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Claymore Straker #4
Absolution (4)
When vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker is witness to the murders of a family he has befriended, and his lover’s husband and son disappear, his investigations take him to the darkest places he could ever have imagined … The stunning fourth instalment in the critically acclaimed Claymore Straker series.
‘A stormer of a thriller – vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’ Peter James
‘A fast-paced action thriller, beautifully written’ Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography
‘Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child
_____________________
It’s 1997, and eight months since vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker fled South Africa after his explosive testimony to Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In Paris, Rania LaTour, Claymore’s former lover, comes home to find that her son and her husband, a celebrated human rights lawyer, have disappeared. On an isolated island off the coast of East Africa, the family that Clay has befriended is murdered as he watches.
So begins the fourth instalment in the Claymore Straker series, a breakneck journey through the darkest reaches of the human soul, as Clay and Rania fight to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances and murders, and find those responsible.
At times brutal, often lyrical, but always gripping, Absolution is a thriller that will leave you breathless and questioning the very basis of how we live and why we love.
____________________
Praise for Paul E. Hardisty
‘A trenchant and engaging thriller that unravels this mysterious land in cool, precise sentences’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald
‘This is a remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places, as well as frequent scenes of violent action, all come alive on the page...’ Literary Review
‘Gripping and exciting … the quality of Hardisty’s writing and the underlying truth of his plots sets this above many other thrillers’ West Australian
‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly
‘Beautifully written, blisteringly authentic, heart-stoppingly tense and unusually moving’ Paul Johnston
‘The plot burns through petrol, with multiple twists and turns’ Vicky Newham
‘A stormer of a thriller – vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’ Peter James
‘A fast-paced action thriller, beautifully written’ Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography
‘Hardisty is a fine writer and Straker is a great lead character’ Lee Child
_____________________
It’s 1997, and eight months since vigilante justice-seeker Claymore Straker fled South Africa after his explosive testimony to Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
In Paris, Rania LaTour, Claymore’s former lover, comes home to find that her son and her husband, a celebrated human rights lawyer, have disappeared. On an isolated island off the coast of East Africa, the family that Clay has befriended is murdered as he watches.
So begins the fourth instalment in the Claymore Straker series, a breakneck journey through the darkest reaches of the human soul, as Clay and Rania fight to uncover the mystery behind the disappearances and murders, and find those responsible.
At times brutal, often lyrical, but always gripping, Absolution is a thriller that will leave you breathless and questioning the very basis of how we live and why we love.
____________________
Praise for Paul E. Hardisty
‘A trenchant and engaging thriller that unravels this mysterious land in cool, precise sentences’ Stav Sherez, Catholic Herald
‘This is a remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places, as well as frequent scenes of violent action, all come alive on the page...’ Literary Review
‘Gripping and exciting … the quality of Hardisty’s writing and the underlying truth of his plots sets this above many other thrillers’ West Australian
‘Searing … at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’ Publishers Weekly
‘Beautifully written, blisteringly authentic, heart-stoppingly tense and unusually moving’ Paul Johnston
‘The plot burns through petrol, with multiple twists and turns’ Vicky Newham
450 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2018
22 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Paul E. Hardisty
15 books71 followersFor the past 30 years, Paul E Hardisty has worked all over the world as an engineer and environmental scientist. He has roughnecked on oil rigs in Texas, explored for gold in the Arctic, and rehabilitated village water wells in the wilds of Africa. He was in Yemen in 1994 as the civil war broke out, and in Ethiopia as the Mengistu regime fell. His latest novel, Absolution, is the 4th in the Claymore Straker series. The first novel in the series, The Abrupt Physics of Dying, was shortlisted for the CWA Creasy dagger award, and was one of the London Telegraph's 2015 crime books of the year. It was followed by The Evolution of Fear, and Reconciliation for the Dead, both of which received critical acclaim. Paul lives in Western Australia, and is a keen outdoorsman, triathlete, and martial artist.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 29, 2018
The thing about reading a Claymore Straker novel is that you are guaranteed an action packed, fast paced and gripping up to date political thriller that is just so engrossing you'll be hard pushed to put it down once started. The author Paul E. Hardisty knows how to engage with his readers and it is always a delight to start a new adventure with Claymore and his maverick ways.
In this the latest outing in the Claymore Straker series - "Absolution" - events lead Clay and his former lover, journalist Rania to Egypt where an act of shocking terrorist brutality will reveal not only why those they loved have been sacrificed, but how they were both, indirectly, responsible.
Once again this book commences with a compelling opening prologue, read as a diary extract that is very emotional and I was intensely intrigued by it all. It was a given that I was going to enjoy this highly entertaining book, having devoured the previous stories in the series. Often brutal but rightly so in such a tumultuous environment, this is a superb, well thought out, socially conscious thriller that will appeal to all action thriller readers, male, female, young and old alike!
"Absolution" is the fourth in the series but can still be read as a standalone if you haven't already indulged in the previous books, I highly recommend each and everyone one and I am so pleased to have discovered this talented author and his strong and moral minded character Claymore Straker!
5 stars
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
In this the latest outing in the Claymore Straker series - "Absolution" - events lead Clay and his former lover, journalist Rania to Egypt where an act of shocking terrorist brutality will reveal not only why those they loved have been sacrificed, but how they were both, indirectly, responsible.
Once again this book commences with a compelling opening prologue, read as a diary extract that is very emotional and I was intensely intrigued by it all. It was a given that I was going to enjoy this highly entertaining book, having devoured the previous stories in the series. Often brutal but rightly so in such a tumultuous environment, this is a superb, well thought out, socially conscious thriller that will appeal to all action thriller readers, male, female, young and old alike!
"Absolution" is the fourth in the series but can still be read as a standalone if you haven't already indulged in the previous books, I highly recommend each and everyone one and I am so pleased to have discovered this talented author and his strong and moral minded character Claymore Straker!
5 stars
Thank you to LoveReading for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
May 23, 2018
It’s hard to believe we’re already onto the fourth Claymore Strayker book, but here we are with the explosive Absolution. It follows on from the events in Reconciliation For The Dead, so if possible, I recommend that you read them in order because they are all linked in some way.
There is something about these books that really capture my imagination as a reader. I become fully immersed in them immediately, and Absolution was no exception. Paul Hardisty is an excellent writer, and his experience really shows in his ability to capture the horror and violence of war and conflict.
In Absolution, Clay is living in self-imposed isolation on an island off the African coast. Afraid to surround himself with people for fear that they would get caught up in the danger that shadows him like a hunter stalking his prey. Sadly, this is exactly what happens.
Concurrent to this, Rania is living in Paris with hr husband and young son. When she comes home to find they have disappeared, this sets in motion a chain of events that will have devastating consequences, reaching far wider than she could have imagined.
Absolution is an emotionally charged thriller from beginning to end. It deals with some of the most horrific acts of terrorism and brutality at the time and it leaves the reader reeling as the events unfold. I found myself feeling very tense at various points in the story, fearful for the outcomes and worried for the characters.
I don’t want to say much more, because I am afraid I may give away something if I go into too much detail. Absolution is a heartbreaking instalment in the series, for many reasons. It is tense, emotive and at times, shocking. I couldn’t stop reading it from once I started, and I can’t wait to read more Straker books!
Highly recommended!
There is something about these books that really capture my imagination as a reader. I become fully immersed in them immediately, and Absolution was no exception. Paul Hardisty is an excellent writer, and his experience really shows in his ability to capture the horror and violence of war and conflict.
In Absolution, Clay is living in self-imposed isolation on an island off the African coast. Afraid to surround himself with people for fear that they would get caught up in the danger that shadows him like a hunter stalking his prey. Sadly, this is exactly what happens.
Concurrent to this, Rania is living in Paris with hr husband and young son. When she comes home to find they have disappeared, this sets in motion a chain of events that will have devastating consequences, reaching far wider than she could have imagined.
Absolution is an emotionally charged thriller from beginning to end. It deals with some of the most horrific acts of terrorism and brutality at the time and it leaves the reader reeling as the events unfold. I found myself feeling very tense at various points in the story, fearful for the outcomes and worried for the characters.
I don’t want to say much more, because I am afraid I may give away something if I go into too much detail. Absolution is a heartbreaking instalment in the series, for many reasons. It is tense, emotive and at times, shocking. I couldn’t stop reading it from once I started, and I can’t wait to read more Straker books!
Highly recommended!
May 30, 2018
Thriller set in EAST AFRICA and EGYPT
Absolution is the fourth in the Claymore Straker thriller series by Paul Hardisty. I enjoyed the first three immensely, and was really looking forward to the fourth. I was not in any way disappointed…
The book opens with Clay hiding in plain sight in Zanzibar. He fled there after his traumatic appearance at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa (the subject matter of Reconciliation for the Dead). Two mercenaries come to attack him, but he escapes with his life. At the same time his erstwhile girlfriend, Raina, gets a message to him. She is now married and living in Paris with her husband – a civil rights lawyer – and her son. They have been kidnapped and presumably murdered. She asks Clay to help track down the perpetrators. Raina’s and Clay’s stories proceed in parallel, in alternate chapters, throughout much of the book. Raina heads to Cairo where her husband was working on a high profile case before his disappearance. She fears for her life, and melts into the underbelly of the city’s slums. Clay makes an arduous and dangerous journey across Africa, closely pursued by those who wish to kill him. He eventually makes it to Cairo and meets up with Raina. The story moves towards a frightening and bloody climax involving the highest echelons of Egyptian political and military society.
Absolution is a great thriller but, as ever with Paul’s books, it is a great deal more. Paul is an environmental scientist and campaigner. He cares about the world in which we live, and what we do to it. The quality of air in Cairo, and the slums in which so many exist, are a cause of major concern. Thousands (if not millions) are headed for disease and early death. All this is well woven into the narrative, and we certainly don’t feel we are being preached at – but we are made aware of concerns that might not otherwise come to our attention. It is great way for a passionate man to educate us at the same time as he is entertaining us.
I absolutely recommend Absolution.
Absolution is the fourth in the Claymore Straker thriller series by Paul Hardisty. I enjoyed the first three immensely, and was really looking forward to the fourth. I was not in any way disappointed…
The book opens with Clay hiding in plain sight in Zanzibar. He fled there after his traumatic appearance at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa (the subject matter of Reconciliation for the Dead). Two mercenaries come to attack him, but he escapes with his life. At the same time his erstwhile girlfriend, Raina, gets a message to him. She is now married and living in Paris with her husband – a civil rights lawyer – and her son. They have been kidnapped and presumably murdered. She asks Clay to help track down the perpetrators. Raina’s and Clay’s stories proceed in parallel, in alternate chapters, throughout much of the book. Raina heads to Cairo where her husband was working on a high profile case before his disappearance. She fears for her life, and melts into the underbelly of the city’s slums. Clay makes an arduous and dangerous journey across Africa, closely pursued by those who wish to kill him. He eventually makes it to Cairo and meets up with Raina. The story moves towards a frightening and bloody climax involving the highest echelons of Egyptian political and military society.
Absolution is a great thriller but, as ever with Paul’s books, it is a great deal more. Paul is an environmental scientist and campaigner. He cares about the world in which we live, and what we do to it. The quality of air in Cairo, and the slums in which so many exist, are a cause of major concern. Thousands (if not millions) are headed for disease and early death. All this is well woven into the narrative, and we certainly don’t feel we are being preached at – but we are made aware of concerns that might not otherwise come to our attention. It is great way for a passionate man to educate us at the same time as he is entertaining us.
I absolutely recommend Absolution.
July 1, 2018
OMG…OMG….O-M-G – THIS book! The story is mainly set in 1997 S. Africa, though we do visit Paris and Egypt as well. Within the pages of this novel I came across loss, fear, helplessness, pain, a haunting past, an overwhelming sadness, survival, a fight for truth/justice, revelations, realisations, love & relationships, death, guilt, terrorism, a longing for peace and a desire for forgiveness.
This novel may have fictional characters, but the “story” it tells is real. Written in a way that the reader is immediately pulled into the time and place, all the emotions felt just overwhelm you. I absolutely adore Paul Hardisty’s writing style – unforgiving, real and raw but almost lyrical as the words are just beautifully strung together to get into the very heart of the reader. The narrative is phenomenal and I can hear the character’s voices as they speak. I find this series is equally plot and character driven and as shocked as I am about the events, I almost cheer Claymore and his companions in the hopes they can right the wrongs …even though I know they can’t. What was done was done. Damn! Paul Hardisty, I hope you know what an absolutely phenomenal writer you are!
I have to say that I was over the bloody moon to see Claymore Straker, Crowbar and Rania back together in Absolution, even though there was an overwhelming sadness within this novel – these characters just work so well together. Love, hate, friendship, betrayal -WOW – I was on the edge of my seat throughout! Straker is no stranger to trouble, it just finds him and unfortunately spreads like a contagious disease to anyone he knows or comes into contact with. Straker seems indestructible, but emotionally he is broken and my heart just goes out to him despite the things he does.
I adore Rania – passionate, strong but also quite vulnerable. This novel really brings out her character and feelings to the point of bursting! She needs to keep her wits about her, be strong when she feels so weak and turn a blind eye to things she may not always agree with. Can she do it?
Crowbar…YAY…Crowbar!! I LOVE him! The sheer joy on my face when he appeared on the page was indescribable! That a character alone can do this, should tell you how brilliant the author is! But..What the hell!? I can’t even say what I want to as I would spoil the story …just…what the hell!? 🤣
Absolution is defined as formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment. Did this happen? Is this the final time we’ll see Straker? Is there more story to be told … you’ll have to read this stunning piece of crime fiction to find out!
Would I recommend this book? Holy mother of the book-gods, ab-so-friggin-lutely I would! An addictive and intense story, with an hypnotic writing style that reels the reader in, this book is pure genius! Easily read as a stand-alone, I would however, urge everyone to read the whole series as it is simply stunning!
This novel may have fictional characters, but the “story” it tells is real. Written in a way that the reader is immediately pulled into the time and place, all the emotions felt just overwhelm you. I absolutely adore Paul Hardisty’s writing style – unforgiving, real and raw but almost lyrical as the words are just beautifully strung together to get into the very heart of the reader. The narrative is phenomenal and I can hear the character’s voices as they speak. I find this series is equally plot and character driven and as shocked as I am about the events, I almost cheer Claymore and his companions in the hopes they can right the wrongs …even though I know they can’t. What was done was done. Damn! Paul Hardisty, I hope you know what an absolutely phenomenal writer you are!
I have to say that I was over the bloody moon to see Claymore Straker, Crowbar and Rania back together in Absolution, even though there was an overwhelming sadness within this novel – these characters just work so well together. Love, hate, friendship, betrayal -WOW – I was on the edge of my seat throughout! Straker is no stranger to trouble, it just finds him and unfortunately spreads like a contagious disease to anyone he knows or comes into contact with. Straker seems indestructible, but emotionally he is broken and my heart just goes out to him despite the things he does.
I adore Rania – passionate, strong but also quite vulnerable. This novel really brings out her character and feelings to the point of bursting! She needs to keep her wits about her, be strong when she feels so weak and turn a blind eye to things she may not always agree with. Can she do it?
Crowbar…YAY…Crowbar!! I LOVE him! The sheer joy on my face when he appeared on the page was indescribable! That a character alone can do this, should tell you how brilliant the author is! But..What the hell!? I can’t even say what I want to as I would spoil the story …just…what the hell!? 🤣
Absolution is defined as formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment. Did this happen? Is this the final time we’ll see Straker? Is there more story to be told … you’ll have to read this stunning piece of crime fiction to find out!
Would I recommend this book? Holy mother of the book-gods, ab-so-friggin-lutely I would! An addictive and intense story, with an hypnotic writing style that reels the reader in, this book is pure genius! Easily read as a stand-alone, I would however, urge everyone to read the whole series as it is simply stunning!
May 4, 2018
'Of course it was the ultimate indulgence. Friends, lovers, family, people you cared for. They tied you down, kept you dependent, made you vulnerable. And worse, they paid for their friendship with vulnerability. When someone wants to hurt you, they target those you love most.’
Claymore Straker is back in Absolution, Book 4 in the series from Paul E Hardisty. Published by Orenda Books, these books are described as ‘gripping, page-turning and socially-conscious’
Now in solitude near an island off the coast of Zanzibar on the African coast, Claymore is recuperating and regaining his strength. But not for long…..
Snorkeling off the coast of Africa with his boat Flame tied down and anchored off-shore, Clay (Claymore) Straker is slowly rebuilding his strength after leaving South Africa following some very traumatic events. He is living a relatively stress-free existence and has made close friends with a local family, a mother and her two small children. But for Clay, life is about to get very difficult.
After his swift departure from South Africa, following on from his testimony at Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Clay has made many enemies, lots of enemies. He has witnessed many brutal attacks and has been a victim himself. He is always on guard and aware of his surrounding, covering his steps as best he can but on 26th October 1997, his sanctuary is no more. They find him…….but who are they? And who are they working for? Clay is forced to witness the attack and heinous murder of his friends, leaving him back on the run and fighting for his life and those closest to him.
Meanwhile, his former lover and friend Rania LaTour is settled and married in Paris with a young son. Clay and Rania have a tumultuous history but there is an invisible thread that binds them forever across continents and time. As Clay is struggling to understand who is trying to kill him and why, Rania’s husband and son go missing. Rania is distracted and is concerned that her controversial journalism is in some way responsible for their disappearance. As Rania soon discovers all is not as it seems, as a trail leads her on a very dangerous mission to Egypt where she will unravel the truth…
(Note – Rania’s complete story is told italicised, in diary format, as she writes down her private concerns and thoughts to Clay. My preference would have been for Rania’s story to run in parallel, but not as a diary entry. This is just my own personal observation. I am sure that for many others this will not be the case!)
The turbulent journeys of Clay and Rania lead them both to Egypt, at a time when the country is in turmoil and where terrorism against Western tourists in on the increase. Paul E Hardisty’s books, though fiction, are all wrapped around true events. He brings his readers on a journey through real moments that are forever carved into the history books of our society. Due to his work, the author has been exposed to many dangerous situations where his own life was at times at risk. No stranger to the African continent, he writes with knowledge and experience and this shines through in his writing.
Claymore Straker is a vigilante. He travels alone and most times he works alone. His experiences have thought him never to leave his guard down. His one weakness…Rania.
Absolution takes the reader on a fast-paced explosive journey through the African continent. There are many brutal scenes of violence and death, unnecessary bloodshed, in a society hell-bent on imploding and destroying itself. Yet there is also strength of character, humanity and the will to step above all this chaos and show a hand of friendship and humility.
Absolution recounts one of the many terrifying acts of terrorism on innocent people we have witnessed in recent times. This and other acts of violence are depicted in the novel with shocking clarity, as Clay Straker continues on his path to uncover the truth and expose what is rotten in a society that is hungry for power and money.
Claymore Straker is back in Absolution, Book 4 in the series from Paul E Hardisty. Published by Orenda Books, these books are described as ‘gripping, page-turning and socially-conscious’
Now in solitude near an island off the coast of Zanzibar on the African coast, Claymore is recuperating and regaining his strength. But not for long…..
Snorkeling off the coast of Africa with his boat Flame tied down and anchored off-shore, Clay (Claymore) Straker is slowly rebuilding his strength after leaving South Africa following some very traumatic events. He is living a relatively stress-free existence and has made close friends with a local family, a mother and her two small children. But for Clay, life is about to get very difficult.
After his swift departure from South Africa, following on from his testimony at Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Clay has made many enemies, lots of enemies. He has witnessed many brutal attacks and has been a victim himself. He is always on guard and aware of his surrounding, covering his steps as best he can but on 26th October 1997, his sanctuary is no more. They find him…….but who are they? And who are they working for? Clay is forced to witness the attack and heinous murder of his friends, leaving him back on the run and fighting for his life and those closest to him.
Meanwhile, his former lover and friend Rania LaTour is settled and married in Paris with a young son. Clay and Rania have a tumultuous history but there is an invisible thread that binds them forever across continents and time. As Clay is struggling to understand who is trying to kill him and why, Rania’s husband and son go missing. Rania is distracted and is concerned that her controversial journalism is in some way responsible for their disappearance. As Rania soon discovers all is not as it seems, as a trail leads her on a very dangerous mission to Egypt where she will unravel the truth…
(Note – Rania’s complete story is told italicised, in diary format, as she writes down her private concerns and thoughts to Clay. My preference would have been for Rania’s story to run in parallel, but not as a diary entry. This is just my own personal observation. I am sure that for many others this will not be the case!)
The turbulent journeys of Clay and Rania lead them both to Egypt, at a time when the country is in turmoil and where terrorism against Western tourists in on the increase. Paul E Hardisty’s books, though fiction, are all wrapped around true events. He brings his readers on a journey through real moments that are forever carved into the history books of our society. Due to his work, the author has been exposed to many dangerous situations where his own life was at times at risk. No stranger to the African continent, he writes with knowledge and experience and this shines through in his writing.
Claymore Straker is a vigilante. He travels alone and most times he works alone. His experiences have thought him never to leave his guard down. His one weakness…Rania.
Absolution takes the reader on a fast-paced explosive journey through the African continent. There are many brutal scenes of violence and death, unnecessary bloodshed, in a society hell-bent on imploding and destroying itself. Yet there is also strength of character, humanity and the will to step above all this chaos and show a hand of friendship and humility.
Absolution recounts one of the many terrifying acts of terrorism on innocent people we have witnessed in recent times. This and other acts of violence are depicted in the novel with shocking clarity, as Clay Straker continues on his path to uncover the truth and expose what is rotten in a society that is hungry for power and money.
May 10, 2018
I have only read one other book in this series and both have been brilliantly written. From opening the first page it brought an emotional response from me. One of sheer helplessness . This story is set in 1997 but I say story in a light manner as these are real events and ok the characters are fictional but the back drop of what happens isn’t. You will wish it was made up because there is cruelty that you really don’t want to think of as being possibly caused by humans.
Claymore Straker was not only building his physical strength back up after his last encounter from the atrocities in South Africa but also his mental well-being. Clay isn’t really a man that lets his guard down very often but he did have more than a soft spot for journalist Rania LaTour. The people who matter to them are now paying a high price for them standing up for justice in the past.
This is an emotional draining story that gives hope in one hand and then takes it away with the other, while making you doubt the sanity of Rania. Rania’s part in the story is told through a diary, which does have a frankness about her true feelings from the past to present day. While Clay is solidly set in present day time in 1997.
The journey for justice and the truth leads them both to Egypt where terrorism is thriving and it becomes a race against the clock if anything can possibly be salvaged from this mixed up tragedy. A very gripping story with a high cost on human life. This is a hard fact story where nothing is held back, the emotional impact is very personal.
I wish to thank Anne Cater and Orenda Books for a copy of this book which I have honestly reviewed.
Claymore Straker was not only building his physical strength back up after his last encounter from the atrocities in South Africa but also his mental well-being. Clay isn’t really a man that lets his guard down very often but he did have more than a soft spot for journalist Rania LaTour. The people who matter to them are now paying a high price for them standing up for justice in the past.
This is an emotional draining story that gives hope in one hand and then takes it away with the other, while making you doubt the sanity of Rania. Rania’s part in the story is told through a diary, which does have a frankness about her true feelings from the past to present day. While Clay is solidly set in present day time in 1997.
The journey for justice and the truth leads them both to Egypt where terrorism is thriving and it becomes a race against the clock if anything can possibly be salvaged from this mixed up tragedy. A very gripping story with a high cost on human life. This is a hard fact story where nothing is held back, the emotional impact is very personal.
I wish to thank Anne Cater and Orenda Books for a copy of this book which I have honestly reviewed.
May 7, 2018
Absolution is the fourth and final book in this series and the third that I have read. After reading this book I would strongly advise that you read them in order.
It takes place in 1997 and the first thing that comes to mind is that in some parts of the world nothing has changed since then. These are areas where people live in horrendous conditions, in fear of disease, terrorism and people in power. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a novel that was set twenty years ago.
There are two narrators, Rania’s story is told via a diary. Clay is taking you through events as they happen. Some of their tales overlap and you realise how desperate they are to find and help each other.
At times, I found it a bit confusing, I don’t have much knowledge of either African or Egyptian politics and groups but the writing is so gripping I found it didn’t matter. The author made it all very believable, shocking and at times upsetting.
There are many bad people in the novel but there are also some who stand out for their bravery and kindness. These are the people who I will think about occasionally for a while.
A fascinating conclusion to a great series.
It takes place in 1997 and the first thing that comes to mind is that in some parts of the world nothing has changed since then. These are areas where people live in horrendous conditions, in fear of disease, terrorism and people in power. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a novel that was set twenty years ago.
There are two narrators, Rania’s story is told via a diary. Clay is taking you through events as they happen. Some of their tales overlap and you realise how desperate they are to find and help each other.
At times, I found it a bit confusing, I don’t have much knowledge of either African or Egyptian politics and groups but the writing is so gripping I found it didn’t matter. The author made it all very believable, shocking and at times upsetting.
There are many bad people in the novel but there are also some who stand out for their bravery and kindness. These are the people who I will think about occasionally for a while.
A fascinating conclusion to a great series.
May 25, 2018
Absolution is an ecothriller set against a backdrop of social and political upheaval. It's passionate, powerful and fiery - with author Paul E. Hardisty's own passions shining through the pages, in his vivid descriptions, taut writing and complex plot.
This book took me on an emotional journey, with heartbreak from the start. Claymore Straker in East Africa witnesses the murder of a family close to him, while in Paris his former lover, journalist Rania LaTour, discovers her husband and young son have gone missing. Both Clay and Rania search for the truth, with their paths eventually converging in Cairo, Egypt, leading them to uncover a terrifying act of terrorism in a race against the clock.
Every book in the Clay Straker series provides a different reading experience (this book is the fourth one) - with each book being just as satisfying and beautifully written as the previous one. Certainly, for me, this is the most emotionally charged book in the series so far. I do think that you need to read all of the books in order (and I would recommend you do so anyway, as they're all fantastic) to get to know the main characters and understand their personal stories - together, as well as when they're apart.
Most chapters focus on Clay's search for the murderers, but there are some particularly emotional chapters from Rania, in the form of letters written to Clay. She knows he's very unlikely to ever read these letters, but he's the only person in her head as her world is falling apart, and she pours her heart and soul into every word.
Paul E. Hardisty's action thrillers are very real and authentic. They are fast paced and gripping, filled not only with action scenes but also some reflective moments. They are graphic in places, violent too - but nothing that isn't essential for the plot. This book literally took my breath away. I read it in two intense sittings, glued to the pages - nervous about what lay ahead for Clay and Rania, but also unable to tear myself away.
The Claymore Straker series is impactful and thought-provoking, highlighting the damage humans can do, not only to each other but also to the planet. I always feel that I have learnt something by the end of each one - and look at the world through slightly different eyes.
This book took me on an emotional journey, with heartbreak from the start. Claymore Straker in East Africa witnesses the murder of a family close to him, while in Paris his former lover, journalist Rania LaTour, discovers her husband and young son have gone missing. Both Clay and Rania search for the truth, with their paths eventually converging in Cairo, Egypt, leading them to uncover a terrifying act of terrorism in a race against the clock.
Every book in the Clay Straker series provides a different reading experience (this book is the fourth one) - with each book being just as satisfying and beautifully written as the previous one. Certainly, for me, this is the most emotionally charged book in the series so far. I do think that you need to read all of the books in order (and I would recommend you do so anyway, as they're all fantastic) to get to know the main characters and understand their personal stories - together, as well as when they're apart.
Most chapters focus on Clay's search for the murderers, but there are some particularly emotional chapters from Rania, in the form of letters written to Clay. She knows he's very unlikely to ever read these letters, but he's the only person in her head as her world is falling apart, and she pours her heart and soul into every word.
Paul E. Hardisty's action thrillers are very real and authentic. They are fast paced and gripping, filled not only with action scenes but also some reflective moments. They are graphic in places, violent too - but nothing that isn't essential for the plot. This book literally took my breath away. I read it in two intense sittings, glued to the pages - nervous about what lay ahead for Clay and Rania, but also unable to tear myself away.
The Claymore Straker series is impactful and thought-provoking, highlighting the damage humans can do, not only to each other but also to the planet. I always feel that I have learnt something by the end of each one - and look at the world through slightly different eyes.
May 9, 2018
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This book was really enjoyable, I loved the plot and pace was spot on!
The characters are great and I thought it was a great thriller that was really gripping in all the right places and I sat and thought about the story long after I had finished it - always the sign of an excellent book for me!!
This is the fourth book in the series (and the final one) and whilst I would say that this can be read as a stand alone, if you do get the opportunity to read the series in order you will get more out of the books.
4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended!!
This book was really enjoyable, I loved the plot and pace was spot on!
The characters are great and I thought it was a great thriller that was really gripping in all the right places and I sat and thought about the story long after I had finished it - always the sign of an excellent book for me!!
This is the fourth book in the series (and the final one) and whilst I would say that this can be read as a stand alone, if you do get the opportunity to read the series in order you will get more out of the books.
4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - very highly recommended!!
May 31, 2018
It's been a while since I was last acquainted with the dynamic and dangerous Claymore Straker and oh my goodness, it seems so much has happened to him, near him and because of him in the meantime! But then this is Claymore Straker we're talking about here and he's no ordinary man. The reader only has to wait until a mere 4% into the book before the action starts and oh boy, it is a shocker! But then I would expect nothing less from the pen of this highly descriptive and thoroughly accomplished author. One of the things I always enjoy about Paul E. Hardisty's Straker books is that they are intelligent, well-researched works which the reader can sit back and immerse themselves in. As you're reading you feel that you're in safe, knowledgeable hands which only adds to the reading experience.
Chapters alternate between letters from Straker's lover, Rania and life as it happens to Straker. The chapters which narrate Claymore's journey are high-octane, thrill rides which leave you wondering what could possibly go wrong next. Will Claymore survive the next gun-toting militant he has the unfortunate pleasure of stumbling upon? Well, you'll have to read the book for yourself and find out.
I loved the letters from Rania. Early on the reader discovers that Rania never intends on sending the letters to Claymore, which makes them all the more candid. A fascinating glimpse into the mind of a modern Muslim woman, and how her strong belief system supports her through difficult times, and occasionally takes her life in a direction she would rather it not go. I really felt for Rania on many levels. But above all else, her character appealed to me because I always like a kick-ass female character.
Would I recommend this book? If you're a fan of the thriller novel then yes, absolutely! You must read this book, along with the others in the series. As far as thrillers go, this is the most detailed, intelligent and captivating series out there with a heck of a lot of heart added for good measure!
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Absolution. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Chapters alternate between letters from Straker's lover, Rania and life as it happens to Straker. The chapters which narrate Claymore's journey are high-octane, thrill rides which leave you wondering what could possibly go wrong next. Will Claymore survive the next gun-toting militant he has the unfortunate pleasure of stumbling upon? Well, you'll have to read the book for yourself and find out.
I loved the letters from Rania. Early on the reader discovers that Rania never intends on sending the letters to Claymore, which makes them all the more candid. A fascinating glimpse into the mind of a modern Muslim woman, and how her strong belief system supports her through difficult times, and occasionally takes her life in a direction she would rather it not go. I really felt for Rania on many levels. But above all else, her character appealed to me because I always like a kick-ass female character.
Would I recommend this book? If you're a fan of the thriller novel then yes, absolutely! You must read this book, along with the others in the series. As far as thrillers go, this is the most detailed, intelligent and captivating series out there with a heck of a lot of heart added for good measure!
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Absolution. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 16, 2018
It’s 1997, months since Claymore Straker’s testimony at South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Clay’s taking time out on an island off the coast of Zanzibar, as Paul E. Hardisty’s new novel, Absolution, opens. He’s emotionally and physically compromised and he’s retreated to this remote idyll to snorkel and regroup. But nowhere in the world is that isolated and even here, reality intrudes – in the form of contract killers who murder members of the local family he’s befriended, as he watches, powerless to stop them.
In Paris, Clay’s ex-lover, journalist Rania LaTour, isn’t fairing much better. Now married to a human rights lawyer with whom she has a child, Rania returns home to find them both missing. As she struggles to work out what has happened to them, the events off the coast of East Africa begin to unfold.
In this, the fourth outing for Straker, Hardisty takes us from remote African islands and European cities to Egypt, where Clay and Rania cross paths, all the way meticulously laying the foundation for the story.
As with the earlier novels, Absolution is action-packed from beginning to end. The plot is split between Rania’s almost lyrically written diary entries – addressed to Clay, and full of truths that she will never tell him – and the narrative which follows Clay, the events almost mirroring each other in terms of time frame.
Rania’s dream-like entries provide a shocking contrast to the detached brutality that often infuses Clay’s narrative, turning Absolution into more than just a good thriller. Hardisty’s writing, characterisation and beautifully etched locations bring to mind old school writers like Ludlum, Forsyth and le Carré, whose plots centred on important events or periods in history, making them accessible to readers through tight plot lines and frankly, just really great writing.
In addition, Absolution is extremely filmic – it's topical and very location-led – and if it hasn’t already been optioned, mark my words, it soon will be.
For the full review see: http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...
This review was published as part of the Orenda book tour. Thank you to the publisher for providing us with a review copy. All opinions are our own.
In Paris, Clay’s ex-lover, journalist Rania LaTour, isn’t fairing much better. Now married to a human rights lawyer with whom she has a child, Rania returns home to find them both missing. As she struggles to work out what has happened to them, the events off the coast of East Africa begin to unfold.
In this, the fourth outing for Straker, Hardisty takes us from remote African islands and European cities to Egypt, where Clay and Rania cross paths, all the way meticulously laying the foundation for the story.
As with the earlier novels, Absolution is action-packed from beginning to end. The plot is split between Rania’s almost lyrically written diary entries – addressed to Clay, and full of truths that she will never tell him – and the narrative which follows Clay, the events almost mirroring each other in terms of time frame.
Rania’s dream-like entries provide a shocking contrast to the detached brutality that often infuses Clay’s narrative, turning Absolution into more than just a good thriller. Hardisty’s writing, characterisation and beautifully etched locations bring to mind old school writers like Ludlum, Forsyth and le Carré, whose plots centred on important events or periods in history, making them accessible to readers through tight plot lines and frankly, just really great writing.
In addition, Absolution is extremely filmic – it's topical and very location-led – and if it hasn’t already been optioned, mark my words, it soon will be.
For the full review see: http://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/read...
This review was published as part of the Orenda book tour. Thank you to the publisher for providing us with a review copy. All opinions are our own.
May 19, 2018
This is a fast-paced, full of action, vivid and beautifully written. It’s book four in the Clayton Straker series, I haven’t read the previous novels but this one could be read as a stand-alone. Personally, I feel I have missed out by diving straight into book four, I think I would have gotten a lot more out of the story and enjoyed it a lot more if I’d read the others.
The book switches between Clay’s story and Rania’s story, Rania’s being told to us through diary extracts. I liked this change of narrator, both sides of the story are equally gripping but I did particularly like hearing from Rania. Both Clay and Rania have seen tragedy, and the book opens with dramatic events in both of their lives. I do love a book that has an explosive opening and ‘Absolution’ certainly delivers on that!
The exotic setting of the book is another big tick for me. I have a weakness for books that take me to new places and ‘Absolution’ has taken me to East Africa, Paris and Egypt. Paul E. Hardisty has brought these places to life with his writing. The descriptions are vivid, stunning and beautifully written. I like that such an action-packed, violent thriller can have lines so beautiful it’s like reading poetry, Paul E. Hardisty has a very skilful pen!
A thriller full of emotion and heart, jammed packed with thrills and exhilarating to read.
The book switches between Clay’s story and Rania’s story, Rania’s being told to us through diary extracts. I liked this change of narrator, both sides of the story are equally gripping but I did particularly like hearing from Rania. Both Clay and Rania have seen tragedy, and the book opens with dramatic events in both of their lives. I do love a book that has an explosive opening and ‘Absolution’ certainly delivers on that!
The exotic setting of the book is another big tick for me. I have a weakness for books that take me to new places and ‘Absolution’ has taken me to East Africa, Paris and Egypt. Paul E. Hardisty has brought these places to life with his writing. The descriptions are vivid, stunning and beautifully written. I like that such an action-packed, violent thriller can have lines so beautiful it’s like reading poetry, Paul E. Hardisty has a very skilful pen!
A thriller full of emotion and heart, jammed packed with thrills and exhilarating to read.
May 30, 2018
Reconciliation for the Dead, the third book in the Claymore Straker series was one of my favourite books of 2017 and so I've been desperate to read Absolution for months. There was a time when I foolishly believed that action thrillers weren't for me but then I read Paul E Hardisty's debut, The Abrupt Physics of Dying and realised just what I'd been missing. In Claymore Straker, Hardisty has created one of the most complex and engaging protagonists I have ever had the pleasure to read. Although it is perfectly possible to enjoy this novel as a standalone I strongly recommend that you read the books in order to fully appreciate this beautifully and meticulously crafted series. Absolution is set eight months on from Reconciliation for the Dead when Straker gave evidence to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Having fled his homeland South Africa, Clay has been living on his boat, moored off the coast of Zanzibar but as always trouble is never far away and his briefly peaceful existence is shattered once more when men sent to deliver him a message brutally murder the woman he has been sleeping with, and her young son. Determined to exact revenge he sets off to discover the truth about his pursuers. Meanwhile, Rania LaTour - the woman Straker is unable to emotionally detach from, despite their complicated and traumatic history - is in Paris and is also in desperate trouble as she finds herself the main suspect when her husband and son disappear. Her husband is a human rights lawyer who has handled some sensitive and potentially risky cases and she suspects his disappearance is linked to his work. Her investigation takes her to Egypt but she soon learns her life is under serious threat and she sends a desperate plea to Straker. He embarks on a dangerous journey across East Africa, determined to reunite with her, though filled with foreboding as to what further damage their destructive pairing will wreak on both themselves and those around them.
Though their previous investigations and exposés continue to impact upon their lives, the dangerous political climate in Egypt also puts them at terrible risk, particularly when terrorism against Western tourists in on the increase. The story switches between the third person narrative following Clay's story with italicised diary entries written by Rania in which she discloses her love for Straker and the resulting fear and guilt she experiences as a result of her desire for him. Claymore, too is torn by his natural inclination to work alone and his need to be with the one woman he could ever love. The juxtaposition between their two perspectives brings into sharp relief their similarities and differences and how their shared experiences underpin both their lives - damaged as they may be.
Absolution is a fast-paced, tense and brutal conspiracy thriller in which the protagonists and readers will come to doubt who exactly can be trusted as avarice, self-preservation and fear dictate decisions made at every level. It is also a thought-provoking, poignant look at the long-term effects of violence, recognising that emotional responses to dangerous situations will frequently supersede what may have been the moral choice and that the resulting mental torment will remain with, and shape a person long after the event has taken place. Claymore Straker lives in a world most of us will only ever read about or watch on our screens and yet it is the violent reality for huge swathes of the population; people whose lives have been devastated by war; whose children are irreparably damaged by pollution; who live in fear of the political regimes that control their lives; who challenge the authorities though it will mean great personal risk; who are forced to eke out a poverty stricken existence knowing there is very little real hope of change. Paul E. Hardisty writes about these themes with a searing, breathtaking honesty and through Claymore, Rania and the other characters in the book, humanises the savage reality of lives lived on the edge. Throughout this series, Hardisty has woven real-life historical events with the fictional plot and in doing so has created a powerfully contemporary story which should remind readers of the perilous state we find ourselves in. Though never moralising, he uses his own experiences and knowledge to point out that the damage we are inflicting on the planet - and the concomitant inequality which means the world's eight richest men control as much wealth as the poorest thirty percent - cannot be sustained and our societies will implode unless we take action soon. Despite this passionate warning, there is still a sense of hope about Absolution as it recognises too the small acts of kindness and humility and the moments of forgiveness which mean that even when belief in a higher power may falter, some semblance of faith can remain. Love may not be more powerful than hate but it creates its own strength. Physical wounds may heal more quickly than the mental scars but perhaps absolution is possible and will bring with it the knowledge that life is fleeting and should be embraced and not escaped.
The compelling action in Absolution is complemented by writing of the absolutely highest calibre throughout. Paul E. Hardisty has created an unforgettable story which touched me deeply and though I finished the book with the tears pouring down my face, I was left feeling inordinately satisfied and privileged to have read this wonderful conclusion and indeed the whole magnificent series.
Though their previous investigations and exposés continue to impact upon their lives, the dangerous political climate in Egypt also puts them at terrible risk, particularly when terrorism against Western tourists in on the increase. The story switches between the third person narrative following Clay's story with italicised diary entries written by Rania in which she discloses her love for Straker and the resulting fear and guilt she experiences as a result of her desire for him. Claymore, too is torn by his natural inclination to work alone and his need to be with the one woman he could ever love. The juxtaposition between their two perspectives brings into sharp relief their similarities and differences and how their shared experiences underpin both their lives - damaged as they may be.
Absolution is a fast-paced, tense and brutal conspiracy thriller in which the protagonists and readers will come to doubt who exactly can be trusted as avarice, self-preservation and fear dictate decisions made at every level. It is also a thought-provoking, poignant look at the long-term effects of violence, recognising that emotional responses to dangerous situations will frequently supersede what may have been the moral choice and that the resulting mental torment will remain with, and shape a person long after the event has taken place. Claymore Straker lives in a world most of us will only ever read about or watch on our screens and yet it is the violent reality for huge swathes of the population; people whose lives have been devastated by war; whose children are irreparably damaged by pollution; who live in fear of the political regimes that control their lives; who challenge the authorities though it will mean great personal risk; who are forced to eke out a poverty stricken existence knowing there is very little real hope of change. Paul E. Hardisty writes about these themes with a searing, breathtaking honesty and through Claymore, Rania and the other characters in the book, humanises the savage reality of lives lived on the edge. Throughout this series, Hardisty has woven real-life historical events with the fictional plot and in doing so has created a powerfully contemporary story which should remind readers of the perilous state we find ourselves in. Though never moralising, he uses his own experiences and knowledge to point out that the damage we are inflicting on the planet - and the concomitant inequality which means the world's eight richest men control as much wealth as the poorest thirty percent - cannot be sustained and our societies will implode unless we take action soon. Despite this passionate warning, there is still a sense of hope about Absolution as it recognises too the small acts of kindness and humility and the moments of forgiveness which mean that even when belief in a higher power may falter, some semblance of faith can remain. Love may not be more powerful than hate but it creates its own strength. Physical wounds may heal more quickly than the mental scars but perhaps absolution is possible and will bring with it the knowledge that life is fleeting and should be embraced and not escaped.
The compelling action in Absolution is complemented by writing of the absolutely highest calibre throughout. Paul E. Hardisty has created an unforgettable story which touched me deeply and though I finished the book with the tears pouring down my face, I was left feeling inordinately satisfied and privileged to have read this wonderful conclusion and indeed the whole magnificent series.
March 21, 2021
Absolution is the fourth book in the Claymore Straker series and probably my favourite one. After testifying to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission you would think that Straker would finally have fond some peace, unfortunately this is not the case and he had to disappear so that those who felt he had betrayed them could not find him. Very quickly we find that no matter how much he tries, he can’t stay hidden for long and those who he has let get close to him pay the price. On top of this Rania is now asking for his help after her own life is shattered once more.
There is an undeniable connection between Straker and Rania, but their past history may just be too big for both of them. This doesn’t stop Straker risking everything to help her when she asks him to, as he still feels some responsibility for her. Rania is still trying to bring justice to the world with her writing and she is far from a vulnerable woman, in fact she is quite the opposite. Fiercely independent and not afraid of getting into situations that may be dangerous, she does at times let her heart rule her head in order to get to the truth. In that respect they are very similar.
What I loved most about this book is that it has two elements to it, the action that Straker is involved in and the letters that Rania writes to him. These letters lay bare all of Rania’s fears and things she has had to endure in the time since she last saw Straker. They are what make her seem far more real and you hope that one way or another she will get the answers that she is looking for.
This series has caught me off guard in quite a big way. Its full of action, but at the heart of it there are characters that are totally flawed yet you can’t help but get caught up in their stories. The paths they take are never easy and are always fraught with danger. They have lost so much along the way, friends, family and even their freedom, yet there are also moments of calm and honesty that take you by surprise. Whilst they are fiction there are so many events that really did take place blended throughout that make these books stand out. I am going to miss Straker but I know that these books will stay with me for quite a while
There is an undeniable connection between Straker and Rania, but their past history may just be too big for both of them. This doesn’t stop Straker risking everything to help her when she asks him to, as he still feels some responsibility for her. Rania is still trying to bring justice to the world with her writing and she is far from a vulnerable woman, in fact she is quite the opposite. Fiercely independent and not afraid of getting into situations that may be dangerous, she does at times let her heart rule her head in order to get to the truth. In that respect they are very similar.
What I loved most about this book is that it has two elements to it, the action that Straker is involved in and the letters that Rania writes to him. These letters lay bare all of Rania’s fears and things she has had to endure in the time since she last saw Straker. They are what make her seem far more real and you hope that one way or another she will get the answers that she is looking for.
This series has caught me off guard in quite a big way. Its full of action, but at the heart of it there are characters that are totally flawed yet you can’t help but get caught up in their stories. The paths they take are never easy and are always fraught with danger. They have lost so much along the way, friends, family and even their freedom, yet there are also moments of calm and honesty that take you by surprise. Whilst they are fiction there are so many events that really did take place blended throughout that make these books stand out. I am going to miss Straker but I know that these books will stay with me for quite a while
July 26, 2018
Continuing adventures of Strayker – good stuff
This novel continues the story of Claymore Straker as his life unwinds after the events of Reconciliation for the Dead. A parallel tale about Rania also unfolds and the two come together eventually. It's one of those books where nobody can be trusted, betrayal lurks around every corner and the body count mounts up (I lost count!). With themes of exploitation, murder, abuse and terrorism, it doesn't hold back.
The action is relentless, harrowing and brutal and the reader is compelled to read on despite the horrific events, just to see how this turns out. The writing is imaginative and hopefully this is the last book in the series as it comes to a reasonably satisfying conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This novel continues the story of Claymore Straker as his life unwinds after the events of Reconciliation for the Dead. A parallel tale about Rania also unfolds and the two come together eventually. It's one of those books where nobody can be trusted, betrayal lurks around every corner and the body count mounts up (I lost count!). With themes of exploitation, murder, abuse and terrorism, it doesn't hold back.
The action is relentless, harrowing and brutal and the reader is compelled to read on despite the horrific events, just to see how this turns out. The writing is imaginative and hopefully this is the last book in the series as it comes to a reasonably satisfying conclusion.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
June 10, 2019
PACY ACTION THRILLER
Clay Straker and his ex, former secret agents, are drawn together once more when her new family go missing. In a tale spanning two continents, sometimes reading like a dysfunctional travelogue, the pair risk their lives to solve the mystery. Tension is high, the pace is fast and there's everything to play for in this well-written action thriller.
Clay Straker and his ex, former secret agents, are drawn together once more when her new family go missing. In a tale spanning two continents, sometimes reading like a dysfunctional travelogue, the pair risk their lives to solve the mystery. Tension is high, the pace is fast and there's everything to play for in this well-written action thriller.
April 22, 2025
Haunting, harrowing, heartbreaking and honest - this beautifully written quartet of books traces the trials of Claymore Straker and shines a seering light on
some of the great human traumas of recent decades from apartheid in South Africa to global terrrorism, economic exloitation to environmental destruction.
A great read and utterly thought-provoking.
some of the great human traumas of recent decades from apartheid in South Africa to global terrrorism, economic exloitation to environmental destruction.
A great read and utterly thought-provoking.
October 31, 2018
A fast paced, very well written action thriller.
I bought Absolution on a Friday at a book launch in Townsville and finished reading it on Sunday.
I really enjoyed the story, style and locations in Absolution.
Thanks Paul Hardisty for writing a great series.
I bought Absolution on a Friday at a book launch in Townsville and finished reading it on Sunday.
I really enjoyed the story, style and locations in Absolution.
Thanks Paul Hardisty for writing a great series.
October 19, 2018
It is really hard to put into words why I have enjoyed this series so much. On the face of it, this is a straight forward action thriller, good guys against bad - lone wolf against the might and power of the political and commercial machine. It has all the elements to keep hardcore action thriller fans happy, and yet it is so much more than that. To brand it that way would be to belie the heart and soul of what has been written.
We join Staker some months after he has fled South Africa having given testimony as to the atrocities he witnessed during the war to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Far from the forgiveness and freedom Straker had hoped to achieve, he is a man on the run, not just from the authorities but from the political and powerful business entities who would see him pay for his betrayal. Anyone he comes close to is potentially prey and Straker has to weigh up the cost of his own happiness over the risk to others. Meanwhile, Raina, the only woman he has ever come close to loving is finding her own world shattered as her family is taken from her. Her search for the truth will see the pair at long last reunited but at what cost?
In writing the Claymore Straker series, Paul Hardisty has managed to strike a beautiful balance between developing a story with a strong socio-political and environmental message and one which is entertaining and compelling, pulling the reader in and holding their attention from start to finish. It is so hard to explain it, but somehow he has managed to take the stark facts of a continent in turmoil, of conflicts which have spanned decades and prejudices which have grown and manifested in people from birth, and bring them to life on the page. Much of what is written is based in fact, in real events which have blighted many areas of Africa through the eighties and nineties, but Hardisty has given them a fresh spin, providing readers with a gripping story on which to focus, even as the truth lies barely concealed beneath. Some of the embellishments may be exactly that, but they are grounded in that harsh reality, a scary element of truth threaded into every page.
Claymore Straker is almost an anti-hero. He is far from faultless, and part of the beauty of his character lies in the blend of honour, duty and guilt he feels with every decision he makes, every death which comes either at his hand or as a result of his actions. He is flawed, truly flawed, damaged both physically and mentally, his scars running far deeper than those which are plainly visible. And yet he is one of the most compelling characters I have read in a long while. His physical and mental strength hides a certain kind of vulnerability which informs both his character and his decision making. He is most definitely blinded by his feelings for Raina, no matter how much he fears giving his heart to her, and this is never more evident than in this book. The road he travels is perilous and yet he does so willingly. Betrayed by those he trusts and finding allies in the most unlikely of places, Straker is someone I would willingly follow until the end of his journey.
But this book is not all about Straker. Raina has as much of a part to play in this tale as he does. Although a good portion of her story is told through journal entries as she writes a message to Straker that she fears he may never hear, you can feel her strength and determination grow with every page turn. She is not a weak willed person, one to whom dark things happen which she chooses to just accept. She is a force to be reckoned with and a symbol for the strong matriarch, a theme which is mirrored throughout much of the novel. In that respect, much of what has been written is a celebration of the power of the female spirit, the fortitude and guile of those who grace the pages as much as it is a straight forward action thriller.
The language used in this novel is quite beautiful, the imagery as evocative as it is often stark and shocking and used to brilliant effect throughout. It manages to convey a powerful message without appearing overly preaching in its execution. You will feel every strike as it hits home, each gradually escalating emotion pulled from the reader with every new paragraph. Moments of introspection blend seamlessly with heart thumping action, each one allowing the story to build to a final, shocking showdown set against a backdrop of devastating, and very real, loss. It really is quite something.
If you are looking for literature's answer to 'Guns and Ammo' style action, then this probably isn't the book for you. If you are looking for a beautifully crafted action thriller, strengthened by its ability to possess heart, mind and soul - well you've come to the right place. I'm only sad we have to say goodbye to Straker but I can't think of a better way to do it than this.
We join Staker some months after he has fled South Africa having given testimony as to the atrocities he witnessed during the war to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Far from the forgiveness and freedom Straker had hoped to achieve, he is a man on the run, not just from the authorities but from the political and powerful business entities who would see him pay for his betrayal. Anyone he comes close to is potentially prey and Straker has to weigh up the cost of his own happiness over the risk to others. Meanwhile, Raina, the only woman he has ever come close to loving is finding her own world shattered as her family is taken from her. Her search for the truth will see the pair at long last reunited but at what cost?
In writing the Claymore Straker series, Paul Hardisty has managed to strike a beautiful balance between developing a story with a strong socio-political and environmental message and one which is entertaining and compelling, pulling the reader in and holding their attention from start to finish. It is so hard to explain it, but somehow he has managed to take the stark facts of a continent in turmoil, of conflicts which have spanned decades and prejudices which have grown and manifested in people from birth, and bring them to life on the page. Much of what is written is based in fact, in real events which have blighted many areas of Africa through the eighties and nineties, but Hardisty has given them a fresh spin, providing readers with a gripping story on which to focus, even as the truth lies barely concealed beneath. Some of the embellishments may be exactly that, but they are grounded in that harsh reality, a scary element of truth threaded into every page.
Claymore Straker is almost an anti-hero. He is far from faultless, and part of the beauty of his character lies in the blend of honour, duty and guilt he feels with every decision he makes, every death which comes either at his hand or as a result of his actions. He is flawed, truly flawed, damaged both physically and mentally, his scars running far deeper than those which are plainly visible. And yet he is one of the most compelling characters I have read in a long while. His physical and mental strength hides a certain kind of vulnerability which informs both his character and his decision making. He is most definitely blinded by his feelings for Raina, no matter how much he fears giving his heart to her, and this is never more evident than in this book. The road he travels is perilous and yet he does so willingly. Betrayed by those he trusts and finding allies in the most unlikely of places, Straker is someone I would willingly follow until the end of his journey.
But this book is not all about Straker. Raina has as much of a part to play in this tale as he does. Although a good portion of her story is told through journal entries as she writes a message to Straker that she fears he may never hear, you can feel her strength and determination grow with every page turn. She is not a weak willed person, one to whom dark things happen which she chooses to just accept. She is a force to be reckoned with and a symbol for the strong matriarch, a theme which is mirrored throughout much of the novel. In that respect, much of what has been written is a celebration of the power of the female spirit, the fortitude and guile of those who grace the pages as much as it is a straight forward action thriller.
The language used in this novel is quite beautiful, the imagery as evocative as it is often stark and shocking and used to brilliant effect throughout. It manages to convey a powerful message without appearing overly preaching in its execution. You will feel every strike as it hits home, each gradually escalating emotion pulled from the reader with every new paragraph. Moments of introspection blend seamlessly with heart thumping action, each one allowing the story to build to a final, shocking showdown set against a backdrop of devastating, and very real, loss. It really is quite something.
If you are looking for literature's answer to 'Guns and Ammo' style action, then this probably isn't the book for you. If you are looking for a beautifully crafted action thriller, strengthened by its ability to possess heart, mind and soul - well you've come to the right place. I'm only sad we have to say goodbye to Straker but I can't think of a better way to do it than this.
September 13, 2018
So I just got back from vacation from Africa and Egypt. At least, that's how I feel after reading Paul E. Hardisty's book Absolution. I'm very late to the game on his books but that will be immediately corrected. I now own all his books and have four days set aside to read them.
There has to be a better way to describe his characters than just well drawn. They are so immediately 3D. In one page, you know a character's very soul. And this particularly applies to Raina. In this current political time, I like how we get to know a muslim woman and a little bit of muslim ways. It's always the unknown that scares people.
The storyline itself is violent and soft at the same time and I loved all of it. Lots of little explosions throughout with a big one at the end.
After reading Absolution, I must go back to the earlier books to know more about the characters. That said, the book does stand on its own. Highly recommend not just this book, but the author, too.
And I absolutely loved the Afrikaans glossary. Love learning while reading. Speaking of, read the historical notes at the end for more education on Egypt.
There has to be a better way to describe his characters than just well drawn. They are so immediately 3D. In one page, you know a character's very soul. And this particularly applies to Raina. In this current political time, I like how we get to know a muslim woman and a little bit of muslim ways. It's always the unknown that scares people.
The storyline itself is violent and soft at the same time and I loved all of it. Lots of little explosions throughout with a big one at the end.
After reading Absolution, I must go back to the earlier books to know more about the characters. That said, the book does stand on its own. Highly recommend not just this book, but the author, too.
And I absolutely loved the Afrikaans glossary. Love learning while reading. Speaking of, read the historical notes at the end for more education on Egypt.
May 14, 2022
Started at boo( 4
I liked the style of this book, the plot, the history, that vocabulary; and the characters. I found it hard to put down. Exciting, well written and not too graphical.
I liked the style of this book, the plot, the history, that vocabulary; and the characters. I found it hard to put down. Exciting, well written and not too graphical.
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