The Feeder

Don't want to say too much because the surprises are half the fun. What I will say is this — if you think you know where the story is going, you don't. John Martin is one of those characters that gets under your skin. He's ruthless and calculating but there's something underneath all of that which keeps you on his side. The pacing is spot on. Slow burn when it needs to be, then absolute chaos. I read it once quickly and then went back through it slower to pick up on things I missed. That's the mark of a good book for me. Shipping was fast, about ten days to the UK.

I picked this up partly because the author is Norwegian which I thought was cool. The book is entertaining and moves quickly. John Martin is a strong central character and Lene Hagen being a Norwegian spy was a nice surprise — felt personal somehow. The action scenes are well written and the Amazon setting is vivid. Where I struggled a bit was with the luxury lifestyle descriptions — designer brands, expensive cars, champagne at every turn. I understand it's part of the Luxe Noir style but it's not for everyone. Still a fun read though and I can see why people love the series.

I read a lot of thrillers. Silva, Baldacci, Child — the usual rotation. The Feeder caught me off guard because it doesn't follow the formula. There's no detective solving a case or ex-military guy saving the day. It's this billionaire dynasty wrapped up in assassination plots and jungle warfare and it's raw in a way those other guys don't go. The violence is graphic but never gratuitous — it serves the story. The writing gets lean and fast when the action starts, almost like the sentences are sprinting. Really cool technique. Already told three friends to buy it.

Started reading this on holiday and my husband picked it up while I was at the pool. He finished it before me. That tells you something. It's fast, it's dark, and John Martin is the kind of character you know you shouldn't like but absolutely do. Joanna is fantastic — tough, smart, beautiful, and genuinely dangerous. The story moves between locations at speed and somehow keeps everything tight. Only reason it's not five stars is I wanted a bit more backstory on some of the secondary characters. But apparently Goldblood covers the origin story so that's next on my list.

Was browsing for something new to read on a rainy Sunday and the cover caught my eye. Best impulse buy in a long time. John Martin is this impossibly wealthy, morally grey powerhouse who runs a global empire while dodging assassins and secret cabals. The Amazon jungle sequences are insane — you can almost smell the humidity. What I didn't expect was how well the author handles tension. There are quiet moments that are just as gripping as the gunfights. Finished it in two sittings. Paperback is a nice quality too. Arrived in about 12 days to the Netherlands.