Erik Storey’s debut thriller is a heart stopper! Buy the book and clear your plans for the next day and a half as you will be unable to put it down until you have finished.
The protagonist, Clyde Barr, faces insurmountable odds to rescue his sister, travelling through beautifully described wilderness, and the horrors of his memories that fill the reader in on how he got into such a situation. Storey has written an adventure thriller with graphic moments of violence, gentle moments of tenderness and a chase that twists and turns on itself throughout the entire tale. The reader learns through his tribulations that Barr is an honourable man in a totally tenuous situation.
The title gives an indication of what Clyde is willing to do for his sister and a hint of the fast pace and urgency of each moment as the story introduces sordid comrades, traitors and friendlies who may have their own reasons for joining the journey. The characters are crafted with detailed descriptions of their personality, developing as the tale unfolds. Each gives you either a reason to like or be suspicious of them.
As the trail reaches its conclusion, the reader has roller coasted through a myriad of emotions and is left wondering what will come next for the man known simply as Barr by many.
I, for one, will be looking for Storey’s next foray into thriller writing.
Reviewed by Leanne Caune
Rating out of 10: 9
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Release Date: 1 September 2016
RRP: $35.00 hardcover; $29.99 paperback