This debut novel is certainly an explosive political thriller. Very topical and frighteningly realistic, written by an author who understands China and the workings of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra.

It all starts when a visiting Chinese business man passes on a three word message to Sebastian Adler a junior minister. He takes, immediate catastrophic action leaving his Chief of Staff and best friend Charlie Westcott to pick up the pieces. Charlie is now under investigation by the Federal Police and the Australian Intelligence organisation, ASIO and grilled about all he knows about Sebastian’s time in Hong Kong and China. However, as he discovers, he doesn’t know all Sebastian’s secrets that he’s kept hidden from him. And as Charlie’s world is being turned upside down so is the world outside as we know it.

Sam Guthrie’s writing is propulsive, dragging the reader into the shadowy world of foreign espionage and the machinations of politics and power. The tension never lets up as Charlie relates all he knows about Sebastian from their meeting in High School to their time together as young adults in Hong Kong and then Sebastian’s decision to go into politics. Fast paced and gripping, the plot is full of twists and revelations, exploring the line between right and wrong, friendship and betrayal. So good!

Wow! Incredible! This was heavy and too much to process that will keep you on the edge of your seat!I really enjoyed reading this compelling and gripping book from start to finish.
The thrilling espionage that comes with reading this book was terrifying and frightening.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC.

The Peak by Sam Guthrie

I first heard about The Peak when Caroline Overington talked about it on her Instagram page, back in... maybe April (?), anyway, it was a while ago. I'm not usually into political thrillers, but when I saw it listed on NetGalley, I remembered Caroline's enthusiasm and requested it.

The Peak is Sam Guthrie's debut novel. It explores the line between right and wrong, where every action has a consequence, and the moral grey areas make for a twisty story, full of suspense and tension. While it's advertised as a geopolitical thriller, The Peak is really about friendships, family, flawed relationships and complicated emotional bonding.

If you are on the fence about reading this one, go to the bookshop (or the library) and read the first chapter. If you aren't hooked by the end of that chapter, just put it down and go home; it's just not for you (and that's OK!). But the chances are good that by the end of the very first chapter, you will be completely riveted.

The blurb suggests that if you enjoy political thrillers by authors like John le Carré, Daniel Silva, and Robert Harris, you might also enjoy this book. The truth is, I haven't read anything by those authors, so I couldn't say. However, if you like a well-paced thriller or a book that centres around complicated people with complicated relationships, then this might be a book you enjoy.

Body Count = 2 'in plain sight' but, seriously, that's a tricky question.

Thumbs up.

@harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #ThePeak #NetGalley
#AustralianAuthor #AussieAuthor #booksdeevaareads #2025bookshelf #deevaasbookshelf #goreadabook #allthebooks #booknerd #Designer #GraphicDesign #DesignNerd #designdeevaa #CreativeLife #DesignInspiration #ArtAndDesign #Designer #DesignNerd #murdermystery

Two friends, three words.
One secret to end the world.

I don’t rate my books with a literary criteria. I’m not a book critic. I rate them on how they made me feel.

So where do I start with this book! It was absolutely incredible and I was hooked from page one. The end of chapter one had me on the edge of my seat, where I stayed for the remainder of this book!

Guthrie’s political & cultural knowledge really enhanced the plot of this story. It made it believable. I never thought I would enjoy a political thriller but here we are. It’s raw, gritty and intense and as the plot develops so do the twists and turns. It keeps you completely hooked.

I think the stand out for me is the lengths the two main characters will go to for what the main plot of this book is about. It’s a constantly tightrope balancing act between right and wrong. It will absolutely test your moral compass and whether you would have perhaps made the same decisions if you were in their shoes.

I think the ending was done really well! And I’m hoping that this lends itself to there potentially being a sequel! I have everything crossed!

This is an absolutely phenomenal debut and if this is only the start of Sam Guthrie’s writing, then he is now considered an autobuy author!

Thank you so much to Harper Collins & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an arc.

Political hatchet man, Charlie, will do anything to protect Sebastian, his best friend and government minister. Rising to power and prominence through international diplomatic postings and then the rough and tumble of Australian politics, their relationship has stayed strong since their brutal private school days.

When a single phrase in Mandarin is spoken in Sebastian’s ear, he does the unthinkable. As Charlie tries to piece it all together, things in the outside world start to fall apart and Charlie is left wondering how Sebastian was involved.

I definitely understand the hype of this book. The overlapping timeframes between Charlie and Sebastian growing up, falling in love and the present day where the world seems to be ending creates a fast paced narrative that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

I did love the beginning and the suicide of a political figurehead after an ominous message was brilliant. This one however just wasn’t for me. I’m not big into the political thrillers and I thought it didn’t really go anywhere, it just really made us hate everyone involved

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers Australia, NetGalley and the author for my copy of this book in exchange for a review

What a brilliant book! Jaw dropping and gasping out loud, that doesn’t happen often, but did while reading this book! Charlie is the chief of staff for his childhood friend Sebastian who works in politics in Canberra. There were so many twists and turns and it all happened so quickly, I absolutely loved it and hope there’s a next book to come.

A three word message. An impetuous suicide. These dramatic events begin Sam Guthrie’s The Peak and the ensuing narrative works to uncover the history that has led to this. Charlie is colleague and ‘best friend’ to Sebastian but comes to realise how little he knows about him, especially as he is himself being suspected of espionage. The political and diplomatic settings are vivid and realistic and the story unfolds with an excellent pace.

WOW! WOW! What an incredible journey it was to read The Peak by Sam Guthrie! And being debut novel makes it even more special.

Charlie is Chief of Staff to Sebastian, a politician and government minister, based in Canberra. Long time friend and confidante - or so he thought until suddenly his whole world turned upside down and he finds out there is a different reality. A world on international politics, espionage and secrecy as well personal complications dominate the story.

Sam Guthrie draws the reader in and you are compelled to read until the end …… but the story seems to be still up in the air. Will there be a sequel? Is this the end?

What is really scary is there is so much in the story that is sooo believable with international relationships between Australia, China and America being incredibly tumultuous at the moment that it feels real! Feeling real is scary!

Highly recommended read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Publishers Australia via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ThePeak #NetGalley

Sam Guthrie writing will hook you in from the first sentence...

I don't know where to begin, I freaking loved this book, it's was so we'll descriptive, I felt that in times, I was right back in Hong Kong. or sitting in the car with Charlie.

Just when you think you have an idea about where this story is taking you, you are jumping forward in your seat/bed saying what now... so many twists and tension throughout this book.

Be prepared to go on an epic journey with Sebastian ( Do we really know our friends ) as he tells Charlie some secrets.

I'm still dealing with the end it's not at all how I thought it would end. Sooo many unanswered questions Doe's this mean a part 2 is coming ???

A high-stakes, tense political thriller, that hooked me straight in.

Given the geopolitical climate, the political machinations, nefarious dealings and foreign interference explored within this story, offered a rather terrifying read.

This is an incredible debut novel, and I am looking forward to reading more from Australian author Sam Guthrie.

This book pulled me right in with writing so vivid it felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing everything firsthand. The stakes were high from start to finish, and the tension never let up. The twists completely surprised me—just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the story took a unexpected turn that kept me hooked.

What really stood out was the way the book explores the intense, thrilling line between right and wrong. Every choice the characters made felt loaded with serious consequences, which added a lot of depth to the fast-paced action. The moral grey areas made the story feel realistic and added extra suspense to every decision.

The pacing was perfect—fast enough to keep me turning pages (literally finished this in a day) but with enough detail to really immerse me in the story’s world. The characters felt real and flawed, which made me care or have a strong opinions about what happened to them. The mix of suspense, danger, and complex emotions made the book hard to put down.

If you’re looking for a gripping thriller full of unexpected twists, betrayal, high stakes, and a thrilling moral dilemm, this is definitely a must-read.