Considering Simmons has emerged as one of my favorite writers of the last few years, I was in a hurry to recharge my batteries with another of his titles. I came away from the last one feeling fully energized and fit to tackle my own life dramas with a similar dose of heroism and hardiness. But after taking some licks, I was due for another tune up.
This is my second book by the author, and though I wouldn’t have thought it possible, it’s even better than the last. He presents us with a hero in Thorn that is every bit the match for the hero of the Jack Reacher novels. Thorn being a bit younger, however, he’s likely to be as much of a sensation with the YA crowd as with older readers. The sheer thrill and adrenaline rush that comes from following in Thorn’s wake through one dangerous situation after another is one of the engines driving this story. The other engine motoring us forward is the puzzle-piece like plotting. We’re presented by a number of story threads in act one that we can tell are connected in some way; we just don’t know how they’re connected exactly. As the puzzle pieces start to slip into place, not only is the picture which begins to emerge particularly troubling, but even more questions are raised. This is a classical form of narrative construction, of course, but seldom is it this well employed.
One story thread begins as far back as World War II. Another story thread involves a talented young man, not too long out of the military, with rather unique skill sets, who, despite just as successful of a career in football, and some equally enticing business prospects that promise no less of a privileged future, feels adrift. Ever since leaving the military something has been missing in his life. It’s only when he’s approached by a nebulous consortium of business and political interests known simply as The Company that he gets a chance to address the restlessness in his nature, and feel the adrenaline rush that’s been missing since his military days, the sense of purpose, and of serving a higher cause.
It is here that the story, already in high gear, picks up additional momentum. Centering on a mystery unfolding on the Boston docks, where strange things are happening with shipping containers and dock workers getting killed in the middle of the night, it isn’t long before our young hero’s talents are put to the test. It will take more than well-honed military reflexes and skills to see him through. He’ll need no shortage of strategic genius of his own to put him on a par with the master plotter and schemer who will be his nemesis throughout the story, who’s been planning his revenge since World War II. Thorn, hence, has a lot of catching up to do. And the pressure is on considering the stakes couldn’t be higher; millions of lives are at stake.
As you can probably tell from my review, the author is well aware of the formulas and tropes of the genre and employs them to excellent effect. Having read my share of pulse-bounding thrillers (it’s one of my favorite genres), I speak with some authority when I say that this is one of the better ones I’ve encountered. Highly recommended.
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Austyannie
Enjoyed and will be seeking more of this author's writings
Reviewed in Australia on August 22, 2015