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Lachlan Fox #3
Blood Oil
Pre-dawn in the oil strip� In a white Ford courier van, one man is on his way to make sure the entire city hears his wake-up call.
Oil prices are rocketing. Terror attacks have destabilised the global economy. The White House believes the Nigerian oil fields are the key to safeguarding America’s future� but someone else sees them as an opportunity to increase their own power.
Travelling from New York to Nigeria, investigative journalist and ex-navy operative Lachlan Fox is hunting the story. He’s seen action in Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq but this time it’s personal. Wrestling with demons that push him right to the edge and leave him exposed like never before, will Fox uncover the truth in time? Or will his quest for revenge see him go too far?
Oil prices are rocketing. Terror attacks have destabilised the global economy. The White House believes the Nigerian oil fields are the key to safeguarding America’s future� but someone else sees them as an opportunity to increase their own power.
Travelling from New York to Nigeria, investigative journalist and ex-navy operative Lachlan Fox is hunting the story. He’s seen action in Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq but this time it’s personal. Wrestling with demons that push him right to the edge and leave him exposed like never before, will Fox uncover the truth in time? Or will his quest for revenge see him go too far?
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
James Phelan
31Ìýbooks258ÌýfollowersJames Phelan is the award-winning author of twenty-four novels and one work of non-fiction. He first studied and worked in architecture before turning to English/Lit, working five years at The Age newspaper, obtaining an MA (Writing) and PhD (Young Adult Literature).
Hachette has published his five geo-political thrillers: FOX HUNT, PATRIOT ACT, BLOOD OIL, LIQUID GOLD and RED ICE.
From 2010-2011, Hachette published the widely acclaimed ALONE trilogy of Young Adult post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels.
In 2013/2014, Scholastic published James' thirteen-book adventure series about the dream work THE LAST THIRTEEN. The multi-award winning series (2014 YABBA, COOL, KOALA awards) has been highly successful around the world, selling over a million copies in 18 months.
THE SPY (Hachette, 2013), was the first instalment in a new series of suspense thrillers with the protagonist Jed Walker, and is followed by THE HUNTED (2015), and KILL SWITCH (2015).
James is currently working on a follow-up trilogy to THE LAST THIRTEEN, more thrillers, and an illustrated middle-grade series titled GRANDPA SPIES.
James has taught writing at post-graduate level and regularly talks at schools, libraries and universities around the world. Since 2006 he has sold over 4 million copies of his books.
Hachette has published his five geo-political thrillers: FOX HUNT, PATRIOT ACT, BLOOD OIL, LIQUID GOLD and RED ICE.
From 2010-2011, Hachette published the widely acclaimed ALONE trilogy of Young Adult post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels.
In 2013/2014, Scholastic published James' thirteen-book adventure series about the dream work THE LAST THIRTEEN. The multi-award winning series (2014 YABBA, COOL, KOALA awards) has been highly successful around the world, selling over a million copies in 18 months.
THE SPY (Hachette, 2013), was the first instalment in a new series of suspense thrillers with the protagonist Jed Walker, and is followed by THE HUNTED (2015), and KILL SWITCH (2015).
James is currently working on a follow-up trilogy to THE LAST THIRTEEN, more thrillers, and an illustrated middle-grade series titled GRANDPA SPIES.
James has taught writing at post-graduate level and regularly talks at schools, libraries and universities around the world. Since 2006 he has sold over 4 million copies of his books.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 8, 2013
I really enjoy reading this series and cant wait for the next one.
November 24, 2019
Good plot - Needed more research on Nigeria
I enjoyed the plot of the book. It was well written and full of suspense. Once again, we see both the human frailty and strength of Character displayed by Lachlan Fox. To be candid, Micheal Rollins showing up towards the end when I thought he was dead was quite a shock, I didn’t see that coming. My only annoyance with the author was that the Nigerian names were not properly researched. A Core Northerner with the name ‘Brutus�? You’ve got to be kidding me! A bit more research would have helped the author know that Achebe is not a name borne by anyone on the North of Nigeria. It is a name synonymous with someone from the South Eastern part of the country. This was the sore part for me.
I enjoyed the plot of the book. It was well written and full of suspense. Once again, we see both the human frailty and strength of Character displayed by Lachlan Fox. To be candid, Micheal Rollins showing up towards the end when I thought he was dead was quite a shock, I didn’t see that coming. My only annoyance with the author was that the Nigerian names were not properly researched. A Core Northerner with the name ‘Brutus�? You’ve got to be kidding me! A bit more research would have helped the author know that Achebe is not a name borne by anyone on the North of Nigeria. It is a name synonymous with someone from the South Eastern part of the country. This was the sore part for me.
June 25, 2018
I found the book started slow however the plot lead to an exciting crescendo and climax. I think James Phelan overuses acronyms and initialisms way to much throughout the story
September 30, 2013
This is the third book of the Lachlan Fox series I read and although I thought the James Phelan had potential as a writer of thrilling books, I now doubt that first impression very much.
Three books and three times I had to really try hard to stay with the book till the end. All the scenes that are supposed to have me on the edge of my seat left me cold and bored. There was nothing thrilling about the book at all. In addition this book like the previous one had so many people in it and the plot was so complicated that I had trouble keeping up. Again, I concede that James Phelan gets most of his ducks in a row by books end, but it is almost painfully so. The first third of the book was rather boring and I really had trouble not to give up on it.
The topic of this book would also be rather unknown to most readers, and I only understood the motivation of the freedom fighters and the plight of the people of Nigeria because I had recently seen a documentary on the topic of the devastation caused by the oil production in this country. The book tries to give an insight to this plight at the beginning, but this is all lost in the plot of the book. What appeared to me in the beginning to be James Phelans attempt to use fiction to make a political point about the environmental rape being perpetrated upon Nigeria, failed utterly as this is the one duck that wasn't brought into the row.
In addition I feel that that global reporting syndicate is way too flush with money, and rather than restricting itself to reporting meddles with world affairs, thus creating news, not reporting on it. Which is not the job of a reporter.
Last but not least I must say that Lachlan Fox is not only an unbelievable character, but also not at all a likeable one. He drinks too much and is pathetic, not funny in his drinking. In the first part of the book he appears to be at a total loss and out to self-destruct with drinking himself into a stupor. He constantly rips his offsider for eating too much and I'd like to say, "he who sitteth in a glass house..."
The unbelievable part of Lachlan is that despite the book saying he just collided at 100 kms an hour with a vehicle and flipped the car over, despite severe leg injuries, despite the fact that he has exercised but little, and has done more drinking that eating healthy food, he sprints like an olympian, and jumps over cars and volts over trucks and fences. At some stage it's got to be the least bit realistic.
I will have to think very hard before I will put myself through another one of the Lachlan Fox series of books.
Three books and three times I had to really try hard to stay with the book till the end. All the scenes that are supposed to have me on the edge of my seat left me cold and bored. There was nothing thrilling about the book at all. In addition this book like the previous one had so many people in it and the plot was so complicated that I had trouble keeping up. Again, I concede that James Phelan gets most of his ducks in a row by books end, but it is almost painfully so. The first third of the book was rather boring and I really had trouble not to give up on it.
The topic of this book would also be rather unknown to most readers, and I only understood the motivation of the freedom fighters and the plight of the people of Nigeria because I had recently seen a documentary on the topic of the devastation caused by the oil production in this country. The book tries to give an insight to this plight at the beginning, but this is all lost in the plot of the book. What appeared to me in the beginning to be James Phelans attempt to use fiction to make a political point about the environmental rape being perpetrated upon Nigeria, failed utterly as this is the one duck that wasn't brought into the row.
In addition I feel that that global reporting syndicate is way too flush with money, and rather than restricting itself to reporting meddles with world affairs, thus creating news, not reporting on it. Which is not the job of a reporter.
Last but not least I must say that Lachlan Fox is not only an unbelievable character, but also not at all a likeable one. He drinks too much and is pathetic, not funny in his drinking. In the first part of the book he appears to be at a total loss and out to self-destruct with drinking himself into a stupor. He constantly rips his offsider for eating too much and I'd like to say, "he who sitteth in a glass house..."
The unbelievable part of Lachlan is that despite the book saying he just collided at 100 kms an hour with a vehicle and flipped the car over, despite severe leg injuries, despite the fact that he has exercised but little, and has done more drinking that eating healthy food, he sprints like an olympian, and jumps over cars and volts over trucks and fences. At some stage it's got to be the least bit realistic.
I will have to think very hard before I will put myself through another one of the Lachlan Fox series of books.
October 16, 2016
Blood Oil is the first James Phelan novel I read. I was immediately hooked by his clever adaptation of real world politics combined with a taunt, intelligent spy thriller narrative.
I also like that Phelan as an Australian author has kept his protagonist, Lachlan Fox, Australian. I think it is always great to see hero characters from other nationalities and cultures opposed to the standard white male, ex-military specialist trained American character present in so much of the fiction in this vein. Although, that said, Fox ticks all but one of those characteristics. But he’s still an Aussie.
While this is the third book in the Lachlan Fox series, I had no problem reading it out of order as each story is self-contained.
Like Tom Clancy, we are presented with many characters with many points of view that slowly come together for an exciting climax.
Blood Oil is about how reliant the world is on . . . you guessed it, oil. The U.S. Government is in crisis because of the escalating attacks by terrorist organisations against Nigerian drilling sites in the Niger Delta, threatening global supply.
Phelan has an excellent understanding of world politics and the conditions of life in emerging nations. He portrays this through clever references scattered through his narrative, bringing life to these far-flung locations.
If Phelan had one problem, I think his stories might be too political, and might not appeal to some readers who are more into this genre for its escapism appeal. Not that I mind that at all. I really like Phelan’s style, and Blood Oil is one of his best.
I also like that Phelan as an Australian author has kept his protagonist, Lachlan Fox, Australian. I think it is always great to see hero characters from other nationalities and cultures opposed to the standard white male, ex-military specialist trained American character present in so much of the fiction in this vein. Although, that said, Fox ticks all but one of those characteristics. But he’s still an Aussie.
While this is the third book in the Lachlan Fox series, I had no problem reading it out of order as each story is self-contained.
Like Tom Clancy, we are presented with many characters with many points of view that slowly come together for an exciting climax.
Blood Oil is about how reliant the world is on . . . you guessed it, oil. The U.S. Government is in crisis because of the escalating attacks by terrorist organisations against Nigerian drilling sites in the Niger Delta, threatening global supply.
Phelan has an excellent understanding of world politics and the conditions of life in emerging nations. He portrays this through clever references scattered through his narrative, bringing life to these far-flung locations.
If Phelan had one problem, I think his stories might be too political, and might not appeal to some readers who are more into this genre for its escapism appeal. Not that I mind that at all. I really like Phelan’s style, and Blood Oil is one of his best.
March 23, 2013
The last 150 pages really came home strong. I know Mr Fox is supposed to be lost and wayward for the first half of the book, but for me he was just a little too lost. I would have liked to see a bit more action earlier in the book to keep it moving along.
Also I would like to see chat acts who aren't named after actors of directors. For me those names just snap me back to the real world. I get the Scott brothers reference, the shane black, etc... Please, name your characters after people who don't exist. Please!
Also I would like to see chat acts who aren't named after actors of directors. For me those names just snap me back to the real world. I get the Scott brothers reference, the shane black, etc... Please, name your characters after people who don't exist. Please!
October 4, 2010
This was the 3rd book in this series but the first one I read. At first, or at least after the explosive opening, I thought it was moving a bit slow, but -- wow! At the end of part one (there's 3 parts), Lachlan Fox (the book/series hero) is hell bent on what I thought was revenge -- but in the end it was redemption. Reminded me of movie version of The Bourne Supremacy, and I've since read all this author's work.
October 16, 2012
I love Lauchlan Fox and thoroughly devoured Fox Hunt, but this was dark and a little bit scary, it's hard to imagine that this journalist will be able to emerge from the dark place he has taken himself to. Nigeria was frightening, and the level of corruption thoroughly believable. I wasn't too sure of the role of the British journalist, but the twist right at the end neatly brought the story together. Can't wait to read the next in the series.
December 21, 2016
I loved the continuing action story of the investigative journalist Lachlan Fox and his sidekick Al Grimaldi. This story was action packed and filled with twists and turns. I couldnt put the story down and was then excited to pick it back up again. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cant wait to read the next Lachlan Fox episode
October 12, 2015
Wow! Just freaking, WOW!
This book is a fast-paced and breathtaking ride! Character development is well done and you feel the intensity of all the characters. The author nicely blurs the lines between fiction and current events. This is a book that will be hard to put down.
This book is a fast-paced and breathtaking ride! Character development is well done and you feel the intensity of all the characters. The author nicely blurs the lines between fiction and current events. This is a book that will be hard to put down.
August 15, 2012
Well written, and possibly the most violent novel I have ever read. Not as good as this author's Alone trilogy, but I will read more.
July 20, 2014
Picked up the book in a hurry from the Library and it turn out to be a very interesting one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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