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Pendulum Trilogy #1
Pendulum
James Patterson has hailed Adam Hamdy's PENDULUM as 'one of the best thrillers of the year' saying he read it in 'one gloriously suspenseful weekend'. A photo-journalist is targeted for death in this high-concept, twisting, dangerous journey through a digital underworld. If you love Gregg Hurwitz and Terry Hayes' I AM PILGRIM, read this.
You wake. Confused. Disorientated.
A noose is round your neck.
You are bound, standing on a chair.
All you can focus on is the man in the mask tightening the rope.
You are about to die.
John Wallace has no idea why he has been targeted. No idea who his attacker is. No idea how he will prevent the inevitable.
Then the pendulum of fate swings in his favour.
He has one chance to escape, find the truth and halt his destruction.
The momentum is in his favour for now.
But with a killer on his tail, everything can change with one swing of this deadly pendulum...
You have one chance. Run.
You wake. Confused. Disorientated.
A noose is round your neck.
You are bound, standing on a chair.
All you can focus on is the man in the mask tightening the rope.
You are about to die.
John Wallace has no idea why he has been targeted. No idea who his attacker is. No idea how he will prevent the inevitable.
Then the pendulum of fate swings in his favour.
He has one chance to escape, find the truth and halt his destruction.
The momentum is in his favour for now.
But with a killer on his tail, everything can change with one swing of this deadly pendulum...
You have one chance. Run.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2016
182 people are currently reading
1557 people want to read
About the author
Adam Hamdy
42 books349 followersI'm a Sunday Times and international bestselling author and screenwriter.
I write topical, thought-provoking novels that aim to entertain, and I love lived research, so the events in my books are often inspired by real events.
Before I became a professional writer I was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in a variety of sectors. I co-founded Capital Crime and am now on the advisory board. I'm also on the board of ITW. I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, sailing and competitive shooting.
I live in Mauritius with my wife and our three children.
I write topical, thought-provoking novels that aim to entertain, and I love lived research, so the events in my books are often inspired by real events.
Before I became a professional writer I was a strategy consultant and advised global businesses in a variety of sectors. I co-founded Capital Crime and am now on the advisory board. I'm also on the board of ITW. I enjoy rock climbing, skiing, sailing and competitive shooting.
I live in Mauritius with my wife and our three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
August 20, 2017
This book didn't give a great deal away when I read the synopsis, so I jumped in open-minded. What I soon discovered was an incredibly, fast-paced, high-octane, powerhouse of an actioned packed thriller!
Wow, this is an exceptional read. With every page and chapter absorbed, I seriously didn't have any idea what was going to happen next and then proceeded to blow my mind. The whole book is constructed without fault and the writing is exceptional. It really has a recognition of a good Jack Reacher novel, and then some!
I'm giving nothing away. Just read this book. Breathtaking and heart-stopping.
A full on mind blowing experience! Massive 5* A MUST read!
Wow, this is an exceptional read. With every page and chapter absorbed, I seriously didn't have any idea what was going to happen next and then proceeded to blow my mind. The whole book is constructed without fault and the writing is exceptional. It really has a recognition of a good Jack Reacher novel, and then some!
I'm giving nothing away. Just read this book. Breathtaking and heart-stopping.
A full on mind blowing experience! Massive 5* A MUST read!
August 18, 2016
Pendulum was great and actually unexpected. I’m not sure what I was expecting but what I got was an adrenalin fuelled, killer rush of a novel where you are thrown into the heart of the action and even in its quieter moments it menaces you with the promise of more…
John Wallace comes around one morning to find a man in body armour and a mask attempting to hang him. All pleas for mercy fall on deaf ears then fate intervenes and John manages to RUN, but this killer is dogged and intelligent and most of all hidden. What follows is a battle of wits and determination as John attempts to find out why he has been targeted and to stay alive long enough to do that.
Adam Hamdy has a gorgeously immersive writing style, as I said he puts you bang into the heart of the action, descriptively speaking this is an absolute joy to read. It has a kind of a horror movie vibe about it – our killer is scary and seemingly unstoppable, any help John might hope for just pulls more people into the vortex and puts them at risk – the bad guy here takes on almost mythical proportions as you race towards an unpredictable ending but at no point does it become too fantastical in fact it is all too real.
As well as the thriller element there is a well drawn, intriguing mystery side to proceedings as we start to see method and motive however obscure – the ultimate solution is deliciously satisfying and in no way a let down which can happen – in fact as this is the start of a trilogy it is cleverly placed to not only give you a decent amount of closure but leave you desperate for more. The author ties things up with a neat little bow then takes a pair of scissors to the gift and shows you a hint of things to come – both annoying and pretty darned brilliant.
Not only action fuelled but character fuelled also, the people you meet within the pages of Pendulum are slowly but surely given heart and soul as layers are stripped off to show the true heart underneath. Still lots to discover about those that survive (yes thats a tease TRUST NOTHING) but I was fascinated by the back stories which are beautifully woven into the rest without detracting from the events unfolding.
All in all a really really great read all round. Consider me hooked. Hurry along the next please.
Highly Recommended
John Wallace comes around one morning to find a man in body armour and a mask attempting to hang him. All pleas for mercy fall on deaf ears then fate intervenes and John manages to RUN, but this killer is dogged and intelligent and most of all hidden. What follows is a battle of wits and determination as John attempts to find out why he has been targeted and to stay alive long enough to do that.
Adam Hamdy has a gorgeously immersive writing style, as I said he puts you bang into the heart of the action, descriptively speaking this is an absolute joy to read. It has a kind of a horror movie vibe about it – our killer is scary and seemingly unstoppable, any help John might hope for just pulls more people into the vortex and puts them at risk – the bad guy here takes on almost mythical proportions as you race towards an unpredictable ending but at no point does it become too fantastical in fact it is all too real.
As well as the thriller element there is a well drawn, intriguing mystery side to proceedings as we start to see method and motive however obscure – the ultimate solution is deliciously satisfying and in no way a let down which can happen – in fact as this is the start of a trilogy it is cleverly placed to not only give you a decent amount of closure but leave you desperate for more. The author ties things up with a neat little bow then takes a pair of scissors to the gift and shows you a hint of things to come – both annoying and pretty darned brilliant.
Not only action fuelled but character fuelled also, the people you meet within the pages of Pendulum are slowly but surely given heart and soul as layers are stripped off to show the true heart underneath. Still lots to discover about those that survive (yes thats a tease TRUST NOTHING) but I was fascinated by the back stories which are beautifully woven into the rest without detracting from the events unfolding.
All in all a really really great read all round. Consider me hooked. Hurry along the next please.
Highly Recommended
January 15, 2025
★★★★½
My very first review of 2025 comes later than expected, but is one I’m happy to have as my launch into a new season of wondrous, exhilarating reads!
Adam Hamdy’s Pendulum is a relentless, adrenaline-charged thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go until the final chapter. For fans of nail-biting suspense and intense action sequences, this book delivers in spades.
The novel opens with a truly horrifying premise: photojournalist John Wallace wakes up to find himself bound, a noose tightening around his neck, and a masked man preparing to execute him. What follows is a near-death escape and a spiraling descent into a shadowy world where trust is scarce, and danger is omnipresent. Hamdy crafts a villain as chilling as they come—a faceless, meticulous killer who seems unstoppable, making every chapter pulse with tension.
What sets Pendulum apart from your standard action thriller is Hamdy’s ability to balance the chaos of the chase with deeper themes. Wallace is a protagonist who bleeds both physically and emotionally. His journey isn’t just one of survival but also of redemption. His trauma, self-doubt, and moments of vulnerability lend authenticity to a character otherwise immersed in a world of larger-than-life stakes. Supporting characters, such as FBI investigator Christine Ash and Detective Patrick Bailey, bring added depth to the narrative, each carrying their own scars and motivations.
Hamdy’s writing style is crisp and cinematic, pulling readers headlong into the story with vivid descriptions and expertly paced twists. The action sequences are particularly well-crafted—high-octane, yet grounded enough to feel real. And yet, Pendulum is more than just action; it’s also an exploration of the fragility of human connection in an age where technology can both unite and endanger.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is the occasional predictability of certain subplots. While the central mystery remains compelling, a few revelations can be spotted coming, slightly diluting the overall suspense. That said, Hamdy’s storytelling prowess more than compensates for these minor hiccups, keeping you riveted to the end.
If you’re looking for a thriller that combines raw intensity with moments of introspection, Pendulum is a fantastic choice. It’s a white-knuckle ride that leaves you questioning not only the characters but also the dark underbelly of the digital age we live in. Highly recommended for fans of I Am Pilgrim or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Passages: 📕📖📕📖📕
“Fear doesn’t give you wings; it gives you weight. It ties you to the ground until you’re brave enough to cut yourself free.”.
“You can’t face the darkness without carrying a little of it inside you.”
“The more connected we are, the easier it is for someone to sever the ties.”
My very first review of 2025 comes later than expected, but is one I’m happy to have as my launch into a new season of wondrous, exhilarating reads!
Adam Hamdy’s Pendulum is a relentless, adrenaline-charged thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go until the final chapter. For fans of nail-biting suspense and intense action sequences, this book delivers in spades.
The novel opens with a truly horrifying premise: photojournalist John Wallace wakes up to find himself bound, a noose tightening around his neck, and a masked man preparing to execute him. What follows is a near-death escape and a spiraling descent into a shadowy world where trust is scarce, and danger is omnipresent. Hamdy crafts a villain as chilling as they come—a faceless, meticulous killer who seems unstoppable, making every chapter pulse with tension.
What sets Pendulum apart from your standard action thriller is Hamdy’s ability to balance the chaos of the chase with deeper themes. Wallace is a protagonist who bleeds both physically and emotionally. His journey isn’t just one of survival but also of redemption. His trauma, self-doubt, and moments of vulnerability lend authenticity to a character otherwise immersed in a world of larger-than-life stakes. Supporting characters, such as FBI investigator Christine Ash and Detective Patrick Bailey, bring added depth to the narrative, each carrying their own scars and motivations.
Hamdy’s writing style is crisp and cinematic, pulling readers headlong into the story with vivid descriptions and expertly paced twists. The action sequences are particularly well-crafted—high-octane, yet grounded enough to feel real. And yet, Pendulum is more than just action; it’s also an exploration of the fragility of human connection in an age where technology can both unite and endanger.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is the occasional predictability of certain subplots. While the central mystery remains compelling, a few revelations can be spotted coming, slightly diluting the overall suspense. That said, Hamdy’s storytelling prowess more than compensates for these minor hiccups, keeping you riveted to the end.
If you’re looking for a thriller that combines raw intensity with moments of introspection, Pendulum is a fantastic choice. It’s a white-knuckle ride that leaves you questioning not only the characters but also the dark underbelly of the digital age we live in. Highly recommended for fans of I Am Pilgrim or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Passages: 📕📖📕📖📕
“Fear doesn’t give you wings; it gives you weight. It ties you to the ground until you’re brave enough to cut yourself free.”.
“You can’t face the darkness without carrying a little of it inside you.”
“The more connected we are, the easier it is for someone to sever the ties.”
August 28, 2016
I had seen Pendulum pop up on social media weeks ago, and that cover really caught my eye so when there was a proof up for grabs I immediately asked if I could red and review and I am SO glad I did!!!
Pendulum is a high octane game of cat and mouse, stretching from the UK to the USA and back again. This transatlantic book is one of the most interesting crime novels I have had the pleasure of reading lately.
When we meet John Wallace, he is literally at the end of his rope. Put there by a masked and armoured man, he has no idea why he has been chosen and what is going to befall him. What follows is a pulse pounding rollercoaster filled with some very intriguing characters along the way.
I'm not going to dissect the book, but I will say this, Adam Hamdy has created a superb beginning to a series. It is full of mystery, action and it asks the reader so may questions along the way that it will make your head spin.
I loved Pendulum. I loved the characters, the way the story plays out, the interwoven threads that the author begins to unravel without the reader even noticing. So subtle, yet so brilliant and unexpected.
I may sound like a weirdo, but I loved the antagonist! The way Adam Hamdy has written the killer makes it possible to visualise them completely, and I have to say, if this was a movie it would be AMAZING to see the killer on screen!
Pendulum is a promising beginning to this series, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one!!!! Highly, HIGHLY recommended!!!
Pendulum is a high octane game of cat and mouse, stretching from the UK to the USA and back again. This transatlantic book is one of the most interesting crime novels I have had the pleasure of reading lately.
When we meet John Wallace, he is literally at the end of his rope. Put there by a masked and armoured man, he has no idea why he has been chosen and what is going to befall him. What follows is a pulse pounding rollercoaster filled with some very intriguing characters along the way.
I'm not going to dissect the book, but I will say this, Adam Hamdy has created a superb beginning to a series. It is full of mystery, action and it asks the reader so may questions along the way that it will make your head spin.
I loved Pendulum. I loved the characters, the way the story plays out, the interwoven threads that the author begins to unravel without the reader even noticing. So subtle, yet so brilliant and unexpected.
I may sound like a weirdo, but I loved the antagonist! The way Adam Hamdy has written the killer makes it possible to visualise them completely, and I have to say, if this was a movie it would be AMAZING to see the killer on screen!
Pendulum is a promising beginning to this series, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next one!!!! Highly, HIGHLY recommended!!!
June 19, 2017
2.5 stars **
I struggled with this - I read too many books by too many authors who do this genre much better than Hamby, I'm afraid. Just wasn't impressed with this one :(
I struggled with this - I read too many books by too many authors who do this genre much better than Hamby, I'm afraid. Just wasn't impressed with this one :(
November 19, 2016
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
Hamdy wastes no time and jumps straight into the action. Wallace wakes up and realizes, with horror that there is a noose around his neck and he definitely didn’t place it there. Somehow, he manages to escape this madman, but he realizes swiftly that he is not out of danger just yet. No one believes his claim that he did not try to commit suicide and he finds himself trapped in a mental institution. Caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Wallace is quite literally, running for his life.
I’m going to be even more vague than usual when it comes to discussing plot details with this one. Mostly because I went into it only having read the synopsis and two reviews from trusted reviewers whom I know would never spoil things, and I’m confident that’s the absolute best way to approach this.
What I will say is that most of Pendulum was completely unexpected and there were tons of shocking moments to get my blood pumping. It read like a high octane action movie and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this hits the big screen in the future. The pacing is relentless, never letting up and the story takes you from London to NYC and back again. On top of that, there is really great characterization and growth, especially with Wallace. Though the ending was satisfactory, there was a few things left open ended so I was pretty pleased to see that there will be a second book!
Hamdy wastes no time and jumps straight into the action. Wallace wakes up and realizes, with horror that there is a noose around his neck and he definitely didn’t place it there. Somehow, he manages to escape this madman, but he realizes swiftly that he is not out of danger just yet. No one believes his claim that he did not try to commit suicide and he finds himself trapped in a mental institution. Caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Wallace is quite literally, running for his life.
I’m going to be even more vague than usual when it comes to discussing plot details with this one. Mostly because I went into it only having read the synopsis and two reviews from trusted reviewers whom I know would never spoil things, and I’m confident that’s the absolute best way to approach this.
What I will say is that most of Pendulum was completely unexpected and there were tons of shocking moments to get my blood pumping. It read like a high octane action movie and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this hits the big screen in the future. The pacing is relentless, never letting up and the story takes you from London to NYC and back again. On top of that, there is really great characterization and growth, especially with Wallace. Though the ending was satisfactory, there was a few things left open ended so I was pretty pleased to see that there will be a second book!
February 4, 2017
You open your door to a stranger and wake up tied up with a noose being put over your head. You have no recollection of how you got there nor why it's happening. The beam breaks and you fall to your LIFE. Do not pass go, do not collection $200, pay to get out of jail, do NOT wait for doubles because if you do, you are DEAD. Run, run, RUN.
John Wallace doesn't know who he can trust or why this man is insistent on finding him and killing him. He has to lay low because every time he does entrust someone in trying to figure out this huge puzzle, they end up dead. How many times can he evade what seems to be the inevitable?
Quite the opening of a book - I was hooked from the first chapter. However, by the end I felt my mind wandering here and there and wasn't all that engaged. I can't pinpoint where the story lost me but when it did grab me, it GRABBED me. I had to keep reading to figure out exactly what it was about John Wallace that made him a victim. The reasons for the other victims seemed fairly clear, so what did he do?? I finally did get my answer but by the time it came to me, gifted in a neat little bow, I just reacted with an ah.. ok. 3.5 stars for me.
John Wallace doesn't know who he can trust or why this man is insistent on finding him and killing him. He has to lay low because every time he does entrust someone in trying to figure out this huge puzzle, they end up dead. How many times can he evade what seems to be the inevitable?
Quite the opening of a book - I was hooked from the first chapter. However, by the end I felt my mind wandering here and there and wasn't all that engaged. I can't pinpoint where the story lost me but when it did grab me, it GRABBED me. I had to keep reading to figure out exactly what it was about John Wallace that made him a victim. The reasons for the other victims seemed fairly clear, so what did he do?? I finally did get my answer but by the time it came to me, gifted in a neat little bow, I just reacted with an ah.. ok. 3.5 stars for me.
November 14, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I must say that I really did enjoy this book. John Wallace is playing a cat and mouse game with a serial killer and he has no idea why this man wants him to die so badly. This book is running on a high adrenaline rush with alot of fast-paced, high action scenes that are quite intense. I highly recommend this book!
February 5, 2017
This book started out so strong, and then just became more and more preposterous. It took many turns that were completely unrealistic, and I just couldn't buy into this book anymore. It sucks because the strong parts were SO good, and because of that, I would give this author another chance. This was just ridiculous, though.
February 19, 2017
I don't know where to begin with this book. I didn't like it. Now giving it 3 stars may seem like I'm contradicting myself but I have my reasons.
I'll start with the positives.
- It was fast paced. Like unbelievably fast paced. The minute you start you're right in the drama wondering what's happening. There's no waiting around
- Connie and Ash were my star characters. Hamdy is good at writing likeable females.
- If I was a fan of action packed thrillers then I would definitely recommend it. There's guns, people going to different parts of the worlds to catch the bad guys, a shit load of shootings and action. And other action style stuff that people like
- I wanted to know who was the pendulum killer and why he was targeting these people
Now, the reasons why I didn't like it
- So unbelievably unrealistic
- Incredibly inaccurate. Particularly the scenes in the mental health hospital that Wallace was in. Nurses are not allowed to hit patients even when they are violent, you would get sacked on the bloody spot and you would be struck off the nursing register. Also, one nurse on the ward? Wallace couldn't find anyone? Just an insult to mental health in the U.K.
- I didn't like the killers reason for his actions. Well, I don't like any killers reasons but it was so far fetched and absurd I just sighed when I read it. The whole Facebook and internet thing really didn't interest me
- I didn't care for Wallace. He was your stereotypical troubled hero. Nothing new
So there's my reasoning. I know a lot of people enjoyed it, so I always feel a bit bad for writing negative reviews but we all have different tastes. If you do enjoy a good shoot out thriller then you would probably love it.
I'll start with the positives.
- It was fast paced. Like unbelievably fast paced. The minute you start you're right in the drama wondering what's happening. There's no waiting around
- Connie and Ash were my star characters. Hamdy is good at writing likeable females.
- If I was a fan of action packed thrillers then I would definitely recommend it. There's guns, people going to different parts of the worlds to catch the bad guys, a shit load of shootings and action. And other action style stuff that people like
- I wanted to know who was the pendulum killer and why he was targeting these people
Now, the reasons why I didn't like it
- So unbelievably unrealistic
- Incredibly inaccurate. Particularly the scenes in the mental health hospital that Wallace was in. Nurses are not allowed to hit patients even when they are violent, you would get sacked on the bloody spot and you would be struck off the nursing register. Also, one nurse on the ward? Wallace couldn't find anyone? Just an insult to mental health in the U.K.
- I didn't like the killers reason for his actions. Well, I don't like any killers reasons but it was so far fetched and absurd I just sighed when I read it. The whole Facebook and internet thing really didn't interest me
- I didn't care for Wallace. He was your stereotypical troubled hero. Nothing new
So there's my reasoning. I know a lot of people enjoyed it, so I always feel a bit bad for writing negative reviews but we all have different tastes. If you do enjoy a good shoot out thriller then you would probably love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2017
The first 100 pages are riveting, but then everything starts to drag when the protagonists run into one blind alley after another. Things pick up again towards the end, but this story was way long. It dulled the impact of what the villain revealed at the end.
May 2, 2020
John Wallace is a photojournalist still haunted by his experiences in the war, as well as an inquiry that failed to bring rogue soldiers to justice. He awakes one morning to find an intruder in his apartment, who has strung him up on a noose, ready to kill him! He manages to escape, severely injured, and winds up in a psychiatric ward, because everybody believes he tried to commit suicide! But that's only the start of it: no matter where John goes, the masked killer is after him. He has to go on the run and try to figure out why someone so desperately wants him dead, and to try and get the authorities to believe him when he says that he's part of a series of deaths staged to look like suicides.
If you leave your logic at the back door, you will enjoy this one! It is action-packed, and I'm surprised it hasn't become a TV show or big budget movie. Many sequences are really exciting and suspenseful, and made sure that I was engaged throughout, and helped overcome some of the book's bigger flaws. Number one, as I mentioned, is that logic is not high on the agenda here! While all number of ancillary cops, orderlies, you name it, are expertly shot and killed during the killer's pursuit of John, he somehow never manages to deliver a killing shot to John! We wouldn't have a book, but you know...John has more lives than 50 cats!
Although many of the action scenes are exciting, there are just as many that are completely gratuitous. John gets beaten up and injured so much in this story that it's impossible to believe that he could still be standing upright. There's the fight in the restaurant, and that whole unnecessary stint in Rikers, that could have just been cut to keep the momentum smoother and the focus on the story.
And then we come to...length. My copy was 480 pages in relatively small font. Along with unnecessary, gratuitous fight scenes, this one could have cut out all those endless descriptions of routes that characters took to get where they needed to go, which is a real pet hate of mine. I mean, seriously, why can't they just say, "Character A drove to location B and it took 3o minutes to get there"??? I don't need to know every single damn road they drove down and what all the houses looked like on the way! NOT IMPORTANT!!!
It sometimes felt a bit repetitive. John interviews lots of people related to victims of the murder-staged-as-suicide spree, and we meet various characters who are only around long enough to get murdered by the killer. Rinse and repeat. It disturbed the flow of an otherwise fast-paced action thriller. On top of that, there are just way too many characters. On top of all those people that John and FBI agent Christine Ash question, entire police teams are being introduced to us even as we raced towards the climax! I got a bit lost.
But I read it in two go's. For the most part, it's fun and exciting, and hurtles along at a breakneck speed. Switch your brain off and you'll find yourself taken for an action-packed ride!
If you leave your logic at the back door, you will enjoy this one! It is action-packed, and I'm surprised it hasn't become a TV show or big budget movie. Many sequences are really exciting and suspenseful, and made sure that I was engaged throughout, and helped overcome some of the book's bigger flaws. Number one, as I mentioned, is that logic is not high on the agenda here! While all number of ancillary cops, orderlies, you name it, are expertly shot and killed during the killer's pursuit of John, he somehow never manages to deliver a killing shot to John! We wouldn't have a book, but you know...John has more lives than 50 cats!
Although many of the action scenes are exciting, there are just as many that are completely gratuitous. John gets beaten up and injured so much in this story that it's impossible to believe that he could still be standing upright. There's the fight in the restaurant, and that whole unnecessary stint in Rikers, that could have just been cut to keep the momentum smoother and the focus on the story.
And then we come to...length. My copy was 480 pages in relatively small font. Along with unnecessary, gratuitous fight scenes, this one could have cut out all those endless descriptions of routes that characters took to get where they needed to go, which is a real pet hate of mine. I mean, seriously, why can't they just say, "Character A drove to location B and it took 3o minutes to get there"??? I don't need to know every single damn road they drove down and what all the houses looked like on the way! NOT IMPORTANT!!!
It sometimes felt a bit repetitive. John interviews lots of people related to victims of the murder-staged-as-suicide spree, and we meet various characters who are only around long enough to get murdered by the killer. Rinse and repeat. It disturbed the flow of an otherwise fast-paced action thriller. On top of that, there are just way too many characters. On top of all those people that John and FBI agent Christine Ash question, entire police teams are being introduced to us even as we raced towards the climax! I got a bit lost.
But I read it in two go's. For the most part, it's fun and exciting, and hurtles along at a breakneck speed. Switch your brain off and you'll find yourself taken for an action-packed ride!
January 29, 2017
Can somebody get Kiefer Sutherland on the phone, we’ve got an action movie to shoot people, and it’s called Pendulum!
“You have one chance. Run.”
This is an action movie told in the pages of a book. Pendulum has a thrilling opening chapter, John Wallace, our lead protagonist’s life literally hangs in the balance. Hamdy’s use of short sentences in the books opening creates a sense of urgency and excitement; you’re thrown right into the mix, no scene setting, no build up – you’re rocket-launched into the action straight away!
“Death is hunting you. Think. Think. Think.”
I really don’t want to go into details in this review, because I believe this book will be better enjoyed, if you just pick it up and read it! It’s fast-paced and action-packed; this story ensures it has your full attention from the offset. By the end of part one, my adrenaline was pumping and I dived straight into part 2!
Packed full of twists and turns, this book reminded me of 24 (the TV series), some of the events are a little on the extreme side. At times a bit dramatic and unrealistic but the unpredictability of the events that unfold makes this read so exciting. I’ve already cast all the characters for the film, I’m eagerly awaiting book 2 in this trilogy, it’s all systems go. Hamdy is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker; if there was ever someone who shines in their field -it’s Hamdy.
My online book club, The Criminally Good Book Club, voted for Pendulum to be our January read and the majority really enjoyed it. This book is quite a lengthy one, and a few members struggled with its many pages, but I found it so entertaining, I flew through it; Hamdy even caught me off-guard with an unexpected emotional chapter, which I really liked, you just cannot predict where this story is going. As this is part of a Trilogy, there are questions left unanswered, ‘the why’ is revealed but if you’re a person who likes their books ‘cut and dry’, you might want to wait until book 2 and 3 are released.
If you’re still unsure about this book, you can purchase the short prequel to Pendulum, Run. It will give you a good indicator of whether Pendulum is for you.
“You have one chance. Run.”
This is an action movie told in the pages of a book. Pendulum has a thrilling opening chapter, John Wallace, our lead protagonist’s life literally hangs in the balance. Hamdy’s use of short sentences in the books opening creates a sense of urgency and excitement; you’re thrown right into the mix, no scene setting, no build up – you’re rocket-launched into the action straight away!
“Death is hunting you. Think. Think. Think.”
I really don’t want to go into details in this review, because I believe this book will be better enjoyed, if you just pick it up and read it! It’s fast-paced and action-packed; this story ensures it has your full attention from the offset. By the end of part one, my adrenaline was pumping and I dived straight into part 2!
Packed full of twists and turns, this book reminded me of 24 (the TV series), some of the events are a little on the extreme side. At times a bit dramatic and unrealistic but the unpredictability of the events that unfold makes this read so exciting. I’ve already cast all the characters for the film, I’m eagerly awaiting book 2 in this trilogy, it’s all systems go. Hamdy is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker; if there was ever someone who shines in their field -it’s Hamdy.
My online book club, The Criminally Good Book Club, voted for Pendulum to be our January read and the majority really enjoyed it. This book is quite a lengthy one, and a few members struggled with its many pages, but I found it so entertaining, I flew through it; Hamdy even caught me off-guard with an unexpected emotional chapter, which I really liked, you just cannot predict where this story is going. As this is part of a Trilogy, there are questions left unanswered, ‘the why’ is revealed but if you’re a person who likes their books ‘cut and dry’, you might want to wait until book 2 and 3 are released.
If you’re still unsure about this book, you can purchase the short prequel to Pendulum, Run. It will give you a good indicator of whether Pendulum is for you.
November 3, 2016
The sheer size of this made me wonder if it would hold my interest for the whole running length. But the first chapter is an absolute corker, as we interrupt a murder attempt as it is taking place, a man being forced to hang himself as his murderer looks on, in his own flat.
It’s what you’d call ‘high octane’ in a film, adrenaline filled, as the main character also has to be. The poor guy, running (often literally) from one murder attempt to the next as he struggles to convince anyone he was not suicidal.
I did at times wonder if it was getting too silly, if John Wallace is more Action Man than Everyman to escape death so frequently, but I really came to like John. And other characters he meets, some of whom you start to like and then find that Game of Thrones-like, they are not to last until the final pages.
It’s rather violent at times (a Terminator 2 like asylum escape), weapons, fights, nobody is safe from the killer.
It does feel quite long, but I fully enjoyed the non-stop pursuit and manhunt, murder and intrigue. It was like a mix of action movies stirred together to make a glorious cocktail of a thriller, surely destined to be slightly ruined one day soon by Tom Cruise.
Definitely a slight advisory on violence, but I would count it as one of the most enjoyable of its genre I’ve ever encountered. A little overblown, you need to make a good few leaps in believability, but highly entertaining.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
It’s what you’d call ‘high octane’ in a film, adrenaline filled, as the main character also has to be. The poor guy, running (often literally) from one murder attempt to the next as he struggles to convince anyone he was not suicidal.
I did at times wonder if it was getting too silly, if John Wallace is more Action Man than Everyman to escape death so frequently, but I really came to like John. And other characters he meets, some of whom you start to like and then find that Game of Thrones-like, they are not to last until the final pages.
It’s rather violent at times (a Terminator 2 like asylum escape), weapons, fights, nobody is safe from the killer.
It does feel quite long, but I fully enjoyed the non-stop pursuit and manhunt, murder and intrigue. It was like a mix of action movies stirred together to make a glorious cocktail of a thriller, surely destined to be slightly ruined one day soon by Tom Cruise.
Definitely a slight advisory on violence, but I would count it as one of the most enjoyable of its genre I’ve ever encountered. A little overblown, you need to make a good few leaps in believability, but highly entertaining.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
December 2, 2016
Well, others might enjoy this novel, but it wasn't quite to my own personal liking.
It does not give anything away to describe the novel is about a haunted, photo-journalist that wakes up only to find he is being murdered by means of a fabricated suicide. His protagonist is a dressed in black, body armor/goggle-eyed mask wearing villain, seemingly as unstoppable as a Terminator assassin from the movies.
The rest of the plot deals with the main character trying to stay one step ahead of the killer, while trying to get others to believe someone actually tried to kill him by faking his suicide.
The book felt too wordy and when it comes to books of action, my own preference is to read books where ordeals thrust upon characters are believably possible (this is one reason why James Bond movies are not my first choice - I like to have characters put through realistic and believable hurdles, rather than the impossible).
Others may enjoy this book and should not take this review as a reason to avoid this novel. Others might find it very enjoyable. It just wasn't for me.....
It does not give anything away to describe the novel is about a haunted, photo-journalist that wakes up only to find he is being murdered by means of a fabricated suicide. His protagonist is a dressed in black, body armor/goggle-eyed mask wearing villain, seemingly as unstoppable as a Terminator assassin from the movies.
The rest of the plot deals with the main character trying to stay one step ahead of the killer, while trying to get others to believe someone actually tried to kill him by faking his suicide.
The book felt too wordy and when it comes to books of action, my own preference is to read books where ordeals thrust upon characters are believably possible (this is one reason why James Bond movies are not my first choice - I like to have characters put through realistic and believable hurdles, rather than the impossible).
Others may enjoy this book and should not take this review as a reason to avoid this novel. Others might find it very enjoyable. It just wasn't for me.....
November 2, 2016
Book your literary journey at the Literary Travel Agency : The Booktrail
Oh dear goodness - I met the author at Harrogate - what a lovely man! Now I've read his book I'm a little scared of him.I have only just come out from behind the sofa after reading this one.
There's a lot of depravity here - a man on the run for his life being chased all over London and a chase which takes the investigation all the way across the pond to New York. Think The Fugitive meets The Scarlet Pimpernel - you never know where the killer is or where the protagonist Wallace is going to run to next but wipe that brow of yours as it's an adrenalin fuelled story.
I mean imagine finding yourself with a noose around your neck? Jeepers - and this is only the start. I was going to say Adam Hamdy is the type of writer who ropes you into the action but that is a little TOO true here. Just remember to breathe. I read this sitting on my sofa and now realise how macabre the little rope pulley on the blinds looks - a miniature pendulum if you will. That's how this novel messes with your mind. Hamdy-itis I'm calling it.
Oh dear goodness - I met the author at Harrogate - what a lovely man! Now I've read his book I'm a little scared of him.I have only just come out from behind the sofa after reading this one.
There's a lot of depravity here - a man on the run for his life being chased all over London and a chase which takes the investigation all the way across the pond to New York. Think The Fugitive meets The Scarlet Pimpernel - you never know where the killer is or where the protagonist Wallace is going to run to next but wipe that brow of yours as it's an adrenalin fuelled story.
I mean imagine finding yourself with a noose around your neck? Jeepers - and this is only the start. I was going to say Adam Hamdy is the type of writer who ropes you into the action but that is a little TOO true here. Just remember to breathe. I read this sitting on my sofa and now realise how macabre the little rope pulley on the blinds looks - a miniature pendulum if you will. That's how this novel messes with your mind. Hamdy-itis I'm calling it.
February 21, 2019
The premise is intriguing, good enough for a typical thriller type book, but what totally loses me is how completely unrealistic everything is. Sure, books like this typically have many events that normally wouldn’t happen in real life, but this one really over does it. At least some authors appear to do research regarding the different things in their book. For example, the part when Wallace is in the mental hospital is sooo unlike what real mental health facilities are like.
When 50+ cops, FBI agents, civilians, and bystanders get killed while somehow our “hero” never gets a fatal shot... you’ve lost me. When I can predict that every police officer and agent our hero encounters will get murdered, then the author needs to come up with a different method of increasing the drama.
The book definitely moves at a quick pace, which is great, but I kept wanting to put it down because of all the hyper unrealistic events that unfold.
When 50+ cops, FBI agents, civilians, and bystanders get killed while somehow our “hero” never gets a fatal shot... you’ve lost me. When I can predict that every police officer and agent our hero encounters will get murdered, then the author needs to come up with a different method of increasing the drama.
The book definitely moves at a quick pace, which is great, but I kept wanting to put it down because of all the hyper unrealistic events that unfold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2016
Pendulum was an action packed movie in print, so much so that I could almost hear the music score playing in by head as a backdrop to the sound of bullets, explosions, and cars racing as the story unfurled. No small wonder, as it just so happens that the author Adam Hamdy happens to be a very successful screenwriter.
The story hooked me from the beginning, during which I felt adrenaline rush, loss, sadness, fear, lust, injustice, outrage, trust, mistrust, betrayal, in fact the whole emotional colour-wheel.
Set on both sides of the Atlantic, the author really knows how to transport his readers by creating the atmosphere of the setting.
Could not be any less than five stars.
The story hooked me from the beginning, during which I felt adrenaline rush, loss, sadness, fear, lust, injustice, outrage, trust, mistrust, betrayal, in fact the whole emotional colour-wheel.
Set on both sides of the Atlantic, the author really knows how to transport his readers by creating the atmosphere of the setting.
Could not be any less than five stars.
February 3, 2025
By the time I reached Part Two, aptly named ''Limbo'', I could not continue. Everyone within 5 inches of the protagonist murdered with ease whilst Wallace continues to evade death became tiresome & my guess is finishing this book just to find out the reasons for the masked mans murderous actions will not be worth it. Patterson , Childs & the like do this genre way way better.
January 8, 2017
I was thrilled that this was chosen as the Criminally Good Book Club read for January. For starters, that cover is everything and immediately draws you in.
Onto the story - the blurb is as follows;
“John Wallace has no idea why he has been targeted. No idea who his attacker is. No idea how he will prevent the inevitable.
Then the pendulum of fate swings in his favour.
He has one chance to escape, find the truth and halt his destruction.
The momentum is in his favour for now.
But with a killer on his tail, everything can change with one swing of this deadly pendulum…”
The story starts in London with our main protagonist; John Wallace who were introduced to in his apartment with a noose around his neck and someone intent on ending John’s life. He is able to escape his killers clutches which then ignites a furious game of cat and mouse which takes us across the water to New York City.
There are parts of this book which play out like a crime show/movie…where our bad guy can shoot EVERYONE from over fifty feet away, but not hit our protagonist! This book definitely has the entertainment value intended by the author.
PENDULUM takes on a very real threat to the world. I don’t want to give too much information away about the motives as to why John was targeted - but it gives food for thought.
For me, the only small disappointment that the majority of the action took place in the US, but this didn’t take away from the action surrounding Pendulum. Hamdy has managed to keep enough of the story hanging in the air for the next book in the series (not going to say what that is….spoilers!)
If you loved I AM PILGRIM then this book is for you!
Onto the story - the blurb is as follows;
“John Wallace has no idea why he has been targeted. No idea who his attacker is. No idea how he will prevent the inevitable.
Then the pendulum of fate swings in his favour.
He has one chance to escape, find the truth and halt his destruction.
The momentum is in his favour for now.
But with a killer on his tail, everything can change with one swing of this deadly pendulum…”
The story starts in London with our main protagonist; John Wallace who were introduced to in his apartment with a noose around his neck and someone intent on ending John’s life. He is able to escape his killers clutches which then ignites a furious game of cat and mouse which takes us across the water to New York City.
There are parts of this book which play out like a crime show/movie…where our bad guy can shoot EVERYONE from over fifty feet away, but not hit our protagonist! This book definitely has the entertainment value intended by the author.
PENDULUM takes on a very real threat to the world. I don’t want to give too much information away about the motives as to why John was targeted - but it gives food for thought.
For me, the only small disappointment that the majority of the action took place in the US, but this didn’t take away from the action surrounding Pendulum. Hamdy has managed to keep enough of the story hanging in the air for the next book in the series (not going to say what that is….spoilers!)
If you loved I AM PILGRIM then this book is for you!
August 27, 2018
Pendulum is a high octane thriller in the same vein as The Fugitive. Andy Hamdy plunges the reader right into the action from page one with John Wallace coming to conscious with a noose around his neck and his killer still in his apartment, and it goes from bad to devastating for Wallace.
Like the title, Hamdy swings John like a pendulum from one action scene to suspense scene to intimate scene and puts him through the wringer. Not only does John have to run for his life, figure out who’s trying to kill him and why, he discovers his killer murdered others and made it look like suicides, almost what happened to him. As Jon tries to evade his killer and solve a mystery, he is forced to face his inner demons.
My favorite part of the story, and where the pace picks up, is when John goes to America and meets FBI Agent Christine Ash. Christine is tough, resourceful, and yet had flaws that made me like her. I enjoyed how Hamdy threw Christine and John into acting as a team and slowly improved the chemistry between them. The mystery part was intriguing and had me speed reading to find out what all the murdered victims from different walks of life had in common for one man to kill them. I LOVED the reveal in the end! Hamdy made you understand that the murderer…I can’t give it away, you must read it yourself. All I can say is I could see the murderer’s reasoning for his actions.
Pendulum was a fun read and I loved how Hamdy explored a certain phenomenon that touches almost every person in some form today. I can’t wait to read the sequel Freefall to see what he has planned for John Wallace.
Like the title, Hamdy swings John like a pendulum from one action scene to suspense scene to intimate scene and puts him through the wringer. Not only does John have to run for his life, figure out who’s trying to kill him and why, he discovers his killer murdered others and made it look like suicides, almost what happened to him. As Jon tries to evade his killer and solve a mystery, he is forced to face his inner demons.
My favorite part of the story, and where the pace picks up, is when John goes to America and meets FBI Agent Christine Ash. Christine is tough, resourceful, and yet had flaws that made me like her. I enjoyed how Hamdy threw Christine and John into acting as a team and slowly improved the chemistry between them. The mystery part was intriguing and had me speed reading to find out what all the murdered victims from different walks of life had in common for one man to kill them. I LOVED the reveal in the end! Hamdy made you understand that the murderer…I can’t give it away, you must read it yourself. All I can say is I could see the murderer’s reasoning for his actions.
Pendulum was a fun read and I loved how Hamdy explored a certain phenomenon that touches almost every person in some form today. I can’t wait to read the sequel Freefall to see what he has planned for John Wallace.
May 4, 2025
Setting: London, England & Las Vegas, USA; modern day.
Freelance photographer John Wallace answers the door of his London flat one night - and wakes up to find himself in the company of a masked stranger dressed all in black, intent on hanging John from the beam in his apartment. When the beam fortuitously collapses, John has to throw himself through the window and run naked into the London night to evade his murderer - and then is faced with working out why someone would want to kill him.
John's search for answers leads him to a series of apparent suicides by hanging but which, from his experience, he considers not to be the case - and only one detective seems to give his opinion any credence whatsoever.
Later, as John is being hunted, both by the police and the masked stranger, his enquiries lead him to Las Vegas and a group of wealthy men whose 'minder' will do anything to protect their reputations.....
This was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller, breathlessly fast-paced and a real rollercoaster of a read, right up to the thrilling finale. This would appear to be the first in a trilogy so I can't wait to get hold of the next book in the series - 9/10.
Freelance photographer John Wallace answers the door of his London flat one night - and wakes up to find himself in the company of a masked stranger dressed all in black, intent on hanging John from the beam in his apartment. When the beam fortuitously collapses, John has to throw himself through the window and run naked into the London night to evade his murderer - and then is faced with working out why someone would want to kill him.
John's search for answers leads him to a series of apparent suicides by hanging but which, from his experience, he considers not to be the case - and only one detective seems to give his opinion any credence whatsoever.
Later, as John is being hunted, both by the police and the masked stranger, his enquiries lead him to Las Vegas and a group of wealthy men whose 'minder' will do anything to protect their reputations.....
This was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller, breathlessly fast-paced and a real rollercoaster of a read, right up to the thrilling finale. This would appear to be the first in a trilogy so I can't wait to get hold of the next book in the series - 9/10.
May 31, 2025
A little repetitive in places but I did enjoy this nice easy read.
July 30, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up - a good thriller with a gripping storyline. It sort of felt like two books with the first half set in London and the second half in NY and a different set of supporting characters in each. The ending was sort of rushed and there were quite a lot of characters introduced which didn’t end up being that important. But overall I enjoyed the premise and it was enjoyable to follow along with the decisions and thought processes of the morally grey main characters.
October 20, 2022
DNF at 150 pages. If I could give this book no stars due to what I can only describe as violations to literature, I would. It starts with an exciting premise and that is what drew me to the book. However, the writing is so bad that I could barely get through it. The cliches were terrible, disappointing, and tired. There were a few sentences that made me put down the book and question my taste for thinking it looked good in the first place. It also made me question the editors, the publishers, and anyone who had anything to do with the release of the book! It says thank you to my wife for the inspiration in the dedication and she should be blamed too for allowing this to come out. Do not waste your time, a 10th grader in creative writing classes could probably write something better given the budget and time! It was highly ridiculous and got to the point where I was shocked at how poorly it was thought out. 500 pages of a pure waste of time.
March 7, 2017
To be honest, this felt like one of the most drawn-out, least thrilling thrillers that I've ever read. Not that I've read all that many, but I still felt greatly let down by that plot twist. I feel like it was not worth reading 500 pages to get to an ending like that.
Biggest. Troll. Ending. Ever.
Okay, so it might be some peoples cup of tea, it just really wasn't mine.
Biggest. Troll. Ending. Ever.
Okay, so it might be some peoples cup of tea, it just really wasn't mine.
February 5, 2017
A terrific, fast paced crime thriller that takes one man across the Atlantic in his fight for survival and in pursuit of Pendulum - a masked killer disguising murder as suicide.
A great read with a contemporary plot.
A great read with a contemporary plot.
March 28, 2018
Novel set mainly in LONDON and NEW YORK
Pendulum has probably the best opening chapter of any thriller I have read. John Wallace, a London photographer and veteran of the Afghanistan war, opens the door of his flat – only to be seized by a masked and body-armour-clad assailant. He is strung up from a beam in the flat with a noose around his neck. He is about to die – and he has no idea why… The beam (luckily put into the flat for artistic effect only…) collapses under the pressure. John seizes the opportunity, crashes out through the first floor window – and runs…
Sadly, though, for me the opening was the best part of the book. A good thriller has to be somehow believable (even if belief is at times somewhat strained…). Pendulum unfortunately is not. It is too farfetched and too unlikely a story. Wallace encounters a policeman, and explains what has happened to him. He is not believed – there is no evidence of a break-in at his flat, and the police believe he is simply a failed suicide. He is sent to a psychiatric facility where the same assailant breaks in and, again, nearly kills him. He escapes and flees to an ex-girlfriend, who does believe him – and encourages him to go again to the police. This time the police take it seriously and a trap is set for the assailant, but it fails in dramatic and bloody manner. Who is trying to kill John, and why won’t he give up? John decides he has to be the one to to investigate. He Googles and, perhaps oddly, discovers others who have been attacked in the same way – apparent suicides with notes left on their Facebook pages to ‘prove’ it. Each has a dirty secret which is revealed in the note. The victims are scattered across the UK and the US with nothing apparently to connect them. For me, too much of the story is devoted to telling the tale of each ‘suicide’. Their stories are too disconnected and come over very much in isolation. To a significant they extent disrupt the narrative of the book.
John, after dramatic events in London (no more for fear of a spoiler…) heads out to New York to carry on with his investigations. He teams up with a disgraced detective, and they get closer to the ‘Pendulum Murderer’ – so called because of the way he leaves his victims swinging. The finale of the book is certainly very exciting, but – to my mind – somewhat too ‘clever’ and contrived.
All that said, others clearly do not have the same view of Pendulum as I do. It has received some rave reviews and is being adapted for UK TV. There is also talk of a motion picture.
I leave you to read the book and make up your own mind.
Pendulum has probably the best opening chapter of any thriller I have read. John Wallace, a London photographer and veteran of the Afghanistan war, opens the door of his flat – only to be seized by a masked and body-armour-clad assailant. He is strung up from a beam in the flat with a noose around his neck. He is about to die – and he has no idea why… The beam (luckily put into the flat for artistic effect only…) collapses under the pressure. John seizes the opportunity, crashes out through the first floor window – and runs…
Sadly, though, for me the opening was the best part of the book. A good thriller has to be somehow believable (even if belief is at times somewhat strained…). Pendulum unfortunately is not. It is too farfetched and too unlikely a story. Wallace encounters a policeman, and explains what has happened to him. He is not believed – there is no evidence of a break-in at his flat, and the police believe he is simply a failed suicide. He is sent to a psychiatric facility where the same assailant breaks in and, again, nearly kills him. He escapes and flees to an ex-girlfriend, who does believe him – and encourages him to go again to the police. This time the police take it seriously and a trap is set for the assailant, but it fails in dramatic and bloody manner. Who is trying to kill John, and why won’t he give up? John decides he has to be the one to to investigate. He Googles and, perhaps oddly, discovers others who have been attacked in the same way – apparent suicides with notes left on their Facebook pages to ‘prove’ it. Each has a dirty secret which is revealed in the note. The victims are scattered across the UK and the US with nothing apparently to connect them. For me, too much of the story is devoted to telling the tale of each ‘suicide’. Their stories are too disconnected and come over very much in isolation. To a significant they extent disrupt the narrative of the book.
John, after dramatic events in London (no more for fear of a spoiler…) heads out to New York to carry on with his investigations. He teams up with a disgraced detective, and they get closer to the ‘Pendulum Murderer’ – so called because of the way he leaves his victims swinging. The finale of the book is certainly very exciting, but – to my mind – somewhat too ‘clever’ and contrived.
All that said, others clearly do not have the same view of Pendulum as I do. It has received some rave reviews and is being adapted for UK TV. There is also talk of a motion picture.
I leave you to read the book and make up your own mind.
June 14, 2020
Pendulum (2016) by Adam Hamdy is an engrossing thriller.
The plot opens in pretty dramatic style when protagonist photographer John Wallace is almost killed by an unknown killer known as Pendulum. He manages to escape but finds himself in a psychiatric hospital because it is thought that he tried to kill himself. John must find a way to get out of the hospital and find and confront the person who tried to kill him. Eventually he does and soon has help from DS Bailey and recently demoted Special Agent Christine Ash.
The plot sweeps along and is engrossing throughout. The central characters of John, Christine and Connie (John’s murdered girlfriend) are not the most likeable though. John has some terrible views and ideas about mental health and when he assumed Danny (who was my favourite character because he was funny and down-to-earth) was into girls straight after he met him, that was another flaw. We don’t find out who Danny is into because he is not too long in the book but long enough for John to be heterosexist nonetheless. There is a lot I like about Christine but the way she was with the adrenaline shot in the hospital near the end was dodgy as all hell. Connie, I don’t know what it was really, but she seemed quite detached and I didn’t really get to know her too well in it for a character so central to the plot.
The novel combines elements of modern and old-school cozy mystery which works a treat. The ending to the novel and the reasoning behind the murders is very original and manages to bring out an important message. But there was elements with it like knowing the killer way before the end with no surprise factor and an accomplice who was never named which were fine but personal taste wise, took a bit of the excitement from the ending for me. But I did like the originality of what the author was doing. It was a very clever ending and a lot of the plot very much fit with it which made the book very cohesive. That is hard in mystery writing to do so kudos to the author on that.
A very strong book.
The plot opens in pretty dramatic style when protagonist photographer John Wallace is almost killed by an unknown killer known as Pendulum. He manages to escape but finds himself in a psychiatric hospital because it is thought that he tried to kill himself. John must find a way to get out of the hospital and find and confront the person who tried to kill him. Eventually he does and soon has help from DS Bailey and recently demoted Special Agent Christine Ash.
The plot sweeps along and is engrossing throughout. The central characters of John, Christine and Connie (John’s murdered girlfriend) are not the most likeable though. John has some terrible views and ideas about mental health and when he assumed Danny (who was my favourite character because he was funny and down-to-earth) was into girls straight after he met him, that was another flaw. We don’t find out who Danny is into because he is not too long in the book but long enough for John to be heterosexist nonetheless. There is a lot I like about Christine but the way she was with the adrenaline shot in the hospital near the end was dodgy as all hell. Connie, I don’t know what it was really, but she seemed quite detached and I didn’t really get to know her too well in it for a character so central to the plot.
The novel combines elements of modern and old-school cozy mystery which works a treat. The ending to the novel and the reasoning behind the murders is very original and manages to bring out an important message. But there was elements with it like knowing the killer way before the end with no surprise factor and an accomplice who was never named which were fine but personal taste wise, took a bit of the excitement from the ending for me. But I did like the originality of what the author was doing. It was a very clever ending and a lot of the plot very much fit with it which made the book very cohesive. That is hard in mystery writing to do so kudos to the author on that.
A very strong book.
June 12, 2018
Wenn man das Buch beginnt, steigt man direkt mit dem ersten Mordversuch an John Wallace ein und dem Leser stellt sich eine Frage, die er bis zum Ende des Buches nicht beantwortet bekommt: Warum versucht jemand ihn umzubringen? Und wieso gerade auf diese Art und Weise?
Dadurch kann man das Buch auch nicht weglegen, man macht sich beim Lesen permanent Gedanken und versucht genauso die der Protagonist, Zusammenhänge zwischen ihm und ähnlichen "Selbstmorden" herzustellen.
Während ihm anfangs niemand glaubt, ändert sich das doch relativ schnell. Wenn man aber denkt, dass das Buch dadurch ruhiger wird, täuscht sich. Denn auch die Polizei kann nicht viel ausrichten und es beginnt eine Jagd, wie man sie sich kaum vorstellen kann - nicht nur in England, sondern sogar in den USA. Die Spuren von John Wallace zu verfolgen war auf jeden Fall sehr spannend und durch die vielen Ortswechsel auch sehr abwechslungsreich.
Für schwache Nerven ist das Buch nicht das richtige, denn Leichen Pflastern den Weg des Killers. Auch wenn nichts bis ins kleinste Detail geschildert wird, muss man sich im Laufe der Handlung von einigen liebgewonnenen Personen verabschieden. Das war zwar traurig, aber hat auch gezeigt, dass es keinen Kuschelkurs gibt. Der Killer hat keine Gnade und anscheinend auch kein Gewissen.
Im letzten Drittel des Buches habe ich mir schon einen potentiellen Killer herausgepickt, konnte mir aber keinen Reim darauf machen, wie er die Morde begangen haben soll. Das wird dann aber sehr gut aufgelöst - und ich habe mich gefreut, dass ich richtig lag.
Trotzdem ist das Ende etwas offen und ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass es einen weiteren Teil geben wird. Auf den freue ich mich dann sehr. Die Wartezeit bis dahin werde ich mir mit der Vorgeschichte versüßen, die es allerdings nur als ebook gibt. Von mir gibt es 5 Sterne!
Dadurch kann man das Buch auch nicht weglegen, man macht sich beim Lesen permanent Gedanken und versucht genauso die der Protagonist, Zusammenhänge zwischen ihm und ähnlichen "Selbstmorden" herzustellen.
Während ihm anfangs niemand glaubt, ändert sich das doch relativ schnell. Wenn man aber denkt, dass das Buch dadurch ruhiger wird, täuscht sich. Denn auch die Polizei kann nicht viel ausrichten und es beginnt eine Jagd, wie man sie sich kaum vorstellen kann - nicht nur in England, sondern sogar in den USA. Die Spuren von John Wallace zu verfolgen war auf jeden Fall sehr spannend und durch die vielen Ortswechsel auch sehr abwechslungsreich.
Für schwache Nerven ist das Buch nicht das richtige, denn Leichen Pflastern den Weg des Killers. Auch wenn nichts bis ins kleinste Detail geschildert wird, muss man sich im Laufe der Handlung von einigen liebgewonnenen Personen verabschieden. Das war zwar traurig, aber hat auch gezeigt, dass es keinen Kuschelkurs gibt. Der Killer hat keine Gnade und anscheinend auch kein Gewissen.
Im letzten Drittel des Buches habe ich mir schon einen potentiellen Killer herausgepickt, konnte mir aber keinen Reim darauf machen, wie er die Morde begangen haben soll. Das wird dann aber sehr gut aufgelöst - und ich habe mich gefreut, dass ich richtig lag.
Trotzdem ist das Ende etwas offen und ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass es einen weiteren Teil geben wird. Auf den freue ich mich dann sehr. Die Wartezeit bis dahin werde ich mir mit der Vorgeschichte versüßen, die es allerdings nur als ebook gibt. Von mir gibt es 5 Sterne!
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