Very true, Alison. And yet the thriller writers under whose tomes the storefront tables of airport bookshops groan, before they are eagerly devoured in their millions, seem to insist on doing just that. Either to show off their own knowledge, research, or attention to detail. Or out of a -perhaps justified - lack of faith in their readers' ability to join the dots. Or just to add gram upon gram of satisfying ballast to their carry-on holdall.

I'm sure piecework-paid audiobook narrators thank them for it, if no one else.