Holy War

Written by Mike Bond

Narrated by David de Vries

Terrorism is not new to Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East. It was, is, and will be a Holy War.

Searching for Islamic terrorist Mohammed, a British MI6 agent and French Foreign Legionnaire cross paths as one seeks Mohammed for help to stop slaughter in Beirut while the other is on a mission of revenge for his brother who was killed by Mohammed's terrorist cell.

They are caught in a cat and mouse chase that reveals the depths to which Rosa, a remorseless Palestinian guerrilla, will go to protect Mohammed, and the tragedies facing innocent residents of Beirut like Anne-Marie, who is caught in the middle.

"Suspense-laden ... a never-ending sense of impending doom ... An unyielding tension leaves a lasting impression." - Kirkus

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781536674699

Mike Bond

Called "the master of the existential thriller" (BBC), "one of America's best thriller writers" (Culture Buzz) and "one of the 21st century's most exciting authors" (Washington Times), Mike Bond is the author of eight best-selling novels, a war and human rights journalist, ecologist, and award-winning poet. Based on his own experiences in many dangerous and war-torn regions of the world, his novels portray the innate hunger of the human heart for good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister conspiracies of dictators, corporations and politicians, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.

Reviews for Holy War

[greatbookescapes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mohammed a Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut is being sought by the English and French; Neill is a journalist working secretly for MI6 trying to get the story of how Mohammed, seeking a peace to end the fighting could stop the slaughter. Andre is a French Commando avenging his brother, Yves a US Marine’s death. Rosa is a Palestinian guerrilla who will do anything to protect Mohammed who she believes is the greatest hope to win the war. All of their lives are interwoven into the horrors what will happen.

Neill’s past is caught up in the present with a love that never left him, a marriage he failed, and hate for himself for destroying lives. When Andre meets Anne-Marie he understands how love changes the meaning of living. However, each cannot stop themselves doing what they came to do, despite their now conflicting emotions.

At the end of the book I felt sorry for the dog that Andre became responsible for, feeling its fear and loss as it searches for him, and I think this is an important part to think about.

Holy War by Mike Bond calls on his own experience in the Middle East to give authenticity to the horrors of massacre told in the book. The smells, taste, noise, dust, and fear are communicated so clearly to be an account of the situation in active fighting. Why each person chooses to follow their own path is woven into their consciences revealed as their paths slowly move towards each other. Holy War shows a brutal and honest account that sets out to describe the war in the Middle East without leading the reader in any direction, giving each side a history of their own. This story is more than just a war; it is about individuals on all sides.

What I like best about this book

This is a terrific book that does not favour any side in this messed up Holy War, but shows the futility fighting something which can never be won. There is a sadness that describes a once beautiful country being destroyed, and where people are still trying to live normal lives among the destruction.

I like the way each character is gradually laid bare so that there is no good or bad, nothing written judgmentally. It is as if Bond is saying, this is the story, it is as it is, these are the people, nothing more, nothing less.

Hearing about the war in the Middle East on the news is so repetitive I admit that I fail to listen anymore not understanding any of it. Holy War has helped me to understand a little more of what is happening and why it continues.

There is nothing I disliked about this book.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review

Publication Date: March 5, 2014
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
ISBN: 9781627040143