I recently read and reviewed another of Olufunmi Omopariola Olayinka's books, The Dragon Society (click through to read that review), and was impressed with how she managed to take a subject that was rather fantastical - namely a powerful and deadly occultist group - and render it totally believable and realistic. The Terrorists has a similar angle - the plot initially seems far-fetched but she makes it seem so real and convincing that by the end, I had bought into it, shuddering with the realisation that this is something that could possibly happen one day. (I'm not telling you any more about the plot though or it will spoil it for you !)
The book opens with scenes that are becoming horribly common - a suicide-bomber taking out himself and lots of innocent victims in a public place. It is assumed that he is representing the Boko Haram terrorist group and his shocked family have to come to terms with the fact that the loving, kind person they knew and loved had a hidden darker side. When a second suicide bomber kills himself in similar circumstances, with an equally unsuspecting family left scratching their heads, police sergeant Samantha Daniels starts to suspect that things aren't as clear-cut as they seem and decides to go undercover to get to the truth.
I initially felt slightly uneasy about a story that promoted the idea that terrorists could be blameless, or that seemed to be commercially exploiting the climate of fear and incomprehension surrounding the current wave of terrorist attacks, be they Daech, Boko Haram or any other group, and I certainly got a few strange looks when reading the book on the bus on the way to work ! As I got further into the story though, I realised that the real terrorists weren't being absolved of guilt, even if they weren't the obvious suspects.
It's a chilling story with an interesting plot that really makes you think. I did roll my eyes at the romantic interlude at the end of the novel that seemed pointless and not really in-keeping with the rest of the book, but maybe I'm just too cynical ! It's a short book - only 136 pages - so I was surprised at how powerful and gripping it is. If you like thrillers and science fiction with a realistic edge, you'll love it.
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £7.99
- Paperback: 142 pages
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (24 Nov. 2015)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1518727360
- ISBN-13: 978-1518727368
- Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 0.8 x 22.9 cm
Disclosure : I received the book in order to write an honest review.
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