Today I’m reviewing Tense Commandment by Frank Westworth. The Stoner Series Book 10.
Here’s the blurb.
Unconventional assassin JJ Stoner knows better than to accept a personal job from his violently volatile boss. But if your paymaster stalks the hallowed halls of Westminster, and if your girlfriend sells her body to a sordid clientele, and if you kill people for a living, well… sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Very dirty.
A witty mix of hardboiled humour and sinister manipulation. Recommended for readers who enjoy Walter Mosley, Derek Raymond and Don Winslow.
Tense Commandment is a self-contained short story which features characters from the Killing Sisters crime-thriller novels and the Stoner stories. It follows Nine Lies and introduces key characters from A Last Act Of Charity (and takes place quite a while before Charles III ascended, in case you were wondering). With an agile imagination, Tense Commandment can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story without reading the other books. Live dangerously!
Review
JJ Stoner has a special place in my heart I must admit. Tense Commandment is the tenth short story focusing on the events surrounding the witty assassin.
You can quite easily read the series as standalones but I very much believe the dark humour comes through so much clearer if you read them all.. It’s been a while since we’ve seen stoner but from the first page the smile was back on my face.. oh how I’ve missed him.
In this instalment we see the needs of Stoners employer and his more personal life clash a little. The Hardman has a target…but there’s an issue…Stoner isn’t the first to get there..
In typical Stoner style the fun, thought-provoking plot hits quick as we, along with Stoner try and figure out who is behind events and what does this mean for Stoner.. is someone setting him up? Are they after his girlfriend… or is it his employer whose being targeted? And how does he get out of this one with his arse intact?
It was great to see the character Stretch back in the action also… they are very much unconventional friends but boy they like to have some fun!
For fans of the series, it really is the best yet and just adds more depth to Stoner.
I’m not going to spoil the twists and turns but the ending did not disappoint at all.. and we are lucky enough to be given an extra short tale from the author. The short is called “AI”. I’m really not going to say much other than WOW. Westworth has only ever been known to me for one reason.. JJ Stoner.. AI just shows what skills the author really has at being able to take on another subject matter.. Westworth is the King of the short story!
Today I’m going to be reviewing Hunted (Michael Walker Thrillers Book 1) by the awesome Simon Maltman.
Here’s the blurb
1999.
Michael Walker – former IRA soldier, turned MI5 informer – is living in hiding in rural America. A robbery at Walker’s home leads to his rare copy of the Irish Declaration of Independence being sold online. This proves to be the first link in the chain leading to his location being revealed.
Walker’s life is plunged into peril, as an IRA hit squad – led by Marty Sullivan – is dispatched to eliminate him. Sullivan, a former comrade, is out for blood.
Against the political backdrop of a struggling peace process back home, Walker goes on the run across the state of Pennsylvania and forges unlikely allegiances to survive.
Walker seeks help from his former British handlers, but he should have known that any assistance must come at a price.
Walker will not just remain a victim. He must fight back.
The hunted must become the hunter.
Review
I came across Simon quite randomly last year on Instagram and gave his newest release at the time Killer Casting a read. After being impressed I had to get a copy when Hunted was announced!
Michael Walker is a former IRA man.. he left that life behind after struggling with the aftermath of his actions.. the death and destruction brought to innocents during a very turbulent time for many.
He’s been off the radar for sometime but when a relic from his past is stolen it’s only a matter of time that until someone notices it, it’s link to him and comes looking!
Walker does what he does best and tracks down those who stole his property.. but things just get more complicated and he finds himself become close to Brandon, a young man caught up in everything..
Just when you think thinks might work out we find out it’s too late.. things are about to get so much worse.
When it’s clear shit is hitting the fan it’s time for Walker to contact his old handlers.. the issue is they don’t seems to really care.. or do they have other plans for him?
Soon an FBI agent is sent to aid Walker, Amy. She’s smart and a decent shot when needed but they quickly find themselves in deep trouble.. it’s like Walker is a magnet..
The bodies keep piling up and the only way out is to cut off the head of the snake… there’s a bit of a twist thrown in when Walker figures out just how he’s been played but he’s no choice.. it has to end now.
I really enjoyed the plot, and loved Walker..he’s tough that’s bloody clear from the outset but he also has a conscious.. he doesn’t claim to be anything other that what he is..what you see is what you get. He won’t apologise.. he did what he did.. but that doesn’t mean he will stand by while more innocents die.
The flow of the book was flawless! It’s paced so well it’s super easy to enjoy and demolish but that wasn’t the only thing that hooks you in..typically since I read a lot.. you can sometimes tell when an author has shoved in some detail to bulk a section of the story out..or bits that just doesn’t feel right or flow.. that’s not something Simon has issues with.. the development is seamless… the characters and their connections, everything just works and it had me hooked, like sitting in a movie theatre for 3 hours..
I tend to read while I commute to work.. I can’t tell you how much I just wanted to stay on the bus and head back the other way just to keep reading ha.
I do hope there’s more to come as I just feel it can only strengthen the character and it will be epic!
Today I’m glad to be taking part in the blog tour for the newly released, The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler!
Here’s the blurb.
One spring morning, a bus full of children and their teachers from a Cotswolds primary school head off on a much-anticipated day trip.
But as night falls and the well-heeled parents – one or two of them famous, as well as wealthy – wait at the school to collect their weary offspring, it soon becomes clear that something has gone very wrong.
The children and their teachers simply do not come back.
What’s happened doesn’t seem possible.
How can an entire class of children simply vanish?
Review
What a riveting thriller. How could so many children and adults just disappear.. did they have an accident.. or is something more sinister afoot.
These kind of chilling events aren’t common but would be any parents worse nightmare.
What I particularly liked is that the story plays on your emotions. the unknown. We’ve all sat there a some point and have over-thought a situation and the worst possible outcome and this book plays nicely into this fear.
There’s quote a few twists and misdirection to keep you on your toes but as time goes by things start to heat up as revelations are revealed, all this is setup quickly but plays on throughout, smouldering all the way until the truth is revealed right at the end.
With a plot like this I feel it’s hard to really develop the characters as motivations can be hidden but the author did a great job of setting the scenes and injecting detail just when you needed it.
Overall The Vanishing of Class 3B is packed full of suspense and misdirection, leading to an enthralling read.
My thanks go to Jackie Kabler, One More Chapter and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I only accept ARCs to aid timely reviews but I’ve already grabbed myself a kindle copy.. at only 99p it was a steal!
Have I tempted you? If so why not enter the giveaway to win a signed copy? Enter below 🙂
Author Bio – Jackie Kabler is an Amazon number one and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers, including The Perfect Couple, Am I Guilty?, The Happy Family and The Murder List. Her novels have sold nearly a million copies around the world and have been translated into eight languages. Previously she worked as a newspaper reporter and then in television news for twenty years, including nearly a decade on GMTV. She later appeared on BBC and ITV news, presented a property show for Sky, hosted sports shows on Setanta Sports News and worked as a media trainer for the Armed Forces. She now combines writing with working as a presenter on shopping channel QVC. Jackie lives in Gloucestershire with her husband.
Today I’m reviewing Killer Casting by Simon Maltman.
I stumbled upon Simon on Instagram actually and like I always say, there’s so much choice out there it’s hard to think of which book to read next so why did I pick Simon you may ask…
If you follow my blog you’ll know that my reviews are actually the books I’m buying with my hard earned money and when I noticed Simon post about a reviewer wanting to be paid to review his work I thought I’d balance that out and show him what a good reviewer is ha. No hate on anyone I just love my own style of support.. it’s not a cheap hobby but it’s mine ha
Here’s the blurb
‘A Docu-drama about a murder. And the killer’s in the cast.’
Jessica, an up-and-coming young director is helming her first full documentary.
It focuses on the story of a young girl, murdered fifteen years before in New York.
The girl’s father was convicted and has been in prison ever since.
But he’s innocent.
Joe killed her.
Joe’s killed a lot of people.
When Joe sees the call for amateur actors to join the cast, he has an idea.
Joe gets lots of ideas. That’s how he’s survived this long.
But this time, has he gone too far?
Review
Jessica has the chance of a lifetime.. she’s directing a documentary around the murder of a young girl.. the father convicted for her murder. Little does she or the small crew know he’s innocent and they are about to come face to face with the real killer.
Joe.. ah Joe..he’s a killer who is slowly escalating.. he used to be able to control the urge but now the thrill wears off too fast and the need to kill comes more and more quickly..
Luckily for Joe his fix comes in the form of auditioning for a role in Jessica’s documentary.. the very murder he actually committed.. to Joe there can be nothing sweeter! Especially when he’s able to come face to face with the man he put in jail.
Joe continues to kill throughout but balancing all these versions of himself slowly starts to take it’s toll..and Jessica can sense something is off.. but she has no real idea what..
That is until everything unravels..If you think I’m going to spoil the ending think again ha. Let’s just say the suspense and the twists had me hooked, I loved the characters, even Joe.
Plot wise I loved it, Riveting! The pace quickly builds, short sharp chapters and those last few are dynamite. Joe thought this would be a fun idea.. how wrong he was.. but he’s got away with everything until now.. so can he find a way out of this one too?
For my first foray into the authors work I was really pleased to say the least, pace is spot on, chapter length perfect. Joe’s development is absolutely on point.. after all this is his tale, you even feel his thrill during the kills.. his excitement.. Jessica too steals the show as her development copies Joe’s as you learn more about them both, their lives, feelings, everything you need to make that person feel real.
Well worth grabbing a copy if you enjoy the genre! Very much enjoyed this one, easy flowing and engaging 5/5 stars!
Today is my turn on the blog tour for The App by Stuart James!
Here’s the blurb.
The App…
Once you’re in, they’ll never let you leave.
Whatever happens, don’t download The App.
* It will come in the form of a link. Maybe in your DM’s on a social media account, the junk folder of your emails or a WhatsApp message from a friend.
* You’ll be enticed by the chance of winning one hundred thousand pounds on offer every Friday, wired straight into the winner’s bank account.
* It’s not a joke.
* This part is genuine.
* Someone can and will win the money.
* But at what cost?
Marty Benson gets the link sent to him by a friend. So what is the harm in looking? He clicks it, downloads the app and enters a few basic details. A message prompts him to wait while he’s loaded onto the system. An hour later, another message.
• Do not delete the app.
• Do not tell anyone outside of your family about the app.
• Send the link to one person who is close to you.
* Do not throw your phone away.
* Always narrate while streaming.
• If you break any of the rules, we’ll kill a member of your family. Then we’ll kill you.
Marty is sent a picture of his wife, who is shopping with her mother in Oxford Street.
As Marty struggles to breathe, he clicks the links and watches the most recent streams, realising what happens within the app.
Every Friday morning, a person is randomly picked from social media.
They now have a bounty on their head—a death warrant. But they don’t know it.
Their profile appears on the app’s main page; all their details are displayed.
Every app member must play the game at least once a month or face the consequences.
Kill the person randomly selected from social media.
Win one hundred thousand pounds.
As Marty watches the terror unfold and everyone streaming the hunt within the app, he realises he has to do something.
But how do you stop a murder, when everyone could be the killer?
Review
The vast majority of us will own a phone, a vast majority of us would happily download an app based on a friends recommendation.. but what if that link they have sent is dangerous? Many of us will have downloaded a virus at some point but in comparison.. This App… it’s life or death!
Marty downloads the app, it’s been sent to him by his best friend Davey..but the sinister side of the app shows quickly when a picture of his family is sent to his phone with list of instructions. He can’t delete the app.. they will know.. he can’t ignore the app either as he soon learns what happens to those who don’t play by the rules.
While Marty tries to get to grips with the situation he’s faced with we learn of the learn of the app creator and his own twisted mind.
We also get to know what it feels like to be one of the hunted!
I loved how the author switched perspectives, you see things through the eyes of the creator, the hunter and the hunted! This led to an easy flowing and exciting tale that grips you..it’s like the author keeps teasing you.. you have to know what happens next.. like the app.. you can’t ignore it..can’t look away..
The App is all about the tension..the creepiness of those involved with the app so the characters themselves while good were not my main focus.. It was all about the app and the creator’s lust for torment and death that had me hooked, the character has more depth than the others and I would have loved more time to see him develop further as he’s just so wonderfully twisted. Even though you should despise him.. there’s something that draws you to him and his life is what really makes the book pop!
Overall a fun read that explores how technology can be misused and the depths some people will go to survive… as well as the depths some will sink to in order to fulfil their perverted desires!
A 4* easily from me,
To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!
My thanks go to the author and ZooloosBookTours for having me on the tour and for providing me a copy of the book to aid my review!
Why not check out the other stops on the tour for more?
Author Bio
I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.
There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.
I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns. My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.
This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.
I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.
I’m 49, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.
A taut psychological thriller that will keep listeners guessing all the way to the end….
Rob and Emma have made a fresh start, moving away from London and back to her hometown. With their baby daughter Sophie, their family is complete.
Until one night, Rob arrives home from a late shift to find baby Sophie crying and on her own. Frantically, he searches the house and surroundings, but Emma has disappeared without a trace.
Rob is distraught. Emma couldn’t abandon their child – could she?
As rumours spread around the village, Rob uncovers secrets about Emma’s past life that shake his foundations about the woman he thought he married.
And when suspicion is cast on him, he must take desperate action to find out what happened to Emma. The question is, does he know his wife well enough to uncover the truth?
Review
Wow!
The Rain follows Rob, Emma and their little girl Sophie.
One night when Rob arrives home to find Sophie crying and Emma missing he fears the worst.. why would she leave Sophie like this… why would she not talk to him.
When the police arrive to help find his missing wife there’s speculation maybe Emma has just runaway, unhappy with her life… but Rob can’t accept that.
I’m trying to keep this spoiler free so let’s just say an event occurs that will shake Rob to the core.
Rob spirals and starts to look deeper into his wife’s past..there’s a secret she was running from but why? And what’s it got to do with her disappearance? Why now?
As Rob tries to come to terms with recent events and taking care of his daughter he builds a great friendship with Emma’s parents and together it seems like Rob might be able to move on a little..and he even starts to make a new friend…
But soon suspicion lands on him for Emma’s disappearance and with the police scrutinising his every move some of the things he’s done don’t look good… but things aren’t right..things have been twisted..but by who? And why? It’s not looking good for Rob.
The last few chapters are a chilling ride for the reader as the author puts the pieces together for Rob and the truth revealed.
When it comes to the plot I frigging loved this, very tense and chilling with twists along the way. Towards the end you are just waiting for that truth to be revealed and it’s very much the WOW moment but if I’m honest the whole story was a WOW moment for me.
I quite enjoy and audible book but truth be told my mind wanders a lot if I’m not reading a physical book so an author actually needs to work hard to grab my attention and this story certainly did, couldn’t put it down and it even led me to enjoy some of the housework like ironing and cleaning as it was the perfect time to put the headphones in and shut off from life for a little ha.
Narration wise I felt it worked so well. There was emotion and depth to the voices which perfectly suited the tail and it certainly added to the tense theme of the tale.
Very much a 5* from me and highly recommended to anyone who enjoys an audible tale.
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Outcast by Chris Ryan!
Chris was born in Newcastle, my neck of the woods! So how could I not jump on the chance to be part of the blog tour!!
Here’s the blurb
After single-handedly intervening in a deadly terrorist attack in Mali, SAS Warrant Officer Jamie ‘Geordie’ Carter is denounced as a lone wolf by jealous superiors.
Now a Regiment outcast, Carter is given a second chance with a deniable mission: locate SAS hero-gone-rogue, David Vann.
Vann had been sent into Afghanistan to train local rebels to fight the Taliban. But he’s since gone silent and expected attacks on key targets have not happened.
Tracking Vann through Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Carter not only discovers the rogue soldier’s involvement in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the Middle East – but an imminent attack that will have deadly consequences the world over . . .
Review.
Outcast follows the journey of Officer Jamie ‘Geordie’ Carter. Carter is a likeable fellow, but he’s ruffled some feathers along the way and has found himself out of favour with his superiors.
On his current assignment it looks like he’s about to make things worse but just when things are about to get interesting an offer comes his way that he can’t resist.
A fellow Blade, his mentor, David Vann has gone missing while on assignment, information is lacking so Carter is sent in the extract Vann.
As soon as Carter picks up the trail he gets a sense something isn’t quite right but little does he know what kind of shitstorm he’s about to walk into.
There’s action and betrayal behind every chapter and it ends up a race against time for Carter as there’s much more at stake than we first thought.
This is my first time reading a Chris Ryan book and I’ve heard many a good thing said about his work. Flow wise the book didn’t disappoint, it’s all about the build-up but with plenty of action and adrenaline as Carter constantly reassess the situation as the plot takes a twist. Character wise it didn’t disappoint either, the plot leaves little chance to give the characters too much depth but perfectly matches the flow as the author packs details in that quickly help you assess the characters and their motivations.
There’s a real authentic edge to the tale, the setting within Afghanistan after the withdrawal of western troops which gave the perfect backdrop for this story.
Outcast is a fast-paced thriller that fans of the genre will love. There’s a twist at the end which I hope means we will see more of Carter.. I’ll be waiting 😊
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Rachel @ rachelsrandomresources.com for having me on the tour! I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review but I’ll be more than happy to grab a copy too 😊
In 1984 he joined 22 SAS. After completing the year-long Alpine Guides Course, he was the troop guide for B Squadron Mountain Troop. He completed three tours with the anti-terrorist team, serving as an assaulter, sniper and finally Sniper Team Commander.
Chris was part of the SAS eight-man team chosen for the famous Bravo Two Zero mission during the 1991 Gulf War. He was the only member of the unit to escape from Iraq, where three of his colleagues were killed and four captured, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Chris wrote about his experiences in his book The One That Got Away, which became an immediate bestseller. Since then he has written over fifty books and presented a number of very successful TV programmes.
Today is the last day and may stop on the blog tour for The Price by Kerry Kaya.
Have you been following the tour? Why not? Check out the blogs below to catch up 😊
Here’s the blurb on the book:
Break the rules…
Harry Fletcher – Fletch to his friends – has spent his life surviving the tough streets of the East End. He knows working for notorious gangster Billy King is dangerous, and sleeping with Billy’s beautiful wife, Susan is deadly…but rules are meant to be broken.
Pay the price.
If Billy discovers the affair, Fletch is a dead man. But the closer he gets to Susan the more reckless Fletch becomes. And soon, Fletch realises that every one – even him – must pay the price for his actions.
But just what is Fletch prepared to lose…and will the cost be too high, even for him?
Review.
Fletch, his brother Spencer and their best mate Stevie are local lads up to no good. They soon get noticed by Billy King. King’s not a man to be messed with and little do the lads know they will soon be joining the ranks of Billy’s gang.
Billy takes a shine to Fletch and it shows, money flows and loose lips talk and the trust grows. This trust is put to the test when Fletch catches the eye of Billy’s wife, the attraction is mutual and given Billy really doesn’t deserve his wife Fletch soon finds himself head over heals.
While Fletch is preoccupied, King’s gang is like a pressure cooker waiting to go off, local rivals are pushing their weight around and Billy has to make a statement.. although he’s smart.. he doesn’t actually want to get caught.. he just wants these guys to know you can’t cross Billy King and live!
The pressure ramps up when King has Spencer take out one of the rival crew. Fletch is very protective of his brother and this further adds to the stress Fletch is under, but why is he so protective? His brother is big enough to look after himself after all.
The bombshell twist hits home hard and Fletch has to do everything he can to stop his brother learning the truth.. he’s also got to work hard to keep his relationship a secret still if he doesn’t want his boss to kill him.
Inevitably for a gangster Fletch’s world comes crashing down and his life is spiralling out of control. Can he keep his family safe?
The Price is a super fast paced and easy flowing gangland tale focusing on family and hidden secrets. The twists came just when you needed them to keep you sucked in. A fun enjoyable read.
4/5 Stars
My thanks go to Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour and for the ARC to allow me time to have my review ready for the blog tour, another I’ll be adding to my kindle purchased listed very soon. 😊
Kerry Kaya is the hugely popular author of Essex-based gritty gangland thrillers with strong family dynamics. She grew up on one of the largest council estates in the UK, where she sets her novels. She also works full-time in a busy maternity department for the NHS. She has signed a nine-book deal with Boldwood for both new and backlist titles. Her first book The Price will be published in July 2021.
Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for Insider by Owen Mullen, an author who is a firm favourite here on David’s Book Blurg! It just so happens to be release day so without further ado…
Here’s the blurb
Someone’s playing both sides and now they have a score to settle…
When the family business is crime, you can never be sure who to trust. And when three of their businesses are hit in one night, the notorious Glass family close ranks. Either someone is sending them a message or a war is coming…
With trouble coming from all sides, the heads of the Glass family have more than enough to deal with, but all bets are off when a stranger from the past enters the game, causing division and mistrust.
Crooked cops, rival gangs and old enemies are bad enough, but when the trouble comes from the inside, loyalties are tested, with deadly consequences.
Review
We are back with the Glass family for book 2 in this gritty gangland series. Luke is now head of the family after events in the previous installment, he never wanted this life..he was ready to walk away.. but once it’s got hold of you, you’re not getting out.
Jazzer and his friends are hired to hit some of Luke’s investments little do they know the world of trouble this will bring them. George Ritchie the gangster is back and working for Luke and you just know when he gets the scent there’s nowhere safe to hide . No one might have been hurt but George is old school… payback will be swift.
What happens next rocks the Glass family.. firstly the club is hit and this time there’s a body count..then someone from the past shows up.. a stranger.. but someone who wants a piece of the family action.
Soon it becomes very clear the hits were not carried out by the same crew.. and the Glass family are systematically under attack..and with little to no clues to go on Luke turns to Mark Douglas. Douglass is an ex cop who helped stop the hit at the club becoming worse than it was.. this guys good and he brings his own crew in the sort the family mess out.
Nina, Luke’s sister is still in the family business but she’s a loose canon.. can Luke, George and Mark tame her… no chance.. but can they calm her down enough to stop her getting in serious trouble.. or worse..
Things heat up a lot and the bodies start to pile up. Luke’s more shady customers start to become concerned, especially when they end up potential targets themselves.
Now Luke has his own connections, he’s got a policeman on the payroll but Oliver Standford has his own issues when he becomes a target too. He wants out of the life but he’s stuck..if he goes down so does the Glass family. The main issue is there is no chatter on who is after the family, but why? Surely someone knows?
Things come to a dramatic EXPLOSIVE conclusion in what has to be one of the best new series I’ve read in a long time. I never thought gangland thrillers would be my kind of story.. I’m a historical fiction guy through and through but Mullen knows how to suck the readers in, knows just how to write to get you invested and In customary fashion the author leaves you desperate for more.
The thing I enjoyed the most about this offering was the character development..we already know some of the main players and their motivations and this left the author time to bring in some fresh blood, even though it’s unlikely they will make it through this one alive.. the fresh blood helped keep things lively and exciting..and bloody fun to read.
My thanks go to the author, the publisher and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the blog tour! I received an ARC of the book as part of the tour but I’ve had the book pre-ordered since February so you’ll see that verified tag on Amazon 🙂
Why not follow the tour?
About the author
Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete. In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer. He has now written seven books and his first gangland thriller for Boldwood, Family was published in January 2021.
Today I’m celebrating the kindle release of Rob Sinclair’s latest book, Assassins (A Ryker Returns Thriller Book 2). What better way to celebrate than to give the book the David’s Book Blurg treatment!
Here’s the blurb
He’s never going to stop…
Stalking the streets of Prague, James Ryker is on the hunt for justice when he hears a news report of a murder in rural England. Big problem. He knows the victim. Ten years ago, in Qatar, Ryker led a team of assassins to kill him. He thought they had.
So how has a man Ryker thought dead for over a decade suddenly resurfaced?
Travelling across the globe, Ryker sets off on a quest to discover the truth from that fateful night in Qatar. When he realises that his old team members are now under threat from a ruthless female assassin, he knows his problems have only just started.
In a race against time, Ryker must work out who is behind the killings and evade the assassin before he becomes the next victim…
Review
Firstly I’m going to get this off my chest! How bloody awesome is Ryker? I mean seriously this guy has been beat up more times than I can count but he doesn’t stay down for long. Credit to the author Rob Sinclair who continues to offer up riveting espionage thrillers. The author has found his way of refreshing his main character Ryker, keeping things interesting and turning the energy up to the max.
In this instalment we learn of mission from Ryker’s past.. it didn’t go to plan but the end result was the same.. a dead body… this dead body though turns up a decade later..he’s been alive and well all this time.. but how? And why has someone killed him now?
Ryker only works for himself now and the JIA his former employers are no more..well at least on paper.. this means he’s got his work cut out for himself. He’s not stayed alive this long without learning some skills and more than one trick to hide up his sleeve.
Things spiral fast and it soon becomes clear there’s more going on…. and the body count rises.. there’s a new assassin on the scene but who is she? And what’s the motivation?
The only way Ryker can solve this riddle is to find out what really happened 10 years ago.. but this assassin isn’t going to make it easy for him.
As thrillers go you can’t go wrong with Rob Sinclair, the pace is perfect, there’s action when you need it and it’s balanced superbly with the plot and character development.. the flow is so natural you just end up devouring the story. To say it’s action packed is an understatement.. it’s got the action….the blood and guts..and the twists you just don’t see coming… there’s some pretty decent explosions too 🙂
Ryker finds it hard to trust anyone because everyone that gets close to him either dies.. or can’t be trusted.. what’s your bet on this instalment ha.
I can honestly say I really do get excited when I hear Rob’s got a new book coming out, without fail I know I’m going to enjoy it.
My thanks go to the author and the publisher Bloodhound Books for the ARC to assist with my review, I’ve had the book pre-ordered as soon as it was announced so you’ll see that verified purchase tag 🙂
David's Book Blurg 