ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE SEPTEMBER 2023 (VOL. 1) (VOLUME VI, ISSUE XXXIII)
Article Published on: 15th SEP 2023 | www.demodemagazine.com
"THE BRUSSELS CONNECTIONS" - BY AUTHOR TERENCE HAMILTON
The Brussels Connection is an adult thriller novel that explores Islamic radicalism, liberal values, and life purpose.
Ibrahim is a hardened product of his gritty Brussels neighborhood, Molenbeek. He is caught in the web of Islamic State after being thrown in jail for armed robbery. When Ibrahim helps to carry out the 2015 Paris attacks, the Security Service’s net starts closing in, and he is driven on a relentless pursuit across Brussels toward his destiny: martyrdom at the airport.
As Ibrahim plots the airport bombing, little does he care that his actions will shake the world of Tom, a Liverpool IT worker, and his five colorful friends, including a hard-as-nails British SAS Sergeant, a Swiss playboy with a dark secret, and a kinky Belgian DJ.
As their lives collide with the dark forces of the Islamic State, will the power of love emerge victorious in the face of hate and terror? Or will the friends fall victim to the ruthless conspiracy of Ibrahim and his fellow IS fanatics? Packed with pulse-pounding action, this twisting tale of danger, drama, and redemption will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
BOOK REVIEWS
A character-rich terrorism thriller that awes with its sophisticated explorations of extremism, liberal values, foreign policy, and martyrdom. Recommended for fans of Alex Berenson. The Brussels Connection opens as Ibrahim, an Islamic State bomber of Moroccan heritage, rides the metro. He's carrying ten liters of hydrogen peroxide in his backpack intended as part of the cocktail for an airport bombing. - Reviewed in the United States
The Brussels Connection is a gripping and thought-provoking adult thriller that delves into the complex themes of Islamic radicalism, liberal values, and the search for life's purpose. The author skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, taking readers on a suspenseful journey through the gritty neighborhoods of Brussels and beyond. At the heart of the narrative is Ibrahim, a character shaped by the rough environment of Molenbeek. - Reviewed in the United States
The Brussels Connection by Terence Hamilton is an absolute masterpiece of suspense and intrigue. From the first page to the last, I was completely hooked by the electrifying narrative that expertly weaves together an ensemble of captivating characters.
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JOURNEY OF THE AUTHOR TERENCE HAMILTON
Terence Hamilton’s debut novel ‘The Brussels Connection’ is a fast-paced thriller, set around the Islamic State’s bombing of Brussels Airport in 2016.
After escaping 1980s Merseyside by joining the UK Royal Air Force, Terence served in Germany and the Middle East. His post-RAF civvy career is strategy consulting for large companies. Counteracting that instant conversation stopper at parties are his love of Islamic culture, DJing techno music, teaching scuba diving, and delving into military history.
Terence wrote ‘The Brussels Connection’ in response to the real-life 2016 Brussels Airport attacks. He was due to fly to Brussels that fateful day but his travel plans changed the afternoon prior. His research into the event, the backgrounds and radicalization of the bombers, and the ideology of the Islamic State contrasted starkly against what he understood about Islamic culture and beliefs. Little is understood in the West about the ideology of IS – why suicide bombing of civilian targets is legitimate.. Surfacing that story in the form of an adult novel became the basis of Terence’s first thriller.
The fateful incident of the 2016 Brussels Airport attacks, narrowly missed by Hamilton due to a twist of fate, serves as a powerful catalyst for the inception of the book. His extensive research into the event, the motives of the attackers, and the ideology of groups like the Islamic State reflect a dedication to understanding complex issues. By juxtaposing this against his appreciation for Islamic culture and beliefs, Hamilton offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of these contrasting narratives.
‘The Brussels Connection’ brings this narrative to life, offering readers an adult novel that confronts the complexity of the Islamic State's motives and actions. Terence's unique blend of personal encounters, professional insights, and cultural explorations culminate in a gripping thriller that sheds light on a topic often shrouded in misunderstanding.
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR TERENCE HAMILTON WITH DE MODE
Q: What inspired you to write "The Brussels Connection" and what message did you aim to convey through this thriller novel?
A. We all have a book inside us, and a writer friend encouraged me to pull it out of my head. I missed the Brussels airport terror incident due to a change of travel plans the day before. This got me researching the Islamic State, seeking to understand better that which had nearly killed me. Digging deeper, I realized that there is more uniting the working-class soldiers of the British army with the savage ideology of IS – a connection.
Q: Your background includes serving in the UK Royal Air Force and working in strategy consulting. How did these experiences influence your writing, especially in the context of the novel's themes?
A. During my Air Force service, I served in the Middle East and engaged in Smart City consulting in Saudi Arabia, which led me to appreciate Islamic culture. Additionally, I taught diving in Egypt and have formed strong friendships in the region. Through numerous passionate dinner conversations, I gained valuable insights into the culture, history, and challenges faced by the people in the area.
Q: ‘The Brussels Connection’ delves into Islamic radicalism and liberal values. How did you approach balancing these sensitive and complex topics in your storytelling?
A. It's essential to have a profound understanding of a topic before writing about it, considering its sensitivities. For instance, when discussing Islam, and The Prophet, knowledge and respect are crucial, while critically examining the ideology of a small, vocal minority like the Islamic State among the 1.5 billion peaceful Muslims. With liberal values, it's about candidly illustrating the extremes to portray the freedoms many strive to uphold.
Q: Terrorism is a difficult subject to tackle in literature. How did you navigate the challenges of writing about the 2015 Paris attacks while maintaining sensitivity to real-life events and their impact on people's lives?
A. In response to the Paris attacks of 2015, much has been written, but I found it illuminating to focus on the terrorists’ perspective: IS perceived it as a significant triumph. Conversely, in the 2016 Brussels attack by the same cell, I decided to narrate the stories of numerous victims. It took me a while to grasp that IS targets values, not individuals who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances. The thriller format allowed me to juxtapose a collage of fictional victims' perspectives and ideologies.
Q: Your novel touches on themes of life purpose and the choices we make. How did you develop Ibrahim's character arc in this regard, and what insights do you hope readers will gain from it?
A. I aim to inform and raise awareness about Islamic State and its beliefs. Ibrahim's character arc depicts the life of a Belgian teenager involved in petty crime, leading to imprisonment and radicalization, culminating in fighting in The Levant and returning to attack the West. This narrative highlights how marginalised minorities could descend into crime and how jails can become breeding grounds for radicalisation.
Q: As an author, how do you balance realism with creative liberties in storytelling, especially when dealing with real-world events and issues?
A. It’s always a dilemma – faithfully reproducing the event versus adding detail and drama to (already extraordinary) events. I choose to drill down into imaginary details – how was the last supper and testimony of the evening before the attacks? The cold-blooded assassination of the Taliban warlord, etc. but always keeping things rooted in personal experience or deep research. As an author, one has to remain cognizant of the sensitivities of the topics and events.
Q: In your opinion, what sets ‘The Brussels Connection’ apart from other thrillers in the genre, and what do you believe makes it a compelling read?
A. I believe it’s compelling on several levels: As a pulse-pounding military thriller – terrorist plotters and pursuing Security Services. However there is a grand narrative at play – what has provoked the terrorism, what ideology fuels it, and how we are all manipulated by the power-hungry to kill our brothers for competing ideologies. Too grand? Perhaps. But that’s the compelling story I wanted to tell. Currently, we witness Slav murdering Slav senselessly so the narrative is timeless.
Q: With your background & experiences, do you see yourself continuing to write thrillers that tackle complex societal issues in the future? If so, what topics do you envision exploring next?
A. I have a couple more works in writing – one thriller explores the Bosnian War in the 1990s, another mental illness and contemporary relationships. I think I have a penchant for trying to explore sensitive and sometimes painful issues. I attempt to make them accessible and engage readers through a thriller format.