The Burning Hill

by A.D. Flint

On the run from unjust court-martial back home, a young British soldier gets robbed and shot on Copacabana Beach. The bullet in Jake's head should have been fatal, but miraculously, it saves him from a previously undetected condition that soon would have killed him. Jake doesn't believe in fate, nor does he feel he owes anything to anybody, but he does hate injustice. Vilson, the teenage favela kid who fired the bullet, is a victim of injustice, in a corner with a corrupt cop and a sadistic drug-lord after his blood. With a turf war erupting in Vilson's favela, fear stalks every narrow alleyway, and anyone dragged up to the notorious Burning Hill had better hope they're dead before they get there. But it's not just fear that shapes life in the favela, belief is also powerful, able to both save and destroy. The Burning Hill is about the power of belief and one man's desire for justice at any cost.
Gritty, hard-hitting and utterly compulsive, this is a book that has you wanting to head straight back to page one straight after turning the last page. Inked Book Reviews
I LOVE books that pull you in so deeply, and this is a story that does exactly that - every location, the heat, the dust, the smells, the tastes - I was living this story. Not to mention the completely compelling plot that made it so I could not put this book down. Magnolia Reads Reviews
I’ve never read a book in which the life/corruption in Brazil was so vividly explained, and this story will be with me for a long time.' Varietats Reviews

Genres: Amazon, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2018

About the author

On a June afternoon in 2000 there was a robbery just a few blocks from where the author was living in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro. It turned into a hostage situation. The teenage robber had survived a notorious massacre of street children outside a Rio church years before, and the tragedy that played out in the aftermath of the robbery on live TV news was an embodiment of the desperation of life at the bottom of the heap. An ugly thing in this beautiful city, shocking, even to a society inured to everyday violence.

As a Brit new to Rio, the author was beguiled by the city, and found it profoundly disturbing to watch something happening just down the road that was so out of control and so wrong. The author spent a year in Brazil and now lives on the south coast of England with his Brazilian wife and two sons.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a real eye opener about Rio and Brazil that leads you into the terrible world of the Flavia’s and all that happens there
Jake has a history in the army where he was in Iraq and now he is in Brazil, he is attacked on the beach and narrowly misses death, however the fact he was attacked means an aneurysm that would have killed him is found.......he feels he has to find his attacker and find out why he did what he did, so starts an adventure that is fast paced and exciting as you join the many varied, good and bad, characters in this fascinating story
I really felt I was transported over to Rio and the descriptions of Brazil, the sights, the food, the smells, as said above the flavias and the desperation that exists there are colourful and dramatic
The story itself is powerful and hard hitting and at times violent and other times sad and quite moving
An enjoyable, different read that I think could be part based on life experiences of the author that makes it even more poignant
Well written with easy to follow narration
9/10 5 Stars

[Simon Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake is a British Soldier with a past he would as soon forget... He lives a transitory life in Rio.... With a bitterness that comes from being unjustly vilified by the army and the press back home.... Fate sees him taking a walk on the beach one evening and ends up with him being shot in the head.... But fate is fickle at best and the bullet that was to kill him ends up saving his life.... 

The kid that fired the gun needs help and despite the corruption in the police department and the drug dealers on the street Jake is determined to see he gets it.

This is a hard read, excellent but hard.... The author does an amazing job of bringing Rio, especially the seedier parts to life.... And as you read you can almost imagine yourself walking the streets in the sweltering claustrophobia of the crowds... Really bringing to life both the beauty and ugliness of this heat hazed city... It's hard hitting, with drugs, corruption, beatings and murder but the fact that it packs such a hard punch is what makes it so engaging... Jake is a complexed character... Not instantly likeable... And by no means a super hero like some other action hero's ... And his bloody mindedness and temper is more likely to get him into trouble than out of it.... But for all that there is something truly noble about him. The end is pulse pounding and I don't mind saying there was a lump in my throat .... If you want an intelligent, well paced action thriller then this is a must.

[Candice Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know the feeling you get when you read a book by an author that is just SO WELL written, with such unbelievably descriptive scenes that it literally plays out like a movie in your mind? That is THIS book - I spent every page imagining EXACTLY how this would look as a movie. Let’s just say, someone needs to option this STAT, because it would make on hell of a movie.

I LOVE books that pull you in so deeply, and this is a story that does exactly that - every location, the heat, the dust, the smells, the tastes - I was living this story. Books that can create that sense of tangible connection for me are near perfect in my mind. Not to mention the completely compelling plot that made it so I could not put this book down.

As everyone knows, I love a story with conflicted, complex and flawed characters, so this book was a terrific match for me. Both Jake and Vilson are broken, complicated humans, with their histories and circumstance having shaped them into what they are. I loved how the story moved from one characters perspective to the other, letting the reader fall deeper into an understanding of who these people were, and why they were so driven to do what they do.

I also am completely enamored with the pace of this book, which clipped along with barely a moment for me to catch my breath, which was completely on point with the plot of the story. I rarely find myself in a situation where I enjoy reading a lengthy fight scene, however this story has become the exception to that rule. I was on the edge of my seat with each page to see where the pieces were going to land. A.D. Flint does not disappoint here - he is relentless with where the story takes the reader, again, staying completely true to the realities of this world.

I cannot, as a reader, share more plot with you friends, as I would hate to give anything away. Stories like this deserve to be read with minimal expectation going in, so you can truly appreciate the work for what it is - brilliantly done.

This is all to say - this is book you should have on your must read pile this winter. It will keep you up well into the night, and stick with you for days after. And who knows, one day we might finally get to see this play out on the screen!

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really exciting read showing the seedier side of Rio, with all its violence and corruption. The characters are all very strong, I even wanted to adopt Vilson! The story goes along at a very fast pace, keeping the reader totally breathless in places.
I want to thank the Pigeonhole and Dom for the opportunity to read this and I will be recommending this to friends and family.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burning Hill is a tense and brutal thriller set in Rio de Janeiro about three young men, all victims of their upbringing, circumstance, corruption and their own bullish pride, whose lives collide one late night on a Copacabana beach, with terrible consequences.

Jake is a disgraced English soldier who has fled to Brazil to escape a scandal caused by a military cover-up. Vilson is a favela kid, dumped by his mother into the slums at the age of seven, with only his twelve year old brother to care for him. When Vilson attempts to rob Jake, his gun goes off accidentally, leaving Jake mutilated, but by twist of fate saved from the aneurysm that would otherwise have killed him. Marinho is one of the police officers who intervene on that night. He tries to do the right thing, but his vicious and controlling boss has him bent to his will. Needing a quick solve for the assault on a tourist, the police need to catch Vilson, but the psychotic teenage gangster who runs the favela has other ideas, and Jake & Marinho team up to try and save him.

This was a well-written fast-paced novel by an author who is new to me. The descriptions of the Rio not usually seen by tourists were convincing, and while all the characters were flawed and mostly unsympathetic, I soon felt for them as some pretty terrible things happen to them. There is a lot of fairly graphic violence, including a detailed and stomach-turning MMA fight scene. There are only three female characters in the whole book, a crusading lawyer, a child medium and a downtrodden farmers wife, and each is important to the story but inherently weak, which is probably realistic in Brazil, but frustrating to read about.

I think this is meant to be a stand-alone novel, although I would be keen to find out what happens next. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. The Burning Hill is available now.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable thriller with vivid action scenes. I kept thinking what an excellent film this would make!

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seem to have acquired quite a taste for Brazilian set fiction of late, so The Burning Hill looked to be a bit of a tempter from the outset. With a screwed up central protagonist, razor sharp observations of life among the dispossessed, and positively throbbing with the rhythm and atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro, what more could you ask for?

Based on the author’s experience of living in Brazil. I think it’s fair to say that this location has obviously made a real impact, in terms of what has been observed and remembered from their time there. The book oozes authenticity from its opening pages depicting the woeful living conditions and threats from authority endured by the street kids, going on to the shockingly misjudged attempted robbery of a western tourist by two young boys from the favela. Flint clearly demarcates the problems experienced by the kids in their dealings with the less than moral representatives of law enforcement, and the dangerous forces at work within the favela itself at the hands of unscrupulous gang members. Little wonder that these kids dream of a better life, far away from a life of destitution, thievery and violence.

Throughout the book Flint uses the character of Vilson, a young boy abandoned by his mother, and having recently lost his brother, to represent life on the margins of society, and this works incredibly well as we bear witness to his anger, frustration and his futile attempts to overcome the feeling of abandonment. Through his turbulent interactions with Jake (the aforementioned tourist) and a female lawyer Eliane, the layers of Vilson’s character are exposed in dramatically different ways, revealing a tough street kid persona underpinned by all the vulnerability that his life experience has caused. Equally, by aligning his character with that of Jake, a disillusioned British ex-soldier with more than enough demons of his own, these two characters are a real tour de force and drive the narrative throughout. As much as Vilson and Jake are united by incurring the wrath of an utterly corrupt police officer, their relationship is defined by suspicion and misguided communication, where even the grandest of gestures inevitably go wrong, but even still serves to make their relationship compelling. This is the real hook of the book, as you become more and more inveigled in their trials and tribulations.

Flint is an incredibly visual writer, be it his depiction of the slums, the noise and hudy gurdy of vibrant Rio, the rural outreaches of the farming community, a truly terrifying rodeo or a visceral and tense boxing match. His pace of writing and attention to detail exerts a steely grip on the reader, and you genuinely find your reading speed increasing in the interludes of pure tension and dramatic action. Most importantly though he manages to keep the reader on the backfoot all the time, as the story took several unexpected and violent turns along the way, ramping up the tension and putting his central characters under extreme pressure, and by extension the reader too, which is all to the good. I enjoyed this book immensely with its multi-faceted characters both the good guys and the bad guys, and those that veer perilously between the two. Flint unerringly gets right beneath the skin of his characters. The book has a nervous energy, that increases the sense of danger and threat throughout, and with the vibrant and intuitive depiction of life in this most colourful of cities, that at its heart has a huge and unbridgeable chasm between the haves and have-nots, there is a real raw feeling of truth about the book too. Highly recommended.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had planned to do a plot summary however the book blurb above from Good Reads more than covers that and any further in-depth plot summary’s would give you to many spoilers and I wouldn’t want to do that! Its one you most definitely need to read for yourself!

Reading the author bio goes some way to giving this story a more human, more real layer and made me appreciate it all the more.

As well as the author bio, a week or so before I started reading this book I had seen a video clip on twitter of people in Rio clapping and cheering as police threw the bodies of two young men they had just shot into the back of a truck which was quite graphic and as I was reading this book I couldn’t help but to see those young mens faces on Vilson and Babao so for me that added an even more real life, human element to the characters and plot lines.

I haven’t been this heavily invested in a story and set of characters for a long time, to the point I found myself dreaming about Vilson, Jake and the fulvela’s and woke myself up 5am – so obviously I started reading again 😀

The ending literally gave me goosebumps and brought a slight tear to the eye! That is something that doesn’t happen very often at all!!

Gritty, hard-hitting and utterly compulsive, this is a book that has you wanting to head straight back to page one straight after turning the last page.

This is an author to keep an eye out for and I would be at the head of the queue if there is to be a continuation from this book. Id love to see what the future has in store for the fulvela gang, my imagination has already been ticking over “what happened next” scenarios for them all!

The Burning Hill will be published in the UK on 13 December 2018 and you can pre order your copy now

[Jason Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tightly scripted, with evocative locations and a cast of nuanced characters, The Burning Hill belies its status as a debut novel. A.D. Flint has crafted a story that feels real and totally believable, presenting a view of the Rio streets that most visitors wouldn't want to see, but are inevitably only ever a wrong turn or a chance encounter away from.

The plot is tightly controlled and excellently paced, building to a conclusion that manages to feel immensely satisfying whilst still leaving you wanting more, and the handling of the inevitable violence that unfolds along the way is gut-wrenching without feeling gratuitous. Flint's ability to write effortlessly natural dialogue lends depth and credibility to characters who are nuanced, flawed and human. Initially unsympathetic, each of the three main character arcs are so well developed that by the final chapter you'll be rooting for all of them and will find yourself questioning the accepted view of what it means to be a hero.

This is one of those rare books that manages to walk the fine line between being a challenging and at times uncomfortable read, and just being a cracking good story and a genuine page-turner. An intelligent read that doesn't patronise the reader, it also proves that you don't have to turn in 800 pages to develop a great plot. If this is a measure of the quality that we can expect from this author, I can't wait to hear more from Mr. Flint.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake’s escape to Brazil may not be the panacea he’s searching for.

By rights I shouldn’t have enjoyed The Burning Hill. At its heart is the kind of injustice and unfairness that I abhor and there is a level of violence outside my usual reading comfort zone. However, I thought The Burning Hill was a fabulous read because the quality of A.D. Flint’s prose is so finely wrought that he draws in the reader and compels them to continue even as they feel uncomfortable and challenged by the content. Not only is this an exciting and thrilling read, but it is so well written too.

The Burning Hill begins dramatically and maintains the adrenaline throughout. It’s fortunate that chapters are short, which adds to the pace, because I’m not sure my heart could have tolerated the thumping of fear and excitement I experienced reading The Burning Hill. I was enthralled by the story and completely unable to tear myself away even when I found the content disturbing. I had to keep pausing to allow my pulse to subside because A. D. Flint understands exactly how to control his reader’s feelings and emotions.

I found the characters extremely vivid and real. Their flawed personalities and lives are sadly all too familiar to those living in poverty so that A. D. Flint shines an unflinching spotlight on the realities of day to day existence for those caught up in drugs, gangs and violence. Jake is the perfect example of an anti-hero whom the reader cannot help but admire. I found his version of morality a convincing antidote to the corruption of organisations like the police. My heart went out to Vilson so that I wanted him to triumph because I understood perfectly the reasons for his behaviour.

And it is the themes of corruption, the poverty, the sense of family, friendship and identity underpinning the dramatic narrative that add such depth to The Burning Hill. As well as being a very engaging and entertaining thriller, I think The Burning Hill is a hugely important book. A. D. flint does not shy away from presenting the realities of street life in Brazil and his engrossing and well-crafted prose ensures those reading his story are left in no doubt about how so many have to struggle simply to exist. The shimmering undercurrent of superstition adds an extra layer of interest too and I found the concept of honour completely fascinating.

The Burning Hill is a novel I would not usually pick up. Had that been the case I would have missed a gripping narrative, brilliantly written and heart-thumpingly exciting. I really recommend it, regardless of your usual preferred reading genres. It’s a corker!

[Neonila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I decided to expand my horizons and give it a chance, and I'm so glad I decided to do that.

I can confidently say that The Burning Hill was an almost perfect book and that I enjoyed every second of it, even if it hurt me a lot at some parts. This book is set in Brazil and it deals with the lives of Jake and Vilson, two people who have been wronged many times by life, but they have to somehow persevere and survive through the punches. Their lives are certainly not getting any easier because having to deal with corrupt cops and the life in favelas can't be easy for sure.

I grew to love both of them, and I was rooting for them throughout the entire book. It was raw and realistic, and although the ending was a rather sad one, I don't think that if it had gone another way that it would have done this book justice. The only complaint that I have is that I think that the sex scene and the relationship between those two people was totally unnecessary, and it added nothing to the story, it jsut felt as if the other just threw it in there.

[Karen Keilt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Most people think Samba, Carnival, beautiful beaches and soccer when they think of Brazil. Like me, A.D. Flint spent some time in Brazil and has written a marvelous fictional story of a young man from the "favelas" (slums) who has a chance encounter with an English soldier who moved to Brasil to escape his past. The characters a real and engaging and you can't stop turning pages to find out what their future will bring. I highly recommend this book for a glimpse at the Rio de Janeiro tourists rarely see.!

[Brycie Grigor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had everything. It was crime, drug lords, Street kids, abandonment issues, a soldier trying to find himself after suffering PTSD and of course the lovely lawyer trying to juggle her life around it all. Many books I have read talk about the corrupt police/system in South America. This story is set in Rio. The book oozes the unbearable heat, poverty, dust and corruption. Wonderful reading.

[Paul Rubens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Exciting from beginning to end and paints great pictures of life in the favelos and other poor areas of Brazil. The non stop action and suspense are superbly described. The fight scene especially was so graphically described I could see it clearly: but then so were many other scenes. The characters were very well developed and it was impossible not to hate the bad guys and feel deeply for the good guys. Found myself not wanting the story to finish as I enjoyed it so much..

[Kriss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, vivid descriptions of events allowed me to enter the adventures of the characters. Nice tight plot and well developed characters make for a vivid, lively story. The backdrops of Brazil and the favelas provide colour and smells which create clear pictures in my head. Well researched - or maybe experienced- by the author.

[Annie Parnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and violent but not gruesome, book which captures the culture of fear in the favelas of Rio along with the corruption racket that goes with it. A fabulous read for those who enjoy a fast paced story and I would have thought a must for any South America bound backpacker!
Good characterisation and description that is punchy and acute. Totally believable story.

[Seán B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems A. D. Flint has drawn on inspiration from a true story for his book 'Burning Hill' - in his Goodreads profile it mentions "In 2000, a robbery just a few blocks from where the author was living in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro". Burning Hill felt somewhat out of comfort zone as I usually used to more pulsing thrillers to read. But, I can admit that I did really enjoy the landscape to which the author invites us in to. Rio is described quite vividly and the difference between rich & poor in the favelas is highlighted throughout.

Jake, an ex-English army soldier, resides in Rio after escaping controversy in the UK. He is enjoying life until he is attacked on a beach by two teenagers Vilson & Babao. Vilson shoots Jake through his face, not killing him, although when Jake is rushed to hospital the doctors uncover a brain tumor that would of killed him soon if he had not been rushed to hospital. So, Jake feels an obligation to find out more about this Vilson kid as he is confronted by aspiring Journalist Eliane who wants more of the story and to uncover the corruption in the Police Force.

We are introduced to the gangs of the Favelas featuring their leader Anjo who dishes out orders to his followers to track down Vilson and co. The book continues on a nice pace switching perspectives between Jake/Vilson & Officer Marinho. Thank you to NetGalley.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the favelas of Brazil, this is the tale of Vilson, a young man, abandoned by his mother as a small child with his elder brother, Gabriel.

The boys are chased by cops, shots are fired and Vilson survives, with only his friend Babão.

Jake, a soldier, hiding in Brazil from an unjust court-martial, trying to blend in and disappear.

One night, Vilson and Babão rob Jake at gunpoint but the gun goes off by accident. Jake survives, but the gunshot had actually saved his life, as doctors found an aneurysm which could have killed him any time.

The boys run away from the scene, but get chased by cops and Babão is shot…..a lawyer witnesses this but the cops send her away.

Vilson returns to their shack, to await Babão’s return….but a local gang leader visits him and wants his money…..or else.

Can Eliane, the lawyer, convince Jake, the boys need his help….

This is an incredible novel, it tells of the harsh life of these street children in deprived areas of the favelas in Brazil. Not only do they have to deal with the everyday struggle, they have death squads, roaming the streets to kill the children to get them off the street and the gangs fighting to keep control. They live in constant fear.

The characters are so well written, I had every sympathy for Vilson, a victim of circumstances. Jake, while disgraced In the UK, he really cares about the situation here and tries his best to help and the corrupt cop Nogueira is just abhorrent.

You really do get emotionally involved in this tale and that’s all credit to A.D. Flint’s creative, immersive writing. A tale of dreams, belief and justice. Absolutely stunning.

Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Judy McInerney · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the filth and the fear of the favelas brought brilliantly to life. Ironically when Jake, a young man with a past he would rather forget, is shot, his life is saved. Surrounded by gangs and relentless turf wars, the fear of being led up the burning hill is part of life. The only incorruptible policeman is shackled to a murderous partner. Will justice ever prevail? Read this fast paced page turner to find out.

[Lena D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an astounding read. I was completely engrossed by this book. The writer seems to have got inside the minds of the favela kids of Rio. You can't but help sympathise with these kids. Anyone wanting to understand the plight of the poor in Rio should read it. And the Brazilian Government should pay for an interpreter to get this book published in Portuguese. I great deal of research has gone in to the work and Dominique's experiences living in Brazil used in the book make the story so believable.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t think I would finish this as it was different to my usual thriller choice. Found the subject matter of Brazil/lifestyle/criminal scene/police intervention(!) etc interesting. Vilson comes across as a very confused young man, caught up in a lifestyle he would not have chosen but circumstances put him there (sad but many others are on this unfortunate path).
Gang culture is all too obvious nowadays and it’s becoming too much the norm, very disturbing. The book is thought provoking in that sense.
If I have one criticism it’s the use of the word ‘gringo’ which I found on occasion overused, maybe that’s just me being fussy but maybe other descriptive adjectives could have been substituted on occasions?
This book will keep many readers interested, the intertwined lives of the characters involved will keep you turning pages. The detail relating to the land and lifestyle of those living in the favelas and surrounding areas will, for many, conjure up some very graphic scenes.

[Charlotte Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! Very well written, fast paced, exciting and the descriptions were fabulous. I could feel the heat and dust... Sometimes extremely violent, but not gratuitous. I found that I really cared about what happened to the main protagonists. Very well drawn, fleshed out characters. I had hoped that there may be a happier ending for one (no spoilers) but the author doesn't pull any punches, so I think I was probably naive to hope. I could visualise and feel the claustrophobic and terrifying atmosphere of living in the favela. Such a vibrant and descriptive book, I think this could make a great film or mini series.

[Jaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully crafted novel. I really enjoyed the story being told from the various viewpoints of the main characters, getting to know their backstories and how that played out in the present day.
The descriptions of the favela and the many settings of the story were superb, the sights and smells bringing it all to life in such vivid detail you could almost believe you were there in Rio.
I was so engrossed in the story and really didn’t see the ending coming.
Brilliant novel, thanks to Pigeonhole and the author AD Flint for the opportunity to read it.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me in to a different world and I found I couldn’t put it down . Beautifully written bringing sounds , smells and pictures so clearly to me . Complicated characters with troubled lives , a reflection of real life in the areas in which the book is set . I had real fear in my belly in some parts of the story but read on eagerly to see what happened next ! Like a previous reviewer I thought this would make a fantastic film . I found the fight scene too long which is the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars . Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book .

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book, great setting and good characters.