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The List
Sidney Allen is a Fed. Part of the Australian Federal Police's K block, a unit doing whatever it takes in order to stop terrorist attacks on home soil.
But when young Muslim men on the Terror Watchlist start turning up dead, Sid and his partner, Haifa, have to work out what's going on.
Sectarian war? Drugs? Retribution? For Sid, there's nothing unclear about a bullet to the head and a severed hand. Someone is sending a message.
Deciphering that message reveals a much wider threat and Sid and the agency have to decide just how far they'll go to prevent a deadly attack.
Time is running out ... for them and Australia.
From the brutal battlegrounds of Afghanistan, to the western Sydney suburbs and the halls of power in Canberra, THE LIST is a page-turning thriller where justice, revenge and the war on terror collide.
But when young Muslim men on the Terror Watchlist start turning up dead, Sid and his partner, Haifa, have to work out what's going on.
Sectarian war? Drugs? Retribution? For Sid, there's nothing unclear about a bullet to the head and a severed hand. Someone is sending a message.
Deciphering that message reveals a much wider threat and Sid and the agency have to decide just how far they'll go to prevent a deadly attack.
Time is running out ... for them and Australia.
From the brutal battlegrounds of Afghanistan, to the western Sydney suburbs and the halls of power in Canberra, THE LIST is a page-turning thriller where justice, revenge and the war on terror collide.
316 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2017
25 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Michael Brissenden
7 books46 followersMichael Brissenden is an author and journalist. His first book of fiction – ‘The List’ was published in 2017 and ‘Dead Letters’ 2021 also features the Federal investigator Sidney Allen.
'Smoke' was published in June 2024 and his new book 'Dust' is published in September 2025.
Michael was a journalist with the ABC for 35 years. He was posted to Moscow, Brussels and Washington and worked in Canberra for many years in various roles – including as the Political Editor for the daily television current affairs program – the 7.30 Report, as the ABC’s defence and security correspondent and as the presenter of the ‘AM’ Current Affairs program on ABC radio. From 2017 to 2021 he was a reporter with the ABC’s investigative television documentary program – 4Corners.
Michael has also written non fiction. In 2012 ‘American Stories – tales of hope and anger’ was published by UQP. The book was a personal account of a country on edge that chronicled the undercurrents of division and anger that surfaced during the first term of the Obama presidency. Divisions that would later be exploited to such devastating effect by Donald Trump.
He has contributed to a number of essay collections over the years and written for ‘The Bulletin’, ‘The Canberra Times’ and ‘New Matilda.’
'Smoke' was published in June 2024 and his new book 'Dust' is published in September 2025.
Michael was a journalist with the ABC for 35 years. He was posted to Moscow, Brussels and Washington and worked in Canberra for many years in various roles – including as the Political Editor for the daily television current affairs program – the 7.30 Report, as the ABC’s defence and security correspondent and as the presenter of the ‘AM’ Current Affairs program on ABC radio. From 2017 to 2021 he was a reporter with the ABC’s investigative television documentary program – 4Corners.
Michael has also written non fiction. In 2012 ‘American Stories – tales of hope and anger’ was published by UQP. The book was a personal account of a country on edge that chronicled the undercurrents of division and anger that surfaced during the first term of the Obama presidency. Divisions that would later be exploited to such devastating effect by Donald Trump.
He has contributed to a number of essay collections over the years and written for ‘The Bulletin’, ‘The Canberra Times’ and ‘New Matilda.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 30, 2019
Michael Brissenden is a distinguished and highly respected Australian television reporter and foreign correspondent. His long career has taken him all over the world, reporting in many trouble spots and theatres of war. He has seen first hand and through the eyes of his colleagues and contacts the impact of conflict on individuals and communities. While The List is a novel, I have no doubt that many elements have been drawn from real life.
The story has a fairly simple premise. An Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign is physically wounded and psychologically damaged while on a tour of duty. Some years later he embarks on the systematic killing of young Muslim men in western Sydney. What all the victims share in common is that they are on an ASIO list of potential terrorists.
Two Sydney detectives, Sid Allen and Haifa Hourani, investigate, with the benefit of Haifa's connections to the Muslim community. As the public face of moderate Islam, her brother is a prominent civil spokesperson for the community, and a potential candidate for a parliamentary seat. But is Hakim Hourani hiding secrets? Is he connected to the mysterious jihadist known as The Scorpion?
The Scorpion has a list of his own - a large number of public sites that are to be hit with bombings at the same time on a particular day in March.
The detectives and their colleagues in the police force and security services are ill-equipped to face the challenges of catching the avenging veteran with PTSD and a murderous intent, and trying to stop the mass killing of citizens at locations targeted by The Scorpion. Will events overtake them?
The prose style of this well-constructed novel is simple and unadorned, which makes it accessible to a very wide audience. It is anything but high-brow. I think this is an important feature, and I applaud Brissenden for keeping things simple and the story lines comprehensible to a broad section of the community.
Because this is a book well worth reading...
Brissenden has assembled a range of characters who represent various viewpoints on issues that are highly relevant to contemporary Australian society. The detective Haifa is conflicted, as she attempts to juggle her position in two widely divergent communities. The Muslim preacher is an expert at manipulating the media and pressing home his agenda. The Prime Minister is a cynical prick, who is an expert media performer, but whose sole underlying motivation is to win the upcoming election. The traumatised vet is a tragic case, whose story reflects the experience of many service personnel whom Brissenden witnessed in action in conflict zones.
While I was reading this novel, in Sri Lanka the mass murder of Christian church-goers occurred during Easter celebrations, a brutal crime for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. It was a timely reminder of the evil of international terrorism, and The List is a clever way for readers to get a handle on some of the issues.
The story has a fairly simple premise. An Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign is physically wounded and psychologically damaged while on a tour of duty. Some years later he embarks on the systematic killing of young Muslim men in western Sydney. What all the victims share in common is that they are on an ASIO list of potential terrorists.
Two Sydney detectives, Sid Allen and Haifa Hourani, investigate, with the benefit of Haifa's connections to the Muslim community. As the public face of moderate Islam, her brother is a prominent civil spokesperson for the community, and a potential candidate for a parliamentary seat. But is Hakim Hourani hiding secrets? Is he connected to the mysterious jihadist known as The Scorpion?
The Scorpion has a list of his own - a large number of public sites that are to be hit with bombings at the same time on a particular day in March.
The detectives and their colleagues in the police force and security services are ill-equipped to face the challenges of catching the avenging veteran with PTSD and a murderous intent, and trying to stop the mass killing of citizens at locations targeted by The Scorpion. Will events overtake them?
The prose style of this well-constructed novel is simple and unadorned, which makes it accessible to a very wide audience. It is anything but high-brow. I think this is an important feature, and I applaud Brissenden for keeping things simple and the story lines comprehensible to a broad section of the community.
Because this is a book well worth reading...
Brissenden has assembled a range of characters who represent various viewpoints on issues that are highly relevant to contemporary Australian society. The detective Haifa is conflicted, as she attempts to juggle her position in two widely divergent communities. The Muslim preacher is an expert at manipulating the media and pressing home his agenda. The Prime Minister is a cynical prick, who is an expert media performer, but whose sole underlying motivation is to win the upcoming election. The traumatised vet is a tragic case, whose story reflects the experience of many service personnel whom Brissenden witnessed in action in conflict zones.
While I was reading this novel, in Sri Lanka the mass murder of Christian church-goers occurred during Easter celebrations, a brutal crime for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. It was a timely reminder of the evil of international terrorism, and The List is a clever way for readers to get a handle on some of the issues.
February 27, 2021
Woah- another thrilling read. Constant action and relatable story set in Sydney
August 24, 2017
Very easy read. If I'm brutally honest, it was very predictable and formulaic. If you arent a big reader of crime/thrillers, this maybe a very good read. However there are plenty of novels in this mould that just do the genre better.
October 8, 2017
Michael Brissenden's account of terrorist threats in Sydney have a disturbingly familiar ring to them and gave authenticity to his account. I found it to be a page turner from the outset, though the climax was rather rushed. It is clear to me that the conclusion paves the way for a sequel whether this was intended or not and I am sure it will explore further the Islamic -Lebanese- Australian tensions that have surfaced in recent times. The Cronulla riots, the Lindt lone wolf siege, the Lukemba tensions and the potential dangerous target of the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor all feature in this narrative and provide the credible backdrop for this account.
August 17, 2017
Really enjoyed this explosive thriller by journalist Michael Brissenden.
Well-plotted, the story revolves around a potential terrorist plot with Sydney as the target, and the politics surrounding the matter. The main characters are part the Australian Federal Police's K block, a unit focused on stopping terrorism.
This one had me totally gripped, and left me hoping the story is far more fiction than fact. The ending leaves potential for a sequel, and if that eventuates, I will certainly be keen to read it.
Well-plotted, the story revolves around a potential terrorist plot with Sydney as the target, and the politics surrounding the matter. The main characters are part the Australian Federal Police's K block, a unit focused on stopping terrorism.
This one had me totally gripped, and left me hoping the story is far more fiction than fact. The ending leaves potential for a sequel, and if that eventuates, I will certainly be keen to read it.
September 30, 2021
Oh dear. This book was not a great hit. About 30% of the group read the book, 30% only got a few pages in and the final 30% didn't even start. Comments included: the story was too formulaic, journalistic, or gruesome. Some felt that with enough of these stories on our real-life television, they weren't interested in reading them for "fun".
July 10, 2021
Pacy, tense and with great use of location (even if the description of Goulburn seems harsh).
August 19, 2018
The List was an easy to read and well paced contemporary thriller set in Sydney and Canberra. There was nothing terribly innovative about the story, but formulaic as it was, it didn't matter much because it was an outright entertaining read. Lots of action, drama, a bit of suspense and a story that could easily happen. The threat of large scale terrorism hangs heavily on Australia and this book exposes some of the seedier aspects of that threat.
The book had a good set of characters and some nice texture to their lives to give legs to some more books around the same theme.
For many years I watched Michael Brissenden reporting for the ABC and his late father was an accomplished author and poet. He brings a lot of knowledge and experience to his first book.
Recommended for a cold weekend, or a long flight.
The book had a good set of characters and some nice texture to their lives to give legs to some more books around the same theme.
For many years I watched Michael Brissenden reporting for the ABC and his late father was an accomplished author and poet. He brings a lot of knowledge and experience to his first book.
Recommended for a cold weekend, or a long flight.
February 23, 2021
I heard Michael Brissenden talking about his new book “Dead Letters’ then found this one in the local street library box. This novel moves between action in Afghanistan some years ago and the western suburbs of Sydney in the last decade. The Lindt café siege is referenced – so sometime after that.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The siege gets a mention because this is a book about radicalisation and local acts of terrorism. Someone is murdering young Muslim would-be jihadists in Lakemba and other parts of Sydney. Sidney Allen is on the case. Sid is part of the AFP’s “K block” – a unit aiming at identifying and preventing home-grown acts of terrorism.
I quite enjoyed the novel but suspect that every detail will be lost to me within a week. No matter – it’s kind of what this genre is. It has a political overlay – the more that we ghetto-ise and scapegoat Muslims, the more likely it is that some disenchanted people will become radicalised. Brissenden says that he “had one idea he hadn't been able to shake since covering the Yugoslav Wars during the 1990s. "I was there and I kept running into Dragan of Brisbane, or Milosh from Melbourne, young Australians on all different sides, and most of them weren't even born there but they were sent there and they were fighting." Close to 30 years later and stories about Australians heading off to fight for the Islamic State are in the headlines again.” (https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/...
He is interested in the damaging impact of war and violence. Afghanistan veteran Mick Harrison goes rogue, Sid’s life was upturned after a stint in the same place, other characters have a measure of PTSD from their work as cops or forensic experts. There is a sense that those who protect us are on a thin line between normalcy and something else – not always good.
I did have a couple of quibbles that would have been relatively easy to sort out. Surely in K Block, there would be more than one competent speaker of Arabic. Brissenden likes quite fancy names – in one chapter, he had Jenson Burton, the right-wing reporter with bloviating tendencies, Drummond Gray, the head of ASIO and General Hurlstone Darwin. Not a regular name amongst them – they sound like brands of suit manufacturers.
But this aside, he delivered a good ending with a bit of a twist. And I liked the cynicism of the narrative – at one stage, participants contemplate that the Australian authorities will actually wait and watch while an execution of a couple of Australian citizens is imminent as it is speculated that they actually want an act of violence here in order to enact tougher laws and gain more policing powers. Do they actually let it happen? You’ll have to read the book.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The siege gets a mention because this is a book about radicalisation and local acts of terrorism. Someone is murdering young Muslim would-be jihadists in Lakemba and other parts of Sydney. Sidney Allen is on the case. Sid is part of the AFP’s “K block” – a unit aiming at identifying and preventing home-grown acts of terrorism.
I quite enjoyed the novel but suspect that every detail will be lost to me within a week. No matter – it’s kind of what this genre is. It has a political overlay – the more that we ghetto-ise and scapegoat Muslims, the more likely it is that some disenchanted people will become radicalised. Brissenden says that he “had one idea he hadn't been able to shake since covering the Yugoslav Wars during the 1990s. "I was there and I kept running into Dragan of Brisbane, or Milosh from Melbourne, young Australians on all different sides, and most of them weren't even born there but they were sent there and they were fighting." Close to 30 years later and stories about Australians heading off to fight for the Islamic State are in the headlines again.” (https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/...
He is interested in the damaging impact of war and violence. Afghanistan veteran Mick Harrison goes rogue, Sid’s life was upturned after a stint in the same place, other characters have a measure of PTSD from their work as cops or forensic experts. There is a sense that those who protect us are on a thin line between normalcy and something else – not always good.
I did have a couple of quibbles that would have been relatively easy to sort out. Surely in K Block, there would be more than one competent speaker of Arabic. Brissenden likes quite fancy names – in one chapter, he had Jenson Burton, the right-wing reporter with bloviating tendencies, Drummond Gray, the head of ASIO and General Hurlstone Darwin. Not a regular name amongst them – they sound like brands of suit manufacturers.
But this aside, he delivered a good ending with a bit of a twist. And I liked the cynicism of the narrative – at one stage, participants contemplate that the Australian authorities will actually wait and watch while an execution of a couple of Australian citizens is imminent as it is speculated that they actually want an act of violence here in order to enact tougher laws and gain more policing powers. Do they actually let it happen? You’ll have to read the book.
April 22, 2023
The List by Michael Brissenden is an Australian crime thriller based in Australian themes and challenges that dominate the news around here.
Exciting right for us Aussies right!? Unfortunately it’s a crock. Michael Brissenden writes a half story here that’s clearly intended to be the first instalment of whatever. He gives us a crime that’s not thwarted, a mystery that’s unresolved and ultimately a story that goes NOWHERE whilst in the process definitely answering the question of why don’t more Australians dominate the crime fiction market.
Apparently, we cannot work past the notion that we’re Australian and we’re special. What utter garbage.
The first red flag is in the prologue… The antagonist: Scorpion or Spectre or whatever the hell we’re calling him (all the best villains have multiple aliases) repeatedly shares his admiration for Australian soldiers. They’re especially special and tough… not like the American ones.
So just so we’re clear… It’s an Australian, writing from the perspective of Afghan about how great Australians are. The Australian characters naturally use the words like oi and mate regularly whilst conversing to prove that their Australians… and do you think we get through this novel without an Aussie Aussie Aussie chant!? Hell no. Every chance the author gets to hammer home the point that it’s an Australian book about Australians, he take. It’s so… off putting.
Even the Prime Minister swears: F-Bomb after F-Bomb. It’s straight out of The Simpsons for goodness sakes.
And further compounding this weird identification complex going on, are an overabundance of forced references to middle eastern cultures… Lebanese restaurants and food, Islamic prayers, people from the Islamic countries and cultures. It’s almost as though the author needs us to know he’s researched things.
3 chapters in and serious contemplation was had for simply abandoning this novel then and there. Why go through more of this torture… fortunately a little bit of perseverance paid off in this case because it brought us to the one redeeming characteristic of this story. Underneath the frequent preposition and cultural dog’s breakfast on display for all is a refreshingly honest and deep social/political commentary about the life of everyday Muslims in Australia. And it’s amazing:
The Muslim community are scared. Judged. Feared. They feel mistrusted, are routinely rubbished, made to feel as though they don’t belong, aren’t wanted, won’t assimilate, pressured to leave. Treated as though they’re terrorists.
More and more the everyday disgruntled and angsty vulnerables in that population seek out and are sought out by those that prey on the disenchanted and disenfranchised. Many turn. It’s not being a Muslim. It’s not Islam. Hate breeds hate.
Yet right now, there are those in the country actively working towards harm to others… to spreading fear. If only you knew what those we entrust to protect know. The threat is real and it’s very scary.
So measures are taken. Investigations, surveillance, phone taps, interrogation, most legal, probably a whole bunch of things that are not. And part of the answer as shared by Dr. Hakim Hourani is that the Islamic community should actively engage/participate in the Australian community and disavow the actions of extremists whilst everyday Australians should embrace the positives of Islamic culture.
Full credit to Michal Brissenden here because he utterly nails the post mortem of this politically charged and complicated topic… if only he could make a story out of it because outside of this commentary, we get nothing.
Hakim is Sabre? We all knew because who else could it have been but why? Why is the man who spends the whole book preaching about tolerance, working against fear, embracing ideals both ways, steering away from terrorism… why is he the terrorist?
The plot point seems to be that he and the Prime Minister are working together to create fear so as to throw him in for election in an opposition safe-seat. The implication is that during the climax, they drag out the terror spiel for this reason but why is he Sabre?
Why was he fighting in Afghanistan chopping off the arms of Australian soldiers? Why was he ambushing them? Why didn’t he just kill Mick Harrison?
It seems as though Mick had to live so that he could start off as this story’s kind of mid-level antagonist… he kills young extremist Muslims whilst interrogating them for answers whilst searching for Scorpion or Sabre… whoever. Of course he never recognises Dr. Hourani the very prominent publicly endorsed representative of the Muslim community until the end… he sees his eyes on TV whilst on his deathbed and knows. He didn’t pick it up at any point before over the months of killing people and watching TV. Deathbed eyes see more.
The terrorist plot… the intricately detailed and deadly one the good guys are working on stopping over this entire story: non-issue. Either the 13 pronged attack falls apart in its entirety like a house of cards OR there never was an actual plot in the first place. The deadly scheme was for men to record a video in a no-access area so that someone could maybe be elected into a political party. The stakes don’t get higher than this (it’s truly a bad joke – no David Blaine isn’t floating he was just standing on his other leg the whole time). It’s actually better without knowing the truth.
And speaking of the good guys, we finally get to Sid and Haifa… strange that 900 odd words in and we’re just mentioning the names of the main protagonists for the first time.
Sid is obsessed with his deceased fiancé Rosie who died on the same mission as Mick. That’s important for reasons that aren’t yet specified despite a lot of talking about them. Reasons. Yeah. And then there’s this strange aura of the importance of said reasons whilst Sid is starting this new relationship with Haifa.
These two are kind of the moral compass of this story… there investigation of both the crime and ethics is ours and yet their finishing point: well we know something very suspicious went on probably involving Dr. Hakim and the PM. Now let’s drink, smoke weed and have sex as we don’t want to deal with this... it’s too hard/complicated. Fair enough I guess as many might do the same in this circumstance but it’s hardly the same take as Superman is it?
Like so many other novels, the revelation isn’t worth the build. This time it’s because the primary of this novel is to build for a sequel Here’s the lesson though… even if you’re writing an arc, each story needs its own instalment and this one is lacking.
This is a one star book and it only gets that due to the political commentary that correctly illustrated a very delicate and challenging/confronting issue facing Australians
Exciting right for us Aussies right!? Unfortunately it’s a crock. Michael Brissenden writes a half story here that’s clearly intended to be the first instalment of whatever. He gives us a crime that’s not thwarted, a mystery that’s unresolved and ultimately a story that goes NOWHERE whilst in the process definitely answering the question of why don’t more Australians dominate the crime fiction market.
Apparently, we cannot work past the notion that we’re Australian and we’re special. What utter garbage.
The first red flag is in the prologue… The antagonist: Scorpion or Spectre or whatever the hell we’re calling him (all the best villains have multiple aliases) repeatedly shares his admiration for Australian soldiers. They’re especially special and tough… not like the American ones.
So just so we’re clear… It’s an Australian, writing from the perspective of Afghan about how great Australians are. The Australian characters naturally use the words like oi and mate regularly whilst conversing to prove that their Australians… and do you think we get through this novel without an Aussie Aussie Aussie chant!? Hell no. Every chance the author gets to hammer home the point that it’s an Australian book about Australians, he take. It’s so… off putting.
Even the Prime Minister swears: F-Bomb after F-Bomb. It’s straight out of The Simpsons for goodness sakes.
And further compounding this weird identification complex going on, are an overabundance of forced references to middle eastern cultures… Lebanese restaurants and food, Islamic prayers, people from the Islamic countries and cultures. It’s almost as though the author needs us to know he’s researched things.
3 chapters in and serious contemplation was had for simply abandoning this novel then and there. Why go through more of this torture… fortunately a little bit of perseverance paid off in this case because it brought us to the one redeeming characteristic of this story. Underneath the frequent preposition and cultural dog’s breakfast on display for all is a refreshingly honest and deep social/political commentary about the life of everyday Muslims in Australia. And it’s amazing:
The Muslim community are scared. Judged. Feared. They feel mistrusted, are routinely rubbished, made to feel as though they don’t belong, aren’t wanted, won’t assimilate, pressured to leave. Treated as though they’re terrorists.
More and more the everyday disgruntled and angsty vulnerables in that population seek out and are sought out by those that prey on the disenchanted and disenfranchised. Many turn. It’s not being a Muslim. It’s not Islam. Hate breeds hate.
Yet right now, there are those in the country actively working towards harm to others… to spreading fear. If only you knew what those we entrust to protect know. The threat is real and it’s very scary.
So measures are taken. Investigations, surveillance, phone taps, interrogation, most legal, probably a whole bunch of things that are not. And part of the answer as shared by Dr. Hakim Hourani is that the Islamic community should actively engage/participate in the Australian community and disavow the actions of extremists whilst everyday Australians should embrace the positives of Islamic culture.
Full credit to Michal Brissenden here because he utterly nails the post mortem of this politically charged and complicated topic… if only he could make a story out of it because outside of this commentary, we get nothing.
Hakim is Sabre? We all knew because who else could it have been but why? Why is the man who spends the whole book preaching about tolerance, working against fear, embracing ideals both ways, steering away from terrorism… why is he the terrorist?
The plot point seems to be that he and the Prime Minister are working together to create fear so as to throw him in for election in an opposition safe-seat. The implication is that during the climax, they drag out the terror spiel for this reason but why is he Sabre?
Why was he fighting in Afghanistan chopping off the arms of Australian soldiers? Why was he ambushing them? Why didn’t he just kill Mick Harrison?
It seems as though Mick had to live so that he could start off as this story’s kind of mid-level antagonist… he kills young extremist Muslims whilst interrogating them for answers whilst searching for Scorpion or Sabre… whoever. Of course he never recognises Dr. Hourani the very prominent publicly endorsed representative of the Muslim community until the end… he sees his eyes on TV whilst on his deathbed and knows. He didn’t pick it up at any point before over the months of killing people and watching TV. Deathbed eyes see more.
The terrorist plot… the intricately detailed and deadly one the good guys are working on stopping over this entire story: non-issue. Either the 13 pronged attack falls apart in its entirety like a house of cards OR there never was an actual plot in the first place. The deadly scheme was for men to record a video in a no-access area so that someone could maybe be elected into a political party. The stakes don’t get higher than this (it’s truly a bad joke – no David Blaine isn’t floating he was just standing on his other leg the whole time). It’s actually better without knowing the truth.
And speaking of the good guys, we finally get to Sid and Haifa… strange that 900 odd words in and we’re just mentioning the names of the main protagonists for the first time.
Sid is obsessed with his deceased fiancé Rosie who died on the same mission as Mick. That’s important for reasons that aren’t yet specified despite a lot of talking about them. Reasons. Yeah. And then there’s this strange aura of the importance of said reasons whilst Sid is starting this new relationship with Haifa.
These two are kind of the moral compass of this story… there investigation of both the crime and ethics is ours and yet their finishing point: well we know something very suspicious went on probably involving Dr. Hakim and the PM. Now let’s drink, smoke weed and have sex as we don’t want to deal with this... it’s too hard/complicated. Fair enough I guess as many might do the same in this circumstance but it’s hardly the same take as Superman is it?
Like so many other novels, the revelation isn’t worth the build. This time it’s because the primary of this novel is to build for a sequel Here’s the lesson though… even if you’re writing an arc, each story needs its own instalment and this one is lacking.
This is a one star book and it only gets that due to the political commentary that correctly illustrated a very delicate and challenging/confronting issue facing Australians
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2017
Enjoyed it immensely, a ripping yarn.
July 21, 2017
Book blurb...
Revenge and the war on terror collide.
Sidney Allen is a Fed. Part of the Australian Federal Police's K block, a unit doing whatever it takes in order to stop terrorist attacks on home soil.
But when young Muslim men on the Terror Watchlist start turning up dead, Sid and his partner, Haifa, have to work out what's going on.
Sectarian war? Drugs? Retribution? For Sid, there's nothing unclear about a bullet to the head and a severed hand. Someone is sending a message.
Deciphering that message reveals a much wider threat and Sid and the agency have to decide just how far they'll go to prevent a deadly attack.
Time is running out ... for them and Australia.
My thoughts…
This plot is quite confronting with regard to the possible future of terrorism in this country. Whilst I know it is fiction and these subjects should be discussed, I wonder if by putting these atrocities out there we might be inviting people to see these terror plots as real possibilities. It happens in both book and crime shows on TV, I know, but this was a little too real for me. The author has kind of done the job of planning an attack for them!
Both Sid and Haifa seem to carry their own share of baggage with them whilst they are investigating the killings. So much so, I found myself wondering why they were working for the AFP’s K block, as neither seem to be happy in their work!
I did get a little lost at stages in the story when I felt like the narrator was ‘teaching' me about terrorism and the Muslim cultural connections in Sydney. I did not like the way the Prime Minister is portrayed in such a negative light.
Overall, a lot of conflict that ultimately comes to a head and I guess the bad guys get everything they deserve, or do they? The author leaves this open.
This review also appears on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
Revenge and the war on terror collide.
Sidney Allen is a Fed. Part of the Australian Federal Police's K block, a unit doing whatever it takes in order to stop terrorist attacks on home soil.
But when young Muslim men on the Terror Watchlist start turning up dead, Sid and his partner, Haifa, have to work out what's going on.
Sectarian war? Drugs? Retribution? For Sid, there's nothing unclear about a bullet to the head and a severed hand. Someone is sending a message.
Deciphering that message reveals a much wider threat and Sid and the agency have to decide just how far they'll go to prevent a deadly attack.
Time is running out ... for them and Australia.
My thoughts…
This plot is quite confronting with regard to the possible future of terrorism in this country. Whilst I know it is fiction and these subjects should be discussed, I wonder if by putting these atrocities out there we might be inviting people to see these terror plots as real possibilities. It happens in both book and crime shows on TV, I know, but this was a little too real for me. The author has kind of done the job of planning an attack for them!
Both Sid and Haifa seem to carry their own share of baggage with them whilst they are investigating the killings. So much so, I found myself wondering why they were working for the AFP’s K block, as neither seem to be happy in their work!
I did get a little lost at stages in the story when I felt like the narrator was ‘teaching' me about terrorism and the Muslim cultural connections in Sydney. I did not like the way the Prime Minister is portrayed in such a negative light.
Overall, a lot of conflict that ultimately comes to a head and I guess the bad guys get everything they deserve, or do they? The author leaves this open.
This review also appears on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
June 4, 2017
I am a little ambivalent about this book. I was looking forward to reading something along the lines of a Tom Clancy novel - political intrigue, the war on terror with an Aussie slant. That is exactly what I got but for some reason it just didn't grab me the way I expected it to.
Brissenden has been a journalist and foreign correspondant for over 30 years so he knows his subject matter. There were moments of brilliance and intrigue within this book but there was a lot in there that felt a little like filler. We have this big build up, working out what is going on and then, although there was not a peaceful ending, it felt like it happened too quick. I understand that the Big Bad were thwarted but they seemed to change their plans to compensate too quickly.
I can feel that this author and his characters are about to explode - with little hints shining through. I expect that his follow up will let loose these characters and we will see his true story writing come to the fore.
If you are looking for a book that brings the War on Terror to Australian soil, you have found it. The K Block team are hunting for the people responsible for killing Muslims on the Terror List. Is it a rival group or a home grown hunter? In amongst this web of deceipt, another, more shocking secret is about to reveal itself. Can you separate what is real and what is not?
I do admit that I look forward to reading the next book and seeing where this story goes.
Brissenden has been a journalist and foreign correspondant for over 30 years so he knows his subject matter. There were moments of brilliance and intrigue within this book but there was a lot in there that felt a little like filler. We have this big build up, working out what is going on and then, although there was not a peaceful ending, it felt like it happened too quick. I understand that the Big Bad were thwarted but they seemed to change their plans to compensate too quickly.
I can feel that this author and his characters are about to explode - with little hints shining through. I expect that his follow up will let loose these characters and we will see his true story writing come to the fore.
If you are looking for a book that brings the War on Terror to Australian soil, you have found it. The K Block team are hunting for the people responsible for killing Muslims on the Terror List. Is it a rival group or a home grown hunter? In amongst this web of deceipt, another, more shocking secret is about to reveal itself. Can you separate what is real and what is not?
I do admit that I look forward to reading the next book and seeing where this story goes.
November 13, 2021
3+ rounded up. My husband and I were first introduced to Michael B’s move into writing fiction at one of his book promo lunches at Muse in Canberra (recommended!), for his 2nd novel Dead Letters. As so many Australians know, Michael has had a long and successful career as a highly respected journalist. So it was fascinating to hear of his move into the crime/thriller genre with settings in Sydney and Canberra - cities we’re also very familiar with. I preferred Dead Letters my husband enjoyed both & rated The List 4. To be fair police procedural crime genre not one of my favourites and reading 2 similar novels in space of a few months wasn’t a good idea.
October 15, 2017
I really enjoyed the 'The List' - perhaps it was a bit predictable for its genre, however, being based in Sydney inner southern / western suburbs provides a point of difference to many of its kind. After growing up in the same areas that the book is based in I understood its context and the issues that the book highlights are real. I wouldn't say it was a book I couldn't put down, but as a first book for Mr Brissenden I thought it was an excellent effort. The threat of terrorism reaches out to us all including all of us lucky ones that live in Australia.
January 22, 2019
If you’re a fan of thrillers then this is worth a look. Without spoiling the plot there are twists and turns you won’t see coming although some are predictable but not in a way I’d criticise. I thought I’d like this book and I wasn’t disappointed. It raises some interesting political, social and media themes and makes you think about them from multiple perspectives. Australians, particularly those who live in Sydney, will probably enjoy the familiarity of the setting or perhaps depending on where you live an insight into parts of the city that you don’t know.
January 20, 2018
Overall this book didn't really grab me. It was lacking a depth that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. There were characters in this that didn't make sense, actions that weren't explained and actions by supposedly professionals that were very unprofessional. Some of it just didn't make sense.
It's a story of a hunt for terrorists in Australia. But a very badly executed hunt.
Very average sort of read.
It's a story of a hunt for terrorists in Australia. But a very badly executed hunt.
Very average sort of read.
April 11, 2018
While not as poorly written as some politicians' efforts at fiction I've seen (they really need to think that through more eh), Brissenden does seem to attempt a large scale story on his usual reporter's word budget. While amusing and occasionally eloquent turns of phrase do appear, they're sadly too often undermined by cliché and sub-par character development. It gets an extra star for at least attempting a multi-faceted context in which to place its terrorism. It's a 'nice try' from me.
August 9, 2021
I feel like I haven't read an action thriller for a while. While the "twist" seemed a bit obvious to me, I still enjoyed the hang-on-to-your seat suspense of counter-terrorism in Australia. Warning: I was told when I got to the end, I would want to go straight to the sequel. It's true.
(Note to self: When discussing this with the bookclub, raise the question whether books like these could actually be counter-productive to racial integration.)
(Note to self: When discussing this with the bookclub, raise the question whether books like these could actually be counter-productive to racial integration.)
September 17, 2017
A fast paced easy read which to be honest only validated a lot of thoughts I have relating to security in this country. They are not ones of confidence or safety. The book builds towards a huge only ending only to be concluded quite quickly which is a common characteristic of first novels. I look forward to the second book which will build on this one.
February 4, 2019
add the 1/2...set in my hometown gives the book a sense of familiarisation as many of the locations I know very well so I can easily visualise the book. The story is plausible and as a journalist MB writes well enough to allow the reader to 'run' with the story.
January 20, 2020
Even though there were various aspects of this book that didn't land for me, overall, it's an interesting thriller with a focus on islamic terrorism and at it's best, it does expose the dilemma for Muslims in Western societies in this time of distrust.
August 20, 2017
Rather formulaic plot, but I always enjoy a local thriller
January 10, 2018
Good page turner. Fairly tight writing but a lot of exposition. Exciting plot set in contemporary Australia, raises a lot of issues. Well researched.
April 28, 2018
Entertaining read. Lots of relevance to the issues of the day and the ethnic relationships across Sydeny.
February 16, 2019
A page-turner of a political thriller, set in Australia, even if somewhat predictable
September 21, 2019
Highly compelling and scary to think this might be happening now. Great pace and right to the last more secrets are uncovered.
March 10, 2021
Great little book. When Scotty from Marketing closes the ABC, this guy has a future as a novelist is assured.
March 21, 2021
Entertaining read with interesting plot. A mix of good procedural material and contemporary Australian issues.
April 12, 2021
Formulaic and predictable, though his heart may be in the right lace. Police at work.
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