Not quite the thriller I wanted but a good try

 

3.5 stars

Anything catering to the fans of I Am Pilgrim is sure to entertain, right? Yes, to a point. Though Octagon was a pretty good yarn it would be a stretch to reach that high bar. It seemed more in line with a Dan Brown novel. Plenty to enjoy, though. A multi-country quest to find baddies and save the world, likeable characters and rather detailed violent action scenes (though not my thing). I wanted a fun yet tense adventure and did get one but felt it was a bit tame, possibly lacking dimension and grit. I know, that doesn't mesh with the violent action but it came across as safe and not really perilous. I didn't feel anxious or worry for Stella or Tommy one bit throughout. 

Though I liked Stella and Tommy and their partnership, Tommy came across as a copy and paste ex-SAS, rather mechanical. The attempt was made to flesh him out but it didn't click for me, I'm sorry to say. Stella, on the other hand was just rife with contradictions. As a former MI6 agent I would have expect a certain level of professionalism and capability but all she brought to the table was good looks, a winning smile and an ability to charm anyone necessary. She felt more like a frightened, screaming female sidekick from an 80s adventure film.

Octagon had a promising start, feeling dark and portentous, but gradually I lost interest and by the end I was happy to move on. Full of potential, I grant you, but just lacking that extra little spark that makes it a novel I rave about and want to pass on to friends. But C.J. Merritt gets full marks and I look forward to future efforts as, clearly, a natural storyteller.