Kill at First Light

by James Marr

HE’S DAMNED IF HE DOES. SHE’S DOOMED IF HE DOESN’T.


OBSESSION
Enigmatic financial trader Charlie Belanger is jilted by his fiancée and agrees to masterminding her brutal abduction.

VENGEANCE
African wildlife conservationist Holly Farmer hungers for revenge following the suicide of her twin brother.

PRIDE
Hedge fund baron John Farmer ruthlessly pursues his goal to be the City of London’s most-celebrated investor.

When a plot to avenge the death of his ex-fiancée’s brother goes awry, Charlie’s life spirals into a deadly conflict with terrorists. From the streets of London, via the West African savanna, to the Swiss Alps, three people’s lives are entwined in a fatal quest.

“The drama in each scene is frighteningly real, each character so ambiguous you can never guess their next move or their motive.” Dexter Petley, author.

“The situations and the characters stayed with me even when not reading, and I would analyse every detail to theorise what would happen next, and why.” Linda Besser, reviewer.

492 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2024

Reviews

[Bssrlnd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expose contrasting light and dark, good and evil, African wilds to London boardrooms, living as a hostage to high-level business deals all of which add to the tension and conflict that builds to the end. The book begins in Africa with Holly Farmer, a wildlife preservationist, tracking poachers at night to Charlie Belanger, a financial trader, in a Switzerland business meeting with a ruthless businessman. Both characters, Holly and Charlie, are involved with dangerous people in very volatile situations that become increasingly precarious for each of them.

James Marr has written a clear picture of the contrasting lives and multiple interconnections of the two characters, Holly and Charlie, and the different environments and pressures of each of their lives. As other characters emerge, each adds more color and intrigue to the hostage-taking plot and possible outcomes. The reader can feel the suffering of the hostages, the fabric of their environment, and the mounting despair. Simultaneously, Charlie's frenetic planning and negotiating for Holly's release escalates as he gets closer to the deadlines set by the hostage takers and Holly's father, John Farmer, his employer. John Farmer is very involved in business merger contracts and power struggles with high-end business moguls while at the same time arranging a payoff with terrorist hostage takers.

I felt the mounting tension between the two plots of action: knowing the hardships and danger for Holly and the many obstacles Charlie faces to verify Holly's release. There are underlying issues in both of their lives that do not reveal themselves until closer to the end of the book, which ultimately makes for an unexpected finale. Additionally, the author has developed a descriptive and authentic feel for the different environments and what the various characters are experiencing. The situations and the characters stayed with me even when not reading and I would analyze every detail to theorize what would happen next and why. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 for its development of plots and the characters, as well as the expressive writing that brings the story alive to the reader.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, fast-paced thriller that masterfully juggles multiple high-stakes plots across continents. James Marr creates a tense narrative that contrasts the desperate, visceral danger of a hostage crisis in Africa with the cutthroat, high-pressure financial boardrooms of London. Characters like the vengeful conservationist Holly and the enigmatic trader Charlie are well-drawn, and their interconnected fates drive a plot rich with obsession and betrayal. The writing is sharp and descriptive, building palpable tension as the dual storylines race toward an explosive and unexpected finale. A solid pick for fans of intricate, globetrotting suspense.