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Marika Hartmann #1
Rotten Gods
The end begins now. A new wave of terror threatens a world torn by inequality, conflict, economic disaster and environmental chaos. Heads of state gather in Dubai in an attempt to bring society back from the brink of global catastrophe. But when extremists hijack the conference centre, the clock starts seven days until certain death for presidents and prime ministers alike, unless the terrorists' radical demands are met. A treasonous British diplomat, an Australian intelligence officer, an airline pilot searching for his missing daughters, a mysterious Somali agent, and a disillusioned UN official are all forced to examine their motives, faith and beliefs as they attempt to stave off disaster, hurtling towards the deadline and a shattering climax. Rotten Gods is both an imaginative tour de force and a dire warning, holding the reader spellbound until the last breathtaking page.
464 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Greg Barron
21Ìýbooks111ÌýfollowersCrime, terrorism, history, international politics and the wide open spaces of outback Australia are all passionate interests of author Greg Barron. He has lived in North America, New South Wales and in and around Katherine, Northern Territory. He once crossed Arnhem Land on foot, and has a passion for the Top End landscape.
His books, published by HarperCollins Australia and Stories of Oz Publishing, are gutsy pageturners that tell the truth about the world. Rotten Gods was long listed for the prestigious Ned Kelly awards, and has been lauded as "one of the most sophisticated geopolitical thrillers ever written." Savage Tide was described by ABC Radio reviewer Rob Minshull as; "Both supremely intelligent and written at breathtaking pace."
Camp Leichhardt is the first of his Australian stories to see print, and was serialised in 2016 to wide acclaim. Rotten Gods, Savage Tide, Voodoo Dawn and Lethal Sky all feature Marika Hartmann, the Australian intelligence agent who has won the hearts of readers all over the world.
His books, published by HarperCollins Australia and Stories of Oz Publishing, are gutsy pageturners that tell the truth about the world. Rotten Gods was long listed for the prestigious Ned Kelly awards, and has been lauded as "one of the most sophisticated geopolitical thrillers ever written." Savage Tide was described by ABC Radio reviewer Rob Minshull as; "Both supremely intelligent and written at breathtaking pace."
Camp Leichhardt is the first of his Australian stories to see print, and was serialised in 2016 to wide acclaim. Rotten Gods, Savage Tide, Voodoo Dawn and Lethal Sky all feature Marika Hartmann, the Australian intelligence agent who has won the hearts of readers all over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 3, 2014
I had Rotten Gods sitting on my shelf for a very long time. I jumped at the chance to request it through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway program because I like to support Australian novelist. But when I received it, I’ll be honest I was very intimidated by sheer size of it. Also going into a country that I’m not familiar with, such as Dubai and the Middle East, and the subject matter of global warming, terrorist and politics, delved into areas way beyond my comprehension.
It’s only when I started following Greg Barron on twitter, hearing praise for his latest book, Lethal Sky, that I became increasingly curious.
I knew Rotten Gods was going to be full on action but it gave me so much more then I anticipated. It made me ponder about our changing world, and what’s to become of it, and our lives, in the near future.
The book is divided in 7 parts representing 7-days of the world creation and the terrorists deadline. Rotten God opens up each chapter with a biblical quote of Gods creation and it then shifts to the present; detailing the slow destruction of our planet caused by human greed, carelessness and neglect. I thought this was cleverly carried off, as it sets off a foundation/core reason for the events that follows. And the terrifying fact is, it feels awfully realistic and thought provoking.
Dr Ali Khalid Abukar, a respectable man and a humanitarian, has seen too much destruction and poverty in his lifetime, and no one will listen. Dr Abukar loses his mind when he forms an alliance with savage terrorist to hijack a conference centre in Dubai, where UN officials and president across the globe are gathered to discussed global warming issues. And the same time, 2 innocent children and their nanny of a British foreign affairs secretary, Isabella Thompson, are kidnapped; blackmailing her to assist in their cause. They have 7 days for the world leaders to agree to their demands; otherwise everyone in the conference centre will die.
Greg’s knowledge of the Middle East, terrorist organisations, and their religious beliefs is astounding. I can see that Greg’s poured everything he had into this book and I appreciate that he wanted us to get to know these people better, but I felt that the background information slightly overwhelming.
The second half of the book is where it picked up for me, it was more plot driven and less detailed. And at this point, I couldn’t read fast enough. It was insanely intense and literary a race against time. Greg puts his people through hell and back. The terrorists they’re dealing with are vicious human beings with unstable mind. Anything will set them off and they will not think twice about putting their own life in the firing line for the sake of their cause. Greg is remarkably in tune when it comes to terrorist; reading their train of thoughts, their manner and actions, which make them and situation frightening, but at the same time authentic.
Rotten Gods is definitely a riveting book as it progressed and I wouldn’t hesitate to read the next book in the series.
It’s only when I started following Greg Barron on twitter, hearing praise for his latest book, Lethal Sky, that I became increasingly curious.
I knew Rotten Gods was going to be full on action but it gave me so much more then I anticipated. It made me ponder about our changing world, and what’s to become of it, and our lives, in the near future.
The book is divided in 7 parts representing 7-days of the world creation and the terrorists deadline. Rotten God opens up each chapter with a biblical quote of Gods creation and it then shifts to the present; detailing the slow destruction of our planet caused by human greed, carelessness and neglect. I thought this was cleverly carried off, as it sets off a foundation/core reason for the events that follows. And the terrifying fact is, it feels awfully realistic and thought provoking.
Dr Ali Khalid Abukar, a respectable man and a humanitarian, has seen too much destruction and poverty in his lifetime, and no one will listen. Dr Abukar loses his mind when he forms an alliance with savage terrorist to hijack a conference centre in Dubai, where UN officials and president across the globe are gathered to discussed global warming issues. And the same time, 2 innocent children and their nanny of a British foreign affairs secretary, Isabella Thompson, are kidnapped; blackmailing her to assist in their cause. They have 7 days for the world leaders to agree to their demands; otherwise everyone in the conference centre will die.
Greg’s knowledge of the Middle East, terrorist organisations, and their religious beliefs is astounding. I can see that Greg’s poured everything he had into this book and I appreciate that he wanted us to get to know these people better, but I felt that the background information slightly overwhelming.
The second half of the book is where it picked up for me, it was more plot driven and less detailed. And at this point, I couldn’t read fast enough. It was insanely intense and literary a race against time. Greg puts his people through hell and back. The terrorists they’re dealing with are vicious human beings with unstable mind. Anything will set them off and they will not think twice about putting their own life in the firing line for the sake of their cause. Greg is remarkably in tune when it comes to terrorist; reading their train of thoughts, their manner and actions, which make them and situation frightening, but at the same time authentic.
Rotten Gods is definitely a riveting book as it progressed and I wouldn’t hesitate to read the next book in the series.
April 29, 2013
There's something about the combination of a big threat thriller and fundamentalist based threats that makes me twitch badly. ROTTEN GODS is therefore a book that I stupidly put aside for a tad too long.
There is, however, something particularly compelling about the idea that a humanitarian man, a decent person, could be pushed to take extreme action in the face of international disregard for the economic and ecological meltdown happening everywhere around us. The idea that he would form an alliance with a group that seems to have similar concerns, although much more extreme methods, is also not that unlikely. The possibility of taking the leaders of most of the world government's hostage, and turn the security of their location against them wasn't that tricky to accept. In fact, there were some quite chilling, and rather discomforting aspects to much of the action in ROTTEN GODS.
But of course, it's a thriller, so there are some aspects that may not be quite so believable - in this case the way that lowly intelligence officer Marika Hartmann could head off on a disputed and somewhat unlikely pursuit in the middle of a major crisis, and then basically run her own show, on the ground in Somalia. The way that she managed to just not get blown away stretched credibility a few times, until, at some stage it really didn't matter how unlikely her situation was, you kind of ended up barracking a lot for her anyway.
There's a real bravery in the way that ROTTEN GODS unfolds - mostly because of the nature of the subject's that Barron's willing to tackle. There's a none too subtle political message at the core of this book that's going to get up some reader's noses, but really, what's wrong with a thriller that makes you uncomfortable or makes you think a bit. My only complaint is that possibly the book is a bit too long. There were also some plot-lines (such as the interference with tunnel digging) that just seemed to disappear in the run up to the conclusion, whilst other characters seemed to suddenly get chucked into the mix to be the hero of the day. A couple of these things did unbalance what was, in the main, a very thought-provoking and discomforting (in a good way) modern day thriller.
There is, however, something particularly compelling about the idea that a humanitarian man, a decent person, could be pushed to take extreme action in the face of international disregard for the economic and ecological meltdown happening everywhere around us. The idea that he would form an alliance with a group that seems to have similar concerns, although much more extreme methods, is also not that unlikely. The possibility of taking the leaders of most of the world government's hostage, and turn the security of their location against them wasn't that tricky to accept. In fact, there were some quite chilling, and rather discomforting aspects to much of the action in ROTTEN GODS.
But of course, it's a thriller, so there are some aspects that may not be quite so believable - in this case the way that lowly intelligence officer Marika Hartmann could head off on a disputed and somewhat unlikely pursuit in the middle of a major crisis, and then basically run her own show, on the ground in Somalia. The way that she managed to just not get blown away stretched credibility a few times, until, at some stage it really didn't matter how unlikely her situation was, you kind of ended up barracking a lot for her anyway.
There's a real bravery in the way that ROTTEN GODS unfolds - mostly because of the nature of the subject's that Barron's willing to tackle. There's a none too subtle political message at the core of this book that's going to get up some reader's noses, but really, what's wrong with a thriller that makes you uncomfortable or makes you think a bit. My only complaint is that possibly the book is a bit too long. There were also some plot-lines (such as the interference with tunnel digging) that just seemed to disappear in the run up to the conclusion, whilst other characters seemed to suddenly get chucked into the mix to be the hero of the day. A couple of these things did unbalance what was, in the main, a very thought-provoking and discomforting (in a good way) modern day thriller.
September 29, 2012
This is a thought provoking action-packed thriller that roams across the international landscape. While its subject matter meant it wasn't always a comfortable read it was a compelling read that kept me glued to the pages long into the night - and it's a big book so that made for several late nights!
Greg Barron tackles the topics of poverty, climate change and cultural friction without backing away from difficult issues. Written in first person, present tense, the story sucks the readers into the heart of the action in a very personal way.
Whatever your own opinions on the different themes Rotten Gods examines this story will make you rethink some, if not all of them.
Highly recommend this book to lovers a international thrillers who want more substance to their story.
And I rate it closer to a five than a four, but sadly Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ doesn't have that option...
Greg Barron tackles the topics of poverty, climate change and cultural friction without backing away from difficult issues. Written in first person, present tense, the story sucks the readers into the heart of the action in a very personal way.
Whatever your own opinions on the different themes Rotten Gods examines this story will make you rethink some, if not all of them.
Highly recommend this book to lovers a international thrillers who want more substance to their story.
And I rate it closer to a five than a four, but sadly Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ doesn't have that option...
July 11, 2012
This is an action-packed thriller. Whilst it is possible to read this quite quickly I preferred to take my time and savour the action, themes and characters because this is a thriller that will really make you think. Barron's story is set in the near future, however the issues dealt with are scarily close to the real world. Fortunately his cast of good guys, including a young Aussie woman from Bondi, reassure the reader all is not as bleak as it might appear. As a debut novel Greg Barron has done a fine job indeed.
July 26, 2016
Rotten Gods is one of the most sophisticated geopolitical thrillers published in 2013. It's written by an Australian, Greg Barron who travelled across the Middle East, parts of Africa and even took a course in the study of terrorism in order to make the research airtight. Most books in the genre sometimes become "ordinance catalogues". Rotten Gods distinguishes itself from the pack by hiding a cautionary tale and social critique behind the gunfire and by making an effort to explore certain uncomfortable issues thoroughly.
It begins a year or two into the future. Climate change has finally gotten serious,multiple economies are down the toilet and so the UN decides to host a conference in Dubai where every single world leader of significance attends. The conference is not expected to achieve anything concrete and is dismissed as a "talkfest". As the conference begins, the keynote speaker makes a compelling attack on the people in the room, calling them out on how their greed and complacency has caused environmental damage to the third world in Africa and Asia. Before security can get him off the stage, he makes them back down with an exploding briefcase and after forcing them to let 9 bloodthirsty islamisist extremists into the room, locks it down. With its top of the line security and the terrorists wiring the room with explosives, the group has a captive audience of leaders such as the President of the United States at their mercy. After making their demands, which, if met, would create a islamist state spanning much of Africa, they sign off by threatening to kill everyone in the room in seven days time. As the days progress, they also put on trial select world leaders for "war crimes" which they believe deserve to be punished with death. This hostage taking and the efforts to end it led by the Dubai law enforcement, UK SBS and a Australian intelligence officer are the basis of this compelling book.
Plot-wise, Rotten Gods is jaw dropping. From the first "day" of the crisis, to the final shot being fired, you'll never know who is going to come out alive or how much the terrorist will accomplish. The settings are also fantastic. From gun battles in Somalia to an assault on a terrorist base in Yemen, the author utilises under-used yet geopolitically relevant setting to great effect. The research is excellent. Clancy fans will marvel at a sophisticated Royal Navy vessel,accurate weapons and tactics use by the factions involved in the book and the psychological factors which make an islamist extremist violent. As for characters, the author has created a fantastic cast. Here are three stand-outs. First, there's Marika, the protagonist. She's one of the rare female protagonists in the genre and even though she starts off as the naive ignorant westerner who believes Somali warlords would follow the Geneva convention, she wises up to her situation and gets a lot stronger and ruthless as the week goes by. She's also got a strong moral compass and wants to do the right thing even if she gets hurt in the process. Many people who've read thrillers in this genre would cringe at how she angsts occasionally but in a world as screwed up as the one the author created, you'll be hoping there would be more people like her. Next, there's Simon, a Airline pilot who's diplomat wife is blackmailed into helping the terrorists. Despite being an ordinary man with no resources or military experience, he goes to EXTREME lengths to rescue his kidnapped children, triumphing over adverse situations and hostile environments. Thirdly, there's Dr Ali Khalid Abukar who steals the show. He's a tragic figure, a man who's been forced to side with evil men in order to make the world wake up to growing problems it has ducked and not confronted. His moral dilemmas and a final act of redemption make his character the most compelling and a terrorist who's not a 2-D caricature but a realistic person.
But its not the characters, plot or even the technology which make Rotten Gods fantastic, its the topics the book explores. There are many so here's three. The author puts his studies on terrorism to good use, attempting to show the war on terror from the Jihadists perspective. From charismatic men warping the Koran to perceived injustices and collateral damage committed by the west, the author successfully demonstrates a complex side of terrorism that is more sophisticated than other books in the genre written by established authors. Make no mistake however, Greg Barron does not romanticise the terrorists. On the contrary, he creates some of the most extremely despicable Jihadists ever to grace the genre and by day 7, you'll be screaming for them to get what they deserve-a bullet to the face. Next, the author explores the costs of consumerism, trying to show that its a serious issue that needs to be solved. He doesn't try beat you over the head with an environmental group's manifesto though, instead the author simply portrays a possible scenario where no action has been taken, blends several concerning statistics along with a major natural disaster in the background of the action and forces you to stop, think and consider if he has a point. Finally, the author examines the peril's of political posturing. Barron uses the sorry state of the UN as a case in point, attempting to demonstrate how the selfish attitude of its members led to infighting instead of creating solutions to make the world a better, peaceful place like it was originally intended to do.
Overall, Rotten Gods stakes Australia's claim to the genre which has been dominated by America for decades. It's epic but not confusing, sophisticated but action packed, has a highly imaginative plot and explores complex and relevant issues with brutal honesty. In short,it will actually make you think about the world we live in and it's the best geopolitical thriller I've read in 2013.
DAMN NEAR PERFECT AND COMPLETELY RECOMMENDED.
It begins a year or two into the future. Climate change has finally gotten serious,multiple economies are down the toilet and so the UN decides to host a conference in Dubai where every single world leader of significance attends. The conference is not expected to achieve anything concrete and is dismissed as a "talkfest". As the conference begins, the keynote speaker makes a compelling attack on the people in the room, calling them out on how their greed and complacency has caused environmental damage to the third world in Africa and Asia. Before security can get him off the stage, he makes them back down with an exploding briefcase and after forcing them to let 9 bloodthirsty islamisist extremists into the room, locks it down. With its top of the line security and the terrorists wiring the room with explosives, the group has a captive audience of leaders such as the President of the United States at their mercy. After making their demands, which, if met, would create a islamist state spanning much of Africa, they sign off by threatening to kill everyone in the room in seven days time. As the days progress, they also put on trial select world leaders for "war crimes" which they believe deserve to be punished with death. This hostage taking and the efforts to end it led by the Dubai law enforcement, UK SBS and a Australian intelligence officer are the basis of this compelling book.
Plot-wise, Rotten Gods is jaw dropping. From the first "day" of the crisis, to the final shot being fired, you'll never know who is going to come out alive or how much the terrorist will accomplish. The settings are also fantastic. From gun battles in Somalia to an assault on a terrorist base in Yemen, the author utilises under-used yet geopolitically relevant setting to great effect. The research is excellent. Clancy fans will marvel at a sophisticated Royal Navy vessel,accurate weapons and tactics use by the factions involved in the book and the psychological factors which make an islamist extremist violent. As for characters, the author has created a fantastic cast. Here are three stand-outs. First, there's Marika, the protagonist. She's one of the rare female protagonists in the genre and even though she starts off as the naive ignorant westerner who believes Somali warlords would follow the Geneva convention, she wises up to her situation and gets a lot stronger and ruthless as the week goes by. She's also got a strong moral compass and wants to do the right thing even if she gets hurt in the process. Many people who've read thrillers in this genre would cringe at how she angsts occasionally but in a world as screwed up as the one the author created, you'll be hoping there would be more people like her. Next, there's Simon, a Airline pilot who's diplomat wife is blackmailed into helping the terrorists. Despite being an ordinary man with no resources or military experience, he goes to EXTREME lengths to rescue his kidnapped children, triumphing over adverse situations and hostile environments. Thirdly, there's Dr Ali Khalid Abukar who steals the show. He's a tragic figure, a man who's been forced to side with evil men in order to make the world wake up to growing problems it has ducked and not confronted. His moral dilemmas and a final act of redemption make his character the most compelling and a terrorist who's not a 2-D caricature but a realistic person.
But its not the characters, plot or even the technology which make Rotten Gods fantastic, its the topics the book explores. There are many so here's three. The author puts his studies on terrorism to good use, attempting to show the war on terror from the Jihadists perspective. From charismatic men warping the Koran to perceived injustices and collateral damage committed by the west, the author successfully demonstrates a complex side of terrorism that is more sophisticated than other books in the genre written by established authors. Make no mistake however, Greg Barron does not romanticise the terrorists. On the contrary, he creates some of the most extremely despicable Jihadists ever to grace the genre and by day 7, you'll be screaming for them to get what they deserve-a bullet to the face. Next, the author explores the costs of consumerism, trying to show that its a serious issue that needs to be solved. He doesn't try beat you over the head with an environmental group's manifesto though, instead the author simply portrays a possible scenario where no action has been taken, blends several concerning statistics along with a major natural disaster in the background of the action and forces you to stop, think and consider if he has a point. Finally, the author examines the peril's of political posturing. Barron uses the sorry state of the UN as a case in point, attempting to demonstrate how the selfish attitude of its members led to infighting instead of creating solutions to make the world a better, peaceful place like it was originally intended to do.
Overall, Rotten Gods stakes Australia's claim to the genre which has been dominated by America for decades. It's epic but not confusing, sophisticated but action packed, has a highly imaginative plot and explores complex and relevant issues with brutal honesty. In short,it will actually make you think about the world we live in and it's the best geopolitical thriller I've read in 2013.
DAMN NEAR PERFECT AND COMPLETELY RECOMMENDED.
September 3, 2013
At the Rabi al-Salah Conference Centre in Dubai heads of State from countries all over the world gathered. Main speaker was Dr Ali Khalid Abukar, a popular and well-known identity. Security detail, Australian Marika Hartmann was to escort him to the conference room, so with gun belt secured discreetly, she arrived at his hotel room and they commenced their walk. Dr Abukar appeared nervous; Marika put it down to speaking before thousands � world leaders plus the people viewing his speech across the countries hooked up by satellite. Meeting up with Isabella Thompson, Under-Secretary to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Marika handed her charge across. But once again, Marika felt uneasy; something didn’t seem quite right, and again she put it down to the size of the conference and what was to occur.
When Marika’s fears were confirmed, all hell broke loose. Suddenly the conference centre was in lock-down with terrorists, led by extremist Zhyogal in complete control. Seven days was all the countries were given to obey their commands; leaders of their countries, prime ministers, presidents, all would die. With the clock ticking, security forces in various countries swung into action; racing against time, would they be able to overcome Zhyogal and his fanatical followers?
Simon, Isabella’s ex-husband was an airline pilot, and when he heard of the disaster, his worst nightmare seemed to be facing him head-on. His frantic race across countries and oceans had him searching, searching�..
Madoowbe, the Somali agent who accompanied Marika into Somalia in search of Dr Abukar’s elusive wife, was an enigma. Strong, forceful yet gentle of nature, Marika wasn’t sure what to make of him. And when they found themselves facing a danger more terrible than one could imagine, Marika’s faith in human nature was tested to its limits.
With the seven day deadline rapidly approaching, the disaster was sure to be monumental. Could they overcome their fears, overcome the evil which stretched its tentacles in ever expanding lengths? Would they be able to save the world?
This was an excellent thriller by Aussie author Greg Barron. The plot was intricate, the pace electric and the characters exceptional. My only criticisms were the amount of background detail which held little interest to me meaning I skimmed a lot, and the way the story jumped around from character/place without any indication. So with the story flowing, suddenly a new paragraph took me to another country with other characters playing their part � it threw me a bit and caused me to lose momentum. But all in all, a great read, one I would definitely recommend.
When Marika’s fears were confirmed, all hell broke loose. Suddenly the conference centre was in lock-down with terrorists, led by extremist Zhyogal in complete control. Seven days was all the countries were given to obey their commands; leaders of their countries, prime ministers, presidents, all would die. With the clock ticking, security forces in various countries swung into action; racing against time, would they be able to overcome Zhyogal and his fanatical followers?
Simon, Isabella’s ex-husband was an airline pilot, and when he heard of the disaster, his worst nightmare seemed to be facing him head-on. His frantic race across countries and oceans had him searching, searching�..
Madoowbe, the Somali agent who accompanied Marika into Somalia in search of Dr Abukar’s elusive wife, was an enigma. Strong, forceful yet gentle of nature, Marika wasn’t sure what to make of him. And when they found themselves facing a danger more terrible than one could imagine, Marika’s faith in human nature was tested to its limits.
With the seven day deadline rapidly approaching, the disaster was sure to be monumental. Could they overcome their fears, overcome the evil which stretched its tentacles in ever expanding lengths? Would they be able to save the world?
This was an excellent thriller by Aussie author Greg Barron. The plot was intricate, the pace electric and the characters exceptional. My only criticisms were the amount of background detail which held little interest to me meaning I skimmed a lot, and the way the story jumped around from character/place without any indication. So with the story flowing, suddenly a new paragraph took me to another country with other characters playing their part � it threw me a bit and caused me to lose momentum. But all in all, a great read, one I would definitely recommend.
June 4, 2013
I've wanted to read Rotten Gods for a long time, and in the end took advantage of the publisher's decision to make it free for a short time - how could I not!?
It's a book with heavy themes, but one that I didn't find heavy going. The pace, particularly through the second half while all the major characters are racing against time and struggling with every challenge they're thrown up against, absolutely rocketed.
My favourite storyline related to Marika, and her search through Somalia (and being a bit of a romantic - I liked the romance thread too). Simon's hunt for his stolen children was equally compelling.
The descriptions of the settings, particularly the poverty and misery and desperation in these desert regions was truly eye-opening for me.
Thank you Greg Barron and best of luck for Savage Tide and your future books.
It's a book with heavy themes, but one that I didn't find heavy going. The pace, particularly through the second half while all the major characters are racing against time and struggling with every challenge they're thrown up against, absolutely rocketed.
My favourite storyline related to Marika, and her search through Somalia (and being a bit of a romantic - I liked the romance thread too). Simon's hunt for his stolen children was equally compelling.
The descriptions of the settings, particularly the poverty and misery and desperation in these desert regions was truly eye-opening for me.
Thank you Greg Barron and best of luck for Savage Tide and your future books.
July 14, 2012
This is a fantastic book - I couldn't put it down! Action/thriller is not really a genre that I enjoy reading, but this book is a fine example of all that is good about action/thrillers. An intelligent, well-researched plot, well-developed characters and plenty of action is interspersed with thought-provoking motives, rationales and dogma.
This is a thinking person's thriller. It dismisses the West/Christian idealism is good and the Eastern/Muslim idealism is bad, showing the flaws in each.
Good Reads, please give us half star options!!!!! This is a 4 and a half star book!!!
Highly recommended - can't wait for more from this author.
This is a thinking person's thriller. It dismisses the West/Christian idealism is good and the Eastern/Muslim idealism is bad, showing the flaws in each.
Good Reads, please give us half star options!!!!! This is a 4 and a half star book!!!
Highly recommended - can't wait for more from this author.
August 29, 2013
4.5 to 5 stars.
I loved this book.
It is real, it is beautifully-researched, it is topical, and, above all, it is well-written.
From the outset, I was worried that the point of view shifts between five or six characters would make it more difficult to read, but Barron handles this perfectly, creating real characters that lived in my imagination.
Both sides of this conflict are presented as flawed, and there is not one stereotype in the whole tome.
Well done.
Geoff Brown - president, Australian Horror Writers Association
I loved this book.
It is real, it is beautifully-researched, it is topical, and, above all, it is well-written.
From the outset, I was worried that the point of view shifts between five or six characters would make it more difficult to read, but Barron handles this perfectly, creating real characters that lived in my imagination.
Both sides of this conflict are presented as flawed, and there is not one stereotype in the whole tome.
Well done.
Geoff Brown - president, Australian Horror Writers Association
October 27, 2013
A critique of Western greed and consumerism, as well as atrocities committed in the name of religion.
Sometimes the amount of information slowed the pace and there were a lot of characters to get to know, but they were all so fascinating that I was engrosed. This was an action-packed suspense with heartfelt characters. The plot unravelled slowly as the intrigue and desperation built. Well worth a read.
Sometimes the amount of information slowed the pace and there were a lot of characters to get to know, but they were all so fascinating that I was engrosed. This was an action-packed suspense with heartfelt characters. The plot unravelled slowly as the intrigue and desperation built. Well worth a read.
June 26, 2012
An exciting and intelligent thriller. The first book I've read in a long time that I couldn't put down. Very well developed plot and characters. Also thought provoking about major issues facing the world.
January 3, 2014
Rotten Gods is the first published novel by Australian author, Greg Barron. It is set in the near future and opens with an International crisis summit at Rabi al-Salah conference centre in Dubai, a gathering attended by the leaders of every nation, which is suddenly hijacked by terrorists with enough explosives to eliminate all the attending delegates. These terrorists issue the nations of the world with various ultimatums, to be met within seven days. As the acting leaders of the nations react to the threats, security forces scramble to avoid the most extreme outcome. Barron divides his book into the seven days, prefacing each chapter with an edited quotation from the Genesis creation story. As he carefully builds his story and develops the characters, it becomes apparent that this very topical work is well-researched and includes a great deal of personal experience. Barron manages to seamlessly weave together stories that include an Algerian terrorist, a British diplomat, a Dubai engineer, a Somali warlord, an Australian intelligence officer, an Arab policeman, a French security officer, an airline pilot, a UN official and a Somali agent, creating a whole that bristles with tension and excitement as it charges toward an explosive climax. Barron includes just enough information about the global environmental catastrophe to support his story while stopping short of preaching; similarly, the back-story of the extremists informs without overwhelming. This page-turner is interesting, exciting and thought-provoking.
August 26, 2012
An excellent page-turner. Structured around the seven days of the Jewish creation myth elaborated with the environmental damage caused by humans, we follow the events of a terrorist attack at a global conference on the effects of global warming and other social problems. The story is told from multiple perspectives in a race against a deadline set by the terrorists. The story is very contemporary and references real world problems. The author avoids stereotypes (for example, we see both "good" and "bad" Moslem characters) and there is a balance of genders with an excellent Australian woman taking a lead role (I'm Australian so I like that!). The story also provides multiple perspectives on the sociopolitical issues of today and really provokes thinking about what we, as a species, are doing to the planet. A thoroughly good read tightly plotted and satisfyingly rendered. Highly recommended. Includes book club discussion questions.
July 7, 2013
I've read several reviews now likening Barron to Clancy or Ludlum, and whilst I see the similarities, Barron writes in the form of Greg Barron. A new author, a new style, which is entertaining, fast paced, grounded and engages the reader from start to finish. I found the characters well fleshed out and very real. It is easy to see that the author carries a wealth of travel and life experience. For instance, Rotten Gods is about as close to Somalia as I want to come (it felt that real). Whilst I've never been to the country, I have read Michael Durant's non-fiction book (Durant flew one of the downed helicopters upon which the movie Blackhawk Down is based) and Barron has the finger on the pulse, Somalia is as real in Rotten Gods as it was in Durant's.
I highly recommend this fast paced, thoroughly entertaining novel from this refreshing Australian author, I will definitely be reading more from him.
I highly recommend this fast paced, thoroughly entertaining novel from this refreshing Australian author, I will definitely be reading more from him.
January 21, 2013
Not many books have made me think.. "Who would play these characters in a movie??" but this novel did, and from early on too. The setting up of what was going on happened quickly and was gripping. I think that's a sign of fantastic writing, where the characters and their personas are so well presented where you can build up a clear picture of what is going on and it doesn't seem slow goin. Awesome book if you are wanting to read about something so topical in the world still. The fact that real events and people are intertwined through the story makes it very relevant to people's raised awareness to the web of terrorism and how far reaching that can be. Highly recommended!
January 1, 2013
Rotten Gods is a page-turner with an eye to the near future, when the politics of water scarcity and climate change will be part of the landscape. It is a thriller with a social conscience and a geopolitical sensibility. As with all well-plotted books, moral dilemmas abound and the settings are superbly written - have a look at the sequences around Aden airport for instance.
While there is plenty of full-on action, there are quieter, introspective moments that allow us to connect with the characters. Beautifully paced.
On a technical level, I really enjoyed the sustained use of the present continuous tense. It makes you feel as though you’re there. Well done, Greg Barron.
While there is plenty of full-on action, there are quieter, introspective moments that allow us to connect with the characters. Beautifully paced.
On a technical level, I really enjoyed the sustained use of the present continuous tense. It makes you feel as though you’re there. Well done, Greg Barron.
July 26, 2013
What an entertaining and intelligent novel. Barron enlightens us with an insight of problems we choose to ignore or deny because they occur on other continents, in other countries, to other people. Problems that affect us all whether we admit it or not.
The fight for natural resources, religious wars, displaced people, love, hate, betrayal, honour and duty all intertwine to gently educate and supremely entertain the reader.
The fight for natural resources, religious wars, displaced people, love, hate, betrayal, honour and duty all intertwine to gently educate and supremely entertain the reader.
June 23, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has presented an in depth and provocative look into what drives extremist Muslims to be involved in terrorist activity. A well written debut novel from an Australian author. Greg Barron provides an interesting insight about consumerism, climate change and religion. Can't wait to read his next novel out July 1.
April 2, 2013
A fantastic first book - I am looking forward to his next one. Greg has a wonderful ability to make you feel like you are there, without giving verbose descriptions. The setting and religious aspects of the books were well researched, a very enjoyable read.
July 21, 2012
Fantastic....so topical and current...loved the way it made me look at the world through differing perspectives. A must read...would make a fantastic movie...will certainly keep a look out for more from Greg Barron.
February 18, 2013
I really enjoyed Rotten Gods. It had me captivated from the start and with an array of interesting and different characters it was exciting to follow their journeys. The climax at the end had me turning the pages and ignoring my husband!
August 16, 2016
If you like a political action thriller then this is for you. It is extremely well researched so I learnt so much about political background but I was never bogged down because the plot was so well developed and the action kept me reading.
July 8, 2012
Am excellent read. The pages just kept on turning! Looking forward to more from this author!
July 21, 2012
A great thought provoking read, I still have it swirling around in my head a week after finishing it. I am hanging for the next book.
February 5, 2018
Set primarily in Dubai, Yemen & Somalia over seven days Rotten Gods is a rather interesting book. It's set in an undated, presumably, not too far off future where ocean levels have risen destroying vast stretches of arable and habitable land, economies are crumbling and the first world continues to pollute despite the climate damage manifesting.
A conference is held in Dubai to try and bring society back from the brink of environmental collapse, all major heads of state attend however things go astray when muslim extremists take over the building and hold the crowd & heads of state to ransom.
The real juice of the story however is the characters themselves as they work towards resolving the situations they find themselves in - an airline pilot whose children have been taken hostage as bargaining chips, a odd Somalia intelligence agent, a UN security worker intent on finding the wife of one of the terrorist leaders.
Whilst it starts off interesting, the story slowly gets more and more gripping until it becomes hard to put down until you finish, it's not hard to see why it was ranked in the '50 books you can't put down' list.
A conference is held in Dubai to try and bring society back from the brink of environmental collapse, all major heads of state attend however things go astray when muslim extremists take over the building and hold the crowd & heads of state to ransom.
The real juice of the story however is the characters themselves as they work towards resolving the situations they find themselves in - an airline pilot whose children have been taken hostage as bargaining chips, a odd Somalia intelligence agent, a UN security worker intent on finding the wife of one of the terrorist leaders.
Whilst it starts off interesting, the story slowly gets more and more gripping until it becomes hard to put down until you finish, it's not hard to see why it was ranked in the '50 books you can't put down' list.
April 28, 2022
Rotten Gods was off to a good start with an original and gripping premise, as well as original and multi faceted characters. Plus some interesting terrorism history trivia which is always a plus in my book. Did you know Bin Laden was concerned with global warming and how it disproportionately affected the global south? Barron takes a deep dive into these issues without coming off as obnoxious or derailing the plot. The result is an action thriller that actually makes you think about the world we live in and the ineffectiveness of multinational institutions and how the challenges they are meant to overcome affect some of the poorest parts of the world.
The antagonists have motivations that make sense while still being bad enough that you'll be happy to see them get a bullet. Bonus points for the well done everyman protagonists and their arcs. Would easily be a four star book except I didn't really buy the main protagonist and some of her actions seemed really weird. She just didn't come across as someone who had any kind of serious military training despite how she was described.
If you read a lot of thrillers and are sick of how samey they are, then this is recommended.
The antagonists have motivations that make sense while still being bad enough that you'll be happy to see them get a bullet. Bonus points for the well done everyman protagonists and their arcs. Would easily be a four star book except I didn't really buy the main protagonist and some of her actions seemed really weird. She just didn't come across as someone who had any kind of serious military training despite how she was described.
If you read a lot of thrillers and are sick of how samey they are, then this is recommended.
September 21, 2012
I totally enjoyed reading this book. The setting is international, beginning in Dubai and moving across continents, with a nice dose of the local for us Australians. There is suspense and action in abundance (bombs,kidnapping,hostages) in a tale that gives reason to contemplate the current world scene and the possibilities of future events. Well yes, it is thought provoking! Greg writes well with a good command of language and of course this adds to the enjoyment of the book. Different views of 'god' are explored and related with honesty, and in my view what is truly revealed is the rottenness of these views and the actions taken in the name of these 'gods'. As a Christian I am familiar with these concepts and what stands out to me in this book is the rottenness of man as expressed in these flawed views. Greg explores what man has done with the beautiful world we have been given and mandated to look after. What a rotten job we have made of that! I reckon this book would make a great movie. Five stars from me.
February 16, 2013
I won this book FREE though goodreads!!
I have to say I wondered when I started this if I would ever get through it. It took me a while to really get into it, perhaps because I am geographically challenged and repeated references to Eastern regions had me lost (perhaps future editions could include a map?). But once I got past that and into the story itself, I was hooked. I was so wrapped up in the actions of the terrorists, and those pitting themselves against them, I didn't want to put this book down.
Barron addresses a number of HUGE issues, including religion, terror, and global warming, all within a captivating tale of action and love.
Definitely worth the read!
I have to say I wondered when I started this if I would ever get through it. It took me a while to really get into it, perhaps because I am geographically challenged and repeated references to Eastern regions had me lost (perhaps future editions could include a map?). But once I got past that and into the story itself, I was hooked. I was so wrapped up in the actions of the terrorists, and those pitting themselves against them, I didn't want to put this book down.
Barron addresses a number of HUGE issues, including religion, terror, and global warming, all within a captivating tale of action and love.
Definitely worth the read!
December 14, 2012
I finished 'Rotten Gods' a few minutes ago, and I have to say that I loved it. It was gritty and confronting and ugly at times, but the reality of it and the message of this story really resonated with me. And I think at the heart of it is an extremely important message about where the vast consumerism and excess of many may lead. Incredibly thought-provoking - there are many in positions of power who should read this.
An excellent read!
An excellent read!
September 30, 2013
This is amazingly well written, well paced and engaging. The setting and story is tragic but believable and the book makes for a great social and political commentary.
I do feel the dialogue could have used some work, but the language of the book as a whole is very controlled so the way the characters speak makes sense in that context.
I do feel the dialogue could have used some work, but the language of the book as a whole is very controlled so the way the characters speak makes sense in that context.
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