Review: Intriguing thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 28, 2011
The Defector explores the premise that the instinct for self preservation outweighs the the desire to contribute to the greater good. People choose to be either 'defectors' or 'cooperators', and when the stakes are high enough, morality is not the only casualty.Cormac lived the high life as a trader in the financial market until it all began to fall apart. Overwhelmed, he fled his life in London, ending up in Thailand where he is rescued from a bar fight by a stranger. A drink or three with Janec leads to an offer Cormac can't refuse, trapping him in a deadly game of psychological torment and physical punishment. This is one trade Cormac can't lose.I was quickly pulled into this fast paced thriller, intrigued by Cormac and then fascinated by Janec. The Prisoner's Dilemma was an only vaguely familiar concept, until Chisnell so clearly demonstrates the practical application of the game theory. These are two men who like games but Janec ups the ante considerably manipulating Cormac into a position whereby he has very few choices, none of them good. With each meeting, in Sydney Australia and then the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Janec pushes the limits in a chilling game of life and death.There is a fair bit of chasing involved in The Defector, and in some parts the story lagged for me. Not being particularly interested in sailing I felt the initial stage of their ocean crossing was a bit too long though all was forgiven in the stunning climax.The Defector is an exciting thriller with an original premise that creatively blends psychological theory with fast-paced action. If you are a fan of the genre then this novel, formerly published by HarperCollins and now re-released by the author in eformat - and for a bargain price, should be on your reading list.