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Krill
'Would you recognise Hitler in the digital age?' A disgraced businessman's chance encounter with an enigmatic stranger leads to a journey of political awakening and redemption. Set in a murky world of anarchist computer hackers, sinister secret societies, the Deepnet, quantum computing and ultimately a struggle for world domination, nothing is as it seems and no one is who they claim to be.
410 pages, Paperback
Published October 16, 2023
57 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 15, 2024
Anarchist-geeks take over the country using internet technology.
John Tucker is about to jump off Suicide Bridge when he meets Kristy ‘Krill’ McGill. He talks him out of the deed by listing all the various painful and gory ways there are to kill oneself, and they strike up a friendship. Tucker tells McGill about his problems—a mountain of debt and a too-high mortgage after his wife left him. ‘Tyler can sort you out,’ he says, Tyler being someone who runs a hedge fund called Page-R, a ‘harmless little scam’.
Tyler suggests ‘Faustian bargain’, and Tucker’s house in Crouch End is converted into a high tech hub for manipulating the DeepNet, staffed by ‘rowdy yahoos’. Tucker joins the team. And yet, it seems there is something else going on. They call themselves the New Praetorians.
Tucker’s expertise from his corporate background, plus his new-found friends, enable him to cleverly turn the tables on his former boss at Poppy Seed Inc. He rejigs the company to fit the new objectives.
The protagonist/narrator’s journey is an interesting one, and profound, and a unique writing style—straight-forward, yet personal and sometimes emotional—contributes to pulling us right in. It becomes a story of redemption. The description of ‘coming in from the cold’, the process of recovering from a suicide attempt, was extremely insightful. The love story is intricate. The dialogue is wonderful, really painting the characters.
I found it a little bit strange that Tucker was roped so easily into Krill’s political programme. For someone to be in the top managerial position of a radical political programme to which he was ideologically ‘neutral’ seemed far-fetched. It’s an exhausting 117,000-plus words (needs cutting! Or dividing into Book 1 and Book 2) and gets long in places. By the time of the anti-IRA crackdown sub-plot, I was tiring.
Contains the great metaphor: ‘he picked up the patters [patois] like fag ends off the street’ and the lovely phrase: ‘afraid to close my eyes, perchance to sleep and blunt my dreams’. His ex-boss’ calling his ex-wife ‘the Russian girl’ is a great story. I love how Berlusconi the cat has a role to play. The return to the Suicide Bridge theme at the end was skilful and brought balance back to the sub-plot filled narrative.
The cyber-revolution gone bad is a common thriller theme, but the denouement to this one is especially exciting.
John Tucker is about to jump off Suicide Bridge when he meets Kristy ‘Krill’ McGill. He talks him out of the deed by listing all the various painful and gory ways there are to kill oneself, and they strike up a friendship. Tucker tells McGill about his problems—a mountain of debt and a too-high mortgage after his wife left him. ‘Tyler can sort you out,’ he says, Tyler being someone who runs a hedge fund called Page-R, a ‘harmless little scam’.
Tyler suggests ‘Faustian bargain’, and Tucker’s house in Crouch End is converted into a high tech hub for manipulating the DeepNet, staffed by ‘rowdy yahoos’. Tucker joins the team. And yet, it seems there is something else going on. They call themselves the New Praetorians.
Tucker’s expertise from his corporate background, plus his new-found friends, enable him to cleverly turn the tables on his former boss at Poppy Seed Inc. He rejigs the company to fit the new objectives.
The protagonist/narrator’s journey is an interesting one, and profound, and a unique writing style—straight-forward, yet personal and sometimes emotional—contributes to pulling us right in. It becomes a story of redemption. The description of ‘coming in from the cold’, the process of recovering from a suicide attempt, was extremely insightful. The love story is intricate. The dialogue is wonderful, really painting the characters.
I found it a little bit strange that Tucker was roped so easily into Krill’s political programme. For someone to be in the top managerial position of a radical political programme to which he was ideologically ‘neutral’ seemed far-fetched. It’s an exhausting 117,000-plus words (needs cutting! Or dividing into Book 1 and Book 2) and gets long in places. By the time of the anti-IRA crackdown sub-plot, I was tiring.
Contains the great metaphor: ‘he picked up the patters [patois] like fag ends off the street’ and the lovely phrase: ‘afraid to close my eyes, perchance to sleep and blunt my dreams’. His ex-boss’ calling his ex-wife ‘the Russian girl’ is a great story. I love how Berlusconi the cat has a role to play. The return to the Suicide Bridge theme at the end was skilful and brought balance back to the sub-plot filled narrative.
The cyber-revolution gone bad is a common thriller theme, but the denouement to this one is especially exciting.
December 8, 2023
In Krill, readers are introduced to John Tucker, a character grappling with despair. His life has seemingly hit its lowest point: his wife Sophie has left, financial burdens darken his once joyful home, and betrayal by a trusted mentor adds to his woes. It is in this backdrop of turmoil that we meet Krill, an enigmatic artist who offers John a chance at redemption. By permitting Krill's organization to use his house, John embarks on a journey filled with unexpected twists, new relationships, and the pursuit of inner peace.
The novel is a vibrant and engaging read, with never a moment of tedium. Each sentence pulses with energy and life, keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. The character of Rosa, in particular, stands out. Initially portrayed as somewhat unapproachable and severe, she, along with other characters, undergoes a significant transformation. Their development is handled with nuance and skill, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
The book also addresses complex themes with clarity and depth, exemplified by Krill's articulate and insightful speeches. Certain elements of the narrative are notably vibrant and theatrical, adding a unique flair to the story. This is particularly evident in scenes like Toast's interviews, which, though humorously executed, occasionally hint at a potential for a more serious undertone. These moments contribute to the novel's dynamic and eclectic atmosphere.
The heightened drama enhances the compelling nature of Krill, adding to its overall intrigue. This book is particularly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary novels with brisk pacing, sharp dialogue, and unpredictable plotlines. The novel's unique character portrayals and unexpected twists make it a rewarding experience for a wide array of readers.
The novel is a vibrant and engaging read, with never a moment of tedium. Each sentence pulses with energy and life, keeping the reader thoroughly engaged. The character of Rosa, in particular, stands out. Initially portrayed as somewhat unapproachable and severe, she, along with other characters, undergoes a significant transformation. Their development is handled with nuance and skill, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
The book also addresses complex themes with clarity and depth, exemplified by Krill's articulate and insightful speeches. Certain elements of the narrative are notably vibrant and theatrical, adding a unique flair to the story. This is particularly evident in scenes like Toast's interviews, which, though humorously executed, occasionally hint at a potential for a more serious undertone. These moments contribute to the novel's dynamic and eclectic atmosphere.
The heightened drama enhances the compelling nature of Krill, adding to its overall intrigue. This book is particularly recommended for those who enjoy contemporary novels with brisk pacing, sharp dialogue, and unpredictable plotlines. The novel's unique character portrayals and unexpected twists make it a rewarding experience for a wide array of readers.
November 18, 2025
I love the writing style
This is a really nice book. The way he writes in some sort of Terry Hayes PluPerfect works amazingly, and though at the beginning his use of big adjectives, and unnecessarily heavy description felt like a child writing, He came out and shined as the plot came into its own. His writing was very gripping, but not in a way that you are aware that you are being gripped.
The plot wasn’t too bad either! No, the plot was actually really good. Although the premise was extremely childish, he managed to write it well enough. It was the sort of plot that he could have put into a trilogy, but he managed to deal with the exposition really well, which I expected to be a problem. The fact he was writing in a framed narrative (like A Month In The Country) helped with this, and Tucker’s prioritisation of description where he wants it adds a lot of depth to his character. All characters seem deep enough, and all are relevant to the story which some may find annoying
That said 4 stars instead of 5. The plot wasn’t too grossly unrealistic, and escalated incredibly quickly for no apparent reason. I don’t think it worked as a parallel to the Nazi Regime, because it was too blatant. The cicada 3301 was probably the worst part. It made the whole thing seem like a fan fic. Tucker could be slightly annoying at times, and god he went on about Sophie.
This is a really nice book. The way he writes in some sort of Terry Hayes PluPerfect works amazingly, and though at the beginning his use of big adjectives, and unnecessarily heavy description felt like a child writing, He came out and shined as the plot came into its own. His writing was very gripping, but not in a way that you are aware that you are being gripped.
The plot wasn’t too bad either! No, the plot was actually really good. Although the premise was extremely childish, he managed to write it well enough. It was the sort of plot that he could have put into a trilogy, but he managed to deal with the exposition really well, which I expected to be a problem. The fact he was writing in a framed narrative (like A Month In The Country) helped with this, and Tucker’s prioritisation of description where he wants it adds a lot of depth to his character. All characters seem deep enough, and all are relevant to the story which some may find annoying
That said 4 stars instead of 5. The plot wasn’t too grossly unrealistic, and escalated incredibly quickly for no apparent reason. I don’t think it worked as a parallel to the Nazi Regime, because it was too blatant. The cicada 3301 was probably the worst part. It made the whole thing seem like a fan fic. Tucker could be slightly annoying at times, and god he went on about Sophie.
February 17, 2024
A Great Political Thriller that Matches Our Times
I thoroughly enjoyed this political thriller. It left me with the most important quality of fiction. I wanted more. I wanted it to go on and not end. Then again, Krill left me unsettled. Why? Though he wrote Krill some years ago, the story has become even more relevant to our times. Its author Em Thompson takes the reader on a journey into our future. A future when global politics marches toward authoritarianism. With promises of glory and greatness, populist leaders persuade an electorate to exchange the rule of law with the rule of a strongman.
Indeed, Krill is arguably prescient. In the real world, we see before us an advancing far right in Hungary, Turkey, Italy, and Argentina. Only days ago, also possibly the Netherlands of all places. By next November, it is quite possible the United States of America will be added to that tragic list.
Richly detailed with colorful characters facing twists and turns, the plot’s scenario of the ascension of a strongman is altogether credible. A reader will say again and again, ‘Yes, this could happen!’ Krill is a helluva satisfying and scary read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this political thriller. It left me with the most important quality of fiction. I wanted more. I wanted it to go on and not end. Then again, Krill left me unsettled. Why? Though he wrote Krill some years ago, the story has become even more relevant to our times. Its author Em Thompson takes the reader on a journey into our future. A future when global politics marches toward authoritarianism. With promises of glory and greatness, populist leaders persuade an electorate to exchange the rule of law with the rule of a strongman.
Indeed, Krill is arguably prescient. In the real world, we see before us an advancing far right in Hungary, Turkey, Italy, and Argentina. Only days ago, also possibly the Netherlands of all places. By next November, it is quite possible the United States of America will be added to that tragic list.
Richly detailed with colorful characters facing twists and turns, the plot’s scenario of the ascension of a strongman is altogether credible. A reader will say again and again, ‘Yes, this could happen!’ Krill is a helluva satisfying and scary read.
July 21, 2024
scary book
This is a hard read, especially because of the apocalyptic events that might be happening, especially in today’s world where war and terror are in every day occurrence. This was a good read enthralling and I would definitely recommend. is a hard read, especially because of the apocalyptic events that might be happening, especially in today’s world where war and terror are in every day occurrence. This was a good read enthralling and I would definitely recommend.
This is a hard read, especially because of the apocalyptic events that might be happening, especially in today’s world where war and terror are in every day occurrence. This was a good read enthralling and I would definitely recommend. is a hard read, especially because of the apocalyptic events that might be happening, especially in today’s world where war and terror are in every day occurrence. This was a good read enthralling and I would definitely recommend.
May 29, 2024
great book with great characters
I really enjoyed this book. I hadn’t expected the London and Essex connection when I started reading. It was a nice surprise and made me feel I knew the locations and characters. The book is well written and left me wanting a next instalment.
I really enjoyed this book. I hadn’t expected the London and Essex connection when I started reading. It was a nice surprise and made me feel I knew the locations and characters. The book is well written and left me wanting a next instalment.
January 6, 2025
outstanding page turner
Truly worth your time, an incredible read. Very difficult to put down, you might find yourself wondering if it is possibly conceivable. Very well crafted.
Truly worth your time, an incredible read. Very difficult to put down, you might find yourself wondering if it is possibly conceivable. Very well crafted.
March 26, 2025
All too real
This is an excellent read that is eerily applicable to what we're seeing today. Makes you want to get rid of your electronics, go off the grid, and hope for the best!
This is an excellent read that is eerily applicable to what we're seeing today. Makes you want to get rid of your electronics, go off the grid, and hope for the best!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews