Narrated by Greg Boudreaux
Hailey Turner’s futuristic Metahuman Files series has got better and better with each successive instalment as the overarching plotline moves inexorably towards what is sure to be an exciting, nail-biting finale in the fifth and final book, In the Requiem. In audio, we’ve reached book four, In the Blood, and in it – to use the vernacular – the shit hits the fan big time. The author does an absolutely fabulous job here of weaving the suspense plotline – concerning the search for a terrorist group intent on making metahumans of their own – with the storylines surrounding Alpha Team’s captain, Jamie Callaghan and his difficult and sensitive family situation, his secret romance with Kyle Brannigan (the team’s sniper), and those featuring the series’ other romantic couple, Kyle’s adoptive brother Alexei Dvorkin and his lover, former CIA agent Sean Delaney. The ante is well and truly upped here as Jamie’s father’s presidential campaign heats up and Jamie and his team find themselves backed into a corner by the man who has become their nemesis. I’ll just pause to say that while these books can probably be listened to as standalones, I wouldn’t recommend it; the author does give plenty of backstory in each book, but listeners will get far more out of the experience by going back to book one, In the Wreckage, and following the story from the beginning. Plus – Greg Boudreaux narrates all the books. It’s a no brainer, right?
For almost a year now, Jamie and Alpha Team have been working undercover to find out who is selling Splice – a deadly chemical agent that kills around 95% of those who come into contact with it and turns the remaining 5% into metahumans – on the black market. In the previous book, In the Shadows, Alexei and Sean were tasked with getting an “in” with Declan Wolcott, the owner of one of the top private military companies in the US, in order to find out about his connections to the Sons of Adam terrorist group and the Russian mob. But the mission went pear-shaped when they were betrayed by an assistant director of the CIA who had recognised Sean, and Wolcott went on the run following the raid on his company HQ.
When In the Blood opens, Sean and Alexei receive intelligence that Wolcott is now working with Cillian Halloran, a bomb-maker and chemist, formerly a member of the Reborn IRA, and a man with a grudge against Sean. The same intelligence also suggests that Halloran and Wolcott are selling their services to the highest bidder and are planning on executing some large-scale Splice attacks – and that an attack on domestic soil is imminent. With the race for the presidential nominations swinging into high gear, the most likely target is something related to the elections; and with Richard Callahan, Jamie’s father and favourite to win the republican nomination, due to hold a large outdoor rally in Boston, they’re pretty certain that’s where the Halloran and Wolcott will strike next.
While Alexei and Sean are attempting to find out more, Jamie is becoming increasingly frustrated at the demands being placed upon him by his father, who insists Jamie spend more and more time on the campaign trail pressing the flesh and parading in front of the cameras with and in support of him. Jamie agreed to it so as to maintain his cover as a greedy and unscrupulous businessman with Stanislav Pavluhkin, the man the MDF suspects of being in league with the terrorists, but Jamie hates it – he hates being away from Kyle, hates not being with his team – who are more of a family to him than his own flesh and blood – and hates not being able to do his job.
Worse still, Pavluhkin is a metahuman, and he’s a precog, which means outmanoeuvring him is almost impossible, and the strain of constantly trying to be unpredictable is starting to take a toll.
The story is pretty intense and the bad news just keeps on coming. Jamie’s father stubbornly refuses to cancel the rally in Boston, and at the same time, Alexei and Sean are targeted by Halloran, their home destroyed and their lives endangered. Jamie is frustrated and furious at his father’s selfish actions and torn in two because he wants to protect both his families – and the author doesn’t pull any punches in either storyline. As has been the case in all the books, Ms. Turner writes the most vivid and thrilling action sequences, and each contains the sort of military violence one might see in an action movie or TV show, but this story also contains scenes of torture that aren’t for the faint of heart (you might want to skip the first part of chapter twelve!). There are also moments of heartbreaking poignancy that had me on the verge of tears, and while the book ends on a hopeful note, we know it’s the calm before the storm.
This series really has gone from strength to strength and I’m impressed with the way Hailey Turner has woven together a complex, fast-paced and suspenseful plot with personal and family drama and relationships, and keeps two romances moving forward without one overshadowing the other. Both couples continue to burn up the sheets in their own way – Jamie and Kyle have All the Kinky Sex while Alexei and Sean are perhaps more emotional and sensual, so there’s something for everyone! ;) The author has created a terrific supporting cast in the members of Alpha Team, all of whom have distinct, easily identifiable personalities; characters you love to hate (Richard Callahan, I’m looking at YOU), and a bunch of truly evil villains who I am just dying to watch getting their just desserts in the last book.
Greg Boudreaux is doing an amazing job with this series. It’s got so many different elements – not to mention so many different characters – that it makes my head spin just to vaguely wonder how he does it, narrating a high-speed car chase one minute, a steamy, kinky sex scene the next, a bunch of characters lobbing bombs and fireballs around after that and then a scene of quiet and utter heartbreak. I love the sense of camaraderie the author has created between the members of Alpha Team, and Mr. Boudreaux gets that across perfectly, expertly conveying their affection and deep respect for one another. I’m always more than impressed with the understanding and insight he brings to his narrations, and with his ability to zero in on the emotional heart of a scene and just bring it – he’s probably made me cry more than any other narrator I’ve listened to (and I mean that as a compliment!); his engagement communicates itself to the listener and it’s easy to tell that he’s as caught up in the story as his listeners are.
In the Blood is a thrilling, devastating and disturbing listen and probably won’t suit everyone. But if you enjoy complex, tightly plotted and action-packed stories, strong, well-characterised leads and an engaging ensemble cast, all wrapped up in a superb performance from one of the best narrators on the planet, then the Metahuman Files are well worth checking out.
Caz
Buy In the Blood by Hailey Turner on Amazon
