The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E Hardisty ** BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY **

Claymore Straker is trying to forget a violent past. Working as an oil company engineer in the wilds of Yemen, he is hijacked at gunpoint by Islamic terrorists. Clay has a choice: help uncover the cause of a mysterious sickness afflicting the village of Al Urush, close to the company's oil-processing facility, or watch Abdulkader, his driver and close friend, die. 

As the country descends into civil war and village children start dying, Clay finds himself caught up in a ruthless struggle between opposing armies, controllers of the country's oil wealth, Yemen's shadowy secret service, and rival terrorist factions. 

As Clay scrambles to keep his friend alive, he meets Rania, a troubled journalist. Together, they try to uncover the truth about Al Urush. But nothing in this ancient, unforgiving place is as it seems. Accused of a murder he did not commit, put on the CIA's most-wanted list, Clay must come to terms with his past and confront the powerful forces that want him dead. 

A stunning debut eco-thriller, The Abrupt Physics of Dying is largely based on true events. Gritty, gripping and shocking, this book will not only open your eyes but keep them glued to the page until the final, stunning denouement is reached.

Welcome to the BLOG TOUR for The Abrupt Physics of Dying by Paul E Hardisty which is published on 8 March in ebook and paperback by Orenda Books.

I was delighted to take part in this blog tour, and thrilled to support Karen in her exciting new venture that is Orenda Books. The Abrupt Physics of Dying is quite a way from my usual type of read, and if I'm honest, I was a little apprehensive about reading it. Without wanting to sound sexist or stereotypical, I did think that this was going to be a 'blokes' book. I am happy to have been proved wrong, this is a story that opens with a bang and keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat throughout.   

Orenda Books have given me two copies of The Abrupt Physics of Dying to give away, entry is simple, just complete the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post.

For me, one of the best and most exciting things about reading so many books is that I learn so much, and travel with the author to so many new places, and The Abrupt Physics of Dying certainly taught me a hell of a lot and took me on an adventure to places that I'd never read about before.

Clay, the lead character is something of a maverick. I envisaged a craggy faced, yet handsome guy whose experiences are etched on his face. He takes risks and is daring, he is flawed yet confident and determined.

The action is set in the Yemen and the author evokes such a sense of place with his writing that I felt as though I'd been there and experienced the culture, it is clear that the author has himself spent time there, his descriptions are enticing and exotic, yet startling realistic.

The Abrupt Physics of Dying is a tense thriller, the violence and corruption is vividly portrayed, yet there is nothing in the story that shouldn't be there.  Clay and his supporting cast of characters don't get away with everything either, this is certainly no James Bond style lead character, in fact he suffers just as much, if not more than his enemies.

If you enjoy a story that is well-written with a plot that twists and turns, and leads you astray, then I'd recommend this. If you want a hero that is a little bit unusual, with his own issues, but is determined and so well created, then I'd recommend this. If you want a complex and intelligent thriller, then I'd really really recommend this. Don't be scared, take the plunge, this is a fine novel, with thrills and excitement throughout.

Canadian by birth, Paul Hardisty has spent 25 years working all over the world as an engineer, hydrologist and environmental scientist. He has roughnecked on oil rigs in Texas, explored for gold in the Arctic, mapped geology in Eastern Turkey (where he was befriended by PKK rebels), and rehabilitated water wells in the wilds of Africa. He was in Ethiopia in 1991 as the Mengistu regime fell, and was bumped from one of the last flights out of Addis Ababa by bureaucrats and their families fleeing the rebels. In 1993 he survived a bomb blast in a café in Sana’a, and was one of the last Westerners out of Yemen before the outbreak of the 1994 civil war. Paul is a university professor and Director of Australia’s national land, water, ecosystems and climate adaptation research programmes. He is a sailor, a private pilot, keen outdoorsman, conservation volunteer, and lives in Western Australia with his family.
Follow him on Twitter @Hardisty_Paul and check out his website.

Orenda Books was launched in October 2014 by Karen Sullivan with a small, “exciting” list of commercial literary fiction

Orenda Books signed three début novels, including David F Ross’ The Last Days of Disco, which Sullivan said will draw comparison with Roddy Doyle and Irvine Welsh.

The publisher also signed world English rights for The Abrupt Physics of Dying, a “riveting, topical eco-thriller set in Yemen” by Canadian–Australian author Paul Hardisty, which was signed from Broo Doherty at DHH Literary Agency.

Sullivan has also negotiated British Commonwealth rights with David Headley at DHH Literary Agency and Monica Gram at Leonhardt & Høier Literary Agency A/S for Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jónasson’s atmospheric, gritty début thriller Snowblind, and a second title, Dark Night (Bjartur Veröld). It will be author Jónasson’s first publication in English.

Karen Sullivan said: “There is always a market for readable, good-quality literature, and I plan to focus on literary crime/thrillers and books that have personal resonance. Translated fiction is definitely high on my wish list, as there is undoubtedly a wealth of undiscovered literature out there.”

For more information, check out the Orenda website www.orendabooks.co.uk

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