Mondays Book Talk - Down Pinhole

Written by MikeH

Down: Pinhole (Down #1) by Glenn Cooper 

DOWN: Pinhole is the first instalment of an explosive new trilogy by international bestselling author, Glenn Cooper. 

John Camp is a former military officer and heads security at a super-collider tunnel around London. He is in a relationship with Emily Loughty, the director of the collider program. On the day of the first collider test run, John is there for security purposes and watches Emily disappear and a rough-looking man appears in her place who turns out to be an English serial killer sentenced and executed in 1949. 

John heads up the team to find the mysterious killer who fled from the laboratory. In great despair, John volunteers to reproduce the experiment by placing himself in the same spot where Emily disappeared with the hope of finding her and bringing her back. The story takes off from this point and switches between the present and “Down” a place named so by its infamous inhabitants and where Emily and John have been transported to. 

This is another excellent story by Glenn Cooper. Although I did not know what to expect in the beginning, after reading few pages I found out this is a literary treat. The theme is simply original. Down presents a new version of Dante’s Inferno resulting in a compelling thriller and fantasy adventure which keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

The writing style is very descriptive especially when it relates to the historical characters, giving the impression some of them are still alive. It also called my attention to all the details about the “Down” as an identical place to Earth but lacking life and colour and inhabited by infamous people, most of the historical characters. No spoilers intended, although, I could not help feeling sympathy for the Italian general Garibaldi in the noble cause for the “Underworld” as well as his role in this non-stop race to find Emily. 

Despite being a fictitious thriller, it is a good reminder about the situation on “Earth”: the eternal struggle for power and supremacy from the nations and the political leaders. I am looking forward to reading the second instalment, “Down: Portal”. Hope you also enjoy reading this thriller as much as I did. 

Image: Provided by Author.