Thunderbird Rising

Read Time: 3 Minutes

Thunderbird Rising is a fast-paced, high-stakes techno-thriller which blends espionage, action, and science fiction into one wild ride in the week leading up to the events on September 11th, 2001. The story follows Maxx King, an ex-special forces operative turned cybercrime investigator, who finds himself in the middle of a global conspiracy that could change the world as we know it.

A mysterious “Omega” device of alien origin is at the centre of a deadly game between the U.S. and China. Being the winner means the ability to call down the wrath of the alien protectors who aren’t averse to the odd natural disaster. Mount St. Helens? That’s what you get for misusing the device.

The race has been on since the mid-1950s, with DARPA and other government agencies only now starting to fully decode the instructions.

Maxx is thrust into the middle of all this by accident. The Chinese operatives looking to steal information on the US version of the Omega device try taking him out of the picture, which doesn’t go too well for them. Maxx is a tough, no-nonsense kind of ex-military guy, so when his friends and loved ones are being threatened, it can only end one way.

The whole science fiction angle was a pleasant surprise. I thought I was in for a Borne-style thriller based on the blurb, but the sci-fi element added an interesting twist on the whole genre.

The pacing is one of the book’s strongest points, with a narrative that never lets up. The opening chapter has Maxx in peril almost instantly on the eve of September 11th, and things don’t get less intense as we flash back one-week to how he got there.

An additional layer of intrigue is the effective way it incorporates an alternate history timeline without re-writing the whole narrative. As mentioned, the events of the book take place in the leadup to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center towers, but not as an alternate explanation for that day, but as a side conspiracy that plays out in the shadows.

Weaving the two together works well, and the slightly conspiratorial side of me thinks it adds plausibility, blurring the lines between real-world and fiction. It’s an approach that ratchets up the tension because we all know how that day played out and it keeps you guessing how the plot may get intertwined.

The narration by Scott Fleming was easy to listen to. He’s got a gruff kind of voice which works well for Maxx and the story in general. I had no notes on production issues, so no obvious re-takes, background noises or other distractions. Fleming is certainly the right voice for the book.

A small bonus at the end where the author lists out the various songs that helped provide inspiration. He’s even got a Spotify playlist you can check out if you’re interested!

If you’re a fan of thrillers that don’t just rush to the finish line but also make you think about what’s else might be out there, Thunderbird Rising is a must-listen. I enjoyed the heck out this one!