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When a child is kidnapped by his unstable mother, the father turns to Joe Tiplady—offering him a lot of money to find the boy and bring him back. It soon becomes clear that Joe will have to earn every cent: mother and son are in war-torn Syria, and they’ve willingly joined the ranks of ISIS.
Meanwhile Zeke Chandler, CIA deputy director, is in Albania, where four electrocuted bodies have been found on a mountainside near a secret black-ops facility. Two seemingly unrelated incidents, but Joe will find himself crossing paths with Zeke again.
From the Hollywood underworld to bombed-out Aleppo, via a controversial US election and a global refugee crisis, Joe’s hunt for the missing boy will send him to the darkest, most dangerous places in the modern world. And his search may force him to confront the unfinished business in his own murky past—that is, if he survives.
Meanwhile Zeke Chandler, CIA deputy director, is in Albania, where four electrocuted bodies have been found on a mountainside near a secret black-ops facility. Two seemingly unrelated incidents, but Joe will find himself crossing paths with Zeke again.
From the Hollywood underworld to bombed-out Aleppo, via a controversial US election and a global refugee crisis, Joe’s hunt for the missing boy will send him to the darkest, most dangerous places in the modern world. And his search may force him to confront the unfinished business in his own murky past—that is, if he survives.
356 pages, Unknown Binding
First published August 8, 2017
197 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
John Sweeney
18 books136 followersJohn Sweeney is an award-winning journalist and author, currently working as an investigative journalist for the BBC's Panorama series. Before joining the BBC in 2001, Sweeney worked for twelve years at The Observer, where he covered wars and revolutions in more than sixty countries including Romania, Algeria, Iraq, Chechnya, Burundi and Bosnia.
In 1996, He was sued for criminal defamation in France by the Barclay brothers, owners of the Daily Telegraph, but the claimants lost their case. At the time, Sweeney worked for the rival newspaper The Observer, and had given an interview on BBC Radio Guernsey alleging that they had been involved in corruption. Since the broadcast could also be heard in northern France, the claimants were able to bring their claim in the French courts. Sweeney was ordered to pay €3000 by the appeal court in Rennes, France
Sweeney spent four years investigating the cases of Sally Clark, Angela Cannings and Donna Anthony, three women who had been falsely imprisoned for killing their children. Sweeney's investigation helped to clear their names, and led to Sir Roy Meadow, the expert witness whose testimony had proved decisive in their convictions, being temporarily struck off the General Medical Council's medical register. Sweeney received the Paul Foot Award in 2005 in recognition of his work.
He has won several awards throughout his career, including:
1998: What the Papers Say Journalist of the Year prize for reports on human rights abuses in Algeria.
2000: an Emmy Award and a Royal Television Society prize for programs about the Massacre at Krusha e Madhe, Kosovo.
2001: the Amnesty International prize for "Victims of the Torture Train," about human rights abuses in Chechnya.
2003: a Sony Gold award (2003) for Best Radio News program.
2004: a Royal Television Society prize (2004) for "Angela's Hope," a BBC One documentary about a woman wrongly convicted of murdering her three babies.
2005: The Paul Foot Award.
"Scientology and Me", a Panorama investigation into Scientology written and presented by Sweeney, was aired on BBC One on Monday, 14 May 2007. Prior to its airing,video footage filmed by the Church of Scientology was released that showed Sweeney shouting at Scientology representative Tommy Davis during a visit to CCHR's "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death". The clips were sections of a documentary the Church of Scientology's Freedom Magazine TV produced about the BBC Panorama programme. Sweeney remarked that he lost his temper due to days of harassment by Davis and the Church, and a strong personal reaction to the psychiatry exhibit. He had been visited at his hotel by Davis, despite not having shared the address with the Church, and had been followed on several different occasions. Sweeney labelled the clips "attack videos" and others say they were produced to discredit himself and the documentary. The BBC in response aired its own full recording of the incident. Panorama's Editor Sandy Smith explained what happened and how the BBC dealt with the incident in a post on the BBC's Editor's Blog. An internal BBC investigation found that Sweeney's conduct at one point in the filming was clearly inappropriate, but also noted that Sweeney had apologised for his outburst and concluded that as a whole, filming of the documentary had been performed in a proper and fair manner. Later on that same year in the BBC Panorama year in review Sweeney said “..a new generation is making up its own mind, and for that I make no apology”. Only a month and a half later Project Chanology began. This time as a part of a rehearsed joke, Sweeney goes into a similar outburst in January 2009 when being interviewed on Radio 4 about the Tom Cruise film Valkyrie—clearly referring to the episode two years previously. A follow-up Panorama programme also hosted by Sweeney, which at an hour is twice the length of the original one was aired on the 28 September 2010. This documentary contained int
In 1996, He was sued for criminal defamation in France by the Barclay brothers, owners of the Daily Telegraph, but the claimants lost their case. At the time, Sweeney worked for the rival newspaper The Observer, and had given an interview on BBC Radio Guernsey alleging that they had been involved in corruption. Since the broadcast could also be heard in northern France, the claimants were able to bring their claim in the French courts. Sweeney was ordered to pay €3000 by the appeal court in Rennes, France
Sweeney spent four years investigating the cases of Sally Clark, Angela Cannings and Donna Anthony, three women who had been falsely imprisoned for killing their children. Sweeney's investigation helped to clear their names, and led to Sir Roy Meadow, the expert witness whose testimony had proved decisive in their convictions, being temporarily struck off the General Medical Council's medical register. Sweeney received the Paul Foot Award in 2005 in recognition of his work.
He has won several awards throughout his career, including:
1998: What the Papers Say Journalist of the Year prize for reports on human rights abuses in Algeria.
2000: an Emmy Award and a Royal Television Society prize for programs about the Massacre at Krusha e Madhe, Kosovo.
2001: the Amnesty International prize for "Victims of the Torture Train," about human rights abuses in Chechnya.
2003: a Sony Gold award (2003) for Best Radio News program.
2004: a Royal Television Society prize (2004) for "Angela's Hope," a BBC One documentary about a woman wrongly convicted of murdering her three babies.
2005: The Paul Foot Award.
"Scientology and Me", a Panorama investigation into Scientology written and presented by Sweeney, was aired on BBC One on Monday, 14 May 2007. Prior to its airing,video footage filmed by the Church of Scientology was released that showed Sweeney shouting at Scientology representative Tommy Davis during a visit to CCHR's "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death". The clips were sections of a documentary the Church of Scientology's Freedom Magazine TV produced about the BBC Panorama programme. Sweeney remarked that he lost his temper due to days of harassment by Davis and the Church, and a strong personal reaction to the psychiatry exhibit. He had been visited at his hotel by Davis, despite not having shared the address with the Church, and had been followed on several different occasions. Sweeney labelled the clips "attack videos" and others say they were produced to discredit himself and the documentary. The BBC in response aired its own full recording of the incident. Panorama's Editor Sandy Smith explained what happened and how the BBC dealt with the incident in a post on the BBC's Editor's Blog. An internal BBC investigation found that Sweeney's conduct at one point in the filming was clearly inappropriate, but also noted that Sweeney had apologised for his outburst and concluded that as a whole, filming of the documentary had been performed in a proper and fair manner. Later on that same year in the BBC Panorama year in review Sweeney said “..a new generation is making up its own mind, and for that I make no apology”. Only a month and a half later Project Chanology began. This time as a part of a rehearsed joke, Sweeney goes into a similar outburst in January 2009 when being interviewed on Radio 4 about the Tom Cruise film Valkyrie—clearly referring to the episode two years previously. A follow-up Panorama programme also hosted by Sweeney, which at an hour is twice the length of the original one was aired on the 28 September 2010. This documentary contained int
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 29, 2017
Road is not your ordinary thriller. On one hand, it's a story of a Los Angeles are private eye searching for a missing woman and child. But, that's when it gets crazy. The woman decided to run off to Raqaa and join ISIS, the private eye heads to Beirut and then war torn Damascus and somehow effect a rescue and plops himself into the middle of a cvil war where everyone is on the take and normalcy is defined by wild parties and a violent police state. And, of course, there is the side story of the CIA and Albania and a worod in chaos. Although sometimes it is a story that leaps around from narrative to narrative, it does succeed in showing the new horrors of Syria and Iraq including people in cages, torture, slavery, and thebhalf-baked insanity of the true believers. Quite an ambitious work!
July 28, 2024
The story, and to some degree Joe, ping pong around the world and it got confusing to me. CIA, ISIS, Russians and Albanians could not get me to care much about this book. No more Joe Tiplady for me!
October 21, 2017
Can't Recommend This, I'm Sorry to Say
This is the third novel by John Sweeney that I have read, and I regret to report that it is a towering disappointment. You have heard the phrase "all over the map" - "Road" is a dissatisfying global stagger. Long-winded soliloquies, preposterous coincidences, paper thin character development, escapes and happenstances too unbelievable to sustain the narrative. It was as if Sweeney was trying to stuff an entire lifetime of swashbuckling into a 400 pound thimble. Readers of "Cold" and "Elephant Moon" deserve better.
This is the third novel by John Sweeney that I have read, and I regret to report that it is a towering disappointment. You have heard the phrase "all over the map" - "Road" is a dissatisfying global stagger. Long-winded soliloquies, preposterous coincidences, paper thin character development, escapes and happenstances too unbelievable to sustain the narrative. It was as if Sweeney was trying to stuff an entire lifetime of swashbuckling into a 400 pound thimble. Readers of "Cold" and "Elephant Moon" deserve better.
August 15, 2017
3.5 stars
Joe Tiplady has promised a father he will bring reunite him with his son in exchange for a large payout. The boy has been kidnapped by his mother and the two of them are now ISIS followers in war-torn Syria. This is story that mixes fiction with some current event topics such as chemical warfare, the refugee crisis, and the last presidential election.
This was a solid thriller that held my interest throughout the book. Most of the time I had no idea where the story was going to go which is always a huge plus in a thriller. I liked how the story was split up between different characters. The amount of characters wasn't enough to keep it confusing, just the right amount to keep it interesting. Towards the end, the book did veer off into a strange direction, but overall, this was a good read!
This is the second book in the Joe Tiplady series but can easily be read as a standalone novel.
I received a free ebook from Amazon Publishing but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.
Joe Tiplady has promised a father he will bring reunite him with his son in exchange for a large payout. The boy has been kidnapped by his mother and the two of them are now ISIS followers in war-torn Syria. This is story that mixes fiction with some current event topics such as chemical warfare, the refugee crisis, and the last presidential election.
This was a solid thriller that held my interest throughout the book. Most of the time I had no idea where the story was going to go which is always a huge plus in a thriller. I liked how the story was split up between different characters. The amount of characters wasn't enough to keep it confusing, just the right amount to keep it interesting. Towards the end, the book did veer off into a strange direction, but overall, this was a good read!
This is the second book in the Joe Tiplady series but can easily be read as a standalone novel.
I received a free ebook from Amazon Publishing but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.
December 25, 2017
Amazing story by an amazing author. This is the second in the Joe Tiplady series. I recommend reading the first book, Cold, since then you'll have the background of the two main characters which will lend a greater appreciation of their personalities.
Road begins in Hollywood where Joe is hired by a doctor to find his son, who was taken by his wife to Syria. Joe is shown a photo of the wife and the son in suicide vests, and it's believed she joined ISIS. But there is a lot more going on here, as Joe will eventually discover.
The book is a real page turner and it thoroughly brings you into the crisis in Syria. The author is an award winning former BBC journalist, and he has the perspective and experience to help us understand the complexities of the situation and the plight of the refugees. There are some fun (though somewhat scary) references to the recent presidential election, without actually naming Hillary or the Don.
Road begins in Hollywood where Joe is hired by a doctor to find his son, who was taken by his wife to Syria. Joe is shown a photo of the wife and the son in suicide vests, and it's believed she joined ISIS. But there is a lot more going on here, as Joe will eventually discover.
The book is a real page turner and it thoroughly brings you into the crisis in Syria. The author is an award winning former BBC journalist, and he has the perspective and experience to help us understand the complexities of the situation and the plight of the refugees. There are some fun (though somewhat scary) references to the recent presidential election, without actually naming Hillary or the Don.
September 14, 2017
Written as a thriller with a view of current events. The names are different but it's hard not to compare to real events happening today. A boy is kidnapped by his mother. A picture left behind implies that she has taken him to Iraq to join ISIS. His father hires Joe Tiplady to find the boy and bring him home. The monetary reward will be worth the hassle. Joe finds him self in several dicey situations, in a prison where torture is the common event but he is not tortured at least not as lunch as other prisoners. The book is a bit long but it is intriguing and once you start reading, you'll want to finish it. There are some 'that can't really happen' moments but most events are plausible. Zeke, the CIA agent, seems to get away with more than anyone in his position could or would attempt but it's a book. The author is an experienced journalist who likes to expose the bad guys. It is an excellent story. I hope there will be a Book 3 with more experiences with Joe Tiplady.
August 17, 2017
Joe Tiplady Takes Another Beating
John did it again with Road. Very good read that I struggled to put down. As I did with the first in this series, i switched back and forth between reading and listening. The narrator is a perfect match to Sweeny's writing style so I very much recommend upgrading to the audio book.
As for the story, Joe finds himself in War torn Syria this time. He fairs about as well as one might expect for an Irishman in such a place. Sweeney further develops his characters to ensure lots of material for his next Tiplady adventure. You will not be disappointed.
John did it again with Road. Very good read that I struggled to put down. As I did with the first in this series, i switched back and forth between reading and listening. The narrator is a perfect match to Sweeny's writing style so I very much recommend upgrading to the audio book.
As for the story, Joe finds himself in War torn Syria this time. He fairs about as well as one might expect for an Irishman in such a place. Sweeney further develops his characters to ensure lots of material for his next Tiplady adventure. You will not be disappointed.
January 3, 2018
If you enjoyed Cold and liked Joe Tiplady then you'll like Road.
It's an international thriller centred around Tiplady, a former IRA bomb maker now gone maverick. It's largely based in Syria and does a good job of portraying the mess it's in right now. It's obviously a place the author knows well.
The beginning opens a number of threads all of which neatly come together towards the end. The pace is quick and it's an easy read.
I was caught a few times thinking that a part of the story was fanciful, then pause and realising it could just be true. It's a strange world we live in. His one liner to one of the most powerful men in the world make me chuckle.
It's an international thriller centred around Tiplady, a former IRA bomb maker now gone maverick. It's largely based in Syria and does a good job of portraying the mess it's in right now. It's obviously a place the author knows well.
The beginning opens a number of threads all of which neatly come together towards the end. The pace is quick and it's an easy read.
I was caught a few times thinking that a part of the story was fanciful, then pause and realising it could just be true. It's a strange world we live in. His one liner to one of the most powerful men in the world make me chuckle.
September 22, 2017
I would like to thank Mr. Sweeney, Thomas & Mercer, Kindle , and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this novel. This is truly an action packed novel and not for those who prefer a cozy mystery. It read like a lot of disparate stories until the very end and I spent time wondering if the were ever going to be brought together. They were brought together at the end and the good guys won also not a given. Thank you for an enjoyable weekend!
September 19, 2017
Excitement does not begin to describe this book
I love the characters; I love the action. At times the ideas are a little overwhelming and I cannot read the books back to back. I must read something else in between, something less intense. Once into the story, I find it difficult to interrupt myself for other activities, like sleep.
I love the characters; I love the action. At times the ideas are a little overwhelming and I cannot read the books back to back. I must read something else in between, something less intense. Once into the story, I find it difficult to interrupt myself for other activities, like sleep.
August 18, 2017
A lot of this is preposterous- but it's also topical and I kept reading because well, I wanted to know what happened, Sweeney has crammed too much into his tale, which made it less appealing, It is a fast read and the sort of thing that might be good on a plane ride. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.
January 16, 2018
Thought provoking
We watch the news on Syria but when you read this book which you know contains real facts from a journalist of merit then it opens your eyes to what is really going on. We who are lucky enough to share freedom and democracy have no idea how lucky we are. Maybe this is a book for schools as a history lesson.
We watch the news on Syria but when you read this book which you know contains real facts from a journalist of merit then it opens your eyes to what is really going on. We who are lucky enough to share freedom and democracy have no idea how lucky we are. Maybe this is a book for schools as a history lesson.
December 28, 2017
This is the kind of book you would read on a vacation when you didn't want to spend much time about the story. It's a thriller, it's not very realistic, and it's not very challenging to read. With that said, it's could have been written better.
August 15, 2017
Read this!
If you tell in love with that crazy Irishman in Cold, you'll love bikinis book, as well. A well laced plot that jumps from the headlines.....Sweeney doesn't disappoint.
If you tell in love with that crazy Irishman in Cold, you'll love bikinis book, as well. A well laced plot that jumps from the headlines.....Sweeney doesn't disappoint.
August 28, 2017
Many twists
I found this book so well written I felt I was
On the same road as Joe, John Sweeny writes
With realism, tragedy, love , laughter, can all be
Found in this tale, its a great read and in some ways
Thought provoking read it I recommend
I found this book so well written I felt I was
On the same road as Joe, John Sweeny writes
With realism, tragedy, love , laughter, can all be
Found in this tale, its a great read and in some ways
Thought provoking read it I recommend
November 28, 2018
I was so looking forward to reading "Road" and so disappointed when I ordered the kindle version from amazon and almost a hundred pages were missing. I could not follow without the missing pages. I have to read large print, so I guess I will miss out on the second book in the series.
September 9, 2017
A good followup novel to cold
Good characters carried over from the first novel makes a coherent story and adds continuity. A little fantastic but what winemaking today's world. Decent story line with a good ending.
Good characters carried over from the first novel makes a coherent story and adds continuity. A little fantastic but what winemaking today's world. Decent story line with a good ending.
February 12, 2018
A very timely story of the war against ISIS and a brave Irishman.
I like the action and the interplay of fiction with actual historical events as told in the third person by an author who seems to know his subjects.
I like the action and the interplay of fiction with actual historical events as told in the third person by an author who seems to know his subjects.
November 1, 2018
Probably true
Reading this gives some insight into the confusion that reigns in Syria lately. Hard to decipher who are the good guys and who are the others but, this does a pretty good job
The thinly veiled references to Donald Trump though are unnecessary.
Reading this gives some insight into the confusion that reigns in Syria lately. Hard to decipher who are the good guys and who are the others but, this does a pretty good job
The thinly veiled references to Donald Trump though are unnecessary.
June 19, 2020
Enjoyed the pertinent politics...
No holds barred, characters suffered in the many action scenes, bringing both horror and realism.
Difficulty keeping up with changes in time and place, protagonists and bit Players
No holds barred, characters suffered in the many action scenes, bringing both horror and realism.
Difficulty keeping up with changes in time and place, protagonists and bit Players
June 3, 2022
Quite an amazing story of war and hardship. It rings very true to what the journalist did witness although it is fiction and you can actually picture all these awful things happening in a war zone. Very intense story.
August 24, 2017
Don't
Stopped at 63%. Could not go on. I didn't like the characters, the plot line and I don't care about the ending. Would like my money back.
Stopped at 63%. Could not go on. I didn't like the characters, the plot line and I don't care about the ending. Would like my money back.
November 5, 2017
It was a good book it kept me interested in it. It has a lot of action in it. Very well written book with emotions in it.
July 1, 2018
Gave me a headache
I really tried to follow this book but it was too uncredited. It was very disappointing. I can not recommend it.
I really tried to follow this book but it was too uncredited. It was very disappointing. I can not recommend it.
July 26, 2018
Awesome
Action packed in the here and now. Eye opening . Sheds light into dark places and shows what is really going on behind the scenes .
Action packed in the here and now. Eye opening . Sheds light into dark places and shows what is really going on behind the scenes .
February 4, 2020
Joe Tiplady Book2: Excellent
Another great read. A real thriller page by page. When l find a writer l like l read all of their books. This is one of those!
Another great read. A real thriller page by page. When l find a writer l like l read all of their books. This is one of those!
January 6, 2021
Although my knowledge of the history of the Syria war is pretty limited I did enjoy reading this fictional account based on a whole lot of fact.
October 8, 2022
A great story, well presented. However, I found the going hard as I tried to remember/recall all the characters, and which part of the World I was in at any particular stage of the book.
Read
November 20, 2017It had been so long since I read the first book, I had to go skim through it to remember some of the major players (with the exception of Joe and Zeke). Still love these stories and characters - always a few unexpected twists and turns. I'll happily keep reading this series.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews