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Home Run (CH)
Agent Charlie Eshraq, obsessed with avenging his family's deaths, ventures repeatedly into Iran, returning each time with vital data for Matthew Furniss, a system that works well until Eshraq, intent on raising money, goes into heroin smuggling
681 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Gerald Seymour
105 books294 followersGerald Seymour (born 25 November 1941 in Guildford, Surrey) is a British writer.
The son of two literary figures, he was educated at Kelly College at Tavistock in Devon and took a BA Hons degree in Modern History at University College London. Initially a journalist, he joined ITN in 1963, covering such topics as the Great Train Robbery, Vietnam, Ireland, the Munich Olympics massacre, Germany's Red Army, Italy's Red Brigades and Palestinian militant groups. His first book, Harry's Game, was published in 1975, and Seymour then became a full-time novelist, living in the West Country. In 1999, he featured in the Oscar-winning television film, One Day in September, which portrayed the Munich Olympics massacre.
Television adaptations have been made of his books Harry's Game, The Glory Boys, The Contract, Red Fox, Field Of Blood, A Line In The Sand and The Waiting Time.
The son of two literary figures, he was educated at Kelly College at Tavistock in Devon and took a BA Hons degree in Modern History at University College London. Initially a journalist, he joined ITN in 1963, covering such topics as the Great Train Robbery, Vietnam, Ireland, the Munich Olympics massacre, Germany's Red Army, Italy's Red Brigades and Palestinian militant groups. His first book, Harry's Game, was published in 1975, and Seymour then became a full-time novelist, living in the West Country. In 1999, he featured in the Oscar-winning television film, One Day in September, which portrayed the Munich Olympics massacre.
Television adaptations have been made of his books Harry's Game, The Glory Boys, The Contract, Red Fox, Field Of Blood, A Line In The Sand and The Waiting Time.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 4, 2017
Interesting to return to a book 26 years after first reading. The Seymour formula is well established by now: self-serving politicians, interdepartmental rivalry between security forces and troubled heroes on missions impossible. There is no black & white in this world. Charlies Eshraq fits the conventional hero role in many ways: a brave young Iranian taking on a brutal regime to avenge his sister & father. In funding his campaign by smuggling opium things get a whole lot murkier.
I'm sticking to four stars as the author is a great writer whose characters & plots put him at the top end of the genre, especially in ratchetting up tension to a great climax. All Gerald's books are incredibly well-researched, drawing on his time as a journalist. These are proper novels that deserve greater appreciation in comparison to some of the stuff that tops the bookcharts now (yes Dan Brown, I mean you). After forty years of top notch thrillers, the man deserves some recognition (OBE, knighthood, Order of the Gold Quill...?)
Sometimes, however, as with "Home Run", I think there's more to admire than enjoy. This is not entry-level Seymour. Perhaps I'm shallow, but I prefer the simpler "man on a mission" tales such as "A Song In The Morning" or "In Honour Bound". Moral ambiguity is all v. good, but as a reader I want a bit of happiness - even "Game Of Thrones" has a the occasional triumph of good over evil. Some of Gerald's endings can be devastatingly bleak.
I'm sticking to four stars as the author is a great writer whose characters & plots put him at the top end of the genre, especially in ratchetting up tension to a great climax. All Gerald's books are incredibly well-researched, drawing on his time as a journalist. These are proper novels that deserve greater appreciation in comparison to some of the stuff that tops the bookcharts now (yes Dan Brown, I mean you). After forty years of top notch thrillers, the man deserves some recognition (OBE, knighthood, Order of the Gold Quill...?)
Sometimes, however, as with "Home Run", I think there's more to admire than enjoy. This is not entry-level Seymour. Perhaps I'm shallow, but I prefer the simpler "man on a mission" tales such as "A Song In The Morning" or "In Honour Bound". Moral ambiguity is all v. good, but as a reader I want a bit of happiness - even "Game Of Thrones" has a the occasional triumph of good over evil. Some of Gerald's endings can be devastatingly bleak.
August 8, 2020
This story is not one of Mr. Seymour's newest stories. In fact, according to the cover, it was first written way back in 1989 and my version said it was re-released again in 1999. But, if you can get your hands on it, then you're in for an excellent story. It's almost the end of the cold war and you feel as though the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) who are now MI6 were still walking around with long trench coats and hats over there ears. But, they are so up themselves so much that, when the customs officers nab five kilos of heroine, the SIS tell the officers to just let it go and mind their your own business. We know about the heroin and we'll keep an eye on it ourselves. No need to worry, we're on to it. So on your bike, buddies, and go away. There's nothing to see here (apart from the heroine) so off you go.
In this story, the SIS are an entity to itself. So, when one of their own gets captured behind enemy lines and is torchered there's no sympathy at all. Sorry ol' mate, but you're not suppose to be there, you're not suppose to be talking to them and you're, definitely, not to be giving away home secrets. Everyone, will remember the 'Dolphin Run' (what a thing to do, well done, mate), but we know the true story and we are not impressed at all. There will be hell to pay for what you've done.
But, there's so more than that. There's two stories that run simultaneously with each and then they clash head on towards the end of the book. There was the SIS story which is excellent by itself AND then there is the customs officer story which was excellent too. There was action throughout the story, there's suspense and there's an unbelievable ending. It was realistic, it's tragic and it's just one of Mr. Seymour's very best efforts in amongst all his other works as well. I felt absolutely exhausted by the end of the story because I was barracking for the 'good' guys (but by the end of the story I didn't really know who they really were). Of course, Mr. Seymour doesn't necessarily have clear winners or losers, but more shades of grey where results are measured in casualties or even in deaths. There weren't many clear winners, but plenty of losers and those who do come out in front, had to count their costs. There were personal costs, professional costs and cost of life. Plenty seemed to be lost, in this one, for not much gain.
Mattie Furniss probably counts as a loss, (but you need to read the story to find out why) and Miss Duigan doesn't measure very well at the end either. Charlie Eshraq is a drug dealer and a murderer. David Park is married more to the job than to his wife. Ann Park (his wife) bought a beautiful dress and just wanted a dance with her husband, but, oh dear, what happened next was just so sad. The SIS (MI5) didn't walk away unscathed either and of course, the customs officers (drug enforcement agency) get a crack, unofficially, of course, at the end with interesting results. From all the stress and anxiety of the story, I had an ache in the gut that wouldn't go away. Brutal and unrelenting! Excellent! It was one of his best stories he has written and this reader has read plenty of them. 5 Stars.
Gerald Seymour has been writing thrillers for more than thirty five years. Here are a few of them:
5 Stars ~ ‘A Line in the Sand’ and ‘Home Run’.
4 Stars ~ ‘The Waiting Time’, ‘Holding the Zero’, ‘The Dealer and the Dead’, ‘’No Mortal Thing’, The Outsiders’, ‘A Deniable Death’, ‘A Damn Serious Business’, ‘Archangel’, ‘No Mortal Thing’, ‘The Collaborator’ and ‘Killing Ground’ ,’ The Journeyman Tailor’, ‘Field of Blood’, 'Tinker, Taylor, Soldier Spy' and ‘Harry’s Game’.
3 Stars ~ ‘A Song in the Morning', 'In Honour Bound’ & ‘The Untouchable’
2 Stars ~ ‘The Corporals Wife’ & 'The Unknown Soldier’.
In this story, the SIS are an entity to itself. So, when one of their own gets captured behind enemy lines and is torchered there's no sympathy at all. Sorry ol' mate, but you're not suppose to be there, you're not suppose to be talking to them and you're, definitely, not to be giving away home secrets. Everyone, will remember the 'Dolphin Run' (what a thing to do, well done, mate), but we know the true story and we are not impressed at all. There will be hell to pay for what you've done.
But, there's so more than that. There's two stories that run simultaneously with each and then they clash head on towards the end of the book. There was the SIS story which is excellent by itself AND then there is the customs officer story which was excellent too. There was action throughout the story, there's suspense and there's an unbelievable ending. It was realistic, it's tragic and it's just one of Mr. Seymour's very best efforts in amongst all his other works as well. I felt absolutely exhausted by the end of the story because I was barracking for the 'good' guys (but by the end of the story I didn't really know who they really were). Of course, Mr. Seymour doesn't necessarily have clear winners or losers, but more shades of grey where results are measured in casualties or even in deaths. There weren't many clear winners, but plenty of losers and those who do come out in front, had to count their costs. There were personal costs, professional costs and cost of life. Plenty seemed to be lost, in this one, for not much gain.
Mattie Furniss probably counts as a loss, (but you need to read the story to find out why) and Miss Duigan doesn't measure very well at the end either. Charlie Eshraq is a drug dealer and a murderer. David Park is married more to the job than to his wife. Ann Park (his wife) bought a beautiful dress and just wanted a dance with her husband, but, oh dear, what happened next was just so sad. The SIS (MI5) didn't walk away unscathed either and of course, the customs officers (drug enforcement agency) get a crack, unofficially, of course, at the end with interesting results. From all the stress and anxiety of the story, I had an ache in the gut that wouldn't go away. Brutal and unrelenting! Excellent! It was one of his best stories he has written and this reader has read plenty of them. 5 Stars.
Gerald Seymour has been writing thrillers for more than thirty five years. Here are a few of them:
5 Stars ~ ‘A Line in the Sand’ and ‘Home Run’.
4 Stars ~ ‘The Waiting Time’, ‘Holding the Zero’, ‘The Dealer and the Dead’, ‘’No Mortal Thing’, The Outsiders’, ‘A Deniable Death’, ‘A Damn Serious Business’, ‘Archangel’, ‘No Mortal Thing’, ‘The Collaborator’ and ‘Killing Ground’ ,’ The Journeyman Tailor’, ‘Field of Blood’, 'Tinker, Taylor, Soldier Spy' and ‘Harry’s Game’.
3 Stars ~ ‘A Song in the Morning', 'In Honour Bound’ & ‘The Untouchable’
2 Stars ~ ‘The Corporals Wife’ & 'The Unknown Soldier’.
August 29, 2017
'The Running Target' is one of prolific spy novelist Gerald Seymour's earlier efforts, published in 1989. As with all (or most.... I haven't read them all, yet) of his efforts, there are great characters, tight spycraft, complex plots and subplots, excellent writing, and a story told from the perspective of several of its participants. Seymour knows his stuff and writes confidently of the world of spies.
Many of the topics addressed in the plot are familiar: a drug epidemic, terrorism in the Middle East, lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, arms sales to bad actors on the world stage. There's a twist that's unique in that a young Iranian man whose family was murdered by the State during the Islamic revolution is exacting revenge by killing anyone and everyone who participated in the murders. He has a connection to, and the clandestine support of, the British Iran Desk's spymaster and he is financing his efforts through very unconventional methods. There's a change at the top of MI6 and the Iran Desk head is sent out into the field to meet with the agents he's running inside the country, which is apparently never done (and the action in the novel shows exactly why). I won't go further to avoid spoiling the plot, but it's a complicated, violent story with a lot of layers, action, and introspection.
It's taken me awhile to get comfortable with Seymour's writing technique, but I've come to appreciate it. The use of multiple characters really keeps the tension high and allows for the understanding of complex plot details from different perspectives. The Running Target was a great example of the effectiveness of his style. If you're into spy thrillers, this is a good one.
Many of the topics addressed in the plot are familiar: a drug epidemic, terrorism in the Middle East, lack of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, arms sales to bad actors on the world stage. There's a twist that's unique in that a young Iranian man whose family was murdered by the State during the Islamic revolution is exacting revenge by killing anyone and everyone who participated in the murders. He has a connection to, and the clandestine support of, the British Iran Desk's spymaster and he is financing his efforts through very unconventional methods. There's a change at the top of MI6 and the Iran Desk head is sent out into the field to meet with the agents he's running inside the country, which is apparently never done (and the action in the novel shows exactly why). I won't go further to avoid spoiling the plot, but it's a complicated, violent story with a lot of layers, action, and introspection.
It's taken me awhile to get comfortable with Seymour's writing technique, but I've come to appreciate it. The use of multiple characters really keeps the tension high and allows for the understanding of complex plot details from different perspectives. The Running Target was a great example of the effectiveness of his style. If you're into spy thrillers, this is a good one.
April 26, 2018
Yet another superb espionage/political thriller from Gerald Seymour — realistic, hard-hitting, revealing and exciting — I could hardly put it down. It was published in 1990, just 11 years after the fundamentalists took over from the pro-Western Shah of Iran while he was abroad, and re-instituted a society based on Islam – a regime we in the West are still struggling to come to terms with, while trying to find a way to achieve mutual understanding and tolerance – and we may never achieve that because our world-views are so different.
The plot has several strands. The main character is Matthew Furniss, an old-school MI6 officer (the Iran Desk Officer) who gets sloppy, with very serious consequences for himself and MI6.
Another concerns a group of Iranian exiles living in London, who do a lot of talking about restoring the Shah and going home but are basically reminiscing while living a new life, except one: Charlie Eshraq, who actually does something to change things – he travels to Iran to try to exact revenge on those in the Iranian regime who were responsible for the conviction and execution of his younger sister, who had protested against them, financing himself by returning to the UK with heroin. Charlie is also a close friend of the Desk Officer and his family – his father was friends with Furniss.
Another main character is David Park, known as ‘Keeper’, who heads a special team of Customs & Excise investigators – the ‘April Team’, who try to track down the source of the heroin that killed the daughter of a cabinet minister, which leads … guess where?
The final strand concerns a clever and hard-working Iranian intelligence officer: a man who had worked for the Shah (and, therefore, knew several British and American intelligence officers and techniques) and managed to survive the regime change by being useful to the Ayatollah and embracing his views, however reluctantly. He is also a well-practised torturer, a man who has the intelligence, the patience and the techniques to extract the information he wants from any prisoner, no matter how brave.
As the story progresses, in England and Iran, the strands come together and the tension builds. You can feel empathy for all of these people, even Charlie the drug smuggler, to a certain extent. Mr Seymour always shows respect to the adversaries in his stories – the Iranian regime may be the ‘baddies’ of the story but they are shown to be intelligent, thoughtful and resourceful, and certainly not easily outwitted by the British characters.
This is one of my favourite Seymours (I have read five now) and even though it is 432 pages long it doesn’t seem like it because it’s so exciting you whizz through it.
5 stars.
The plot has several strands. The main character is Matthew Furniss, an old-school MI6 officer (the Iran Desk Officer) who gets sloppy, with very serious consequences for himself and MI6.
Another concerns a group of Iranian exiles living in London, who do a lot of talking about restoring the Shah and going home but are basically reminiscing while living a new life, except one: Charlie Eshraq, who actually does something to change things – he travels to Iran to try to exact revenge on those in the Iranian regime who were responsible for the conviction and execution of his younger sister, who had protested against them, financing himself by returning to the UK with heroin. Charlie is also a close friend of the Desk Officer and his family – his father was friends with Furniss.
Another main character is David Park, known as ‘Keeper’, who heads a special team of Customs & Excise investigators – the ‘April Team’, who try to track down the source of the heroin that killed the daughter of a cabinet minister, which leads … guess where?
The final strand concerns a clever and hard-working Iranian intelligence officer: a man who had worked for the Shah (and, therefore, knew several British and American intelligence officers and techniques) and managed to survive the regime change by being useful to the Ayatollah and embracing his views, however reluctantly. He is also a well-practised torturer, a man who has the intelligence, the patience and the techniques to extract the information he wants from any prisoner, no matter how brave.
As the story progresses, in England and Iran, the strands come together and the tension builds. You can feel empathy for all of these people, even Charlie the drug smuggler, to a certain extent. Mr Seymour always shows respect to the adversaries in his stories – the Iranian regime may be the ‘baddies’ of the story but they are shown to be intelligent, thoughtful and resourceful, and certainly not easily outwitted by the British characters.
This is one of my favourite Seymours (I have read five now) and even though it is 432 pages long it doesn’t seem like it because it’s so exciting you whizz through it.
5 stars.
April 22, 2015
I have been an avid reader of all of GS's books. This one is the latest although it has been out awhile. Never available in the U.S. but was obtained thru one of Amazon's highly rated used book dealers. It is truly well done.
It's plot develops slowly but it brings you on board and doesn't let up. Not to be missed.
It's plot develops slowly but it brings you on board and doesn't let up. Not to be missed.
November 19, 2021
Mattie Furniss had retired from the front lines of espionage to a supervisory position when a bureaucrat sent him back into the front lines. This rapidly paced novel discusses his work in the field, his arrest and torture, and his escape from Iran back to England. Unlike most spy novels, it talks not only about the behaviors but about the thoughts and feelings and the family members of the main characters.
Many of the characters learn what they are capable of when challenged. A pragmatic need for information often overalls common human decency. People make choices. The personal and professional can be difficult to separate.
Ultimately the story refers to the issues of good and evil. Is it acceptable to sell heroin if the money one gets from that is used to take out a madman? It is acceptable to torture your own coworker if it means getting information that might protect others? It isn’t acceptable to interrupt the attack on a vicious political leader to avenge the death of a young heroin addict? How does one define love and how does one define duty and how does one define love of duty?
Many of the characters learn what they are capable of when challenged. A pragmatic need for information often overalls common human decency. People make choices. The personal and professional can be difficult to separate.
Ultimately the story refers to the issues of good and evil. Is it acceptable to sell heroin if the money one gets from that is used to take out a madman? It is acceptable to torture your own coworker if it means getting information that might protect others? It isn’t acceptable to interrupt the attack on a vicious political leader to avenge the death of a young heroin addict? How does one define love and how does one define duty and how does one define love of duty?
April 24, 2024
i did enjoy this book overall although i did at times get a little confused as to which of the separate but ultimately joined storylines was being narrated at any given time, but i persevered and got more involved in the overall story. It may to a degree seem a little dated now, as the setting was the 1980s but still a good gripping paced read.
May 25, 2017
Home Run
I enjoyed this book but, if I have a criticism, it is that there were about two chapters too many, a little too much (in my probably poor judgement) unnecessary detail about emotional aspects. Despite that, I would recommend it highly.
I enjoyed this book but, if I have a criticism, it is that there were about two chapters too many, a little too much (in my probably poor judgement) unnecessary detail about emotional aspects. Despite that, I would recommend it highly.
October 20, 2022
Another thoroughly gripping read from Gerald Seymour as he deftly weaves together numerous plot threads culminating in a typically harrowing climax. He is without a doubt my favourite espionage writer.
September 16, 2017
terrific , I couldn't say less than terrific about such a novel that I took me forever reading it, living the filthy life of terroists , refugees and investigators .
October 6, 2017
Took me a long long time to get into book but finished
April 5, 2020
Not a very mysterious plot. It is a very dry plot. The connections to each segment was not very clear to me. It was plain and boring. I wouldn't recommend this even to those who like action stories.
February 12, 2024
Another superlative drama from Seymour.
April 13, 2016
British spy novel with a hard look at the realities of current relations with Iran. Seymour is no Ian Flemming, but this book is faster paced than John le Carré's spy novels.
The writing feels so authentic you suspect Seymore is one of those retired spooks who took up novel writing, for he certainly seems to know the in and out of the politics within intelligence agencies. But, no, according to always reliable Wikipedia, his background was as a journalist before he hit it big with his first novel, Harry's Game.
The book I read, Home Run, was the British edition. In the US it was released under the title: The Running Target.
The book kept me turning the pages, although the ending was sad, but probably realistic in light of today's Iran.
The writing feels so authentic you suspect Seymore is one of those retired spooks who took up novel writing, for he certainly seems to know the in and out of the politics within intelligence agencies. But, no, according to always reliable Wikipedia, his background was as a journalist before he hit it big with his first novel, Harry's Game.
The book I read, Home Run, was the British edition. In the US it was released under the title: The Running Target.
The book kept me turning the pages, although the ending was sad, but probably realistic in light of today's Iran.
July 23, 2011
C1989. FWFTB: veteran, MI6, Iran, drugs, captured. “He had never known such quiet. They would all remember her, all who watched the handcuffed girl in the white robe, standing alone on the table as the executioner jumped down. The arm of the crane surged upwards. She died painfully, struggling, but quickly. For two hours, high above the street, her body hung from the arm of the crane”
Mr Seymour has used, to great effect, his background in reporting about this particular part of the world and the applicable politics.
"Gerald Seymour confirms his place in the top league of thriller writers" TODAY. FCN: Matthew Furniss (Dolphin), Charlie Eshraq, David Park, Lucy Barnes,
Mr Seymour has used, to great effect, his background in reporting about this particular part of the world and the applicable politics.
"Gerald Seymour confirms his place in the top league of thriller writers" TODAY. FCN: Matthew Furniss (Dolphin), Charlie Eshraq, David Park, Lucy Barnes,
September 7, 2019
I had gotten my fingers burnt already a couple of times with Gerald Seymour, but I decided not to give as I felt his writes good stuff, it’s just that his prose does not smile to me.
Home Run was great reward to my perseverance...I thought the plot was very well constructed and the story extremely well told: Seymour's prose smiled to me this time, so I think I will persevere further.
Home Run was great reward to my perseverance...I thought the plot was very well constructed and the story extremely well told: Seymour's prose smiled to me this time, so I think I will persevere further.
December 11, 2012
Very engaging and mufti-layered. Drama, thriller, historical fiction and non-fiction all in one. I think Seymour is every bit as good as P D James as a writer, but his stories are more complex and gripping.
February 22, 2014
Cracking good yarn for those interested in contemporary spy stories. Iran, London, and Turkey serve as the primary locales. Lots of layers which is a good thing but the author is always switching among the different story lines which requires that you pay attention.
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December 10, 2020DNF - I think this book came from a charity shop. I just can’t get into it and it is very dated, and espionage kind of needs to be up to date or it’s just boring. The writing was fairly good so I haven’t necessarily given up on this writer but I’m not interested in this subject matter.
December 30, 2012
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11613045
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11613045
April 15, 2013
I was a bit disappointed with this, it didn't seem to know if it was murder/mystery or a spy novel. I usually enjoy books by this author.
January 25, 2015
A not-so-fast paced spy story. It takes a bit of reading into the book for the two subplots to join together and make sense.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews