The Taste of Fear

"The Taste of Fear" is a story that I had not expected. Readers are introduced to a host of characters and learn much about Africa during the first half of the book. Assassins are out to kill hotel tycoon Salvador Brazza, his bodyguard, an ex-Israeli agent, suggests he and his American movie star Scarlett Cox head to Africa to get away and rekindle their ailing marriage. While he stays behind to seek out the assassins and end their contracts.

Unbeknownst to both Sal and his bodyguard, one of the assassins was hot on the couple's trail, even befriending them at one point. When robbed of their money and passports, they seek help from the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam on the very day Al Qaeda chooses to bomb it. In an eyeblink, they are show more taken hostage and whisked across the border deep into the Congo, unknown to all that the assassin continues to follow. From this point forward, much happens, multiple twists occurring in every chapter, which readers will find it impossible to put the book down.

Battling terrorists, deadly wildlife, and cannibalistic rebels, Scarlett, Sal, the Embassy employees, and Thunder, an Aussie good- Samaritan, must find a way to survive in a violent, primeval world. And the only person who may be able to save them is the assassin sent to kill them.

I'd recommend "The Taste of Fear" to anyone interested in a good thriller and not afraid of gore will find this book entertaining. Great job Mr. Bates!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel show less

The Taste of Fear is a story of survival. American actress, Scarlett Cox, and her billionaire husband, Salvador Brazza, go on Safari in Africa to revive their failing marriage. A robbery leaves them stranded and in need of assistance from the US Embassy. Almost immediately, Cox and Brazza get caught up in an attack on the Embassy in Dar es Salaam and are captured and taken hostage, along with a couple of Embassy workers and an Australian tourist, by a group of Al Qaeda terrorists.

AQ takes them deep into the African jungle and away from all known civilization. Assured of a certain death, especially once their identities are discovered, Brazza and Cox must find a way to escape and survive the perils of the Congo - wildlife, terrorists, show more and cannibals. If they make it through, Brazza must also survive the hired assassin who has tracked him to the Congo.

The story is gripping from the start. The author captures the delicate balance of a fragile marriage and throws in the essential elements to test the partners, their commitment to each other, and the durability of the relationship. The story shows how one careless decision, made in a heated moment, can have disastrous effects. One such decision made by Sal Brazza changes their lives in an instant.

The characters are well developed, flawed, and believable; their relationships are complex and simple at the same time. The author takes us on an intense trip into the jungle, and fills the reader's senses with exotic and horrifying sounds, smells, and tastes. The story is packed with suspense and action and fraught with danger.

From beginning to end, the story is exciting, challenging, realistic and touching show less

News like the following ones are regularly broadcast these days: Tourists kidnapped by Al-Qaeda devotees. Al-Qaeda-related massacre, tourists involved. Hotel attacked by Al-Qaeda gunmen. The list can be extended continually. We all have heard of those tragic events, whether the tourists were of US-American, English, German or another nationality. And we all hope and pray we and our closest will never be entangled in such an occurence. But do we know how it actually feels like for the people concerned? Do we know how the situation in captivity might be like?

The Taste of Fear provides stunning insight into such a dreaded incident. Not all of it might be accurate in terms of the plot's credibility or a realistic portrayal, but it is show more questionable whether or not the feelings a person has to bear while in danger of being murdered brutally by terrorists could even be accurately depicted. And if you bear in mind that this is one of Jeremy Bates' first novels he has published so far, with him still being a newcomer to the world of writing, then it can be admired that he was able to come up with a gripping and relatively believable story.

(Little side-note: Small spoilers are included, but nothing essential. You will still enjoy the story and be surprised by its twists even if you read this review.)

The Plot:
The story focuses on Scarlett Cox and Salvadore Brazza, a married couple who want to overcome their marriage problems by travelling to Africa. Sharing wonderful and distressing experiences alike during their stay in Tanzania, they have no idea that on the very day they intend to return to the United States, they will be robbed and taken hostage by Al-Qaeda terrorists. The story is constructed on a constantly increasing level, suspense and thrilling moments being piled up until the turning point occurs with Scarlett, Sal and some other innocents being kidnapped and taken into the deep forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the least investigated regions of the planet. The author never allows the story to bore its reader, a new twist lurking around every corner and being accompanied by a new cliffhanger. The story itself never feels rushed, however - Jeremy Bates carefully explores all the plot points he established at the beginning of the story and still leaves enough room for the characters to breath and develop. Which leads directly to the next point ...

The Characters:
One might imagine that with a story as complex and socially relevant as this one, the author decides to introduce likeable characters the reader can't help but root for. You're way off the mark. Scarlett Cox is a spoiled, unsuspicious Hollywood movie star and considers herself to be one of the most well-known prominents of the United States of America. Her husband, Salvadore Brazza, called Sal, is a hotel tycoon with more money than he could ever actually spend and a list of enemies he has lost track of - and, more importantly, Sal behaves like an asshole.
During the course of the story, the true of colours of Scarlett's character emerge and allow her to see behind Sal's facade, behind the masks of a rich, powerful man she has spent four years of her life with, only to realize that she really does not know the man she has fallen in love with. Both of them undergo massive character development during the course of the story, but while Scarlett attempts to do so, Sal never shows any interest in bringing their lives into agreement with each other. Jeremy Bates also introduces several minor characters, for example Damien Fitzgerald, one of Sal's enemies who is unplannedly involved into the entire mess, or Thunder, an expatriant who enjoys his adventurous life in Africa and who will cause further uproar in Scarlett and Sal's marriage. Jeremy Bates focuses on his two main characters, thus not really spending time on developing the minor characters or making his readers care for those - which is sadly the most significant point of criticism in this novel.

The Setting:
Set on four different continents (America, Europe, Asia and Africa) and in seven different countries, the author explores a huge variety of setting options, leading from the luxury hotel in Dubai via the holiday guidance in Tanzania through to the depths of the Congolesean jungle. He isn't scared of presenting very differing cultures as well as the differences between civilized people and military groups like the Mai-Mai, but he also doesn't shrink back from confronting his characters with the true dangers of the African forests: they have to escape lions and leopards, spiders and snakes, hippos and crocodiles. Some of those encounters will end deathly. In fact, the author doesn't shrink back from killing in general. There is a lot of death, blood and devastation in this story, as might be expected from a story dealing with terrorists. It's a socially relevant subject depicted with a certain realism attached to it, yet the way Jeremy Bates implemented it is probably not suited for those who are more sensitive than others - mainly because he doesn't tell, he shows. And if there is someone who is attacked by a feline predatore (and eaten alive) ... then it will be shown explicitly. I'm just saying.


Jeremy Bates is one of those authors who isn't very well-known these days, but who certainly has the talent to evolve into someone with more recognized stories and literary achievements, especially in the thriller/mystery genre. His writing style might be reminiscient of authors like [a:Jo Nesbø|904719|Jo Nesbø|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1313316680p2/904719.jpg], [a:Jussi Adler-Olsen|1734716|Jussi Adler-Olsen|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1411461376p2/1734716.jpg], [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] or [a:Tana French|138825|Tana French|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1277505771p2/138825.jpg] who unproblematically succeed at allowing their readers to root for unlikeable protagonists. And let's not forgot that The Taste of Fear is a Kindle freebie, so it can be legally downloaded for free. This will definitely not be the last Bates novel I've read, and if you are interested in the very complex plotline, then you should not hesitate to pick it up. show less

An Exhilarating, never ending thrill ride. The further you read the novel the more overflowing with danger. Just when you think nothing worse can happen – it does. The pages are packed with suspense. The author brings the reader into an authentic world, writing powerful scenes with great action and vivid surroundings. A true painting of the various terrains and societies, brought forth in lurid descriptions as the characters travel from place to place under duress. The story delivers protagonists who become stronger and better people as they hang on for survival. The title is very appropriate, more appreciated once the book is finished and the reader can look back on the motives and the personality traits of the characters. Truly show more captivating and I recommend this story to everyone who enjoys a true thriller. show less

Billed as a thriller and is mildly so. For a nebulous reason a man and his wife are targets of a hitman as they take a vacation safari. You need to suspend belief a few times, like the lack of security measures taken by hotels and an Israeli agent, that even I would insist upon! A so-so read. It does pick up midpoint and ends abruptly. 462 pages

Meh. Not terrible, but nothing really stood out. A pleasant enough way to pass time.

KindleBook