The Year of the Locust: Free eBook Sampler

by Terry Hayes

THE AMAZING NEW THRILLER FROM TERRY HAYES.

IF YOU THOUGHT I AM PILGRIM WAS GOOD...

Genres: Thriller

Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2015

About the author

Terry Hayes began his career as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald, when as foreign correspondent in the US he covered Watergate and President Nixon's resignation, among many major international stories. He then went on to become a successful screenwriter, having written the screenplays for Mad Max 2, Dead Calm, Bangkok Hilton, Payback and From Hell. He lives in Sydney with his wife and four children.

Reviews

[Ted Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Best starter I've ever tasted"

Only 4 chapters, as a taster for the full novel, but brilliant. Can't wait for the real thing! Terrific plot, crackling dialogue and full of suspense and intrigue on every line.

[Jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, how long do we have to wait...?

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Having read & enjoyed I am Pilgrim I jumped at the chance to preview this new book. The writing had me hooked from the start & I am desperate to find out what happens next. Can't wait.

[Joel Bridgwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry's writing style is unmatched, I am Pilgrim is still my favourite book to have read. I look forward to the full release of the new book, the first four chapters are very promising 👌

[Oundle Crime · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s taken screenwriter-turned-author, Terry Hayes, nine years to write his second book – 'The Year of the Locust'. His debut novel, 'I Am Pilgrim', was an international bestseller. But although both fit into the thriller category, 'The Year of the Locust' is a very different kettle of fish. Like Pilgrim this is an action thriller, set on the international stage and involving all the usual rogue governments, terrorist groups and intelligence services. The protagonist is a CIA operative known as Kane, who works in what are described as Denied Access Areas – the most dangerous countries and regions in the world.

The novel is written in four parts. Parts One and Two cover the CIA’s efforts to prevent a new Islamic terror group, known as the Army of the Pure, from attacking the USA. Kane is sent into Iran to rendezvous with a courier and find out more. It’s typical of the action thriller genre, loaded with excitement and tension. In Parts Three and Four, although the story keeps moving forward, the reader is shifted into an entirely new realm, which embraces time travel and glimpses of the future. The story continues to be tense and exciting, but the plot becomes quite bonkers.

If you like action thrillers there’s no reason you won’t enjoy 'The Year of the Locust', despite its strangeness. And if you bear in mind that Terry Hayes’s screenwriting successes include two Mad Max movies, you may not find the bonkers parts of the plot unsettling.

Some of us in Oundle Crime had read 'I Am Pilgrim' all those years ago and enjoyed it, so our expectations were high for this. And, after all, it has had good reviews. But the book really split opinion in our group. None of us enjoyed, or could make sense of, the time travel section, and we thought it diminished the novel. Those who ploughed through to the end tried to ignore it, and said they eventually quite enjoyed the book. But several of our group didn’t bother to finish reading it. So we think the best way to summarise 'The Year of the Locust' is to say it’s a Marmite novel. A book you’ll either love, or hate. 3+ Stars.

Oundle Crime thanks Simon & Schuster and The Reading Agency for the opportunity to read The Year of the Locust. We are voluntarily giving an honest review.

[Catrien Deys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great expectations after I am pilgrim, but 2/3 into the book it went haywire for me. 'Angeldust' and timetravel were completely unnecessary for me.

[Ben Kroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading i am pilgrim i was counting down the days to read this book. It started off great and i was not disappointed by the story line or action. For a spy thriller it had all the right elements. Then things took a hard left turn into a scifi alien fighting time traveling bender completely changing the tone style and story line. I would be hard pressed to recommend this to anyone who was a fan of I am Pilgrim, however if you are just in for a wild ride and dont mind being frustrated by inconsistently mashed together stories that very well could have been two different books by all means go for it.

[Raga Sammuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is good, I feel very good.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like most people, I arrived here, because I am pilgrim was one of the best books I ever read,
So, with that said the follow-up would always be difficult, but I was one of the few people who didn’t know that it wasn’t a follow on from Pilgrim, but a complete new standalone book.
I got into it straight away it follows a spy and his effort to catch a really nasty person and then just after halfway through the book took a turn. I thought I’ve missed something but carried on reading it because I like to get my money is worth, and by the end, I just thought wow how good was that? I am so glad I stuck with it because it was a difficult read when I had no idea what was going on. the upshot is I brought it on audiobook last week and listened to it each night when I went to bed And I totally got it, a fantastic book well worth a read but definitely 2nd to Pilgrim. by the way, I saw him on YouTube this week, and he said he has been given a contract to ride Pilgrim 2, yay! But I guess that will probably take 10 years.

[Josef Busuttil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been longing for this book since i read I am Pilgrim.
It has a great start, spy thriller novel with some interesting sort of futuristic tech. The story then unexpectedly turns to significant science fiction as a deus ex machina. Was very disappointed with the genre shift.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure how anything was going to live up to the expectations set by I am Pilgrim, but it almost got there.

[Christian Sharpe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very happy with the first half of thr book. Second half, particularly from part four onwards completely loses the plot. Wish I could get those precious hours back.

[Eugene Goosen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way to long, nothing like I am Pilgrim.

[Emily Curtis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started brilliantly went waaaaay off, very disappointed

[Sif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same style - could be awesome

I just finished I am Pilgrim, and I really liked it (listened to it on audible)
This seems like the year of the lotus, is a book I would like to read/listen to as well!
It's the same storytelling style, a bit confusing in the beginning, but it gives alot of details that usually has an answer in the end.
I'm staying tuned.

I can't give it 5 stars, the book is not out yet, but soon. 4 stars because it seems promising.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery good but different from first book in that it had some science fiction included.

[Peter Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, I read I am Pilgrim when it came out and this brought parts of that back to me; well written with enough pace to keep the reader wanting more - can't wait for the full book to come out.

[Judith Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the book to be released-another page turner!

[PETER ODUKWE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great teaser

The preview gripped me straight away and have prepared ordered this book as a result. It looks really good.. For those who have not read I Am Pilgrim-do so now.