If you told me that after 780 pages into a story I would be yearning for more pages, I’d have told you that you were nuts. However, Terry Hayes has done just that. The Year of the Locust is a modern epic that will have you consuming pages like a swarm of its namesake going through a field of winter wheat.
As a Denied Access Area spy, Kane has made a career of operating where other CIA agents could not or would not. The borderlands of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is one such area. When tasked with meeting with a source willing to reveal details about an audacious attack on the West by a new terrorist organization, Kane is faced with a decision that would reveal the true nature of anyone’s soul. What he does not know is that his decision has a direct impact on not only his fate, but that of the world.
While I would still categorize this as an espionage thriller, that is a very loose definition. Multi-genre, genre blending, genre blurring… call it whatever you like, but for over 500 pages this is one of the best spy books I’ve read in recent years… then something happens and we’re propelled into something else. I would advise going into this one with only a limited understanding of the plot and enjoy the mystery and revelations as they unfold.
Do not let the page count put you off. The writing, action, and intrigue had me finish it in two sittings during a 48 hour period. There is a depth and magnetic pull to even the seemingly peripheral characters. Each individual in this book serves a purpose and Hayes does a masterful job of creating each one to draw you in and propel the story. When danger looms on the horizon, I often found myself having a physical reaction as I flew through the pages to see what would happen next.
If you’re looking for a similar comparison, I would say fans of the Sigma Series from James Rollins would absolutely love this book.
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Purchase The Year Of The Locust
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