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Red Desert cover art

Red Desert

By: Paddy Magrane
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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Audible's Crime & Thriller Pick of the Month: May 2020

Love nothing more than being engrossed in a creepy thriller or playing detective with a gripping mystery? You're not alone! Always ready for a challenge, the Audible editors have taken on the tough task of seeking out spine-chilling tales that will keep you up all night. Every month in 2020 we’ll bring you the very best in murder and mystery in Audible's Crime & Thriller Pick of the Month.

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Paddy Magrane

About the author

Paddy Magrane was born in the Middle East, educated in England and has lived in Florence, New York and London. After graduating with a first from art school, he moved to New York, working as an assistant to an abstract expressionist. Returning to the UK, he was an artist for ten years, before becoming a copywriter and journalist, penning pieces for the Guardian, Observer and Telegraph.

Paddy has travelled widely, but loves returning to his birthplace, the Middle East. He visited Syria before the civil war and, more recently, worked in Israel and the West Bank.

Joe Jameson

About the performer

Joe Jameson is a London based actor and voice-over artist. He graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2010 and has since become one of London’s most in-demand voice-over artists.

With an excellent ear for accents, and an extensive range, Joe has narrated more than 200 audio-books for Audible, Strathmore and Penguin, among others.

Summary

When a violent attack on his girlfriend tears Tom’s life apart, escape makes perfect sense. He takes a job with an oil company, providing therapy to staff cooped up in a camp in Southern Iraq. Nice pay packet, if you don’t mind being stuck in the desert surrounded by unexploded mines and cluster bombs.

On his arrival, an explosion outside the camp leaves four men dead. Something about it doesn’t make sense, and Tom starts to ask questions. His curiosity begins to get him into trouble - especially with the former soldiers who work there as security contractors. When the camp is attacked and Tom is shipped home, he continues his investigations. Working with a journalist pursuing a story about a cover-up, Tom looks into a notorious army barracks. But then the journalist falls beneath a tube train. Falls, or is pushed? With an unseen enemy closing in, will Tom’s search for the truth end in his death, too?

Set between London, Berlin and Iraq, this white-knuckle suspense thriller is perfect for fans of The Hurt Locker, American Sniper and Homeland.

©2020 Paddy Magrane (P)2020 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

"This will be one of my audiobooks of the year. An absolutely riveting listen, beautifully written and with a terrific main character. I hope we get more Tom Challis books. Bravo." (Caroline Green)

"Like the best thrillers, Red Desert is packed with action, intrigue and evocative locations; I could taste the desert's dust and heat. What's more, its hero has empathy, intelligence and compassion. The perfect escape from lockdown.” (Author, Sarah Hillary)   

“This was my first ready of anything written by Paddy Magrane. Red Desert is a roller coaster, high-octane ride that drags you in from the first few words and won't let you go until you have finished. The protagonist, Tom is an enthralling character, thrust into an unfamiliar environment and the insight in psychoanalysis is fascinating. The action never lets up. Ever. It is relentless and a full on assault on the senses. What a read.” (Neil Lancaster, Author of Tom Novak Thrillers)

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What listeners say about Red Desert

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Great book again from Paddy

I finished listening to this yesterday, only a few days from stating it, I loved it. Always a good sign of book when you are thinking about the characters and story between listens. This book certainly made me do that. Looking forward to the next one Paddy!

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1 person found this helpful

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My first audible

I’ve found that I have rather a lot of time on my hands at the moment so I was looking to fill my spare time with some good reading. I decided I’d give Audible a go so I could multi-task gardening, cycling and reading.
I’ve read Paddy Magrane’s other two books so I was keen to read the new one.
I loved it! Completed it in two days, I lost myself completely in it Joe Jameson’s narration was brilliant, I could listen to his voice all day.
It’s left a hole so I’m going to have to try another audible.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A great story well narrated

I purchased this audio book almost a year ago, sad to say I have only just got around to listening to it.
It’s a great novel with a good fast moving story line.
Well narrated.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Bit different

Worth a listen a bit different in locations and characters involvement no mad supper soldier, realistic fictional story, few good twists and misdirection over all entertaining

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Just brilliant

The combination of an exciting, fast paced and brilliantly written and narrated story makes this the very best of listens. Can’t wait to listen to another by the same team. Thank you.

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  • Overall
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Excellent thriller

This is a great book that only had one moment that stretched credibility. Otherwise a nicely paced thriller that kept totally engaged. The narrator was brilliant and deserves praise for the array of voices used throughout the book. Highly recommended.

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Gripping, tense and scarily plausible

The power and dangers of 'group think', fear, pride, trauma and extreme, often misplaced loyalty are in play throughout this tense thriller.

Paddy's troubled but ultimately brave hero, Tom, battles his own demons to fight for justice for men caught up in a web spun from the horrors of the war in Iraq, the subsequent cover-up and ongoing corporate exploitation of the country's natural and human resources.

The more cruel aspects of globalisation and armed conflict are explored, raising questions of personal morality and motivations. Paddy's intelligent narrative reminded me of the 'group think' which has so badly damaged our current political discourse and leaves me wondering whether the only people who dare risk challenging the status quo are those who feel they have nothing to lose ...?

This was my first experience of an audio book (apart from Horrible Histories for occasional long car journeys with kids) and I was totally gripped, distracted at times but always enjoying this new way to be entertained, enlightened and challenged.

Thanks, Paddy. I hope a TV drama follows!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Average

Average - rather unsophisticated writing. Narration could also do with more mature gravitas.
Story also has a good number of rather incredible scrapes.

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A classic, edge-of-your-seat-thriller.

Red Desert is a fast-paced thriller, which sees protagonist Tom Challis stumble upon a small piece of a dangerous puzzle. To put the whole together, he must chase across Iraq, England and Germany, never knowing whom to trust, or when danger will strike next.
Fleeing tragedy at home, Tom takes a job as a psychotherapist on an Iraqi oil field. On his first day four men are killed by a roadside bomb, and he learns of other deaths, none of which have satisfactory explanations. Convinced there’s a link between them, and fobbed off by those in authority, Tom takes matters into his own hands. But people are watching Tom. People who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.
Reminiscent of The Thirty-Nine Steps, Red Desert is a classic, edge-of-your-seat-thriller. Audible books like this make every car journey an adventure.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Good writing

Very well written, sometimes too much detail. Very good story though. Enjoyed the narrator voice

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