A Single Source

This book split our group clearly into two camps; half of us really enjoyed it and the other half were not at all impressed. The 3 thread story for some was too confusing and disjointed but others found it very interesting, especially to see how all stories came together in the end: the reporters following the Arab Spring and the locals assisting them; the civil servants in London and the contentious arms sales; and the two Eritrean brothers being promised a golden future as refugees in the UK. A well written and easy to read book about events happening within our lifetime made for an interesting read for some but with not enough interest to engage the others. Overall we scored it a 7 out of 10.

What ties together a semi-burned out BBC reporter (William Carver), a young technologically savvy Arab woman and two Eritrean brothers? There are two separate stories being told with alternating chapters. At first I found this to be highly distracting and slightly annoying. Additionally William Carver is casually called Bill by some characters and Cater by others which caused me a bit of confusion which added to my annoyance. I initially was going to rate this book as a 3 star but after several weeks of distance from finishing it I realized that I was still thinking about it and pondering it.
Therefore, I changed my mind and gave it a 5 star because a good book stays with you and doesn't just entertain.
In the one story line Carter is sent by the BBC to cover the events of the Arab Spring in northern Africa, specifically Egypt. Through several intrigues he meets a young woman who is using technology to help spread and organize the protests and confrontations that eventually topple the government. While this social change is world news, this woman gives Carter an even bigger story. She has discovered that the British government is supply military equipment to the Egyptian troops to use against the protesters which is against the British laws.
The other story line is that of two young Eritrean brothers who trying to make their way as refugees out of a world of poverty and famine to a better life in Europe. The story of what befalls them at the hands of the people traffic trade is very difficult to read but something we all need to face and confront.
"A Single Source" is not a pleasant read at times. It is filled with brutality and the inhumanity of what continues to happen today. What role does the government of first world countries play in financing and arming this brutality and what money goes into the coffers of the people who are supposed protectors but are not protecting? It is a story to wake us up.

William Carver is a veteran BBC reporter and the current story that he is pursuing is part of the Arab Spring, taking him to North Africa and Egypt. Meanwhile, in Eritrea, two brothers in pursuit of a better life for themselves in Europe, put themselves in the hands of people traffickers and endure horrendous hardships on their journey North. These two stories become inextricably linked as the book reaches its climax.

This really is a thriller extraordinaire. There are strands of two stories to follow (possibly a third if you incorporate the London end of things), each of which is an exciting and gripping tale in its own right. It was a real page-turner from beginning to end. If you have ever wondered how reporters get their stories, how they live when on location, how they survive in war zones and a multitude of other questions too numerous to mention, this is the book to read. I should probably make it clear at this point that I do realise that it is a work of fiction, but as the author has over 25 years of experience working as a journalist (and writes with a conviction to match) I am relatively sure that the portrayal of the lifestyle and the methods used are realistic.

The only negative comment that I have is that the ending was possibly a little abrupt. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, but I felt it could have been a little more detailed.

I had not read Peter Hanington’s previous novel featuring William Carver, but I will certainly be looking out for it now. This is a great novel which I would defy anybody not to enjoy.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the build up was riveting. The hopes, expectations and dreams of the younger generation were constantly being thwarted by the older embittered regime, but there is always hope ....

A slow start, with the story jumping around a bit with the different strands...and then the book
gripped me! Loved the journalistic style of writing. A compelling story, humanely written.

It's not very often that I find a book that keeps me up into the wee small hours, but this was one of them. A political thriller with more twists and turns than a racing track! So good, I finished it in two days, and also a story that will stay with me for quite a while. Look forward to reading more from this author.