Hungry Ghost

by Stephen Leather

Hong Kong, 1991. The colony is preparing for Chinese rule.
Geoff Howells, a government-trained killing machine, is brought out of retirement and sent to the bustling vity. His to assassinate Chinese Mafia leader, Simon Ng. Howells devises a dangerous and complicated plan to reach his intended victim - only to find himself the next target.

Patrick Dugan, a Hong Kong policeman, has been held back in his career because of his family his sister is married to Simon Ng. But when Ng's daughter is kidnapped and Ng himself disappears, Dugan gets caught up in a series of violent events and an international spy ring that has spun out of control . . .

PRAISE FOR STEPHEN LEATHER

'The sort of book that could easily take up a complete weekend - and be time really well spent . . . A story that's as topical as today's headlines' -- Bolton Evening News

'Stephen Leather should be nestling in your bookshelves alongside Frederick Forsyth and Jack Higgins' -- Daily Mail

'A master of the thriller genre' - Irish Times

'As tough as British thrillers get . . . gripping' - Irish Independent

'The sheer impetus of his story-telling is damned hard to resist' -Sunday Express

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Metodi Markov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Зад тази отвратителната корица се гуши свенливо един овехтял и посредствен трилър. Все пак, успях някак да го дочета докрай.

Мисля си, че тази история обаче може успешно да послужи за основа на второразреден екшън филм.

[Mike Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well sorry Salman Rushdie. After reading the last Stephen Leather book I was so impressed I bought two on Amazon. They arrived whilst reading the Rushdie. I swiftly chose gratuitous violence and Lee Child type characters over the intellectual musings of Mr Rushdie. Yes ok I am a shallow reader😉

The Hungry Ghost is set in Hong Kong. Patrick Dugan is a policeman who happens to have his sister married to Ng a Triad boss. I chuckle as every time I read the surname Ng my inflection changed from unpronounceable to more unpronounceable. I was going to google the pronunciation but decided not to.

Geoff Howells the other main character is an ex Government killer sent to kill Mr Ng. A psychopath who has his killing instincts hidden by psychiatrists, only to be woken with a combination of 3 colour cards.

The story just gallops along. Really engaging and satisfying. The Author is a combination of Lee Child, Frederick Forsyth and Eric Lustbader (The Ninja series).

Sorry Mr Rushdie but I am now reading ‘The Chinaman.’

[Lisa Macdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and the author, will definitely be reading more! Start seemed slow and mundane but the pace soon picked up and I could not put it down. Love the way the antagonist was so underplayed and likeable. I would go as far as to say that Geoff Howells could have tried little harder to redeem himself.

[colin tourick · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Stephen Leather at his best. A really enjoyable read, it twists and turns right up to the final page. Excellent.

[Paul Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, but it didn’t blow me away.

Seemed very male character dominated and I guess this was “as it’s Time” in that the word it was set in and written about, however it did seem a bit one dimensional.
It was readable and gave an good is insight into the HK/Chinese handover and some of the political problems around then, I just think it could of been a bit shorter or got to the plot line quicker.

Overall, good, solid, readable book which was well written, interesting without knocking my socks off :)

[The_5ft_reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book .... really well paced plot and easy to follow story! Great read!

[Jackie Thurston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is set in Hong Kong a police man Patrick Dugan has had his career st back because of his sister marriage to a triad leader there is a kidnapping of Dugan's niece and Dugan gets caught up of events also a government trained assassin is out of retirement and is dangerous very highly passed thriller packed with a punch

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't do it for me, got fed up with the Character by half way, not sure if I liked him or got to annoyed with him, so good descriptions of Hong Kong but not enough to keep me interested.

[Tiffanypooh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it! I got this book from a secondhand store and I’m glad that I did that. ✨

As a Hong Konger, it’s cool to see how it’s based on the history/ background of Hong Kong and to develop a thriller story around it. At one point I was hoping Howell could get away with it though I knew that it’s mostly impossible. Still I love the ups and downs of him and it’s thrilling to see him trying to get out of the whole mess.

I probably would check out other books from Stephen Leather. Hopefully they are also as exciting as this one. :)

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different but very enjoyable Stephen Leather story. A UK Secret Service Operative, a Hong Kong Police Inspector and a Triad Head, make up the story in a story based in Hong Kong. Two are set against each other, whilst the third is an innocent bystander drawn into the story by his remote connections to the other two. What follows is an intriguing tale into life in Hong Kong just prior to its handover to China. For those that know Hong Kong, it is a trip around your memories. Great tale.

[Alan Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping thriller set in Hong Kong just before the handover, it has triads, secret agents, psychopathic killers, kidnapping and multiple murders. It moves along at a good pace and captures the atmosphere of this unique metropolis very well. A recommended read.

[c f brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intriguing storyline

I’ve read many Stephen Leather books and this one is one of the best. I didn’t want to put it down !

[mike christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

Great plot,real villains,fast paced.Ending a nice surprise and not obvious. Thoroughly enjoyed it as I have all his books.
Enjoy!

[The Villan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good plot and ending. Author keeps the tension going throughout the book.

[1.1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paperback thrillers are not exactly at the top of my to-read list, but this one was picked up on the cheap during a box of books type sale (a scene every reader and prospective author needs to see... remaindered and damaged books being picked through by the lowest and most desperate readers, the selection surprisingly varied if you bother to really dig), on the strength of the back cover synopsis. I read the first sentence and threw it in the box. I figured this book about a government killing machine would deliver exactly what I expected from a thriller, and maybe a little more.

It did, at that. Stephen Leather's knowledge of Hong Kong and its vices (how much time did he spend with hookers at slum bars?) makes for a richer than usual setting for the genre. The fact that it is a look at late British possessed Hong Kong gives it a little historical heft as well. The main character (roughly speaking), Geoff Howells is more complex than your average killing machine, which is refreshing because I was expecting a sort of terminator-esque Briton with a penchant for dry witticisms. The rest of the cast is acceptably drawn as well. I believe a little extra editing would have helped iron out a few awkward moments, but there was nothing egregious. If you expect a great literary work, look elsewhere. If you want to see some people get dropped, some schemes come to light, and frantic intrigue - settle in for your cross Atlantic flight or week's worth of breaks at work, and enjoy. Saying this novel is merely serviceable is to withhold the full measure of credit it deserves. Though on some level, it is purely serviceable.

[Sundeep Supertramp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty old book. First printed(publish, that is) in 1991. And the book I am holding right now is of 1993. I found it in a closer a long back. My father said it was my grand father's. Since it is old and I believe old book suck, I never got to read this. Then one fine day, when I was deciding what to read next. I couldn't get to decide on one. There were so many good books in the shelf. So I decided to read the one, I didn't want to read. So that is how I came to read this one.

And now, after completing reading the book, I am thankful I read it...

When I was reading this book, I knew nothing of the author - Stephen Leather. I didn't even care to know about him. Come on, I am not the kind to check out the authors of yester-generations. The current generation authors' stories are more relatable and I prefer relatable reads.

However, I read the plot on the back of the book. These were the points, I could make out of them...
*The story of the genre, either, crime or mystery
-It turned out to both and suspense and action and romantic thriller.
*The story is set in Hong Kong.
-Yes, it was.

And nothing else. That was one reason I hated

To read the whole review, follow the link below...
http://booksreviewwala.blogspot.in/20...

[Mary Monks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fast-paced ride this book was!!!!
The story is set in Hong Kong among the Chinese Mafia and the law enforcement agencies who are trying to prevent crimes.
Geoff Howells is a killer hired to "remove" the Mafia Leader Simon Ng.
Through a series of violent events, Howells goes from being the hunter to the hunted.... a situation he is not at all familiar with.
Patrick Dugan, whose sister is married to Simon, gets involved after his niece is kidnapped, and is frustrated by how difficult it is to find the young girl. His life is at risk after Howells discovers his involvement.
The story is violent in the extreme, but none-the-less very readable.
It is worrying however to think that there are people out there who enjoy killing.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable thriller. Located mainly in Honk Kong pre British handover it involves conspiracy aplenty, with carloads of spies, triads, HK police, murder, treachery and nakedness.

Well paced plot and thoroughly well constructed characters with credible attitudes, plus one nutter. Hong Kong sounds like an interesting place to visit.

[Brandon Osborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, pulp.

[Stuart Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10 20%

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

complex and ultimately unsatisfactory. This author doesn't show empathy for children. Unlikable characters doing unlikable things. A friend lent it to me. I'm glad I didn't buy it.