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A Superspy Races to Halt Armaggedon

By Janet Maslin

• June 16, 2014
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Neither its plot nor its provenance do much to recommend Terry Hayes’s “I Am Pilgrim.” So it’s all the more surprising that this first novel by a screenwriter of films not renowned for their dialogue turns out to be the most exciting desert island read of the season.

Yes, the 600 or so action-packed pages are headed toward a showdown between a brave and ultra-brilliant American secret agent and an equally fearless jihadi terrorist. But neither is written as a stereotype; the two don’t meet until the end of the story; and this book has the whole globe to trot around before that. There are more than enough subplots and flashbacks to keep readers riveted. The American agent’s wild array of past exploits could fill a book of their own.

Despite Mr. Hayes’s long history as a movie guy (his credits include “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” and “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” ), “I Am Pilgrim” is not a film treatment bloated into book form. It’s a big, breathless tale of nonstop suspense, and it has something rarely found in big-budget movies of the same genre: the voice of a single writer instead of the patchwork nonsense created by endless collaborators and fixers. Mr. Hayes delivers his share of far-fetched moments, and no doubt he’d like to see “I Am Pilgrim” filmed some day. But he’s his own worst enemy in that regard. His novel will be hard for any movie version to beat.

The screenwriter in Mr. Hayes mandates that “I Am Pilgrim” begin with a big, lurid crime scene. So our narrator, who goes by many fake names, is summoned to a hotel room in Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of Sept. 11. There, in the midst of the chaos, is a once-hot-looking woman who has been killed in a way that erases all signs of her identity. It’s almost as if the killer had followed guidelines described in the secret but worshipfully regarded forensics manual our guy wrote, under the fake name Jude Garrett, for a secret subsidiary of the C.I.A.

With lightning speed, and with logic best not examined too closely, Mr. Hayes greatly widens his book’s canvas after this New York scene. We find out about how, our main man, now 32, spent his early years on an estate in Greenwich, Conn.; was faking his identity, even as a boy; and has earned his reputation as a lethal spy but fears that he must give up a “a thing most people call love, I suppose.” As he puts it, “I wanted to walk along a beach with someone and not think about how far a sniper can fire.” Maybe that’s possible in a sequel, but he won’t be taking any slow, romantic strolls this time.

Cut to Saudi Arabia, where the mind of a teenage terrorist is being formed. Allowing for the fact that few mainstream Western writers have much insight into such characters, Mr. Hayes does what he can to breathe life into the ideas of hatred and vengeance as life-altering motivations. (He has also written screenplays for Mel Gibson.) So this boy, who will come to be known as the Saracen, has his fate determined by his father’s. “Only in a police state does a child pray for nothing more serious than a crippling accident to have befallen their parent,” Mr. Hayes writes. Grammarians who howl at popular fiction like Dan Brown’s books can find a lot to work with here, too.

After Mr. Hayes writes, more movingly than gruesomely, of how the boy is affected by his father’s public beheading (his crime: disparaging the royal family), he raises the rage level: The family’s widowed mother must now get a job, which somehow entails exposing her face and wearing Gucci sunglasses. That’s it: The son goes into exile, determined to learn how to wage war against America. A couple of decades later, having roamed from Bahrain to Afghanistan to Germany, he is ready and able.

The Saracen becomes a doctor and, after experimenting shockingly on human guinea pigs, perfects a new, improved strain of plague that is vaccine-proof. On a parallel track, our guy — who will ultimately be known as Pilgrim (no clue as to whether this is meant to evoke John Wayne ) — is recruited at the highest level (enter the president of the United States) to ward off a terrible but mysterious threat to the nation, a threat that turns the last part of the book into a race against the clock.

Mr. Hayes aligns his characters very ingeniously for this final part of the story, to the point where even that initial New York murder has something to do with it, and all the loose ends begin to come together. By this point, the Saracen and Pilgrim are a couple so clearly made for each other that the reader can hardly wait for them to meet. The setting, like all this book’s settings, is too picturesque for words. Mr. Hayes seems to have done backbreaking travel to some of the world’s most beautiful places in the name of research for his peripatetic story.

This author excels at a foreshadowing that is nothing if not galvanizing: “I headed back down the crumbling passage, deeper into the gloom. There was one thing, however, that I had overlooked, and for the rest of my life I would wonder about the mistake I made.” But at its all-important finale, “I Am Pilgrim” suffers a fit of Hollywooditis, and abandons some of the toughness it has worked so hard to develop. This book doesn’t exactly end; it just stops, and Mr. Hayes does whatever he must to make that happen. At the price of credibility, he paves the way for a sequel. It’s not a fair trade.

I AM PILGRIM

By Terry Hayes

612 pages. Emily Bestler Books/Atria. $26.99.

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I AM PILGRIM

by Terry Hayes ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 27, 2014

Two psychos enter, and one psycho leaves. Good entertainment for readers with a penchant for mayhem, piles of bodies and a...

Tom Clancy meets Robin Cook in a thriller that should find a place in many beach bags this summer.

Debut novelist Hayes brings well-refined storytelling chops to the enterprise: He’s written numerous screenplays, including  Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome . Indeed, while reading this novel, one gets the sense it was written to turn into a screenplay or perhaps began life that way, what with its shifting points of view and a narrator who may or may not be reliable. Whatever the case, Hayes gets us into the thick of things right away: Pilgrim, a federal agent, is a brilliant student of the human psyche who just happens to have awesome killing skills that he’s practiced on several continents; in Moscow, for instance, he recounts, “even though I was young and inexperienced I killed my boss like a professional.” Don’t give him a bad performance review, then. He finds plenty of scope for his talents when put up against a former mujahedeen ominously code-named The Saracen, who’s resolved to wreak all kinds of havoc on the West for its offenses against Islam. He’s a bad, bad man—the fact that he wasn’t killed in the war along with a million other Afghans, Hayes writes, “would make most people question if not God’s existence at least His common sense.” Hayes is a master of the extremely gruesome scene—the opening involves an acid bath, and later we get popped eyeballs, beheadings and all kinds of grisliness. The story does go on a hundred pages too long and gets sidelined here and there, but it has considerable strengths, and the author gets points for avoiding at least some clichés and putting a few Arabs into key good-guy (or good-girl) positions.

Pub Date: May 27, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4391-7772-3

Page Count: 624

Publisher: Emily Bestler/Atria

Review Posted Online: May 6, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2014

THRILLER | GENERAL & DOMESTIC THRILLER | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE

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Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

by Max Brooks ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

A tasty, if not always tasteful, tale of supernatural mayhem that fans of King and Crichton alike will enjoy.

Are we not men? We are—well, ask Bigfoot, as Brooks does in this delightful yarn, following on his bestseller World War Z (2006).

A zombie apocalypse is one thing. A volcanic eruption is quite another, for, as the journalist who does a framing voice-over narration for Brooks’ latest puts it, when Mount Rainier popped its cork, “it was the psychological aspect, the hyperbole-fueled hysteria that had ended up killing the most people.” Maybe, but the sasquatches whom the volcano displaced contributed to the statistics, too, if only out of self-defense. Brooks places the epicenter of the Bigfoot war in a high-tech hideaway populated by the kind of people you might find in a Jurassic Park franchise: the schmo who doesn’t know how to do much of anything but tries anyway, the well-intentioned bleeding heart, the know-it-all intellectual who turns out to know the wrong things, the immigrant with a tough backstory and an instinct for survival. Indeed, the novel does double duty as a survival manual, packed full of good advice—for instance, try not to get wounded, for “injury turns you from a giver to a taker. Taking up our resources, our time to care for you.” Brooks presents a case for making room for Bigfoot in the world while peppering his narrative with timely social criticism about bad behavior on the human side of the conflict: The explosion of Rainier might have been better forecast had the president not slashed the budget of the U.S. Geological Survey, leading to “immediate suspension of the National Volcano Early Warning System,” and there’s always someone around looking to monetize the natural disaster and the sasquatch-y onslaught that follows. Brooks is a pro at building suspense even if it plays out in some rather spectacularly yucky episodes, one involving a short spear that takes its name from “the sucking sound of pulling it out of the dead man’s heart and lungs.” Grossness aside, it puts you right there on the scene.

Pub Date: June 16, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9848-2678-7

Page Count: 304

Publisher: Del Rey/Ballantine

Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020

GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | SCIENCE FICTION

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by Max Brooks

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A CONSPIRACY OF BONES

by Kathy Reichs ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

A week after the night she chases but fails to catch a mysterious trespasser outside her town house, some unknown party texts Tempe four images of a corpse that looks as if it’s been chewed by wild hogs, because it has been. Showboat Medical Examiner Margot Heavner makes it clear that, breaking with her department’s earlier practice ( The Bone Collection , 2016, etc.), she has no intention of calling in Tempe as a consultant and promptly identifies the faceless body herself as that of a young Asian man. Nettled by several errors in Heavner’s analysis, and even more by her willingness to share the gory details at a press conference, Tempe launches her own investigation, which is not so much off the books as against the books. Heavner isn’t exactly mollified when Tempe, aided by retired police detective Skinny Slidell and a host of experts, puts a name to the dead man. But the hints of other crimes Tempe’s identification uncovers, particularly crimes against children, spur her on to redouble her efforts despite the new M.E.’s splenetic outbursts. Before he died, it seems, Felix Vodyanov was linked to a passenger ferry that sank in 1994, an even earlier U.S. government project to research biological agents that could control human behavior, the hinky spiritual retreat Sparkling Waters, the dark web site DeepUnder, and the disappearances of at least four schoolchildren, two of whom have also turned up dead. And why on earth was Vodyanov carrying Tempe’s own contact information? The mounting evidence of ever more and ever worse skulduggery will pull Tempe deeper and deeper down what even she sees as a rabbit hole before she confronts a ringleader implicated in “Drugs. Fraud. Breaking and entering. Arson. Kidnapping. How does attempted murder sound?”

Pub Date: March 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9821-3888-2

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020

GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | SUSPENSE | THRILLER | DETECTIVES & PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS | SUSPENSE | GENERAL & DOMESTIC THRILLER

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by Kathy Reichs

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Thrillers – review roundup

As a screenwriter, Terry Hayes gave us Mad Max 2 and Dead Calm . His debut novel has been hyped as "the only thriller you need to read this year", and for once that isn't nonsense. I Am Pilgrim (Bantam, £12.99) makes moussaka of its rivals, not because it does anything so radical as reboot the genre – a claim that's been made for it – but because it features a solid, credible hero (a US intelligence agent codenamed Pilgrim) moving through a solid, credible world; a worthy adversary in the Saracen, a jihadist doctor radicalised by watching his father's beheading; and a dazzling structure that fuses the micro plot (what looks like the perfect murder has been committed in a run-down Manhattan apartment) with the macro plot (the Saracen has created a version of smallpox with which he hopes to destroy America) into a Möbius-like loop of pure narrative pleasure.

Hayes gives Pilgrim a superhero's background – after his mother's murder he was adopted by a well-meaning billionaire – and as an agent he is at the top of the pile, answerable only to the president. Yet where most spies are sociopathic, Pilgrim is capable of both loyalty and an intense cross-cultural empathy, which gives him the edge over his colleagues.

A progressive hero, then, but one adrift in a novel whose engine is an invidious post-9/11 paranoia. Pilgrim acknowledges in an offhand way that the US does shady stuff it shouldn't, but in the broader context of a plausible novel about a terrorist spectacular, the message that the NSA should have carte blanche to intercept and imprison is beamed out loud and clear.

Bored with vampires? Stephen Lloyd Jones's chilling The String Diaries (Headline, £14.99) invents a whole new eastern European folk mythos: a subset of the Hungarian nobility called hosszu eletek (it translates as "longevity") who have the ability to "supplant", taking over people's bodies and characteristics. Those who suspect they may have hosszu eletek in their midst must constantly "verify" their loved ones to make sure they are the genuine article. They aren't generally dangerous in themselves, but one of their number, Jakab, is a bad seed who will wreak deadly mayhem on successive generations of one family.

For the most part The String Diaries is a neo-gothic treat; original, richly imagined and powerfully told, especially the historical Hungarian sequences. It's so nearly brilliant, in fact, that its shortcomings – wobbly characterisation and odd lurches in tone – are all the more frustrating. An early Oxford-set chapter featuring a library meet-cute between an obsessive-compulsive professor and a woman who insists on sitting at "his" desk is pure Richard Curtis.

Oxford crops up again in Christopher J Yates's Black Chalk (Harvill Secker, £12.99). Some students at the fictional Pitt College in the early 1990s devise a game of dares and forfeits that goes so badly wrong that its chief inventor, narrator Jolyon, drifts even further off the rails than he is already. Clearly, we're in Secret History territory – again. There's a lot of stoned riffing, but on the whole Yates' take on the Oxford experience (he was a student there himself) is more astringent than nostalgic. Jolyon's account of his present-day life in Manhattan – hermetic and dominated by baroque OCD rituals – is compelling, though elsewhere the writing can be strained and sophomoric.

Koethi Zan's The Never List (Harvill Secker, £9.99) seems destined for "If you liked Gone Girl ..." status on Amazon. It's about a group of women who were imprisoned in a cellar by a psychopathic academic called Jack. Narrator Caroline survived; her best friend, Jennifer, did not, but Jack was never charged with her murder – which explains why, after only 10 years, he is due for parole. The opposite of torture porn, The Never List is a thoughtful, profoundly unnerving psychological thriller whose real focus is the prickly relationship between Caroline and another survivor, Tracy, as they try to prove Jack's guilt using the taunting letters he sent them from jail.

First published in 2001, Lisa Appignanesi's atmospheric Paris Requiem (Arcadia, £11.99) gets a deserved reissue. An American lawyer arrives in a fin-de-siècle Paris bitterly divided over the Dreyfus affair to fetch home his invalid sister Ellie and journalist brother Raf, only to find that Raf's Jewish friend Olympe has been killed and dumped in the Seine. There's a sense of all Appignanesi's vast interests as a non-fiction writer – women, prostitution, hysteria, antisemitism – being brought simultaneously into play; but that's no bad thing. Paris Requiem teems with telling details and mordant insights. It's exciting, too.

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An Electrifying Novel That Will Keep You Up Reading All Night

I read I AM PILGRIM in 2014, and again in 2019. I missed the escapism, and the sigh of relief the book had me feeling—jet-setting from exotic locales while devouring the legends of two amazing protagonists.

In Terry Hayes’s bestselling novel, a murder takes place in a grungy Lower East Side hotel, post-9/11. It’s a pretty gruesome murder that makes identifying a young, mutilated woman on a mattress impossible. The NYPD is called to the scene, where the lead officer, Ben Bradley (the heart of the story, in my opinion), notices the killer’s technique is taken from a forensic pathology book he had previously been obsessed with, written by a CIA ghost named “Jude Garrett.”

From here, we meet our narrator, “Pilgrim,” who grew up in Greenwich, CT, with adoptive parents. All throughout his life he used different aliases. We find out his lonely, but privileged childhood helped shape him into the best agent the CIA had ever seen, beginning his “Rider of the Blue” legacy with killing an agency mole in Russia. But the aftermath of September 11th is too much for him to handle. So he goes off the grid in Paris and writes his book under Jude Garrett only for it to backfire, when Ben and his wife, the lovely Marcie, tracked him down.

In the second narrative, a young boy, “the Saracen,” morphs into a jihadist bioterrorist. After seeing his father get beheaded in the public square for making lewd comments about the Saudi monarch, the boy’s ideology on life changes. The family moves to Bahrain, where he sees his once ultraconservative mother wearing chic sunglasses and exposing skin in public with men who aren’t relatives. The boy, disgusted, eventually leaves for Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban.

Still angry, but perhaps more calculated, the Saracen eventually becomes a doctor. He builds a genetically modified version of the smallpox vaccine and tests it on three kidnapped subjects. Bad news for the rest of the world: it works.

Pilgrim comes out of retirement to help with a lead from a former colleague, causing him to go to Turkey. It’s there he investigates a separate murder of a Greek billionaire, which is actually a cover, to the closely guarded Saracen threat. Needing his help, Pilgrim calls Ben Bradley, and a cat-and-mouse game ensues with bullets, boats, and kidnapped children.

It could have been easy for Hayes to drown the plot with suicide bombings and tradecraft jargon. But he doesn’t. On the one hand, the dual-narrative helps drive the classic spy-thriller model, but on the other, Hayes makes you feel like you’re listening to him tell a fireside story. You’re reeled in by little intricate parts of the story—whether that be the rolling hills of the Turquoise Coast, or how an ancient instrument sounded. By the time you reach the misty-eyed ending, you won’t even be upset that Hayes ruined your sleep cycle.

Read David Brown’s review here.

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BookBrowse Reviews I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Summary  |  Excerpt  |  Reviews  |  Beyond the book  |  Read-Alikes  |  Genres & Themes  |  Author Bio

I Am Pilgrim

by Terry Hayes

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• Speculative, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Alt. History
• Middle-East (West Asia)
• Contemporary

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Terry Hayes' debut novel I Am Pilgrim is a fast-paced thriller set in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In many ways I Am Pilgrim is a standard race-against-time story: The protagonist (code-named "Pilgrim") – a remarkably skillful former head of a super-secret U.S. agency few know exists – is brought out of retirement to find a terrorist ("The Saracen") before he's able to release a particularly virulent strain of the smallpox virus on an unsuspecting American public. Along the way he tracks his prey using his finely honed skills (coupled with the occasional bit of good luck), has setbacks and successes, and plays cat and mouse with international bad guys that want him out of the way - permanently. In other words, pretty formulaic stuff that could be the synopsis of any one of a number of novels.There are aspects to this particular book, though, that set it above most of the others in this genre. First and foremost, Hayes creates richly detailed characters whom one really comes to understand. It would have been easy enough, for example, for the author to simply use a stereotypical Taliban extremist as his villain, but he goes the extra mile in showing readers this individual's childhood and how, exactly, his loathing of Western culture evolved over time. The end result is an exceptionally cold-blooded and remorseless killer readers will have no trouble seeing as a mass-murderer; the effect is absolutely chilling. The hero, too, is multi-faceted; we learn how Pilgrim's character was formed and come to admire his cleverness and daring. I particularly enjoyed the fact that he was drawn somewhat ambiguously; he's not necessarily a 100% "good guy," and from time to time his actions are morally questionable. He remains likeable throughout, however, exhibiting a combination of light-hearted bravado and steely-eyed resolve reminiscent of James Bond – a difficult balance for any author to achieve and done extraordinarily well here. The quality of the author's writing also stands out. He goes beyond simply conveying action, taking great pains to paint detailed scenes that come to life for the reader:

For mile after mile we crisscrossed the sprawling city – four and a half million souls marooned in the middle of the desert – seemingly half of them employed by Aramco, the world's largest oil company – and interviewed people about a family which had long since vanished. We sat in the majlis – the formal sitting rooms – of poor houses way out in the suburbs and questioned men whose hands were trembling, we saw dark-eyed kids watching from shadowy doorways and glimpsed veiled women in floor-length burkas hurrying away at our approach.

Hayes' background as a screenwriter is evident; at over 600 pages I Am Pilgrim could appear intimidating, and yet the plot is so well paced that it never drags; at times the action sequences had me almost reading faster than I could turn the pages. There are a few problems with the novel that could keep some from finding it an enjoyable romp, the most prominent of which is the plausibility of many of the book's action scenes. There were several times when I had to suspend disbelief; if you want a book in which every piece fits neatly together and makes logical sense, this isn't the one for you. Also problematic may be the long set-up as readers are introduced to the main characters; the beginning is definitely more character than action-driven. Personally, I found these sections interesting and was completely drawn in by Hayes' prose. And finally, included are some pretty brutal scenes (including passages depicting torture) that could be off-putting for some readers. Those quibbles aside, I Am Pilgrim makes for a great (if somewhat weighty) beach read; it's fast, suspenseful and involving, while at the same time not requiring a great deal of thought or analysis to enjoy. I highly recommend the novel to those looking for a well-written and entertaining thriller with which to while away the summer hours.

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Book Review Of I Am Pilgrim By Terry Hayes

I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes is a gripping and intricately woven thriller that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the complex world of espionage, terrorism, and international intrigue. The novel follows the enigmatic and highly skilled intelligence operative known only as Pilgrim as he is reluctantly drawn out of retirement to investigate a seemingly unrelated series of events that eventually converge into a global threat.

The story begins with the discovery of a gruesome murder in a dilapidated Manhattan hotel. Pilgrim, now living a secluded life under an alias, is brought back into the fold when his unique set of skills is deemed necessary for solving the case. As he delves into the investigation, Pilgrim realizes that this murder is just the tip of the iceberg, leading him to a much larger and more sinister plot orchestrated by an elusive adversary.

The narrative unfolds through multiple timelines and perspectives, providing a rich and layered storytelling experience. We learn about Pilgrim’s past, his training, and the events that led to his expertise in forensic analysis and intelligence operations. Simultaneously, we follow the trail of a terrorist known as Saracen, who poses a significant threat to global security.

The novel takes readers on a globetrotting journey, from the backstreets of New York to the luxurious palaces of Saudi Arabia, the chaotic streets of Istanbul, and the war-torn landscapes of Afghanistan. The intricate plot weaves together elements of cyber warfare, biological terrorism, and political conspiracy, creating a tapestry of suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

One of the novel’s strengths lies in its well-developed characters. Pilgrim, with his complex personality and moral dilemmas, is a compelling protagonist. Saracen, the antagonist, is equally intriguing, with a backstory that adds depth to his motivations. The supporting cast, including intelligence operatives, government officials, and terrorists, are all finely drawn, adding layers to the intricate plot.

As the story hurtles towards its climax, Pilgrim races against time to prevent a catastrophic event that could change the course of history. The novel explores themes of morality, sacrifice, and the consequences of one’s actions in the pursuit of justice.

I Am Pilgrim is a masterfully crafted thriller that combines meticulous research with heart-pounding action. Terry Hayes’s skillful storytelling and attention to detail create a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked until the final page. With its global scope, complex characters, and a plot that navigates the blurred lines between good and evil, I Am Pilgrim stands out as a must-read for fans of the genre.

Book Club Discussion Questions on I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Is I Am Pilgrim excessively long? If so, which sections would you consider changing for brevity?

Did you find any elements of the storyline in I Am Pilgrim to be implausible? Share your thoughts.

The novel delves into drug cartels, terrorism, CIA, and intelligence services. Did it enhance your understanding, and how credible do you find Terry Hayes’s narrative?

Examine the character of Saracen. Did you feel any sympathy for him? If your book club comprises individuals from different religious denominations, discuss how this diversity influenced your interpretation of events.

What is your perspective on BattleBoi? Was he justified in receiving a pardon?

Explore the dynamics between Ben and Marcie. What observations can you make about their relationship?

As a reader, how do you feel about the exhaustive detailing in a thriller like I Am Pilgrim leading to the final outcome?

I Am Pilgrim has been touted as the must-read thriller of the year. Do you agree with this assessment?

Speculate on what might happen to Pilgrim next in the storyline.

Why do you think the events in the novel took place in Bedlam?

Discuss the significance of the French house in I Am Pilgrim .

Share the emotions you experienced after completing this substantial book.

Some books lack a conclusive ending, but in this thriller, all loose ends are seemingly tied together. Do you agree with this statement? Discuss the ending of the book.

Examine the portrayal of Saracen’s son in the novel.

What insights do we gain about Saracen’s wife throughout the story?

Discuss the importance of the name Saracen in relation to the events in the novel. The Saracen manufactured 10,000 smallpox virus injections. Some believe that COVID was a virus created by a human. Is such a thing possible or likely? Discuss.

Reflect on Pilgrim’s ability to endure immense torture. How do you think you would fare in a similar situation?

In I Am Pilgrim , how do the depictions of Middle Eastern politics connect with what we observe in today’s world? Share your thoughts on any similarities or differences, and consider how the novel’s representation aligns with modern Middle Eastern political situations.

This book was initially published in 2014. Would its reception have been different a decade ago? Share your thoughts.

Terry Hayes characterizes Pilgrim as “smart, insightful, and very capable.” Do you concur? Delve into your perspective on Pilgrim’s attributes.

How does the expansive global setting of I Am Pilgrim , encompassing continents like North America, Europe, and the Middle East, contribute to the overall impact of the story? In what ways does the diverse geographical backdrop enrich or influence your comprehension of the characters and the plot?

Within the narrative, Pilgrim must adopt a relatively sycophantic demeanor towards Saudi Arabian officials to achieve his objectives. Explore the themes of culture and society as portrayed in the book.

Terry Hayes - I Am Pilgrim

“the narrative is thrilling: the tension tightens with action…it’s a murder mystery, an illuminating account of contemporary international politics and a study of an unusual man.”, no major spoilers.

I AM PILGRIM – TERRY HAYES

“Writing a movie is like swimming in a bath and writing a novel is like swimming in the ocean”

Renowned hollywood script writer Terry Hayes(of Mad Max, Vertical limit fame amongst others; not to forget the incredible Australian TV series Bodyline) mentions this in the acknowledgements and saying he did justice to it would be an understatement. I AM PILGRIM is a winner all the way – a flawless page turning blockbuster which I would rate amongst one of the best novels I’ve ever read.

The ideas or the events aren’t exactly something new; in fact I’ve come across all the major themes in countless other novels – ingenious murders, an Islamic fanatic, a secret agent, a threat to America, and a thread to bind them all. However, it’s the way they are narrated – the very essence of writing, that is , story telling that makes this novel stand out amongst its competition. It delivers what it promises – non stop thrills and action without coming across as over the top.

Just one thing which I found he could have done better is keep it about 20 pages shorter. No, he hasn’t padded his story anywhere but I felt the ending had to be as heart stopping and deadly as the rest of the novel. He does provide a perfect climax but then doesn’t leave it there. Instead, he decides to tell some things after the curtain has come down which I feel would have been more apt as part of an epilogue. But that doesn’t take away the fun which lasts for almost 900 pages.

A blockbuster 5/5.

DO NOT MISS THIS!

Reviewed by:

Aditya singh.

Added 15th January 2018

More Reviews By Aditya Singh

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I Am Pilgrim Book Review

Title: I Am Pilgrim Author: Terry Hayes Type: Fiction Published: 2013 Pages: 888

“I had identified the Saracen, but I didn’t know him; I had located him, but I couldn’t find him; he was somebody, and he was nobody. That was the truth, and nothing in the world was going to change it.”

This book was bought as a present for me from the lovely @thehelsproject . This is her favourite book, so it had a lot to live up to when I started reading! It was intimidating to pick up as it’s almost 900 pages, so I knew I had to be committed. I Am Pilgrim is a thriller novel which concerns the life of Pilgrim, a mysterious government worker whose career has involved some questionable scenarios. The book starts out with a murder in New York, but quickly becomes more than that as we are introduced to Pilgrim and his history of dealing with grisly and complicated cases, especially that of the Saracen. But, while on this case, will the past suddenly catch up with him and will he lose the comfortable and secretive life he thought he had secured for himself?

The main storyline in this book concerns the life of the Saracen; we are introduced to him as a child, and watch him grow up until he turns into a national threat. It was really interesting to see how what happened to him as a child affected the way he was as an adult, but if I’m perfectly honest I just got a little bored with him. I thought Hayes wrote him well – meaning I was genuinely scared of the casual violence he was capable of, not to mention his backward justification for it – but it didn’t need to be dragged out quite as long as it did.

As we learn about the Saracen, we also learn about old cases that Pilgrim worked on. They were like mini-plots which ran through the overarching one, and I did like how all the plots wove into each other and eventually all became relevant to the same storyline. HOWEVER, it didn’t half take a while to get there! I know it’s a tactic to keep me reading, but when it’s 900 pages, you’ve got to give the reader something before page 850 or they’re going to lose interest!

For me, I cared way more about the little side plots, and other cases, than I did about the main one, which obviously meant when I was learning about the Saracen, I was just waiting for the story to go back to one of those. It’s a shame that I didn’t love the main plot, but I think it was because I was expecting the book to be much more about solving a murder case rather than the terrorism case it was actually about.

I do think there were a lot of clever moments in the book (mainly to do with a case involving a mirror (I will say no more)) so that definitely made it worthwhile reading. I also think it was clever, if a little disturbing, to read about the Saracen’s plan, and how it had taken him years to plan.

The climax at the end of the book was good, and I’m glad the ending was interesting, or I would have felt that my time had been wasted. I’m not sure if a sequel is in the works for this book, but it’s definitely easy to see how the author could create one, and I’m sure for people who love this book, they would be more than happy with another one.

All in all, I enjoyed I Am Pilgrim – I think it would be obvious if I didn’t enjoy it because there would have been no way I would have read all 900 pages of it! However, it’s a shame it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Had it had a little more focus on solving the murder cases rather than on the Saracen plot, then I would have preferred that. Then again, maybe I need to be reading more whodunnits *immediately goes and finds another Agatha Christie novel to read.*

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I Am Pilgrim

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Table of Contents

Reading group guide.

• Rave and Reviews

About The Book

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About The Author

Terry Hayes is the  New York Times  bestselling author of  I Am Pilgrim  and The Year of the Locust and is the award-winning writer and producer of numerous movies. His credits include  Payback ,  Road Warrior , and  Dead Calm  (featuring Nicole Kidman). He lives in Switzerland with his wife, Kristen, and their four children.

Product Details

• Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (December 2, 2014)
• Length: 624 pages
• ISBN13: 9781439177730

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Raves and Reviews

“Hayes delivers muscular prose, sniper-round accurate dialogue and enough superb and original plotting to fill three volumes. He balances it all with the dexterity of the accomplished storyteller that he so obviously is. I Am Pilgrim is simply one of the best suspense novels I've read in a long time.”

– David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Mr. Hayes’s globe-trotting book has more kicks, twists and winks than anything of its dusty genre has provided in a long time. You will be happily surprised to find a new thriller franchise with brains to match its brawn.”

– Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"THRILLER OF THE WEEK. Delivers thrills and spills...A full tilt mix of Homeland , The Wire and The Bourne Ultimatum. "

– Mail on Sunday

" I Am Pilgrim is a 21st century thriller: a high concept plot, but with finely drawn protagonists. The plot twists and turns like a python in a sack. Thestyle is visceral, gritty and cinematic...A satisfying and ambitious book, written with skill and verve."

– Adam LeBor, The Times, UK

“The most exciting desert island read of the season…a big, breathless tale of nonstop suspense.”

– Janet Maslin, New York Times

“The pages fly by ferociously fast. Simply unputdownable.”

"Massive in many senses, but none more so than its ability to exert a vice-like grip on the reader....Destined to be spy thriller of the year."

– Irish Independent

“Once you start this taut and muscular thriller, you won't be able to put it down.”

– Library Journal, starred review

“[A] powerful and formidably researched globe-spanning thriller.”

– Publisher's Weekly

" I Am Pilgrim is a twelve-course meal of a thriller.... A breathtaking accomplishment of a debut."

– Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Tell No Lies

'I Am Pilgrim' is [a] gripping debut novel, which pits a brilliant intelligence operative against an equally brilliant terrorist. Weighing in at over 600 pages, you get your money’s worth and more with this thriller.

– Brad Thor, New York Times bestselling author of DEAD FALL

"Debut novelist Hayes brings well-refined storytelling chops to...[good] entertainment for readers with a penchant for mayhem, piles of bodies and a lethal biochemical agent or two."

– Kirkus Reviews

"The strongest [thriller] in years . . . a taut, global trek . . . a long and perfect pilgrimage. (Grade: A)"

– Cleveland Plain Dealer

“I am Pilgrim is a great, gripping thrill ride of a novel (that still feels grounded in reality). If you're looking for an action thriller/spy story for the beach, Pilgrim is a winner.”

– The Hollywood Reporter

"Exhilarating...Hayes masterfully guides readers through an incredibly elaborate, drum-tight plot."

“A debut thriller reminiscent of John le Carre.”

– Wichita Eagle

“The storytelling and a truly intriguing protagonist make “I Am Pilgrim” a contender for best-of-the-year lists.”

– Associated Press

“I AM PILGRIM has all the elements of a blockbuster thriller.”

– Denver Post

"Whatever you’re doing right now, stand up and turn around. Take a good look at the edge of your seat. That’s where you’ll be clinging when you read I Am Pilgrim.”

– Naples Daily News

"I Am Pilgrim features great character development and an expansive, ambitious storyline as it sets the standard for the post-9/11 spy thriller."

– S. Krishna Books

"High-octane."

“Tom Clancy meets Robin Cook in a thriller that should find a place in many beach bags this summer.”

“Pilgrim turns out to be the most fascinating thriller hero I’ve encountered since Trevanian’s legendary Nicolai Hel... Bracing, blisteringly original, and hopefully not the last time we see both Hayes and Pilgrim.”

– Providence Journal

"The narrative is thrilling: the tension tightens with action...It's a murder mystery, an illuminating account of contemporary international politics and a study of an unusual man......An excellent thriller which as a first novel is really remarkable."

– Literary Review, UK

"The next 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'."

– The New York Post

"This murder mystery/spy thriller grabs you from the first sentence and won’t let you out of its grip. A brilliant American secret agent and forensics expert is in a race against the clock to stop a terrorist with a plan to destroy the United States. Please fasten your seat belt."

– Kate White, New York Times bestselling author of EYES ON YOU

“An intriguing, multi-perspective thriller… the story made me almost miss my subway stop.”

– People Magazine

''Dude, freak out. That's my new Gone Girl . Gone Girl was the last book that I couldn't put down. Seriously, email me when you read it. You'll be five chapters in, and you'll look up and be like, 'Dude!'''

– Jimmy Fallon, Entertainment Weekly

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I Am Pilgrim

71 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-8

Part 1, Chapters 9-14

Part 2, Chapters 1-7

Part 2, Chapters 8-13

Part 2, Chapters 14-23

Part 2, Chapters 24-28

Part 2, Chapters 29-41

Part 2, Chapters 42-51

Part 3, Chapters 1-12

Part 3, Chapters 13-24

Part 3, Chapters 25-37

Part 3, Chapters 38-51

Part 3, Chapters 52-61

Part 3, Chapters 62-72

Part 4, Chapters 1-13

Part 4, Chapters 14-27

Part 4, Chapters 28-39

Part 4, Chapters 40-52

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

I Am Pilgrim i s a 2014 spy thriller by Terry Hayes. The work was his first novel and became a New York Times bestseller. He worked as a journalist before transitioning to writing for film and television. His major credits include Payback , Mad Max 2 (released as The Road Warrior in the US), and Dead Calm .

Content Warning : This study guide and its source material discuss recreational drug use, death by suicide, depictions of torture, and harm and threats of harm to children. The source material periodically uses outdated, offensive terms for Romani people, which are replicated in this guide only in direct quotes.

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Plot Summary

The work opens at a hotel crime scene, where an investigator the reader will come to know as Murdoch soon realizes the killer was extremely skilled. Murdoch explains that he is a retired spy who previously worked at an American intelligence agency known as the Division, tasked with investigating crime and corruption within the intelligence services. The reader will soon learn that Murdoch is intensely preoccupied with the moral nature of this work and its impact on his character.

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Orphaned at a young age after his mother’s murder and adopted by wealthy foster parents, Bill and Grace Murdoch, Murdoch studies psychology and is recruited into the world of espionage. He is forced to execute his boss and mentor, the head of the agency’s European division. He is commended by the president but remains haunted by the act. Murdoch reflects that he was particularly callous toward a wealthy Swiss banker because of his knowledge of Swiss complicity with Hitler’s regime and a formative trip to a concentration camp and museum with his foster father.

Murdoch describes his attempt to retire from the agency after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, render his agency obsolete. He hopes to begin a new life in Paris but is found by a New York homicide detective who decoded his identity from his pseudonymous book on forensics and criminology. The man, Ben Bradley , was especially heroic on 9/11, and Murdoch befriends and consults for him. This is the basis for the mysterious case that opens the book.

At the same time, Murdoch introduces the key aspect of his story: the international manhunt for a bioterrorist inspired by radical Islam to attack the United States. This man, whom Murdoch code-names the Saracen, after an old term for an Arab who fought Christians in the Crusades, has a background not unlike Murdoch’s own. His family is struck by tragedy when his father is executed for criticizing Saudi Arabia’s monarchy. The young Saracen vows vengeance and is so alienated from his mother’s increasing Westernization that he goes to fight in the Soviet-Afghan war. He comes to believe an attack on the US is key to toppling the Saudi monarchy.

As an older man and trained doctor, the Saracen begins preparations for his bioterrorism plot: to engineer vaccine-resistant smallpox and introduce it to the American population. Murdoch describes his brutal killing of a medical director to obtain the smallpox vaccine so he can begin his experiments, establishing his skill and dedication. Murdoch, the reader learns, continues to investigate a case known as the Eastside Inn case, reluctantly agreeing to participate in a criminology symposium as a gesture of gratitude. Murdoch befriends a hacker named Battleboi who prevents others from tracking his identity the way Bradley did.

Soon after, the Saracen calls on his former contacts in Afghanistan and tests his engineered virus on hostages. All his hostages die horrifically, and he is nearly captured by NATO forces but escapes unseen. Evidence of his virus remains, however, and the president and his closest advisers begin tracking the possible source of the pathogen. The director of national intelligence, known only as Whisperer, summons Murdoch for the mission to track and identify the Saracen. He chooses the code name “Pilgrim.” His only key is a coded phone call from Bodrum, Turkey: the same city the Eastside Inn killer identified in her room.

Murdoch goes to Turkey to track the phone call and find the Saracen’s contact. He poses as an FBI agent assigned to investigate the mysterious death of a prominent American billionaire, Dodge, who fell off a cliff while watching fireworks. He is stunned to learn when he arrives that the death is being ruled accidental because Dodge was completely alone when he fell. The Turkish police, especially the detective assigned to the case, Leyla Cumali, resent his presence as a foreign interloper. Murdoch is drawn to Cumali’s young son. Murdoch finally realizes that the fireworks the night of the murder and their chemical reaction with the mirrors in the estate library may prove Dodge’s killer was in the room with him, if he can “develop” the mirrors like photographic film.

Murdoch proves his theory and identifies the woman the Saracen spoke to as Cumali. He is nearly caught sneaking into her house but finds evidence of her maiden name and has Battleboi trace her origins to Saudi Arabia.

Murdoch discovers a secret passage in the mansion where Dodge died, proving that the killer could have gotten in and establishing that the home was previously a refuge for Nazis seeking to escape Europe via the sea. In the secret passage, he hears Dodge’s wife, Cameron, speaking with a woman she seems close to. Murdoch immediately suspects that this woman is Cameron’s accomplice in murdering Dodge, as their prenuptial agreement’s terms limited her access to his money in the event of divorce.

The Saracen successfully infiltrates a German pharmaceutical company and has his virus shipped there. He plans to replace the labels on doses of the annual flu vaccine, ensuring that thousands of people will receive deadly smallpox.

Murdoch steals DNA evidence from Cumali’s home, proving that the young child she cares for is her nephew: the Saracen has a son. Murdoch unsuccessfully interrogates Dodge’s wife, Cameron, and the woman he suspects is her accomplice, Ingrid Kohl. He goes to Saudi Arabia to track the Saracen’s origins, learning that his real name is Zakaria al-Nassouri. He begins to despair, however, once he realizes al-Nassouri has taken an entirely new identity that appears in no public records. Finally, he concocts a desperate plan: to kidnap al-Nassouri’s son to ensure he will confess his entire plan.

Murdoch lets Cumali lure him into a trap, horrified to realize that he is facing torture via waterboarding, a form of simulated drowning. Murdoch depends on Bradley to save him by alerting Cumali and al-Nassouri to the child’s danger, but the call nearly fails due to lack of phone reception. Finally, the call goes through and Cumali urges her brother to abandon his plans and save his child. Murdoch, wounded and delirious, interrogates him successfully and passes the information to the United States president.

Murdoch, gravely injured, boards a boat and has his wounds treated by a doctor he met on a previous mission. He recovers and learns that Cameron and Ingrid have escaped Turkey after paying a bribe. He buys a boat, feeling destined for it once he learns it is called Nomad . He sails for the Italian coast, learning via newspaper that Cameron has died with Ingrid, her new wife, as her sole heir—her real plan was revenge and to inherit Cameron’s wealth. As he sails, Murdoch senses that his mother and foster father are with him, quietly joyful.

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I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller Audio CD – CD, May 27, 2014

• Print length 19 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
• Publication date May 27, 2014
• Dimensions 5.06 x 1.8 x 5.88 inches
• ISBN-10 1442369442
• ISBN-13 978-1442369443
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Audio; Unabridged edition (May 27, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Audio CD ‏ : ‎ 19 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1442369442
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1442369443
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.18 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 1.8 x 5.88 inches
• #5,337 in Books on CD
• #6,047 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)
• #8,352 in Political Thrillers (Books)

About the author

Terry hayes.

Terry Hayes is the New York Times bestselling author of I Am Pilgrim and the award-winning writer and producer of numerous movies. His credits include Payback, Road Warrior, and Dead Calm (featuring Nicole Kidman). He lives in Switzerland with his wife, Kristen, and their four children.

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Book Reviews to Ponder

Thoughts about books I've read of late…

I am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes

After years between readings, I chose to return to this debut by Terry Hayes. With a new novel recently released, I wanted all the context I could get before capturing the latest adventure. I had forgotten how detailed and powerful this novel was and found myself fully committed in the early chapters. A great piece of espionage with a peppering of humour and action, Hayes develops a great story about a man whose skills are wanted by many and whose elusiveness makes him a target for many others. Hayes weaves together a stunning narrative and keeps the reader hooked for the meandering ride. I can only hope that the second novel will be just as impactful.

It is truly a race against time in this novel. There are a number of events that have taken place over the last number of years, none of them appearing to be linked to the others. Police discover a the body of woman left in a bathtub of acid, all signs of her identity melted away. In Saudi Arabia, a father is oddly beheaded in public for crimes he denies committing. The body of a Syrian biotech expert is found without his eyes in a junkyard. There’s also a fiery discovery of Afghan bodies along a mountain village. What does it all mean?

Only later, when a sinister plot comes into view does some of it make sense. A group has been working to create a massive biotech weapon and will release it before long. This is sure to kill many and there is almost no way to stop them. Almost. When the decision to stop this group makes its way to the White House, one man’s name comes to mind, someone who can make a difference and slip through the cracks without being noticed. POTUS calls for the man and sends him on a mission to get to the core of the matter, end the group’s mission, and neutralise the weapon.

As the agent is sent to chase down the group, he will find himself sliding into many locations undetected, all to discover the truth behind the attack and make sense about how it will be released. There is little time to waste and no one is quite sure when or where it will be released. With the pressure of the world on his shoulders, this agent will do whatever it takes to stop the attack and bring home the intel needed. This is an agent like no other. His name? PILGRIM! Hayes shows the reader he is here and ready to make a name for himself with this debut novel.

While I am always one who enjoys a piece of espionage, this one was new level. Terry Hayes weaves together a strong piece and takes the reader on a journey like no other. The story is long and meandering, taking the story in directions that might appear unnecessary, but once the pieces fall into place, it all makes sense. The story begins easily enough, but soon gains the needed momentum and spans the word, as well as many time periods. The story reaches its top speed and catapults forward into directions no one could surely expect, which only adds to the wonder of the novel. Characters emerge and develop with ease. All but Pilgrim are superficially presented, leaving the reader to make their own decisions about those who grace the pages of the book. That being said, many pepper key points that become important as they story progresses.

There is no lack of plot points in this book, so much that some might say there are too many. Hayes develops the action by drowning the reader in action and developing ideas. The story twists and turns openly from the opening pages until all is finally settled, only leaving the reader more confused than they were at the beginning. This is a great aspect of the story and kept me tuned in so that I could not miss anything. Hayes proves his mettle with this piece and left me wanting more. Thankfully, there is a second novel waiting for me, which I will reach for next, in hopes of being just as impressed.

Kudos, Mr. Hayes, for an impactful novel.

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Finally Out and Worth the Wait, The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

The author of the 2014 blockbuster I Am Pilgrim explains why it took a full decade to finish his second spy thriller.

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At nearly 900 pages, this literary doorstop follows Pilgrim, a misanthropic American intelligence agent who tries to stop a Saudi terrorist from releasing a deadly virus. Even after a decade, the memory of a scene in which Pilgrim dislodges a corpse’s eyes in order to use them to pass a biometric security checkpoint remains vividly terrifying.

Almost immediately after Pilgrim came out, a follow-up, to be called The Year of the Locust , was announced. A Pilgrim

film was in the works. Hayes wrote a screenplay. Directors were attached. New writers were brought in. Would Pilgrim become the next Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt, James Bond—or all three? And then: silence. It took Donna Tartt a decade to follow up The Secret History and Harper Lee 55 years to release Go Set a Watchman . Emily Brontë wrote only Wuthering Heights .

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After a stint as an investigative reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald , Hayes, 72, a ­British-born Australian, worked in Hollywood on such films as Dead Calm and Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior . He palled around with Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, and Robert Evans. He met Heidi Fleiss and wishes he’d taken notes. He gave up screenwriting when an executive asked him to add a chimps-­versus-­humans baseball game to a draft of a Planet of the Apes remake.

“I said to my wife, ‘I’m going to write a novel,’ ” Hayes says. With his Hollywood savings, “I could agonize over it all and redo it and think more about it.”

I Am Pilgrim was a smash, and for the follow-up Hayes felt he could take his time. But there’s a difference between a few years and a decade. His readers waited with charged Kindles, filling the void with Jack Reacher installments by Lee Child and the senior citizens of the Thursday Murder Club. But nothing seemed to come.

“It wasn’t like I was sitting around drinking beer and playing skittles,” says Hayes. “I was working.”

American readers can finally get their hands on The Year of the Locust this month (Simon & Schuster, $32). It follows the global adventures of a misanthropic shadow operative spy named Kane and clocks in at 250,000 words. “I don’t think it’s a book until it’s 600 pages,” Hayes insists. “That’s what a psychopath I am.”

The Year of the Locust: A Thriller

What took so long? Hayes spent time raising his four children. “I saw more productions of Aladdin than any person deserves to,” he says. “I don’t regret that.” And over the last 10 years he deleted a full 750,000 words, or as he describes it, “a lot of work to chuck away.” He adds, “The sensible business decision would be to bring out a book, then another. Clearly I’m not that sensible. But if I don’t do it the way I want to do it, why am I doing it at all?”

Hayes remains in talks with Hollywood about a Pilgrim adaptation. Recently Austin Butler has been circling the role. And the author insists he’s working on a sequel to Locust . “I’ve got a good idea on the plot, and I know those characters,” he promises. “The next book won’t take nearly as long.”

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