The only thing I don't like about Terry Hayes' debut novel I Am Pilgrim (#409) is the cover art. So don't judge this thriller by its rather bland cover. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time.
It begins with what appears to be a perfect murder in a dismal New York City hotel room. What it leads to is a terrorist attack launched by a single unknown and unidentifiable person capable of destroying Western Civilization in the most brutal fashion. Based on some recent news stories, the possibilities raised by this intricately plotted book are terrifyingly plausible. Thank goodness the shadowy protagonist of this blood-pressure raising novel is on our side.
The characters are well developed and interesting, and the multiple threads of the plot are woven together in such a way that the reader never really has a problem keeping track of what's happening in the present, or how the past has influenced the events transpiring. It all seems to make perfect sense as you read it. At over 600 pages in length, that's a lot of ground to cover, but trust me, you won't want to put I Am Pilgrim down. You'll only be sorry when the thrill ride is over.
Terry Hayes is primarily a film writer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see this story on screen someday. It would make a fabulous action film, but it sure would be a shame to miss the interior life of the novel's narrator. Like Shogun, I think that's the best part of the story, but one not easily captured on screen. You'll just have to read it and judge for yourself.
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