Henry Porter's "Firefly" is a fast-paced spy thriller that follows the story of former MI6 agent Paul Samson, who is brought back to service for a critical mission to intercept a terrorist attack on London. The book is filled with high-stakes action, political intrigue, and unexpected plot twists that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.
Porter's writing is clear and concise, and he does an excellent job of creating tension and suspense throughout the story. The characters are well-drawn, and Samson is a compelling protagonist with a troubled past and a strong sense of duty.
However, there are a few missteps in the book. Some of the plot points feel contrived, and there are moments where the suspension of disbelief is stretched a bit too thin. Additionally, some of the secondary characters are underdeveloped and could have benefited from more attention.
Overall, "Firefly" is an entertaining and engaging read that will appeal to fans of spy thrillers. While it's not without its flaws, it's a worthy addition to the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded up because it delivered on its thriller promise

Paul Samson, Arabophone Brit of Lebanese background, has a gambling problem that got him bounced from the intelligence job he loved. He's an adrenaline junky, so he wasn't unemployed for long; he's fluent in the language and conversant with the culture of one of the world's hotspots, so guess where his unofficial work takes him!

Naji is the teenaged son of a Syrian academic who, gentle soulthat he was, believed he could help some dissident students of his be found in Assad's brutal regime. He later died from the aftereffects of being tortured. Naji, after this awakening, is quick to see through ISIL's façade of acceptance and gets his family to Turkey preparatory to making it to Germany.

With, because he's very intelligent but not very smart yet, damaging information he got because "he's just a kid" and the violent men paid no attention to him.<br />
<blockquote>His head went under. Seawater filled his nose and mouth; his eyes opened and he saw the black depths of the ocean below him. A moment later something knocked his legs&mdash;maybe part of the wreckage, he couldn’t tell. All he knew was that he was going to die. Then it came again. This time there was a distinct shove on his buttocks and whatever it was that moved with such intent beneath him lifted him up so his head and shoulders came out of the water and he was able to grab a plastic toggle on the section of the rubber craft that was still inflated.</blockquote>
Not good for his chances of survival...but Paul Samson, now that British officialdom know Naji exists, is sent unofficially and deniably to make him safe and get him to the point he can give the information to them. Kid's a tyro...he leads everyone a merry chase. Author Porter writes a damn good story here, sets it in places I'm convinced he knows well enough to lead tours, but there's not much horsepower in his characters as people. Their motives are clear and powerful. They are also, unlike real people's and thus unlike the characters I most enjoy reading about, unmixed. Black-hearted people, white-hatted people...not a lot of nuance.

That said I read the book as fast as I could. I wanted this kid to win and I think anyone who needs something more or less unambiguous for a restful but still exciting (weird sentence...but that's how this book came across for me) or at least very action-packed story of implausibly lucky good guys needs this read.

Very good plot with engaging characters. I felt this author has a very good writing style and was able to keep the plot tightly woven and kept me engaged from beginning to end!

This is book 1 of the Paul Samson Series. Luc Samson must find the person known as Firefly. Firefly has knowledge that is important and they must be saved. Follow the path of Firefly and Luc as Firefly flees with the refugees going from Syria to Europe.

The boy saved by a dolphin has a long way to go and a huge story in this book. From a refugee camp to heading for Germany, of all places, Naji has a huge twisty journey. He's smart and rather skilled, but he is a kid. That's against him. Also against him is the list of people who want him dead because of what he knows. Things that are good about this book, it doesn't hold back on shining lights on what, who, and how evil ISIS is. It does have twists, turns, and a great deal of suspense, all mixed in with the ugliness that comes from terrorist mindsets and organizations. I also really like the British take on this.

My copy came from Net Galley. This review is my own, left freely.

For starters, this is not the usual type of book that I read. However, I am very glad I did. I found myself rooting for Naji to survive all the obstacles and perilous things he encountered trying to make it to Germany so he family would be safe. I doubt most adults I know would have been able to go through everything Naji did in his life.

This story also gives you a better understanding on what foreign refugees go through just trying to survive and avoid the horrors of their homeland. It is also a look into the world of spies and now nations play with people's lives in an attempt to get what they want. It comes as no surprise to hear there is corruption everywhere and yet Naji manages to find a few decent people along the way.

This story is well written with good characters. I didn't want to put it down until I found out what happened to Naji. Even if this isn't the type of story you read, I still think you should give "Firefly" a try.

I received this book as an ARC from Grove Atlantic/Mysterious Press through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was really well written, well researched, interesting, and deeply moving. However, this book was not really my cup of tea. Although I enjoyed the book I could not really get into the book to love it. Henry Porter did a wonderful job of making you care about the characters and what was going on in the story but I just was not moved. I would give this book 3 out of 5 thumbs up.
Firefly is a story about an ex-M16 agent (British spy) who now works as an independent contractor with a specialty in tracking missing persons. Luc Samon is hired to track down a thirteen-year-old refugee who is on the run from some bad guys. The refugee Naji told a trusted aid worker that he had knowledge that can be used against some terrorists and he wanted to trade that information for his family to transport to safety. However, as Naji tries to find a safe haven the terrorists that Naji stole the information from are in pursuit with the main goal of killing Naji.
This tale is told in duo prospectives. Naji is a whiz kid who got mixed up with the wrong type of people. His main intention was to get money for his family to get them out of the terrorist guarded area where they live. Naji is able to avoid getting caught because he can move through the crowd with lightning speed and blend in with any crowd. Samson tries to follow Naji’s trail but is thawed at every turn because Naji constantly changes directions of his travel, which leaves Samson guessing at Naji’s next location.
Although this book does an awesome job telling a story through the eyes of a migrant trying to do what is best for his family. I, however, was bored about halfway through the book. As I mentioned before I like the book but I did not love the book. The book does more telling a tale as opposed to allowing the reader to feel and experience the actions happening in the book. I just could not bring myself to care about the characters where I just had to keep reading to find out what happens next. Again overall, this is an intriguing story, but not an edge of your seat must-read.

My bad - I spaced out on reading and reviewing this book until recently. I did enjoy it - quite a lot - and ended up getting the audio on the next book in the series immediately! So, what’s to like about the book - enjoyed the characters of Firefly and Paul Samson and the taut, fast paced move of the book. A topic that dominates the news every day - the plight of refugees, immigration, and what the future holds, this book didn’t disappoint. From the refugee camps of Greece dodging bullets, terrorists, and bad cops, and those not necessarily on Firefly’s side — to the mountains of Macedonia, the race is oh so razor close. An exciting thriller well worth the read and listen (do the audio if you can - loved the narration). A belated thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A spy thriller that tells the story of a 13 year old boy who is trying to save his family. Naji has seen death, destruction and horrors that no little boy should have witnessed. But he has personal strength and determination that has no limits. He is very smart and is self taught in many areas including technology. He has managed to copy secrets from the enemy computers and hopes to trade this information for the recovery of his family. As he is fleeing from the ISIS terrorists that want their information back and the British Intelligence try to save him we are carried from the migrant camps across several borders toward Germany.
This novel reveals to the reader the violence, horrors and pitiful existence of migrants that are trying to find a safe home.

Thank you Netgalley and Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Excellent plot, great characters, very good writing style, with enough stylistic differences so that the voices of the different characters can be distinguished. I want to know more about each of the characters- what happens next in their lives, and how do these events influence their future thinking.

I had a hard time getting into the book but I am glad that I stuck it through. It wasn't one of my most favorite books in the world but it was well written and there were parts that I just got sucked in. I might try another book of his to see how this series progresses. I would like to have had more background on Paul Sampson and a little less information on how the government is turning its back on everything.

Good storyline full of twist that keep you reading page after page. Porter has provided such a clear sense of the characters that you find yourself right there with them. A good read.

Thank you so much for this ARC.

Unfortunately, this book did not capture my attention and I had a hard time trying to get through it.

I thought this was a really well developed spy thriller. I did purchase the audiobook to find the time to read and review it, since I missed the publication date. The audiobook is narrated brilliantly by Matt Addis and was a joy to listen to.

Paul Samson is a former British secret service agent who is in denial about having a gambling problem. He's privately tasked with trying to find Naji, a young Syrian refugee boy who is fleeing Syria and believed to be in possession of important data on terrorists. The experiences of Naji while he flees across Greece and then the Balkans are heartbreaking, but he's an incredibly brave young man and Henry Porter does a brilliant job of making the reader care deeply for Naji's safety. Paul Samson is also an interesting character, who I would say is on par, or nearly so, with many of the Circus agents created by John le Carre. I look forward to more books starring Paul. One element to the story for which I am grateful is that Porter was able to build believable suspense and fear without resorting to overly graphic violent scenes. There are a couple of brutal moments, but they are short-lived and not as detailed as some books I've read, especially recently, and I appreciate that very much.

If you enjoy Le Carre, I would recommend giving Henry Porter a chance.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book about an American agent's quest to find and protect a young boy who has vital information. Great characters!

This was a fascinating and timely thriller set amongst the refugee camps of Greece and Europe. A boy refugee named Naji has fled Syria through Turkey and arrived in Greece. He has knowledge of ISIS terrorist plots and finances, and both MI6 and ISIS want to find him. The book is harrowing in places. The backstories of this boy and other refugees are heartbreaking and are going on every day. The book is a gripping thriller that I couldn't put down once I got started.

Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an interesting look about how feels to be a refugee in another country and the struggles that are included in that. Naji is a young boy trying to make a better life for his family. He is very smart and creative in his travels and you feel like you are going through everything with him.
This book switches from Naji to Paul, who is trying to find Naji to help him.
I enjoyed this book even though some parts were a little drawn out. I give it 3.5 stars so I will round up to 4!

Firefly was the best book I have read in several months. The story is set against a rich background, which includes the migration experiences of refugees from Syria (and other places) en route to Western Europe, as well as the workings if ISIS. All through this book you will find yourself rooting for the 13 year old protaganist as he uses all his intelligence to find a way to freedom, and you will likely find yourself empathizing with the situation of the migrants in a way you did not before.

Too much going from here to there & there to here. The filler didn't draw me in, it bored me. The characters deserve a richer story.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy to review. I am a huge fan of thrillers and this on combined espionage and terrorism. I hadn't heard of Henry Porter before so this was my first novel of his. It's essentially a chase story, but one with many twists and turns. The story was fast moving and impactful, highly recommended.