Funny - authentic - tragic - intense

My review on goodreads

When Michael asked me to write a review for his new novel I did not remember that I had been beta-reading this novel months (years?) ago and how much I loved it. But after the first two sentences it came all back to me.

How could I ever forget this emotional story about first love? I don't know. Perhaps I'm reading too much, too fast, too unfiltered, too….I don't know. But I know that this novel is worth remembering.

It's hard to be a 16-year-old boy in modern society. Thoughts go wild when looking at girls. But what is appropriate? What is weird or perverse? Is it true that women don't want to be touched, never ever? Is staring harassment? Does your pure presence make a girl uncomfortable? How can you ever build a relationship with a girl if you're not supposed to approach them?

Our protagonist finds his opportunity in a ballet class. While all girls believe he's gay he gets to know Sara. The attraction between them is palpable.

Reading this novel stirs up an incredible range of emotions: the funny self-reflexions, the sweet love-story, the tragedy at school, their wise and not-so-wise choices, and deep sadness - you'll laugh, you'll chuckle and you'll cry.

Back to the Hunt(er)

For quite a few months nothing compelled me to write a post. But now Will Patching's Hunter is back. He did not disappoint me. This thriller is just as outstandingly excellent as all his previous books.

In this third book of the trilogy Hunter and Kate find themselves involved in a seemingly unbelievable international conspiracy including terrorism and warmongering.

But is it really impossible? Look at the world, at those in power. What do we really know about their motives? We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. We don't know what the different secret services are doing - and where. And sometimes one hand does not even know what the other hand does.

Yes, Will Patching's story is creepy and shocking - but not impossible.

I get it, politics are a dirty game of power, always have been. Personal or supposed national interests rule, but the motivation of some of the characters in this plot are disgusting in a way that hurts me on a very peronal level. They claim and believe to be devout Christians and that they do what they're doing because it's God's will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. That's the kind of fanatism we usually attribute to Islamists. Sadly the same mentality exists within Christian circles, a fact I find hard to believe.

As always Will Patching's writing flows easily, drawing me in, making me fear for his characters, letting me see the atrocious scenes, taking me to England, Iran, the USA, Turkey and Cyprus within minutes.

Besides his breathtaking novels (Remorseless, Mutilated, Gaslighting, The Hack, The Hunter) Will Patching has a very informative webside about his writing, the background and his inspiration: www.thehacknovel.com