You should get the hell out of there and come home.
Jay Tinsiano
False Flag
Format:
Audiobook.
Update: Since I received this review copy, the book has been bundled into a box set in ebook & audiobook format.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
1991: A plan to destabilise Hong Kong is emerging; the key players are being put into place, the wheels are in motion and innocent people will die.
Frank Bowen is a Londoner on holiday in tropical Thailand. Half drunk and strapped for cash, he’s the perfect bait for a political plot that will leave him running for his life, with nowhere to turn.
Point of view:
3rd person. Multiple perspectives, each by chapter.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This novella serves as a prequel-ish introduction to Jay Tinsiano’s Frank Bowen Conspiracy Thriller series. It’s set 8 years before the next book, Pandora Red. This is my first book by Tinsiano and while it had a slow start I found myself really enjoying it once the action kicked in. There is a huge cast of characters to keep track of made easier by breaking up POV/perspective by chapter.
As an untrained civilian, Frank Bowen relies more on sheer luck than skill to survive being set up as the supposed bomber of a commuter train. What I liked is that Tinsiano doesn’t try to turn Bowen into some kind of expert with no foundation. It’s purely Frank’s determination and fear driving him to escape the web he’s caught in.
I’m looking forward to the next book, Pandora Red.
Narration:
Chris MacDonnell is also new to me. I enjoyed his narration, accents, and inflections. As I said, this book has a lot of perspectives and MacDonnell did a good job distinguishing all the characters. The only drawback was that MacDonnell sounds much older than the 26yo Frank Bowen and with so many of chapters from Frank’s POV, it was difficult to remember that. Since subsequent books have Frank older, it probably won’t be as stark a contrast.
Trigger Warnings (possible spoilers):
This is an espionage/spy thriller with several fights, murders, and instances of peril. Suicide.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from FreeAudiobookCodes.com and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
My Favorite Quotes
He took the piece of ripped card and put it safely in his wallet. That could well be the only option he had. -False Flag by @jaytinsiano #Audiobook narrated by @ChrisMacDonnell #Thriller #FrankBowen
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You should get the hell out of there and come home. -False Flag by @jaytinsiano #Audiobook narrated by @ChrisMacDonnell #Thriller #FrankBowen
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Rellim Reads 