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Pendulum Trilogy #3
Aftershock
FEAR IS THE DEADLIEST WEAPON. THEY BELIEVED IT WAS OVER
Having survived the lethal Pendulum conspiracy, photographer John Wallace atones for his past mistakes.
DI Patrick Bailey clings to the hope that he can, at last, return to a normal life in London.
BUT IT'S ONLY JUST BEGINNING
FBI investigator Christine Ash - alone and paranoid - hunts down the remaining members of the ruthless Foundation organization.
DARK FORCES ARE RISING AGAIN
But when masked assassins strike at the heart of the UK government, a shocking new threat emerges that forces all three to reunite.
DEADLIER THAN EVER BEFORE
With time running out, they must defeat a lethal new adversary: a manipulative mastermind with sinister powers unlike anything they've seen before.
Having survived the lethal Pendulum conspiracy, photographer John Wallace atones for his past mistakes.
DI Patrick Bailey clings to the hope that he can, at last, return to a normal life in London.
BUT IT'S ONLY JUST BEGINNING
FBI investigator Christine Ash - alone and paranoid - hunts down the remaining members of the ruthless Foundation organization.
DARK FORCES ARE RISING AGAIN
But when masked assassins strike at the heart of the UK government, a shocking new threat emerges that forces all three to reunite.
DEADLIER THAN EVER BEFORE
With time running out, they must defeat a lethal new adversary: a manipulative mastermind with sinister powers unlike anything they've seen before.
560 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2019
About the author
Adam Hamdy
43 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 16, 2018
Aftershock, the third and final instalment in the superb Pendulum series, begins in an explosive manner as we follow the characters in their attempts to deal with the fallout from the previous novels. It is imperative to have read the preceding books before this one otherwise you will not have much of an idea about what is happening. Not only do we have the overarching plot, but we follow each character in their personal battles which makes for emotive reading, and I found myself rooting for each of them to grow and learn. The pace is wonderfully unrelenting, and Hamdy packs the story with nonstop action. The author is adept at ratcheting up the tension as the book progresses and many heart-in-your-mouth moments creep up on you leaving you in shock.
This is more than merely an entertaining and easy read as the author adds depth to the novel by including thought-provoking material on the law. He discusses the blurring of the lines in relation to how laws are made and subsequently broken, as well as who gets punished when it is clear that a line has indeed been crossed. The conclusion was also a fitting relevant way to top off a series that has been one of my favourites, and I cant wait to see what Hamdy publishes in the future. I will genuinely miss Wallace, Ash and Bailey and the adrenaline-pumping action and smart thrills this series has in spades! If you enjoy your thrillers with added emotion, plenty of shocking moments, a clever plot and superb characterisation then this series is well worth your time.
Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
This is more than merely an entertaining and easy read as the author adds depth to the novel by including thought-provoking material on the law. He discusses the blurring of the lines in relation to how laws are made and subsequently broken, as well as who gets punished when it is clear that a line has indeed been crossed. The conclusion was also a fitting relevant way to top off a series that has been one of my favourites, and I cant wait to see what Hamdy publishes in the future. I will genuinely miss Wallace, Ash and Bailey and the adrenaline-pumping action and smart thrills this series has in spades! If you enjoy your thrillers with added emotion, plenty of shocking moments, a clever plot and superb characterisation then this series is well worth your time.
Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
August 11, 2018
If you follow my blog, you’ll know I’ve read and loved the previous books in the trilogy so I had been eagerly awaiting Aftershock since I finished Freefall last summer. Which feels like a lifetime ago! So you can imagine my delight to find a copy waiting for me after I got home from Harrogate. I literally turned the last page of Aftershock a half hour ago, and I am shook, in the best possible way of course.
I’m mindful of the fact that I don’t want to go into too much detail in this review, so I will try to keep it relatively short because if I start rambling about the book, I probably won’t stop too easily!
Aftershock starts with a bang, and I swear the pace doesn’t let up for the entirety of the 500+ pages. If you’ve read the first two books, you’ll recognise Adam Hamdy’s innate talent for writing extremely cinematic thrillers, and this one is no exception!
We are back with the usual suspects, Wallace, Ash, Bailey as they try to deal with the fallout from the events that took place in Freefall. Each is trying to battle their own demons, and the internal guilt/struggles they are experiencing make for tough and emotive reading at times. The journeys that each one goes on, and the arc of their respective characters is so well plotted, and I found myself really rooting for them at various points in the book.
The Foundation has claimed so much of these people’s lives, and in Aftershock they try to claw back something for themselves. Destruction and force are The Foundation’s weapons of choice, but murder seems to be the order of the day and its up to Wallace, Ash and the rest to try to finally put a stop to this wide-reaching organisation.
I swear the tension and pacing in these books is designed to get your adrenaline pumping, but not in a bad way. I kept my reading of this one to daylight hours, but even then I was on tenterhooks while the action was unfolding. Lets not even mention the bits that made me tearful!!!
Aftershock is a pitch perfect ending to what has been one of the best action series I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Cleverly plotted, excellent characters and a truly terrifying reality made Aftershock a truly gripping read.
If you like your thrillers with real heart, then I highly recommend you pick up Aftershock, and its equally impressive predecessors.
You will not be disappointed.
All the stars for this one!
I’m mindful of the fact that I don’t want to go into too much detail in this review, so I will try to keep it relatively short because if I start rambling about the book, I probably won’t stop too easily!
Aftershock starts with a bang, and I swear the pace doesn’t let up for the entirety of the 500+ pages. If you’ve read the first two books, you’ll recognise Adam Hamdy’s innate talent for writing extremely cinematic thrillers, and this one is no exception!
We are back with the usual suspects, Wallace, Ash, Bailey as they try to deal with the fallout from the events that took place in Freefall. Each is trying to battle their own demons, and the internal guilt/struggles they are experiencing make for tough and emotive reading at times. The journeys that each one goes on, and the arc of their respective characters is so well plotted, and I found myself really rooting for them at various points in the book.
The Foundation has claimed so much of these people’s lives, and in Aftershock they try to claw back something for themselves. Destruction and force are The Foundation’s weapons of choice, but murder seems to be the order of the day and its up to Wallace, Ash and the rest to try to finally put a stop to this wide-reaching organisation.
I swear the tension and pacing in these books is designed to get your adrenaline pumping, but not in a bad way. I kept my reading of this one to daylight hours, but even then I was on tenterhooks while the action was unfolding. Lets not even mention the bits that made me tearful!!!
Aftershock is a pitch perfect ending to what has been one of the best action series I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Cleverly plotted, excellent characters and a truly terrifying reality made Aftershock a truly gripping read.
If you like your thrillers with real heart, then I highly recommend you pick up Aftershock, and its equally impressive predecessors.
You will not be disappointed.
All the stars for this one!
August 12, 2018
Aftershock is the culmination of a simply brilliant trilogy from Adam Hamdy, I’m genuinely distraught to have come to the end of this journey with Wallace, Ash and Bailey. It has been a pure adrenalin rush of a read from the very first page of Pendulum to the very last page of Aftershock.
This is how all thrillers should be – filled with beautifully drawn characters you root for and care about, more action than you can shake a stick at and an intelligent, pacy plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Aftershock is a pitch perfect finale, bringing back all our favourites, adding some new (or old) evil into the mix, continuing the trademark set pieces that make these novels such a joy to ride along with and resolving things in a beautifully relevant way.
I was riveted, literally glued to it, like watching the best movie ever but in literary form. At the end I was more than a little tearful, Aftershock was hugely satisfying and an absolute pleasure. Could not have asked for more.
Highly recommended.
This is how all thrillers should be – filled with beautifully drawn characters you root for and care about, more action than you can shake a stick at and an intelligent, pacy plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Aftershock is a pitch perfect finale, bringing back all our favourites, adding some new (or old) evil into the mix, continuing the trademark set pieces that make these novels such a joy to ride along with and resolving things in a beautifully relevant way.
I was riveted, literally glued to it, like watching the best movie ever but in literary form. At the end I was more than a little tearful, Aftershock was hugely satisfying and an absolute pleasure. Could not have asked for more.
Highly recommended.
March 25, 2022
First off, let me get one thing out of the way. I was conflicted between giving this 3 stars and 4 stars, but I have finally decided to hand this a 4 stars rating
To give a vague idea of the way this book flows, the starting is excellent, perhaps even better than Pendulum's starting, which I genuinely loved. Then the quality regresses a little in the middle of the story, but the story picks up in quality again, towards the end.
Like the rest of the Pendulum trilogy, Aftershock oozes quality in how well written its characters are. This is the closest I ever felt to all these characters, and that made reading through the trilogy finale even more emotionally dense. There are some moments of pure heartbreak, and others of plain euphoria. But one thing's for sure, if you've been following these characters since the first Pendulum book, Aftershock will pull more emotional investment than the other two books.
The plot is great, it never stops, and something is always happening, no matter how subtle. More words than usual are taken up by the description of characters' sentiments here, but that works to the advantage of the story, as raising the emotional stakes makes for a more enjoyable read.
I have one complaint again, which was also present in my read-through of Freefall, and that is the extra use of descriptions, which sucks the reader out of the moment sometimes. The use of descriptions is not as bad as Freefall, but it was still a noticeable issue.
Of course, I can not end the review to the ending book of this trilogy without talking about the ending. And the ending is GREAT, I loved it. There are adequate pay offs and some bittersweet moments, which perfectly align with the literary trajectory of the narrative. Reading that last sentence left me extremely satisfied, and that is what endings are supposed to do, they are supposed to wrap everything up, which is exactly what Aftershock did.
A very, very good ending to the Pendulum trilogy
To give a vague idea of the way this book flows, the starting is excellent, perhaps even better than Pendulum's starting, which I genuinely loved. Then the quality regresses a little in the middle of the story, but the story picks up in quality again, towards the end.
Like the rest of the Pendulum trilogy, Aftershock oozes quality in how well written its characters are. This is the closest I ever felt to all these characters, and that made reading through the trilogy finale even more emotionally dense. There are some moments of pure heartbreak, and others of plain euphoria. But one thing's for sure, if you've been following these characters since the first Pendulum book, Aftershock will pull more emotional investment than the other two books.
The plot is great, it never stops, and something is always happening, no matter how subtle. More words than usual are taken up by the description of characters' sentiments here, but that works to the advantage of the story, as raising the emotional stakes makes for a more enjoyable read.
I have one complaint again, which was also present in my read-through of Freefall, and that is the extra use of descriptions, which sucks the reader out of the moment sometimes. The use of descriptions is not as bad as Freefall, but it was still a noticeable issue.
Of course, I can not end the review to the ending book of this trilogy without talking about the ending. And the ending is GREAT, I loved it. There are adequate pay offs and some bittersweet moments, which perfectly align with the literary trajectory of the narrative. Reading that last sentence left me extremely satisfied, and that is what endings are supposed to do, they are supposed to wrap everything up, which is exactly what Aftershock did.
A very, very good ending to the Pendulum trilogy
January 16, 2019
This is the third and final instalment in the Pendulum series and what a series it has been! Half of my was wanting to race through the pages to find out what happens next and the other half wanted to take my time and savour each page knowing that once I reached the end that was it, the last pages ever in this high stakes, fast burning action packed trilogy.
I must say though that you really do have read the previous books in order before this one otherwise you will not fully grasp the significance of the storylines and get the full pure enjoyment out of the characters, their personal storylines as well as plots.
This one starts with a bang and doesn’t let up right up until the end and the conclusion was spot on, it’s just sad to say goodbye to these memorable characters.
If you haven’t read them then I can’t recommend them enough, it will now be interesting to see what Adam Hamdy has in store for us next.
A big thank you to the author Adam Hamdy, publishers Headline and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for and honest and independent review.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress....
I must say though that you really do have read the previous books in order before this one otherwise you will not fully grasp the significance of the storylines and get the full pure enjoyment out of the characters, their personal storylines as well as plots.
This one starts with a bang and doesn’t let up right up until the end and the conclusion was spot on, it’s just sad to say goodbye to these memorable characters.
If you haven’t read them then I can’t recommend them enough, it will now be interesting to see what Adam Hamdy has in store for us next.
A big thank you to the author Adam Hamdy, publishers Headline and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for and honest and independent review.
https://debbiesbookreviews.wordpress....
March 21, 2020
Aftershock is the final episode of Adam Hamdy's Pendulum trilogy and sure delivers a punch, with suspense, fear and excitement jumping off every page.
Again we're taken inside the world of FBI investigator Christine Ash, photographer John Wallace and British detective inspector Patrick Bailey. Together and separately they're on a mission to identify the Foundation members and to shut down their lethal and far reaching activities. Easier said than done.
Ash has retreated inside her own mind, to the dismay of her FBI colleagues. With the demise of the Foundation's leader Smokie she is totally focused on locating a list he supposedly had secreted, a list of all the Foundation's members, many of them members of high society and of the International police community. And it isn't long before she encounters her most dangerous adversary, her own father who has adopted the nom de plume Arno, and has managed to inveigle himself into a position of authority within the Foundation.
Aftershock is a brutal conclusion to the Pendulum series. I strongly suggest you read Pendulum and Freefall before tackling the finale.
Again we're taken inside the world of FBI investigator Christine Ash, photographer John Wallace and British detective inspector Patrick Bailey. Together and separately they're on a mission to identify the Foundation members and to shut down their lethal and far reaching activities. Easier said than done.
Ash has retreated inside her own mind, to the dismay of her FBI colleagues. With the demise of the Foundation's leader Smokie she is totally focused on locating a list he supposedly had secreted, a list of all the Foundation's members, many of them members of high society and of the International police community. And it isn't long before she encounters her most dangerous adversary, her own father who has adopted the nom de plume Arno, and has managed to inveigle himself into a position of authority within the Foundation.
Aftershock is a brutal conclusion to the Pendulum series. I strongly suggest you read Pendulum and Freefall before tackling the finale.
December 9, 2018
Aftershock left me speechless and slightly emotional.
The Pendulum finale is full of action, drama twist and turns with a good dose of mystery. There are several parts that if I could I would have read though my fingers. There is especially one moment that involved are favourite Chief Inspector, that left me feeling like I had been though the emotional wringer.
It is important to read the pervious books to understand the journey that John, Patrick and Christine have been on. The trauma that they have dealt with so you can understand their resolve of ending the Foundation at what ever cost.
If you are anything like me when you read the book you end up being paranoid, Aftershock leave you not knowing who to trust. Who is working with the Foundation and what they are going to do next.
The Pendulum Trilogy is a must read for anyone that like high-octane thriller.
My rating for Aftershock is 5 out of 5.
The Pendulum finale is full of action, drama twist and turns with a good dose of mystery. There are several parts that if I could I would have read though my fingers. There is especially one moment that involved are favourite Chief Inspector, that left me feeling like I had been though the emotional wringer.
It is important to read the pervious books to understand the journey that John, Patrick and Christine have been on. The trauma that they have dealt with so you can understand their resolve of ending the Foundation at what ever cost.
If you are anything like me when you read the book you end up being paranoid, Aftershock leave you not knowing who to trust. Who is working with the Foundation and what they are going to do next.
The Pendulum Trilogy is a must read for anyone that like high-octane thriller.
My rating for Aftershock is 5 out of 5.
February 21, 2019
This is such a good book and the perfect end to a fantastic trilogy.
The characters feel very real with a whole range of emotions, faults and every single one of them has a distinctive voice. (Danny is my favourite)
There are enough reminders scattered throughout the book of who is who and what went before that you don't miss anything if it's been a while between reading each instalment.
The plot rips along nicely with nothing jarring or random thrown in.
A trilogy well worth reading.
The characters feel very real with a whole range of emotions, faults and every single one of them has a distinctive voice. (Danny is my favourite)
There are enough reminders scattered throughout the book of who is who and what went before that you don't miss anything if it's been a while between reading each instalment.
The plot rips along nicely with nothing jarring or random thrown in.
A trilogy well worth reading.
August 16, 2022
Absolutely fantastic story - full of action from the very first page to the very last. It's a shame I didn't realise it was 3rd book in a trilogy but that will not deter me from tracking the previous 2 down and reading them because if they are anything near as excellent as this part they will be worthy of the time spent reading them. It is the first book I have read of this author but it definitely won't be the last. The suspense and the humanity of the characters are completely believable which just adds to the mix.
March 19, 2022
Great read
Truly enjoyed this series. An engaging storyline that stayed fresh from book 1 through the Aftershock, the 3rd and final book of the series. Great characters that were developed wonderfully throughout. A fan of the author; only issue is, I'm in the US and it seems there is a delay in the kindle books arriving here. Can't wait for more.
Truly enjoyed this series. An engaging storyline that stayed fresh from book 1 through the Aftershock, the 3rd and final book of the series. Great characters that were developed wonderfully throughout. A fan of the author; only issue is, I'm in the US and it seems there is a delay in the kindle books arriving here. Can't wait for more.
February 24, 2024
Adam Hamdy does it again. Keeping you hooked throughout every chapter. Not a chapter without something happening. I’m extremely sad Bailey died. I’m happy the foundation was taken down and Wallace and ash got to storms their life together after everything they’ve been through. Amazing trilogy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2019
Enjoyed it, but need to read all 3 again. The characters are well defined. It kind of wrapped up a bit weird for me. Unless there is more to come out of the woodwork in future.
February 25, 2020
Brilliant reading.
I found the book an excellent ending to the Pendulum trilogy. Couldn't wait to find out the end of Ash and Wallace's story.
I found the book an excellent ending to the Pendulum trilogy. Couldn't wait to find out the end of Ash and Wallace's story.
March 15, 2020
Really disappointing. Loved the first two books in the series but this was a let down.
June 22, 2021
One of the best trilogies I have read.
May 3, 2022
Pendulum Series
Excellent. All three books kept me on the edge weaving and interlinking storylines and characters to a thoroughly heightened conclusion.
Highly recommended.
Excellent. All three books kept me on the edge weaving and interlinking storylines and characters to a thoroughly heightened conclusion.
Highly recommended.
May 5, 2022
forgotten so much about the first 2 books in this trilogy that I couldn't enjoy #3.
July 6, 2022
Fantastic absolutely loved this a wonderful end to a brilliant series. Full of twists and surprises does not disappoint.
April 5, 2024
What can I say...what an amazing book!!! I enjoyed the 1st in the series, but the 2nd not so much, so really thought about not starting this. So glad I did, loved it from start to finish
November 14, 2018
“The only time the world cared about rules was when you lost. If you won, any infractions became invisible.”
Aftershock, by Adam Hamdy, is the final installment in the author’s Pendulum Trilogy which started with Pendulum and continued with Freefall. These all action crime thrillers provide plenty of food for thought alongside fire, suspense and entertainment. Concluding a complex web of storylines to the satisfaction of both new and existing readers requires verve and skill. With Aftershock, the author delivers.
The story opens with Detective Patrick Bailey – now leader of a Metropolitan Police task force established to disable and dismantle the elusive Foundation – being brought back to consciousness by vicious assailants. They wish him to watch while they kill his girlfriend. Physically and emotionally damaged by the resulting nightmare of an experience, he calls upon the few friends he can trust to assist him without question as he seeks retribution.
Across the Atlantic, FBI agent Christine Ash is struggling with trust issues. She too is leading a special task force that is tracking down and neutralising the remnants of the Foundation. Unable to shake off her memories of being held hostage, and the treatment she was subjected to, she remains wary of potential infiltrators on her team. When she refuses to divulge plans and sources she leads them into a deadly situation from which she emerges with self knowledge that horrifies her.
In various prisons, apprehended Foundation members are attempting to strike deals with those on both sides of the legal divide. These people could provide essential information that Bailey and Ash are each eager to utilise. The Foundation may have been damaged but it still has reach. Many have been compromised. Not all Foundation members act due to the philanthropic recruitment promises of a societal wealth redistribution.
John Wallace is leading a nomadic life as he attempts to live under the radar and find a way to do good to assuage the guilt he feels at previous choices made. When Ash asks that they meet he is drawn back into the web of deception required if the Foundation is to be neutralised.
In a quiet corner of Arizona, the normally quiet and subdued Cheyanne has found comfort in a relationship she has quickly developed with new, local arrivals. Arno and Beth have set up home in a trailer located just outside town. They charge for private sessions in which clients talk out their problems. Cheyanne’s teenage daughter is conflicted by the resulting change in her mother. Encounters with Beth leave her suspicious of what the pair are planning which, when Arno’s history and location are discovered, leads to tragedy. With an eye on the power of the Foundation this pair harness the methods of cult leaders in their quest for acolytes.
The cat and mouse antics of these various players are portrayed in tense and violent encounters across London and locations in America. Ash and Bailey find more loyalty amongst their underworld contacts than with those who are looking at their careers and families – who may be susceptible to threats and bribery. This topsy turvy depiction of good and evil leaves the reader questioning the meanings of such categorisations.
“As he moved from a story about a bomb on a bus in Kabul, to a serial stabbing in London, a shooting at a school in Minneapolis, a family slaying in Florida, a drone attack in Yemen and an attack at a security checkpoint in Gaza, Rafa wondered whether the perpetrators all believed they were doing good.”
I felt a little frustrated that key men wished to be knights in shining armour, heading into battle to protect or avenge their women. There is a scene where one of our heroes seeks permission to divulge a secret that he may gain the trust of a woman he is sexually attracted to. These are, however, very human failings so have their place in the narrative.
I was wryly amused by the depictions of successful businessmen with their past shady dealings that enabled them to rise above their peers. There was bravery and honour amongst the gangsters and thieves despite their violence, drug dealing and arms sales. As is pointed out, governments are active in all of these areas, enabled by their self-declared legality.
Such questioning of the blurred lines around which laws are made and broken, and who is punished when lines are crossed, adds depth to the story. This remains though a hard hitting action thriller in which the reader can never be sure who will survive or who will be turned. It is a fine conclusion to a trilogy that sits firm within its popular genre yet punches seamlessly beyond. A recommended read.
Aftershock, by Adam Hamdy, is the final installment in the author’s Pendulum Trilogy which started with Pendulum and continued with Freefall. These all action crime thrillers provide plenty of food for thought alongside fire, suspense and entertainment. Concluding a complex web of storylines to the satisfaction of both new and existing readers requires verve and skill. With Aftershock, the author delivers.
The story opens with Detective Patrick Bailey – now leader of a Metropolitan Police task force established to disable and dismantle the elusive Foundation – being brought back to consciousness by vicious assailants. They wish him to watch while they kill his girlfriend. Physically and emotionally damaged by the resulting nightmare of an experience, he calls upon the few friends he can trust to assist him without question as he seeks retribution.
Across the Atlantic, FBI agent Christine Ash is struggling with trust issues. She too is leading a special task force that is tracking down and neutralising the remnants of the Foundation. Unable to shake off her memories of being held hostage, and the treatment she was subjected to, she remains wary of potential infiltrators on her team. When she refuses to divulge plans and sources she leads them into a deadly situation from which she emerges with self knowledge that horrifies her.
In various prisons, apprehended Foundation members are attempting to strike deals with those on both sides of the legal divide. These people could provide essential information that Bailey and Ash are each eager to utilise. The Foundation may have been damaged but it still has reach. Many have been compromised. Not all Foundation members act due to the philanthropic recruitment promises of a societal wealth redistribution.
John Wallace is leading a nomadic life as he attempts to live under the radar and find a way to do good to assuage the guilt he feels at previous choices made. When Ash asks that they meet he is drawn back into the web of deception required if the Foundation is to be neutralised.
In a quiet corner of Arizona, the normally quiet and subdued Cheyanne has found comfort in a relationship she has quickly developed with new, local arrivals. Arno and Beth have set up home in a trailer located just outside town. They charge for private sessions in which clients talk out their problems. Cheyanne’s teenage daughter is conflicted by the resulting change in her mother. Encounters with Beth leave her suspicious of what the pair are planning which, when Arno’s history and location are discovered, leads to tragedy. With an eye on the power of the Foundation this pair harness the methods of cult leaders in their quest for acolytes.
The cat and mouse antics of these various players are portrayed in tense and violent encounters across London and locations in America. Ash and Bailey find more loyalty amongst their underworld contacts than with those who are looking at their careers and families – who may be susceptible to threats and bribery. This topsy turvy depiction of good and evil leaves the reader questioning the meanings of such categorisations.
“As he moved from a story about a bomb on a bus in Kabul, to a serial stabbing in London, a shooting at a school in Minneapolis, a family slaying in Florida, a drone attack in Yemen and an attack at a security checkpoint in Gaza, Rafa wondered whether the perpetrators all believed they were doing good.”
I felt a little frustrated that key men wished to be knights in shining armour, heading into battle to protect or avenge their women. There is a scene where one of our heroes seeks permission to divulge a secret that he may gain the trust of a woman he is sexually attracted to. These are, however, very human failings so have their place in the narrative.
I was wryly amused by the depictions of successful businessmen with their past shady dealings that enabled them to rise above their peers. There was bravery and honour amongst the gangsters and thieves despite their violence, drug dealing and arms sales. As is pointed out, governments are active in all of these areas, enabled by their self-declared legality.
Such questioning of the blurred lines around which laws are made and broken, and who is punished when lines are crossed, adds depth to the story. This remains though a hard hitting action thriller in which the reader can never be sure who will survive or who will be turned. It is a fine conclusion to a trilogy that sits firm within its popular genre yet punches seamlessly beyond. A recommended read.
March 30, 2020
I've just read the whole trilogy back to back which was a real treat. As usual with action thrillers suspend reality and strap in for the ride and this one is certainly a rollercoaster ride. Be prepared to lose characters that you love as well as to experience multiple adrenaline rushes.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews