The darkest secret of the U.S. Presidency is about to be revealed.

Beecher White, a young archivist for the US government, has always been the keeper of other people’s stories, never a part of the story himself . . . Until now.

While Beecher is showing Clementine Kaye, his first childhood crush, around the National Archives, they accidentally uncover a priceless artefact – a two-hundred-year-old dictionary once belonging to George Washington. Suddenly Beecher and Clementine are entangled in a web of conspiracy and murder.

Beecher’s race to learn the truth behind this mysterious treasure will lead to a code that conceals a disturbing secret from the nation’s founding. A secret that some believe is worth killing for.

The Inner Circle

For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a fascination with the United States, the history and her Presidency and when the paperback edition of Brad Meltzer’s The Inner Circle landed on my desk a few days ago I jumped at the chance to pay a visit not only to the West Wing – minus Josiah Bartlet unfortunately – but the National Archives. Try as I might I couldn’t get Nicholas Cage’s National Treasure and the multiple copies of the Declaration of Independence out of my head, and that was before I began reading!

The Inner Circle combines betrayal, the presidency, murder and a deep rooted conspiracy to deliver a complex and compelling political thriller, an intriguing thriller that will keep you guessing until the final pages. Meltzer  takes you one way and then another, all the while constantly introducing more than enough red herrings to confuse matters, and then, just when you think you have it all figured out, he switches things around and no one – nothing – is who they first appear to be.

Although the narrative is pin sharp and well thought out, I found the first few chapters a little sedentary and the beginning a little slow going as a result. Laying a solid foundation for a multi layered thriller such as The Inner Circle is no mean feat; I can’t begin to tell you how complex this plot is! One thing is certain, and take this from a fast reader, it’s not the quickest of reads, however I have to assure you that this is by no means a negative, the narrative is there to be appreciated.

Meltzer introduces a number of characters along the way and every once in a while I found myself turning back the odd page to make certain I understood a particular phrase or what position a character held. Having said all that it’s what I love about these types of books; an unexpected depth can often throw you off course and surprise you – The Inner Circle certainly did that – but if there was one thing I took from the book more than anything else it was unquestionably Beecher White.

Characterisation is impressive and very well developed. Beecher stole the show for me, a character who visibly grew from an innocent staffer, initially keen to help as many people as possible in his role as an archivist, to a more assertive pistol wielding archivist hell bent on discovering the dark secrets of the serving President and a secretive 200 year old affiliation. Beecher is torn between loyalty for his 70 year old friend – and colleague – and a childhood sweetheart – Clementine – who has unexpectedly reappeared in his life. Still recovering from a failed relationship with his former Fiancé Iris, Clementine uses her feminine guile to confuse the young archivist and secure his help in finding her father.

As I’ve already mentioned things aren’t quite what they appear to be and part of the charm of The Inner Circle is discovering the underlying truth, you never quite know who the good guys are until the climactic dénouement – just as it should be. As the book matures the pace increases – slowly at first – and with it comes an intensity I wasn’t expecting. Incredibly atmospheric, I found myself wandering the halls of the White House and National Archives as I made sense of each discovery, no matter how big or small. Make no bones about it, this book will make you think, have you searching google to see if something actually happened and in the end I didn’t want to put the book down.

Electrifying, intriguing and intense, The Inner circle is an accomplished and entertaining book, a book that introduces us to Beecher White and The Culper Ring, a group of people determined to protect the Presidency at all costs. I only hope this isn’t the last we hear of either.

Published by Hodder The Inner Circle is available in Paperback & Kindle.

Creep by Jennifer Hillier

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behaviour. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

. . . no one else can.

2011 has been quite the ground breaking year for me and incidentally marks my first full year reviewing and I can honestly say I wouldn’t change the experience for the world. As we approach the festive season – happy holidays, the coke lorry, turkey (cooked), stuffing, did I mention the coke lorry?  – the books are still arriving thick and fast and despite a volatile financial market there appears to be no let-up in publications, January is going to be a very busy month. Apparently crime does pay!

Creep is available in the UK (Paperback & Kindle) & US (Hardback)

With that in mind choosing the next book to read/review is never easy, people often ask me how I make my decision, sometimes it’s as simple as taking pot luck, closing my eyes and picking up a book off the shelf and other times it’s a long drawn out process depending on my reading mood and publication deadlines. When Creep – by debut Canadian author Jennifer Hillier – arrived in the mail, the cover garnished with handcuffs attached to a metal chain, I was in the middle of reading John Rector’s Already Gone and about to begin She’s Never Coming Back by Hans Koppel. The cover art – for Creep – immediately sucks you in; the words he’s watching you in red and aforementioned handcuffs demand your attention. I couldn’t wait to start reading it.

Fortunately I didn’t have long to wait.

With an intelligent narrative, an engaging multi layered storyline and an ending to die for, looking back I realise I was hooked within a matter of pages. Creep will eat away at your psyche, delve into your subconscious and little by little, page by page, it will wear you down, hold you captive until the final throws announce a climactic ending that leaves the door wide open in the most mesmerising of ways. The further I read and the closer I came to reaching Creep’s dénouement I realised I had conjured up my perfect ending in my mind and I have to say, I certainly wasn’t disappointed! The final imagery will remain in my mind for some time, there’s something so evocative, eerie and simple about the final scene that made me wish I had the follow up title – Freak – locked and ready to read! Unfortunately I’ll have to wait until August next year to find out what happens next!

Character development is impressive and incredibly well structured to say the least; Hillier has done a magnificent job allowing each character, no matter how big their role, to grow and develop with minimum effort. Key to any good book is a leading character – or characters – you can associate or empathise with along the way, a character who will allow you to explore a range of emotions from one chapter to the next, a character that will have you shouting at the book evoking an unexpected reaction to a scene or decision, big or small. Creep has that in droves.

Dr Sheila Tao is an intriguing character. She has everything to live for, a loving Fiancé, a good job, financial security and a wedding to look forward to in a matter of months, yet she decides to throw it all away when she embarks on an illicit affair with student Ethan Wolfe. Slowly, as her story unfolds, we begin to understand her actions, it all becomes clear – but can you forgive? Can Morris forgive? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

All three main protagonists have strength and weaknesses, Ethan an incredibly intelligent and evil sociopath – I never tired of his character – and Sheila and Morris both recovering addicts who have supported each other over the last 12 months. I felt Hillier could have easily gone a different route with Sheila, salaciously exploring her addiction but the author handles her addiction with care and a sensitivity I didn’t expect.

Considering Creep is the work of a debut author, it’s frankly astonishing how fluid and pacy this book is, a veritable page turner. She establishes a solid foundation in the opening chapters and then, slowly but surely, moves the story along changing gear as and when required, Hillier somehow managing to pace the book with an ease and confidence that belies her authorial experience. The final third of the book is gone in a flash and will most certainly leave you wanting more; I guess you can’t ask for more than that, experienced or not.

With numerous twists and turns along the way, Creep will entertain and enthral from beginning to end. Just try and read this book without humming along to Radiohead’s Creep – I dare you!

Published by Sphere, Creep is available in the UK (Paperback & Kindle) & US (Hardback)

Mike Zetterberg lives with his wife Ylva and their daughter in a house just outside Helsingborg. One evening, Ylva isn’t home as expected after work. Mike passes it off as a drink with a work friend, but when she’s still missing the next day, he starts to worry. As Mike battles suspicion from the police and his own despair, he is unaware that Ylva is still alive, just a stone’s throw from his own home. Ylva has been drawn into a twisted plot of revenge and tragedy that leads back into her and her abductors’ shared past…

She's Never Coming Back - Hans Koppel

Hans Koppel is a new voice in the Swedish Thriller genre – in the UK at least – and if his first novel She’s Never Coming Back is anything to go by then I can say with a high degree of certainty that he’s going to be around for some time to come, this is a very polished performance.  Better known as children’s author Petter Lidbeck, Koppel has had four novels published in his native Sweden under this new pseudonym. She’s Never Coming Back is an intelligent and assured title that will have you gripped from start to finish, complete with a satisfying and unexpected twist to conclude this terrifying psychological tale and keep you on your toes.

One of the things I found utterly fascinating with this book – apart from a captivating and incredibly fluid narrative – was characterisation.  There are a number of intriguing characters in the book but the main protagonist – Mark Zetterberg – stands head and shoulders above everyone – certainly as far as his journey development goes – a journey I found incredibly palatable.

When we first meet Zetterberg he comes across as a relatively weak man, he’s forgiven his wife for an affair with a restauranter the previous year but he can’t shake her betrayal and constantly questions her whereabouts and actions. Ylva eventually gives him an ultimatum, shape up or ship out – he has no option – and given the fact he’d prefer to live with her duplicitous ways than live without her, he isn’t shown in the best light. However as the tale unfolds and time goes on he gains confidence – ironically from her disappearance – and he moves his life forward with the help of his daughter and mother. The book is as much about relationships as it is with murder and crime.

Victims are constantly given negative feedback and brainwashed into believing that they lack human worth. The woman is scorned and denigrated, told that she is disgusting, a dirty whore, and told her body is only good for one thing. By means of verbal and physical abuse, the victim is robbed of the right to her own thoughts and body.

Sanna, his daughter, is an amazing character and another eight year old in literary circles who appears to be older and wiser than her years in many ways. She is utterly moreish and I loved her attitude, her personality and the way Koppel has portrayed her, questioning everything and anything in her small little world.  She adapts incredibly quickly to her mother’s departure and like her father she settles down to a life without a mother figure.

The story itself is imaginative and well delivered, Koppel cranking up the terror with each passing chapter. We soon discover the reason behind Ylva’s kidnapping and confinement in a purpose built studio apartment in the cellar. It’s pretty brutal stuff, and certainly not for the fainthearted, Koppel pulling no punches as far as a graphical and descriptive narrative is concerned. There are a number of scenes depicting sexual assault that leave very little to the imagination but I never once felt they were included purely at the whim and pleasure of the author, they were necessary to portray Ylva’s dreadful plight and to develop the story.

As I mentioned at the top of the review the ending surprised me – totally un-expected – and although your attitude to certain characters may change throughout the book, it’s refreshing to see and read an author who isn’t afraid to shake things up a little. A rapid and fluent read, very well translated from Swedish to English, I read the book in two fairly lengthy – but somehow short -sittings, and I’m still not sure where the time went!  I can’t wait for the next title to be released!

Published by Sphere She’s Never Coming Back is available in paperback and Kindle formats.

Already Gone by John Rector

Jake Reese is an ordinary guy with an ordinary job, trying to block out the memory of his violent past by planning for the future with his new wife, Diane. But the past has a habit of refusing to stay buried…When two men attack Jake in a car park and cut off his ring finger, he tries to dismiss it as an unlucky case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But when events take a more sinister turn and Diane goes missing, Jake knows he can no longer hide from the truth. As he embarks on a mission to find Diane, Jake finds himself dragged back into the life he thought he had walked away from forever and the days ahead begin to unfold in terrifying ways…

A little over a year ago I read and reviewed Cold Kiss by John Rector, a dark tale of two strangers who make one mistake after another – a book I incidentally loved – when they stumble across a stranger in a bar. A classic Noir title, Cold Kiss is as strong a debut as you could hope for so it was with eager anticipation I began reading his latest title Already Gone a few days ago and although not in the same vein as Cold Kiss it was one of the quickest reads I’ve had in 2011. If ever there was a book I would class as “I couldn’t put that down” this year, Already Gone is without doubt at the top of that category.

The book is a veritable page turner and, set at an enviable pace, it just begs to be read. The narrative is crisp, well written and delivered at such a breakneck speed that I finished the book in a little under two nights and a session in the gym; talking to other reviewers I’m not on my own either. The story itself is incredibly well crafted and together with imaginative characters and a number of unexpected twists and turns I’m positive Already Gone will be received with as much enthusiasm as his first title last year.

Written in the first person narrative we follow the protagonist – Jake Reese – through his ups and downs, both mentally and physically, as he attempts to make sense of his wife’s unexpected disappearance and the attack he suffers in the opening scenes of the book when, unaware he is being followed back to his car, he is savagely attacked.

For the most part, despite being married to Diane, in a decent job and seemingly everything to live for, Jake Reese has a fairly negative outlook on life. I guess having your finger chopped off in a dark car park while your friends continue to drink inside could have an adverse effect on one’s mind but I feel his attitude and occasional lack of confidence is something that has always been brewing just below the surface.

As I walked out, I didn’t see the two guys at the bar, and I didn’t notice anyone following me. Once outside, everything was quiet and dark. There was a soft breeze passing through the trees lining the parking lot, and the late summer air felt cool against my skin.

I took the keys from my pocket and started walking. I was almost to my car when I heard footsteps coming up fast. I turned, but it was too late. One of them hit me across the face, hard, and for an instant everything faded. Then the pain focused me and I started swinging. It was two against one, but I still managed to get in a few good shots before they took me down.

Jake constantly questions his relationship with his wife, over analysing some of her responses during a conversation but he does have the odd moment of clarity when he puts a positive spin on things! I should also add that he tend to analyse nearly every conversation he has with anyone he meets and given the book heavily relies on dialogue it happens quite a lot, he certainly isn’t the most assured of characters!

He likes his drink and although he attempts to clean up his act once his wife vanishes, it doesn’t last long and Jake is tempted to hit the bottle once again. Jake sets out to find Diane and along the way stumbles upon a life and relationships he was unaware existed. His world is thrown into turmoil and he begins to question his own sanity and wonder who – if anyone – he can trust.

I didn’t find Already Gone as dark as Cold Kiss but it holds the imagination and attention well and the ending was completely unexpected, Rector leading you down one path, hooking you in, and just when you think you have it all figured out he twists things around and delivers a terrific and imaginative denouement. The best way I could describe Already Gone is a moody and pacy thriller with an attitude to match. If you haven’t read John Rector before I urge you to get down to your local bookshop and read his work, you won’t be sorry, I never am. Terrific stuff.

Published by Simon & Schuster Already Gone is available in Paperback, Kindle & Audio CD.

Spiral by Paul McEuen

Pacific Ocean 1946: Liam Connor of the British Army, a global expert on germ warfare, is sent to help the US Navy foil an attempt by a Japanese submarine to unleash the world’s first biological super-weapon. Code-name: Uzumaki. Translation: Spiral. The devastating decision is made to annihilate Spiral by releasing the world’s fourth atomic bomb, obliterating the weapon before it can release its catastrophic payload.

New York, present day: Connor, now a world-renowned Nobel prize-winner working on the cutting edge of nano-science technology, prayed that the spectre of Spiral would never return. But now it is back and the stakes are exponentially higher. Spiral would be virtually unstoppable with current technological advances and only Connor holds the key to its cure. Those who seek Spiral will stop at nothing to obtain Connor’s knowledge, even if it means his death and that of everyone he holds dear. As the race begins for Spiral, will the world survive the Doomsday scenario about to unfold?

If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller – and Christmas stocking filler given the time of year and close proximity to the festive period – that deftly explores science and technology without seemingly drawing breath then Spiral by Cornell scientist Paul McEuen is undoubtedly the book for you. Spiral is unquestionably one of my finds for 2011 and another one of those books that not only completely surprises you, it leaves you wanting more. A well thought out and delivered ending, McEuen effortlessly ties up the loose ends but at the same time leaving the door open for future adventures – I for one hope we haven’t heard the last of Jake Sterling and Maggie Connor.

The narrative is intelligent, well-structured and told at such a frenetic pace that you’ll find it difficult to draw breath and keep up with the narrator. First impressions – for me at least – were incredibly positive and when McEuen introduces Liam Connor, a thoroughly likeable and perhaps more importantly an engaging and believable character, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1946 he opens the door to a mesmerising non stop thriller. The opening salvos lay a foundation that is wonderfully solid and the entire novel is forever thereafter on an unshakeable footing.

When Connor discovers the Uzumaki, literally in the hands of a Japanese prisoner, in 1946 he is forced to make a life altering decision, a decision that will come back to haunt him and his family in the grounds of Cornell University, a campus  McEuen vividly brings to life with a descriptive and enthusiastic prose. Liam Connor walks away, secure in the knowledge that he alone is aware of its existence but when a woman – code name Orchid – turns up approximately 65 years later and threatens the 86 year old Cornell professor he realises that drastic measures are called for.

McEuen weaves a fantastic story that combines science, action, torture and a doomsday scenario that certainly leaves you wondering what if. It’s all well and good creating an imaginative storyline that suspends belief – even if it is entertaining – but when an author creates a gripping tale that is entirely plausible – as he does with Spiral – you read the book on a totally different level. With an imagination running riot you begin to imagine the effect of the biological weapon in your own locale and wonder if the worst happened how on earth you’d find a way out of the deadly predicament.

Characterisation is assured and evenly distributed between good and evil and although protagonists Jake Sterling and Maggie Connor command a fair share of the novel McEuen gives ample air time to Orchid as she attempts to change the face of the world as we know it. She really is an intriguing character, a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. She won’t let anyone stop her reaching her goals, she is quite ruthless – but perhaps that’s part of her attraction in a strange way!

“Ten thousand? How could you stand it? It’s inhuman. Monstrous.”

“Perhaps. But the subjects at Unit 731 were well treated, well fed. Not like the other POW camps. Typically we injected them with the pathogen, systematically varying the dose. Then we watched as the disease progressed through them. It was very effective. Different strains could be crossed endlessly, the most deadly variants carefully selected by injecting them into prisoners and culturing the blood of those who died the fastest. After they showed symptoms, we would take constant readings. Temperature, blood pressure, reaction times. Some we would dissect.”

“After they were dead.”

“No. While they were alive.”

McEuen blends historical and scientific fact with incredible fiction ensuring that there’s a little something for everyone here. The author touches on the brutal war crimes committed by the Japanese against Chinese citizens and prisoners of war in North East China – Harbin, Manchuria – in the novel, a fact I didn’t want to believe until I researched it for myself. A museum now stands in Harbin for the 731 Biological unit and the victims of the atrocities.

A well thought out novel, magnificent narrative and infectious storyline it’s hard to believe that Spiral marks Paul McEuen’s debut. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next, this is certainly one thriller not to be missed and one of my top books of 2011.

Published by Headline and is available in Hardback, Paperback and Kindle

There are some criminals so dangerous the world can never know about them.
They can’t be held in regular prisons.
They must never be released.

Hell & Gone by Duane Swierczynski

They’re here – in a secret underground prison miles away from anywhere. And now, so is Charlie Hardie. The shadowy organisation running the jail sent him there as punishment for getting in their way. But he’s not a prisoner. He’s in charge.

He can leave any time he wants, he’s told. There’s just one catch: if he goes, everyone in the prison dies, including innocent guards.

But when Charlie realises his family may be in danger, he knows he must protect them at any cost.

Even if it means blasting his way out, one inmate at a time…

Charlie Hardie is back and there’s no stopping him! Hell & Gone represents the second title in a trilogy featuring the enigmatic and opinionated Charlie Hardie, a house sitter for want of a better description, who finds himself in all sorts of trouble right from the very beginning – we wouldn’t want it any other way!

When we last met Hardie – Fun & Games – he’d clearly seen better days for our hero had been left battered and bruised following an explosive encounter with The Accident People, he was literally fighting for his life. A powerful group of individuals led by the voluptuous and ruthless Mann, they are a group for hire protecting the rich and famous. Nothing and no one would stand in their way. Charlie Hardie had other ideas and it nearly cost him his life.

Published by Mulholland Books Hell & Gone is another one of those books I’ve found hard to review purely due to spoilers, or my desire to give away as little as possible in a review! As with his first title Duane Swierczynski’s narrative is incredibly slick and flows effortlessly from the opening scenes until its dénouement. Swierczynski packs so much into this book that it will leave you breathless on numerous occasions – partly due to the violence and partly due to his vivid imagination that worryingly struck a chord with me!

Hardie is in an underground prison – maximum security – guarding a number of high risk prisoners. He rules the roost – or so he thinks – but has no idea where he is or how he arrived at the prison. Told to enter the lift and descend he comes face to face with his fellow guards who eagerly await the arrival of their new boss. Taken on a tour of the facility he takes in his new surrounds and begins to wonder why him. Still dazed from both his medication and injuries Hardie struggles to come to terms with his incarceration, fellow officers and the depravity of their actions.

Things aren’t what they seem however – when are they ever – and it’s left to Charlie to discover a way out, who he can trust and who’s really running the show. The majority of this thriller is set deep underground and although I imagined a generous floor plan that includes bedrooms, cells and shower block, I still found myself suffering slightly with an imaginative claustrophobia! I allowed my mind to wander wondering how I would have coped with the confines and would I have been able to survive not only physically but mentally. I’m still unsure but one thing I do know is that my imagination ran riot thanks to Swierczynski’s atmospheric prose. You’ll walk away from this book thoroughly entertained and grateful you can open the front door at any time and experience unrestricted sunlight and fresh air.

The lobby and the lower floors were his childhood – the foundation. The carpeting was shabby and almost no one was ever at the front desk, but it was a decent enough place to stay. The management did the best they could considering the neighbourhood. There was a bed, four walls, food to eat. A few diversions, a few fellow travellers.

Then came the fractured , damaged floors of his adolescence , back when the idea that you could check out of the hotel held great appeal to him.

Unlike in Fun & Games where the dry black humour hits you like an oncoming truck I found the humour was used sparingly and delivered a lot more subtly this time around but given the violence and captivity this isn’t surprising in the least, it works well and Hardie delivers a few memorable lines but I do hope the humour returns in droves for the third and final title in the trilogy Point & Shoot.

There are of course a few twists and turns in the book and as you near the end Swierczynski ties everything in with consummate ease leaving that little opening at the end for a cliffhanger. One of the shocks for me was the prison location, totally unexpected, and when Hardie discovers where he has been held I took a deep breath and once again my imagination took over. I totally bought into the location – loved it!

Hell & Gone, although slightly different in style and appearance to the first in the series, is another fine example of Duane Swierczynski’s ability to weave a story and leave the reader wanting more. A well-paced thriller I for one can’t wait for the third and final instalment in the Charlie Hardie trilogy – my only regret will be that with it comes the end of a vibrant and moreish character.

Published by Mulholland Books Hell & Gone is available in paperback.

A Single Shot by Matthew F. Jones

Anyone’s life can change in an instant. In Matthew F. Jones’s acclaimed novel, one man’s world is overturned with a single shot.

Trespassing on what was once his family’s land, John Moon hears a rustle in the brush and fires. But instead of the deer he was expecting, he finds the body of a young woman, killed by his stray bullet. A terrible dilemma is made worse when he stumbles upon her campground – and the piles of drugs and money concealed there.

Moon makes his choice: he hides the corpse, and takes the cash. His decision will have consequences he can neither predict or control.

Originally published in 1996, A Single Shot by author Matthew F Jones is proof, if ever it was required, that Mulholland Books are on the right track. Still in its infancy, the publisher – part of the Hodder & Stoughton stable in the UK – continues its fine publication record with another intriguing and dark title.

Billed as a classic Noir novel, A Single Shot is one of those titles you find yourself asking one simple question throughout – what would I do?. Set over a period of one week the premise for A Single Shot is simple; a man named John Moon is out hunting – illegally I may add – and finding a deer in his sights releases the safety catch on his shotgun and takes his shot. He wounds the animal and as he approaches his kill discovers the deer has escaped leaving a bloodied trail and so begins a week of decisions that will, one way or another, have a lasting effect on a number of people. Moon decides to track the deer rather than leave it to die an agonising death – quite a noble decision – but this is about as far as noble and clear thinking goes.

Moon finally tracks the wounded animal and spots movement in the brush. A mass of brown and white makes a sudden movement and with the safety catch off he takes another shot. The mass immediately falls to the ground but is hidden by the dense foliage. Lowering his gun he hears movement behind him and as he turns the wounded deer he thought dead attacks. So what happened? Who or what did he shoot?

Incredibly dark, and at times depressingly so, you follow Moon as he makes one bad decision after another. There’s very little light and shade in this book – intensely bleak Moon is an accident waiting to happen. As simple as walking left or right, moving an object one way or another or taking something that clearly doesn’t belong to him, even the most simplistic decision proves to have a catastrophic reaction.

The narrative is beautiful, somewhat surprising for a book of its type, and I found myself mesmerised by a combination of elegant and well-structured prose and a man on a mission to make things right. John Moon as a character is enigmatic, a veritable puzzle you, as a reader, want to explore and dissect. Incredibly complex and dare I say moralistic he believes he’s making the right decision throughout and only time will tell if he does indeed find himself on the right path and redemption.

Intelligently written, the book flows well and with an ending that is both shocking and unexpected, I enjoyed every minute despite its bleak subject. Throughout it all Moon believes he is doing the right thing but for who? For himself, the deer or his family? As each decision takes a profound hold over his life he tries even harder to counteract the mess he finds himself in and continues to fight an enveloping quicksand of morality and greed.

Published by Mulholland Books A Single Shot is available in paperback and kindle.

The Affair by Lee Child

March 1997. A woman has her throat cut behind a bar in Carter Crossing, Mississippi. Just down the road is a big army base. Is the murderer a local guy – or is he a soldier?

Jack Reacher, still a major in the military police, is sent in undercover. The county sheriff is a former U.S. Marine – and a stunningly beautiful woman. Her investigation is going nowhere. Is the Pentagon stonewalling her? Or doesn’t she really want to find the killer?

The adrenaline-pumping, high-voltage action in The Affair is set just six months before the opening of Killing Floor, and it marks a turning point in Reacher’s career. If he does what the army wants, will he be able to live with himself? And if he doesn’t, will the army be able to live with him? Is this his last case in uniform?

If you happen to be one of the rare and isolated readers who have yet to discover – full on action hero -Jack Reacher, I only have one question for you – where have you been this past fourteen years, Mars?!! The Affair marks Lee Child’s 16^th Jack Reacher adventure and is without question the book Reacher fans have been waiting for, for one very simple reason, we discover why Reacher left the army.

Incredibly well paced and remarkably fluent, The Affair is another multi-layered adventure that entertains on so many levels. There’s a little action – not as much as I’ve come to expect from Reacher mind – some romance, explosive encounters and a depth in a protagonist I didn’t anticipate. Reacher, for me, is more guarded, more circumspect yet given the fact that he is still working under the express orders of the Army and Pentagon this is to be expected.

Billed as a prequel The Affair is without question an ideal place to begin reading Lee Child. Narrated by Reacher he pulls the reader in from the very beginning as he reminisces on how it all began with a visit to the Pentagon way back in 1997. Standing at 6ft 5inches Reacher is about to end a 13 year career with the army and in this case we discover the politics behind his enforced decision to become the world’s most secretive nomadic drifter.

Travelling light – armed with just a toothbrush, pack of gum and the clothes he’s wearing – Reacher boards a Memphis bound bus to Carter Crossing marking his first undercover mission as a civilian.

The woman in the picture was black, probably in her middle twenties, and was every bit as spectacular as Janice My Chapman. Maybe even more so. She had flawless skin and the kind of smile that starts the AC running. She had the kind of eyes that start wars. Dark, liquid, radiant. She wasn’t looking at the camera. She was looking right through it. Right at me. Like she was sitting right across the table.

One of the things that stood out for me in The Affair was the crisp dialogue. Humorous in parts, it was incredibly well-crafted and delivered in such a natural way it allowed the book to move unhindered with a staccato pace that I found both exciting and rhythmical. Whether talking to Garber, the police, the unsophisticated local yokels or officers at the Pentagon – hell bent on obstructing his progress – it remains real throughout, believable and most certainly unforced.

The Affair - US Version

The story itself is well structured and Child thankfully doesn’t deviate from his formulaic approach and tempo that has served so well in his previous novels. Reacher arrives in a town and attempts to solve a problem in his own inimitable style. Working outside the law and yet ironically at times within it, he befriends key locals and tries to solve the unsolvable. But who is the culprit in The Affair? With a variety of key witnesses, red herrings and shocks this novel will have you guessing until its explosive dénouement.  You never quite know who to trust – I for one wouldn’t want it any other way!

But this is what we come to expect and demand from Reacher. This is why we buy the books. No one writes action thrillers like Lee Child.

Another key aspect of The Affair is the midnight freight train that speeds through the town every night, throwing the town into a roaring inferno of sounds and explosive vibrations for 60 seconds. Some use the nightly arrival to their advantage while others surrender to its irrepressible power. Incredibly atmospheric and evocative there was only one thing that came near to challenging the train as a main character – a slice of peach pie and coffee in the local diner!

An enthralling prequel, The Affair commands your attention from the moment Reacher walks through the corridors of power at the Pentagon and receives his orders for the very last time. Highly recommended, this is the book Reacher aficionados will return to time and time again. Brilliant.

Published by Transworld The Affair is available in Hardback, Kindle and CD Audio

Hunted by Emlyn Rees

Danny Shanklin wakes up slumped across a table in a London hotel room he’s never seen before. He’s wearing a black balaclava, a red tracksuit and a brand new pair of Nikes. There’s a faceless dead man on the floor and Danny’s got a high-powered rifle strapped to his hands. He hears sirens and stumbles to the window to see a burning limousine and bodies all over the street. The police are closing in. He’s been set up. They’re coming for him…

With only his tech support friend, the Kid, for backup, Danny sets out on a nail-biting odyssey though the panicked city streets, in a desperate bid to escape, protect the people he loves, and track down the terrorists who set him up – and make them pay. But with 500,000 CCTV cameras, 33,000 cops, 9 intelligence agencies, and dozens of TV news channels all hot on his tail, just how long will THIS one innocent man be able to survive?’

The name’s Shanklin, Danny Shanklin. Move over Reacher, there’s a new action man in town! If you’re looking for a high octane, adrenalin filled adventure complete with a non stop narrative then Hunted by new kid on the block Emlyn Rees – not to be confused with the musical band from the 90’s of course – is that book. I  couldn’t put it down and certainly didn’t want it to end, that’s for sure – a remarkable debut offering – and with an already overflowing action genre market it’s hard to stand out from the crowd but in Danny Shanklin, Rees has created an entertaining and believable character that is set to run and run – literally!

I’ve been fortunate enough this year to have experienced a few cracking debut titles – Urban Waite’s The Terror of Living and Will Carver’s Girl 4 to name but two – and I can say unequivocally that Emlyn Rees is right up with the best of them. I found myself comparing Danny Shanklin to Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer – of 24 fame – on more than one occasion, both men finding themselves all alone with just one person to call on for technical support – Jack had Chloe and Danny has the kid - both trying to outrun the ubiquitous government agencies and police, both determined to find a way to kill the baddies and save the day (the only thing missing was an off the shoulder satchel bag!). Whether or not his happens in Hunted, you’ll just have to read for yourself but what I will say is that things don’t always run smoothly and together with a few imaginative twists and turns Rees will have you guessing until the end.

Whenever a book is set in a city you know – either as a resident or frequent visitor – be it London, Paris, New York or Rome – as a reader, you’ll always have an affinity with said book that somehow excites and entertains on a level not possible otherwise. You’ll recognise street names, fountains, parks, hotels and even famous shopping landmarks such as Harrods as you explore the hidden depths of the book. Set in its entirety on the streets of London Hunted is one such book – for me at least – and my frequent sojourns to London have certainly added a little extra to my enjoyment.

The narrative is incredibly fluid and once the initial foundation is set and leading characters introduced, the action begins in earnest and there’s really no let up in pace until the final throws of the adventure. Hunted is a frenetic book and one I found incredibly easy to get lost in. An imaginative and intelligent plot, the main protagonist is likeable and carries a certain amount of baggage – adequately explored with seven year old flashbacks – that has undoubtedly shaped him into the man he is. A former CIA operative, Danny Shanklin is now in the private sector and as we discover is tormented by the loss of his wife and son, trust we learn is in short supply and hard earned.

Given that the book centres on two main protagonists – three if you include the streets of London – the scope for character development is limited to Danny Shanklin and the doughnut loving the kid. Having said that, Emlyn as you would expect, does introduce the reader to numerous “bit” characters that have significant roles to play in one way or another, some bigger than others. London certainly comes alive as Shanklin runs from the police either on foot, scooter or the obligatory car chase!

Be aware however, this isn’t your toasted marshmallow story, there are some pretty graphic scenes of torture in Hunted and I squirmed once or twice at its sheer brutality but it left me in no doubt that the world of espionage is both dangerous and unforgiving; it’s not always about James Bond and glamorous women you know! The use of technology and gadgets added a modern and up to date twist to the entire story and I thoroughly enjoyed the use of the thousands upon thousands of surveillance cameras in the gripping chase.

If you’re looking for an adrenaline pumping adventure, believable characters and a few jaw dropping moments then look no further than Hunted by Emlyn Rees. Danny Shanklin is about to set the world on fire, the only question remains – can anyone stop him?

One of my choice books of 2011, Hunted is published by Constable & Robinson and is available in Hardcover & Kindle – Highly recommended.

A Boston firefighter is shot and killed in the line of duty while rescuing AminaDiallo and her fifteen-year-old son, Malick, from their burning store. Diallo, a Senegalese Muslim immigrant, is arrested for arson and murder, and will likely be convicted in record time. 

Attorneys Sarah Lynch and Buddy Clancy face more than racial and religious prejudice in this impossible courtroom battle.  Diallo is targeted by a gunman in open court, a key defense witness is attacked, and documents are stolen.  Someone is trying to stop Sarah and Clancy from winning the case.  They must find out who and why.  A dangerous pursuit of the truth becomes Amina’s only chance.

Under Fire by Margaret McLean

Every once in a while a book comes along and does exactly what it says on the tin – it entertains from beginning to end – Under Fire by Margaret McLean is one such title. I sat down, armed with a more than adequate glass of Groote Kaap Viognier 2010 from South Africa – or was that two glasses I lost count in the end! – a reclining arm chair and the book – you can’t ask for more than that on a bank holiday weekend especially with the inclement weather forcing me indoors!

So what do we get from Under Fire? An intelligent, multi layered legal thriller, a taut narrative, racism and an eccentricity I really wasn’t expecting! The majority of the book is set inside a Boston courtroom and not only do we hear from the defence and prosecution attorneys but we gain a rather unexpected and intriguing perspective from a handful of jurors and how they react to witnesses and events throughout the trial process; more on that later.

Characterisation is very well done and although McLean doesn’t go overboard with her main protagonists there was more than enough depth in their back-story to allow for development and movement. For me likeability is a key part of characterisation and whether, as a reader, you can associate with one character or the other. I never know how I’m going to react when I open a book – do I side with good or evil – and I guess that’s the beauty of reading, everyone has an opinion and everyone takes something different from a book.

Without a shadow of a doubt in Under Fire the two main protagonists are Buddy Clancy – a wily old fox of an attorney – and Sarah Lynch – his niece – a former prosecutor and Olympic hockey star. Uncle Buddy is an amazing character, humorous and eccentric beyond belief but he always appears to have something up his sleeve and a back up plan to counter any unexpected attack. But the most intriguing thing about Buddy is unquestionably his dress sense and together with his dog Rehnquist he wears a different bow tie every day, each with a hidden message to the jury, court official or witness. Sarah on the other hand is the Yin to Buddy’s Yang! A bullish hockey player who has a lot to learn and although an experienced prosecutor, a defence attorney is new territory for her but her Uncle shepherds her throughout and slowly but surely she finds her feet in an altogether new world.

Humour is never far away and when Buddy turns up late for the first day of the trial I just knew I was going to enjoy getting to know him. The judge admonishes the defence attorney for arriving late – on purpose of course – it opens up a humorous exchange between the two:-

 “This is inexcusable. You were late for the last trial when your bus got hit by a duck boat. Remember?”

“But that was the duck boat’s fault”

“I don’t care who’s fault it was, Clancy. It seems we have a pattern here”

“Pattern? I’ve never been hit by a duck boat before. And that was the last time….”

Buddy Clancy doesn’t have all the eccentricities his own way however. Halfway through prosecution arguments Nick Marinelli  calls Professor Marvin Moore – who apart from height could pass as Albert Einstein’s double – a self-proclaimed magician, forensic chemist and a loose cannon! During his testimony we find ourselves eavesdropping on the following exchange:-

After placing a DeFlex strip in each can, what did you do?

I joined my wife in bed for a different kind of magic

Laughter erupted from the jury box, the gallery and the defence table. Nick felt like strangling the guy. There was no room for humour in this trial.

Judge Killam wrapped his gavel. This is a courtroom Professor.

If I had to criticize any part of Under Fire  it would be with its conclusion. Although McLean wraps up the book very well – with a twist – and makes you yearn for the sequel, I felt the final pages were rushed and she could have taken a little more time in rounding everything up.

More often than not in legal thrillers our view is usually limited to that of the attorneys or police detectives investigating the case but Margaret McLean shakes this up a little with Under Fire. The author allows the reader the opportunity to follow the case through the eyes of a handful of jurors and how they would react to the way a witness looked, how the attorneys were dressed or simply what time of day it was. As the trial progressed personalities would surface, prejudices would be formed and concentration would waiver at the drop of a hat. I won’t delve too deeply into how the jurors react to the evidence – or each other – but suffice to say issues are raised and there is an underlying message to the novel.

Igniting an interest in all things flammable, Under Fire is a  fascinating examination of the American judicial system and how we perceive immigrants and Muslims; rightly or wrongly. Highly recommended I couldn’t put the book down and with a heady anticipation look forward to the next time Buddy, Sarah and Rehnquist team up to write the wrongs and ensure justice is served.

Published by Forge in the US Under Fire is available in Hardcover

Randall Haight has a secret: when he was a teenager, he and his friend killed a 14-year-old girl.

Because Randall Haight is telling lies . . .

The Burning Soul by John Connolly

I’ve always maintained that cover art is incredibly important, perhaps not so much for established authors like John Connolly, but an attractive cover certainly invites new readers to explore the unread delights hidden within and a poor one will have you putting the book back on the shelf, moving swiftly on to the next title that catches your eye. John Connolly’s The Burning Soul book jacket is both impressive and alluring and includes an image of a young girl, ravens and a blazing fire adorning front and centre. However, despite a good first impression, I have to say I was slightly confused having never read any of the Charlie Parker series – this being the 10^th outing – I wasn’t sure if this was a supernatural thriller, plain crime/detective book or mixture of both!.

The Burning Soul is a thoroughly entertaining and intelligent novel and although I was expecting a polished title when I began reading, it did take me by surprise – always a bonus when that happens. With a multi layered plot and intelligent unhindered narrative I was blown away by the astonishing amount of depth the book had. The majority of the book is set in Pastor’s Bay in Maine and although I’m still not sure if it exists in real life (yes I did search google!) I found the town history fascinating. Whether talking about being founded in 1787, the illegality of hunting on Sundays in Maine, Amber alerts or the fact that police officers consider the first three hours of a child abduction crucial – if not found within the three hours the child is presumed dead – everything is covered in great detail and yet somehow maintains a fluidity throughout.

Given this is the 10^th novel in the Charlie Parker series I was slightly concerned that I would struggle jumping head first into a well-established series. With so much water under the bridge – Charlie’s relationships, career, trouble with the law, Angel and Louis’s partnership – I wasn’t quite sure if my lack of understanding and knowledge would hold me back. Although past events are briefly mentioned in The Burning Soul (won’t mention them here for fear of spoilers) I didn’t find my lack of reading held me back too much but as with any long standing series, more background history would have increased my already satisfied fulfilment.

I’ve already touched on the fluidity of the narrative but one of the delights for me was the occasional humour I came across either from Charlie Parker or special agent Engel. It certainly made me laugh in places including a rather humorous exchange between Aimee and Charlie Parker where the private investigator is interested in her marriage prospects:

I’m just thinking about the free legal aid.

Thanks. If you keep getting picked up for asking awkward questions, you’ll need to drive around with permanent counsel in the passenger seat of that man toy you drive.

It’s just a car.

A Camry is just a car. That’s a midlife crisis on wheels.  

Counteracting this humour were some dark and disturbing moments but without question the most atmospheric and psychological scene of the entire book for me was when Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd woke Parker up in the middle of the night – I kid you not! Cautiously making his way downstairs – certain he’d turned the television off before going to bed – Parker begins to wonder who else is in the house save for the Looney Tunes cartoon characters. Careful not to make any unnecessary noise he begins to search …..

Development of the plot is crucial in any book and Connolly certainly delivers in droves with this title. Comparing the book to a car – not a Camry by the way – It begins slowly in first gear, careful not to overheat the engine, mindful of the coolant temperature, but with each passing chapter it steadily picks up pace moving rhythmically through the gears until Connolly brings everything together for a climactic dénouement in the sixth and final gear. The final 80 pages went by in a blur with so much happening I didn’t know which way to turn and more to the point neither did Parker! I was impressed by how the author brought everything together complete with the obligatory unexpected twists and turns to keep things interesting until the final throws.

Published by Hodder The Burning Soul is not to be missed, highly recommended – available to buy in hardback & kindle.

May 1, 1969. Blackmailed into serving Moscow, double agent Paul Dark now finds himself a target for both exposure, and assassination. Desperate to escape his predicament, Dark gambles everything on one last throw of the dice, exposing his Soviet handler to the British. But before long, he finds he has no choice but to go on the run again, and the race is on to stop a deadly conspiracy that dates back to the early years of the Cold War. The second part of the Paul Dark trilogy, Song of Treason is another sweat-soaked Sixties-set spy thriller in the tradition of Len Deighton and Frederick Forsyth.

One of the great things about reviewing books – I’ve discovered over the past year - is that it invariably allows me to read or discover authors I have never read or genres I’d never considered reading. Song of Treason by Jeremy Duns falls into the former category and it was purely by mistake that I’d noticed it on my ever growing pile of books to be read! When the book arrived from Simon & Schuster a while back, I remember making a mental note that the cover and new title had impressed me. Originally released in hardback in the UK last year under the title Free Country the publishers decided to change the title and artwork as Jeremy explains on his blog:

This is an unusual occurrence in the world of publishing, but it occasionally happens. The reason for it in this case is pretty simple: my publisher felt there was a danger that Free Country might not signal to those who hadn’t read the first book in the series, Free Agent, that it was a spy thriller. I agreed, and tried to come up with a new title that would stand out in bookstores and on websites, and let everyone know what sort of novel they’d be in for. I hope this title does that, and I think the new cover they’ve done for it is fantastically atmospheric, and evokes both the tone of the novel and its Italian setting, which includes this very colonnade in Rome’s Piazza San Pietro. My hat is off, once again, to Rafaela Romaya and the rest of the superb S&S art department. Anyway, I love it. 

Song of Treason

Twitter is another tool I’ve found invaluable of late with publishers, publicists, reviewers and authors all using it to great effect. Following Jeremy Duns as I do I happened upon one of his random tweets a few days ago and it reminded me subconsciously that I had Song of Treason to read – a timely reminder with the mass paperback version released on the 18th August!

The first thing that struck me with Song of Treason was the pace – the opening sequence is frenetic to say the least – and the second was the atmospheric tension Jeremy Duns had created within the first few paragraphs. I’d go as far to say that the opening is one of the best I’ve read this year. The tension remained for the majority of the book but the opening salvos had me well and truly hooked and despite being set in the late 1960′s it reminded me of Richard Hannay’s exploits in The 39 Steps! There is of course no correlation between Hitchcock’s masterpiece and Song of Treason, except for the spy references, but the intimation is there whether intended or not – a stroke of genius or accident, it certainly worked for me and made the novel that more enjoyable.

The narrative is fluid and well crafted and together with a complex multi-layered plot, Song of Treason is predominately narrated by a fleeing Paul Dark – double agent! It’s hard to put my finger on it but I found Dark’s narration incredibly entertaining and imaginative. Whether chasing an assassin, relaxing with a cocktail or two in Turkey, hiding from vultures or running as if his life depended on it, the narration had an enticing evocativeness about it yet at the same time a simplistic quality that I found both endearing and astute. As the book matured I found a growing fondness for Paul Dark’s character – Duns doing a sterling job with his back story - and despite the fact the British agent is caught in a treasonable position I found myself shouting for the underdog!

Characterisation, a major part of any book, is well developed and although rightly concentrating on Paul Dark as his protagonist, Duns has created a number of interesting and believable characters in the book, each playing a part in keeping the thriller ticking along nicely. Although the second in a Paul Dark trilogy I felt the book worked well as a standalone – save for the obvious references to Free Agent – I would dearly have enjoyed reading more about Sir Charles Templeton as I found him an intriguing, albeit brief, character in this volume.

Along with a sensational beginning comes a well thought out and tantalising ending, the final 100 pages prove to be a veritable and intoxicating blur. I thoroughly enjoyed how Duns tied everything together, explaining his methodology through various memos and discussions. As frenetic as the opening sequence, you never quite know how the communist cookie will fall – or is that crumble? – until the final pages – just how it should be! More tea vicar?

Published by Simon & Schuster Song of Treason is available in paperback

Professional ‘cleaner’ Jonathan Quinn has a new client and a odd job: find and remove the remains of a body hidden twenty years ago inside the walls of a London building, before the building is demolished.

The Silenced by Brett Battles

But Quinn and his team are being watched. Suddenly caught in the crossfire between two dangerous rivals, Quinn must unravel the identity of the body and why it still poses so great a threat even in death. Because a plot stretching from the former Soviet Union to Hong Kong, from Paris to London, from Los Angeles to Maine is rapidly falling apart. And Quinn hasn’t just been hired to tie up loose ends – he is one.

I have to admit I was literally blown over by this book. Picking it up late on Saturday night I decided to read a couple of chapters just to get a feel for the novel and see if it was something I could get my teeth into. Two hours later, bleary eyed, I switched off the lights and went to bed looking forward to taking up where I left off the following day.

Incredibly easy to read, The Silenced by Brett Battles is your typical action thriller – a strong plot, spies, subterfuge, double crossing, dead bodies and of course – action! Set at an incredible pace I found it difficult to put down and by early evening on Sunday I’d finished the book in just two sittings – the final 100 pages blew me away and its unpredictability kept me glued until I’d turned the final page.

The Silenced doesn’t stand still for long and as Jonathan Quinn and his small but loyal crew travel the globe – from one job to another – we are treated to the sights and sounds of Paris, London, Hong Kong and Russia. But it all begins with a simple cleanup job in Los Angeles – but is anything ever that simple?

Characterisation is very well done and more to the point believable. It is so easy to glamorize the espionage world – make it read more like a James Bond novel – but Battles keeps his feet well and truly grounded. If memory serves me I didn’t think there was one character I found annoying or over the top and not one was surplus to requirements – that in itself is a major accomplishment!

Published by Preface The Silenced is available in Hardback and Kindle

Given his active role in the intelligence gathering community it will come as no surprise that Quinn is portrayed as a complex and highly secretive man who values his privacy more than anything else – apart from the safety of his mother and sister that is – and does his damndest to ensure that remains the case. As the story unfolds we discover he has a past he’s keen to keep hidden, partly to stop nefarious characters gaining a hold over him and partly because he wants his privacy.

The Silenced is the fourth novel in the Jonathan Quinn series and follows The Cleaner, The Deceived and The Unwanted  but at no time did I feel it necessary to have read any or all of his previous novels. The Silenced works well as a standalone novel but with the added back story sure to be found in his previous work it would have allowed a greater understanding of his main protagonists and the various relationships found in his current novel. I’ll definitely have to make time to visit his earlier novels.

Talking of characters I only had one small niggle with this book and that was with a London cabbie! Maybe I’ve led a sheltered life or I’ve been unlucky not to have come across one before but since when does a London cabbie say “Ma’am”?!! Not once but twice! Maybe he’s an American living in London! I really am seriously nit picking with this observation and happy to be proved wrong but I’ve never experienced it before! New York or Boston – sure – Soho, London no!

As the plot moves between London and Paris, Battles does a remarkable job of evoking wonderful memories (for me at least) of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur and the Notre Dame Cathedral (two of my favourite places in the world). Together with a couple of great café scenes and trips on the Paris Métro it brought memories flooding back and for one brief moment I truly felt as if I was walking the streets myself.

The narrative is confident and well delivered, flowing effortlessly from beginning to end but the use of flashbacks and a multi layered storyline certainly sealed the deal as far as I am concerned. A very assured performance from Battles, not surprising given this is the latest in a long standing series, The Silenced is an intriguing and thoroughly entertaining action thriller – oh and did I mention the dead bodies?!!!

Published by Preface The Silenced is available in Hardback and Kindle

Fallen by Karin Slaughter

On an ordinary spring day, Special Agent Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation returns home to a nightmare. Expecting to find her mother minding Faith’s new baby daughter Emma, she is horrified to discover Emma locked in the shed, her mother’s safe open, her gun missing and a trail of blood to the front door.

Without waiting for back-up, Faith enters the house to a scene of carnage. It has been torn apart and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. She stumbles across two more intruders, and within minutes they too are shot dead. And when the Atlanta police force turns up, Faith has some difficult questions to answer. But she has some desperate questions of her own. What were the killers searching for? Ex-Atlanta police chief Evelyn Mitchell was once under investigation by Faith’s partner Will Trent. Is her mother directly involved this time, and where is she now?

With Faith suspended from duty, Will, together with the help of Dr Sara Linton, must piece together the fragments of a brutal and complicated case – and catch a deeply troubled and vicious murderer with only one thing on his mind. To keep on killing until the truth is finally revealed…

Georgia, for me, is synonymous with iced tea, the great Southern drawl, the Augusta Masters, Southern Belle’s and of course Peaches – it’s hard to imagine anything untoward happens in the great state – but it does and Karin Slaughter does her very best to tarnish Georgia’s idyllic reputation!

Fallen is the third title in the “Faith Mitchell Georgia Series” and follows Undone (Genesis in the UK) and Broken; it also serves as my introduction to author Karin Slaughter – and what an introduction it is!

Faith is frantic; she can’t quite understand why her mother isn’t answering her phone or emails. Running late and feeling tired and hungry, Faith allows her mind to wander and begins to worry for her daughter’s safety. It’s not like her mother not to pick up her phone and when she eventually arrives at the house it’s fairly obvious that something is amiss!

The opening is incredibly atmospheric and certainly sets the tone and pace for the entire book. Slaughter does a magnificent job of allowing the reader to get into Faith’s head in those precious opening minutes as she hurries back, phone in one hand, driving wheel in the other. The lack of food is starting to take its toll on the diabetic agent who has to resort to a furry stick of gum to continue on her way.

As a lifelong resident of Sherwood Forest, Faith had a deep-seated hatred for the men who had planned the neighbourhood. The subdivision had been developed after World War II, the brick ranch houses filled by returning soldiers who took advantage of low VA loans. The street planners had unabashedly embraced the Sherwood concept. After taking a hard left onto Lionel, Faith crossed Friar Tuck, took a right on Robin Hood Road, coasted through the fork at Lady Marian Lane, and checked the driveway of her own house on the corner of Doncaster and Barnesdale before finally pulling into her mother’s driveway off Little John Trail.

Characterisation is strong and well thought out. The three protagonists (Faith, Sara and Will), four if you count Amanda, receive equal billing and the complex storyline certainly brings out the best in these characters. I did find myself associating with Will more than anyone else and felt his sensitivity and insecurity added a lot of colour and depth I wasn’t expecting. Carrying more than enough excess baggage to concern any airline check in desk Will is a multi dimensional character – uncertain of his past and most certainly his future.

To counter this insecurity Slaughter plays a game of Ying and Yang with her characters by allowing Amanda, Will’s boss, to play a dominant roll in their partnership and although it could occasionally be perceived as a form of bullying there’s no denying Amanda’s paternal instinct and fondness for Will as a fellow agent and friend.

The narrative is well thought out, flows unhindered and affords a complex multi arced storyline that entertains from beginning to end. Although graphic in parts – this is a Slaughter book after all – there was one scene that truly made me wince and I was forced to put the book down, remember to breathe and take stock of what I’d just read. All I will say it cutting bread will never be the same again! Don’t you just love moments like that?! I certainly do!

Although my first Karin Slaughter novel, I can say with a degree of certainty it won’t be my last. Fallen is an incredibly well structured and a taut thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end – highly recommended.

If you’d like to learn more about Karin and what makes her tick then why not check out a chat we shared earlier – A chat with Karin Slaughter.

Fallen, published by Century in the UK is available to buy in Hardback and Kindle

Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder

When private investigator Nick Heller returns home to Boston to set up his own agency, he soon gets an urgent case closer to home than expected.

Alexandra Marcus – teenage daughter of hedge fund titan and Heller family friend Marshall Marcus – has been kidnapped. But it’s no ordinary kidnapping – she has been abducted by professionals, buried alive in an underground casket, a video camera streaming her desperate pleas live over the internet. With a limited supply of food and water, time is quickly running out.

Nick is determined to catch the perpetrators but when Marcus is arrested by the FBI for fraud, accused of operating a Ponzi scheme, Nick realises that he has some powerful enemies who may have the motivation to go after his daughter and a conspiracy that reaches up to the very highest levels of government. Nick must play a dangerous game if he hopes to flush out those responsible before Alexa is buried for good…

Given the inclement and unpredictably poor weather we are facing in the UK at the moment – hopes of a scorching summer fading far too quickly despite promises of an eagerly awaited heat wave – I certainly welcome a book that raises the temperature a few degrees above norm for this time of year – Joseph Finder’s Buried Secrets.

Having not read the first book in the Nick Heller series (Vanished) it took me a little while to find my way in this book but once I hit that “light bulb” moment there really was no turning back. Incredibly easy to read, the narrative is fluid and well-paced and told in the first person for the majority of the book, courtesy of Heller’s character. The best way I could describe the book would be to compare to it to a car’s gearbox – stick with me – the book begins to move slowly in first and second gear but once up to speed the gear changes become more frequent and natural, effortlessly purring along like a finely tuned formula one car.

Available in Hard Back (Amazon) & (Book Depository) and Kindle (Best Option)

The one thing that impressed me more than anything was the way Finder dealt with the ending. Far too often an author spends too much time laying the foundation to the end result when all of a sudden the book comes to an abrupt and unsatisfying conclusion. In Buried Secrets, I never felt rushed and the final scenes played out as I had hoped with a satisfying and measured finality.

Characterisation is strong and I really enjoyed Nick Heller’s role as the protagonist and couldn’t help compare him to a few leading men doing the rounds at the moment – namely Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Matt Hilton’s Joe Hunter and of course John Gilstrap’s character – in “No Mercy” – Jonathan Grave – the closest comparison of all three. I’m not sure why but when I come across an action figure who appears to be taking on the world single-handedly I, despite the obvious boys own enjoyment they bring, can’t imagine how this would play out in the real world. With Grave and Heller, the protagonists have a small team furiously working behind the scenes in an office aiding the heroes’ attempts to save the day. One thing I really did enjoy was Heller’s fallibility. He’s no one man’s private army, and he’s certainly no superhero – he makes mistakes along the way and with the help of his colleagues and a little quick thinking he does his best to right the wrongs he faces on a daily basis.

The storyline is well presented and affords numerous twists and turns along the way. Finder develops the story well bringing in a variety of characters along for the ride and you never quite know where he’s taking it. The end goal is without question to secure the release of Alexa and that mission is a priority throughout the book but first he has to find her and that’s by no means an easy task! Coming up against the FBI, a private security firm and less reputable characters he has his work cut out for him.

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was the underlying and subtle humour bringing a little hilarity to an often tense moment – without crossing a line – Finder’s personality comes across in droves along with his obvious musical knowledge! I mean who on earth calls a supporting character “Smoki Bacon”?!!

A gripping multi layered thriller, Buried Secrets is an intelligent and well-crafted story that will delight from beginning to end.

Available in Hard Back (Amazon) & (Book Depository) and Kindle (Best Option)

Iron House by John Hart

Two babies left to die in an icy creak. Two boys who must fight to survive. Two men, two very different lives. One unbreakable bond.

When a twelve-year-old boy murders his tormentor in their brutal orphanage, his older brother takes the blame and runs to New York – into the heart of organized crime. Two decades later, Michael returns to North Carolina with a sentence on his head, the mob in hot pursuit and his long-lost brother in trouble of a different kind. With vast sums in play, political fortunes at risk and bodies piling up, the brothers must reunite to solve the mystery of their shared past.

We are half way through the year and I have a monumental problem – not only is there a distinct lack of sunshine for our supposedly glorious British summer – I honestly have no clue how I’m going to finalise a Top 20 reads list for 2011. The quality on offer this year has been outstanding so far and with the addition of John Hart’s Iron House, the front runners are now getting anxious and even if I declared 2011 over right this minute, I’d still have a problem.

So where does one begin reviewing Iron House? I guess, following the advice from Super Nun Maria in The Sound of Music, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start” – not that there are any comparisons between the two – actually, come to think of it, both have great big mountains in the storyline so a tentative link has been formed! Et voilà! [Ok ok so I don’t see Michael singing Do-re-mi – he’s just not that type.]

The first couple of chapters in Iron House, like so many other titles out there, set the  tone for the entire book and until its dénouement there really is no let-up in its pace, intrigue, freneticism and of course death – cold, hard and calculated death. Within a matter of pages I’d lost track of the death count and an abacus was called for and although there are moments when, believe it or not, no-one is murdered the narrative continues regardless with a mesmerising storyline that teases throughout.

Published by John Murray Iron House is available in paperback and Kindle

Iron House is a complex page turner in every sense. You think you know what’s going to happen but believe me you really have no idea. I distinctly remember reaching the half-way point and thinking that I had everything sorted and couldn’t see any other way out but I couldn’t be further from the truth. The book keeps changing; Hart takes you one way and then flips everything on its head and changes direction – very clever.

John Hart is a magnificent storyteller and I couldn’t shake the comparison I felt with another of my favourite authors, Michael Koryta [So Cold the River, Cypress House]. Writing evocatively Hart draws the reader in with a wonderful narrative that is effortless to read and incredibly morish.

Characterisation is also impressive with Michael, as you would expect, taking a very powerful leading role. He begins as a cold hearted killer, and even though he never escapes that tag, it’s clear that Hart has great fun re-shaping Michael and developing him further as the story unfolds. As a protagonist Michael is a multi-layered character, not to be confused with schizophrenia, and his “journey” is one to be savoured. Interestingly, although there are a number of “bad guys” I didn’t quite feel any animosity towards them which is quite unusual for me! Don’t get me wrong, there are some nasty characters in this book but I never found myself thinking I’d like to take that gun and shove it….. you get the picture!

Iron House isn’t just about one man. Relationships play a key role in shaping how the book begins and ends – relationships are formed, nurtured and in some cases lost.

A book that deserves to be savoured and devoured, Iron House is one of those books that will, without doubt, leave you wanting more. A terrific and fitting ending completes what is a tale of one man’s struggle to ensure his brother’s safety. Corruption, relationships, greed, money and loyalty – this book has a little of everything. Highly Recommended.

Published by John Murray Iron House is available in paperback and Kindle

Fun and Games by Duane Swierczynski

I must confess until Mulholland Books sent me an advanced copy of Duane Swierczynski’s Fun & Games a few weeks ago I‘d never heard of the author. No stranger to the US, Swierczynski has written several thrillers, written for Marvel Comics and has also collaborated with CSI creator Anthony  E Zuiker – a great pedigree – but until now he hasn’t released anything in the UK.

On the strength of this, the first title in a Charlie Hardie trilogy – and second title to be published by Mulholland following Marcia Clark’s Guilt by Association – he’s about to take the UK (and US) by storm with an explosive and action packed thriller.

NUMBER OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS PER YEAR

By suffocation: 3,300

By poisoning: 8,600

STAGED BY PROFESSIONALS: You have no idea.

Languishing in self-imposed exile, Hardie has become a glorified house sitter. His latest gig comes replete with an illegally squatting B-movie actress who rants about hit men who specialize in making deaths look like accidents. Unfortunately, it’s the real deal. Hardie finds himself squared off against a small army of the most lethal men in the world: The Accident People.

It’s nothing personal-the girl just happens to be the next name on their list. For Hardie, though, it’s intensely personal. He’s not about to let more innocent people die. Not on his watch.

I found, much to my cost, that once I’d begun to read Fun & Games, I struggled to put it down. It’s such a fun book to read, enough complexity to satisfy the harshest genre critic and an unexpected humour that had me chuckling to myself on numerous occasions.

The house was famous in a minor way. In 1949 a film noir called Surrounded had been set here, as well as parts of a 1972 a neo-noir called The Glass Jungle. This was no accident. The director of Glass Jungle was a big fan of Surrounded, and had spent a lot of time on permissions for the location. Later still, in 2005, they remade Surrounded—this time calling it Dead By Dawn—but left out the house altogether. Hardie hadn’t seen any of them, but Lowenbruck told Virgil there were copies at the house—the sitter should check them out, just for fun. Hardie would check out the first one, but not the others. He had a rule these days. He didn’t watch any movies made after he was born.

The narrative is strong and is a mixture of impressive prose and intelligent dialogue – I couldn’t quite put my finger on it but throughout the read I had an underlying feeling I was reading an old fashioned film noir script from the 50’s or 60’s. There’s no dead air time with Fun & Games – everything included is there for a reason – no filling, just straight from one scene to the next without any thought to the reader, desperate to take a break but unable to! Damn you Swierczynski!

Fun & Games is available in the UK in paperback from Amazon & Book Depository

Despite the dialogue and regular narrative the characters themselves add a third line of narrative, courtesy of an overactive imagination – certainly in the case of the Mann, the no-nonsense group leader – and one such scene had me in stitches. Imagine the scenario – someone has taken a pot shot at Charlie Hardie, he’s on the floor trying to recover when he starts talking to God – who tells him in no uncertain terms to sit up …

Now Sit Up

You’ve got a gun in your hand, sit up and raise your hand.

This isn’t about your life. So sit the fu** up. I could make Lazarus rise from the dead, you think I can’t make you perform one measly sit-up?

Characterisation is excellent and although Hardie, the main protagonist, is an infectious character – despite his dubious and colourful past – the strength in this book, for me, lies in the depth of supporting roles played by Mann and Lane Madden, the B movie actress. Two very different characters they do have one common trait – they are both driven.

There are a few shocks in store and although I had a pretty good idea what would happen towards the end I didn’t quite get everything right! Although a very pacey read, the book appears to quicken up in the last third of the book and I guarantee you won’t want to put it down until its dénouement.

One thing impressed me was the intelligence and determination of “the Accident People” – they appear ruthless throughout with only one goal in mind – to finish the job and move on to the next clean up. It took Charlie a while to come to terms with their ingenuity and savvy and there’s a certain scene in the book when he appears to have an epiphany and realise the group trying to hurt him know really do know what they are doing – it would probably be unfair to say he woke up at that point but he does realise he’s in a great deal of trouble!

A clever and fluid storyline Fun & Games is an impressive introduction title for the Charlie Hardie series, I for one can’t wait for the second title to see where Swierczynski his protagonist. Infectious and highly recommended.

Published by Mulholland Books, Fun & Games is available in the UK in paperback from Amazon & Book Depository

Why Don't You Come for Me?

Sometimes Jo still wakes suddenly, thinking she can hear Lauren’s cry. Although twelve years have passed since her baby daughter was abducted, photos of the child continue to arrive by post with the words, I Still Have Her, scrawled across the back. The police think it’s the work of a hoaxer but Jo has always believed them to be genuine – and until there is some hard evidence to the contrary, she will always hold on to the belief that Lauren is still alive. But if the pictures really do come from the kidnapper it means that they have been keeping track of Jo’s movements all these years – and recently Jo has begun to feel as if she is being watched – and that whoever has her daughter is getting closer.

Is Jo’s husband right to dismiss her fears as paranoia, or might Jo herself be in danger? As her life begins to unravel Jo fears that the truth may lie in older events; in a half-forgotten childhood world, scarred by rumours of insanity and murder.

There’s no escaping the fact that “Why don’t you come for me” by Diane Janes is one dark psychological thriller. I mean, there’s very little colour or joy in this tale of one woman’s struggle to come to terms with the loss of her daughter and first husband. Although very different stories, it often reminded me of Julia Crouch’s “Cuckoo” which is certainly no bad thing.

You never quite know what’s around the corner with this book. Jo’s character starts off well and in control of things however, slowly but surely, she appears to lose the plot and becomes rather unhinged! I don’t suppose it helps when her second husband starts to have regrets over the relationship either!

I found myself siding with Jo throughout often becoming increasingly angry with those around her who certainly weren’t helping matters! Her step-son had the markings of being an evil young man and will no doubt in later life become a serial killer – either that or go to live in an Abbey! I think I’ll go with my first guess. The thing is I don’t think there’s a sane character in the book, they all seem to have underlying issues.

Despite the impending bleakness of the book it’s a very entertaining read and the ending will shock! Without giving anything away it wasn’t the ending I was expecting but entertaining nonetheless!

Very well written, the narrative flows well and before you need therapy yourself the book ends with a bang! Character development is excellent and I felt as if I was on a voyeuristic journey with the entire cast discovering all the dark secrets, past and present, in all its monochrome glory!

A wonderful taught and emotive psychological thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Published by Constable the book is available in all formats inc paperback and kindle from Amazon.

Die Twice by Andrew Grant

Cooler than Bond. Deadlier than Bourne.

Obliged to leave New York City in the aftermath of his previous mission, David Trevellyan is summoned to the British Consulate in Chicago. To the same office where, just a week before, his new handler was attacked and shot by a Royal Navy Intelligence operative gone bad. Assigned the task of finding the rogue agent, and putting an end to his treacherous scheme, Trevellyan soon finds that once again his only hope of saving countless innocence lives lies not within the system, but in his instinctive believe – you’re bound to do what’s right, whatever the personal cost may be.

Although the second Lt. Cmdr.David Trevellyan adventure, Die Twice serves as my introduction to the world of spies, double-cross and intrigue through the eyes of the British Naval Officer – and a very interesting world it is too!

A highly enjoyable read, Trevellyan is an interesting character. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly, carries emotional baggage from a previous relationship and although part of a continuing series, I never once felt short changed for not having read the first title Even.

I couldn’t help but compare Trevellyan to the fictional character – although I know a lot of people believe he’s really out there yours truly included – Jack Bauer, a Counter Terrorist Unit agent, played by Kiefer Sutherland in Fox’s 24. The main difference …. Trevellyan gets to change his clothes, take long hot showers and manages to eat – apart from that they could be long lost twins!

Leaving an enviable body count along the way there’s no shortage of action in this summer blockbuster and with an impressive plot line the book is an incredibly quick read. Having said that, and this is being hyper critical, I felt the storyline lacked a certain je ne sais quoi – but I can’t quite put my hand on it – I really am being incredibly picky. This certainly doesn’t detract from a highly enjoyable adventure, I wanted it to go down a different route two thirds in and it didn’t! I’m certainly not going to hold that against Andrew Grant!

Comparing a character to James Bond or the more recent Jason Bourne, you really have to ensure your character knows what he’s about for if you don’t he (or she) will always come up short. For me, Trevellyan falls smack in the middle of both spies. Grant doesn’t resort to the cheesy innuendos James Bond is famed for, neither is he as glamorous as Bond – he’s more realistic and grounded. He has his problems and the emotional baggage I mentioned earlier but this also serves to give him an earthy quality.

Adding a few twists and turns along the way, the narrative flows well throughout and leaves us in no doubt that Trevellyan will do anything he can to ensure a positive outcome – I can assure you walking into a deserted toilet will never be the same again – check the stalls!. Like all good spy stories, nothing can and should be taken for granted and you never quite know what’s going to happen round the corner.

As you would expect in any spy adventure the gadgets are there, the cars are high performance, modified and all serve a purpose. The highlight of the entire book for me was the setting in Chicago’s Sears tower, Grant’s descriptive powers working overtime ensuring a scene no one in their right mind would want to be part of –willingly!

It’s great to see another book set in Chicago’s windy city. If you’re looking for a new spy adventure to get your teeth into then look no further than Lt.Cmdr. David Trevellyan.

Published by Pan Macmillan Die Twice is available in paperback and Kindle.

Before I go to Sleep by SJ Watson

Today – Day 5 1800

A wave of emotion cannot be broken. It has an unshakable hold over me – I have finished SJ Watson’s “Before I Go to Sleep” and can’t quite comprehend what I’ve read – part of me will never be the same again – was any of it real or is my imagination out of control? My memory is slowly returning but I have no option but to cast my eyes over my journal….

BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP is the story of Christine, a forty-seven-year-old writer who, following a catastrophic accident in her mid-twenties, is incapable of forming and maintaining new memories for more than a day. Trapped in an existence in which she wakes every day believing herself to be single and with a whole lifetime of choice ahead of her she discovers instead that she lives with her husband, Ben, with most decisions already made.

The novel charts her attempts to make sense of her world. When Chrissie learns that she has been meeting with a doctor who is helping her to recover her memory – and that following his suggestion she has been keeping a journal in order to record her fragmentary recollections and piece together her past – she is hopeful that she may be cured. But the story that emerges is to set in motion a terrifying voyage of discovery that will ultimately have startling consequences for her and all who love her, leading her to question whether the truth is sometimes better left forgotten.

Day 1 0730 am

It’s early morning; a dull light appears through the window. I hear a small thud, then a clanking of something metallic. I am fully awake but I don’t know where I am. The bedroom is alien to me. Walking down the stairs I see a package by the front door – a name on it – I don’t recognise it but it must be for me – there’s no one else.

I hear a distant ringing in my head. It won’t stop. Walking to the kitchen the sounds gets louder – it’s a phone. I don’t recognise the number but I answer the call – Milo? – Milo? Who is this I think to myself – ‘Milo it’s Ben from Transworld Publishers’. The name sounds familiar but I can’t quite place the voice. ‘Don’t worry, all will become clear. Have you had the package?’ he says. I remember the dull sound on the wooden floor – the package. ‘Yes’ I reply, ‘but I haven’t opened it’. ‘Open it and all will become clear’ Ben says.

‘Write down your thoughts as you go on, for each morning you will remember nothing.’ ‘I will ring you again tomorrow to remind you where you leave your review’ – ‘in the study. I will leave it locked away in the study’ I say. ‘Very well, I will ring you tomorrow and remember don’t tell anyone’. He hangs up and I walk to the door. I rip open the sealed package and before me is a book – Before I go to sleep by SJ Watson. Who is SJ Watson? What is this all about? I have no option but to start from the beginning. Maybe then all will become clear.

Before I go to Sleep is available from Amazon & The Book Depository

Day 2 0300

Despite going to bed early I’ve had a restless night. I can’t get the book out of my head. The narrative is so powerful it has a magical hold over me. Within minutes I realise that this is no ordinary book – Watson’s first book I read – surely that isn’t possible. How can someone write something so powerful and mesmerising at his first attempt?  I’ve seen it somewhere before but I can’t quite put my finger on it – I hope it comes back to me. Page after page rush by like a runaway train. I have no hold on its fluidity – truly remarkable. I know when I awake in the morning I will remember very little, if anything at all – this is why I write these words as dawn approaches relentlessly.

Day 3 1030 am

Ben has called and reminded me where I left my review. I read my thoughts from Day 2 and continue on my journey. I can only hope that a night’s sleep will not dampen my enthusiasm for this magnificent thriller. I make myself a cup of Yorkshire Tea and settle down to gorge on the prose.

Christine is a lost soul; like me she struggles to remember – but I remain hopeful. The characterisation is inspired and although it’s clear Christine plays the pivotal role she does have help along the way. Her husband Ben resolutely stands by her side as she tries to piece together her forgotten life and although Ben is unaware of his presence, Dr Nash is there to offer professional help too.  I’m tired now and the soothing sounds of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings (op 11) and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme tempt me towards slumber – I must finish this review.

Day 4 1124 am

I hear a ringing, my phone – I don’t recognise the number – who is it? – I discover Ben is away and Alison B is calling to remind me where to find my review – not long to go now – I find it in the study.

I’ve caught up with the previous days; I’m on the final stretch now. I have no idea where the book is leading me to but it’s held my attention throughout. I want it to end so I can discover my past but in many ways I want it to continue. The narrative is overwhelming. I have decided – I don’t want it to end.

Today – Day 5 1900

I’ve finished the book. I remember now.

A truly remarkable book that had me guessing right up to the end. Considering this has been written by a debutant it truly is remarkable. Before I began reading “Before I go to Sleep” I was slightly worried that it would mirror the ground-breaking film Groundhog Day and with that in mind I wondered how SJ Watson could keep the idea fresh from day to day in his book. I shouldn’t have worried. There’s something so powerful and natural about this book that makes me want to read it again and again. His Staccato styled narrative is beautifully written and hooks you in from the very first page and never lets go until its conclusion.

A spellbinding offering from a rising star – SJ Watson is clearly here to stay. Get it now – before you forget!

Published by Doubleday (Transworld) Before I go to Sleep is available from Amazon & The Book Depository