‘Freefall’ by Adam Handy

Published by Headline,
2 November 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-47223352-3 (PB)

Photo-journalist John Wallace is in hiding after exposing the shadowy Pendulum conspiracy. But an assassination attempt makes him believe he is still being targeted. There are only two people he can trust - Detective Inspector Patrick Bailey and FBI agent Christine Ash. But Bailey is seeking his own solace in the bottom of a bottle to cope with the after effects of being shot, and Ash is dealing with a sick serial killer and her own nightmares. However, the suspicious death of a London journalist brings the three of them together again, and they are plunged into a nightmare deadlier than anything any of them have faced before.

Freefall, the second in a trilogy by Adam Hamdy, picks up where book one finished and is a big book in all senses of the word - big plot, big characters and a lot of pages. Hamdy propels you into the action from the very first page and grips you until the end – the story flies by. It’s a switchback of a ride with one overarching question - who can we, the reader, trust? The answer is absolutely nobody, not even our three main protagonists. So many of the characters go from hero to zero and back again that it leaves your head spinning. The plot twists one way, then does a complete about turn – there is no second-guessing the author in this book.

As well as the three main characters, there are a fair few others that have their own chapters, but Hamdy makes sure each one is distinct with their particular part to play in the story. All of them are flawed and all of them are put through the mill. And, a bit like in Game of Thrones - no character is safe.

Freefall is everything you need in a thriller – action-packed and high octane with an underlying menace. It also explores the emotional fall-out for an ordinary man trying to do the right thing. As it is the second in a trilogy I urge you to read the first, Pendulum, before embarking on this one, as I think you do need to know John Wallace’s backstory, and the part Pendulum plays in Freefall. I, for one, and looking forward to the third book.

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Reviewer: Mary-Jane Riley

Adam Hamdy is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker. In addition to his own original work, Adam has adapted a number of comic books and novels for the screen, including the forthcoming film version of David Mitchell’s novel, Number9Dream. Pendulum is Adam’s third novel. Adam lives in Shropshire with his wife and three children.

To read a review of Pendulum the first book in the trilogy, click on the title.

http://www.adamhamdy.com/

Mary-Jane Riley wrote her first story on her newly acquired blue Petite typewriter. She was eight. It was about a gang of children who had adventures on mysterious islands, but she soon realised Enid Blyton had cornered that particular market. So she wrote about the Wild West instead. When she grew up she had to earn a living, and became a BBC radio talk show presenter and journalist. She has covered many life-affirming stories, but also some of the darkest events of the past two decades. Then, in true journalistic style, she decided not to let the facts get in the way of a good story and got creative. She wrote for women's magazines and small presses. She formed WriteOutLoud with two writer friends to help charities get their message across using their life stories. Now she is writing psychological suspense, drawing on her experiences in journalism. The Bad Things by Mary-Jane Riley was published by Harper Collins/Killer Reads. Her second book, After She Fell, was published by Killer Reads in April 2016.  To read the review click on the title.