LoveReading Says
Switching between two timeframes and two sides of Paris — from a circle of wealthy elites to its gritty backstreets — Megan Davis’ The Messenger is a top-notch page-turner of the kind that’ll ignite your mind as it quickens your pulse.
Some seven years ago, Alex found freedom from his hard-drinking, womanising journalist father when he befriended Sami on the city’s streets, a world away from the elite gatherings he’d gone to with his dad. As a result, he developed a thirst for rebellion, which escalates to the fateful night his father was killed. Though Alex and Sami were convicted for his murder, Alex knows the truth. His dad was still alive when they fled his apartment, so who killed him? After being released from prison, Alex has one mission — to find out who really murdered his father.
It’s not long before Alex uncovers a web of Cold War conspiracies when he discovers his dad was investigating the “agents of influence” journalists who planted and spread misinformation and propaganda. Add to that personal scandals, and terrorist attacks that see Paris under siege, and The Messenger amounts to a novel that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, and on your toes — the truths that emerge are nothing but unexpected, and monumental.
Joanne Owen
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The Messenger Synopsis
Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite. But he and his domineering father have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.
A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.
In the heart of Paris, against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger is a mind-racing new thriller that follows one son's journey to find redemption and expose the truth.
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Megan Davis Press Reviews
A sleek, sinister debut - Woman's Own
A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher In The Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars - Janice Hallett
An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent - Sophie Hannah
A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric and twisting, The Messenger is a wonderful debut - Chris Whitaker
A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place - Kamila Shamsie
Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable - Elizabeth Macneal
An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets - Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street
An unusual and engaging mixture of a conspiracy story concerning both the cold war and modern gangster capitalism, along with a coming-of-age tale of revenge and redemption - Morning Star
Few, if any, English-writing authors have caught the essence of modern Paris with such accuracy and powers of evocation; add a compelling plot with social, personal and political issues to the fore and you have a splendid thriller debut to die for - Maxim Jakubowski
