Thirst for Justice: A Novel

Written by David R. Boyd

Narrated by Geoffrey Pounsett

“Fast and fierce” – Kirkus Reviews

For readers of John Grisham and William Deverell comes a political thriller ripped from today’s headlines. Lawyer and environmental activist David R. Boyd writes a riveting thriller about the psychological toll of a humanitarian crisis. Filled with tension and courtroom drama, Thirst for Justice will have you questioning what you believe about right versus wrong.

Michael MacDougall is a talented trauma surgeon whose life in Seattle is slowly unraveling. Frustrated as an ER doctor and with his marriage in trouble, he volunteers with a medical aid charity in the Congo. Disconsolate at the lives he cannot save in the desperate conditions of the region, he is shattered by a roadside confrontation with the mercenary Mai Mai that results in unthinkable losses.

Back home in Seattle, he is haunted by his experiences in Africa and what he sees as society’s failure to provide humanitarian aid to those who most desperately need it. Locked in a downward spiral, he becomes obsessed with making his government listen to him and dreams up an act of terrorism to shock his nation awake.

Activist and lawyer David Boyd’s debut novel is a taut political thriller that begs the question: how far is too far when you’re seeking justice?

• Language: English
• Publisher: ECW
• Release date: Feb 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781773052113

Reviews for Thirst for Justice

[Amy Hagberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love a good legal thriller. The plot of Thirst for Justice is unique and intriguing, fast-paced and thought-provoking, like something ripped out of today’s headlines. For me, one of the biggest benefits of being a bookie is learning something new, and boy-oh-boy, do I feel enlightened about the humanitarian crisis in Africa, environmental law, and bioterrorism. The problem with David Boyd’s novel is that it’s an obvious debut full of rookie writing missteps. What bothered me most was how much time he spent describing minutia throughout the book. I wanted to don my editor’s hat and take out my electronic red pencil to fix it. All-in-all, though, it is a pretty good first novel. I bet his next one will be even better. For more reviews visit amyhagberg.com.