In 2018, Star of the North marked Welsh author DB John out as a first-rate thriller writer earning comparisons to Terry Hayes’ I Am Pilgrim. It was complex, multi-layered – a rare story that focussed on North Korea. It covered the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Soo-min, the sister of US academic Jenna Williams, who was subsequently recruited by the CIA. The novel unravelled a conspiracy and a seed-bearing programme in North Korea, which saw them kidnapping young people and turning their allegiance.
The long-awaited follow-up, Red Star Down, deals with the fallout of the events in Star of the North but also broadens the scope, expanding beyond the US and North Korea to include Russia. It takes place against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s North/South Korean summit in 2018.
Jenna is now the most wanted person by North Korea due to her actions in the previous novel. This places her operations at risk. Meanwhile, her sister is adjusting to life back in the US. Has she left her ordeal behind her? We also follow Lyosha, the son of a Russian defector who was spying on the regime for the US. Lyosha becomes something of a celebrity following his comments during a phone-in with President Putin. The final piece in the puzzle is Eric Rahn, a Korean American and a crucial figure in the Trump administration, helping to orchestrate the Korean summit. Is he all that he seems?
Tensions begin with the poisoning of a Korean man at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, and the killing of a Russian spy in Washington. The global geopolitical waters are made rougher by Trump’s form of diplomacy (although that seems an understatement given the current news.) The three key characters in the story deal with the espionage and political vectors at play in their own distinctive ways. At points we are guessing where their allegiances will fall as the ground shifts beneath their feet.
Even though it may seem far-fetched, many of the elements here are pulled from real events and locations. This adds plausibility to a plot that may, on paper, seem hard to imagine. Even though Putin, Trump and Kim Jong-un make appearances, they are never overly distracting and well-integrated, used sparingly, not dissimilar to how David McCloskey has handled real-world figures in his novels.
While North Star Down was far from short, Red Star Down is even broader in scope, running close to 700 pages. Despite its length, it is an incredibly pacey read, blending plot, character development and plenty of action. It remains compelling reading throughout. John also does a fine job making the disparate narrators and their cultural backgrounds stand out. In other hands it could prove messy, but despite the country hopping, it all holds together well.
The way the storylines begin to intersect and unravel is a real treat. One of the challenges for this novel and its predecessor is balancing fact and fiction, especially with real figures making appearances. While some of it may seem a tad outlandish, it is never too far-fetched. The characters are well developed so that as a reader you will root for (or against) them. Jenna remains an engrossing heroine with Eric and Lyosha as fine foils; the contrast between the trio a masterstroke. Even with so many spinning plates, the plot is never too convoluted. With so many plot threads and characters, this is a remarkable achievement.
With both novels in this series, John has marked himself out as an author who should be on more people’s radars. He is a singular voice who has covered some fresh ground in spy and thriller fiction. It unlocks some of the secrecy in North Korea and cult fanaticism around its leadership. The ending works well to round off the story, while leaving enough open for a third entry. Either way, whatever John produces next will be must-read.
Vintage
Print/Kindle
£10.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
