The Year of the Locust: The ground-breaking second novel from the internationally bestselling author of I AM PILGRIM
£10.50£20.90 (-50%)
‘Worth the wait… an often captivating, mass-market adventure story’ The Times
‘Compelling, nerve-jangling and breathlessly exciting… Totally immersive’ Irish Independent
‘Don’t make any plans for the week after you start reading’ Daily Mirror
‘Has all the cinematic sweep and verve as Hayes’ debut… just as enthralling’ Financial Times
‘Compare this with the thrillers written by Mr or Mrs Clinton, and you come away feeling that Hayes is the one who has more inside knowledge’ Telegraph
‘Move over Jason Bourne. CIA operative Kane redefines the smart but vulnerable bad ass super spy in this dazzling cat-and-mouse thriller where the entire globe is a chessboard, and everyone’s playing for keeps’ Lisa Gardner
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A Financial Times Best Thriller of the Year 2023
If, like Kane, you’re a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again – by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide – and when to shoot.
But some places don’t play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane’s experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place – a place where violence is the only way to survive.
Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West – but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart…
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Praise for Terry Hayes
‘Sure to keep you on the edge of your seat’ Scotsman
‘Brilliant on the way agents operate and how the US spies on the world’ The Sun
‘Epic and immersive, new and unexpected… his research into spycraft is deep and compelling’ Mail on Sunday
‘He is brilliant at action and military technology’ Sunday Times
‘Great, nail-biting stuff’ Robert Goddard
‘Huge ambition and even huger talent’ Stav Sherez
‘Compelling and wildly inventive storytelling’ Chris Ewan
‘[Hayes has] the dexterity of the accomplished storyteller that he so obviously is’ David Baldacci
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Additional information
| Publisher | Bantam, 1st edition (9 Nov. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 672 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0593064968 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0593064962 |
| Dimensions | 16.3 x 4.2 x 24.2 cm |
by Sceptic a la M. Teste
I Am Pilgrim was a superb thriller that kept momentum for over 600 pages. This is almost unheard of with any work of fiction. Terry Hayes is a talented man and he deserved all the accolates for his first book which if possible deserves a 6 or even 7 star review.
There has been a wait of almost a decade for The Year Of The Locust and it shows. The first 2/3 of the book are in a similar style to the first book. The characterisations are a bit less effective, the plotting is a bit less sharp, but on the whole it begins as a worthy second novel. However, the book suddenly morphs into another genre and becomes science fiction of a sort. Perhaps the book was started, set aside, and on returning to it the author decided to try something new. Perhaps it would have been better to complete this book in its original style and then do a third and separate book in another genre.
This was disappointing but on the positive side, in preparation for reading this book, I reread I Am Pilgrim and aside from skipping a few pages here and there found it as fine a read as when I first encountered almost 10 years ago.
by K. Edwards
Having waited desperately for many a year having utterly loved I Am Pilgrim I unsurprisingly devoured this in under 24 hours.
It was everything we have dreamed of until about 75% of the way through there is a plot twist which really does come from nowhere which I won’t even hint at for fear of spoiling it for others, at the moment I don’t know how I feel about it, whether it was madness or genius.
The characters are beautifully crafted with a hero truly worthy of the title who is also entirely likeable giving the reader a reason to be invested in the outcome. There is little ‘background’ about any of the players and each has character and a story that you want to know.
All in all, a great story but did I love it? Not sure yet.
by Codexy
110 pages in and on chapter 44 and in seconds be on chapter 45…..some chapters barely a page long. The only complaint I have so far, all the very short chapters, there is no logical reason to have them so short….very annoying and cost you a star!
by S A Jubb
I loved I Am Pilgrim, so have been anticipating the release of the Year of the Locust for some time. I made the mistake of reading a review in the press which hinted at the large twist and the merging of Science Fiction and thriller genres, so was apprehensive when I started the book. I should not have worried, however. The first half of the book is brilliant and those who like I am Pilgrim will enjoy it too. The twist, when it comes, works for me. I think Terry Hayes pulls it off and if anything it adds to the book and although many books claim to be ‘un-putdownable,’ this was genuinely in that category.
Hayes has been criticized for his lack of characterization and style, but I think that is unjustified and if anything adds to the book, as you are able to use your imagination, rather than have everything spelled out. It may not be deliberate, but the air of mystery around the central character – just as there was in I Am Pilgrim – is effective.
As with hist first book, the detail of the plot, weaving various strands and sub plots together – Saigon and the Magus stand out – were excellent.
Now, having finished the book. I just hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years Mr Hayes 🙂
by Nicola McCoy
Well I enjoyed it and it’s been a very long wait. Part four takes you on a different path it feels like there was a break in writing and uncertainty on how to convey the message and bring a conclusion but I’ve given it five stars why because you can’t put it down so much is so well researched and written and even part four opens the idea of what could happen if we continue on our current trajectory I see what he was trying to do with that aspect.
by Danny Bermant
The first 3/4 of this book was finely written and mesmerising – I consumed it all in one sitting. Then that twist… I hated it. Not only did it break the spell of the book and take it into a completely different genre, but it was so poorly written – like an amateurish soap opera. It was as if the two parts of the book were written by completely different people, one a master of his craft and one… not. I could barely make it to the end. Such a disappointment after the utterly brilliant first part.
by Eilís
I was absolutely riveted and enjoying this book so so so much…. until Part Four the last 25 percent.
What on earth happened?
Its almost as if Mr Hayes could not finish his original manuscript….. then started a second totally different book in a different genre……got many many annoyed phone calls from his publisher……..and then thought what the heck I’ll stick these two together.
Yup its that disappointing. Like fusion food + fusion music gone mad and bad.
On a positive note, the book is still great value as it is very lengthy, so if you stop at the end of Part Three + imagine up a different ending, its still worth buying it.
by Karen Lynch
The first 3 parts of this novel are a good read … agree on the short chapters being odd. Part 4 lost me. I’m not going to include a spoiler but it went off the rails I know some of this was set up in part 3 but this part genuinely feels like a different author/genre and I’m not sure why it took this direction. I’ve 20% left to read and I’m unsure if it’s going to redeem itself. I think I am pilgrim is a better read it terms of spy/thriller genre.