The Year of the Locust

‘Utterly gripping, elegantly written… most definitely worth the wait’ Observer
‘Ticks all the boxes necessary for a superior geopolitical thriller’ Guardian
‘Compare this with the thrillers written by Mr or Mrs Clinton, and you come away feeling that Hayes is the one who has more inside knowledge’ Telegraph
‘Move over Jason Bourne. CIA operative Kane redefines the smart but vulnerable bad ass super spy in this dazzling cat-and-mouse thriller where the entire globe is a chessboard, and everyone’s playing for keeps’ Lisa Gardner
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A Financial Times Best Thriller of the Year 2023

If, like Kane, you’re a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot.

But some places don’t play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane’s experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive.

Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart…
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Praise for The Year of the Locust

‘Don’t make any plans for the week after you start reading’ Daily Mirror
‘Has all the cinematic sweep and verve as Hayes’ debut… just as enthralling’ Financial Times
‘Compelling, nerve-jangling and breathlessly exciting… Totally immersive’ Irish Independent
‘Worth the wait… an often captivating, mass-market adventure story’ Times
‘Sure to keep you on the edge of your seat’ Scotsman
‘Brilliant on the way agents operate and how the US spies on the world’ The Sun
‘Epic and immersive, new and unexpected… his research into spycraft is deep and compelling’ Mail on Sunday