Double Deal

Dr Tori Swyft #3

by John M. Green

As the ice melts in the Arctic, climate change spurs a new Cold War, and the world’s superpowers race to snatch control of the region’s vast resources. Meanwhile Endz of the Earth, fanatical eco-terrorists, conspire to stop them all.   
In top-secret talks in Barcelona, Dr Tori Swyft, ex-spy and Greenland’s key adviser seals a stunning deal with China. The following morning, she wakes beside two dead bodies … Greenland’s prime minister and China’s chief negotiator. But she has no memory of what happened.

A man Tori knows only as The Voice phones her, taunting her and revealing a horrific video in which Tori is responsible for the murders. But how?

With the police knocking at her door, Tori is forced to go on the run in a city that’s currently on lockdown. When Endz of the Earth take drastic action, Tori finds herself in a race against time to find The Voice, prove her innocence and stop Endz of the Earth before it’s too late.

364 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2021

About the author

When it dawned on John that what got him up in the morning was writing, not his day job, he quit the job. That was after 30 years in executive life. He was then an executive director in a leading investment bank. Earlier, he’d been a partner in 2 major law firms, and a director of a publishing house. ABC Radio says John's thriller-writing has "the sophistication of John le Carré and the pace of Jeffrey Archer."

His novels are: Nowhere Man, a financial thriller with a futuristic twist.
Born to Run, a political thriller about a US presidential election that gets derailed by murder, terror & treason.
The Trusted, an eco-cyber-thriller: When saving the planet means destroying it!

John's also a well-known business writer and commentator. His pieces have appeared in a variety of Australian and overseas publications including: ABC Drum Online, Company Director, Business Spectator, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Bulletin, and the UK’s Financial Times.

As well as writing, John's on the governing council of the National Library of Australia, is a board member of two stock-exchange-listed corporations and not-for-profits, as well as a co-founder of Pantera Press. He lives in Sydney with his wife, a sculptor.

John is currently working on his next thriller, due for release in 2016.

Reviews

[Tracy Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Better Reading Preview and Pantera Press for my uncorrected proof.

I would describe this book is a political thriller and it was a mixed bag for me. I found it quite confusing in a lot of places with a lot of characters, some with very little introduction so I had no idea who they were. It was so far fetched in places it was almost ridiculous. Some parts were really quite good and I found these parts kept me turning the pages wanting to find out what happened. The chemistry between Tori and Frank really worked. Unfortunately there were too many unrealistic crazy things happening for the story to make sense, it was too long and the ending was disappointing and confusing.

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts off with a strong premise - international diplomacy, intrigue and the clash of interests of multiple significant countries. Unfortunately, the writing holds this book back from its potential. The main issues I experienced were:
- adding layers of detail where it is just not required, and in many cases this also felt like an excuse to 'show off' the author's knowledge as opposed to adding depth to the story.
- some authors will use suymbols or breaks in a chapter to allow for a change in focus to another scene which is occurring in parallel. Sometimes these are used - but on the whole Mr Green prefers to ustilise chapters to accompliash the same effect, or to break up what could be one scene. This provides a choppy and broken reading experience that does not add to the delivery of the story.
- The book progressed as expected for a John Green novel, however the weak ending left more questions and was a ppor way to close of the series so far. There is no identifiable motivation for the ending or for some of the characters to continue on the manner suggested in the last few pages.

I really wanted to enjoy this book more - The Tao Deception was, in my view, a stronger novel and this one had promise early on. Unfortunately, I do not feel I will read another book from this author as, so far, there has been signifiant promise but weak delivery.




The characters are strong and relevant and the book is set up for strong storyline. Unfortunately, the story rapidly descends from the first few chapters covering several weeks to the remaining 85% of the book covering only a few days.

[Hirell Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to #BRreading advance copy and @panterra press. This book is a fast paced, action packed thriller the book equivalent of a Die hard movie. It's a cat and mouse game of strategy, using technology to frame an innocent person. Tori Swyft wakes up from a very real nightmare which never stops. She has become a victim in a very twisted psychological mind game with a faceless perpetrator called the Voice. She doesn't know who he or she is but must figure out the truth before she and everyone she knows and cares about ends up dead.
She's on the run from police for a crime even she doesn't know if she's innocent of. It's an amazingly well thought out novel. Which leaves you on the edge of your seat till the final page is turned. Even then there are a few ambiguous hints that there could be more to this story.
I loved it and would enjoy reading more of his books.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow Dr Tori Swift on a crusade to prove her innocence. The novel is an extremely quick read. The chapters are short but action packed to keep you engaged. So much happens between the pages that have you on the edge of your seat and flipping the pages in the hope of identifying the players. The players are nasty with world leaders at risk and so much more. Run with Tori as she follows 'the Voice' to get the answers she needs. If it's possible for a book to give you energy, it's this one.

[Maxine Brenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori Swyft is my favourite thriller hero! Full stop. The best of the badass chicks.

Coupled with that is a context which spans Greenland, climate change, deep fakes, US-Russia-China politics - giving amazing insight and foresight into what is and could well happen. Green’s deep research is what transforms the story from a highly entertaining one into a book which is absolutely compelling.

In short, a triumph. Must read.

[Bernard Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fast-paced compulsive page-turner from John M. Green. Don't start it if you also have family commitments or important tasks to address! When you do pick it up, you will find well-researched whip-smart writing that is geopolitically savvy and technologically mind-boggling, all setting the context for Dr.Tori Swyft's compelling quest to track down her nemesis and prove her innocence of the appalling crime that opens the novel.

[Doreen Cheong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read many of John M Green's books featuring the heroine, Tori Swyft, and all have been fast-past and a compelling read. The author does impressive research and has an excellent grasp of global geo-politics and the current machinations associated with it. Gruesome in parts but I couldn't stop myself from reading on, and on.

[David Hambling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, pacy, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller with all sorts of topical hooks from a dodgy Russian premier to deep fake videos and killer drones…and buying Greenland. Great use of Barcelona as a setting, and plenty of action.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Tori Swift 'adventure'.
Fast easy paced read with the story unravelling on every page.
I thought the story could have been told in about 50pp less as some of the 'incidents' had been dragged out.
All in all a perfect read for day 240 something of lockdown !

[Roan Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adrenaline rush powered by this author's superb imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller.

[Danny goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most engaging thriller I have read for some time. A must read during Covid lockdown.

[Duncan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. An easy read, plenty of action, intrigue and twists. A real page turner which I finished in a couple of days. Perfect bit of escapism for lockdown. Highly recommended.

[Kirsty Gebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read a thriller like this before - edge of your seat reading!!!

[Lee Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness me. There’s a huge amount of blood and gore in this book but it’s still un- put down - able. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. So many loose ends to tie up!

[Mark Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very forgettable pulp fiction

[Shaun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Implausible, slow, reads like a rejected screenplay for a Angelina Jolie Lara Croft movie

[Caroline Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want some fast paced action to get you through another period of lockdown, this is the read for you.
When Dr Tori Swyft wakes up with 2 dead bodies on the bed next to her, and no memory of what has happened the action starts.
A thriller with action, high end cyber terrorism and a very believable scenario really packs a punch!

[Tony Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping all the way through- can't wait for next installment