Vintage Archer.

The book has been largely influenced by The Counte of Monte Cristo. Danny is accused of murdering his best friend and is jailed primarily because those  who accuse him are from the 'upper crust' and Danny is unread and has no aristocratic bone in him.

How Danny escapes from a high security prison, avenges his friend's death,proves his innocence forms the plotline. Along the way, Danny, now 'impersonating'  Nick Moncrieff ( a la Abbe Faria) wins Nick's ancestral property from his crooked uncle - this in itself is an exciting plotline. 

What I liked is the writting style - the good old fashioned yarn.... I am an unabashed Archer fan. And this kind of plot line and writing style is what draws me to his books, over and over again. 

My only crib about the book - the middle section drags. The description of the prison life - it's there and is so detailed only because Archer wants to share his first hand knowledge with his readers. He could have cut this part a bit. The problem is you will not know how much to skip...what if I miss something important!!. Apart from this...I loved the book.

Once the court proceedings start the book flies. The  tounge-in-cheek remarks of the defending lawyers, the cruel barbs of the Judge, the reactions of the prosecution...wow. It's a long time since I have read some thing like this. And of course there the characteristic 'twist in the tale' that will leave you stumped.

Read this book.