Star of the North
John, D.B.Buckle up for a white-knuckled ride where truth appears to be stranger than fiction. Inspired by real events, this suspenseful thriller moves between the USA and North Korea following twin sisters, one who mysteriously disappears from a South Korean island and the other recruited by the CIA to discover her whereabouts.
From its complex, chilling plot to its fascinating and sobering details about life in North Korea, this is a thought-provoking and revelatory read zeroing in on the Hermit Kingdom. [Small-medium font]
Pages
438
438
Year
2018
2018
Reviews
22-05-2023
Not a book to 'enjoy'. Most felt the writing was light and the ending abrupt.
17-05-2023
A most enjoyable read made better for having read 'Dear Leader' which provided additional context and background. Very good character descriptions which made the book even more interesting and enjoyable.
17-05-2023
An interesting, easy read. You are propelled through the book by the 3 main characters' stories and rewarded with a fascinating look into North Korea, its totalitarian regime and its resilient people.
13-04-2023
A lot of discussion during the meeting. All of us found it gripping and page turning, with the mix of non-fiction with fiction adding a disturbing dimension to the narrative.
11-04-2023
I was told this was a book about North Korea and having read a few already I wasn't sure if I was ready for another dose of this surreal depressive dystopia. However, a few pages in and it soon becomes obvious that this is a common-or-garden thriller that uses North Korea as the backdrop for a tale about 2 sisters separated when young. If you read it as a thriller you will not be disappointed.
24-03-2023
The book created a lot of discussion. Overall nobody enjoyed the book. Some of the comments included 'not well-written, could have been better edited, didn't pick up any sense of humour, all over the place, no structure, difficult to work out relationships with no names'. It was an eye opener for most people.
14-03-2023
Great insight into the appalling conditions in North Korea - abysmal lack of human rights and semi-starvation lives. However despite the horrors, the book was an easy to read and gripping thriller. And very topical.
02-03-2023
We learned a lot about North Korea and enjoyed the book - thought the ending was a bit too tidy!
02-03-2023
Very gripping read. Brilliantly written, disturbing subject matter. Very well developed characters, all three protagonists were engaging. The author obviously feels a great connection to Korea, and this is evident.
20-06-2022
Our men's group quickly finished this book. The narrative is exciting and easy to read, and has a number of twists and turns. As you read you are constantly amazed at the deceptions and the survival abilities necessary just to allow the characters to keep on living. After reading we were keen to find out more about the real stories out of North Korea.