Review: I Am Pilgrim, Terry Hayes

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley from the publisher in return for an honest review*

Pilgrim is the codename for a man who doesn't exist. The adopted son of a wealthy American family, he once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Before he disappeared into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation.
But that book will come back to haunt him. It will help NYPD detective Ben Bradley track him down. And it will take him to a rundown New York hotel room where the body of a woman is found facedown in a bath of acid, her features erased, her teeth missing, her fingerprints gone. It is a textbook murder - and Pilgrim wrote the book.

Terry Hayes began his career as a journalist for The Sydney Morning Herald, when as foreign correspondent in the US he covered Watergate and President Nixon's resignation, among many major international stories. He then went on to become a successful screenwriter, having written the screenplays for Mad Max 2, Dead Calm, Bangkok Hilton, Payback and From Hell. He lives in Sydney with his wife and four children.

I had heard a lot of great things about this book already and was so happy when I got approved. This book is pretty big with 700 pages but it was a real pleasure to read. Or maybe the word pleasure is not really fitting when it comes to this action packed story filled with espionage and violence. The story develops around Pilgrim and the Saracen. Both man have ideals and a goal. Both men want to live their lives. Both men are in conflict with governments. Where the one is helping his government but not sure it is of free will the other wants revenge. Starting with a murder the story of Pilgrim is told going to his past and back to the now. Starting with a murder the story of the Saracen develops from his past till now. I really liked to read about their lives and the developments which brought them to a certain point.
As a reader I felt free to admire both man as they had their good and bad habits but their motives were always explained making their actions understandable. The story and the developments in the story are pretty scary and realistic.
I really enjoyed the book but I can imagine this book would not be for everybody. There is a lot of repetition and scenes are very detailed. It is not a puzzle mystery, facts are dropped and though there is a murder it is clear that there are other priorities. The book does not work with the nice and subtle touch but I felt it fit with the story. Still I will give the book 4 stars because I am not sure it would work its magic a second time.

I Am Pilgrim
Author: Terry Hayes
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 703
Format: eGalley
ISBN-10: 059306495X
ISBN-13: 9780593064955
Bantam Press: eBook | Hardcover | Paperback

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