It's early 2011 and the Egyptian uprising is in full spate. Veteran BBC radio journalist William Carver is covering the story with his producer Patrick. Though a huge story, another more explosive one is brought to him by a young woman - a single source.

The story moves between Cairo, two brothers being smuggled out of Eritrea, and London, home of the Ministry of Defence and a major arms manufacturer.

The story is vividly told with authority born of the author's background as a BBC journalist. It is slow to start but picks up pace to become compelling reading.

This book was a complete departure from the types of books I’ve been reading recently and it was exactly what I needed. I love books that contain elements of things I can relate to real life, and this book captures the fact that you can’t always trust what you read in the news perfectly. It really details all the goings on behind the scenes and all the parties at play trying to spin information to suit their own political agendas.

There are a lot of different characters in this book so you really need to pay attention. We follow two journalists in Egypt, a local woman they have hired to help with translation, two brothers are they try to smuggle their way to Italy, a communications employee working within a government department, and a few other characters around these ones. What is really clever though is how all these characters stories are intertwined and linked even though some of them never even meet.

This is a bit of a slow burner but it is brilliantly crafted and if you stick with it to the end I personally don’t think you will regret it. I really enjoyed this book and thought it was well researched and expertly plotted to deliver this finished book.

A slow starter which I found very difficult to get into. This book is well written and descriptive.

Not quite my cup of tea.

This story brings us bang into the Arab Spring of 2011, to the heart of events in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, where veteran BBC reporter William Carver and his young producer Patrick have been for some weeks, telling Egypt’s story to the world. So far so good, but along the way William meets a couple of young Egyptian girls who become his inside contacts, innocent and full of hope, but who come across evidence that throws the British arms merchants into a hard light and, as a result, put their own lives and those of Carver and his friends in great danger … as well as making us, the readers, suspect there is a possible equivalent and awful truth in the real world outside of this novel. Carver is determined to get to the bottom of this story, whatever the cost – and that cost proves to be very great indeed.

Alongside the intrigue of William and his friends, we meet two Eritrean boys lovingly sent by their father across the African continent towards Europe to find a better life, exposing the horrors of trafficking, what these refugees have to endure and how they are treated, and how they and their fellow passengers try to hang on to the best in themselves along the way.

The separate stories build up over the course of the novel and ultimately come together as the separate plots become one.

This is a fine thriller but also a moving story in which the author captures beautifully the sense of hope and liberation during the Arab spring but then the tragedy which ensues and the darkness of machinations going on at the highest level, and we the readers cannot help but wonder what really went on behind the scenes, in both Egypt and Britain and in the wider world.

A Single Source by Peter Hannington
I have not read A Dying Breed, the first book to feature veteran journalist William Carver, but having read A Single Source I will definitely make a point of so doing. A Single Source is set in 2011 in a time that came to be known as the Arab Spring. Carver and his producer Patrick are in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to report on the January 25th uprising. There are three strands to the story the one set in Egypt, another revolving around the foreign office and the third set in Eritrea. Gradually these three strands are woven together.
It is interesting the way in which the novel depicts the impact social media such as Facebook and Twitter have on the way stories are reported and Carver has contact with “citizen journalists” and needs Patrick, a younger man, to enable him to fully understand their impact. The story of Solomon and Gebre and their struggle to escape to a better life in the west brings a human element to the story. The way in which Rob, ex editor of the Today programme, tries to spin a story to prevent swingeing cut at the MOD is very realistically drawn.
An excellent, well written story which has a slow start but builds to an emotional finale. A very well researched and thought provoking thriller. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book.

I usually read crime thrillers, but I thought I’d give this book a read which could be classified as a political thriller.

The book takes us back to 2011, during the Arab Spring, with the story largely focused on events at Tahrir Sq in Cairo.

The story is largely told through the eyes of William Carver a reporter on Radio 4’s the today programme. Carver’s aim was to report on events in Tahir Sq, but he soon uncovers a bigger story to report on which involves corruption, blackmail and murder, which puts his own life in danger.

There is another story which is being told and involves two brothers who are trying to travel from Eritrea to Italy to try and make a better life for themselves. I found this story really interesting, particularly when it goes into great detail on the horrors and cost the two brothers face trying to make the trip to Europe. The story talks a lot about the conditions the brothers face as well as the brutality of the traffickers who have no regard for human life.

The book is well written and you can see the author has done a huge amount of research. The one downside is I was struggling to understand how the two stories were linked until pretty much the last page of the book. Plus there is a 3rd story going on which takes place in London although it links into the story from Cairo.

I would recommend this book and while try the authors other book which is meant to be good. I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book.

Set against the background of the Arab Spring, Peter Hanington is a new author to me.
An intricate story involving several string which of course all weave together as the story comes to a conclusion.
If you like spy/political thriller then this is for you.
Keen to read more by Mr Hanington
Five stars from me.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the ARC

A new author and new genre for me. I’m not sure how to “categorise “ this, I’m going to say it’s a political thriller, which almost reads as a classic spy novel.

A gently paced opening introduces the 3 story strings in this book.

Set in 2011, at the time of the “ Arab spring” Veteran BBC reporter William Carver and his trusted producer Patrick are in Egypt covering events as the insurrection and riots begin to break out.

Whilst in London. Ex journalist and colleague of Carver's, Rob Mariscal now head of Comms at the MOD, is working on a project to both protect the MOD's interest , in a weapons and arms company from the treasury budget cuts while ensuring the Involvement is not of pubic knowledge

In Eritrea , Africa, the tale of 2 young brothers, looking to escape the county is also being told. Soloman and Gebre, with the help of their scheming smuggler grandfather ,set off with people traffickers , in hope of reaching Europe.

In Egypt. Carver comes across what appears to be tear gas canisters made by a British company

Rob is working Hard trying to cover up any involvment

Eritrea. The journey is a difficult brutal experience across desert and blistering heat, with little to eat or drink. it’s hard not to become emotionally involved with the brothers. One strong, one weak. Willing each to the the end of the arduous journey, it’s at times heart wrenching.

Focus on how Twitter and social media has become almost become front line journalism, anyone can tweet news now.

Locations are well described, especially the descriptions of Eritrea.

Corruption, people trafficking , double crossing and blackmail, this is a touching tale that builds into an emotional finale that brings all the strings together

Very well written, intriguing, difficult to put down, an often slow paced but genuinely Gripping, tense, highly researched and intelligent thriller.

I highly recommend and I will certainly be looking into the author’s first novel involving the same characters

4.5⭐️

An interesting book. Written in a journalistic style from different parts of Africa and London it's interesting to see how arms dealers seem to be fomentic war - probably to help with sales. The Arab Spring in Africa gave them many opportunities - even if they were illegal.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book although it is actually several stories in one, each explored in depth.
The main story and the one reporter Carver is focusing on is set in Cairo. It focuses on the events of the Arab Spring. Running apparently disconnected to this is the story of human trafficking from Eritrea told sympathetically in the voice of two young brothers leaving their home.
The book is gripping and tense the story being uncovered is very believable and at times shocking. It's well written and well researched. There are more books appt Carver although this is first I have read. I shall be looking into the others.

A Single Source is the second book by Peter Hanington starring the reporter William Carver and it is another one that I would recommend.

The author clearly knows his subject and whilst I thought that the scene setting was a bit overlong and drawn out the pace definitely picks up in the second half of the book until the final twists

The book can easily be read as a standalone although I would recommend that you also read the first book as it will add to your enjoyment

Recommended

Well where do I start with this book? For the first few chapters I kept getting confused. As in actual fact you have 3 stories occurring on in the same timeline. At first it seemed very disjointed as it skips from one view point to another and you don’t know which characters are which, until the story starts to unfold more.

The main story is about William Carver a veteran radio journalist and his younger producer/co worker Patrick who both work for the BBC. The year is 2011 and they are in Cairo reporting on the Arab Spring Uprising.

The uprising is being lead by the younger generation giving Patrick the producer better understanding of what the demonstrators are asking for. As they are using all of the modern media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to gain momentum and support from their followers, and also encouraging them to go stand along side them.

The second story revolves around two brothers Gebre and Solomon Hassan from Asmara, Eritrea and their struggle to leave their own country to get a better life for themselves in Europe. Their grandfather pays a lot of money to traffickers to take his grandsons north across the Sahara. On their journey both brothers are witness to such terrible horrors as they are taken crossed the Sahara, in cramped conditions. How people were falling out of the trucks and the traffickers just carried on driving basically leaving them to die, as all they are interested in is the money they make.

The third story is based in London around Rob Mariscal an Ex colleague of William Carver’s, who now works for the MOD as a spin doctor who is desperately trying to cover up the story that Carver is starting to unfold.

Sadly I can only give this book 2 stars, as I’ve already said that it jumps from one story to the next. If the book had been structured in a different way it would have been a much more enjoyable book to read.

This book is wide ranging, taking in London, Cairo and Eritrea, and many points in between. It is also wide ranging in content and ideas, including the Arab spring, migrants and bigotry.
Despite its broad sweep, it is fast and pacy once it gets into its stride. The human cost of politics is clearly, and often heartbreakingly, evident. Well researched and authoritative, but with a light enough touch to keep us engaged.
Well worth a read
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Peter Hanington is a BBC journalist and this shows very strongly in his new thriller, A Single Source. The book is set in the Arab Spring of 2011 and follows three parallel tracks. The main track is around a BBC journalist called William Carver and his colleague Patrick, who are sent to Cairo to cover the unfolding events there, but there are subsidiary plot strands involving two brothers so desperate to leave Eritrea and find a better future in Europe that they are prepared to undertake a hugely dangerous journey, and a former BBC editor who has now changed sides and is working in the press office of the Ministry of Defence.

Carver is a maverick, old school journalist who is a luddite when it comes to technology but has a nose for a story and for finding the best sources. A brilliant story comes to him, but he only has a single source, and with forces trying to push him off course he fights a battle to get the story on air.

The writing around the fictionalised version of the Arab Spring is very evocative and I very much enjoyed reading a journalist’s view of what was unfolding and how it was reported. Hanington’s BBC credentials mean that this is wholly believable and authentic (sometimes too much so, as some of his references to Broadcasting House are a bit niche). Carver is a hugely flawed character, but you can’t help rooting for him. I felt the plot strand involving the brothers from Eritrea was a little neglected – although the description of their journey was heartbreaking, I felt the weaving in of this to the main plot was underdone. Overall though, a really good and educational read, and understandably praised by many other journalists.

An action read. Well researched but a slow burner. Saying that once all the characters are in play this book takes off like a rocket. The story of arms dealing, corrupt governments and a BBC reporter. I am not going to say any more YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
Spanning many countries but mainly set in Egypt. This is a real page turning action read. Packed with tension, suspense and so much corruption. A masterpiece of story telling which kept reading and thoroughly entertained late into the night. I am one very tired and very happy reader. An easy five stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like to thank the author, John Murray Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I did have reservations in regards to choosing this book to read, as it is not a genre that i would usually read. Now and again, I do like to try something totally different and so glad that i did. It was a very enjoyable read and one that i can recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

William Carver is a BBC Radio journalist who has landed up in Cairo to report on the Arab Spring uprising. So has the rest of the world's journalists. Carver likes to think of himself as a "vertical" journalist who explores a story in depth, creating news. He is disdainful of the "horizontal" journalists who simply commentate on events around them.

Carver - and his youthful producer Patrick - first appeared in A Dying Breed, a superior conspiracy thriller set in Afghanistan. They are an odd couple - like Dr Who and his assistant - providing both a second point of view and a useful pretext for expository dialogue.

A Single Source gets off to a slower start than A Dying Breed - perhaps because Carver has only just landed in Cairo himself and needs to discover his story and his network - but when it starts to grip, it is just as gripping as the debut novel. Carver meets up with a couple of Egyptian protestors, one of whom runs a twitter feed from Tahrir Square. They collect up some of the gas canisters, rubber bullets and truncheons used against the protestors and this causes some discomfort at the highest level.

Meanwhile, back in London, the former editor of the Today programme has started out a new career as Director of Communications at the Ministry of Defence. The MoD is in something of a bind, wanting to support the friendly Mubarak regime but also wanting to end up backing the winner if the Mubarak regime falls. And all the time, wanting to promote British defence exports...

Interleaved with this, there is the story of two Eritrean brothers looking to start a new life in Europe, left to the mercy of people traffickers. This can feel like a distraction, but it puts a human face on some of the massive upheaval that has been going on behind the changes of government and political headlines. It will hopefully make the English (yes English, not British) voters ashamed for supporting Brexit in a futile attempt to stop the influx of migrants from the Middle East who were displaced by poor UK foreign policy.

Overall, A Single Source is a tense read with plenty of politics and double crossing. As in A Dying Breed, the morals are sometimes ambiguous and the reader is left to imagine the final denouement - traits of a superior thriller.

It is a good and bloody read.

A great read, gripping and well-researched. If you like action novels this is a must for you. Set in multiple locations it follows the plight of war reporters in Egypt covering the anti-government uprising in Egypt, Eritrean refugees fleeing for a better life, a corporation illegally selling arms and the British Government trying to contain the fallout. The novel starts quite slowly but as we get to meet the characters and understand the parts they play, it quickly evolves into a fast paced story, unravelling the situation and the subsequent consequences of each action.

A remarkably well written story but was slow to start with.

William Carver, BBC reporter, is given a lead on a story from an old friend, regarding unrest in Egypt, he along with his sound man Patrick travel to the country to get ahead start on the story before the rest of the press descend. They are helped along the way by hotel receptionist, Zahara, and her friend Nawal.

The story is intermingled with one regarding two brothers, Solomon and Gebre, who are fleeing Eritrea, the price they pay and also the long treacherous journey they undertake. You do wonder what this has to do with the main story, but all becomes clear at the end.

Good and interesting characters, sadness with some of the stories, and also the questions about the machinations of governments and arms dealers. Supposedly fiction but as always, more than a hint of truth in sadly.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher John Murray Press-Two Roads for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review.

This title meshes fact and fiction in such a way as the difference becomes immaterial.
Government corruption, people trafficking, reporters, insurrection, religion, freedom and innocence.
Mixed together this forms a very readable thriller which encapsulates some of the real problems of the modern world.