Green Shoots: Gritty new thriller puts eco-activism centre stage

A story of grief and revenge, Green Shoots by Ben Westwood finds protagonist John Adamson desperate to find out how his wife really died, but unwittingly drawn into a deadly conspiracy. Businessmen with interests in the Amazon rainforest are being killed by the raw materials they exploit – oil, timber, and beef. While struggling through his grief, John must undertake two investigations that are somehow connected to get to the truth.

Published on 27th September 2022, Ben Westwood’s intriguing ‘eco-thriller’ brings the reader up close and personal with the zeitgeist, whilst delivering a conspiracy thriller par excellence.

Skilfully written and using to full effect the wordsmith skills gained as journalist and travel writer, the author also pulls on his own personal experience of grief and time spent living in South America to add further cadence to his storytelling.

As a debut novel, Green Shoots is not only an accomplished work of fiction but exemplifies how to weave modern-day issues into novels that people want to read.

Synopsis:

OUT OF THEIR ASHES, GREEN SHOOTS WILL GROW

Green Shoots is a story of grief and revenge, a gripping crime thriller with an ecological heart.

Brought back from the brink of suicide by a mysterious phone call, grieving journalist John Adamson is desperate to know the truth about his wife Christina’s death in South America. The man on the phone gives John clues to what really happened, but also tips him off to investigate a spate of deaths of businessmen, all found with the same cryptic message: “Out of their ashes, green shoots will grow.” From the protest-filled streets of London to the ravaged jungles of Ecuador, John is unwittingly drawn into a lethal plot, but who is behind these murders and what is the connection to his wife’s death?

The author says:

“Four environmentalists are killed every week worldwide, according to Global Witness. The recent murders of Dom Philips and Bruno Pereira in Brazil are not isolated examples but a tragic trend. Green Shoots poses the question: what if eco-activists behaved in the same ruthless way as the corporate world?”

Published by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, Green Shoots (ISBN: 978-1-80378-045-0) is published on 27th September 2022 and is available in paperback (£8.99) and Kindle format. Waterstones | Foyles | Amazon | Cranthorpe Millner