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Paul Samson #1
Firefly
“Firefly proves once again that . . . British espionage fiction is the best in the world, and Porter is part of the reason why.” ―Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author
From the refugee camps of Greece to the mountains of Macedonia, a thirteen-year-old boy is making his way to Germany and to safety. Codenamed “Firefly,” he holds vital unparalleled insight into a vicious ISIS terror cell, and details of their plans. But the terrorists are hot on his trail, determined he won’t live to pass on the information. When MI6 become aware of Firefly and what he knows, the race is on to find him. Paul Samson, ex-MI6 agent and now private eye, finds himself recruited to the cause. Fluent in Arabic thanks to his Lebanese heritage and himself the product of an earlier era of violent civil war, Samson’s job is to find Firefly, win his trust, and get him to safety. A devastatingly timely thriller following the refugee trail from Syria to Europe, Firefly is a sophisticated, breathtaking race against time from an author who brings a whole new level of urgency to the genre.
“A classic chase thriller with an on-the-scenes look at the Syrian refugee crisis―it doesn’t get more contemporary than this.”—Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author of The Accomplice
“A welcome return . . . Firefly seems ripped from the headlines and is both timely and terrific.”—Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning author of Joe Country
From the refugee camps of Greece to the mountains of Macedonia, a thirteen-year-old boy is making his way to Germany and to safety. Codenamed “Firefly,” he holds vital unparalleled insight into a vicious ISIS terror cell, and details of their plans. But the terrorists are hot on his trail, determined he won’t live to pass on the information. When MI6 become aware of Firefly and what he knows, the race is on to find him. Paul Samson, ex-MI6 agent and now private eye, finds himself recruited to the cause. Fluent in Arabic thanks to his Lebanese heritage and himself the product of an earlier era of violent civil war, Samson’s job is to find Firefly, win his trust, and get him to safety. A devastatingly timely thriller following the refugee trail from Syria to Europe, Firefly is a sophisticated, breathtaking race against time from an author who brings a whole new level of urgency to the genre.
“A classic chase thriller with an on-the-scenes look at the Syrian refugee crisis―it doesn’t get more contemporary than this.”—Joseph Kanon, New York Times bestselling author of The Accomplice
“A welcome return . . . Firefly seems ripped from the headlines and is both timely and terrific.”—Mick Herron, CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning author of Joe Country
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2018
294 people are currently reading
2457 people want to read
About the author
Henry Porter
51 books246 followersHenry Porter has written for most national broadsheet newspapers. He contributes commentary and reportage to the Guardian, Observer, Evening Standard and Sunday Telegraph. He is the British editor of Vanity Fair, and lives in London with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
June 4, 2018
I read Porter's The Dying Light some time ago but it didn't really appeal to me, nevertheless I wanted to read this based on the publisher's description of it. I really liked this much better, a look at our world today and some of the current burning issues on the refugee crisis, the intelligence agencies, Middle East, Syria and ISIS. It is a tense thriller focusing on British ex-spy Paul Samson, an Arabic speaker with Lebanese roots, with a penchant for the occasional big time gambling that got him booted out of SIS, the secret intelligence service. He now works below the radar locating missing persons for Macy Harp. Peter Nyman from the Special Operations Directorate wants Samson to return for a job that is particularly suited to his skill set, finding a young 13 year old Syrian boy, Naji, travelling alone, intent on getting to Germany and looking to get his family settled there, they are currently living in a Turkish Refugee camp. Naji is a resourceful and gifted child.
Naji's academic father was horrifically tortured by the Syrian regime after he dared to look into two of his missing students, his father has died leaving Naji traumatised. After spending time with ISIS, he becomes aware of their cruelty and is unwilling to have the local ISIS leader marry his sister and all that would entail. The family escaped with Naji managing to secure crucial information on ISIS, their operators, their sickening acts, and plans for potential future atrocities in Europe. British intelligence heard of Naji after he informed a psychologist, Anastasia, working with traumatised refugees on the Greek Island of Lesbos and want the information he has, but unfortunately 3 ISIS men are after Naji with the intention of killing him. Samson is hot on Naji's trail through Greece and Macedonia, marvelling at the boy's capabilities when it comes to surviving but everyone's luck runs out eventually and there is a harrowing but thrilling finale in a remote farmhouse in Macedonia.
Porter has clearly done his research on the region and ISIS, and he deploys it to great effect in this compelling and suspenseful thriller. The major highlight for me was its insightful portrayal of the precarious lives of refugees, the camps they reside in, the trauma so many have experienced and the numerous dangers they face, such as paedophiles, and human traffickers. Anastasia was the face of human compassion, working amongst chaotic and difficult circumstances, whilst most of Europe turns against the rising tide of migrants and closing its doors to them. ISIS is painted from what we know of their high levels of cruelty, despicable treatment of women and more. This is a great and entertaining thriller with all the ingredients to have you biting your nails as you root for Naji and Samson. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Naji's academic father was horrifically tortured by the Syrian regime after he dared to look into two of his missing students, his father has died leaving Naji traumatised. After spending time with ISIS, he becomes aware of their cruelty and is unwilling to have the local ISIS leader marry his sister and all that would entail. The family escaped with Naji managing to secure crucial information on ISIS, their operators, their sickening acts, and plans for potential future atrocities in Europe. British intelligence heard of Naji after he informed a psychologist, Anastasia, working with traumatised refugees on the Greek Island of Lesbos and want the information he has, but unfortunately 3 ISIS men are after Naji with the intention of killing him. Samson is hot on Naji's trail through Greece and Macedonia, marvelling at the boy's capabilities when it comes to surviving but everyone's luck runs out eventually and there is a harrowing but thrilling finale in a remote farmhouse in Macedonia.
Porter has clearly done his research on the region and ISIS, and he deploys it to great effect in this compelling and suspenseful thriller. The major highlight for me was its insightful portrayal of the precarious lives of refugees, the camps they reside in, the trauma so many have experienced and the numerous dangers they face, such as paedophiles, and human traffickers. Anastasia was the face of human compassion, working amongst chaotic and difficult circumstances, whilst most of Europe turns against the rising tide of migrants and closing its doors to them. ISIS is painted from what we know of their high levels of cruelty, despicable treatment of women and more. This is a great and entertaining thriller with all the ingredients to have you biting your nails as you root for Naji and Samson. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
May 6, 2020
”His head went under. Seawater filled his nose and mouth; his eyes opened and he saw the black depths of the ocean below him. A moment later something knocked his legs--maybe part of the wreckage, he couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he was going to die. Then it came again. This time there was a distinct shove on his buttocks and whatever it was that moved with such intent beneath him lifted him up so his head and shoulders came out of the water and he was able to grab a plastic toggle on the section of the rubber craft that was still inflated.”
That shove on Naji Touma’s buttocks is a dolphin. It is a miracle he survives being dumped in the sea, too far from land and with only a poorly made life jacket to give him some hope of life. In the refugee camp, he soon finds himself a celebrity. The boy the dolphin saved. When you are a refugee, you have to believe in miracles because surviving displacement and the search for a new home will take more than just wits and money. It will take a series of fortunate events as well.
Naji’s family leaves the war zone of Syria with a shattered father, suffering from the psychological and physical trauma of being tortured. They land in Turkey, but as they try to settle into their new country, a local warlord decides that Naji’s sister will be his wife. Al-munajil is a sex trader and a smuggler of anything that will turn a profit. Naji soon finds himself caught up in the brutal actions of these criminals and knows the only chance for his family is to escape to Europe.
Naji leaves on his own to find his way to Germany.
He is a precociously smart lad, but he will need more than the help of a dolphin if he hopes to survive the treacherous trek through a shifting war zone, border officials, pedophiles preying on immigrants, and well meaning government officials. He has another problem; Al-munasil is after him because Naji left with valuable information that could bring his whole shadowy operation down.
Ex-MI6 operative Paul Samson of Lebanese ancestry is asked to help locate Naji before the killers do and soon finds himself in a desperate chase across several countries as he tries to catch up with the wily child and gain his trust. Samson is just coming off a case where a doctor was sold as a sex slave and killed herself before Samson could find her. He soon discovers that Al-munasil is part of the chain of criminality that sold the doctor to the sadistic man who would drive her to her death. ”’Many women committed suicide,’ said Al Kufra. ‘It was a problem for us.’” They talk about these abducted women as if they are cattle dying from a mysterious disease that impacts their profitability.
Henry Porter has written a taut thriller with the tension ratcheting up with each new revelation. I realized as I was reading this book that, even though I’ve always had empathy for those displaced by war or famine, I’ve never really understood the extent of the trials and tribulations that immigrants experience, fleeing an unlivable situation and hoping to find a country which will allow them to make a new life for themselves. Porter vividly brings that experience to life. I really appreciate it any time a writer can lend me a new understanding of a situation that is beyond the scope of my life.
Henry Porter has been hailed as the next generation's John Le Carre. I like the plot and the fact that the book feels ripped from recent newspaper headlines, much in the same way as many Le Carre books have throughout the years. Unfortunately, Porter doesn’t have that lyrical writing ability that elevates Le Carre’s books from a distracting thriller read to what I would consider to be serious literature. So far, I have not found the next Le Carre, but I’m always hopeful. Even though he is not the heir apparent to the greatest spy thriller writer of all time, Porter provides a nice diversion and also manages to convey some interesting insights that have changed my impressions of displacement and resettlement.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/
That shove on Naji Touma’s buttocks is a dolphin. It is a miracle he survives being dumped in the sea, too far from land and with only a poorly made life jacket to give him some hope of life. In the refugee camp, he soon finds himself a celebrity. The boy the dolphin saved. When you are a refugee, you have to believe in miracles because surviving displacement and the search for a new home will take more than just wits and money. It will take a series of fortunate events as well.
Naji’s family leaves the war zone of Syria with a shattered father, suffering from the psychological and physical trauma of being tortured. They land in Turkey, but as they try to settle into their new country, a local warlord decides that Naji’s sister will be his wife. Al-munajil is a sex trader and a smuggler of anything that will turn a profit. Naji soon finds himself caught up in the brutal actions of these criminals and knows the only chance for his family is to escape to Europe.
Naji leaves on his own to find his way to Germany.
He is a precociously smart lad, but he will need more than the help of a dolphin if he hopes to survive the treacherous trek through a shifting war zone, border officials, pedophiles preying on immigrants, and well meaning government officials. He has another problem; Al-munasil is after him because Naji left with valuable information that could bring his whole shadowy operation down.
Ex-MI6 operative Paul Samson of Lebanese ancestry is asked to help locate Naji before the killers do and soon finds himself in a desperate chase across several countries as he tries to catch up with the wily child and gain his trust. Samson is just coming off a case where a doctor was sold as a sex slave and killed herself before Samson could find her. He soon discovers that Al-munasil is part of the chain of criminality that sold the doctor to the sadistic man who would drive her to her death. ”’Many women committed suicide,’ said Al Kufra. ‘It was a problem for us.’” They talk about these abducted women as if they are cattle dying from a mysterious disease that impacts their profitability.
Henry Porter has written a taut thriller with the tension ratcheting up with each new revelation. I realized as I was reading this book that, even though I’ve always had empathy for those displaced by war or famine, I’ve never really understood the extent of the trials and tribulations that immigrants experience, fleeing an unlivable situation and hoping to find a country which will allow them to make a new life for themselves. Porter vividly brings that experience to life. I really appreciate it any time a writer can lend me a new understanding of a situation that is beyond the scope of my life.
Henry Porter has been hailed as the next generation's John Le Carre. I like the plot and the fact that the book feels ripped from recent newspaper headlines, much in the same way as many Le Carre books have throughout the years. Unfortunately, Porter doesn’t have that lyrical writing ability that elevates Le Carre’s books from a distracting thriller read to what I would consider to be serious literature. So far, I have not found the next Le Carre, but I’m always hopeful. Even though he is not the heir apparent to the greatest spy thriller writer of all time, Porter provides a nice diversion and also manages to convey some interesting insights that have changed my impressions of displacement and resettlement.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/
October 18, 2018
4 courageous brave stars
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
ISIS is a terrorist organization. The crimes they commit against their own people have been chronicled extensively. They kill, main, rape, and pillage scaring those who do not acquiesce into such a fearful state of affairs that they dare not disagree with the ISIS mantra. Kill the infidels, kill the unbelievers, and kill those who refuse to capitulate to their regime. In the book, Firefly we are taken to the refugee camps in Greece and travel as our young protagonist, Naji, runs from a man who is evil personified and his group of followers. Eluding capture from the refugee camp in Turkey where his family was, he traverses through many obstacles and impediments to try to survive and save his family. People in this Turkish camp and others are trying to escape the carnage, the poverty, and the war torn nations that they are from. Naji, who is thirteen, is desperately trying to bring his family to Germany. He is one among many. However, he has something stored in his phone that is his insurance that he can save his family. It is also a death sentence should he be caught by the terrorists who pursue him. Tasked with finding,Naji is Luc Samson, a former Lebanese refugee, who has to battle a numbers of things in his quest to find Naji. The terrain, the bureaucracy, and the inhuman members of ISIS are some of the things that thwart him. Will he be successful in finding this young man or will those who are intent on Naji's destruction and that of the information he carries be the victor.
I very much enjoyed this story of intrigue, drama, and the resiliency and brilliance of Naji. He was able, through his love of family, to take the word courage and live it every minute of every day. He was a fighter, a combatant in his war against cruelty and the men who espoused acts ever so horrible to win their goal. In his travels, Naj meets many people, the good the compassionate and those who endeavor to both befriend and help this young warrior. They are the ones who are pitted against the evildoers.
The only issue, I had with the story was the length that Mr Porter went to describe each and every detail. At times, this slowed down the pace of the story telling. However, most time the story was able to mimic the anxiety, the fear, and the terror that this boy was experiencing. Other than that, this was a daring story of young gladiator who above all knew that family is a treasure and one that most would do anything to preserve.
Thank you to Henry Porter, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for a copy of this thought provoking novel
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
ISIS is a terrorist organization. The crimes they commit against their own people have been chronicled extensively. They kill, main, rape, and pillage scaring those who do not acquiesce into such a fearful state of affairs that they dare not disagree with the ISIS mantra. Kill the infidels, kill the unbelievers, and kill those who refuse to capitulate to their regime. In the book, Firefly we are taken to the refugee camps in Greece and travel as our young protagonist, Naji, runs from a man who is evil personified and his group of followers. Eluding capture from the refugee camp in Turkey where his family was, he traverses through many obstacles and impediments to try to survive and save his family. People in this Turkish camp and others are trying to escape the carnage, the poverty, and the war torn nations that they are from. Naji, who is thirteen, is desperately trying to bring his family to Germany. He is one among many. However, he has something stored in his phone that is his insurance that he can save his family. It is also a death sentence should he be caught by the terrorists who pursue him. Tasked with finding,Naji is Luc Samson, a former Lebanese refugee, who has to battle a numbers of things in his quest to find Naji. The terrain, the bureaucracy, and the inhuman members of ISIS are some of the things that thwart him. Will he be successful in finding this young man or will those who are intent on Naji's destruction and that of the information he carries be the victor.
I very much enjoyed this story of intrigue, drama, and the resiliency and brilliance of Naji. He was able, through his love of family, to take the word courage and live it every minute of every day. He was a fighter, a combatant in his war against cruelty and the men who espoused acts ever so horrible to win their goal. In his travels, Naj meets many people, the good the compassionate and those who endeavor to both befriend and help this young warrior. They are the ones who are pitted against the evildoers.
The only issue, I had with the story was the length that Mr Porter went to describe each and every detail. At times, this slowed down the pace of the story telling. However, most time the story was able to mimic the anxiety, the fear, and the terror that this boy was experiencing. Other than that, this was a daring story of young gladiator who above all knew that family is a treasure and one that most would do anything to preserve.
Thank you to Henry Porter, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for a copy of this thought provoking novel
July 9, 2018
I am a huge fan of thrillers featuring espionage and terrorism - as this combines the two, it totally appealed to me. I hadn't heard of Porter before (I know! I know!) so this is my first novel of his. I will be looking back at his previous work and purchasing his catalogue. If FIREFLY is anything to go by, it will be well worth the money!
What can I say? All of the advance praise from stalwarts of the crime genre is correct. This is an excellent example of why British espionage fiction is the best in the world, and has been for a long time. A truly exceptional novel, with a storyline that is timely and comes straight from the headlines of todays world. FIREFLY is an intelligent thriller that had me from page one. Gripping and exciting, it was impossible to put down - I read it in one sitting and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out what happened. The characterisation is wonderful, the narrative easy to follow and engaging, and the finale explosive!
If you're into espionage thrillers, don't miss this one! You'll thank me for it later, I promise you! Superb from cover-to-cover and one of my favourite reads this year so far. I just know this will be in my best of 2018 lists. Sometimes it's impossible to write a review for a book as it always feels difficult to portray just how amazing that title is - this is definitely one of those times.
I would like to thank Henry Porter, Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say? All of the advance praise from stalwarts of the crime genre is correct. This is an excellent example of why British espionage fiction is the best in the world, and has been for a long time. A truly exceptional novel, with a storyline that is timely and comes straight from the headlines of todays world. FIREFLY is an intelligent thriller that had me from page one. Gripping and exciting, it was impossible to put down - I read it in one sitting and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out what happened. The characterisation is wonderful, the narrative easy to follow and engaging, and the finale explosive!
If you're into espionage thrillers, don't miss this one! You'll thank me for it later, I promise you! Superb from cover-to-cover and one of my favourite reads this year so far. I just know this will be in my best of 2018 lists. Sometimes it's impossible to write a review for a book as it always feels difficult to portray just how amazing that title is - this is definitely one of those times.
I would like to thank Henry Porter, Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2018
4 terror stricken stars
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
ISIS is a terrorist organization. The crimes they commit against their own people have been chronicled extensively. They kill, main, rape, and pillage scaring those who do not acquiesce into such a fearful state of affairs that they dare not disagree with the ISIS mantra. Kill the infidels, kill the unbelievers, and kill those who refuse to capitulate to their regime. In the book, Firefly, we are taken to the refugee camps in Greece and travel as our young protagonist, Naji, runs from a man who is evil personified and his group of followers. Eluding capture from the refugee camp in Turkey where his family was, he traverses through many obstacles and impediments to try to survive and save his family. People in this Turkish camp and others are trying to escape the carnage, the poverty, and the war torn nations that they are from. Naji, who is thirteen, is desperately trying to bring his family to Germany. He is one among many. However, he has something stored in his phone that is his insurance that he can save his family. It is also a death sentence should he be caught by the terrorists who pursue him. Tasked with finding,Naji is Luc Samson, a former Lebanese refugee, who has to battle a numbers of things in his quest to find Naji. The terrain, the bureaucracy, and the inhuman members of ISIS are some of the things that thwart him. Will he be successful in finding this young man or will those who are intent on Naji's destruction and that of the information he carries be the victor.
I very much enjoyed this story of intrigue, drama, and the resiliency and brilliance of Naji. He was able, through his love of family, to take the word courage and live it every minute of every day. He was a fighter, a combatant in his war against cruelty and the men who espoused acts ever so horrible to win their goal. In his travels, Naj meets many people, the good the compassionate and those who endeavor to both befriend and help this young warrior. They are the ones who are pitted against the evildoers.
The only issue, I had with the story was the length that Mr Porter went to describe each and every detail. At times, this slowed down the pace of the story telling. However, most time the story was able to mimic the anxiety, the fear, and the terror that this boy was experiencing. Other than that, this was a daring story of young gladiator who above all knew that family is a treasure and one that most would do anything to preserve.
Thank you to Henry Porter, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for a copy of this thought provoking novel
My reviews can be seen here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
ISIS is a terrorist organization. The crimes they commit against their own people have been chronicled extensively. They kill, main, rape, and pillage scaring those who do not acquiesce into such a fearful state of affairs that they dare not disagree with the ISIS mantra. Kill the infidels, kill the unbelievers, and kill those who refuse to capitulate to their regime. In the book, Firefly, we are taken to the refugee camps in Greece and travel as our young protagonist, Naji, runs from a man who is evil personified and his group of followers. Eluding capture from the refugee camp in Turkey where his family was, he traverses through many obstacles and impediments to try to survive and save his family. People in this Turkish camp and others are trying to escape the carnage, the poverty, and the war torn nations that they are from. Naji, who is thirteen, is desperately trying to bring his family to Germany. He is one among many. However, he has something stored in his phone that is his insurance that he can save his family. It is also a death sentence should he be caught by the terrorists who pursue him. Tasked with finding,Naji is Luc Samson, a former Lebanese refugee, who has to battle a numbers of things in his quest to find Naji. The terrain, the bureaucracy, and the inhuman members of ISIS are some of the things that thwart him. Will he be successful in finding this young man or will those who are intent on Naji's destruction and that of the information he carries be the victor.
I very much enjoyed this story of intrigue, drama, and the resiliency and brilliance of Naji. He was able, through his love of family, to take the word courage and live it every minute of every day. He was a fighter, a combatant in his war against cruelty and the men who espoused acts ever so horrible to win their goal. In his travels, Naj meets many people, the good the compassionate and those who endeavor to both befriend and help this young warrior. They are the ones who are pitted against the evildoers.
The only issue, I had with the story was the length that Mr Porter went to describe each and every detail. At times, this slowed down the pace of the story telling. However, most time the story was able to mimic the anxiety, the fear, and the terror that this boy was experiencing. Other than that, this was a daring story of young gladiator who above all knew that family is a treasure and one that most would do anything to preserve.
Thank you to Henry Porter, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for a copy of this thought provoking novel
September 30, 2018
I shudder whenever I read a book blurb comparing the author with a recognizable “big name,” someone who is well-known by most readers. The Le Carre reference was bothersome, but I gave Henry Porter’s “Firefly” a chance, and am glad I did.
The book is different than most of the spy stories on the market today. This story is written with thoughtfulness, with an eye on the plot and the characters at all time. If you are one who craves constant action with an agent whose accuracy with a gun is uncanny and is only rivalled by his skill with bedding beautiful women, you will probably be bored by Mr. Porter’s tale. I found the writing descriptive, placing me in the action and constantly revealing the inner characteristics of the people that the author chose to inhabit his story.
And this is where the Le Carre references originate, because this book depicts life as reality, crafting multiple stories of major and minor characters, melding them all together into a story that holds a reader’s interest with mild tension and a desire to see what happens to the people who inhabit the book’s pages. It is also where the references should end, because there is no doubt that Mr. Porter can stand on his own. “Firefly” is a compelling story, one worth the time to read slowly and savor the descriptive passages that tell of one boy’s battle to save his family and one man’s crusade to save the boy.
Bottom line: Excellent writing with a plot based on realism, with characters that leap off the pages and allow you to get to know them. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance complimentary ebook.
The book is different than most of the spy stories on the market today. This story is written with thoughtfulness, with an eye on the plot and the characters at all time. If you are one who craves constant action with an agent whose accuracy with a gun is uncanny and is only rivalled by his skill with bedding beautiful women, you will probably be bored by Mr. Porter’s tale. I found the writing descriptive, placing me in the action and constantly revealing the inner characteristics of the people that the author chose to inhabit his story.
And this is where the Le Carre references originate, because this book depicts life as reality, crafting multiple stories of major and minor characters, melding them all together into a story that holds a reader’s interest with mild tension and a desire to see what happens to the people who inhabit the book’s pages. It is also where the references should end, because there is no doubt that Mr. Porter can stand on his own. “Firefly” is a compelling story, one worth the time to read slowly and savor the descriptive passages that tell of one boy’s battle to save his family and one man’s crusade to save the boy.
Bottom line: Excellent writing with a plot based on realism, with characters that leap off the pages and allow you to get to know them. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance complimentary ebook.
December 11, 2018
What a fantastic story to remind me of the courage of the human spirit! Our young hero is only 12, but he has seen horrors that would leave most adults trembling. He perseveres, not only saving himself, but also many others he meets along his journey.
I felt so much compassion for the Middle Eastern migrants, forced to leave their homes to face the unknown, if they are to survive. It’s an extremely timely and fast paced story which I recommend to readers of thrillers, spy stories, and eventual happy endings!
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this book in exchange for my honest review.
I felt so much compassion for the Middle Eastern migrants, forced to leave their homes to face the unknown, if they are to survive. It’s an extremely timely and fast paced story which I recommend to readers of thrillers, spy stories, and eventual happy endings!
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2018
A tense international thriller involving issues in today's world: ISIS, terrorism, the refugee crisis in Europe, intelligence agencies collaborating, and more. This is a very complex story with lots of action and I really enjoyed it. I won't try to give you a synopsis since you can read that other places - I'll just tell you my impressions. I fell in love with Naji who has seen way too much for a child to deal with and was still facing so much more. My heart broke for him. I also loved the character and dedication of Paul Samson who always seemed to "do the right thing" and showed true concern for the people he was trying to find. The psychologist, Anastasia, was also a favorite - she showed such caring and empathy yet kept a wonderful disposition throughout. Of course I hated the ISIS characters, but also the Peter Numan and his assistant who had dated Samson (I really disliked this lady!).
There were many times in the narrative that I was scared for Naji - he really had some good luck in places - maybe to balance out all the tremendous grief he had suffered. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't flip the pages fast enough to find out what happened. If you like espionage and thrillers you will certainly enjoy this book. Great work Henry Porter!
Thanks to Henry Porter and Grove Atlantic through Netgalley for an advance copy.
There were many times in the narrative that I was scared for Naji - he really had some good luck in places - maybe to balance out all the tremendous grief he had suffered. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't flip the pages fast enough to find out what happened. If you like espionage and thrillers you will certainly enjoy this book. Great work Henry Porter!
Thanks to Henry Porter and Grove Atlantic through Netgalley for an advance copy.
May 21, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded up because it delivered on its thriller promise
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Paul Samson, Arabophone Brit of Lebanese background, has a gambling problem that got him bounced from the intelligence job he loved. He's an adrenaline junky, so he wasn't unemployed for long; he's fluent in the language and conversant with the culture of one of the world's hotspots, so guess where his unofficial work takes him!
Naji is the teenaged son of a Syrian academic who, gentle soulthat he was, believed he could help some dissident students of his be found in Assad's brutal regime. He later died from the aftereffects of being tortured. Naji, after this awakening, is quick to see through ISIL's façade of acceptance and gets his family to Turkey preparatory to making it to Germany.
With, because he's very intelligent but not very smart yet, damaging information he got because "he's just a kid" and the violent men paid no attention to him.
Not good for his chances of survival...but Paul Samson, now that British officialdom know Naji exists, is sent unofficially and deniably to make him safe and get him to the point he can give the information to them. Kid's a tyro...he leads everyone a merry chase. Author Porter writes a damn good story here, sets it in places I'm convinced he knows well enough to lead tours, but there's not much horsepower in his characters as people. Their motives are clear and powerful. They are also, unlike real people's and thus unlike the characters I most enjoy reading about, unmixed. Black-hearted people, white-hatted people...not a lot of nuance.
That said I read the book as fast as I could. I wanted this kid to win and I think anyone who needs something more or less unambiguous for a restful but still exciting (weird sentence...but that's how this book came across for me) or at least very action-packed story of implausibly lucky good guys needs this read.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Paul Samson, Arabophone Brit of Lebanese background, has a gambling problem that got him bounced from the intelligence job he loved. He's an adrenaline junky, so he wasn't unemployed for long; he's fluent in the language and conversant with the culture of one of the world's hotspots, so guess where his unofficial work takes him!
Naji is the teenaged son of a Syrian academic who, gentle soulthat he was, believed he could help some dissident students of his be found in Assad's brutal regime. He later died from the aftereffects of being tortured. Naji, after this awakening, is quick to see through ISIL's façade of acceptance and gets his family to Turkey preparatory to making it to Germany.
With, because he's very intelligent but not very smart yet, damaging information he got because "he's just a kid" and the violent men paid no attention to him.
His head went under. Seawater filled his nose and mouth; his eyes opened and he saw the black depths of the ocean below him. A moment later something knocked his legs—maybe part of the wreckage, he couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he was going to die. Then it came again. This time there was a distinct shove on his buttocks and whatever it was that moved with such intent beneath him lifted him up so his head and shoulders came out of the water and he was able to grab a plastic toggle on the section of the rubber craft that was still inflated.
Not good for his chances of survival...but Paul Samson, now that British officialdom know Naji exists, is sent unofficially and deniably to make him safe and get him to the point he can give the information to them. Kid's a tyro...he leads everyone a merry chase. Author Porter writes a damn good story here, sets it in places I'm convinced he knows well enough to lead tours, but there's not much horsepower in his characters as people. Their motives are clear and powerful. They are also, unlike real people's and thus unlike the characters I most enjoy reading about, unmixed. Black-hearted people, white-hatted people...not a lot of nuance.
That said I read the book as fast as I could. I wanted this kid to win and I think anyone who needs something more or less unambiguous for a restful but still exciting (weird sentence...but that's how this book came across for me) or at least very action-packed story of implausibly lucky good guys needs this read.
September 20, 2019
Really enjoyed this thriller by Henry Porter which features British spy Paul Samson, who helps locate kidnapped/missing people. Paul is tasked with finding a Syrian boy named Naji Touma who has left Syria and now the refugee camps in Turkey as he travels across Europe looking for a new home for him and his family. What we uncover is that Naji is no ordinary boy - he is extremely brave and intelligent and has taken something from the terrorists in Syria that has put a target on his back.
The book bounces from the narrative of Naji and Paul which I loved as we got both aspects of the journey throughout Europe. I think I will be keen to read the next installment in White Hot Silence as the character Paul came across as willing to go to great lengths to complete the mission/task in hand and it was conveyed really well in this book.
The book bounces from the narrative of Naji and Paul which I loved as we got both aspects of the journey throughout Europe. I think I will be keen to read the next installment in White Hot Silence as the character Paul came across as willing to go to great lengths to complete the mission/task in hand and it was conveyed really well in this book.
August 5, 2018
Thank you to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press for providing an advanced digital copy of this novel about a young pre-teen refugee as he struggles to cross several borders in his flight from Syria. His goal is to reach Germany and trade the knowledge he has stolen from terrorists to pay for the safe passage of his family. The terrorists are in pursuit with a goal of killing him before he can reach safety as are various spy agencies who get wind he may have valuable information they can use in their fight against terrorism. The tale alternates between the point of view of the young boy, Naji and Paul Samson, who has been contracted by a conglomerate of spy agencies and is pursuing the boy in an attempt to reach and rescue him.
Naji is portrayed as a brilliant, precocious young boy who is a combination of self taught whiz kid, devoted son and petty thief who can move through a crowd with lightning speed to elude capture. His struggle is complicated because he is a minor trying to travel unaccompanied and without the proper paperwork, which leaves him at risk from both the terrorists and officials from the countries through which he must travel. If the terrorists find him, they will kill him, if the officials find him, they will send him back to a youth detention center. Samson is a former spy who left the agency and whose specialty is now finding people for a fee, a quintessential “good guy” trying to reach Naji before the cruelest of men, head of a terrorist organization which has held Naji in the past, can find him and the secrets Naji has carried out with him.
Samson’s pursuit is complicated by the fact Naji is unaware of his presence and the fact he is trying to help. In addition, through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes Naji constantly changes his direction of travel, leaving Samson to try and guess at his location, all while trying to find a way to contact the boy. Along the way he gets assistance from a child psychologist who volunteered at one of the refugee camps, a billionaire who previously hired Samson to find his sister who had been kidnapped by terrorists, and some locals who are pulled in to serve as support. There are also other spies and organizations who may want to help Naji, as well as Naji’s sister who provides a link to his family. The mix of people is complicated and their roles unexpectedly shift from time to time, which adds to the difficulty of Samson’s job.
The story is a compelling one, and has the potential to become a taut adventure as Naji seeks to elude those who would harm him. However, because the book relies more on telling the tale rather than helping the reader feel and experience the action, the tension never quite grows as expected, making it easy to interrupt reading throughout the novel. Overall, it remains an interesting story, but not the edge of your seat read you might expect from the subject matter.
Naji is portrayed as a brilliant, precocious young boy who is a combination of self taught whiz kid, devoted son and petty thief who can move through a crowd with lightning speed to elude capture. His struggle is complicated because he is a minor trying to travel unaccompanied and without the proper paperwork, which leaves him at risk from both the terrorists and officials from the countries through which he must travel. If the terrorists find him, they will kill him, if the officials find him, they will send him back to a youth detention center. Samson is a former spy who left the agency and whose specialty is now finding people for a fee, a quintessential “good guy” trying to reach Naji before the cruelest of men, head of a terrorist organization which has held Naji in the past, can find him and the secrets Naji has carried out with him.
Samson’s pursuit is complicated by the fact Naji is unaware of his presence and the fact he is trying to help. In addition, through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes Naji constantly changes his direction of travel, leaving Samson to try and guess at his location, all while trying to find a way to contact the boy. Along the way he gets assistance from a child psychologist who volunteered at one of the refugee camps, a billionaire who previously hired Samson to find his sister who had been kidnapped by terrorists, and some locals who are pulled in to serve as support. There are also other spies and organizations who may want to help Naji, as well as Naji’s sister who provides a link to his family. The mix of people is complicated and their roles unexpectedly shift from time to time, which adds to the difficulty of Samson’s job.
The story is a compelling one, and has the potential to become a taut adventure as Naji seeks to elude those who would harm him. However, because the book relies more on telling the tale rather than helping the reader feel and experience the action, the tension never quite grows as expected, making it easy to interrupt reading throughout the novel. Overall, it remains an interesting story, but not the edge of your seat read you might expect from the subject matter.
August 13, 2018
Firefly is the latest thriller from author Henry Porter, I'd enjoyed his previous works; especially Empire State and Brandenburg, and he was one of the few columnists in the Observer I could stand to read when he wrote for that paper. I therefore had high hopes for his new novel; his first since The Dying of the Light (aka The Bell Ringers) in 2009.
Unfortunately those hopes were not met. Whilst Firefly is far from a terrible novel its not a particularly great one either.
The primary issues is its reliance on lazy-cliche and one-dimensional characterisation. For example, the book's hero Paul Samson is that old stand-by, the reluctant spy. In this specific case that means a former MI6 officer of impeccable decency who quit the service because he couldn't tolerate his colleagues's underhanded, cynical methods. An archetype we have seen a dozen times or more from innumerable authors and lazy short-hand for 'he's a good guy!' Porter even gives him the obligatory flaw that all such heroes must have, in this case a gambling habit (but of course not one so bad that it makes him unattractive as a person or undermines his noble decency).
That same unquestionable, one-dimensional nobility is common to all the other 'good characters' in the book too. There's Anastasia, the almost angelically good love-interest who works as a child psychologist in a refugee camp but is also willing to drop everything to assist Samson despite only meeting him once for about ten minutes. Or the eponymous Firefly, an innocent but wholly decent (and almost super-humanly intelligent and self reliant) child sucked into events beyond his control. Every 'good' character in this book, down to the minor supporting roles, is inherently decent and lacking in genuine complexity in the way that no disparate group in real life ever would be.
Those on the other side are equally stereotypical too. In Firefly, if you work for any of the intelligence services then by default you are untrustworthy, duplicitous, cynical and hard-nosed. If this book is an accurate reflection of the real world then no European Intelligence agency employees a genuinely compassionate, decent human-being; which I find very hard to believe. It would also seem, according to Porter, that western Agencies don't employ smart ones either, but just single-minded, dogmatic ones.
In fact the only people in the world of Firefly less trustworthy than Western Intelligence Agents are Islamic State Terrrorists themselves, who are all, to a man, singularly ugly, evil human beings with no complexity or contradictions. If they weren't so thoroughly and genuinely barbaric they'd be pantomime villains. As it is they all feel like a Hollywood scriptwriter's idea of what constitutes an IS Terrorist, right down to bad breath and other physical deformities. This is the sort of book where the good guys are all physically attractive, the untrustworthy ones are rumpled or into power-dressing and the bad 'uns are ugly and smelly. Its almost laughably formulaic.
But then I'm not sure that the characters or the plot are really that important to Henry Porter. From the very start the primary purpose of Firefly seems to be to highlight the plight and suffering of refugees trying to enter Europe from Syria, Afghanistan and other war torn countries. Its this element of the story that seems to get the most attention and also feels the most plausible and well researched. Its obvious that the author has spent some time in the places in he portrays and has witnessed some of the suffering he describes first hand. The little details he inserts are proof of that.
However, by inserting into this vivid portrayal of a modern tragedy a cast so unremittingly one-dimensional Henry Porter just serves to undermine the points he's trying to make. When every refugee, aid worker or innocent civilian is so unswervingly good, every authority figure is without exception untrustworthy, incompetent or self-serving and the villains all irredeemably evil then plausibility begins to go out of the window. Add in a plot that relies too much on coincidence and deus-ex machina resolutions, whilst also lacking the genuinely hard edge that events really demand (for evil terrorists the bad guys seem very unwilling to actually kill anyone) and as a reader you begin to question the verisimilitude of everything on the page, That includes the the writer's portrayal of a real life, on-going refugee crisis which as a result loses its ability to shock and move..
If I was Henry Porter next time I would spend less effort on trying to present a realistic backdrop for my story and more on creating believably complex individuals and a plot that feels genuinely satisfying from start to finish.
Unfortunately those hopes were not met. Whilst Firefly is far from a terrible novel its not a particularly great one either.
The primary issues is its reliance on lazy-cliche and one-dimensional characterisation. For example, the book's hero Paul Samson is that old stand-by, the reluctant spy. In this specific case that means a former MI6 officer of impeccable decency who quit the service because he couldn't tolerate his colleagues's underhanded, cynical methods. An archetype we have seen a dozen times or more from innumerable authors and lazy short-hand for 'he's a good guy!' Porter even gives him the obligatory flaw that all such heroes must have, in this case a gambling habit (but of course not one so bad that it makes him unattractive as a person or undermines his noble decency).
That same unquestionable, one-dimensional nobility is common to all the other 'good characters' in the book too. There's Anastasia, the almost angelically good love-interest who works as a child psychologist in a refugee camp but is also willing to drop everything to assist Samson despite only meeting him once for about ten minutes. Or the eponymous Firefly, an innocent but wholly decent (and almost super-humanly intelligent and self reliant) child sucked into events beyond his control. Every 'good' character in this book, down to the minor supporting roles, is inherently decent and lacking in genuine complexity in the way that no disparate group in real life ever would be.
Those on the other side are equally stereotypical too. In Firefly, if you work for any of the intelligence services then by default you are untrustworthy, duplicitous, cynical and hard-nosed. If this book is an accurate reflection of the real world then no European Intelligence agency employees a genuinely compassionate, decent human-being; which I find very hard to believe. It would also seem, according to Porter, that western Agencies don't employ smart ones either, but just single-minded, dogmatic ones.
In fact the only people in the world of Firefly less trustworthy than Western Intelligence Agents are Islamic State Terrrorists themselves, who are all, to a man, singularly ugly, evil human beings with no complexity or contradictions. If they weren't so thoroughly and genuinely barbaric they'd be pantomime villains. As it is they all feel like a Hollywood scriptwriter's idea of what constitutes an IS Terrorist, right down to bad breath and other physical deformities. This is the sort of book where the good guys are all physically attractive, the untrustworthy ones are rumpled or into power-dressing and the bad 'uns are ugly and smelly. Its almost laughably formulaic.
But then I'm not sure that the characters or the plot are really that important to Henry Porter. From the very start the primary purpose of Firefly seems to be to highlight the plight and suffering of refugees trying to enter Europe from Syria, Afghanistan and other war torn countries. Its this element of the story that seems to get the most attention and also feels the most plausible and well researched. Its obvious that the author has spent some time in the places in he portrays and has witnessed some of the suffering he describes first hand. The little details he inserts are proof of that.
However, by inserting into this vivid portrayal of a modern tragedy a cast so unremittingly one-dimensional Henry Porter just serves to undermine the points he's trying to make. When every refugee, aid worker or innocent civilian is so unswervingly good, every authority figure is without exception untrustworthy, incompetent or self-serving and the villains all irredeemably evil then plausibility begins to go out of the window. Add in a plot that relies too much on coincidence and deus-ex machina resolutions, whilst also lacking the genuinely hard edge that events really demand (for evil terrorists the bad guys seem very unwilling to actually kill anyone) and as a reader you begin to question the verisimilitude of everything on the page, That includes the the writer's portrayal of a real life, on-going refugee crisis which as a result loses its ability to shock and move..
If I was Henry Porter next time I would spend less effort on trying to present a realistic backdrop for my story and more on creating believably complex individuals and a plot that feels genuinely satisfying from start to finish.
August 5, 2018
Thank you to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press for providing an advanced digital copy of this novel about a young pre-teen refugee as he struggles to cross several borders in his flight from Syria. His goal is to reach Germany and trade the knowledge he has stolen from terrorists to pay for the safe passage of his family. The terrorists are in pursuit with a goal of killing him before he can reach safety as are various spy agencies who get wind he may have valuable information they can use in their fight against terrorism. The tale alternates between the point of view of the young boy, Naji and Paul Samson, who has been contracted by a conglomerate of spy agencies and is pursuing the boy in an attempt to reach and rescue him.
Naji is portrayed as a brilliant, precocious young boy who is a combination of self taught whiz kid, devoted son and petty thief who can move through a crowd with lightning speed to elude capture. His struggle is complicated because he is a minor trying to travel unaccompanied and without the proper paperwork, which leaves him at risk from both the terrorists and officials from the countries through which he must travel. If the terrorists find him, they will kill him, if the officials find him, they will send him back to a youth detention center. Samson is a former spy who left the agency and whose specialty is now finding people for a fee, a quintessential “good guy” trying to reach Naji before the cruelest of men, head of a terrorist organization which has held Naji in the past, can find him and the secrets Naji has carried out with him.
Samson’s pursuit is complicated by the fact Naji is unaware of his presence and the fact he is trying to help. In addition, through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes Naji constantly changes his direction of travel, leaving Samson to try and guess at his location, all while trying to find a way to contact the boy. Along the way he gets assistance from a child psychologist who volunteered at one of the refugee camps, a billionaire who previously hired Samson to find his sister who had been kidnapped by terrorists, and some locals who are pulled in to serve as support. There are also other spies and organizations who may want to help Naji, as well as Naji’s sister who provides a link to his family. The mix of people is complicated and their roles unexpectedly shift from time to time, which adds to the difficulty of Samson’s job.
The story is a compelling one, and has the potential to become a taut adventure as Naji seeks to elude those who would harm him. However, because the book relies more on telling the tale rather than helping the reader feel and experience the action, the tension never quite grows as expected, making it easy to interrupt reading throughout the novel. Overall, it remains an interesting story, but not the edge of your seat read you might expect from the subject matter.
Naji is portrayed as a brilliant, precocious young boy who is a combination of self taught whiz kid, devoted son and petty thief who can move through a crowd with lightning speed to elude capture. His struggle is complicated because he is a minor trying to travel unaccompanied and without the proper paperwork, which leaves him at risk from both the terrorists and officials from the countries through which he must travel. If the terrorists find him, they will kill him, if the officials find him, they will send him back to a youth detention center. Samson is a former spy who left the agency and whose specialty is now finding people for a fee, a quintessential “good guy” trying to reach Naji before the cruelest of men, head of a terrorist organization which has held Naji in the past, can find him and the secrets Naji has carried out with him.
Samson’s pursuit is complicated by the fact Naji is unaware of his presence and the fact he is trying to help. In addition, through a series of misadventures and narrow escapes Naji constantly changes his direction of travel, leaving Samson to try and guess at his location, all while trying to find a way to contact the boy. Along the way he gets assistance from a child psychologist who volunteered at one of the refugee camps, a billionaire who previously hired Samson to find his sister who had been kidnapped by terrorists, and some locals who are pulled in to serve as support. There are also other spies and organizations who may want to help Naji, as well as Naji’s sister who provides a link to his family. The mix of people is complicated and their roles unexpectedly shift from time to time, which adds to the difficulty of Samson’s job.
The story is a compelling one, and has the potential to become a taut adventure as Naji seeks to elude those who would harm him. However, because the book relies more on telling the tale rather than helping the reader feel and experience the action, the tension never quite grows as expected, making it easy to interrupt reading throughout the novel. Overall, it remains an interesting story, but not the edge of your seat read you might expect from the subject matter.
January 18, 2019
A really well written thriller.
A Syrian boy is desperately trying to reach the safety of Germany. On the grim migrant trial from the Greek isles through the Balkans he is chased by both ISIS and an ex-MI6 agent. Cue portentous trailer voice A BOY ON THE RUN... CHASED BY DEATH... ONLY ONE MAN.
So it’s all really good though. Henry Porter brings the pathos of the migrants fully and sympathetically to life so one cares. He also makes the action feel real enough to conjure real anxiety on what was going to happen next. It’s not without its share of the cartoonish the bad guy has terrible breath and there is random secretive billionaire thrown in but all in all tremendous.
A Syrian boy is desperately trying to reach the safety of Germany. On the grim migrant trial from the Greek isles through the Balkans he is chased by both ISIS and an ex-MI6 agent. Cue portentous trailer voice A BOY ON THE RUN... CHASED BY DEATH... ONLY ONE MAN.
So it’s all really good though. Henry Porter brings the pathos of the migrants fully and sympathetically to life so one cares. He also makes the action feel real enough to conjure real anxiety on what was going to happen next. It’s not without its share of the cartoonish the bad guy has terrible breath and there is random secretive billionaire thrown in but all in all tremendous.
November 16, 2018
This review was originally published on warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
Firefly is a thrilling tale of spies, terrorists, and refugees which seems especially poignant in today's political climate in Europe.
The plot of Firefly was so unique and wonderfully written that I was emersed in the story from the first page to the last page. I wasn't a big fan of the writing style because the point of view varied within the same chapter which I sometimes found confusing. I did enjoy the different point of views though because you actually get to read the point of view of Naji, the young refugee boy with the codename Firefly, which was interesting and an amazing aspect of the book.
The characters were well written and interesting. I loved both Naji and Samson and I thoroughly enjoyed reading from their point of views. I wasn't really invested in any of the other characters but I did like Hayat who appeared at the beginning of the book. I just like her mannerisms and the way she was written.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
Firefly is a thrilling tale of spies, terrorists, and refugees which seems especially poignant in today's political climate in Europe.
The plot of Firefly was so unique and wonderfully written that I was emersed in the story from the first page to the last page. I wasn't a big fan of the writing style because the point of view varied within the same chapter which I sometimes found confusing. I did enjoy the different point of views though because you actually get to read the point of view of Naji, the young refugee boy with the codename Firefly, which was interesting and an amazing aspect of the book.
The characters were well written and interesting. I loved both Naji and Samson and I thoroughly enjoyed reading from their point of views. I wasn't really invested in any of the other characters but I did like Hayat who appeared at the beginning of the book. I just like her mannerisms and the way she was written.
March 23, 2018
An exceptionally well researched and written book that enthralled from the first page.
It tells of the search for an enterprising young refugee boy who possesses crucial knowledge about an impending ISIS attack on the European mainland.
Who will find him first? The good guys or the bad?
It is an exhilarating chase leavened with sadness at the harrowing descriptions of the plight of the refugees literally fleeing for their life.
Henry Porter has written an important book that educates as much as it entertains.
Highly recommended.
It tells of the search for an enterprising young refugee boy who possesses crucial knowledge about an impending ISIS attack on the European mainland.
Who will find him first? The good guys or the bad?
It is an exhilarating chase leavened with sadness at the harrowing descriptions of the plight of the refugees literally fleeing for their life.
Henry Porter has written an important book that educates as much as it entertains.
Highly recommended.
October 18, 2018
GNab Taking place in the modern era, we follow a 13 year old youngster named Naji who fled from his village in Serbia with his ailing father, his mother and three younger sisters. His father's last instructions to him before he died were to try to get to Germany and establish safe harbor and transportation for his mother and sisters. Naji attempts to make his way from a Turkish refugee camp across the water to Greece, and then through Macedonia to safe harbor in Germany. Naji is small for his age, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, so though he has funds to purchase passage on public transports, he cannot buy a ticket or ride without an adult in attendance. He is being followed by two of the three IS agents who were responsible for the attack on Naji's village murdering many, bad men who know what he saw in Serbia and want to silence him permanently. To add to his difficulties agents from Britain, Greece and assorted sundry desert nations also want to know what he knows, and they too are dogging his journey. How can you be sure who is friend, who is foe? You simply must just keep on moving.
This was a very interesting tale, well paced and with action to keep you flinching and guessing and reading on long after your bedtime. Naji is an awesome kid, empathetic and smart. You can only wish the best for him and cheer at his victories. I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly and will add Henry Porter to my list of must reads.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Henry Porter, and Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Oct 12, 2018
Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press
This was a very interesting tale, well paced and with action to keep you flinching and guessing and reading on long after your bedtime. Naji is an awesome kid, empathetic and smart. You can only wish the best for him and cheer at his victories. I thoroughly enjoyed Firefly and will add Henry Porter to my list of must reads.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Henry Porter, and Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Oct 12, 2018
Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press
September 10, 2018
Firefly is the first thriller I've read by Henry Porter. I was impressed with the timeliness of the theme, the Syrian civil war and the desperation of the immigrants to leave that country, which made me feel as if I was reading a news story. The intelligence agency of Britain is asking one of its former agents to come back on board to help with this very specific problem. Paul Samson is ex-MI6, himself a refugee in his past and speaks fluent Arabic. There is a young immigrant last traced to a Greek island who has vital information regarding a rebel group of militants. This thirteen year old boy is trying to make his way to Europe to establish political asylum for his family still in Syria. In his escape he became aware of plans this militant group has for terrorist activities. The British intelligence forces want the boy found and escorted safely to them, the militants want the boy found and killed before he reveals their plans. In steps Paul Samson.
Throughout this book I was much more interested in Firefly (Naji) than I was in the supposed lead character, Paul Samson. I don't know if Samson is a recurring character in Henry Porter novels but he didn't do much for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press for a digital galley of this novel.
Throughout this book I was much more interested in Firefly (Naji) than I was in the supposed lead character, Paul Samson. I don't know if Samson is a recurring character in Henry Porter novels but he didn't do much for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, Mysterious Press for a digital galley of this novel.
July 15, 2018
This is a very timely thriller, but not without some flaws. Ex intelligent agent is asked to track and find a young migrant making his way across Europe. The young man may hold some critical intelligence information and the British badly want it. Sadly the ISIS bad guys are also after the young lad. The boy himself is very smart and a born survivor, but he might not be smart enough and his time is running out...
This captures the migration plight very well along with a British Intelligence organisation that has little sentiment and quite selfish goals. Our tracker is a bit odder. Good that he is no ex special forces warrior, his skills are in the chase and his own experiences as an imigrant. But he’s not fleshed out enough to make you really care about him, and there is an odd and unnecessary side story about him betting which was dull and added nothing.
But this does work for much of the book and the good outweighs the flaws.
This captures the migration plight very well along with a British Intelligence organisation that has little sentiment and quite selfish goals. Our tracker is a bit odder. Good that he is no ex special forces warrior, his skills are in the chase and his own experiences as an imigrant. But he’s not fleshed out enough to make you really care about him, and there is an odd and unnecessary side story about him betting which was dull and added nothing.
But this does work for much of the book and the good outweighs the flaws.
December 31, 2019
My bad - I spaced out on reading and reviewing this book until recently. I did enjoy it - quite a lot - and ended up getting the audio on the next book in the series immediately! So, what’s to like about the book - enjoyed the characters of Firefly and Paul Samson and the taut, fast paced move of the book. A topic that dominates the news every day - the plight of refugees, immigration, and what the future holds, this book didn’t disappoint. From the refugee camps of Greece dodging bullets, terrorists, and bad cops, and those not necessarily on Firefly’s side — to the mountains of Macedonia, the race is oh so razor close. An exciting thriller well worth the read and listen (do the audio if you can - loved the narration). A belated thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 30, 2018
A real page turner.
Henry Porter has produced an excellent contemporary spy novel, capturing the harrowing plight of refugees alongside the need to obtain vital intelligence from a young refugee boy who holds crucial knowledge about an impending ISIS attack in Europe.
It's essentially a chase story, but one with many twists and turns and rich characterisations of the main protagonists.
Fast moving and impactful, highly recommended.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review.
Henry Porter has produced an excellent contemporary spy novel, capturing the harrowing plight of refugees alongside the need to obtain vital intelligence from a young refugee boy who holds crucial knowledge about an impending ISIS attack in Europe.
It's essentially a chase story, but one with many twists and turns and rich characterisations of the main protagonists.
Fast moving and impactful, highly recommended.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review.
September 12, 2018
Firefly is a book that relies on some pretty slim coincidence at times, but isn’t that what a story like this needs? All tough cases are cracked with evidence, persistence, and a little luck. Porter’s thriller is a story that starts quickly and never lets up. If you like the Reachers and Ryans of the thriller world, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Full review here: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/09/12/fi...
All my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
Full review here: https://paulspicks.blog/2018/09/12/fi...
All my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
September 23, 2020
A gripping page-turner that I could not put down...
Thoroughly enjoyed this, strong characters and a great plot with plenty of twists and turns, and nicely plotted goodies and baddies. Highly recommended - this would be great holiday reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Thoroughly enjoyed this, strong characters and a great plot with plenty of twists and turns, and nicely plotted goodies and baddies. Highly recommended - this would be great holiday reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.
October 31, 2018
Too predictable. I enjoyed his earlier work much more than Firefly.
March 29, 2019
DNF 75%
Had promise, but ultimately it was a boring story. Kid on the run in the Balkans might be okay for 300 pages, but 470 was definitely too long!
Had promise, but ultimately it was a boring story. Kid on the run in the Balkans might be okay for 300 pages, but 470 was definitely too long!
September 30, 2018
This is an entertaining ‘chase’ thriller about a British spy tasked with finding a teenage refugee in the Balkans. 13 year old Naji has escaped from IS and they are after him, but he is resourceful and intelligent. It’s relatively new ground for a novel, an insightful take on the modern political landscape and the on going war on terror.
Despite the stereotypical characters of the secret agent and an English educated child psychologist, the characters are convincing and believable made more powerful and compelling by the focus on a child forced to grow up rapidly, and in the worst possible circumstances.
Despite the stereotypical characters of the secret agent and an English educated child psychologist, the characters are convincing and believable made more powerful and compelling by the focus on a child forced to grow up rapidly, and in the worst possible circumstances.
September 15, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was not my usual reading choice but nevertheless I enjoyed the story.
June 14, 2025
Good premise and plot. A decent, dual perspective thriller and the first outing for Paul Samson. Much more character development to come, I hope, as the series progresses.
June 4, 2018
I love an occasional spy style thriller and I really enjoyed this book. It also surprised me with it's adept handling of a serious topic (migration, plight of refugees) in the context of a thriller. The juxtaposition of the western spy apparatus versus the almost post apocalyptic experiences of the migrants really struck me (Samson tapping into state of the art technology to track Naji while the migrants stumble through Europe with access to nothing). This is much more than your standard spy thriller but still has all the action and pace that you might expect. I'd love to see another title featuring Samson (perhaps with Naji as his technological whizz kid sidekick!?)
June 8, 2018
A new novel by Henry Porter is always a treat and his new release does not disappoint. It is a timely tale as the chase takes place in a Europe that is battling to address the flood of refugees pouring into Greece and using it as a springboard into a Schengen country. An ex-spy, himself a former refugee, accepts the challenge of finding a fourteen-year-old boy refugee believed to have information on a terrorist cell aiming to reach into the heart of Europe. The action is fast and furious but it is the well-drawn characterisation of the older former refugee now people hunter, the desperate young boy and the people that help and hinder them along the way all against the terrible reality of the refugee trail that pulls at your heart and keeps you glued to the last page.
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