By Scott Mariani
Published by Avon Books UK (29 January 2015)
ISBN: 978-0-00-748617-5
Goodreads description
A lost, aimless and hard-drinking Ben Hope has wandered back to his old haunt in Ireland. The ex-SAS soldier is searching for peace, but trouble soon appears when Kristen Hall, a young journalist, is brutally murdered right in front of him. Unable to prevent it, Ben is driven by guilt to hunt down the killers. All he has to go on is a handful of clues from Kristen's research - but how can the journals of Lady Stamford, the wife of an English lord during the time of the Irish Great Famine, have put Kirsten in mortal danger?
Ben's quest for the truth leads him across the world and finally to Oklahoma, USA, where a deadly secret awaits. What connects the journals, a wealthy American politician and an intrigue surrounding the Irish famine?
When Ben uncovers is a shocking historical conspiracy linked to the deaths of some two million people: a veritable holocaust that time has all but forgotten. Those who are still profiting from the lies and corruption of the time, and who are ready to kill anyone to protect their secret, are about to pay...
A lost, aimless and hard-drinking Ben Hope has wandered back to his old haunt in Ireland. The ex-SAS soldier is searching for peace, but trouble soon appears when Kristen Hall, a young journalist, is brutally murdered right in front of him. Unable to prevent it, Ben is driven by guilt to hunt down the killers. All he has to go on is a handful of clues from Kristen's research - but how can the journals of Lady Stamford, the wife of an English lord during the time of the Irish Great Famine, have put Kirsten in mortal danger?
Ben's quest for the truth leads him across the world and finally to Oklahoma, USA, where a deadly secret awaits. What connects the journals, a wealthy American politician and an intrigue surrounding the Irish famine?
When Ben uncovers is a shocking historical conspiracy linked to the deaths of some two million people: a veritable holocaust that time has all but forgotten. Those who are still profiting from the lies and corruption of the time, and who are ready to kill anyone to protect their secret, are about to pay...
My verdict
Ben Hope is my ideal action hero, with his military training, determination and caring nature. I am always surprised that Scott Mariani's series doesn't get as much media coverage as Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. I am a big fan of both characters, but find that Ben Hope is a much more attractive character due to his sensitivity and vulnerability.
The Forgotten Holocaust is the 10th book in the Ben Hope series. It combines everything I enjoy in a book - an interesting underlying historical story, a fast-paced plot, a modern-day action figure, strong female characters and some blood and gore. The only aspect missing was a hint of romance, but Ben Hope is recovering from a past relationship, so that's been put on hold - hopefully only until the next book.
I found the background of the Irish Potato Famine fascinating, as this isn't an area of history that I am particularly familiar with. Scott Mariani seamlessly weaves the history and action together. His descriptive passages are highly visual and no word is superfluous. I read The Forgotten Holocaust in one sitting - I couldn't put it down and the book flows from beginning to end.
I am looking forward to the next Ben Hope book - The Martyr's Curse - I hope it isn't too far away.
I won this book in a a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
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