Reconciliation for the Dead by Paul Hardisty - Blog Tour

I am delighted to be today's stop on the blog tour for Reconciliation for the Dead by Paul Hardisty. Reconciliation for the Dead is being published by Orenda Books on 30 May 2017. 

Read on for my review ...

Reconciliation for the Dead
By Paul Hardisty
Published by Orenda Books (30 May 2017)

Publisher's description

Fresh from events in Yemen and Cyprus, vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker returns to South Africa, seeking absolution for the sins of his past. Over four days, he testifies to Desmond Tutu’s newly established Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recounting the shattering events that led to his dishonourable discharge and exile, fifteen years earlier. It was 1980. The height of the Cold War. Clay is a young paratrooper in the South African Army, fighting in Angola against the Communist insurgency that threatens to topple the White Apartheid regime. On a patrol deep inside Angola, Clay, and his best friend, Eben Barstow, find themselves enmeshed in a tangled conspiracy that threatens everything they have been taught to believe about war, and the sacrifices that they, and their brothers in arms, are expected to make. Witness and unwitting accomplice to an act of shocking brutality, Clay changes allegiance and finds himself labelled a deserter and accused of high treason, setting him on a journey into the dark, twisted heart of institutionalised hatred, from which no one will emerge unscathed.

My verdict
For me, Reconciliation for the Dead was a tough read. Not in terms of the writing - that's perfect, fast paced and totally mesmerising, putting the reader right into the heart of its South African setting. But I found it tough in terms of the subject matter and emotional undercurrent - the horror and realism of war, death and corruption in 1980s South Africa, when men in the position of authority were governed by greed and deceit.

I've read the two previous Claymore Striker books and loved both of them. Reconciliation for the Dead is a very different read, concentrating mainly on the past, rather than the 'here and now'. Clay is recounting events that led to his dishonourable army discharge and exile fifteen years earlier, while appearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These events are traumatic, personal and horrific, responsible for shaping Clay's character in this series. On reading this, the previous books seemed to make more sense to me. Yet I'm sure this book could also be read as a standalone.

I believe this is Paul Hardisty's best book so far (I'm hoping there are many more to come). He took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride, swinging between fear and anger, hope and despair, even more so than with his two previous books, which are also powerful and moving. Based on fact, this page-turning book is a perfect mixture of crime, thriller, politics, social history and science, opening up my eyes to a country whose past I know little about.

Reconciliation for the Dead is different from the norm, and I can't praise it highly enough.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

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The Evolution of Fear by Paul E. Hardisty - BLOG TOUR REVIEW

I am delighted to be today's stop on the BLOG TOUR for Paul E. Hardisty's The Evolution of Fear, which was published in paperback on 5th May 2016 by Orenda Books.

The Evolution of Fear

By Paul E. Hardisty

Published by Orenda Books (5 May 2016)
ISBN: 978-1910633243

Publisher's description
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 verdict
I loved Paul E. Hardisty's first book, The Abrupt Physics of Dying, when I read it last year. Often when you enjoy a book that much, you worry the second in the series won't do it justice. That dreaded 'second book syndrome'. But, actually, The Evolution of Fear is another stunning read. You could probably read it as a standalone. But I would still suggest buying The Abrupt Physics of Dying first - why read one amazing book, when you can read two?

The Evolution of Fear overlaps genres, as do many of the amazing books from Orenda, which means they'll appeal to a wide range of readers.

Firstly, The Evolution of Fear is an intelligent gripping action thriller. The book starts off in Cornwall, where Claymore Straker is lying low in an isolated location and recovering from his wounds (not just physical ones). But it doesn't take long for trouble to arrive at his door and for the action to begin. A fast-paced cat and mouse chase takes place across the Cornwall coastline. And that's just in the first few chapters. The complex plot soon leads Clay to Cyprus and Turkey in search of journalist Rania (the woman he loves). There are various factions who want to see the end of Clay and Rania and he isn't sure who to trust. The action keeps on coming and I read the last few chapters with bated breath. The tension builds up to some explosive action-packed final scenes.

Secondly, The Evolution of Fear is a thriller of the modern age, tackling some key topical environmental issues. Turtles are being deliberately driven away from their breeding ground so that tourist resorts can be built there. I find the background to these books just as fascinating as the plot and characters. Paul E. Hardisty writes with such fervour that it's clear he feels just strongly about this issue as his characters do. He also weaves significant emotion into his writing. Clay is a strong lead with a caring heart and strict morals. Fear is definitely a key theme of the book - how it leads you to act in a certain way, whether it's to protect yourself or the ones you love, and how it can be used to manipulate others. Sometimes the only way to deal with stressful situations is to embrace the adrenaline rush that fear creates - and this is how Clay lives from day to day.

Thirdly, The Evolution of Fear is literary fiction too, with beautifully written prose and vivid imagery of the stunning settings interspersed with the full-on action scenes. The descriptive passages are so carefully crafted that they're a pleasure to read in themselves. This is something you don't find in many other books within the action thriller genre, which is why The Evolution of Fear stands out.

I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series - to find out what's next in store for Claymore Straker. And to discover more of Paul E. Hardisty's beautiful writing.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

You can read my review of The Abrupt Physics of Dying here.

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