The Stranger is a gut-wrenchingly realistic tale of cutthroat espionage escapades of the modern world where immoral acts in the state of war have profound consequences that ripple throughout the world. Simon Conway throws caution to the wind as he writes depraved villains and struggling heroes, neither of which conform to stereotypes, along with scary situations that feel researched to the point that they seem highly believable.
Jude Lyon, an MI6 agent, is unknowingly complicit in a dirty cover-up where an innocent Syrian is imprisoned for violent acts he did not commit. When the Syrian is broken out of prison, the intelligence members that perpetrated the cover-up task Jude with finding the prisoner discreetly by any means necessary, including liaising with shady characters in dangerous parts of the world. Racked with guilt over the idea of condemning an innocent man to torture, Jude veers off reservation to find out the truth about cover-up. What he finds may make him the ultimate target.
Simon Conway keeps readers unequivocally and completely immersed in the narrative with a plethora of uber-realistic characters and extremely shocking twists and turns that keep the ingenious story engaging throughout. His meticulous research into intelligence apparatuses adds to the realism of how global headlines transpire behind the scenes in different countries in sensible manner, a far cry from the naïve prospect of one man or woman gunning around the world with overplayed ideals. The mystique of the terrorists’ endgame perseveres until the very last moment, adding not only to the thrill of figuring out their plan, but also to the dreadful horror of the uncertainty of the events to follow. Jude Lyon’s frustration and inner turmoil are aptly highlighted to make him a relatable and sympathetic protagonist with a checkered past.
The Stranger is a smart thriller perfectly suited for readers who want something out of the box with their next book. I was hopelessly wrong with my prediction for its ending and I don’t come across too many thrillers that truly surprise me. Imagine a story in the vein of I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes but even scarier and twisted, and you get The Stranger.
Follow Kashif on Twitter or contact him via the site.
Purchase The Stranger
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)
Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen
