Book review: First Response by Stephen Leather

It had been a while since I picked up a book. So, when the opportunity arose, I went to the thriller section and picked up First Response. It was a good choice.

The book is set in London in 2015, almost a decade after the July 7, 2005 London bombings (also known as the Seven-Seven bombings). The premise is simple – nine terrorists put on suicide vests and highjack nine different spots in the city. They demand that six ISIS operatives being held in Belmarsh be released or else they’ll blow themselves along with the hostages. It is now up to the police and other related agencies to prevent this disaster.

The writing of Mr. Leather is simple. He references a lot of real-life places in the book. So, a reader familiar with the city of London will it easier to understand the geographical references. However, even if one is not from London, it will be easy for them to understand what is going on.

There are a few issues plaguing the UK that have been brought to light for the rest of the world in recent times. Some of these are the grooming gangs where groups of Pakistani Muslims run prostitution rings and peddle innocent, white underage girls, forcing them into a life of drugs and slavery. Another is the growth of the anti-national Muslim population in the UK who want to convert it into an Islamic state. Add to it the impotence of the law-enforcing agencies who have their hands tied and are unable to take action for fear of being labelled as ‘racists’. While the world has started noticing the decay of British society only in recent times, this has been ongoing for quite some time now. Mr. Leather does a good job of weaving these narratives into his work.

There are some issues with the way the book flows. For example, the reader gets no insight into the background of Mo Kamaran. It is quite evident that he is a good guy. However, what makes him tick is anyone’s guess. We are provided information about the suicide bombers. However, at times, it feels that if instead of nine there were five, or six, or even four bombers then it wouldn’t have made any difference (except in the number of words/ pages).

The motive of the bad guy(s) in any story forms a crucial aspect of the plot. In this case, we get the motive of the antagonist. However, the execution of the seemingly diabolical plot leaves one with many questions. It is easy to guess the premise of the motive. This is a major area where the book loses points.

Overall, “First Response” is an interesting, thrill-filled ride. It does have certain elements that make it a page-turner. Personally, it can be rated 3/5.

Have you read “First Response” by Stephen Leather? If yes, please write to us and let us know your thoughts.