Bruno_30, blogger and contributor to the 20 Minutes Books reading group, recommends “The Year of the Grasshopper” by Terry Hayes, published on March 20, 2024 by Éditions JC. Slats.
His favorite quote:
“ – Imagine an escape – a terrorist back from the dead, fireworks planned for Thanksgiving, most of the Western world as a potential target and not the slightest idea how it could happen… Panic to her alone would risk annihilating us in twenty-four hours. » […] It all started with a bad night, the worst of the entire mission, and it got worse quickly. »
Why this book?
- Because we like very professional writing, fluid and well-paced, from this author who arrives a little late in the very conventional world of the spy thriller but who manages to skillfully draw his pen from the game. His books do not revolutionize the genre but we are a good audience and we wants again and again, to embark alongside the very strong and very clever superhero who will save the United States (and the rest of the world with, phew) from the clutches of evil Islamist terrorists.
- Because even if all this is written with a good dose of hackneyed clichés, a bit of trendy technology, a bit of wry humor, a clever mix of testosterone and adrenaline, in short nothing very new under the Kabul sun, you still have to know how to dose these ingredients with care and a little brilliance if possible. Just like his superhero, Terry Hayes does the job and he does it well.
- Because we like to take long walks digressions of this author, it is a bit his trademark. One character tells us a certain perilous anecdote, another remembers a particular mission in the Middle East or a particular adventure in Vietnam, then we are given lengthy and pointless details of such a plane stopover in Riyadh… leaving the main plot to unfold little by little. little by little in the background, slowly over the pages. This is what gives all the charm to these big paving stones when the reader lets himself be wandered around because he is in no hurry to reach the end of a long journey of 400 pages.
- Because we’re going to be surprised halfway through the nerve by Terry Hayes who lets loose a little and who pulls out of his hat an adventure that is really too much and of a rather surprising kind here, about which we cannot say anything without obviously divulging but which will certainly take the reader on the wrong foot: be careful, one grasshopper can hide another. But let’s remain a good audience and trust this inventive author and exuberant screenwriter to find a way to get back on his feet.
The essentials in 2 minutes
The plot. An agent must enter Afghanistan to exfiltrate an informant likely to inform the CIA about a dangerous terrorist who everyone thought was dead but who is planning a terrible attack, a September 11-style fireworks display. But nothing is going to go as planned!
Characters. Roman Kazinsky known as Abu Muslim Al-Tundra, the awful terrorist, former Spetsnaz, former Chechen, in short, the devil incarnate. Ridley Walker, the invincible CIA agent: he is the one who will save the world. His sweetheart is Rebecca, his CIA boss is Falcon.
Places. The Middle East of course: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, … Langley at CIA headquarters.
The time. Nowadays… but there will be big surprises: it’s impossible to say more here.
The author. Terry Hayes is a screenwriter who worked on the Mad Max series and who divides his life between Great Britain and Australia. We recently discovered his first thriller: I am Pilgrim which was a great success.
This book was read with the comfortable feeling of being able to curl up in your armchair to anticipate the pleasure of a few hours of cinema on the big screen in Imax and technicolor!
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