Firefly: Heartstopping chase thriller & winner of the Wilbur Smith Award (Paul Samson Spy Thriller)

Did wonder about a thriller revolving around a child, but this was superb, well crafted, finely drawn characters, and to my mind written beautifully. Had that combination of wanting to know the outcome and not wanting the story to end.

I surprised by such negative reviews. Who are these people who feel the need to simply criticise? I've always thought to be critical is easy and hints at underlying insecurity and the need to be seen as someone with the authority to be a critic. OK; no it's not the best book I've ever read and at times it is a little shallower than his earlier books but it's still an enjoyable novel and I'd say better than most of the genre. The frightened dash of 'Firefly' across Europe opens a different window upon the tragic dynamics of the fleeing immigrants plight. I valued the fact that the book kept me in a state of empathy towards the real life crisis that has to a large degree become fatigued through exposure in the media. I read this book about six months ago and it has stayed with me. I think it will stay with you too and for the right reasons.

This book gives us a real insight into the vagaries and dangers of a refugee crossing through the Balkans, with the added spice of being tailed by ISIS and being tracked by intelligence services. A brilliant tale with some memorable characters and adventures - surely there is a film in this?

The story moves qui kly, keeps one on edge all the time with changes from relaxed to scary every few pages.

I've always enjoyed Henry Porter's books. This one was full of suspense and intrigue and it kept me turning the pages. The only criticism I have is that quite a few of the characters actions were too predictable.

Absolutely stunning book which deals with the pursuit of a Syrian teenage computer whizz kid refugee across most of Europe by various pro and against factions. I found it interesting and thought provoking and enjoyed it very much. The byline "ripped from today's headlines" is used too much but, in this case, it is true. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I've made a mental note to read more of Mr Porter's novels.

Young refugee boy flees Syria, makes his way across Turkey, arrives in Greece and then crosses into the Balkans while being pursued by Islamic State terrorists. His goal is to obtain permission for his family to leave Syria and settle together in Germany. Britain's Secret Intelligence Service hires Paul Samson, an international specialist in finding missing persons, to locate the boy as it is believed he has knowledge of a major terrorist attack being planned for somewhere in Europe. This is a daunting tale of courage, the deplorable challenges facing refugees seeking entry into Europe, and the barbarities of the members of the Islamic State.

Firefly is my first Henry Porter book and certainly won't be my last. The only problem with it was that I was 1/2 way into the second book White Hot Silence before I realized it was a sequel to Firefly so recommend you read this first This is normally not the sort of book I would read. but was griped throughout however it is less like a spy novel and more of a race against time thriller It follows Paul Samson a former MI6 agent who deals with missing persons and must track a young boy across Europe before an ISIS terror cell find him ( having never read John Le Carr I can't compare. I look forward to reading the second in the series.

An interesting story against the backdrop of the refugee crisis as a result of Syria, Iraq, ISIS crafted with the usual believable but enthralling talent of Herlnry Porter. Just finishing book 3 and the whole weaves a fabric that seems to be all to near to reality in today's world.

Refreshed looked at the spy game with lots of adventure and geopolitics thrown in. Focusing in on a few migrant stories made the plight of migrants more real.

Instead of some silly plot about a massive terrorist threat to kill millions with equally absurd deux ex machina, Firefly is a compelling story about a current world refugee boy escaping from evil, and the efforts of a stalwart individual intent on rescuing him, rather than thinking about world-saving. Written in the best tradition of Lecarre, you will enjoy this book if you like serious writing. Also, the story of Naji’s travails across Europe reminded me of Jerry Kosinski’s epic novel The Painted Bird about another boy’s journey across Europe during WWII. I heartily recommend Firefly and look forward to reading more of Henry Porter’s novels.

This is my first Henry Porter book, but it won't be the last. Every writer in this genre has their own style, and I found Porter's to be easy to read and get engaged in. Firefly is about a teen's attempts to navigate the migrant routes from war-torn and war-lord dominated areas to the safety of Europe, but it has a twist in that he has information that would help expose atrocities. The bad guys are chasing the lead, as he is trying to get away from them and set up a new life for his family. Into this throw an ex-intelligence agent who is tasked with tracking the boy down to prevent harm to him (and learn what he knows). The story unfolds nicely, and has decent character development throughout the book, helping you build a knowledge of the participants. I read pretty much non-stop on a multi-hour flight, and after the flight ended (and only half way through the book) I had to make time to finish the novel. There's a lot of topicality in this story, considering the immigrant issues in Europe at the moment, and the look "on the other side" makes the issue more human. It's also a subtle look at the politics of immigration. Porter's style isn't as flamboyant or in-your-face as some other writers in this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way it's written. This won't be my last Porter, that's for sure!

Love the characters in this story. Enjoyed reading of the journey from the Turkish refugee camp, and dangers facing refugees en-route to Europe, bringing us a little closer to understanding the current melting pot, and plight of Syrians and Macedonians... will now eagerly fill in the gaps. The new heroes in this tale resonate long after the pages end, for their resilience and compassion as well as just plain fun in the midst of their harrowing plight. Truly an inspirational thread to follow .. and on through other books in a hoped-for series.