruption while providing a MacGuffin worthy of the best spy thrillers.
The return of Olga Devereux as an antagonist provides strong continuity from the first book, though I’ll admit she occasionally veers into cartoon villain territory. Lines like “Stimulating, isn’t it, raw, unfettered terror; because you do remember, don’t you, Greg… Soon you will be nobody’s right-hand man” can feel a bit over-the-top and theatrical. Her monologuing and elaborate revenge schemes sometimes stretch credulity, particularly when she could probably simply shoot Greg and be done with it.
That said, it doesn’t diminish the fun of watching the ambitious plot unfold. This time, it includes biological weapons, political blackmail, and personal vendettas all at once. Plus, there’s something deliciously old-school about having a villain this committed to making her enemies suffer, and Greg is a relatable hero, due largely to his problems with alcohol and his deceased wife.
What really elevates this instalment is the expansion of scope. The action moves in part abroad, and the underground complex owned by villain Osvaldo Phoenix, hidden beneath his luxury estate, provides an appropriately sinister setting for the smuggling operation. I particularly enjoyed the expanded cast of characters, including Penelope Papandreou, a glamorous but trapped mistress who becomes an unlikely informant. She is described as a former top-tier Greek fashion model who “could name her price” but now feels like “no more than a chattel, an adornment to be displayed and controlled.” The supporting cast also includes memorable figures like the already mentioned Wing Commander Le Sueur, whose no-nonsense military background brings a different energy, and the chilling Ali Abadi, a biological weapons dealer.
Fraser’s pacing is excellent throughout. The novel grips you from the opening chapters and rarely lets go, and the writing is very readable. I occasionally wished for more descriptive detail or deeper character moments. At times, the story leans toward telling rather than showing, moving efficiently through plot points without always pausing to let us fully inhabit the scenes or characters’ interior lives. Fraser has a tendency to summarize emotional states rather than dramatize them, and some scenes that could benefit from detail are dispatched in a few functional sentences.
Although Greg is no James Bond, Fraser also knows how to deliver clean, high-energy action, and several set pieces stand out. One of the most gripping is the ambush at Limehouse Ship Lock, where German intelligence officer Franz Hoffman is stalked before being overpowered and killed by an enigmatic Greek assassin, “He heard a noise behind him. He spun round. The towering and menacing figure of Andreas Vasilakis loomed over him like an emissary of death.” It’s a tense, atmospheric sequence that deserves to be adapted.
One important caveat: this book ends on kind of a cliffhanger. The foreword itself acknowledges this, noting that “Greg Travers has survived this encounter, but survival and victory are not always synonymous—and this victory isn’t quite won just yet.” Readers who prefer standalone novels with fully cohesive endings may find this frustrating. The story clearly sets up a third instalment, with several major plot threads left dangling. If you’re the type of reader who dislikes being left hanging between books, be aware of this.
Despite these minor quibbles, The Cerberus File is an entertaining thriller that successfully builds on the foundation of the first book, so I’m giving it five stars. Fraser writes with confidence and delivers a story that balances political intrigue with page-turning action sequences. The biological weapons plot feels disturbingly relevant, and the corruption scandal at the heart of the Cerberus File raises interesting questions, but more importantly, it’s just a fun read. Fraser clearly has an affection for classic spy fiction, while understanding how to update it for contemporary readers.
Final verdict: The Cerberus File is an excellent espionage thriller that expands Greg Travers’ world in satisfying ways. Fans of le Carré-style classic spy fiction and anybody who enjoyed The Shadow of the Albatross will find plenty to enjoy. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger ending that will leave you eagerly awaiting book three.
You can get your copy of “The Cerberus File” here!
