Blowback is the kind of thriller that is seemingly set in an alternate universe until pieces start falling in place and it begins to feel like it may very well be happening behind closed doors in our world. James Patterson and Brendan DuBois’s team-up blends old school politics with cutthroat espionage and sociopolitical climate to give you an incredulous thriller that’s just the right amount of insane to be actually true.
When the US President blatantly orders CIA agents Liam Grey and Noa Himel to assassinate supposed enemies of state, Grey is excited to jump at the opportunity. Himel however feels a tingling discomfort at the breach of conduct. Soon however, both Grey and Himel find themselves at the crossroads of morality when confronted with undeniable proof of wrongdoing at the highest seat in the US power hierarchy. With an unhinged and paranoid Commander in Chief destroying the sanctity of the Constitution, both CIA assassins must smartly work their way out of the mess alive while putting an end to the catastrophe in-making.
Patterson and DuBois hit the ground running with a quick and brisk introduction to the characters before developing them gradually through actions rather than words. The narrative blasts out waves of paranoia from the very first chapter as the sense of impending doom swirls around the settings and dialogues. While the mission for both Grey and Himel remains mostly the same, the authors spend equal amounts of time building their foundations for readers to appreciate and enjoy them even when the going gets tough. Before you know it, the narrative erupts in a blaze of well-written shootouts that continue in one form or the other throughout the story.
At the same time, the authors emphasize the political-thriller-intrigue of the story without siding with either faction. The political aspect is rooted in the abuse of power while underdogs go against the current to right the wrongs. You can’t help but cheer for the protagonists and bite your nails in tension whenever they’re cornered. That’s when the unexpected alliances and betrayals shock you more ferociously than you would anticipate.
Blowback has the essential ingredients to match up to great political thrillers with a little bit of craziness sprinkled in there to make it a notch better.
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