Review of The Brussels Connection

[Nisha DSouza]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Brussels Connection" by Terence Hamilton.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Brussels Connection by Terence Hamilton is a captivating thriller novel with an equally fascinating storyline and diverse characters. It’s a story about a terrorist plot planned to take down an airport in Brussels, Belgium. Ibrahim, a recruit of the Islamic State, creates a master plan meant to spread chaos and terror in the world, even if it means sacrificing his life in the bargain. In the midst of this are Tom and his five friends, who have no inkling of what’s about to happen. Will the country’s defense catch up to the terrorists’ dreadful plans in time and prevent the attack? Only one way to find out... Grab a copy of The Brussels Connection now!

Hamilton has masterfully created an eclectic group of characters with whom the readers could oftentimes relate. Ibrahim, the creator of the gruesome plan, was shown in the light of his background and what led him to the point of heading a terrorist attack. Tom worked for an IT firm headed by Meena, a fierce Indian businesswoman making waves in the global IT world. Mark, a Special Air Service (SAS) operative, was portrayed as a sharp British soldier with military focus and exceptional combat and execution skills. Roxy, a private diving instructor in Egypt, was looking forward to her married life with a Turkish man. Philippe, the owner of two successful restaurants, was working on getting his latest business venture off the ground while at the same time engaging in relationships that may hurt his family. Finally, there’s Nena, an extremely popular and sought-after DJ who had her share of kinky adventures or, shall we say, misadventures. To know how these characters connect to Ibrahim’s plot and how fate hands them a future they couldn’t have imagined, go ahead and get your copy of The Brussels Connection!

I was wonderfully surprised at how the story gradually moved towards the main plot and how Hamilton creatively built each character’s background so the readers were fully invested in the story. Another notable factor was the descriptive scenes from different locations and the use of foreign cultures and words to create an authentic experience for the reader. Although each character had flaws, I appreciated how Hamilton blended them in the story. It somewhat reflects what we as humans encounter in our lives. I particularly liked Mark’s character because, despite his uncomfortable return to normal life, he still made an effort to be there for his family. It demonstrates quite painfully what a soldier has to go through, how distraught they feel as they are unable to share their horrible experiences with their family members on account of keeping the missions a secret.

The book explores a rarely noticed side of a world where Islamophobia is rapidly growing. Hamilton very cleverly included scenes that will make you rethink the political climate around this issue. It will make you question the need for war and, more importantly, it will make you question the consequences and final victims of this unfortunate fight for freedom. I don’t believe the book in any way justifies or condones the violent atrocities committed by certain individuals, but it urges you to take a hard look at what society offers to these individuals before they have been unknowingly (as the book says) “seduced by the unlikely promise of an Islamic heaven on Earth.”

The Brussels Connection was a truly thrilling and suspenseful read with a message, if you allow yourself to notice it. There were only a couple of things that I think could be changed in this book. Firstly, there were too many foreign words that I needed to look up to understand the meaning. I would have liked it if there were a footnote to explain such words, so I didn’t have to break my reading. It was slightly distracting but not enough to reduce the rating. Secondly, I noticed a few errors; I think the book could use a round of editing. Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I deducted one star only on account of the errors I noticed in the book.

Lovers of the military thriller and terrorism thriller genres would greatly enjoy The Brussels Connection. The book has plenty of action, suspense, and religion-based extremist ideologies. I recommend it only to adults as it contains explicit sexual scenes and profane language, meant to match the characters’ roles.

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The Brussels Connection
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[Onyemuwa-dave]

The intricate plot involving a terrorist attack and its diverse, flawed characters sounds genuinely captivating. I particularly appreciated your insight into how the book explores Islamophobia and the consequences of conflict. Your note about the foreign words and editing needs is a helpful critique, but a 4-star rating for such a thrilling read is excellent! Wonderful review.

[Kibet Hillary]

I’m an avid reader of military thrillers, and this one certainly sounds like a great read. I’m glad to hear that the author developed each character well and introduced them in a way that draws the reader into the story. I also hope the law enforcement officers succeed in thwarting the terrorists’ plans. Thank you for the brilliant review, @Nisha DSouza!