It’s so pleasant to read an action thriller that peels more layers than the average narrative. That’s the feeling I experienced reading Jon McGoran‘s The Price of Everything. It’s an action thriller through and through, but it also punches above its weight to speak about the state of our world and where it’s all heading, no matter how oblivious we may be.
Armand Pierce is a courier working for The Guild under a strict set of rules, chief being that a courier must never allow their package to be snatched. Pierce takes his job seriously. So seriously that when the contents of his package mysteriously disappear en route to his destination, he is highly motivated to find out what happened at the expense of mounting bodies at his feet. When this mystery begins to spiral out of control into a world-changing conspiracy, Pierce finds himself in for a ride, hunted by his own folks as he hunts for the truth.
I commend McGoran for creating an intelligent and effective thriller that walks a fine line between total sci-fi and ultra realistic narrative. The result is a moody and atmospheric thriller that reminded me a little bit of Blade Runner crossed with wondering how Jason Statham’s Transporter would be if set in the near future. The action sequences are vivid in their nature, using much of the modern weaponry to help thriller fans visualize the scenes effectively, maybe too effectively as Pierce uses knives, Glocks, throwing spikes, and a metal chain of his surgically embedded cuff. The action is plentiful and slick with great cinematic sequences to hold your attention.
It’s also more than an action thriller. It’s a cautionary tale of resource exhaustion, human greed, and the desperate desire to reverse the damages which may come at a heavy cost. The book is aptly named as it subtly illustrates the price of everything we must do to protect mankind, the later we act, the costlier it gets. McGoran conveys these nuanced truths without being preachy or overbearing. It’s the right balance of entertainment and education.
The Price of Everything is an exciting, engaging, and all-consuming thriller that is the bestest of what you expect to read in a bona-fide entertainer.
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