The Journey

Beb his three older sisters and their parents Kalu (who is a doctor,) and Esse stay in Monguno. Ten year old Beb and Kalu discuss Boko Haram, the extremist militia who have been attacking government areas and the possibility Monguno could be next Kalu had warned Beb to be wary.
When that day came it was with a vengeance they rounded up the people the men they would try and persuade to join them if not they’d be killed the women and children would be sold to the highest bidders into slavery or prostitution.
Kalu, Esse, Beb and the three girls manage to escape that’s when the Journey begins. First they had to escape to Morocco from there they hoped to fly to London.
We go on the Journey with the family through the rough terrain the horrors they see the decisions they have to make the people they have to leave behind the corruption, people taking advantage of the situation. Will they manage to escape the Boko Haram or will they be killed like so many others?
I really enjoyed this book it was a bit harrowing at times given the ongoing wars it really makes you think about the hardships of the people in the countries affected by war, they are normal hardworking people who just happen to live in a certain area and because of this they can lose their lives and their families. They endure the hundreds of miles treks to try for a better life not even a better life just a life and when they get to the borders they’re not wanted there. It is heartbreaking. Brilliant read but be warned plenty of tissues will be a requirement.

The Journey is very different from the authors other books. Where as his others are more crime some bordering on horror, this one is more to do with the atrocities that go on in the real world of which is happening right now. 

Kalu and his family are peace loving people. Sadly their home town comes under threat from a group wanting to take over. These people have no respect for anyone and will kill without a second thought as well as raping and pillaging the villages and towns they come into. I couldn't imagine anything worse, there seems to be no stopping them and Kalu has no choice but to try and get his family into Europe where they will be safe. Like I say, with what is happening in Syria and other parts of the world, Kalu's journey I think will hit home for what these people have to go through. 

From picking this book up I couldn't put it down and read it in one evening. I had to know whether Kalu and his family make it. There are so many horrors and heartaches along the way that will shock and surprise you. 

The Journey is a story that will have you go through so many emotions, mainly anger and compassion for what is happening to the people. It is one that will make you sit back and reflect with what is going on in the real world. This is a story that needed to be told, and whilst not a true one, this is what is happening in our world and hopefully it will make people sit up and take note. A hard hitting and emotional read that will stay with me for a very long time to come.

The Journey is about a loving family of six comfortably living in the town Monguno in Nigeria and their harrowing trek. This incredible story begins with a 10-year old boy, Beb, as he is walking with two of his friends. He recognizes a convoy approaching and warns his friends to run, as he knows from his father that it could mean only one thing. It is right here in this story when my heart jumped. The first chapter quickly identifies the rest of his family, and where they are at when the extremists enter their town. The father, Kalu, knew this day was coming. He does his best to quickly round up his family to try to get them to safety.

As a doctor Kalu is torn between the self-preservation necessary to protect his family, and trying to help others as they become injured during this horrific time. Kalu desperately tries to get his family to Morocco, and then Europe, as he has been preparing for this eventuality. The journey is not easy, and is fraught with unimaginable tragedy. As I read this book, the atrocities that took place created such intense sadness and pain in me for these people who were driven from their homes, knowing that their futures offered very little hope. Nothing I have ever read or watched about a great exodus such as this could have prepared me for what the writer conveys in the story.

As described in the blurb, this is an emotional thriller. It is written as realistic as I’ve ever experienced for a fictional tale. This is a book that kept me up until all hours because I just could not put it down! It really made me think of my life and of how easy it is. It also made me sad because of the grittiness in which the tragedies occurred. However, I did not want the book to end. I wanted more for this family. This fact alone proved to me the realism conveyed by Conrad Jones. The book finished with a twist that truly shook me. I won't be forgetting about The Journey anytime soon. Kudos to Mr. Jones.

Many thanks to Bloodhound Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

This book deserves so much more than 5 stars, there should be an outstanding button. I have been completely blown away by this book. The Journey follows a family trying to escape their village of Monuno after Boko Haram attack their village. They flee with a plan to get to Europe and Kalu has to keep his family together on this journey. This story had me hooked right from the first page. There were too many heart stopping moments to count! The book was fast paced and had my emotions all over the place. This book is one of the best books I have read so far this year, it really did make me stop and appreciate how lucky I am. This is truly outstanding and if there is one book you should read, it is The Journey. I would highly recommend this book.

When the trucks full of Boko Harmon extremists armed with machetes and machine guns descended on their village people were rounded up and treated appallingly.
This is the story of Kalu a doctor from village of Monguno in Nigeria fleeing from the atrocities that rebel forces were inflicting on his people. He takes his wife, son and three daughters on a heartbreaking journey full of danger.
This book kept me captivated and I really cared about the characters.
The Journey is the first book I've read by Conrad Jones and I will be looking out for more from this author.
I would like to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

If I could I would award this book TEN stars. Conrad Jones is one of my favourite authors and his books have never disappointed and I am glad to say that The Journey has excelled my expectations. The Boko Harun is on the march, clearing villages and leaving death and destruction in their wake. This is story of one family and what they have to do to be safe and go to England where they have family and will be safe. ONCE I started reading this book I could not put it down. I had tears and laughter while reading and the ending was a shock. If you are going to read one book this year this is IT!!!!!
I would like to thank the author Conrad Jones, Bloodhound books and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this new release in return for giving an honest review

This is not the Conrad Jones that we know and love. But there's no need to worry, because this book is an example of his talented a writer Mr Jones is. The Journey is a heart breaking tale, brilliantly written and wrings every emotion out of the reader. Just when you think there is hope, it is snatched away and desolation takes it place. An unbearably sad, far too believable record of the times we live in. Conrad Jones has written an hugely important and very relevant account that will stay with me for a very long time.

The Journey by Conrad Jones

What if you and your family had to flee for your life? What would you do? How would you get away? Would you be prepared?

Dr. Kalu Andaku has been aware that Boko Haram was on the move and that being prepared was essential if he wanted to get his wife, son and three daughters out safely should the rebel militia arrive in town. But when the time to flee arrived it was so much worse than expected, the trip was fraught with peril and it became a nightmare of epic proportion that saw not all make it out safely.

This is a gritty story of survival that made me revisit wars I have lived through and also think about a time when my husband and I got together items to make on a trek across a dessert to get our son and daughter out safely – if we needed to – and another time when we were evacuated from a coast with one suitcase and snipers on the roofs nearby. We did not have to implement the plans we made to cross the desert but we did make them. If we had ended up like Kalu, his wife and their children…well…I don’t even want to think about what that would have been like!

Even though this story was gritty and the target is no doubt adults I had the feeling it might be a book that could be a class-read novel to be discussed with a wise teacher in a classroom. Educational and thought provoking – this was a quick read but one that will linger with me for some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

I have read and enjoyed quite a few books by this author. The previous ones have been more crime/horror in genre whereas this one is more real life and depicts some of the atrocities that are going on in some parts of the world. That said, all the core elements and values which makes this author great are also present in this book making it, for me, a very satisfying, if a bit harrowing read.
It follows the story of a family caught up in what I guess could be described as civil war. Kalu is a doctor and he and his family live in Nigeria. One fateful day, his village is taken over by rebels and he and his family are forced to up sticks and flee for their lives. Being a clever man, Kalu is not unprepared for this eventuality and, what follows is their journey across war torn nations, trying to stay safe, not only from the rebels, but also from the other people also in the same boat, as well as the "kind souls" along the way willing to help, or hinder them... at a price.
This book was quite a difficult book for me. Indeed, it took me quite a while to read and I usually start a book and read straight through. This one, I had to keep putting down and taking a break from as it was really quite emotional. We are all a bit numb to the atrocities as shown in the papers or on the news, but there was something about the way that this journey was written that just brought it all a little closer to home. A little more real and, in turn, a lot more heart-wrenching. I guess this was mostly because of the wonderful characterisation which meant that I got to know Kalu and his family and really started to care and worry about what was happening to them. It also opened my eyes about what is happening in other parts of the world and made me very thankful for my own life and what it gives me above and beyond the basic necessities for existence. Something that some of the characters in this book didn't even have.
I said it was emotional. Well, it contained the full spectrum of emotions for me, both positive and negative. I felt for the characters every step of the way. I delighted in some of the people they met that helped them along the way and I was angry along with them when they encountered others of a more duplicitous nature. The book is not a true life story but it could be. That's whats so shocking. The things depicted herein are real, they are happening around the world. And that's so very sad.
This is a book that will stay with me for quite a long time. It will also change the way I view the news when it reports similar. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What an incredibly apt title this book has! Conrad Jones does indeed, take you on ‘The Journey’. A journey of self discovery. A journey of learning how to be empathetic to society. A journey where people’s lives are on the line and you have to decide whether to try to save them, or save yourself first.

I found this a really, really hard book to read. Not in terms of language usage or storyline structure, but due to the severe intensity of the storyline itself and what the underlying theme was. Conrad Jones hasn’t written a ‘typical’ thriller, yet he has written a thriller which is likely to chill you to the bones a lot quicker, due to how ‘on point’ the scenes within his book are. For Jones’ characters, life isn’t all cosy houses, plenty of food and security from the government like we have here. Instead, Jones’ characters stand in the path of death and destruction. They stand in the place where they played with a friend not long ago, who had just been shot in the head while they looked on, frozen to the floor.

For people in Nigeria, where the book is set, things like that happening are not rare. But for people like us who don’t witness devastation like that that often, it can be quite difficult to digest the barbaric events which Conrad Jones explores in his novel.

Even though I found the content incredibly harrowing, the way in which the author told the story was pragmatic and powerful, switching between both heart-wrenching emotion and heart-warming situations absolutely flawlessly.

I think that ‘The Journey’ was the first book I have read by Conrad Jones, and I have to say that I am incredibly impressed by the way he tells the story and the way that he brings his characters to life. It’s as though he turns his 2D thoughts of a character into a 3D, page jumping character who becomes your visual experience whilst you read the rest of the book.

I’ll admit that, whilst the content wasn’t really my cup of tea, the true star of the show was the author himself. Such an intense, chilling and eye-opening novel which is guaranteed to leave you utterly speechless.

The Journey follows Kalu and his family trying to escape Boko Harmon extremists by trying to get to Europe to survive! Boko Harmon want to take over and will kill easily without a thought or a second. It can be a very dark read in places throughout this story.

However, the sad truth is this is still happening in this day and age so it will make the reader open their eyes and appreciate their life a little more, god knows what I woulf do if I was Kalu and other civilians. Once I got into this story I could not put it down, different from those everyday thrillers. Unique.

I previously enjoyed Brick by Conrad Jones so had expectations for this story, I loved them both but enjoyed this one more. Very impressed. I awarded four stars and would highly recommend to you all. It had me captivated until the end. An easy, fast paced read!

I am sat here flabbergasted after finishing The Journey what a simply fabulous heart-breaking read this turned out to be, and what a talented and versatile author Conrad Jones is. I picked up The Journey and even after reading the book description I thought it would lean heavily towards being a crime thriller, but my god was I so wrong, It’s a story of Human resilience, and the incredible lengths people will go to protect their family. Although a fictional account of refugees, it never the less made for a haunting read and a very credible one at that.

Full review to follow on my blog

I don’t even know where to begin. The Journey is a truly heart wrenching story, and the epilogue really dug the knife in and twisted it around even more.

Beb’s family is forced from their home and encounter many dangers along the way to safety. They are forced to change their plans, reroute, and face the death of their loved ones, all while trying to remain strong for each other.

Living in the United States, we really aren’t educated enough about the horrors that that go on in other parts of the world. We hear things and say, “Oh that couldn’t happen to us!” But what if it did? Would you be prepared?

There are so many emotions that I felt while reading that I am struggling to fully disclose. Anger, sadness...there are moments of joy where we see random acts of kindness from strangers, but this story is truly devastating.

The author does an amazing job of making us feel everything that Beb’s family is going through. Their emotions become ours. I truly felt that I was on their journey with them.

I would recommend The Journey to anyone looking for a story that gives them insight into the world and what is going on. Genocide is real and is still happening. It is not a thing of the past or something from stories. Real people are being forced to run, die, or submit to unjust rule. If you’re looking for something to open you eyes, break your heart, and look to take action to promote change, start with The Journey.

I have enjoyed every book I have read by this author so I looked forward to reading The Journey. So completely different to this authors other books but every bit as good. A very topical and harrowing read. The plight of a family trying to escape to a better life away from the threat of the Boko Harum . This is a heartbreaking , harrowing and humbling read. Fraught with danger and unscrupulous people, this family's journey to a safer life is an edge of your seat journey!

This book is harrowing, enlightening, disturbing, gripping and just one I could not put down. The tension built, I almost dreaded reading each chapter as I was terrified what would happen next.
Reinforced my belief in how lucky I am to be born where I was. The world needs to wake up and support each other, we cannot ignore the plight of these people. It could be any one of us and we can't ignore what is going on.
I am a massive fan of Conrad Jones, this book is quite different to previous books in my opinion. The charcter development was exceptional, I was so invested in what happened to these people. To the last word. Brilliant Conrad, thank you.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and Conrad Jones for the opportunity to read a copy of The Journey.
You know a book is exceptional when you are at a loss for words to explain why someone should spend the time to read it. The Journey is one of those books.
I read this book in one sitting. I found it impossible to put down. This novel really does take you on a journey and will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.
Put The Journey by Conrad Jones on your "must read" list. You will not be disappointed.