The Abrupt Physics of Dying

Claymore Straker #1

by Paul E. Hardisty

Claymore Straker is trying to forget a violent past. Working as an oil company engineer in the wilds of Yemen, he is hijacked at gunpoint by Islamic terrorists. Clay has a choice: help uncover the cause of a mysterious sickness afflicting the village of Al Urush, close to the company’s oil-processing facility, or watch Abdulkader, his driver and close friend, die. As the country descends into civil war and village children start dying, Clay finds himself caught up in a ruthless struggle between opposing armies, controllers of the country’s oil wealth, Yemen’s shadowy secret service, and rival terrorist factions. As Clay scrambles to keep his friend alive, he meets Rania, a troubled journalist. Together, they try to uncover the truth about Al Urush. But nothing in this ancient, unforgiving place is as it seems. Accused of a murder he did not commit, put on the CIA’s most-wanted list, Clay must come to terms with his past and confront the powerful forces that want him dead. A stunning debut eco-thriller, The Abrupt Physics of Dying is largely based on true events – the horrific destruction of fresh water and lives by oil giants. Gritty, gripping and shocking, this book will not only open your eyes but keep them glued to the page until the final, stunning denouement is reached.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Middle East, Unfinished

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2014

About the author

Paul E Hardisty has worked all over the world as an environmental scientist and writer. His work has taken him to some of the world's most dangerous places, including Yemen, Ethiopia, and most recently Ukraine in 2022, 2024, and 2025 working on a new book about the war. The Abrupt Physics of Dying, the first novel in his Claymore Straker thriller series was shortlisted for the CWA Creasy dagger award and was one of the London Telegraph's 2015 crime books of the year. The Forcing, first book in his climate thriller series, was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers' Awards for 2023, and In Hot Water: Inside the Battle to Save the Great Barrier Reef, was shortlisted for the 2025 WA Premier's Award for non-fiction. Paul lives in Western Australia and is a keen outdoorsman and martial artist.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book "The Abrupt Physics of Dying" by Paul E. Hardisty it was like watching the start of a blockbuster movie. The cracking opening chapter was so eye opening it had me holding my breath, which just guaranteed that a fantastic thriller was going to unfold before my very eyes.
I didn't realise that this beast of a book was going to be quite as powerful as it was, tense, gripping, modern and without doubt exceptional for a debut story - this tale holds your attention from start to finish and doesn't let go!

Claymore Straker, working as an oil company engineer in the wilds of Yemen is hijacked at gunpoint by Islamic terrorists. He has a choice, help uncover the cause of a mysterious sickness afflicting the village of Al Urush, close to the oil company's processing facility or watch his close friend Abdulkader die. One man. An oil company. A decision that could cost him his life.

I loved the intriguing character of Claymore Straker, exceedingly tough, strong and paired up with a French feisty journalist Rania, they together made a formidable duo. This is his first outing in the Claymore Straker series with 'Evolution of Fear' and 'Reconciliation of the Dead' being the next two and 'Absolution' coming very soon, all published by the very popular Orenda Books.
Don't make the mistake of thinking this book is just for men, if you enjoy intelligent political/conspiracy thrillers full of action but staying believably realistic then you will most definitely enjoy this, it's fast paced with a very strong moral storyline and I'd happily recommend both "The Abrupt Physics of Dying" and the author as they are truly fantastic!

5 stars

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously cannot remember the last time I was this gripped by a thriller – pretty much from the opening pages it sucks you down into the tale and won’t let go – Fantastic writing, a very very intriguing main protagonist and a plot that has its roots in reality.

Mr Hardisty brings Yemen to vivid colourful life, the people and the hardships, the politics and the realities and wraps it up in a beautiful package of really exceptional storytelling, with an authentic edge which means you honestly believe every moment of it. As Clay investigates, desperate to keep his friend alive, what he finds will have far reaching consequences and he finds himself in a race against time.

I admittedly was not sure before I started this – I do tend to avoid the kind of novel that seems like it wants to make a point when all I want is a stonking good read- in the case of “Abrupt Physics” though, Paul Hardisty makes a point AND gives you a stonking good read to boot – there is a message here but it is subtle and makes itself known through the sheer power of the voices he gives his characters. Each one well drawn, each has a tale to tell which adds to the whole and builds a picture, a pretty scary one at that.

Moving away from the moral dilemma and looking at it purely as entertainment, boy does this entertain. By the time I was near the end I was hanging on to every single word, the story unfolds at often breakneck speed and has a really most terrific finale that I still think about now. Clay is a fantastic character, I am so pleased that he will be back – in a bit of a more light hearted side I’ve added him to my list of Literary characters I would definitely marry, although life with Clay would be rather unpredictable to say the least.

Overall this really was an incredible debut – a modern thriller with a literary edge, one that could equally win the highest awards and be the novel everyone is reading on the beach, I truly cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abrupt Physics of Dying – Stunning Debut Thriller

The Abrupt Physics of Dying is the stunning debut thriller from Canadian writer Paul E. Hardisty the debut book for new publisher Orenda Books. Orenda Books is on a winner with this excellent thriller, the name may seem long and off putting but like the publisher it is not as daunting as it seems. This is a well written pulsating read diving head long in to the dangerous world of Middle Eastern Politics, religion, oil and western oil companies. From the beginning to the end you are left wondering on who can be trusted to tell the truth and will the corruption that seems endemic be able to block the truth ever coming out.

Claymore Straker is an ex-South African paratrooper who is trying to escape his violent past who is now working as an engineer in the petroleum industry out in the dangerous lands of Yemen. Straker and his driver Abdulkader are kidnapped at gun point and taken to meet Al Shams, according to the government a terrorist. Straker is told that is he wants to save Abdulkader’s life then he needs to find out what is causing the mysterious illness that is affecting the village of Al Urush slowly killing the children and women.

As Straker starts his investigations to find what is causing the illnesses he finds himself caught between the ruthlessness of the Petroleum Company, the various factions of Yemenis and their various armies and those who control the oil. As Yemen descends in to civil war the more dangerous it becomes for Straker, the closer he gets to the truth the more at risk he becomes. He finds himself branded a murderer and is wanted by the CIA and wanted dead by his former colleagues at the Petroleum Company.

As Straker collects the evidence and sees the villagers die he knows that many lives depend on him and what he discovers. He also realises that it will be a race against time and the company to get the truth out and that he will expose himself and those around him to a certain death. What he does learn is nothing is what it seems and that Yemen and the Middle East is an ancient and unforgiving place a place he is not sure he can escape and tell people what is happening there.

This is an exceptional debut thriller that is well written the prose clear and crisp the voice is clear and authentic, which is tense, moving and grabs you by the throat. This really is a page turning thriller that at the same time is thought provoking and challenges our love and need for oil. The Abrupt Physics of Dying also introduces to a new hero in Claymore Straker who we are promised will return and will be interesting to see how this character develops and can he challenge Bond and Bourne.

The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E. Hardisty is a fantastic debut thriller that will blow your socks off with a traffic pace that you will not regret reading. Claymore Straker is an intelligent ex-soldier fighting demons who will become our new hero.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! THAT's what I think! I was so surprised that this book is his first. This is a powerfully written book with an incredible intensity. The twists and turns, the moral dilemma that is integrated so subtly into the thrilling story of Claymore Straker and the Big Oil companies amazed me. Paul Hardesty was able to convey the messages of good and bad on all sides and in all peoples without ever stating so; it all was brought in through the story lines. He raised my awareness of the sociological and ecological consequences in the mad pursuit of Petroleum. His vivid writing kept me captivated. I am really looking forward to the next adventure of Claymore Straker in Paul Hardesty's second book. This is the first time I have "edited" a book and revised my review. My husband is reading the book and said " I hate this book." I said "why?" He said "because I can't stop. It keeps getting better and better! " He reads Clancy, Grisham, Baldacci, Cussler..and said this book (by Paul Hardisty) tops them all.

[Louisereviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s often said “Don’t judge a book by its cover” but let’s be honest, we all do it don’t we? If a cover doesn’t draw our attention then it’s unlikely that we will pick up the book, scan the blurb and read the front page. For some people a pastel cover with shiny text screams “chick lit” and they’ll avoid at all costs, for me the pseudo 50 Shades covers – dark with a grey/steel stock photo of a tie or a whip or handcuffs on the front. I’m just not interested. It’s probably unfair but with so many books out there to choose from it’s not surprising that we find a way to make quick decisions. Sometimes though, it’s worth looking beyond the cover and taking the plunge. That was certainly the case with The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E Hardisty, one of the first books from the exciting new independent publisher Orenda Books.

Rest of review on my website: http://www.louisereviews.com/reviews/...

[Meggy Chocolate'n'Waffles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say action, guns, a guy with muscle and I am out of here. I'm the first to say no to action movies, or if I do accept to watch one, I end up bored to death because they all look and sound the same. The same goes for books, I like a fast-paced thriller but there's a line between a thriller and a pure action-focused storyline. I like my action with more subtlety and less bullets.

This is why I loved The Abrupt Physics of Dying.

With such a title, Paul Hardisty could only catch my eye. I hate physics per se, but there's a raw sound to the name of the book that hints there is something inside this story you mustn't miss out on.

And raw, this book is. Raw, intense, gripping, a hell of a hot ride served by a precise prose that prioritize the story and its characters, and more than this, a reflection of what has always driven the most powerful and what it takes to stop them.

Claymore Straker works for an oil company. He wasn't destined to win my sympathies! His job is to make sure his boss gets the authorization to keep digging and make profits. You can ask yourself if the guy has a conscience! But from the start, I felt Clay was not a bad guy. There was something in him that I felt appealing and when their car got hijacked and he and his driver and friend were taken, I knew I was right. The position doesn't make the man. Clay is not a simple guy, he is haunted by his past and only trying to make a living without making any waves. Too bad for him, the waves find him, even in the scorching desert of Yemen.

With the waves came a realistic array of supporting characters. Don't try to categorize them and put them in boxes, especially not the “good” or “bad” labels, because you won't be able to. I couldn't figure out Rania, who makes for a perfect thriller lady, and I was basically suspicious of everyone, friends included! I could feel a sort of connections between some of the characters but was unable to see clearly what was going on, and the author skillfully leaves you in the dark. Meet them and you'll see!

I believe the reason why this story worked for me was that I was not just imagining a big guy fighting for the good cause with terrifying weapons, lots of special effects and a perfect haircut that never moves. I was on a frightening journey for the truth filled with threats from everywhere and demons with different faces. There was sweat, doubts, fear and betrayal. Clay is no super hero, he questions himself, he questions others, his and their motivations, he is doing his best in the worst situation and having such an clear insight into his mind helped me connect with him almost instantly. Once I was in with him, there was no going back. Clay is not a killer robot with no emotions. Clay is a good guy who had it rough and is trying to cope with it. I loved the development of his train of thought throughout the story, it made him feel real and not G.I Joe-like. The more I learned about him, the more I understood why he was here and the choices he made made so much sense, I couldn't stay cold to his issues. Hardisty created a character I could picture, feel and root for.

So yes, there is action. Lots of it! I found myself breathless countless of times, I spoke to (even screamed at) the book because things weren't fair and I wanted to warn Clay (I know, characters never listen to us but I had to try!!!), I grasped the book so tight the print of my hands is forever locked on the cover, the spine was creaked, the book fought the war with us. I was IN the pages. Every gun fire scared me, every hazardous situation made my heart skip a beat, every scene that would have normally have me roll my eyes or yawn kept me captivated, I felt the rush of adrenaline, I felt the danger coming from everywhere, I could hear the clock ticking. The blurb tells you all you need to imagine the kind of plot you're in so I'll keep my mouth shut on the different events, just know I became addicted to the relentless and taut pace and the +400 pages flew way too fast. The plot is masterfully weaved, with no respite, no breather, no escape road. The stakes are high and the fight is harsh. I never thought I'd see this day coming, but I loved every piece of this action-packed story. Why? Because Hardisty added the piece I always find missing in action thrillers: depth. You'll find a valid and awful reason to fight, multi-layered characters who don't just “decide to defeat the beast” because it's the right thing to do, but people who find themselves witnessing the worst and decide to act, which felt so much more realistic! Important issues are at the heart of this breathtaking adventure, turning it into a riveting and unputdownable read.

I knew nothing about Yemen, I know little about the Arabic language, the culture, the civil issues, the rules. This book was an eye-opener. I loved the bits and pieces of information I got to learn through the story. Adding snippets of language made me feel I was there, too. I was lost in a foreign country for which I hadn't been handled the manual and I was taught about it in a way textbooks can never achieve. I felt the sun, I felt the heat, I could picture the poverty, the precarious conditions of the people, I think this was the most terrifying element. Knowing civilizations are being left on their own while big cats get richer by the hour.

I had the nice surprise to find touches of France and the Frenchie I am was happy about it, it did not feel weird or cliché, nor did any other location you'll find in the book. The authenticity of it all felt scary. The world is a cold place.

Fortunately, some characters were there to remind me to keep faith in humanity. Religion was debated and is a part of the story, and whether you agree or not, Clay and myself found ourselves wondering about it. The book doesn't ask you to pick a side, it shows you a different way of living, a strong faith in something bigger, but it never sounds like a lesson, and no matter what religion you are or what you believe in, I do believe the subject was treated with enough respect and research to be appreciated and make good food for your mind.

Paul Hardisty efficiently combined all those elements to create a stunning and unforgettable tale of fighting for what is good, no matter the price. Action-thriller at its best. I am converted. Good job, sir!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This unbiased review is my thank you to her and the author.

[Margaret Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Declan Madden.

This debut novel introduces the character of Clay Straker to the reader and is a story of industrial pollution in the Middle East.
Clay Straker , retired from the South African Armed Forces , has retrained as an engineer and now finds himself working for Petro-Tex , a new kid on the block in the oil industry .Based in Yemen his job involves environmental testing for the company in support of its applications for government approval .This work mainly consists of cash donations to the relevant officials and tribal leaders to smooth the process . The novel starts with the kidnapping of Clay and his Yemeni driver and a face to face meeting with Al Shams , a renowned terrorist in the country.Al Shams is seeking the reason for the recent deterioration of the health of the local population and gives Clay a deadline of one week to highlight their plight .
What follows is a page turner which sees Clay taking on the very company he has been promoting and its blatant disregard for the Yemeni tribes . To complicate matters Rania La Tour , a journalist with AFP , seduces Clay in order to get an interview with Al Shams but she too has other motives . Clay becomes a fugitive and soon is fighting for his life and running out of options . Who can he trust and how can he prove Petro-Tex is breaking every rule in its efforts to extract oil from the Yemeni desert?
I really enjoyed this novel and found a strong character in Clay Straker . The writing was well paced with plenty of action . As I was reading I was certainly imagining a good movie in the pages and, as is normal, trying to figure out who might play the lead role. I finally settled on Matt Damon . I think there is scope for this character of Clay to appear again in a follow up novel and I look forward to reading more from this author . Definitely a cracking debut .

[Notty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a hard one to read. I did enjoy it, and once into it, couldn't put it down! When you say that money is the root to all evil, this books explains it big time. I understand it's based on a true story, and if that is correct, then the major oil companies are awful!!! Good read, looking forward to more of his.

[Warrengent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Paul E. Hardisty abrupt physics of dying is a cracking thriller, the plot is beautifully written,and totally gripping.
Claymore straker character is intelligent,
dynamic,and totally ruthless.
For anyone who likes jack reacher, or Jason bourne you will love this book.

[Jackie Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Abrupt Physics of Dying, by Paul E. Hardisty, is an action packed contemporary thriller set in the Yemen. It explores the hubris of the wealthy and powerful who believe that they are above the law. It lays bare the secretive and incestuous relationships between politicians and big business.

The protagonist, Clay Straker, is a contract engineer working for an oil company. His job involves getting environmental reports written and passed, often by nefarious means, in order that his clients may be seen to be complying with international regulations as regards local water supplies and air quality, regulations intended to provide safeguards for the indigenous population.

When Clay is forced at gunpoint to confront the reality of his client’s operations he finds himself a pawn in a dangerous game. With civil war breaking out around him he uncovers lie and secrets that are costing lives. The more layers he penetrates in the various organisations with which he is forced to become involved the harder it becomes to trust anyone.

Clay is a typical all action hero with a murky past. He is ex military and his training enables him to survive violent encounters with those sent to stop him. He has the inevitable sexual liaison with an attractive woman who he probably shouldn’t trust but talks openly with anyway. So far, so predictable.

Where this book stands out is the fantastic writing, the stunning imagery. The author evokes the heat, the fear, the colour, smells, and tension of each scene. I may not have warmed to the characters but I felt that I was there with them, feeling what they were feeling and thereby gaining a better understanding of why they acted as they did.

Despite the shouting and gun waving I felt sympathy for the so called terrorists and extremists whose land was being plundered, something that the western media does what it can to suppress. Within the plot the reader is shown how populations are manipulated into supporting damaging causes for economic benefit. Distant races are dehumanised and presented as a threat. Those who do nothing become passively complicit in allowing the rape of lands to sustain the power and influence of the few.

These messages, whilst uncomfortable to consider, are a part of the plot but do not overshadow what is a fast moving and compelling story. The intrigue is gripping, the characters complex, the denouement satisfying.

This is the first book released by Orenda Books. It is an impressive debut for both author and publisher.

My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Orenda Books.

[David Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional thriller that grips you from the very start. Our hero Claymore Straker, or Clay to his friends, is in mortal danger from page one. The story is told at a cracking pace and the action is pretty much non-stop. It’s based in the Yemen where Clay is a contractor working for a large oil company. His job is to provide environmental reports and ‘persuade’ local government officials to sign off the required documents, to allow continued oil exploration and extraction.

He’s forced to confront the fact that some of his employer’s activities may be endangering the lives of the locals. This leads to tough decisions for Clay who finds himself in a spiralling web of danger. There is a civil war breaking out, there’s conspiracy theory, murder and a mix of different factions involved. Oh and there’s also the cute girl by the pool...

Clay needs all his past military experience to keep himself alive and, despite his murky past, proves to be a man with a conscience. He’s a brilliantly drawn likeable character who the reader can genuinely care about.

There is an underlying message in the book warning of the dangers of Western exploitation in countries like the Yemen. It’s usually the locals that suffer and this book subtly highlights some of the issues. Having said all that, the message certainly isn’t allowed by the author, to get in the way of a good story.

The descriptive writing brings out the atmosphere and feel of the locations. You could almost be there yourself. This is a well written thriller which sets a blistering pace and builds to satisfying ending. It has some nice twists and turns that add to the excitement. I’d thoroughly recommend this to anyone who likes their books full of action and intrigue.

[Snoakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this one - it's a page-turner of a story and gallops along. I think it would make a cracking film if ever it gets the chance.
The only reason I've not given it five stars is that thrillers aren't really my thing. I find the whole rugged hero (so rugged he can still win a fight even when he's shit-faced on vodka) thing a little predictable - not to mention the beautiful woman (there's ALWAYS a beautiful woman, isn't there?). But these are minor gripes - a thriller needs a hero, and Clay is a convincing one.
The real test is will I read the next one? (this appears to have the makings of a series) - and the answer is yes, more than likely. It's considerably better written than a number of very popular series that I could mention.
I'm off to give it to my husband to read - he's the thriller-fan in this house. I'll update this in time and let you know what he thinks.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claymore Straker is a man on the edge. A civilian in a dangerous land at a dangerous time. Kidnapped, held at gunpoint and lead into the depths of Yemen to be given an ultimatum by a man believed to be behind a number of terrorist acts including one which resulted in the death of Straker's colleague. The tension is palpable and it's only a matter of time before the inevitable eruption as Straker makes his break...

"Before the old man could react, Clay bought his left knee up hard, smashing the old guy's pelvis. The Arab's mouth opened, the first note of a groan hanging in space, truncated an instant later as Clay's right fist smashed into his face. Clay felt the key go in, the give as a membrane flexed, heard the slight pop as it broke, then the sucking sound as he pulled back his fist, the key with it."

Lovely, right?

This is the start of The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E Hardisty. It's also the point at which you realise you haven't put this book down for four chapters and probably won't until you've reached the last page.

Having worked around the world for 25 years as an engineer, hydrologist and environmental scientist, Hardisty survived a bomb blast in a cafe in Sana'a and was one of the last Westerners out of Yemen before the outbreak of the 1994 civil war. This should come as no surprise having read Abrupt Physics... as Hardisty details Yemen, the political climate and the science with an authority that's never questionable and with a delivery that's polished enough to make you wonder whether he hasn't secretly been publishing thrillers under a different name for years.

Clay Straker is trying to forget a violent past, working as a contractor for an oil company as it seeks to expand it's grip and presence in Yemen. His job is simple - complete the environmental surveys in a manner that gets approval for Petro-Tex and pay off any locals that need their palms greasing to remain calm. Until he's kidnapped, of course.

Held at gunpoint and with his friend / driver taken as hostage by a terrorist organsiation, Clay is tasked with finding out what's causing a widespread illness among the local children.

Of course we know it's got to be something to do with the oil company but the hows and whys lead us into a world of political and corporate corruption and greed, violence and conspiracy - all set in a country on the verge of being torn apart by terrorism and civil war.

As events unravel the plot is dotted with twists and people with questionable allegiances that will leave you guessing until the end all the while rooted in strong, compelling characters and attention to culture - with dialogue liberally sprinkled with local and Afrikaans phrases to add further to the sense of immersion.

Everything you look for in a good thriller is here in abundance: a brooding hero with a troubled past, faraway locations, shady characters with even shadier motives, a love-interest, taught dialogue, corporate and moral deceit, the underdog risking it all with potentially disastrous ramifications, plot twists and counter twists and, of course, a bit of action.

The violence comes hard, fast and often. Straker takes so many and so severe a beating at times it's hard not to wince while reading and wonder just how much one man can take. However, unlike so many thrillers which rely purely on such violence and action, The Abrupt Physics of Dying is driven instead by a compelling plot and well-crafted story telling, with near-poetic descriptions in some of the most unlikely of places:

"A tendril of blood trickled from the dead soldier's neck, a thread unravelling, scrawling a strange calligraphy onto the sand."

That being said, I do think it could find itself with an honourable mention in the Literary Review's Bad Sex In Fiction Awards for the line "She was as slick as a tidal flat in a flood tide".

This isn't a no-brain, thirst-for revenge type thriller. At the heart of The Abrupt Physics of Dying lies an exploration of just how far corporate greed will go in its neglect of morals. As Clay questions his own morals and values its hard not to do the same. The atrocities and body count not celebrated but lamented and the concern for the damage being wrought on the local population reads as genuine.

So: Thriller? Thriller with a conscience? Eco-thriller? Geo-political thriller? How about bloody good book? It's all of these.

In his first book Hardisty has created a thriller as assured, gripping, well paced and finely detailed as they come. There's a sequel in the works, The Evolution of Fear. Judging by the first chapter included in 'Abrupt Physics', it can't come soon enough. 2016 seems a long way off now.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abrupt Physics of Dying
By Paul E. Hardisty
Orenda Books
978-1910633052
£8.99, 429 pages

The Abrupt Physics of Dying wastes no time. The debut thriller from Paul E. Hardisty, the first in a planned series, opens on page one with Kalashnikovs, kidnapping and grand theft auto. Our hero Claymore Straker has an appropriately shady past but is currently a hydrologist for Petro-Tex, an international oil company, where he is responsible for environmental impact. See? Dangerous territory already, even before the men with the guns show up. Straker finds himself in the middle of a lethal feud between the tribes, the Yemeni government and global business interests (aka money). When the Bedouin begin to fall ill, a shadowing sheik by the name of Al Shams recruits (aka blackmails) Straker to get to the truth of the matter at the unholy confluence of oil and water.

Straker reminds me of the Downey version of Sherlock Holmes crossed with Erin Brockovich. He visualizes beforehand what he needs to do in the action sequences; he’s smart, unconventional and a bit of a smart ass. Abrupt Physics is not your average thriller. There’s history and a good deal of philosophy, the modern tension between religion and the secular, between the Arab tribes,

“The company,’ spat Al Shams. ‘Petro-Tex. You speak as if this thing were human, one of Allah’s creations. It is not. It is inanimate, soulless, not of this world. It exists for one purpose only, as we both know…To get the oil that lies beneath this land. Our land. It will do anything to get it. It will pay people like you whatever it must to placate the villagers, to assuage the regulators.”

and Petro-Tex, as well as Straker himself,

“Clay forced a laugh, coughed, looked across the fire at Abdulkader. The man’s stoic fatalism – that granitic belief in a higher power – was something he had never understood. Empirically, it made no sense. Observation denied it. And yet envy flooded through him now, raw, thirsty, an insatiable dark negative that seemed to pull in everything around him, leaving him standing alone and naked, the last torn strips of his logic hanging like rags from his frame.”

Hardisty’s descriptions of the Empty Quarter are well- and closely observed.

“The wadi cut down through the plateau of softer rocks, shales and marls, down to the hard limestone that formed the base of the first scarp...The wadi sides steepened...the stratified, fractured face of time where a hundred millennia, the whole of human history, lay compressed into a single layer – a hand span’s width of lithified sand grains, quartz and plagioclase from a beach on a lonely stretch of coastline that once basked under clear skies, the crystalline blue of the shallows teeming with freakish new life, all now extinct.”

The story and setting remind me of Taylor Stevens’ series of thrillers starring Vanessa Michael Monroe: international intrigue, sophisticated treatment of non-western cultures – which means neither demonized nor romanticized, abundant gray areas where there are no simple choices, and peopled with the sorts of psychopaths addicted to adrenaline. The science reminds me of Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta novels. All of these similarities are good things but Abrupt Physics is not derivative. This is a modern treatment of a centuries-old conflict between indigenous peoples and usurpers bent on exploitation, us and them.

On the down side, some of the bad guys are stereotypes, even intermittently cartoonish, and Hardisty needs to work on his sex scenes – especially word choice. Tone down some of the melodrama and I think he’s got a good thing going on here. Since practice makes better, I’m looking forward to future installments in the series.

The reluctant warrior trope is oft-used but that’s because it speaks to us. The repentant sinner who has cleaned up his act, forced by circumstances to resurrect his inner bad guy, but this time uses his powers for good. The concept doesn’t need to be original but the treatment does. And it is.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Yemen, THE ABRUPT PHYSICS OF DYING is an eco-thriller from an author who writes about the issues explored with authority and a vivid sense of place.

Claymore Straker is a South-African born engineer, working on environmental approval reports for a major oil company in Yemen, a country teetering on the brink of civil war. Held up, with his local Muslim driver, at gunpoint by a local armed militia group, Straker is forced to investigate the potential of environmental contamination in a village close to oil fields. Children are dying, mothers are miscarrying, and the locals are convinced it's something to do with Petro-Tex, who are equally keen to cover up any potential involvement. Which puts Straker in a very difficult position as he feels very responsible for his friend and driver, held hostage until he checks the locals claims, and yet he earns his living from Petro-Tex work, who aren't pleased at his digging.

Given that THE ABRUPT PHYSICS OF DYING is a thriller there is much here that we take for granted. Straker's borderline super-human, able to withstand major beatings, threats, being jerked around, and having to deal with idiots. There's a beautiful love / sex interest - in this case the enigmatic French journalist who may / may not be on the side of Straker and good. There's the requisite huge multinational company with the self-serving employees and a desire to make money and increase their own power, regardless of any impact they may have. There's also a local terrorist / extremist group who, in this case, have come about as a result of the injustice done to them and their country. And as you'd expect, there are a lot of guns, much yelling, threat and danger everywhere and lot of rushing around the desert.

It's a refreshing change, however, to find considerable black and white in the motivations and behaviour of the so called extremists. Their land plundered, their people dying, this novel conveys the fine line between defender and antagonist. Their methodologies might seem barbaric, but in the event that you're left with few choices in the face of overwhelming power and wealth, there's lots of instances where one person's freedom fighter is another person's extremist.

It's a measure of the wonderfully descriptive style of writing that THE ABRUPT PHYSICS OF DYING works as well as it does. The sense of place, and the way that the climate, the landscape and the people all combine within a location very foreign to that which many of us live in is evocative. Having said that, particularly in the middle of the novel, some culling of the repetition in those descriptive passages, and of the science explanations, wouldn't go astray as it does bog things down a little.

Work through those sections though and you're left with an interesting double act. A thriller which entertains, leaving much for you to think about after you've put the book down.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well out of my comfort zone and not in my usual choice of genres so it was with a little trepidation that I started to read, thinking it would be more of a ‘man’s book’ however I got great enjoyment from the story and would recommend anyone to give it a read. Set in Yemen, in 1994, with the country on the cusp of civil war, our ‘hero’ is Claymore Straker. Formerly a soldier, he is now an engineer working for Petro-Tex, an oil company, to check out the land and to pave the way (often with bribes) to those who may stand in the way of the company’s expansion ambitions.

The story begins when Clay and his driver Abdulkader are hijacked at gunpoint and taken before a local leader, Al Shams. Al Shams wants to know why his people are ill and dying and he believes Clay is the person to find out. To ‘persuade’ Clay to help, he holds Abdulkader hostage and gives Clay a few days to come back with answers otherwise his friend will die.

In his quest for the truth, Clay had to deal with bribery, corruption and double crossings galore – all the time not knowing who he could trust. He is a very strong character, both physically and mentally, but although he can look after himself in a fight, he is not superhuman and some of the fighting and gun scenes did have me wincing at times. His developing friendship with the female journalist, Rania, only complicates matters. Rania seems to have a shady past and it is unclear whether she can be trusted. Clay is a complex character and his violent past has left him mentally scarred with demons of his own to fight. In trying to help the villagers of Al Urush, he faces great danger from people determined to stop him at any price. One of the things that comes from this book is that for some people, human life is worth nothing and that land – and oil, are much more valuable.

It is clear that the author’s background and experience has enabled him to write a thriller that is so rich and detailed in description that you can almost feel the searing heat and visualise the vast endless desert. This is a part of the world that I know little about but after reading this book, I did feel that I had learned just a little bit more. I have to admit that the scientific and technical details did sometimes ‘whoosh’ over my head but the fast pace of the story kept me reading eager to find out what happened next. Behind the action scenes, is a very powerful and compelling message of corporate greed and the deliberate destruction of life and land.

This is the author's debut thriller and is certainly one to be recommended.

I understand that Paul Hardisty has a new book to be published next year, “The Evolution of Fear” – which will again feature Clay Straker, this will certainly be on my wishlist.

My thanks to Karen of Orenda Books for the paperback copy to review.

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Petro-Tex is a giant oil company that has an oil processing facility in Yemen. Is it coincidence that the local people in Al Urush and especially the children, are suffering from a desperate illness?

Claymore Straker is trying to move on from his violent history. He is an engineer employed by Petro-Tex and early in the book is hijacked at gunpoint, together with his driver Abdulkader. His captors want him to get to the bottom of the illness – they release him and keep his driver hostage. As he carries out his researches he meets Rania, who is a troubled journalist and she joins in him his quest to discover the truth.

This is a gritty, sometimes grim story, that brings the reality of life in an oil rich country to life, it vividly describes the machinations of the powerful interlopers and overlords who hold sway over the poorer members of society, all set against civil strife and terrorism. And Claymore is one man who is prepared to take on the whole situation, at considerable cost to himself. It is a powerful story, that has ‘big screen’ written all over it.

It is set against the harsh terrain that is Yemen “the flat stone strewn uplands, the hogback mesas, the thermal blur of the edge of the world…” This book is a sensory and gripping read. Enjoy.

We bagged an interview with the Publisher, Orenda Books - enjoy the backstory behind the publication of this book: http://www.tripfiction.com/thriller-s...

[Paddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thrilling debut opens with a tense, utterly gripping roadside hijacking. In an instant, we’re flung headfirst into an unforgiving, sun-scorched landscape, a lawless country riven with corruption and tribal tensions.

Hardisty’s hero is the flawed Claymore Straker, a man haunted by a series of mistakes he made while a young soldier in South Africa. He’s been living a half-life ever since, helping oil companies exploit dirt-poor communities by bribing locals, or penning dodgy environmental reports. But now, with his friend kidnapped, he’s forced to confront his demons – and defeat a shadowy, ruthless enemy.

Straker, a man who combines vulnerability with the rough-hewn masculinity of Fleming’s Bond, is pitched into a nail-biting race against time. Allies are not what they seem, and the obstacles soon mount with increasing danger and intensity.

Hardisty’s prose is rich, descriptive and elegant, but break-neck pace is the king. You feel Straker’s pain every step of the way. The beatings, bone-shattering gunshot wounds, and his desperate, parched-throat quest through the pitiless Yemen landscape.

Set in the run-up to the country’s 1994 civil war and against a rising tide of Islamic terrorism, The Abrupt Physics of Dying asks big and often unsettling questions. But above all, it’s an exhilarating, white-knuckle ride.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant novel from Paul Hardisty and a fine way to open Orenda Books' account as a publisher. See my full review here:

http://livemanylives.wordpress.com/20...

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the locations covered in the book on the booktrail



An eco thriller with a conscience

Just what goes on in these oil rich countries. Are we bothered as long as we get the oil? What about the people whose land it is? How are they treated? Well if this book is even half true and judging by the author’s credentials it is indeed, then money really is the root of all evil.

I don’t think anyone could have got under Yemen’s skin like Hardisty has. The man survived a bomb blast in a cafe in Sana’a and was one of the last Westerners out of Yemen before the outbreak of the 1994 civil war for goodness sake. He knows the land, the people, the politics and the dark recesses of all of it and it makes for a thriller like no other.

The twists and turns abound and as we get drawn deeper and deeper into the dusty desert, the role of the oil company becomes murky. Just what is the role of the oil company? What other internal politics within the country are at play?

Conspiracy is on every page and behind every plateau….just who can Clay trust? Who should the reader trust?

One thing in particular I loved was the use of local dialect and arabic phrases dotted in the dialogue. REally added to the atmosphere and overall sense of a very different lifestyle.

What was hard to read at times was the violence – the beatings in particular but once again this was real and gave a stark and realistic impression of what would happen in a situation such as this. But even amidst the violence, the beauty of the writing shines through –

“A tendril of blood trickled from the dead soldier’s neck, a thread unravelling, scrawling a strange calligraphy onto the sand.”

Really got my teeth into this one. A great debut for a debut publisher Orenda Books.

[Sallie Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I don’t read that many “action thrillers.” I picked The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E Hardisty on a fluke on Kindle Unlimited. I think the appeal to me was the setting, which is Yemen. I had never read anything about Yemen, let alone a novel set there. In fact, I had to search it out to see where it’s situated on the world map.

Claymore Straker, the protagonist, is a contract engineer (hydrologist) hired by Petro-Tex to test the water, file the reports, and get local approval by whatever means necessary. He has a shady past, formerly military, and is just going along with doing his job until he and his driver are kidnapped. He is forced to look at the consequences of the Oil Industry actions: kids are getting sick, women are miscarrying. All this in a largely Muslim country where his non-nativeness isn’t working in his favor.

And then there’s the journalist, a female journalist. Not sure if she can be trusted. Nevertheless, sparks fly. Romantic sparks.

This thriller really worked for me. Enough to want more. There are three more Straker books in this series and I am happy to report that they are all available on my local Hoopla.

ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2026
Prompt #2- a book from a Genre that starts with A, T, or Y (Thriller)

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadian-Australian Paul E. Hardisty has burst on to the crime scene with this searing tale that digs up the dirt on oil companies operating in Third World countries. Clay Straker is a combat vet working as a hired gun engineering consultant for big oil in Yemen, adapting facts and appeasing locals to keep the dollars rolling in. When his driver and friend is kidnapped by a notorious terrorist, he must investigate the cause of a local sickness to save the life of a man who saved his. Joining forces with an enigmatic journalist, Clay is forced to confront the realities of who he's become, and the powerful people he works for. Hardisty brings Yemen to vivid, sweat-inducing life on the page, crafting a superb thriller, powered by exquisite prose. Evocative and extremely thought-provoking, The Abrupt Physics Of Dying is full of fascinating characters and insights and heralds the arrival of a tremendous new voice who straddles the border between popular thriller and weighty literature.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you grew up watching Indiana Jones and The Mummy, give this one a go! (My fellow Fern Gully and Once Upon a Forest fans will also likely appreciate the focus of Hardisty’s works.)

The plot was quite gripping and I loved the character development we saw in Clay. A
Quite excited to see where the rest of the series takes us, and to read Hardisty’s more recent work, definitely feels different reading stories from people who have seen and experienced first-hand some of the real and ugly parts of the world and humanity.

[Nic Ayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving at breakneck speed, I found this read difficult to put down. A story of an greed, corruption, deceit - it was difficult to know at times whose intentions were good and whose were not to be trusted. A somewhat 'blokey' read with plenty of violence and gore, the setting of Yemin, it's history and politics (of which I know very little) made for compelling reading. Definite movie potential!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this out of curiosity because it was written by my boss, CSIRO Land and Water Director Paul Hardisty. It's not my preferred genre, but it is a pretty good read nonetheless! It even involves a bit of groundwater hydrology. An angry man of action takes on a corporation that has lost its moral compass (and isn't even making sound business decisions). Can he win?

[ReadsSometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding debut. A superbly written topical thriller. This book was a real page-turner - and it was only finding enough time, or I could've of finished it much earlier. Very believable characters with complex dialogue. Book of the year for me so far, and I have read some excellent ones.

[Karen Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abrupt Physics of Dying isn't the sort of book I'd be drawn to if I saw it in a bookshop so when I received my copy from new publishers Orenda Books it took me a little while to start reading it. However, when I finally did pick it up I was reminded yet again not to judge a book by its cover!
There is no gradual building of tension in this story, the reader is immediately thrust into a nail biting thriller as the main protagonist, a South African former soldier called Claymore Straker has been kidnapped by Islamic terrorists along with his driver, Abdulkader in Yemen. Straker now works as an engineer for an oil company who unsurprisingly have some dodgy morals. Until now Straker while unaware of the worst excesses of the company he works for, has been complicit in their shady dealings and has been responsible for offering dozens of bribes to local officials to facilitate business. However, what is first a reluctant investigation into the sickness afflicting the village of Al Urush, carried out at the behest of his kidnapper in return for Abdulkader's life eventually becomes something more personal, a desperate race to expose the truth and to stay alive.
The Abrupt Physics of Dying has been described as an eco thriller as it exposes the dark side of the oil business where money is all and children poisoned by polluted water are seen as acceptable collateral damage in the quest for wealth and power. What I thought was going to be a forgettable page turner actually turned out to be something far more thoughtful, both on a wider scale and at a more personal level as the story examines the dehumanising effect of conflict on Straker. The writing is beautifully descriptive, Yemen is vividly and evocatively brought to life yet alongside this the action is often unflinchingly and brutally violent. It's not without its flaws, as seems typical with this sort of thriller it did at times seem as if Straker had almost super powers, such was his ability to keep going despite suffering horrific injuries. And despite my praise for the descriptive language I did occasionally feel it became a little too wordy, it's a long book that perhaps could have been a little shorter without losing any of the thrust of the story.
However, despite these small reservations it was a book I enjoyed very much, an intelligent and contemporary thriller with plenty of twists, Straker is an interesting character with much potential for future books and his love interest, a journalist called Rania is strong and likable and importantly more than just window dressing, I suspect there is more to be revealed when it comes to her character. The front cover compares the book to Bond and Bourne and I can easily imagine it as a movie, I believe it would transfer well to the big screen. I look forward to the next instalment having learned my lesson!
Thanks to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for my copy sent in return for my honest review.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted originally http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...

With its wonderful title, cover and tagline, enhanced by its stunning opening, The Abrupt Physics of Dying was one of those books that nothing could make me put down. It’s an eco-thriller, which in my eyes was a pretty epic thriller made different and perhaps more relevant, with its focus on the politics of oil. This book definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone having not read anything similar before, but in a good way. It was tense, gripping and strongly written.

Claymore Straker is an engineer for an oil company, which leads him into a world full of lies and corruption. Clay’s no stranger to violence and as much as he tries to escape from it, a terrorist attack right at the beginning of this novel is only a glimpse of the shocking route things are about take. We’re thrown right into the deep end in the opening of The Abrupt Physics of Dying, and the action and events to follow are ruthless and fast-paced. Clay’s character is brought into question straight away, as held at gun points by terrorists, he’s challenged to look into the illness a lot of children are suffering from, likely to be due to the oil company, or risk the life of his friend Abdulkader. What follows is a surge of lies, deceit and attempts to work out who can and can’t be trusted. The story is fresh and unpredictable, captivating and delivered astutely.

The author’s knowledge and experience of some of the politics faced in his novel contributed to the strong delivery and engaging writing style, without overtaking the plot with being too factual and over-opinionated. The way the author sets the scene and allows you to picture with ease everything that’s taking place is enthralling and I loved his descriptive writing, which had me hanging off every word. The plot is compelling enough anyway but the style of writing lifts each page and transforms this novel into something a bit special. I felt like I came out of this novel with a greater impression and more knowledge on Yemen, along with more of a clue about an oil company’s work, something I knew little, if anything about. As the story unfolded, I was completely transfixed and eager to read more and mightily impressed with what I’d read.

For The Abrupt Physics of Dying to be a debut novel, a brilliant debut novel, there’s surely only exciting things to come from Paul E. Hardisty, starting with next year’s sequel The Evolution of Fear. I half-expected The Abrupt Physics of Dying to be a little cautious, a little held-back but the author writes like you’d expect from an established thriller writer – a protagonist blessed with fantastic characterisation, a detailed setting and twists to boot. A sensational first novel for author and publisher.

*Book received in exchange for an honest review.

[crimethrillerhound.co.uk · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its engineer protagonist and Yemen setting, The Abrupt Physics of Dying is a quality eco-thriller, from an author that knows his subject and knows how to write.

It’s 1994 and Yemen is close to civil war. Claymore Straker is a damaged South African-born engineer working with Petro-Tex, an oil company trying to get his environmental approval for their oil drilling, when he’s held up at gunpoint along with his kidnapped Muslim driver Abdulkader. The dangerous Al Shams orders Straker to investigate a mysterious illness that’s affecting the villagers. Children in Al Urush are sick, mothers are miscarrying, was this to do with Petro-Tex?

Water tests are taken but it’s clear that the oil company wants to cover up any issue. And it’s not just Petro-Tex that’s benefiting financially. There are dangers and enemies on all sides. Just who can Straker trust? Perhaps a beautiful French journalist?

Straker is a tough guy, an ex-soldier capable of withstanding a beating, or several, but he has a soft heart, caring for individuals such as his driver, or a poorly village child, so passionately that he’ll repeatedly risk his life to save them.

The word count could have been reduced without losing any impact, in fact, in my view, it would have benefited a novel that became a little too descriptive and repetitive at times, especially the 'and here’s the science…' bits. Still, it’s an impressive debut.

Civil war, terrorism, corporate ruthlessness and corruption, and harsh global realities are examined in a thrilling action fuelled style that has enough authenticity and atmosphere to sink the reader into the story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, one of the best and most exciting things about reading so many books is that I learn so much, and travel with the author to so many new places, and The Abrupt Physics of Dying certainly taught me a hell of a lot and took me on an adventure to places that I'd never read about before.

Clay, the lead character is something of a maverick. I envisaged a craggy faced, yet handsome guy whose experiences are etched on his face. He takes risks and is daring, he is flawed yet confident and determined.

The action is set in the Yemen and the author evokes such a sense of place with his writing that I felt as though I'd been there and experienced the culture, it is clear that the author has himself spent time there, his descriptions are enticing and exotic, yet startling realistic.

The Abrupt Physics of Dying is a tense thriller, the violence and corruption is vividly portrayed, yet there is nothing in the story that shouldn't be there. Clay and his supporting cast of characters don't get away with everything either, this is certainly no James Bond style lead character, in fact he suffers just as much, if not more than his enemies.

If you enjoy a story that is well-written with a plot that twists and turns, and leads you astray, then I'd recommend this. If you want a hero that is a little bit unusual, with his own issues, but is determined and so well created, then I'd recommend this. If you want a complex and intelligent thriller, then I'd really really recommend this. Don't be scared, take the plunge, this is a fine novel, with thrills and excitement throughout.