Read April 2019. Published 11th May 2017 by Urbane Publications.
The oversight of water politics is now under the care of an organisation called OFWAT, whose job it is to ensure the global supply of water is maintained.
When a satellite goes missing over the Arctic under suspicious circumstances, Sim Atkins (OFWAT computer scientist) thinks he knows why. Sim's expertise leads to him being drafted into the coveted Overseas Division of OFWAT, with experienced agent Freda Brightwell for a partner.
Freda is less than happy about having rookie Sim as her new partner, especially since this is shaping up to be a dangerous mission, but they soon reach an understanding which makes them a good partnership.
This mission will take them around the globe and bring them into contact with some unexpected allies, as they follow the leads uncovered by their investigation - ending in a climax that will put their lives in deadly peril. They must succeed in their mission if they are to save the World from war and protect the future of "blue gold".
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Well, this book was a lot of fun!
With shades of James Bond, and a little John McClane thrown in for good measure, Sim and Freda pursue their mission to stop the "scumbags" and save the World from nuclear war. This is a rip-roaring, full-on thrill ride around the globe - tracking down leads and working hard for good.
I absolutely loved the film references spread liberally through the text - Mr Barker, we have obviously seen and enjoyed the same films! Can I have a kudos for saying that I have spotted an extra reference not listed in the back of the book? The scene on board the barge, with a ticking bomb, actually reminded me quite a lot of Die Hard With A Vengeance (Die Hard III)!
The message of this book, however, raises it above your ordinary thriller, and leaves you with quite a lot to think about. I think this is a great way to introduce the thriller audience to the importance of water politics, alongside a fun story.
Climate change is already leading to global the changes in the water cycle, which could have catastrophic effects in some parts of the World.
Living in Great Britain, we are lucky to have a good supply of water - and we are, of course, surrounded by water too (albeit the salty variety). We probably do not spend a lot of time thinking about the parts of the World that rely on their water supply in other ways - for example, via rivers that first travel through other countries. What would happen if a country further up-river decided to interrupt the flow to protect the supply of their own citizens, but in doing so caused water shortages for their neighbours? Water can easily become a political weapon and those with the military, and or monetary, clout will probably be the winners in any such dispute. Who will have oversight in these international disputes?
However, fear not those of you are shy of reading geo-political tracts. This book is a cracking thriller, with heart, and a message for those of us who choose to heed it.
From the Book Cover of Blue Gold:
The near future. Climate change and geopolitical tension have given rise to a new international threat - a world war for water. This most vital of resources has become a precious commodity and some will stop at nothing to control its flow. When a satellite disappears over Iceland, Sim Atkins thinks he knows why. He is given the chance to join the hallowed Overseas Division and hunt for the terrorists responsible. But his new partner Freda Brightwell is aggrieved to be stuck with a rookie on such a deadly mission. Freda's misgivings are well founded when their first assignment ends in disaster - a bomb destroys a valuable airship and those responsible evade capture. Seeking redemption, the British agents follow the trail to a billionaires' tax haven in the middle of the Atlantic ocean and uncover a web of deceit that threatens global war. Whom can they trust? As the world edges ever closer to destruction Sim and Freda must put their lives on the line to prevent Armageddon - and protect the future of 'blue gold'. David Barker's gripping debut will thrill fans of Richard North Patterson, Scott Mariani and Steve Berry.
Blue Gold is available now from your favourite book retailer. (Amazon link)
The Gaia Trilogy continues with Rose Gold, and reaches a thrilling climax in White Gold.
Don't miss my reviews here:
About the author:
As part of the blog tour for Blue Gold, it is my absolute pleasure to be able to share my interview with David Barker here!
Hi Dave,
Thank you for agreeing to an author interview for my blog, for the Blue Gold blog tour!
When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?
I used to love making up stories when I was at school. Even when I became an economist, I tried to make my reports interesting, with a narrative flow to help the reader. And so, when an idea stuck in my head about seven year ago, I decided to have a proper go at writing a novel.
What made you decide to give writing full-time a go?
I wrote my first novel while working full-time (as many authors do), but it took so long to write and edit, that when it was published in 2017 I decided to switch to part-time work so I could write the sequel much more quickly. I still do some part-time economics work now.
Your wife is also a writer. How does living in such a literary household affect your creative process?
Sometimes it’s great because we can bounce ideas of each other, or have a moan about a problem we’re struggling with. Occasionally it can be tricky if one of us needs some space and quiet while the other is restless or wants to chat…
Blue Gold is about the politics of water, which is not something I had thought much about before. What inspired you to tackle this subject?
I was studying commodity markets about 12 years ago, and while everybody was focused on the oil price, it became clear that a lot of trends were pointing to an almost inevitable problem with freshwater (thanks to climate change and demographics).
Thank you for agreeing to an author interview for my blog, for the Blue Gold blog tour!
When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?
I used to love making up stories when I was at school. Even when I became an economist, I tried to make my reports interesting, with a narrative flow to help the reader. And so, when an idea stuck in my head about seven year ago, I decided to have a proper go at writing a novel.
What made you decide to give writing full-time a go?
I wrote my first novel while working full-time (as many authors do), but it took so long to write and edit, that when it was published in 2017 I decided to switch to part-time work so I could write the sequel much more quickly. I still do some part-time economics work now.
Your wife is also a writer. How does living in such a literary household affect your creative process?
Sometimes it’s great because we can bounce ideas of each other, or have a moan about a problem we’re struggling with. Occasionally it can be tricky if one of us needs some space and quiet while the other is restless or wants to chat…
Blue Gold is about the politics of water, which is not something I had thought much about before. What inspired you to tackle this subject?
I was studying commodity markets about 12 years ago, and while everybody was focused on the oil price, it became clear that a lot of trends were pointing to an almost inevitable problem with freshwater (thanks to climate change and demographics).
I thought that an action story was a brilliant way to get people thinking about global water politics. What made you settle on this genre? Are you really a frustrated secret agent?
Hah, I guess I must be. I certainly enjoyed watching James Bond movies and reading Ian Fleming or Frederick Forsyth novels when growing up. I knew the setting for Blue Gold needed to be a world war for water, but I couldn’t figure out how to write the story from a soldier’s perspective, so it had to be about secret agents.
What do you think about eco-terrorism?
I can’t condone it because I think violent protests often end up being counter-productive. I am sure we will need the help of business and market forces to solve climate issues for all countries. And we need some better global leaders too.
Who was your favourite character to write in Blue Gold, and why?
Sim and Freda were great to create but the bald monk, Rabten, was a lot of fun. I kept thinking of David Carradine in the 70s TV show Kung Fu for some reason.
I loved spotting the nods to different blockbuster action movies in Blue Gold. What is your favourite action movie, and why?
Die Hard is excellent on so many levels, from the cracking dialogue, the explosive action, the excellent baddie played by the late, great Alan Rickman and the actual heist plot itself.
Blue Gold really got me thinking about how water is a finite resource. You obviously did a lot of research for this book. What are your top tips for conserving water?
Lots of simple things we can do like turning off the tap when we brush our teeth, using showers instead of baths, using rain water to water our gardens or even to flush our toilets (all new homes should be fitted with so-called grey-water systems), getting our utility companies to fix leaking drains… the list is long! Even eating less meat and dairy helps too, because of the amount of water needed to produce those foodstuffs.
What do you see yourself writing about next?
A YA fantasy about a girl who claims that King Arthur has saved her from drowning.
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