Adam Hamdy writes a riveting fast paced thriller that really grew on me the more I read, featuring ex-military, ex-spook, mixed race Scott Pearce, a terrific all action central protagonist. Hamdy focuses on how our contemporary world has changed, the power of social media and how it can be manipulated by unseen forces seeking to sow the seeds of national division, strife and conflict with the goal of ensuring specific political outcomes. This underpins this thriller which begins with the murder of PI Nathan Foster, hired by lawyers from the law firm of Denton Fraser, instructed by a shadowy client to look into the private bank, Bayard Madison, run by an aristocrat Viscount. The lawyer Melody Gold travels half way across the world to convince Scott to continue the investigation, which Scott agrees to because Foster is an old military mate of his, but first the pair have to survive an all out assault by forces that have followed Melody.

The dangers does not subside as they make a covert arrival back home to Britain. Scott brings in another military friend, the black Wayne Nelson, to act as a bodyguard to Melody, whilst he tries to discover what happened to Nathan and what he knew that necessitated his death. Leads are few, but there is a cover up as the official verdict is that Nathan committed suicide. Feeling that his team needs bolstering, he brings in The Syrian, the disabled and traumatised Leila Nahum, a whizz when it comes to the online world. As Scott and his team run their operation according to conventional practices learnt in the past from the intelligence community, they find themselves having to rip up the old rule book, and having to fight fire with fire, taking the fight to their foes. In a narrative that takes in co-ordinated geopolitical machinations, the involvement of undercover French agents, a Ukrainian mobster, sex rings and the far right, Scott tries to get to the truth of why Nathan had to die and simultaneously foil a terror plot of unimaginable proportions.

Hamdy writes an intelligent thriller that portrays many of our contemporary world issues and fears, and gives us plotting and nightmare storylines that sadly, really do not feel all that far fetched. It took me a little while to become engaged with the novel, but once I did, I was completely hooked, right up to the very last page. My favourite character was Leila, a woman with a heartbreaking backstory, traumas that continue to plague her, but which contribute to the strong woman she has become as she ruthlessly exploits those who underestimate her. This was a wonderful thriller that I really enjoyed, and it looks as if it is the first in a series, I cannot wait to read the follow up and reaquaint myself with Scott and his team. Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

I am going to ignore the fact that Scott Pearce spends the majority of this book channelling Captain Scarlet insofar as he is pretty much indestructible whatever situation he finds himself in. Not a spoiler, this is the start of a series so we pretty much know from the off that he probably won't die!
We first meet him when he is in action investigating on his own when he is interrupted in this by someone who wants, no needs, his help. This marks the first "fleeing for his life" action sequence which pretty much sets the tone for the rest of what follows.
An investigator has been murdered, ruled suicide despite evidence that proves otherwise. Evidence that the powers that be have chosen to ignore. But why? And who is pulling the chains? What did the investigator discover that needs to be kept quiet... at all costs?
This is a scary book as it highlights the ease that certain factions find to manipulate things for their own ends. I can't, and won't, expand on this as to do so might contain spoilers and the blurb gives little away. Suffice to say that there was so much that appeared to be wholly credible contained within the pages of this book, especially with what the author says at the end with regard to a social experiment he himself carried out, well... dark times indeed... Sorry for being cryptic but you will get what I mean when you read it for yourself.
Characterisation was excellent. Each one was well crafted - main and bit part players alike - and all played their parts with aplomb. I especially loved Leila and her courage through all the adversity that life has already thrown her way before we even meet her and see what happened next!
Everything else a good action thriller should have, this book has in spades. How Pearce is still alive beggars belief but he is a master of the skin-of-his-teeth, seat-of-his-pants escape. Good thing too as he does put himself in harm's way more than the average super hero. The action is complemented by some really nifty techno support, mostly from Leila and I especially enjoyed this side of things.
The whole thing does read at tad like it has the small (or even big) screen in mind. I for one would love to see this happen. But for now, I will be sitting back and hotly anticipating the next in series, especially given the (not a cliffhanger, don't worry) epilogue... the game has only just begun...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I enjoyed Adam Handy's previous "Pendulum" series trilogy so it's interesting to see where he is going with a new "hero". Hero he certainly is - nothing gets in his way when it comes to uncovering the plotters in this high tech thriller.. Scott is a bit of an enigma and it will be good to discover more of his back story in future novels. An interesting bunch of characters help our hero on his way.

A good and exciting read with just enough geographical detail to make the story realistic.