Grave Island

This book captured me from the first page. This is a real page Turner and the subject matter is very frightening. Counterfeit drugs which ears deadly, ISIS and a sacked military intelligence agent. This book is a rare rollercoaster travelling half way round the world chasing counterfeit drugs and trying to stop them. The premise for this book makes you think and scares you at the same time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast paced thriller.
I would like to thank the author Andrew Smyth,Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

Grave Island is what I would class as a pharmaceutical thriller. It's still drugs but not quite the same as you would find available on most streets. Through Phillips investigation, it gives us a glimpse of what this dark and scary world is like.

The story takes us to some great locations. Not sure how safe some of the places would actually be for tourists but they are countries I would love to actually see for myself. It certainly showed a darker side to the areas in question and like visiting anywhere new for the first time, you certainly have to keep your wits about you.

The author weaves a tangled web of lies and deceit with some horrifying consequences. The book itself will certainly appeal to those who enjoy a good conspiracy story. There isn't many thrillers that have the same story line making this authors book stand out in it's genre. A compelling and intriguing read.

I loved this book, it was a completely different type of crime thriller. It moved along at a good pace, and to some exotic locations, although some seem more exotic than they are in reality.

I really wouldn’t be surprised if this sort of thing happened, and it did remind me of the film The Constant Gardener.

I must say, I did like Phil, and felt sorry for him, that after his stint in the army he was forced to leave without really giving his side. Typical government departments they believe what they want.

I would like this character to continue as I think he has the making of a spook.

Happy Publication Day!This is the very first book I have read by Andrew and I must say I am very impressed! I must admit it took me a few chapters to get into the story but then it had me hooked… Grave Island is different from those everyday thrillers we read, unique… BUT a brilliant story I enjoyed.

You can tell Andrew has put a lot of time and effort into researching this story and I learnt some new information myself from this book about medicine and drug companies. Once I got into the story I didn’t want to put it down. Grave Island is a fast paced, easy to read mystery thriller.

I would highly recommend to you all! A well deserved four stars. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Will Philip solve what happened? He is one determined man.

Grave Island Andrew Smyth

Have you ever wondered where your prescription drugs and medicine come from. No? Neither had I until I read this book.

Army investigator Philip Hennessey finds himself discharged from the service when evidence is planted on him to suggest he has broken military protocol. Out on civvy street he is asked to use his investigative skills to look into the death of a friend-of-a-friend.

This leads to him digging into the private hospitals of London and where they get their drugs from.

What a can of worms that opens. The illicit trade in drugs is massive. Drugs brought cheap in 3rd world countries and repackaged for the UK market, and sold at UK prices, are making people a semi-legitimate profit. But people who are prepared to do that are one step away from buying out of date drugs, which are worse than useless. People who are prepared to do that are one step away from buying completely illegal counterfeit drugs to supply to hospitals.

It’s not long before Hennessey is embroiled in an investigation which takes him around the world, putting him in danger from more than one quarter.

This is a really good story from a modern day Hammond Innes. Believable and realistic it leads the reader on a race around the globe to stop the trade in illegal drugs.

I loved this story. It took me right back to the thrillers I used to read back in the 70’s and 80’s, but with all the modern twists.

I enjoy books that get me reaching for google to research places and crimes, and this book had me doing that a lot.

Pages: File Size 1899KB
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Available now

Now when this story begins a lot seems to happen all at once with three very different story lines shooting out of the chapters in very quick succession. Then before you know it things begin to click together and a very powerful, intriguing and jaw dropping story begins to emerge.
Oh boy I think that it is the first time that I actually went to my meds and read the info about them! Thing is I think most people are like me. We just trust certain people in society without question. We don’t have a choice most of the time because we simply don’t have the knowledge.
What begins as a promise made in Afghanistan to a distraught mother tangles up with a promise made to a daughter, to look into her father’s untimely death in a UK hospital. All made possible because Philip Hennessey had been set up and discharged from his role as an army intelligence officer.
Oh my this is such a gripping story line and as I am reading I am thinking bloody hell could this happen? Does this happen, may be not here but else where? It got me where I didn’t know who were the good guys and who were scum bags. This book was definitely audio because I never shut up, talking to Hennessey, cursing at decisions and hopelessly giving useless advice. Damn national health cut backs!
A super thriller with a pretty unique story line, set in some unusual globe-trotting locations with a tense and very satisfying ending. Hope to see Hennessey back in future novels.

I found this book very slow going at the start while Philip was in the Army. There was suspicious circumstances surrounding his discharge from the army but then he was approached by a friend of his ex-wife's who wanted him to look into the death of her husband.

This was the start of a roller coaster ride that didn't let up, it was full of twists and turns but so intriguing, it had you hooked. Phillip got hooked as well and didn't want to give up although the trail took him overseas and endangered his life but little did he realise there was danger close to home as well.

There must have been a lot of research for this book as the plot was very involved and well written , my only downside was the start, once he started investigating was when it got interesting for me.If we could give half stars, I would give 4.5, will keep an eye on this author

An unusual thought-provoking modern thriller!

This was my first novel by Andrew Smyth, and I wasn’t disappointed, as it turned out to be an unusual thought-provoking modern thriller!

It features Phillip Hennessy, and the tale is woven in the first person. It starts in Afghanistan whereby Phillip has to make several life and death decisions, all part of his position as an army intelligence officer. Later when he returns home he finds that someone has set him up, so Phillip is discredited, meaning an abrupt end to his career.

What next? Quite unexpectedly Phillip is approached by his ex-wife’s best friend, Greta, and his investigative skills are certainly tested. He finds himself on a quest starting in London with rather sudden death, and then travelling around the world, only to discover a network of utterly useless, illegal, counterfeit drugs, which become infiltrated in authentic pharmaceuticals!

Phillip has to decide who of his allies can be trusted. There are so many twists and turns, certainly making ‘Grave Island’ a real page-turner. Can you imagine the impact and repercussions this would have on thousands of people? Wow...who is behind this? Also, will there be a love interest in any future novels? I look forward to Andrew Smyth’s next offering.

Galadriel.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

What a superb action packed thriller! I loved it. Very thought provoking with contemporary issues including counterfeit prescription drugs and radicalisation. It would be good to read more about Phillip Hennessy in future novels. Highly recommended.