The Tin Soldiers

I finished reading this book on the beach in Mombasa, Kenya — it seems a million miles from where this story was based in Central Africa, and what a read. Great plot, great detail and great writing. Congratulations JJ Cowan, maybe the next generation Wilbur Smith.

This is an outstanding book. It is rare to find a book with such attention to detail, that is so descriptive and yet utterly gripping and fast moving. It is brilliant. A real masterpiece. The subtle interweaving of well researched detail into every aspect of the book brings everything to life.

I very much enjoyed reading this book, and it's clear that JJ Cowan has spent a long time researching the background. It's packed with detail, a diverse set of characters, and regular unexpected twists.

We get to know three seemingly separate sets of characters: a young man living in New York & London in search of meaning, sex and adventure, a brother and sister in war-torn Eastern Congo in search of their parents after a local militia attack, and a seasoned mineral trader who we get to know as he visits Mobile World Congress in Barcelona — he's searching for freedom from the CIA's tabs on him. Then their lives begin to entwine, revealing deep connections. The pace quickens as Congolese political corruption and the global rush for Coltan — a mineral used in mobile phones — is brought into sharp focus. The portrayal of villages and mines in Eastern Congo is harrowingly accurate, as is the courageous intervention of medical missionaries. It's a gripping piece of writing on many levels — character development, action and adventure, political insight. I found myself doing my own side-reading to fill in my knowledge gaps, as the book taught me about the story of conflict in Eastern Congo in the most engaging way imaginable.

I don't know where to begin with reviewing this book. It's not what I was expecting but thank god it wasn't. It focuses on three main characters which gives you different perspectives of their lives but cleverly connects them up. I personally love reading books with multiple stories/timelines so was an instant hit with me. This book is so detailed and beautifully written and has swiftly become one of my favourite books. It covers devastating and hard hitting topics with compassion. It gives you in depth knowledge of what some people are experiencing in these places. I was hoping one element of the ending would be different but know why the author went down that route. For a debut novel it is absolutely breathtaking and look forward to reading more from this author.