Book Reviews
Brian,
I was impressed by New Blood, New Targets by the breadth of information and subject matter that the story deals with, and the originality of its “Dream Team” premise. On the one hand, the Team resembles nothing so much as an elite consulting firm riding high on the tidal wave of globalized capitalism, and in this novel we see them navigate a complex tangle of international businessmen, government officials, enterprising lawyers, and everyone in between on their way to big profits across multiple continents. On the other hand, there is a genuine spiritual element to their work, a connection to the beyond which they tap into freely and use to make sense of the universe. These parts of the world are not often connected, but I thought you wrote persuasively about both. We get elaborate details of the Team’s luxurious clothes, the corrupt workings of Doire McFacaris’ scheme, of the history of ley lines. When the Team visits Hong Kong, we get convincing info about the way people behave to each other on the Hong Kong rail system:
The two elders were given seats up by a young couple, as was asked of them by the signs on the train, and Racel was moved as she always was by the respect shown by young people when traveling on these Hong Kong trains.
Ultimately, I think this book comes down in favor of the free flow of capital, culture, information, and human beings across borders that characterizes our modern world. The Dream Team live out multiculturalism in their own ranks, Asian and African and English, and though they have no issues whatsoever with making (and spending) money, they do have a strong presumption in favor of human rights (as the horrors of sex trafficking are their greatest foe) and against racism (witness the beatings that the provincial Englishmen receive for their anti-Asian mockery near the beginning). They show a strong sense of right and wrong in their loyalty and care for each other, especially in touching moments like these:
Annie described how the other women had clubbed money together to get her some medical treatment and food and make her deportation easier. “I was lucky, Barry, I only went with him one time, and I was strong enough to resist, but he deserved anything he got.” Her pent-up anger showed through, and he knew what these women had risked in those days and how even now she was affected by those feelings. It explained some of her kinkier desires. Barry loved her so much that he went along with whatever she wanted in their relationship, and admittedly he enjoyed those times, it drove them on as a partnership.
Thus in their respect for diversity, belief in human rights, internationalism, free sexual openness, profit-seeking, and primary loyalty to their immediate loved ones rather than the social collective, the Dream Team become paradigmatic figures of neoliberal democracy at what Francis Fukuyama called “the end of history” after the collapse of communism and opening up of the globe some twenty years ago.
I found all this very interesting, and enjoyed the way it is tied to a plot filled with action and suspense. There are multiple villains here, from McFacaris to Liu Shiankin, and they always fully deserve what’s coming to them. If the story has a single protagonist, it is probably Matty Parker, who undergoes something of a coming-of-age transformation over the course of the book and ends up connecting with his long-lost father and finding both romantic and professional success. (I loved the detail that Barry gives him Dickens’ Barnaby Rudge; with its elaborate plotting and interweaving family relationships set against the backdrop of an empire at its height, this novel feels a bit Dickensian in spirit.) Seduction, hypnosis, lurid sex scenes, and violent shootouts keep the story moving along at a rapid pace. All in all, I think it’s a book your readers will really enjoy.
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Review from Aimee at the Red Headed Book Lover
Barry’s life was tough, raised in London’s rugged East End in the 60s and 70s, until he made it in business. When a Banker screwed his business, he had to leave the country for work in Saudi Arabia. Along with two beautiful “business ladies” he met in Dubai he cons the bank in a revenge scam. After the Banker hunts down and cruelly abuses one of the team, their loyalty to one of their own knows no bounds.
To save their wealth and ‘Face’ amongst their friends, they fight back with equal spite. Who are the rogues here in this tale of rough justice?
Face and Justice is a perfect thriller novel that will take its readers on an unforgettable, thrilling, compelling journey in which the reader won’t be able to resist falling in love with this incredible story. The reader in Face and Justice will feel compelled to read very early on book thanks to the novel’s wonderful author, Brian George; his talented words will keep his readers turning the pages with haste. George wonderfully captures his reader’s imagination effortlessly, and so I would implore all of you lovely readers to read this excellent book! However, if you need more convincing, then continue to read to learn more about the wonderful Face and Justice!
Face and Justice is a brilliant, fast-paced, thriller novel that will take its readers on a wild and thrilling journey from start to finish. The reader in Face and Justice will meet the star of the novel, Barry. Barry is a man who grew up in the East End of London during the ’60s and 70’s and like many from such decades in London, he struggled to make it, but he eventually did in business but soon he will be screwed over by a banker. This forces Barry to retaliate with a ‘revenge scam’ but this only causes more issues for Barry and he will not give up on getting payback and this book lovers is the short premise of the incredible Face and Justice!
Face and Justice is an incredible and special story that took my breath away on more than one occasion; the pacing of this story was wonderfully written and plotted so that I did not get bored at any given time. I always measure my likeness of a book on whether I find myself looking at the page number; if I do in fact do this I know that the novel is taking its toll… but Face and Justice was different. Never once did I find myself referring to the page number, and that is a sure sign that this book is a compelling piece of work that draws the reader in and captivates them to the end!
Brian George writes with elegance despite his book being of a more dark nature! I loved reading Face and Justice and getting lost in George’s literature, it felt so natural and such a breeze to read. As well as this, generally, with thriller/crime novels, I get bored after a period, but George never bored me once, he kept me entertained from beginning to end and for that I admire him. George’s beautiful, descriptive, flowing words too were stunning, and I believe he would be able to inspire these thoughts in you too if you choose to read this shocking novel! So do not miss out book lovers!
To conclude my thoughts on the perfect novel that is Face and Justice, I would say if you are looking to read a thrilling, shocking, entertaining novel that will keep you guessing until the end then this wonderful book is for you! Face and Justice gets five stars from me! Be sure to have a read of the preview below book lovers, you won’t regret it!
Thank you so much for reading book lovers! I appreciate it so much. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! Please have a read of the preview and if you find that you have loved what you have read then all you need to do is follow the links below!
Review on Amazon.com (USA)
I really enjoyed this book. The author has a way of keeping his readers engrossed. I mostly liked the narrative approach he gave it. He exquisitely alternates between the first and second person perspectives to come up with a crime mystery hard to put down. With characters introduced in the right instances and their emotions aptly captured, I couldn't help but be emotionally attached to most of them. One of the best novels I've read this year!
Reviews on Onlinebookclub.org
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=139752
Face and Justice is an aptly executed crime and murder story written by Brian George. It is the first book of the Dream Team Adventures series and follows the lives of some baby boomers, Barry being the main focus. Following a heartbreaking divorce and an induced demise of his business, Barry decides to leave Britain for Saudi Arabia to strategize on revenge for some merchant banks. The banks had earlier duped him, making his business to go bankrupt as a result of their machinations. Knowing that the banks are greedy and just driven by the desire to make exorbitant profits, without considering the clients’ welfare, he started to plan on how to turn on their innate drive.
Meanwhile, while in Saudi Arabia, Barry shares his adventures in a foreign country. He also walks us through his carnal exploits, foods, and interactions with people from different cultures and backgrounds. However, the main thing was to increase the “greed factor” of his enterprises to entice the merchant banks into revenge they would never forget. How will it turn out?
I liked Face and Justice, for it is excellent in all facets. The author shifts perspectives between the first and the third-person. When the narrative was in the first-person, it read like a memoir and made me have a deep personal connection with Barry. The story began by exploring Barry's childhood and it was, therefore, easy to understand what shaped his personality and the choices he later made in life. As per the execution, the feature that stood out the most was the author's great sense of humor and witty choice words, evidenced by how vivid and articulate his description of scenes and events were. More often than not, I couldn't help chuckling and bursting into laughter. Therefore, for those who love lighthearted reads, this is a must-read story.