The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes (2023): A Review
Author: Terry Hayes
Publication Year: 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Pages: 652
Source: ebook
Genre: Thriller, mystery, spy, science fiction, time travel
I loved I Am Pilgrim, Haye’s first novel. I even bought a physical copy, which is a serious declaration of affection from someone whose book-buying budget requires diplomatic negotiations.
Naturally, I approached this novel with considerable enthusiasm. I expected espionage, danger, an elaborate plot, and the pleasure of gradually understanding how everything connects. For much of the first part, that is exactly what I received.
The execution scene involving spies was particularly difficult to read. Political violence can make a thriller feel urgent, but it can also make the reading experience genuinely distressing. There is a difference between enjoying suspense and wanting a short break from humanity.
Still, I was invested. I finished the novel in about twelve days, which, by my recent standards, qualifies as reckless speed.
Then came the submarine section, and my understanding of the book’s genre began taking on water.
I had arrived for a spy thriller. Suddenly, I appeared to be reading science fiction involving time travel and an apocalyptic scenario. Perhaps the publicity prepared other readers for this development. I, however, would have appreciated some advance notice before the novel changed departments. I do not necessarily object to mixing genres. I object to discovering that I packed for an entirely different journey.
The more realistic espionage sections worked best for me. I enjoyed the tension and intrigue, and I remained curious enough to continue even when the speculative elements began testing my willingness to cooperate.
My main frustration was the final section. After everything leading up to it, the ending moved so quickly that some developments seemed to receive less explanation and detail than they needed.
Perhaps this urgency reflects events unfolding within only a few hours. Fair enough. But the characters having no time does not mean the reader should be denied a proper explanation. They may be facing an apocalypse; I am sitting down and available for another paragraph.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the novel, especially its first part, but the shift in genre and the hurried ending weakened the experience for me.
I wanted a spy thriller with room to develop its ideas. By the end, I felt I was chasing several genres down a corridor while someone shouted that there was no time to explain.
Comments
Post a Comment