Rating: ★★★★★
Pendulum is one of those tricky novels that is difficult to review, or even to write a synopsis for. I’ve been deliberately vague, as I think that this is a novel best approached with as little prior knowledge as possible.
John Wallace wakes up confused and disoriented. He’s been stripped down to his underwear, and his hands and feet are bound. His attacker – dressed in protective combat gear that covers every inch of him – is, as far as John can tell, unknown to him. And then the perpetrator ties a noose around his neck, and suspends him from a wooden beam in his flat.
By chance, John manages to escape, but now he’s on the run with a seemingly unstoppable killer on his tracks. Can he find out why he’s been targeted and who the killer is before it’s too late?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Pendulum – the synopsis doesn’t give much away, and the reviews that I’d seen were (thankfully) also relatively light on detail. I think that this is a good thing – it meant that I went into the novel without any expectations, and from the first chapter I absolutely loved it.
Hamdy throws the reader into the action from the very first page, and the pace doesn’t let up from thereon in. I thought that the plot was brilliant throughout the novel, and the reader is placed in John’s shoes with no idea as to who is trying to kill him or why he is a target. Amidst all the action, the killer’s motive is slowly revealed as John starts to piece things together, and it leads to an extremely satisfying conclusion.
I found Pendulum to be well-written and filled with fascinating and flawed characters, all of whom are fully fleshed out with interesting back-stories. A high-octane, fast-paced thriller that doesn’t let up for a moment, I absolutely loved it, and I can’t wait for the next instalment in this series, Freefall, which is due to be published in November 2017. Highly recommended.
Jo's Book Blog 
So glad you enjoyed this so much! I kept seeing this around! I love books where the actions is there from the beginning 😀
Oh yes! This one throws you straight in, and doesn’t let up until the very last page. Can’t recommend this one enough 🙂
I can’t wait for the next instalment either! I love action from the very first page too! So glad you enjoyed it 😊
It was great! I like to think I’d have read it anyway, but not sure if I’d have got round to it so soon if it weren’t for your criminally good book club! Now I just need to get better at Instagram… 😳
Haha I love Instagram, of all the social media platforms, it the one I use most, I’m trying to use Twitter more (to converse) but I hate the word limit lol.
I find book clubs, readalongs, buddy reads etc are great to get you reading books you might not have otherwise picked up!
Your review has made me very excited to read this book! I had hoped to be able to get to it for Janel’s Criminally Good Book Club on instagram at end of Jan but I haven’t started it yet. I really love the idea of an action thriller. Great review!
I read it for Janel’s book club too (although I’ve priced to spectacularly poor at Instagram so far!) It really is great though 🙂
The great thing about it being online, Renee, is when you get around to reading it, you can just add your thoughts and discuss it with others you know have read it.
Hopefully you can join in in Feb for Trust No One by Paul Cleave (if you haven’t read it already) 😊
I didn’t even think of that Janel, thanks for reminding me!! Since it’s a print book and I’ve had to order new reading glasses (that really makes me sound old!) I haven’t been able to read it yet but I will:)
Great review! This sounds like am interesting book, although I’m not into series’ that much! 🙂