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Shadow

(Marc Dane #4)

James Swallow (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 703 ratings · 44 reviews

Things are about to go viral in Marc Dane's most dangerous adventure yet . . .

Marc and his partner - former US Delta Force sniper Lucy Keyes - are pitted against their most terrifying challenge yet, when a genius bio-researcher with the ability to create a deadly biological weapon is kidnapped by a ruthless terrorist.

Their desperate search for the missing scientist takes ...more

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Published May 30th 2019 by Zaffre

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· 703 ratings · 44 reviews

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May 03, 2020 Mark rated it it was amazing

If you like Marc Dane’s adventures then you will enjoy this the 4th book in the series ( Book 5 is due for release end May this year ), this can be read as a stand alone, just, personally though I think it is best read as part and parcel of the series
I loved the first 2 and didnt really engage with Book 3 ( found it very tekkie ) but for me Shadow is back on form
You can only praise the detail that the author goes into with his stories, every page is packed with it,most of it fascinating but it ...more

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May 29, 2019 Lou rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shadow marks the return of Marc Dane in the fourth instalment in the series, and we are treated to yet another high-stakes game of cat and mouse where there is never a dull moment and the action just keeps coming. MI6 agent Marc Dane, a computer expert who received an unexpected promotion to active field operative, experiences trial by fire in espionage on every mission he is now put forward for. In a thriller that spans several rich, vivid locations we readers are met with a pacey, race-against ...more

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Nov 08, 2020 Stephen Clynes rated it really liked it

Shadow is the fourth book in the Marc Dane series but can be read as a stand-alone. This time Marc Dane and his workmate Lucy Keyes are on the quest to stop a bioweapon being deployed by a far right extremist political group.

Shadow follows on from the other books in this series and is more of the same. More bad guys, more guns and slaughter plus the continuity of previous characters from earlier novels. Having read each book in the series things are all sounding quite familiar. Even with a gap b ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Nick Brett rated it really liked it

Book number four in James Swallow’s Marc Dane adventure series. Dane is a Brit with a British Intelligence background as a tech guy, but with some career changes he now works for the off the books organisation Rubicon. And he has trained up to operator level, getting into the action with his partner Lucy.
In this, while Rubicon is under internal investigation the team are chasing down a bio-weapon and having to do so without their usual level of support.
I thought this was the best of the novels t ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Daniel Kincaid rated it really liked it

Pure hate can lead people to unleash horrible, unspeakable horrors.
That's what Noah Verbeke, the leader of The Lion's Roar, a far-right extremist group, wants to do. He sees every foreigner, refugee, anyone who isn't white, as menace, a disease that needs to be eradicated. He even considers white people who help these people as "Race Traitors". His plan is to unleash a dangerous bio-engineered variant of the Marburg virus, spreading it among those refugees and other "races", and he intends of u Pure hate can lead people to unleash horrible, unspeakable horrors.
That's what Noah Verbeke, the leader of The Lion's Roar, a far-right extremist group, wants to do. He sees every foreigner, refugee, anyone who isn't white, as menace, a disease that needs to be eradicated. He even considers white people who help these people as "Race Traitors". His plan is to unleash a dangerous bio-engineered variant of the Marburg virus, spreading it among those refugees and other "races", and he intends of using these "outbreaks" to cause distrust and hate among people as a prelude for a race wars. His ultimate plan: purging Europe of non-European and non-whites entirely.
When a scientist who has been working on the virus goes missing, Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes are on the case, especially when Lucy realizes that the scientist is someone she helped to defect from North Korea, who wanted nothing to do with this horrible virus. But Marc and Lucy find themselves in a hard place, as they're not only have to stop this diabolic plan to come to fruition, but they must do it almost completely on their own, as the Rubicon Group and its leader, Ekko Solomon, comes under investigation by his own partners about Marc and Lucy's operations.
And what the Combine has to do with this awful virus and the plan to spread it?!
And what is Pyotr Glovkonin's- the Russian oligarch, Marc's bitter enemy- ultimate plan? Does he rally wants to spread the virus, or does he have his own secret agenda?
Unbeknownst to Marc and Lucy, by stopping Verbeke and the Lion's Roar's plans, they may be paving the way to a new, deadlier threat....

The fourth in the Marc Dane/Rubicon series is another scorcher, that touches relevant issues and makes you ponder about how our world is looking today. Many threads started in previous entries are continued here as well, and while jumping into this book won't make you feel completely lost, you may want to start reading this series from the beginning to understand fully well everyone motivation and how things got this far.
Character development is, too, done to the nth degree as both Marc and Lucy start to accept their own volatile pasts with it's pain and suffering, but they also find new ways in trusting each other. They are wonderful partners, and while they won't agree on everything, they understand each other very well, and together they are a force to be reckon with.
Verkbeke will be a character you will LOVE to hate. He's ugly, inside and out, rotten to the core, a man who thrives on the suffering of others, filled with nothing but irrational, maddening, psychotic hate. There is a background to it, nothing is superficial about him, and James Swallow does a superb job getting into Verbeke's psyche, but still, you'd wanna put a few bullets in this man's rotten heart.

An edge-of-your-seat spy thriller that uses perfectly current events to weave a frightening tale, with lots of action- described fantastically, seriously- this could turn into a movie or a mini-series some day- three-dimensional characters and places that come alive from the pages.

Four and a half stars!
Recommended to the fans of the series, and fans of Ludlum, Clancy, Fleming and the like. ...more

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Dec 21, 2019 Michelle Ryles rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-read

I have wanted to read a James Swallow book for a while and as much as I don't like to jump into the middle of series, I decided to start with Shadow, which is book 4 of the Marc Dane series. I can say with conviction that you can most definitely read Shadow as a standalone thriller but I'm even more eager to read the previous books now as there is such an amazing dynamic between the main characters, Marc and Lucy.

Marc Dane is a former MI6 data guy who has been thrust into the action, and there i ...more

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Aug 28, 2019 Elite Group rated it it was amazing

Thrilling action with Dane and Keyes

Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes rescued the migrants from Libya in the sea near Italy. They were tasked with saving the scientist in Singapore. Keyes knew Susan Lam, is a North Korean defector who she rescued from the evil regime.

Susan Lam was not the real name when she was abducted from her home. Her husband and son were also kidnapped from their home. The kidnapper told her that he would order the killing of her family unless she made a new biological weapon to wip ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Vicky Hughes rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My favourite of the Marc Dane series so far. Great action, plenty of plot lines and enjoyable character development. A spy novel of the 80’s set in the present, brilliant!

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Dec 03, 2019 Amanda rated it really liked it

I have a little, well ok a huge, confession to make. Although I have all of the books in the Marc Dane series, I haven't actually read one of them...…..until now that is. Now I am a bit annoyed that I left it this long to read one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Shadow' but more about that in a bit.
I developed a bit of a soft spot for ex-MI6 agent Marc Dane, but then I like a dashing, masculine, rugged hero type who saves the world despite having used up more than the nine lives a cat would have. I have a little, well ok a huge, confession to make. Although I have all of the books in the Marc Dane series, I haven't actually read one of them...…..until now that is. Now I am a bit annoyed that I left it this long to read one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Shadow' but more about that in a bit.
I developed a bit of a soft spot for ex-MI6 agent Marc Dane, but then I like a dashing, masculine, rugged hero type who saves the world despite having used up more than the nine lives a cat would have. Dane reminded me a fair bit of James Bond although a lot more modern than Mr. Bond and certainly with different attitudes.
It took me a little while to get into this story but then I was tired when I started to read this book and it cannot be taken as a criticism of the author. Once I got used to a new writing style and the new sort of plot, that was it I was away and then I couldn't stop reading. I think that the plot allowed me to escape from boring daily life and into a world, which intrigues me but which also scares the crap out of me. (I did have aspirations of working for MI5 or MI6 once but then I realised that I failed on three counts- firstly, I wasn't willing to die for Queen and country, secondly I would stand out from the crowd given that I have ginger hair and thirdly, I can't keep my mouth shut). Anyway that's enough of my secret agent ambitions so back to the review I do go. For me, 'Shadow' was fast paced, it hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout.
'Shadow' is well written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. He certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and once he has your attention, he will not let it go until you read the last word on the last page. The author writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that I was an invisible bystander to events as they happened in the book. Some might say that the plot is a bit far fetched but I would disagree. For me, the plot is scarily believable.
Reading 'Shadow' felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with no idea in which direction the story was going to take you next. There were also several twists and turns to the story that I didn't see coming at all. On more than one occasion, I found myself having to almost read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next or what was waiting for me over the page.
In short and overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Shadow' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers, who enjoy an action/ espionage/ thriller type of read. I will definitely be reading more of James' work in the future, starting with the first two books in the Marc Dane series. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*. ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog rated it really liked it

This is the fourth in a series by James Swallow, however this is the first book that I have read by the Author, and I have taken this into consideration when reviewing.

If you are looking for a fast paced, action type of story that may remind you a bit of James bond or Jason Bourne in the type of story it is, then this is certainly one to consider! However I would recommend that you perhaps start from the beginning of the series.

The story DOES WORK as a stand alone book, it can be read and thorou This is the fourth in a series by James Swallow, however this is the first book that I have read by the Author, and I have taken this into consideration when reviewing.

If you are looking for a fast paced, action type of story that may remind you a bit of James bond or Jason Bourne in the type of story it is, then this is certainly one to consider! However I would recommend that you perhaps start from the beginning of the series.

The story DOES WORK as a stand alone book, it can be read and thoroughly enjoyed without previous books, but as you may expect from a series, there are nuances and things alluded to at times that I feel were perhaps best understood by reading the previous books. There is also the obvious slight disconnect in that you haven’t spent a few books getting to know your key players, and so there are at times things which the Author skims.

That being said, I didn’t feel as though I couldn’t follow the story, or that I didn’t get to know the characters. In fact I think the author has done a brilliant job of giving enough information for those mew to the books, whilst not overloading it for those who are already familiar with the Characters and their pasts. Certainly not easy to please everyone, but I think this author has done a terrific job of finding a middle ground.

The story is quite fast paced and it certainly keeps you gripped and wanting to know more! As I mentioned before, some of it is very bondesque purely because while you can imagine the scenarios, and they feel credible in the story, there is still that tiny bit of you that goes “well yeh, but only because he’s a character in a story”. Its the sort of thing you can follow and enjoy, but if you heard about such a person in reality you would be absolutely stunned that things had happened in such a way.

And yes, that paragraph is purposely vague, I don’t want to ruin anything for you!! Just imagine how much FUN Bond is, and then imagine if you heard someone saying THEY had done those things... and you can get my meaning. It’s believable, whilst also really not being.

There is a lot of tension, fast paced action, and a plot that keeps you wondering and on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and will CERTAINLY be diving into the first in the series the first chance I get! ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Leigh rated it really liked it

This is the fourth book in the Marc Dane action thriller series. It’s my first read of this series… although that really didn’t seem to matter at all.

This book doesn’t mess about, and you are hurtled into an action packed opening, swiftly moving between two high pressured and dangerous situations. It’s a relief (and great plotting) to calm down as we are introduced to people on a smuggler’s ship and the plot develops and deepens; it’s not long before the tension and action creeps back. I don’t r This is the fourth book in the Marc Dane action thriller series. It’s my first read of this series… although that really didn’t seem to matter at all.

This book doesn’t mess about, and you are hurtled into an action packed opening, swiftly moving between two high pressured and dangerous situations. It’s a relief (and great plotting) to calm down as we are introduced to people on a smuggler’s ship and the plot develops and deepens; it’s not long before the tension and action creeps back. I don’t read that many action thrillers, but I was drawn easily into the story. The central characters of the book series were introduced well and with enough background information to easily pick up who these people are and what has lead them to this point. Marc Dane, our lead and Ex-M16 officer, and Lucy Keyes, Ex Delta Force and now a private contractor with Dane, are brought into a kidnapping case and are soon off on a dangerous mission.

‘Shadow’ is an action thriller novel that is driven, well-researched with engaging lead characters that work aplenty to hook the reader into a dramatic plot of kidnapping, terrorism and mass destruction as a new threat is uncovered. Thank goodness Marc Dane has at least 9 lives; he’s literally leaping constantly into dangerous situations! Keyes is not much better, so they’re quite a pair. It’s one of those novels where you need to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ride. I had a great time reading this. Dane’s character make-up is along the lucky lines of characters like Bond, Bourne, Reacher and Ryan and it’s dramatic action fun. I think the difference here with some lighter reads, is the book is very well researched, I found it easy enough to pick up unfamiliar subject areas of the military, technology, digital and terrorism. The world building and descriptions of the landscapes were also really atmospheric and detailed. The scene on the Icelandic tundra made me turn my heating up!

If you are looking for an incredibly pacy, very well-written action thriller read, that is tense, full of drama with non-stop action moments – then join Marc Dane and Lucy Keyes in ‘Swallow’. ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 Michael Dodd rated it really liked it

The fourth instalment in Swallow’s Marc Dane series of contemporary thrillers, this offers up another powerfully topical slice of high-stakes drama packed full of action, excitement, great characters and credible threats. When a bio-scientist and her family are kidnapped in Singapore, Dane and partner Lucy Keyes are sent to investigate, and it quickly becomes clear that there’s more to her work – for the Rubicon Group, no less – than it first appears. Meanwhile the escape of a right-wing extremi ...more

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May 30, 2019 Gemma McGee rated it really liked it

Shadow is a mixture of Mission Impossible and Jack Ryan where the leading man Marc Dane is the tech guy pushed into the field in an impossible situation. Trying to save the world any means necessary.
Marc has changed a lot throughout the series, taking more and more risks. I think he has become a bit of a danger junkie, who justifies his action as he is trying to save people. I wonder how long Marc luck will last.

Shadow shows the current tension in Europe and this makes it feels like its ground i ...more

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Jul 10, 2019 Monsieurh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, owned

James Swallow has done it again and published another top-notch adventure thriller.
This is the fourth novel in the Marc Dane series of modern action thrillers. A bio-scientist is kidnapped in Singapore and Marc Dane and his partner Lucy Keyes are sent to investigate. Then the escape of a right-wing extremist from Belgian police custody immediately increases the level of danger with each new paragraph. It quickly becomes clear that there’s more to this kidnapping than what immediately appears. ...more

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Dec 09, 2019 Lel Budge rated it really liked it

#4 in the Mark Dane series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Mark Dane, ex-British intelligence and now working for a secretive organisation, Rubicon with his partner, Lucy.

When a Rubicon employee goes missing Dane is tasked with investigating and so the adventure begins.

There’s a terrorist they must find and stop with lots of action and intrigue.

Dane is a real action hero, but there is more to the tale than that. A clever and compelling plot, which feels all too plausible and makes this a ...more

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Sep 03, 2020 Jennie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, thriller, crime, adult, espionage

Another action packed thriller as Marc Dane manages to survive another series of mishaps, poor decisions and sheer bad luck as he and Lucy Keyes fall headlong into a series of dangerous situations as they hunt for the source of a deadly virus about to be loosed on the world. There are also some subplots with senior management (on both sides!)- that will no doubt bear fruit in forthcoming titles.
A great edge of the seat read that is let down a bit by the reader who does not pause for section brea ...more

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Jan 29, 2020 Nicolaas Bergman rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The goodies defeats the badies an old recipe its predictable thats in a nutshell. Yes but thats not the whole truth. The action the situation the goodies find them in the way the escape and defy death and how they do it thats thye exciting part its never a dull moment and if you are looking for that then you have found it.I enjoyed the book and looking forward to his new book even if i know the goodies always win in the end but you dont want it any other way.

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Aug 15, 2020 Callum Clement rated it really liked it

Move over Bond, your time is up! There's a new hero now and his name is Marc Dane.
This series by James Swallow just gets better and better with each book, of which this is the 4th.
A punchy, pithy, tech-savvy agent for the 21st Century, tackling 21st Century crimes to wit, cyber terrorism, nuclear theft and here, a vicious white supremacist group.
Can't wait for the next installment. ...more

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Jun 18, 2019 Anthony Wilson rated it really liked it

Another one knocked out of the park. I felt like this one was a really great story in itself however it also was a great set up to the next book.

Would highly recommend the Marc Dane series to everyone.

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Jan 02, 2020 Andy rated it really liked it

Shelves: jswallow

Fourth outing for ex-MI6 agent Marc Dane, and his fellow Rubicon agents. Another fast paced thriller unfolds as Marc finds himself in the midst of a racist terror groups plan to unleash a deadly virus. Exciting and gripping, overflowing with tension. A great read and worthy addition to the series.

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Jun 26, 2019 Juliane rated it it was ok · review of another edition

2.5 stars: it felt a little like filler just setting up the next book in the series - did not seem as strong a story as the previous ones

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Apr 06, 2019 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is an action adventure series book by James Swallow about Marc Dane who is a spy/ security consultant working for the organisation Rubicon which is trying to do good in the world.
Mark andhis partner, Ex soldier Lucy, are asked to investigate the disappearance of an employee of Rubicon and her family. She is a research scientist and has been working on a cure for cancer. Based in Singapore she was well on the way to a breakthrough when she disappeared. Fearing the worst Ekko Solomon the myst ...more

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Jun 02, 2019 Billie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A ruthless far-right terrorist is broken out of captivity
A mysterious bio-scientist with a terrible secret is abducted
A lethal contagion threatens millions of lives across Europe and the Middle East
Ex-MI6 officer Marc Dane faces a deadly challenge against all odds, to stop a devastating attack before a new kind of weapon is unleashed . . .

The fourth instalment in James Swallow’s Marc Dane series.
Fast paced and exciting it would appeal to all action thriller fans who enjoy a compelling and well p ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Becky rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller

Shadow is the fourth in the Marc Dane series, but it also stands alone, you don’t need to have read the other stories (although you should!!). This really feels like a modern James Bond story, with a hero in Marc Dane who has a clear set of skills and who has companions who clearly outclass him in some areas.

This is a really high paced thriller with a plot that has a good number of turns and Marc and Lucy pursue their targets whilst annoying the security services from multiple countries!! I real ...more

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Dec 27, 2019 Carrie rated it it was ok

I like the series, but did not really enjoy this book. The bad guy was horrible and too much time was spent wallowing in his hatred. The pace of the action scenes stretched credulity (ok, I know this is already unbelievable but come on). These people aren't super heroes and shouldn't bounce back like they are invincible. I will probably read the next installment as the premise foreshadowed in this book is interesting but honestly, I don't really want to if it follows the same pattern this one cu ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 Jay Dwight rated it liked it

3.5 stars

I've enjoyed the previous Marc Dane thrillers, and this is another energy packed instalment in the series. Again, the pace is frenetic as Dane and the Rubicon team are on the trail of a bio-scientist. There is a risk that a deadly virus has been created for use in bio-terrorism. ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Sean Lane rated it it was amazing

Another gripping read

I stumbled across James Swallow when waiting for Terry Hayes to bring out his new book. I'm glad I did. Loved every book so far. Shadow is no exception. Thrilling throughout. ...more

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Apr 16, 2020 Tim Dyer rated it it was amazing

Loved it, kept the flow from the the previous books on the series. Face paced, with a highly creditable modern day narrative. Certainly adds weight to the conspiracy theorists out there and the way the media can be exploited.

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Dec 30, 2020 Matthew Hickson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I've read all of the Marc Dane series and enjoyed each and every one. It's fast paced and action packed, a real page turner. Unlike some books in the same genre, it's not all about the gadgets, and neither are the central characters (Dane and partner Lucy Keynes) indestructible, which adds to the drama. ...more

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Jun 25, 2019 emma green rated it it was amazing

Excellent

Another winner. Gutted to have to wait another 12 months for the next instalment. Would strongly recommend this series to anyone looking for action with a twist!

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About James Swallow

James Swallow

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James Swallow is a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author and scriptwriter, a BAFTA nominee, a former journalist and the award-winning writer of over fifty books, along with scripts for video games, comics, radio and television.

His writing includes the Marc Dane action thrillers, the Sundowners steampunk Westerns and fiction from the worlds of Star Trek, Warhammer 40000, Do ...more