Absolutely brilliant story telling and probably my favourite book in the trilogy. Once again a real page turner and the new characters introduced e.g. Sandy & Omar etc. were a real delight. The tornado alley descriptions were fantastic and couldn’t put this book down. Very well done Phil - a total triumph!

Amazon customer

Amazon 20/1/26

A popular bumper sticker back in the 1980s asked people to “Visualize World Peace.” That’s a nice thought, although perhaps a bit too New-Agey for some folks to stomach. Ergo, a parody bumper sticker appeared urging citizens to “Visualize Whirled Peas.” It was satire, sure, but oddly consistent with the kumbaya spirit of the original. That’s somewhat how I regard the “Pathfinder” series of satires by British writer Philip Rennett. “Where the Winds Blow” is the third instalment in this series. The book opens at a barbeque where many of the main characters from the prior book, “Good for the Soul,” gather to discuss the future directions of their “Path Finder” movement. Among them are Andy Blackwell, a former British Prime Minister, and Simon Pope, once a soldier and a warehouse worker but now something of a benign revolutionary. Those assembled are pleased that “Path Finder” is growing, although distressed that its principles are still undefined. Thus, thanks to financing by a Greek zillionaire, they fly great minds from across the world to meet at the Ireland Peace Castle to hash out the details. Meanwhile, at the Texas/ Mexico border, Omar Rahmani, an Afghan physician who was left behind when the Americans fled his country, attempts a dangerous crossing in the hopes of reuniting with his family. He is assisted in his mission by Pope, his wife Pippa, a blustery Scotsman named Sandy Irvine, and others who operate under the cover of being tornado chasers through the storm-prone region. Although they are but dimly aware of it, the success or failure of their task could have global consequences. Rennett’s writing combines over-the-top scenarios with a gentle lampoon of entrenched points of view. Some satire eviscerates—Rennett’s stings, but it also inspires. It’s not meant to rally readers to any one side as much as to bring them together. Satire and such optimism don’t easily mix, although Rennett pulls it off. Regardless of whether you like your satire mild or spicy, the story stands on its own.

Gregg Sapp

Goodreads / Amazon 17/1/26

Hugely entertaining page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed the rollicking ride and it is every bit as fun as the first two in the Path Finder series. Was laughing out loud on the flight last night through some of the closing chapters. Everything to love about this book as its predecessors. Short chapters, great characters. Loved the new characters such as Sandy, and of course all the hapless, self-serving leaders of our world. And does the Epilogue just hint that the story isn't over. We can but hope book four might just be on the way.

Fay

Amazon 7/1/26

Where The Winds Blow blends political satire, global intrigue, and adrenaline-soaked storm chasing into a single, fast-moving narrative. The book follows the rise of Path Finder, a grassroots movement born from grief and idealism, while powerful governments, criminal networks, and ordinary people collide around it. At the same time, the story weaves in a parallel thread of storm chasers barreling across Texas, where tempests both real and emotional hit with little warning. The plot swings from Irish funerals to boathouse diplomacy to desert border tensions, always nudged forward by colorful characters who often stumble into history by accident. I found myself laughing at moments I didn’t expect to laugh at and bracing during scenes that came out of nowhere. The writing has a kind of cheeky confidence. The author slips from humor to sincerity in seconds, and somehow it works. I liked how the “science guides” at the castle go from bickering like rivals to forming a unified plan after being nudged by drinks, blunt truth, and a locked door. Those small human quirks make the big themes feel grounded. And the storm chasing chapters surprised me. The imagery of dirt clouds swallowing the vans and lightning cracking overhead felt alive. Moments like Simon dragging a stubborn tourist away from his dramatic self-sacrifice scene stuck with me because they were messy and relatable and oddly sweet. The Path Finder political satire is sharp and funny, especially scenes in Washington where we watch powerful people try to bend the movement to their will. The storm chasing plot, though, has this raw emotional pulse that could carry a book by itself. When the two worlds finally echo each other thematically, it lands. I closed the book feeling satisfied. "Where The Winds Blow" is a good pick for readers who like stories with heart and humor mixed into real-world chaos, who enjoy political send-ups, or who don’t mind a chase through a thunderstorm or a bureaucratic maze. It’s lively. It’s warm. It’s playful. And it’s perfect for anyone who wants a story that reminds them that even the biggest changes in the world often start with a handful of imperfect people trying to do the right thing.

Literary Titan

Website review 23/12/25

A story where storm chasing, wedding gifts, accidental world-shaking consequences and border-crossing danger somehow blend into one sharp funny and strangely heartfelt ride. Satire with teeth and actual soul. That’s rare.

Joun Pedro

Email 10/12/2025

I just tore through Where The Winds Blow. This book hit me like a political tornado wearing a clown wig and holding a Molotov cocktail. I was laughing, sweating, anxious, and deeply invested all at once. Completely unexpected and dangerously addictive. The Path Finder movement alone had me cackling. A global phenomenon where the founders STILL don’t know what the movement is?? That is my exact brand of smart comedy-chaos. THIS is the kind of storytelling that makes readers feral.

Ethan Watts

Email 23/11/25