Fantastic Story, Author and Narrator!

I volunteered with an NGO in Lesvos around the time this book was being written and I was a little apprehensive about how it would represent the refugee crisis, but I needn't have been. No part of the story grated with me, and the author's attention to detail, such as the foil blankets given to refugees and the selling of fake lifejackets by smugglers, brings gritty realism to the story. Henry Porter is respectful of the experiences that countless humans have had taking the same journey, and never let's you forget that what he is writing about is happening right now.
Matt Addis is the perfect narrator: his storytelling is top quality and a pleasure to listen to, and he somehow manages to give proper accents to people with origins spread over 2 continents. I get annoyed at audio books where you can't tell who is talking- this is not one of them!

I had a great time listening to this book :D

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1 person found this helpful

Firefly

Excellent story, beautifully read. Good to read a story where the hero was believable and not flying through the air, killing all assailants

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2 people found this helpful

Starts well, but fades...

The idea for the plot is good and should be a source of complexity and depth in a story, but, as the story unfolded I found myself thinking that this has stalled in its development. I think the author has missed an opportunity to have taken the characters and plot that bit further and to have written what could have been a gripping story. It all just stalled into a prolonged finale. The cast in this book, at first credible became too extreme in their characterisations to be believable. It is an OK read, but I felt the author missed a turning and took us to a drawn out anti climax of an ending. "and they all lived happily ever after"............

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Exceptional book

I loved this book and the performance of Matt Addis made it all the more enthralling.

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1 person found this helpful

Holds your attention

Well drawn plausible characters from a clearly talented author. Very relevant plot given some unspeakable attrociaties commited under the justification of a caliphate. Draws vivid imagery in your mind's eye.

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Another Henry Porter tour de force

Porter delivers once again. Topical, thrilling and satisfying I really don't understand why Henry Porters novels haven't been translated to either the big or small screen.

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Details and authenticity of the locations

I liked everything in the book so much so, I listen to it every moment that I was able too.

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Unusual subject matter

Loved it, frustrating at times, enjoyed the subject matter, the world of illegal migration through modern day Europe.

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3 people found this helpful

Ok story made over sentimental by Reader

I got through this book - just - but I’ve a real problem with Addis’ narration. I’ve deleted other books that he narrated because he has a habit of making all his female character sound overly feminine and coy: also, whenever he read in the first person (Sampson is this case) he uses a raspy chesty gravelly voice that is quite ridiculous and unnatural. He did it exactly the same in another book I listened too and I hated it then too.

To give credit tho, his Arabic and European Accents are very good but his women and central characters are awful.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellenttly crafted thriller

An absorbing story with contemporary relevance, well written and read, full of twists and turns.

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