To use the popular vernacular, “it came from left field” accurately describes “No Turning Back” by Marcus Sakey – I was completely shocked and surprised at its ingenuity, style and pace. It was a breath of fresh air that I honestly didn’t expect.

I read the premise and wasn’t convinced it was my kind of book. Four people, strangers at one time in their lives met and formed the Thursday Drinking Club; it blossomed from humble beginnings into bi weekly get-togethers that included Saturday brunches and Cubs games in the summer. Their lives going nowhere, they were in a rut, always looking for excuses to meet up.

Every Thursday night the foursome met at Rossi’s, a bar-slash-restaurant where Alex worked as a bartender. Ian is a trader, partial to the lure of the white powder and his habit appears to be intensifying. Mitch, a doorman at the Continental Hotel has had his fill of ignorant guests and Jenn, the last of the four is a travel agent who can’t afford to travel to any of the exotic places she persuades her clients to visit.

No Turning Back by Marcus Sakey

Truth be told they are all at a crossroads, no one is completely satisfied, something has to give – that much is inevitable. Alex is called into his boss’s office; he spots what appears to be an enormous amount of cash in the safe and casually suggests to his friends they steal the money. What could go wrong, the plan was fool proof, no one would get hurt and their crime untraceable. It was the perfect crime.

The plotline is very well crafted and there is a distinguishable line drawn between good and bad, right and wrong. The characters are believable and although I initially found the strike it rich plan slightly implausible I soon found myself hooked into the various sub plots Sakey provided.

No Turning Back is a look at how lives changed for the four main characters, how they dealt with the triumphs, the setbacks and the relationships within the group. There is a strong moralistic edge to the book and Sakey explores this magnificently. He strips each character down, twists and turns their inner souls. What comes out the other end? You’ll just have to read for yourself.

There’s a great deal of depth in this thriller numerous twists and sub plots keep the book moving at a swift pace. I was taken aback at how quick the book flowed, the author dangling enough carrot to keep you reading “just one more chapter”. Just when you think you’ve figured out where the author is going with a storyline, he pulls the carpet from under your feet and you change course abruptly .

We all face decisions on a daily basis, more often than not insignificant ones, but every now and then a life changing decision will come along. We are measured by these important choices. No Turning Back delves deeply into the inner relations of four people and how they react to the choices made. Nothing is ever straightforward and when things do go wrong the group learn just how little they know about each other.

Strong, unpredictable and fascinating. Sakey delivers a knockout blow with No Turning Back.

Published by Corgi/Transword the book is available to buy from Amazon & Waterstones.

The book has been released in the USA with the title “Amateurs“.