Deadfall by Simon Lelic

Challenge #14 ~ “A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Goodreads.”

deadfall

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

My opinion in three sentences:

Whilst I didn’t enjoy this as much as its prequel, it still proved a strong addition to the series. There is the usual edge-of-the-seat writing that Lelic is so good at, and the plot is strong, twisting and well-paced, too. However, there was quite a political focus to the story, which I found a little too overpowering (especially considering its target audience).

(Without spoiling anything) the best bit:

Some of the side characters had more of a role in this and it was great to see some of them develop and come to the fore. Of course, Lelic kept the main characters strong, realistic and involved too, but the variety offered a refreshing perspective from the previous instalments.

A warning for the book:

I was a bit disappointed by the deaf representation in this. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad there was some (and that the character wasn’t solely defined by it), but in a way it felt like a token diversity gesture. At many points, I failed to buy into the credibility – sign language is its own complex language and for someone to pick it up to quite a high receptive level in a mere week or so? Maybe not. (And that’s after giving the benefit of the doubt that a refugee made the specific effort to learn British Sign Language as sign isn’t a universal language.) Ranting aside, it is otherwise a great read.

Recommended for fans of: