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The Trade: A taut international thriller with a dark psychological twist
He always gets what he wants ...
When the OV Coffee Plantation in the Bolivian Highlands applies for Fair Trade status, it triggers a surprise investigation from the International Labour Organisation. Seasoned investigator Andrea Grierson is sent to the plantation to conduct her investigation, thinking just just another routine case. But, the owner, Michael Vasquez, knows she's coming. And he knows her nickname, The Executioner.
Andrea is infamous for her strict reporting and no-nonsense approach. But Vasquez already knows all about Andrea, and her inspection isn't coming as a surprise at all. In fact, he's been planning it for months. And when she arrives, she's going to see exactly what Vasquez wants, and give him exactly what he wants. And if she doesn't, well, Bolivia is a dangerous place, and foreigners go missing all the time ...
***
The Trade is a taut and twisting psychological thriller from the Amazon bestselling author of Angel Maker and the Jamie Johansson series. Set in the mysterious and remote Bolivian Highlands, readers will be swept up in the brutal isolation and danger of the setting, and taken on a journey like no other. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, TM Logan, and Lisa Jewell.
When the OV Coffee Plantation in the Bolivian Highlands applies for Fair Trade status, it triggers a surprise investigation from the International Labour Organisation. Seasoned investigator Andrea Grierson is sent to the plantation to conduct her investigation, thinking just just another routine case. But, the owner, Michael Vasquez, knows she's coming. And he knows her nickname, The Executioner.
Andrea is infamous for her strict reporting and no-nonsense approach. But Vasquez already knows all about Andrea, and her inspection isn't coming as a surprise at all. In fact, he's been planning it for months. And when she arrives, she's going to see exactly what Vasquez wants, and give him exactly what he wants. And if she doesn't, well, Bolivia is a dangerous place, and foreigners go missing all the time ...
***
The Trade is a taut and twisting psychological thriller from the Amazon bestselling author of Angel Maker and the Jamie Johansson series. Set in the mysterious and remote Bolivian Highlands, readers will be swept up in the brutal isolation and danger of the setting, and taken on a journey like no other. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, TM Logan, and Lisa Jewell.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2024
About the author
Morgan Greene
36 books379 followersMorgan Greene grew up in Wales, and works a copywriter, editor, and author. Morgan studied Creative Writing and English Literature at Swansea University with a focus on narrative structure and theory, and published the first crime novel in the Jamie Johansson series in 2020. Since its release, the series has gone on to reach bestseller status, with Detective Jamie Johansson quickly becoming a reader favourite.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 2, 2024
While I have loved many of Morgan Greene’s novels in the Jamie Johansson series, his standalone work is just as gripping. In a novel that moves away from police work and into the depths of the Bolivian jungles comes a thriller sure to keep the reader hooked. Andrea Grierson has come to South America to assess a local coffee plantation. However, things take a terrible turn and she soon learns just how dangerous things can get in the middle of nowhere. Greene keeps things intense from beginning to the final page turn.
Andrea Grierson is a meticulous investigator for the International Labour Organisation. When she is called to surprise the officials of the OV Coffee Plantation in Bolivia, she is eager to get there and complete her assessment. While this should be routine, something is off, which Andrea knows when OV’s owner, Michael Vasquez, knows she is coming. He also knows that many call Andrea ‘The Exercutioner’, due to her by the books reporting, though he has a plan to erode that reputation.
While Andrea wants to treat this like any other investigation, it seems Vasquez has his own plans. He shows her what he wants known about his business, hiding many aspects that Andrea feels are being kept from the public eye. The workers seem scripted, their working conditions sub-standard. Security is strict and Andrea is kept from nosing around to see things on her own,. In the forests of Bolivia, she is kept from the outside world, but is this a ploy or does Vasquez have plans for her?
When Andrea is incapacitated, she is stuck at the plantation for much longer. It is then that she realises that Michel Vasquez has many secrets that he is keeping from others and that some of his workers seem to disappear without notice. Andrea will have to keep her wits about her as she tries to piece it all together and seeks someone to help her blow the whistle before she becomes just another missing person in the middle of nowhere.
I have long enjoyed the work of Morgan Greene. While his work has primarily been surrounding Jamie Johansson, he has also penned some great standalone novels. In a recent author’s note, he commented that he wants to step out of his norm and try his hand at some single-novel pieces. If this is what he hopes to use as a foundation, things are in good hands. A strong base helps push the story along, with just the right around of mystery to keep the reader wondering. Great characters and a setting that differs from what might be considered the ‘norm’ of the genre helps create an individual flavour for the story. Add to that, some dialogue in the original Spanish adds a reality to the piece. While a tad ‘heavier’ than many of the Jamie Johansson novels, it worked and Greene is able to formulate a great story with sharp plot points that keep the reader wonder what awaits them. Not my favourite of his writings, but still one I can applaud as being well worth my time.
Kudos, Mr. Greene, for this stellar standalone!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Andrea Grierson is a meticulous investigator for the International Labour Organisation. When she is called to surprise the officials of the OV Coffee Plantation in Bolivia, she is eager to get there and complete her assessment. While this should be routine, something is off, which Andrea knows when OV’s owner, Michael Vasquez, knows she is coming. He also knows that many call Andrea ‘The Exercutioner’, due to her by the books reporting, though he has a plan to erode that reputation.
While Andrea wants to treat this like any other investigation, it seems Vasquez has his own plans. He shows her what he wants known about his business, hiding many aspects that Andrea feels are being kept from the public eye. The workers seem scripted, their working conditions sub-standard. Security is strict and Andrea is kept from nosing around to see things on her own,. In the forests of Bolivia, she is kept from the outside world, but is this a ploy or does Vasquez have plans for her?
When Andrea is incapacitated, she is stuck at the plantation for much longer. It is then that she realises that Michel Vasquez has many secrets that he is keeping from others and that some of his workers seem to disappear without notice. Andrea will have to keep her wits about her as she tries to piece it all together and seeks someone to help her blow the whistle before she becomes just another missing person in the middle of nowhere.
I have long enjoyed the work of Morgan Greene. While his work has primarily been surrounding Jamie Johansson, he has also penned some great standalone novels. In a recent author’s note, he commented that he wants to step out of his norm and try his hand at some single-novel pieces. If this is what he hopes to use as a foundation, things are in good hands. A strong base helps push the story along, with just the right around of mystery to keep the reader wondering. Great characters and a setting that differs from what might be considered the ‘norm’ of the genre helps create an individual flavour for the story. Add to that, some dialogue in the original Spanish adds a reality to the piece. While a tad ‘heavier’ than many of the Jamie Johansson novels, it worked and Greene is able to formulate a great story with sharp plot points that keep the reader wonder what awaits them. Not my favourite of his writings, but still one I can applaud as being well worth my time.
Kudos, Mr. Greene, for this stellar standalone!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 9, 2024
Standalone book from the author of the Jamie Johansson novels, and another dark and compelling read. I think I’ve read every book this author has written and enjoyed every single one, this is no exception. Set largely on a coffee plantation in Bolivia where Andrea Grierson has been sent by the International Labour Organisation to investigate the plantations request for Fairtrade status. Just another day at the office for this seasoned investigator. I do love this authors writing style and I fair wizzed through this.
Briefly, on arrival Andrea is unexpectedly met by the plantation owner Michael Vasquez and it’s obvious from the start this isn’t going to be a normal job. Turning down his offer to stay at his plantation house she’s dropped at a hotel. After a dramatic encounter with a member of staff, she reluctantly moves to Vasquez home. It soon becomes clear that the coffee business is just a front for all sorts of nefarious activities and Vasquez isn’t going to let Andrea leave until he has her report completed to his satisfaction, and will he let her leave then?
This is a fast paced read from the start. Some gruesome moments but not overly so and definitely appropriate to the storyline. Andrea is a good character, rather blasé about her own safety, and maybe a little naive about what was going on around her at first, but she soon got the message! Some good twists and a few shocks along the way and I would have liked to know a bit more at the conclusion. A very good exciting and tense thriller that I finished in a day it was so engrossing. Great read.
Briefly, on arrival Andrea is unexpectedly met by the plantation owner Michael Vasquez and it’s obvious from the start this isn’t going to be a normal job. Turning down his offer to stay at his plantation house she’s dropped at a hotel. After a dramatic encounter with a member of staff, she reluctantly moves to Vasquez home. It soon becomes clear that the coffee business is just a front for all sorts of nefarious activities and Vasquez isn’t going to let Andrea leave until he has her report completed to his satisfaction, and will he let her leave then?
This is a fast paced read from the start. Some gruesome moments but not overly so and definitely appropriate to the storyline. Andrea is a good character, rather blasé about her own safety, and maybe a little naive about what was going on around her at first, but she soon got the message! Some good twists and a few shocks along the way and I would have liked to know a bit more at the conclusion. A very good exciting and tense thriller that I finished in a day it was so engrossing. Great read.
May 19, 2024
The trade is a standalone thriller by Morgan Greene. I really enjoyed reading his Jamie Johansson files series, so I was looking forward to reading this.
Andrea Grierson is an investigator nicknamed ‘The executioner ‘for the International Labour Organisation. She has been sent to OV Coffee plantation in the Bolivian Highlands when they have applied for Fair trade status. She thinks that this is just another routine case, but the owner Micheal Vasquez knows she is coming and knows her background, her nickname, and her strict reporting. He knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Andrea thinks that she will be done quickly. But Micheal and the plantation is not all as it seems and Andrea is going to find out all about the plantation and what kind of danger she is in.
This is a fast-paced thriller that kept me to the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t put down. I liked the feisty and not scared of anything character of Andrea doing everything she can to get out of the mess she was in. I felt the story was well drawn out, but I was disappointed a bit due to the ending it ended quite abruptly. 5 stars from me.
Andrea Grierson is an investigator nicknamed ‘The executioner ‘for the International Labour Organisation. She has been sent to OV Coffee plantation in the Bolivian Highlands when they have applied for Fair trade status. She thinks that this is just another routine case, but the owner Micheal Vasquez knows she is coming and knows her background, her nickname, and her strict reporting. He knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Andrea thinks that she will be done quickly. But Micheal and the plantation is not all as it seems and Andrea is going to find out all about the plantation and what kind of danger she is in.
This is a fast-paced thriller that kept me to the edge of my seat, and I couldn’t put down. I liked the feisty and not scared of anything character of Andrea doing everything she can to get out of the mess she was in. I felt the story was well drawn out, but I was disappointed a bit due to the ending it ended quite abruptly. 5 stars from me.
May 18, 2024
I love this author's Jamie series but this is the second standalone book he has released this year. It's totally different but no less enjoyable. Set in Bolivia, Andrea Grierson is on her way to Michael Vasquez's coffee plantation to compile a report for the International Labour Organisation. It isn't long before she finds herself in a dangerous situation which turns out to be just the beginning.
This was a total page-turner for me. The tense atmosphere just oozes off the page and I found myself questioning some of Andrea's decisions. There's so many nasty characters here and much violence and I really wasn't sure how things would end. Needless to say I raced through it as I didn't want to stop reading. Very impressed.
This was a total page-turner for me. The tense atmosphere just oozes off the page and I found myself questioning some of Andrea's decisions. There's so many nasty characters here and much violence and I really wasn't sure how things would end. Needless to say I raced through it as I didn't want to stop reading. Very impressed.
February 11, 2024
I absolutely loved this fast paced, taut thriller and you can really feel Andrea's aka the executioners sense of desperation and how isolated she is, Vasquez really made my skin crawl and I couldn't think of a single redeeming feature for him. The Trade is twisty and very well written and is completely different to other books by this author which shows how versatile his writing style is. 5 stars from me 😊
May 20, 2024
This story of a gutsy young investigator for the International Trade Organization gets way more than she bargained for in this intense, diabolical story of money, power and a very ruthless man in Bolivia. Although this is not the type of book I normally read I thoroughly enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat more than once. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes a book with some twists and turns, great characters and with lots of intrigue.
October 13, 2024
Omg!!!
I honestly couldn't believe it took me to try to get into this book, I kept thinking. . . . . It has to get better . . . . It has got to pick up, it just Never did, I can't honestly believe that this book was written by the same author as the Fantastic Jamie Johanson series, I can only imagine that this was his first ever book as normally he has the most fantastic writing that I certainly did not read here!
I honestly couldn't believe it took me to try to get into this book, I kept thinking. . . . . It has to get better . . . . It has got to pick up, it just Never did, I can't honestly believe that this book was written by the same author as the Fantastic Jamie Johanson series, I can only imagine that this was his first ever book as normally he has the most fantastic writing that I certainly did not read here!
May 30, 2024
An enjoyable read.
Morgan Greene takes us to Bolivia with Andrea Grierson. She is sent to do a report on a coffee growing farm.
The story takes us from her arriving at the local airport and her plans are compromised from the beginning. Things go worse quickly for her as they get violent and she ends up at the estate having to fight for her life and to escape .
Whilst the over premise is possibly unlikely, sending a single agent seemed naive, it was an enjoyable read.
Morgan Greene takes us to Bolivia with Andrea Grierson. She is sent to do a report on a coffee growing farm.
The story takes us from her arriving at the local airport and her plans are compromised from the beginning. Things go worse quickly for her as they get violent and she ends up at the estate having to fight for her life and to escape .
Whilst the over premise is possibly unlikely, sending a single agent seemed naive, it was an enjoyable read.
June 22, 2024
Morgan Greene has a way of writing that keeps you hanging onto the edge of your seat, this was no different. The depth of the characters, the feeling that you’re in the thick of it with them, another great standalone from Morgan. I don’t know how he manages to produce such quality every time but he does. You won’t regret reading this, or any of his other books.
June 1, 2024
a wonderful thriller, a tension filled story with complex and interesting characters. This story will pull you in on the very first page and keep you captured to the end! Lots of twists and turns, mayhem and intrigue. An umputdownable book! A real page turner and a must read!
December 29, 2024
kept me reading to the end!!
I love Morgan’s Jamie’s books I wasn’t sure about reading his alternative books . The stand alone! But this was great !
It kept me guessing until the end . I really enjoyed reading this . Thank you and DONT stop writing !!
I love Morgan’s Jamie’s books I wasn’t sure about reading his alternative books . The stand alone! But this was great !
It kept me guessing until the end . I really enjoyed reading this . Thank you and DONT stop writing !!
June 2, 2024
It's not my usual genre of book but.....
This book was amazing. I loved every twist and turn and couldn't put it down. I was literally on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend.
This book was amazing. I loved every twist and turn and couldn't put it down. I was literally on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend.
June 9, 2024
excellent read
I love Morgan Geene books this was absolutely incredible loved it was hard to put it down great ending but I now need answers will there be a sequel??
I love Morgan Geene books this was absolutely incredible loved it was hard to put it down great ending but I now need answers will there be a sequel??
June 27, 2024
Another great read
This book had so many twists and turns. When all hope seemed lost there was another twist. Hopefully we hear more from this character.
This book had so many twists and turns. When all hope seemed lost there was another twist. Hopefully we hear more from this character.
July 11, 2024
Another great read
Enjoyed reading this book, as always well written , as are all his books and now I'm eagerly waiting for the next book
Enjoyed reading this book, as always well written , as are all his books and now I'm eagerly waiting for the next book
August 27, 2024
I love reading Morgan Greene, and this was a real suspense book. I can also see where Jamie Johannson came from. Brilliant.
February 18, 2025
The ending made me cry - so I gave it five!
May 19, 2024
A fast-paced, entertaining and interesting thriller!!! Captivating from page one, I could not stop reading it (till 3 o'clock a.m.!). I loved the descriptions of the setting as I was feeling the sweaty atmosphere of the climate and fear....
I only wish the end had not been so abrupt, I would have liked to know a bit more .... A great thriller in any case!
Thank you very much, Morgan, for letting me read your novel as an ARC. Again, a great experience!
I only wish the end had not been so abrupt, I would have liked to know a bit more .... A great thriller in any case!
Thank you very much, Morgan, for letting me read your novel as an ARC. Again, a great experience!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews