Shadow is the perfect blend of old-school espionage thrillers with rich backstories and character-driven nature reminiscent of Robert Ludlum’s gems, and the fast-paced technically and tactically authentic action-fests of contemporary narratives. There are no punches held back in exposing the far-right evil of racists, and it makes for an even more fulfilling experience when Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes go to town on the bad guys. This has to be my favorite thriller from James Swallow and here is why.
The story is extremely gripping and captivating. Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes are introduced to the readers in the middle of an undercover mission to put an end to a human-trafficking ring run by right-wing extremists who violently stop immigrants from war-torn third world countries trying to seek refuge in Italy for better lives. The entire sequence is written with a panache as Dane and Keyes reveal themselves in a stylish fashion and give the far-right team a taste of their own medicine. Soon after, they are made aware of the kidnapping of a bio scientist who has a personal connection to Rubicon, the spy organization employing Dane and Keyes. The bio scientist is coerced to tailor a deadly biological virus, one which was being worked on by North Koreans to lay waste to a battlefield and disappear so that the deployers of the virus can conquer the battlefield and beyond. While the front row antagonists are led by a despicable and violent far-right terrorist desiring to kill all those not matching his skin color, deeming them not worthy of living, he is but a puppet of a sinister organization named Combine that is reminiscent of SPECTRE from James Bond, puppeteers who make profit from global unrest and wish to cause more armed and fatal conflicts, putting it right against Rubicon with a very shocking and surprising plan for Rubicon that will leave you shook for the better part of the day after you read it. There is no shortage of unpredictable twists and turns in which the only guarantee is that there are no guarantees. There is no safety net for characters and that made the reading experience even better for me. The plot is a globe trotting adventure that not only explores the different exotic locales, but also the people native to the locations. I love the international scale of the book, which is mirrored in style by the recent Mission Impossible movies but I would still pick this book over any movie.
Going 5 books strong, James Swallow shows no signs of any wear and tear. His character developments are superb. Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes are two of the best-defined characters that feel highly relatable and form an excellent bond together that is rare to find in the genre. Staying away from the cliches of the relationships, Dane and Keyes have a strong bond that sometimes crosses the platonic working bond in a meaningful manner that gets readers actually worked up in choosing whether to preserve their strong bond as it is or venture into a more romantic bond. This is not to say the only prominent characters in the story are Dane and Keyes, but their development, both as a pair and independently are praiseworthy. Both are different in their respectful talents, with Marc as proficient with Glock 17 but more of a tech savant and brawns guy, and Lucy being an artist with any weapon, be it a MP9, Glock 17, or an AR-15.
The most appealing aspect of Marc Dane is how his demons continue to haunt him from the previous books and his vulnerability in adjusting to a life from a tech guy to an operator in the field feels exciting to read in a genre filled with straight-up door kicker. His instincts and field training have come a long way since the first book and it’s a proud moment for fans of the series. Same with Lucy Keyes, while she was always the door kicker, what evolves is her vulnerability with Marc as their bond strengthens. In the world of Alpha male characters, she is one of the most badass female characters written appropriately and confidently without needing to resort specifically to feminine charms, but rather focusing on her skills as a Tier One operator. On the opposing side we have the Far-Right terrorist, Noah Verbeke, formerly of the Belgian Special Forces. The author does a fantastic job of showcasing the animosity of Verbeke and it resonates with the situations we read in news now more than ever. While he is despicable, he is not cartoonish but rather a realistic depiction of evil. The way his sentiments are worded mirror the angry words we have heard from terrorists in the real world, making his actions and characterization uber believable.
Shadow can be easily read on its own without having read the previous books in the series, but the payoff is immensely better if you have read all the previous books because there is an overarching storyline that is present in all books so far and developed beautifully, which is the chess match of sorts between Rubicon and Combine. There are so many working cogs in place by both Rubicon and Combine to take each other out as swiftly as possible, and the battles get more intense going forward as Combine finds a deadly weapon to use against Rubicon in the next thriller. This sort of grand planning is something of a rarity in thriller series these days, since most thrillers finish up the plot in the duration of the book without profoundly carrying over in the sequels. A thing of beauty!
If you’re looking for stellar action in books, you’ve found the right one. Shadow has cinematic action sequences that will look amazing on the big screen; lots of bloody fisticuffs making use of fists, knives, machetes, sauce pans, batons, and more; superb grounded and technically accurate shootouts that put you right in the midst of the shooting gallery, and some exciting foot pursuits that would feel right at home in Mission Impossible movies. The accurate and detailed technical details elevated the action for me as I was able to visualize the shootouts in all their glory. James Swallow spares no expense in his research to create a realistic narrative and the beautiful action sequences are testament to his realistic work. The final showdown between Dane and Verbeke is a feral and brutal fight to the death where you will actually be worried for Dane making it out alive, but you will also applaud Dane’s ingenuity with the creative use of flashbangs, I sure did!
Every now and then, you come across thrillers that rise above others, and Shadow is one of those thrillers. With excellent storytelling, wonderful characters, and fantastic action, this is a clear winner by James Swallow. A must-read!
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