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David Barker
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Blue Gold: A Gripping Thriller Full of Twists (The Gold Trilogy) Kindle Edition

by David Barker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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In a water-starved world, two international agents try to track down the corrupt forces that threaten to spark a global war . . .

Climate change and geopolitical tension have given rise to a new international threat: a world war over water. This vital resource has become a precious commodity, and some will stop at nothing to control its flow.

When a satellite disappears over Iceland, Sim Atkins joins the Overseas Division to hunt for the terrorists responsible—a quest that will take him and his partner, Freda, to a billionaires’ tax haven in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and into a web of deceit . . .

This is the first in the series of action-packed, intrigue-filled thrillers, also known as The Gaia Trilogy, that take us into a near-future world desperate for life-giving water.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Gold Trilogy
  2. Print length
    322 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Bloodhound Books
  6. Publication date
    April 22, 2021
  7. File size
    1597 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Barker is Chief Economist for an international fund.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09C6KT8YZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (April 22, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 22, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1597 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

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David Barker

David Barker

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I am a published author of thrillers, children’s fiction and pantomime scripts. An alumni of the Faber Academy, I have been writing for over ten years.

The Gaia trilogy features two British agents fighting for justice and global safety during a world war for water. Each book features a separate mission but the trilogy covers an overall story arc as the agents' personal lives become embroiled in their fight against terrorism.

Pax & the Missing Head is the first book in the London Falling series. These are adventures set during a dark future vision of Britain where citizens of New London hide behind a giant wall and children are forced to toil in workhouses from an early age. Pax is offered the chance to join a prestigious school set in the old Houses of Parliament where he'll make new friends and enemies and discover not everything is quite what it seems in New London.

I live in Berkshire with my wife and daughter. After spending nearly 30 years in the city, working as an economist and trying to predict the future (first for the Bank of England and later for an international fund). I now focus on writing full time. When not writing, you can often find me with a tennis racquet in my hand or on my surfboard, but rarely both at the same time.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
60 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazoncustomer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Blue Gold by David Barker is a well written, fast paced engaging thriller set in the future where climate change has altered the world.
The tension building is great and there's a bit of humor sprinkled throughout and plenty of action. This futuristic thriler hooked me from the beginning.
This is a good book that will make you think about our unlimited access to water in a different way. Thank you NetGalley, David Barker and Urbane Publications for a very interesting story.
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Miriam Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2017
When I first started reading "Blue Gold" by David Barker it felt like I was venturing into the world of James Bond! Plenty of action, a fast paced plot and a tremendous thought provoking storyline, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this brilliant book.
I don't normally read science fiction or futuristic style stories but I bought this through the monthly Urbane Book Club and I'm glad that it was included in that month's package or I probably would have missed out on a very entertaining book.
"Blue Gold" - in my opinion - requires your full concentration and attention to do the story the justice it deserves. Set in the not too distant future and with the threat of a world war for water there are a few timelines running throughout so you do need to keep track of where you are with the intelligent storyline, but it does however all come together at the end perfectly.
I loved Sim and Freda, I thought they teamed up brilliantly together and were very engaging characters - though all the characters were well portrayed.
There's also some interesting nuggets of information at the start of each chapter referring to some of the details in that chapter and there's also a brilliant author's note at the end of the book too. I will certainly be thinking about our unlimited access to water in a different way from now on and realise just how lucky we are.
"Blue Gold" is very well written, polished and professional that will appeal to many a thriller fan. Once again Urbane Publications have printed another beautifully designed book that makes a change to all the mass market editions flooding the shelves. I highly recommend this book to thriller and sci-fi fans alike and I look forward to the next book in the series "Rose Gold".
2 people found this helpful
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Frank
5.0 out of 5 stars Bleak Future
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2020
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This book is fantasy but it truly parallels our world situation as it is today. Just as portrayed, a bleak future looms ahead of we do not change our priorities.
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Frank Currie Tibbetts
4.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
Kept interest all the way thru.
One person found this helpful
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Chris M.
5.0 out of 5 stars the author has a fun habit of including references to other films and books ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
On one level this is an action-packed page turner with compelling characters. It is written in a non-linear style that makes it interesting to piece together the background to the main plotline. Also, the author has a fun habit of including references to other films and books though out the story (and, as I discovered reading the afterword, it turns out I only found a minority of the references).

That alone would make this a worthwhile read. But underlying all of the action is a fascinating depiction of a future world where climate change and other natural calamities have change our way of life, in particular with regard to potable water. To me this was by far the best part of the book, as the futuristic scenarios were at once plausible and alarming, making for a compelling backdrop throughout the book.

Highly recommended, especially for anyone interested in the future challenges around sourcing clean water.
2 people found this helpful
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Keja
5.0 out of 5 stars Tension-building incidents around the world are graphically and convincingly described and give a frightening view of the future where good battles to overcome evil
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2017
This is a top-class thriller to make you stop and think about one of our least regarded world treasures - water. Set in the near future, we follow two agents, Sim and Freda, from one dangerous part of the world to another as they strive, Bond-like, to prevent terrorists and governments commandeering the shrinking resources of water. There are numerous life-threatening situations for this intrepid and likeable duo to fight their way out of, lightened by sprinklings of humour and cleverly inserted comforting film references. Tension-building incidents around the world are graphically and convincingly described and give a frightening view of the future where good battles to overcome evil. A very worthwhile read.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
Poorly written. Storyline confusing and hard to read. Only read a few chapters before I quit reading. Storyline kept jumping around. Terminology never explained. Ugh!
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WillemHBuiter
4.0 out of 5 stars Blue Gold by David Barker: a must read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2017
David Barker's Blue Gold is a great read. The underlying theme - a near-future world with acute and wide-spread water shortages - is a vital one that everyone under the age of 70 will encounter in non-literary form soon. The writing is skillful, the characters are interestingly flawed and the plot kept me engaged and eager for more. Get your copy now!
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Keja
5.0 out of 5 stars Tension-building incidents around the world are graphically and convincingly described and give a frightening view of the future
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a top-class thriller to make you stop and think about one of our least regarded natural treasures - water. Set in the near future, we follow two agents, Sim and Freda, from one dangerous part of the world to another as they strive, Bond-like, to prevent terrorists and governments commandeering the shrinking resources of water, as global warming and population growth cause ever more problems.
There are numerous life-threatening situations for this intrepid and likeable duo to fight their way out of, which are lightened by sprinklings of humour and cleverly inserted comforting film references. Tension-building incidents around the world are graphically and convincingly described and give a frightening view of the future where good battles to overcome evil. A very worthwhile read from a promising new author.
One person found this helpful
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Sharp 2nd
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
A good read with a great theme.

I will be looking out for the follow up
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Ian Hobbs
4.0 out of 5 stars An action-packed thriller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
Blue Gold is set in the not too distant future and is centred around the frighteningly plausible idea that there could be a world war for water. It is an international thriller which carried me along at breakneck speed. Action packed but also with some interesting character development of the main protagonists.

The book felt very well researched as well and this helped to convey the sense that this really could happen. The title conveys the value of water as a commodity and the book explores what could happen if it became the focus of global battle for control over it.

I read the book very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. So, if you like an action - packed thriller why not give it a go?
One person found this helpful
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J.D.G.Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great read. Fast paced
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a great read. Fast paced, action packed, and with well defined and finely crafted characters. The action takes place all over the world and looks well researched. Moreover, the underlying subject matter - the likely global shortage of water - is thought provoking and worrying in equal measure. There is a strong message here about the consequences of inaction as one of the world's scarcest resources becomes more and more sought after by the rapidly industrialising Asian blocs. If you want an intelligent, thoughtful, fast paced thriller, this book is for you. A very impressive debut.
One person found this helpful
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John Martyn Leggett
5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the story line with "flashbacks" (for want of a better word) detailing various events over a number of years ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a well crafted story about an issue - water shortage - which may well become a real issue, although I doubt it will be as soon as in the book.
The main characters develop personalities as the plot develops and the scientific detail is well presented. Breaking the story line with "flashbacks" (for want of a better word) detailing various events over a number of years increases the tension and delineates the world-wide significance of water shortage.
An excellent read- put it on your holiday list!
2 people found this helpful
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