Fathers at War
Spilled Blood is a very fresh and modern take on what Gretha Thunberg could achieve if in the future she plays her activist cards well and has the right support less her very own murder. Actually, scratch that! Let us call all this a cautionary tale.
The narrative is imbued with technical terms of the last decade. Considering that it was published in 2012, I found it quite appealing that the characters googled this phrase or accessed FaceBook to pry information on that person. Activities that, while we may negate, we do every day or so often.
It also features modern technology. Finally, I read about the inconsequential plugging in of a USB flash drive rather than the inconceivable viewing of a tape on the VHS recorder. Very modern indeed, although not as much as to mention BlueTooth, Terabytes, etc.
There was also another reason I found Spilled Blood a page-turner. The previous publications I consumed, at times nearly in a literal sense, were technical papers and publications on various business and leadership subjects while I pursued my MBA. Reading dialogues, experiencing the dread of this character, the anguish of the other while enjoying a depicted view over an enormous dam were very welcoming reading experiences. No more did I lose myself in research and literature reviews.
Alas, returning to Brian Freeman's winning novel, a teenage sprouting activist was murdered. Fathers fought to protect their kids because fingers were pointed at troublemakers from two particular neighbourhoods. Death by cancer played a crucial role, water poisoning was also present and the ever-looming conspiracy shrouding a multimillion and multinational firm were at the centre of this fast-paced stage.
So, yes. To read this novel is a definite recommendation - although to be honest, I am still not enticed enough to start the Jason Bourne saga. As a standalone novel, it is a must-read for the plot twists, modern depictions of everyday newscast violence and narrative are very reminiscent of our times.