Synopsis:
Claymore Straker is a fugitive with a price on his head. Wanted by the CIA for acts of terrorism he did not commit, his best friend has just been murdered and Rania, the woman he loves, has disappeared. Betrayed by those closest to him, he must flee the sanctuary of his safe house in Cornwall and track her down. As his pursuers close in, Clay follows Rania to Istanbul and then to Cyprus, where he is drawn into a violent struggle between the Russian mafia, Greek Cypriot extremists, and Turkish developers cashing in on the tourism boom. As the island of love descends into chaos, and the horrific truth is unveiled, Clay must call on every ounce of skill and endurance to save Rania and put an end to the unimaginable destruction being wrought in the name of profit. Gripping, exhilarating and, above all, frighteningly realistic, The Evolution of Fear is a startling, eye-opening read that demands the question: How much is truth, and how much is fiction?
My Rating: 5/5
My Review:
Big Big Big thanks to the marvellous Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
OMFG #bookjunkies! Where in the world do I start with this one!? The Evolution of Fear is just a masterpiece of writing! I have Paul E Hardisty’s first book, The Abrupt Physics of Dying on my TBR and despite hearing some great things, just had not got around to reading it …but I will! So I was a little bit reluctant to join the Blog Tour for this book, given that I had not read the first. I am SO glad I agreed and that Karen Sullivan is so convincing, as I cannot tell you how much I truly enjoyed this book!
The book is set in various places — starting in the UK, the protagonist sets off to Istanbul and then ends up in Cyprus. The story-line is gripping from the start — fast-paced, actioned packed– and the suspense is never-ending! A variety of themes, such as fear, betrayal, revenge and justice are interwoven within the pages of this book.
The characters are complex and really get under your skin. Claymore Straker – the main character is an ex-soldier who cannot forget his past. He is complicated, damaged and the reader will either be drawn to his bare honesty or repelled by his directness. Crowbar, his friend- helps him through the chaos. Rania is another wonderful character. She is Straker’s love interest but a key player in the plot. Finally, Hope is another strong female lead and I loved how the story with her evolved. The antagonist – Regina Medved is mysterious and what I really enjoyed is the fact that we learned most of what we find out about her from various characters and their experience. Incredibly written, the characters add the depth and substance to the story beautifully.
I have to say that this genre is not my typical read. I certainly did not believe I would love this book as much as I do. The feelings evoked stayed with me a long time after I finished the last page and I cannot recommend it highly enough. So #bookjunkies, if you have to read one book this year — definitely read this one as you will never forget it. I do not think my review gives it the justice it deserves, it is just superb!
Click the link below if you want to grab yourself a copy!
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