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The Butterfly & The Bull
A global financial crash causes the destabilisation of the American government and results in a coup by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Donnie McLennan, a Scotsman with an uncanny talent, is seeking his wife Ellie who has been abducted by agents of the state. In the process, he becomes involved in a conspiracy to restore democracy to the land of the free. Donnie goes to work for the resistance movement, led by the charismatic Phaedrus. He becomes a fugitive with a laptop, a ghost in cyberspace harvesting valuable information. Constantly harried by the sociopathic Agent Farrell, he is forced to escape from DC. A gunfight on the Chesapeake, a storm-lashed transatlantic crossing, a run-in with ex IRA bounty-hunters, betrayal and kidnapping follow, forcing Donnie to come to terms with himself, those around him and the extraordinary challenges he has to face. Donnie puts together a team of unlikely heroes and returns to his adopted homeland. En route, he finds new ways of using his ancient skills and, in a series of violent and risky encounters, eventually faces his ultimate challenge.
318 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2011
About the author
Stuart Haddon
2 books29 followersStuart was born and educated in Scotland. His first novel, The Butterfly & The Bull was written while walking his dog on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. After self-publishing in October 2011, he went on to write a sequel, Flight of the Butterfly, which was self-published in 2014. He has also written several short stories and a number of poems. He is presently working on his third novel.
Stuart loves to sail, spend time with his wife Juli and their family and go for walks with his dog, Heather.
He lives in Freeport, Maine.
Stuart loves to sail, spend time with his wife Juli and their family and go for walks with his dog, Heather.
He lives in Freeport, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 22, 2012
In this marvelous thriller, the government of the United States has collapsed due to a world economic meltdown, and the military has taken over. Shots can be heard all over the city, even as the protagonist and his girlfriend head to a restaurant for a quiet dinner. We are one step away from martial law in our own country, and innocent people are being pulled off the street and spirited away in black SUVs on orders of the FBI.
I talked about this scenario with some friends, and we all agreed it seemed awfully plausible. In the book a resistance movement has coalesced in reaction to the military coup d'état and the kidnappings, and there is hope.
Our main character is a transplanted Scotsman living in the U.S. for some years now. Two things you learn about Donnie: he has premonitions, and he's a world class computer hacker, in part thanks to his psychic powers.
When Donnie's newlywed wife is abducted by the FBI, he learns he can gain her release if only he will work for the military government. Hero that he is, he instead joins the resistance. Now he both has to rescue his wife from the FBI's clutches and also overthrow the government.
The writing throughout this book is elegant and spare, alternating riveting action with meaningful flashbacks to Donnie's childhood or other scenes from his past. The workings of his brain are central to the development of the plot, so it all fits together beautifully. The action moves from Washington D.C. to the Chesapeake Bay to an ocean crossing in a small craft, to Ireland and England, and back again. Bonds grow strong through shared hardship and danger between Donnie and a battle-scarred band of others who are determined to fight for what is right. The special relationship between America and the UK is affirmed.
A small sample of Haddon's prose: "Our wake trailed behind us, a transient signature of our passage. People slept. Except John. I took the helm just as dawn revealed a bloody mess of sky to the east. Sailor's warning. A fresh breeze began to brush the oily look from the sea and stirred the surface into wavelets." There is a self assurance here that belies his status as a first-time novelist.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of The Butterfly and the Bull. This book reminded me not a few times of the early Tom Clancy novels, in which the characters were fully developed and in which there were always deep moral underpinnings to the basic story. In this book, the first novel of author Stuart Haddon, a perfect balance is achieved between a good, taught storyline, well-drawn characters, and fine writing.
I talked about this scenario with some friends, and we all agreed it seemed awfully plausible. In the book a resistance movement has coalesced in reaction to the military coup d'état and the kidnappings, and there is hope.
Our main character is a transplanted Scotsman living in the U.S. for some years now. Two things you learn about Donnie: he has premonitions, and he's a world class computer hacker, in part thanks to his psychic powers.
When Donnie's newlywed wife is abducted by the FBI, he learns he can gain her release if only he will work for the military government. Hero that he is, he instead joins the resistance. Now he both has to rescue his wife from the FBI's clutches and also overthrow the government.
The writing throughout this book is elegant and spare, alternating riveting action with meaningful flashbacks to Donnie's childhood or other scenes from his past. The workings of his brain are central to the development of the plot, so it all fits together beautifully. The action moves from Washington D.C. to the Chesapeake Bay to an ocean crossing in a small craft, to Ireland and England, and back again. Bonds grow strong through shared hardship and danger between Donnie and a battle-scarred band of others who are determined to fight for what is right. The special relationship between America and the UK is affirmed.
A small sample of Haddon's prose: "Our wake trailed behind us, a transient signature of our passage. People slept. Except John. I took the helm just as dawn revealed a bloody mess of sky to the east. Sailor's warning. A fresh breeze began to brush the oily look from the sea and stirred the surface into wavelets." There is a self assurance here that belies his status as a first-time novelist.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of The Butterfly and the Bull. This book reminded me not a few times of the early Tom Clancy novels, in which the characters were fully developed and in which there were always deep moral underpinnings to the basic story. In this book, the first novel of author Stuart Haddon, a perfect balance is achieved between a good, taught storyline, well-drawn characters, and fine writing.
December 18, 2012
This is a well-written thriller that presents a plausible and frightening outcome for the recent global financial upheaval. The story has some interesting and amusing twists, like pitting former IRA thugs against a CIA gone bad. There's just a touch of the paranormal for added stimulation, but the story is quite believable.
As a lifelong ocean-going sailor and avid reader of thrillers, I'm a sucker for any book that claims to combine both of those things. Stuart Haddon does a great job of mixing the two, unlike many writers who try it. I've often been disappointed by lame attempts to include seagoing drama in otherwise sound stories, but not this time. Mr. Haddon has clearly been there; he's writing from first-hand knowledge when he recounts the parts of the story that took place at sea. Even if you've never set foot on a small boat in open water, you'll feel the excitement and satisfaction of making an ocean passage under less than ideal conditions.
Thanks, Mr. Haddon, and finish that sequel quickly. I'm ready to read it.
As a lifelong ocean-going sailor and avid reader of thrillers, I'm a sucker for any book that claims to combine both of those things. Stuart Haddon does a great job of mixing the two, unlike many writers who try it. I've often been disappointed by lame attempts to include seagoing drama in otherwise sound stories, but not this time. Mr. Haddon has clearly been there; he's writing from first-hand knowledge when he recounts the parts of the story that took place at sea. Even if you've never set foot on a small boat in open water, you'll feel the excitement and satisfaction of making an ocean passage under less than ideal conditions.
Thanks, Mr. Haddon, and finish that sequel quickly. I'm ready to read it.
August 10, 2012
The thought-provoking element that ran central through Mr. Haddon’s debut thriller The Butterfly & The Bull was the plausibility of it all. Where would we be as a society without the creative visions of Jules Verne or George Orwell – inspired thinkers who whisked us off into future worlds for better or for worse? I sat front-and-center on Haddon’s voyage to a not too distant future and allowed my able-bodied Scottish protagonist, Donnie, to lead me as tour guide through this cyber-psychic-sci-fi journey at page-turning velocity with care, purpose and the innocent intention to win victorious over evil. High-stakes, high-risk and always doing the unexpected, this thriller did not disappoint. I especially loved Haddon’s writing style, sparse, elegant and at times poetic. I certainly look forward to Mr. Haddon’s next excursion…book my ticket early!
November 21, 2012
Stuart Haddon is a crafty writer. In THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BULL, he takes the very real financial meltdown the world experienced in 2008 and twists it, taking us into a state of governmental meltdown. Two factions are vying for control of the U.S., and ultimately for the world. Thanks to his special gift with computers, Donnie McLennan is drawn into the fray when his adored wife, Ellie, is kidnapped by the government. He chooses to work for the resistance, but is forced to go on the run when the government comes after him, and must leave his search for Ellie behind.
Donnie's gift is his ability to mentally enter the vast computer networks that drive our world, seeking and finding information that is critical to the success of the resistance. He also has two special senses: an early warning signal that clues him into oncoming danger, and the ability to see the world through another person's eyes, even though he is far away from that location. The mental intrusion of a Black Angus bull warns him of danger, and the glint of a butterfly's colors let him know that his 'psychic' abilities are kicking in.
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BULL is a breathless ride - Haddon never lets poor Donnie have a rest! The combination of a real-world scenario, elements of cyberspace, duplicitous characters, Donnie's unique gifts, and a chase across the Atlantic and back, make for a great page-turner. Haddon's writing style is fluid and beautiful. If you enjoy a fast-paced thriller written by a master of the language, you'll love THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BULL.
Donnie's gift is his ability to mentally enter the vast computer networks that drive our world, seeking and finding information that is critical to the success of the resistance. He also has two special senses: an early warning signal that clues him into oncoming danger, and the ability to see the world through another person's eyes, even though he is far away from that location. The mental intrusion of a Black Angus bull warns him of danger, and the glint of a butterfly's colors let him know that his 'psychic' abilities are kicking in.
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BULL is a breathless ride - Haddon never lets poor Donnie have a rest! The combination of a real-world scenario, elements of cyberspace, duplicitous characters, Donnie's unique gifts, and a chase across the Atlantic and back, make for a great page-turner. Haddon's writing style is fluid and beautiful. If you enjoy a fast-paced thriller written by a master of the language, you'll love THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BULL.
January 30, 2013
The title of Stuart Haddon’s The Butterfly and the Bull intrigued me. I also know the author is a sailor from Scotland, so I was curious. I am very happy I bought this book—I would have missed a great story if I had passed it by.
This is a story about and America of the future where the military has taken democracy away. It is a dangerous place to live for those who fight to regain freedom.
Donnie is a Scottish man living in the States and he has an unusual ability to infiltrate the internet and go anywhere to uncover secrets that will aid the resistance.
He is in constant danger and being sort after by the U.S. government. Donnie is spirited away by sailing a small boat to Scotland, where he continues to aid the resistances and trying to elude those that want to capture him.
I was held captive by Stuart Haddon’s writing and the spellbinding story. The author is a true talent!
You don’t want to miss this tale and the breathtaking conclusion.
This is a story about and America of the future where the military has taken democracy away. It is a dangerous place to live for those who fight to regain freedom.
Donnie is a Scottish man living in the States and he has an unusual ability to infiltrate the internet and go anywhere to uncover secrets that will aid the resistance.
He is in constant danger and being sort after by the U.S. government. Donnie is spirited away by sailing a small boat to Scotland, where he continues to aid the resistances and trying to elude those that want to capture him.
I was held captive by Stuart Haddon’s writing and the spellbinding story. The author is a true talent!
You don’t want to miss this tale and the breathtaking conclusion.
February 25, 2012
In a nutshell, this novel is a gem. The author weaves this tale in a relaxed, confident prose, laced with wit and charm as he dips into the psyche of the protagonist, Donnie.
Poetic licks of detail add an air of authenticity to the scenes and I really felt like I could smell, taste, hear and see everything our hero could. Added to that, the narrative tension is relentless, upheld by slap-in-the-face cliffhangers as Donnie's quest takes him across the globe.
I sincerely hope that rumours of a sequel are true.
In summary: read this, you won't be disappointed!
Poetic licks of detail add an air of authenticity to the scenes and I really felt like I could smell, taste, hear and see everything our hero could. Added to that, the narrative tension is relentless, upheld by slap-in-the-face cliffhangers as Donnie's quest takes him across the globe.
I sincerely hope that rumours of a sequel are true.
In summary: read this, you won't be disappointed!
May 5, 2013
Stuart Haddon does a fine job of stringing words together. This book is set some time in the future when the FBI is controlling the United States and what information is disseminated and some Scottish independents are trying to fight them off. The story moves from Washington, to Scotland via a sailboat, to England, and back to the United States again. His take on a storm at sea rings true and Haddon's knowledge of his native Scotland and England brings it all alive. I could have easily rated this book five stars except for the excessive use of italics which is a pet peeve for me.
June 8, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters (who doesn't love a man from Scotland?) and the story. It was action packed and never slowed down.
I can't wait to see what Donnie and his cohorts do next!
I can't wait to see what Donnie and his cohorts do next!
July 12, 2012
This is a really good read- thriller with a dystopian twist
August 2, 2013
Haddon's highly visual prose draws you into the story and holds you there, in a plausible but frightening futuristic view of political maneuvering. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews