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Writer's pictureGemma

I Am Pilgrim By Terry Hayes

Updated: Mar 10, 2019

Our Score:★★★★★★★★✩✩


GENRE: Thriller, Mystery

Selected by Gemma - August 2015

SYNOPSIS:

Pilgrim is the codename for a man who doesn’t exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Before he disappeared into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation.

But that book will come back to haunt him. It will help NYPD detective Ben Bradley track him down. And it will take him to a rundown New York hotel room where the body of a woman is found facedown in a bath of acid, her features erased, her teeth missing, her fingerprints gone. It is a textbook murder – and Pilgrim wrote the book.

What begins as an unusual and challenging investigation will become a terrifying race-against-time to save America from oblivion. Pilgrim will have to make a journey from a public beheading in Mecca to a deserted ruins on the Turkish coast via a Nazi death camp in Alsace and the barren wilderness of the Hindu Kush in search of the faceless man who would commit an appalling act of mass murder in the name of his God.


(synopsis taken from Amazon)

 

STORY BEHIND THE BOOK:

Gemma:

This book was a big risk for me. I never normally would be drawn to a book like this as I presumed it would be an action, male oriented, complicated read and so would normally avoid. However, on this occasion I felt that I needed a completely different kind of novel to the ones we had been reading and I am always striving to find my 'wow' book. I really liked the concept of the book and although I kept dismissing it and looking for other alternatives I kept coming back to I Am Pilgrim. After reading so many positive reviews I therefore selected this for my next book choice.

 

REVIEWS: (Contains spoilers)


Gemma's Thoughts:

Reading this book was like watching a film; I could picture every scene, every character and every emotion. At times I did get a bit confused with all the different story lines and characters weaving through the book but having flicked back and forth a few times I was back on track. The size of the book didn't bother me and in fact I loved the fact that there was a lot to read, as I didn't want the story to end. Although I was desperate to find out the outcome of the crimes. For me this was everything and more that I hoped this book would be. It was fast paced, thought provoking subject matter, modern and believable. I would go as far as saying that this is the best book that I have read all year and did have the 'wow' factor. I would definitely recommend this novel to serious readers looking for an amazing read. It just goes to show that by stepping away from your preferred genres sometimes does lead to greater things.


Emma's Thoughts:

The first thing to mention about this book is that it's huge (you'll need a wheely case if you want to drag it on the train to work!) but... it was an alright read. It could be confusing and I'm not keen on having to go back and re-read parts of a book to get what's happening (especially when it's this big and we only had a month to read it). It was a great start that certainly grabbed your attention and a completely plausible novel. The rest of the BookCosy group seemed to enjoy it.


 

THE SCORES:

Emma: 6

Gemma: 8

Karen: 7

Maria: 8

Nic: 10

Pamela: 8

Sandra: 9

 

Average 8


Let us know what you thought about this book. We would love to read your reviews and hear what you would score it.


If you enjoyed reading this book why not try:

  • The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

  • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

  • Capital by John Lanchester

  • The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

  • The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Happy reading!

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