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Red Desert
When a violent attack on his girlfriend tears Tom's life apart, escape makes perfect sense. He takes a job with an oil company, providing therapy to staff cooped up in a camp in Southern Iraq. Nice pay packet, if you don't mind being stuck in the desert surrounded by unexploded mines and cluster bombs. On his arrival, an explosion outside the camp leaves four men dead. Something about it doesn't make sense, and Tom starts to ask questions. His curiosity begins to get him into trouble - especially with the former soldiers who work there as security contractors. When the camp is attacked and Tom is shipped home, he continues his investigations. Working with a journalist pursuing a story about a cover-up, Tom looks into a notorious army barracks. But then the journalist falls beneath a tube train. Falls, or is pushed? With an unseen enemy closing in, will Tom's search for the truth end in his death, too? Set between London, Berlin and Iraq, this white-knuckle suspense thriller is perfect for fans of The Hurt Locker , American Sniper and Homeland .
Audiobook
Published May 7, 2020
6 people want to read
About the author
Paddy Magrane
5 books10 followersPaddy Magrane was born in the Middle East and educated in England. A psychotherapist and journalist who’s written for the Guardian and Observer, he now lives in Devon.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 13, 2020
Red Desert by Paddy Magrane
Audible books require time to listen and I found time by raptly listening to this tale while getting my daily walking in. I found myself wanting to walk longer and further as I became immersed in the story. This story was fast-paced, intricately plotted, filled with twists and turns and left me wanting to read more by this author.
What I liked:
* The story – well done – felt I was right in the midst of things
* The narration – well done – multiple dialects used to bring the characters to life and seamlessly done
* Tom: a sympathetic hero with a big heart. Kept rooting for him and hoped he would get to the bottom of things
* The international intrigue and travel
* Realizing that there was more to the story than a psychotherapist heading to the desert after a suicide.
* Following along as each tidbit was revealed
* The real feel of the desert – have lived in Saudi Arabia and imagine Iraq is similar after reading the descriptions.
* The insight into Tom’s life and how he eventually came to grips with various experiences in his life
* Wondering what Tom’s future might have in store for him – will a calm life in England be enough after all that happened in this book?
What I did not like:
* Being reminded of the evil that men do whether in civilian, military or corporate life.
* The bad guys…all of them
Did I enjoy this story? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Would I listen to more books by this narrator? Yes
Thank you to Mida PR for the audible to listen to – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Audible books require time to listen and I found time by raptly listening to this tale while getting my daily walking in. I found myself wanting to walk longer and further as I became immersed in the story. This story was fast-paced, intricately plotted, filled with twists and turns and left me wanting to read more by this author.
What I liked:
* The story – well done – felt I was right in the midst of things
* The narration – well done – multiple dialects used to bring the characters to life and seamlessly done
* Tom: a sympathetic hero with a big heart. Kept rooting for him and hoped he would get to the bottom of things
* The international intrigue and travel
* Realizing that there was more to the story than a psychotherapist heading to the desert after a suicide.
* Following along as each tidbit was revealed
* The real feel of the desert – have lived in Saudi Arabia and imagine Iraq is similar after reading the descriptions.
* The insight into Tom’s life and how he eventually came to grips with various experiences in his life
* Wondering what Tom’s future might have in store for him – will a calm life in England be enough after all that happened in this book?
What I did not like:
* Being reminded of the evil that men do whether in civilian, military or corporate life.
* The bad guys…all of them
Did I enjoy this story? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Would I listen to more books by this narrator? Yes
Thank you to Mida PR for the audible to listen to – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
May 11, 2020
From the start of Red Desert it's evident that Tom Challis's new role as a psychotherapist for staff working on an oil camp in Iraq has taken him far out of his comfort zone. Kept awake most of the night by the hum of the air conditioning and his fridge, his first morning starts with a bang when he is abruptly awoken by an explosion. It's a terrifying reminder that life in southern Iraq is more different and risky than he could ever have envisaged - and the high octane opening chapters barely allow him to draw breath as his concerns mount over the rising death toll at the camp and the apparent indifference of the authorities to investigate.
He is immediately a hugely likeable character; sensitive and compassionate, his interactions with a young Iraqi boy are notably touching. He struggles to persuade the workers on camp to open up to him, and his position as outsider is further underlined by something as seemingly straightforward as choosing what to eat in the canteen. It's here that he meets the guileful Alice, a Chinese national who also works on the camp and with whom he strikes up a cautious friendship. As the book progresses, it becomes obvious that he has his own troubles but rather than confronting them, he's trying to forget. It makes for an intriguing contrast between his own mental health issues and those of the men he encounters - who like him are reluctant to expose themselves to therapy. He's been employed at the camp following a recent suicide and the harsh realities of day to day life there mean it's not surprising that many of the workers are stressed and anxious. However, he is particularly concerned about a former soldier who he is convinced is suffering from PTSD. A number of deeply worrying developments ensures the tension level keeps rising as Tom struggles to find anybody prepared to take notice of his growing concern that there is a killer in camp seriously and he eventually comes to the unsettling realisation that all that matters to those in charge is that nothing is allowed to interrupt the production of oil.
The breathless conclusion of this part of the story would be a fitting end to many action thrillers but it's just the beginning for Tom. Back in London, he could be forgiven for putting his experiences in Iraq behind him but it's from this point that we really begin to see his character emerge. On the camp he was forced to react to the hostile environment he found himself in with little time to think - but now he makes an active choice to investigate further. It's to Paddy Magrane's credit that Tom never suddenly becomes an all-out action hero and instead is a man who is driven by his own set of morals as he keeps pushing for answers even though he is under no illusions about the potentially deadly consequences.
His position as an outsider means he finds it hard to know who he can trust and there are several shocking revelations and an almost constant sense of dread as he slowly begins to suspect the deaths in Iraq may be connected to two Deepcut-like supposed suicides at an army base in Hampshire. As he joins forces with a local hack who has been obsessively investigating several deaths linked to the barracks, the suspense becomes almost unbearable as it seems as if all eyes are upon him - and they don't like what he is doing. The fast-paced, intricate plot keeps him constantly on the move as he heads for Germany on the trail of the truth. Tom (and the reader!) is barely allowed time to draw breath but he never loses his resolve to find out the truth and to secure justice. Despite not having any real form of training for the perilous situation he finds himself in, his skills as a psychotherapist add a fascinating dimension to the story and a poignant juxtaposition to his own personal tragedy.
The long-term mental impact of trauma is particularly relevant here and while there can be no disputing the bleak revelations which triggered such desperate measures to secure silence at any cost, the result of keeping terrible secrets locked away is shown to be ultimately as toxic. Casting a sharp look at establishment cover-ups and a global society where oil production dominates economies; Red Desert is an exceptional conspiracy thriller where nail-biting action scenes are complemented by a thoughtfully insightful and empathetic exploration of a number of important subjects. I must also applaud Joe Jameson's brilliant narration which brings the book to life, with each character distinctly voiced, ensuring I never had to question who was talking. Absolutely riveting throughout, Paddy Magrane's complex, contemporary novel features tense and exciting drama, authentic, compelling characters and an evocative sense of place - especially in the deserts of Iraq where I could almost feel the stifling heat burning down on me. Very highly recommended.
He is immediately a hugely likeable character; sensitive and compassionate, his interactions with a young Iraqi boy are notably touching. He struggles to persuade the workers on camp to open up to him, and his position as outsider is further underlined by something as seemingly straightforward as choosing what to eat in the canteen. It's here that he meets the guileful Alice, a Chinese national who also works on the camp and with whom he strikes up a cautious friendship. As the book progresses, it becomes obvious that he has his own troubles but rather than confronting them, he's trying to forget. It makes for an intriguing contrast between his own mental health issues and those of the men he encounters - who like him are reluctant to expose themselves to therapy. He's been employed at the camp following a recent suicide and the harsh realities of day to day life there mean it's not surprising that many of the workers are stressed and anxious. However, he is particularly concerned about a former soldier who he is convinced is suffering from PTSD. A number of deeply worrying developments ensures the tension level keeps rising as Tom struggles to find anybody prepared to take notice of his growing concern that there is a killer in camp seriously and he eventually comes to the unsettling realisation that all that matters to those in charge is that nothing is allowed to interrupt the production of oil.
The breathless conclusion of this part of the story would be a fitting end to many action thrillers but it's just the beginning for Tom. Back in London, he could be forgiven for putting his experiences in Iraq behind him but it's from this point that we really begin to see his character emerge. On the camp he was forced to react to the hostile environment he found himself in with little time to think - but now he makes an active choice to investigate further. It's to Paddy Magrane's credit that Tom never suddenly becomes an all-out action hero and instead is a man who is driven by his own set of morals as he keeps pushing for answers even though he is under no illusions about the potentially deadly consequences.
His position as an outsider means he finds it hard to know who he can trust and there are several shocking revelations and an almost constant sense of dread as he slowly begins to suspect the deaths in Iraq may be connected to two Deepcut-like supposed suicides at an army base in Hampshire. As he joins forces with a local hack who has been obsessively investigating several deaths linked to the barracks, the suspense becomes almost unbearable as it seems as if all eyes are upon him - and they don't like what he is doing. The fast-paced, intricate plot keeps him constantly on the move as he heads for Germany on the trail of the truth. Tom (and the reader!) is barely allowed time to draw breath but he never loses his resolve to find out the truth and to secure justice. Despite not having any real form of training for the perilous situation he finds himself in, his skills as a psychotherapist add a fascinating dimension to the story and a poignant juxtaposition to his own personal tragedy.
The long-term mental impact of trauma is particularly relevant here and while there can be no disputing the bleak revelations which triggered such desperate measures to secure silence at any cost, the result of keeping terrible secrets locked away is shown to be ultimately as toxic. Casting a sharp look at establishment cover-ups and a global society where oil production dominates economies; Red Desert is an exceptional conspiracy thriller where nail-biting action scenes are complemented by a thoughtfully insightful and empathetic exploration of a number of important subjects. I must also applaud Joe Jameson's brilliant narration which brings the book to life, with each character distinctly voiced, ensuring I never had to question who was talking. Absolutely riveting throughout, Paddy Magrane's complex, contemporary novel features tense and exciting drama, authentic, compelling characters and an evocative sense of place - especially in the deserts of Iraq where I could almost feel the stifling heat burning down on me. Very highly recommended.
May 12, 2020
Arriving at the isolated oil field in Iraq should have provided psychotherapist, Tom with a more settled haven than the life he has left behind in London, but as Tom finds to his cost that not everyone at the oil camp wants him there. Drawing on his professional background doesn't really help Tom when a series of mysterious and unexplained deaths on the camp seem to escalate, with disastrous consequences for Tom and those around him.
Inexorably Tom gets drawn further and further into a dark and deadly mystery will will see him in danger of his life on more than one occasion, and as a consequence, in the pursuit of justice, Tom will be forced to make some very tough decisions.
The author writes very well and brings a strong authentic feel to the story, particularly in the description of life in the Iraqi desert, the stultifying heat, the general air of mistrust between those who live on the camp, and the inherent and creeping sense of danger which seems to seep into the heat and dust of this arid landscape. There's plenty of excitement throughout, in fact, the tension is racked up to high for most of the novel, with some genuine thrilling moments, which had me literally unable to break away for fear of missing something vitally important to the outcome of the story. I enjoyed the different scenarios and moving between Iraq, London and Berlin guaranteed that there was always something different to absorb and consider.
I've listened to several Audible Originals and I am always drawn by the high standard of story telling, not just from the book itself, and it must be said that Red Desert had me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion, but also by the high standard of narration, something which is so vitally important in audio books. Many times I have given up on an audio book because the narration was a hindrance rather than a help, however, not so with Red Desert which is expertly narrated by Joe Jameson whose command of the story is exemplary. he brings each of the characters to life in a very special way.
Red Desert is a fast action, high octane suspense thriller which grabbed my attention from beginning to end.
Inexorably Tom gets drawn further and further into a dark and deadly mystery will will see him in danger of his life on more than one occasion, and as a consequence, in the pursuit of justice, Tom will be forced to make some very tough decisions.
The author writes very well and brings a strong authentic feel to the story, particularly in the description of life in the Iraqi desert, the stultifying heat, the general air of mistrust between those who live on the camp, and the inherent and creeping sense of danger which seems to seep into the heat and dust of this arid landscape. There's plenty of excitement throughout, in fact, the tension is racked up to high for most of the novel, with some genuine thrilling moments, which had me literally unable to break away for fear of missing something vitally important to the outcome of the story. I enjoyed the different scenarios and moving between Iraq, London and Berlin guaranteed that there was always something different to absorb and consider.
I've listened to several Audible Originals and I am always drawn by the high standard of story telling, not just from the book itself, and it must be said that Red Desert had me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion, but also by the high standard of narration, something which is so vitally important in audio books. Many times I have given up on an audio book because the narration was a hindrance rather than a help, however, not so with Red Desert which is expertly narrated by Joe Jameson whose command of the story is exemplary. he brings each of the characters to life in a very special way.
Red Desert is a fast action, high octane suspense thriller which grabbed my attention from beginning to end.
May 14, 2020
This audiobook is a gripping thriller with a complex plot and a believable protagonist. The various settings are authentic and vividly described. You can feel the heat, smell the dust and the sweat in the Iraq sequences.
Tom is easy to empathise with his tragic past and his keen sense for justice. His courage is relatable. He’s fearful but wants to find the truth and is prepared to risk his safety to achieve this.
Flawed and realistic each of the cast of characters make the story more relevant and real. Well-paced the plot enthrals right to the end. The believable ending is positive.
The narration is well balanced and professional. You forgot it is just one person as the characters come to life with subtle voice changes.
A riveting, realistic novel perfect as an audiobook.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in return for an honest review.
Tom is easy to empathise with his tragic past and his keen sense for justice. His courage is relatable. He’s fearful but wants to find the truth and is prepared to risk his safety to achieve this.
Flawed and realistic each of the cast of characters make the story more relevant and real. Well-paced the plot enthrals right to the end. The believable ending is positive.
The narration is well balanced and professional. You forgot it is just one person as the characters come to life with subtle voice changes.
A riveting, realistic novel perfect as an audiobook.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in return for an honest review.
May 16, 2020
Pretty good, not extraordinary.
Well crafted story arc in the traditional adventure/murder mystery model. Performance was clear and well spoken, characters were adequately developed if traditional. Nothing unusual in the plot line. The story moves along at a good pace and is logical in it's progression. Enjoyable, but not a book I will ever read again.
If you enjoy traditional adventure/murder mysteries, this is a nice effort and you will enjoy it.
Well crafted story arc in the traditional adventure/murder mystery model. Performance was clear and well spoken, characters were adequately developed if traditional. Nothing unusual in the plot line. The story moves along at a good pace and is logical in it's progression. Enjoyable, but not a book I will ever read again.
If you enjoy traditional adventure/murder mysteries, this is a nice effort and you will enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews