Pandora’s Grave is the perfect treat for thriller aficionados. Vivid storytelling, cinematic action sequences, grounded and multidimensional heroes and villains, and meticulous authenticity when it comes to cultures and religions; even this does not do enough justice to Stephen England’s epic narrative.
Enter Harry Nichols, a blue-eyed CIA operator with a friendly demeanor that can change in the blink of an eye when facing an enemy combatant. Facing demons of his own from his past along with a hard-hitting betrayal in the story, his character is a darker version of the likes of Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath, but profoundly unique. He leads his team of just as intriguingly multilayered characters on dangerous missions, specializing in the Middle East. When an archeological dig team comprised of American, Australian, and Israeli members is captured in Iran after unearthing a bubonic plague, Nichols and his team are sent to recover the team where we come to know there is a mole in the team working for a faction of the Iranian government that wants to use the plague against Israelis in an unconventional way. There is no time to catch a breath in the chaos with non-stop action sequences while dealing with a constant whodunnit vibe where the team is constantly trying to sniff out the traitor.
It’s not every thriller that handles Middle Eastern religions and cultures so respectfully. Stephen England thoughtfully writes characters of differing religions without demeaning one or another. The religious aspect plays an important role to show what drives both the good and the bad guys, mirroring reality and allowing for beautiful locations with religious significance to be used as backdrops for pivotal plot points and action sequences.
The action sequences are incredibly smooth and cinematic in nature, flowing naturally with accurate tactics and weapons in explosive shootouts that are on par with the best in the genre when it comes to being detailed without compromising the fast-paced thrills.
This is a beautifully dark and violent story, encompassing the trademark elements of an excellent spy action packed thriller but with a deeper insight into the human psyche behind the curtain that makes the narrative profoundly powerful and emotional. The ending is a mind-blowing cliffhanger reveal that only adds more fuel to the raging fire that is, Pandora’s Grave. One of the finest books ever written.
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