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atriasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
It's an amazing thriller. The action sequences were so descriptive that I could imagine it in front of my eyes like a movie. Only sad thing of finishing this book is that now I miss Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd.
It's an amazing thriller. The action sequences were so descriptive that I could imagine it in front of my eyes like a movie. Only sad thing of finishing this book is that now I miss Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd.
jacki_f's review
4.0
The Payback hooks you in early and maintains its momentum throughout. It's a fast paced, gritty read with a high body count. I found it very hard to put down, finishing it in a day.
The plot brings together characters from several of Kernick's previous novels. If you are a Kernick fan, you will enjoy seeing the way he's brought various strands together, but there is sufficient back history given to make it accessible for those who haven't read all the other books.
Jaded ex-policeman turned hitman, Dennis Milne, previously appeared in The Business Of Dying and A Good Day To Die. He's a great character and I was really pleased to revisit him. When the book opens, he is reluctantly accepting a job to kill a journalist in the Philippines. Meanwhile Detective Inspector Tina Boyd is still desperate to apprehend her long-term nemesis, Paul Wise, who she holds responsible for the death of her lover some years previously. She has been co-operating with a journalist in the UK, hoping that he might help to build a case against Wise. When Wise has him murdered, she becomes even more determined to pick up the trail.
The story alternates between Milne's point of view (told in the first person) and Tina's (told in the third person). I kept getting totally involved in one story and not wanting to switch to the other, but then getting involved in that story and not wanting to switch back. Eventually the two intersect and the book builds to a final and violent conclusion.
I really enjoy Kernick's books and they keep getting better. You can tell he's really worked away at this one to keep the reader hooked in and turning the pages frantically - and he's succeeded brilliantly. Clear the decks before you start this, because you won't want to put it down.
The plot brings together characters from several of Kernick's previous novels. If you are a Kernick fan, you will enjoy seeing the way he's brought various strands together, but there is sufficient back history given to make it accessible for those who haven't read all the other books.
Jaded ex-policeman turned hitman, Dennis Milne, previously appeared in The Business Of Dying and A Good Day To Die. He's a great character and I was really pleased to revisit him. When the book opens, he is reluctantly accepting a job to kill a journalist in the Philippines. Meanwhile Detective Inspector Tina Boyd is still desperate to apprehend her long-term nemesis, Paul Wise, who she holds responsible for the death of her lover some years previously. She has been co-operating with a journalist in the UK, hoping that he might help to build a case against Wise. When Wise has him murdered, she becomes even more determined to pick up the trail.
The story alternates between Milne's point of view (told in the first person) and Tina's (told in the third person). I kept getting totally involved in one story and not wanting to switch to the other, but then getting involved in that story and not wanting to switch back. Eventually the two intersect and the book builds to a final and violent conclusion.
I really enjoy Kernick's books and they keep getting better. You can tell he's really worked away at this one to keep the reader hooked in and turning the pages frantically - and he's succeeded brilliantly. Clear the decks before you start this, because you won't want to put it down.
meranisan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
etccarms's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
It was very fast paced, which I normally love, but for this book the ending came too quick for the build up. It felt like 60% build up, where the actual plot has yet to start, and then 40% of the plot, where everything goes in a straight line without anythung that throws the main characters off of their path completely. Another issue I had was that the Milne changed his mind about what he was doing very suddenly, and it made me stop reading for awhile. Later when the 'plot-twist' happened, it also made me want to stop reading since it felt very unneeded. A smaller issue was that alot of stereotypes were used in the book, men calling women whores, the assisn being russian, etc. Aside from these issues, it was a good quick book with morally grey characters.
idontknowbutthiswilldo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
seanbyrne92's review against another edition
5.0
Another stellar book from Simon Kernick - the third in the series involving Dennis Milne. We meet Dennis again several years after the events in 'A Good Day to Die', he seems to be trying to escape the life he has been leading after so many murders and sins throughout the years. Until he gets pulled back in by a debt owed to Bertie Schagel (a fixer) who reminds him that he owes him a debt due to rescuing Dennis and helping him escape London all those years ago.
Dennis is asked to kill Tina Boyd who has become a problem for a client of Schagel's - Dennis reluctantly accepts the task even though he has hesitations about killing a woman. He knows after this job he can retire in Laos. What entails is a thrill a minute, uncovering more and more behind the lies of the underworld and the cover-ups. Plenty of violence to keep you hooked, similar to all other Kernick books that I have read. Looking forward to reading more of his back catalogue.
Dennis is asked to kill Tina Boyd who has become a problem for a client of Schagel's - Dennis reluctantly accepts the task even though he has hesitations about killing a woman. He knows after this job he can retire in Laos. What entails is a thrill a minute, uncovering more and more behind the lies of the underworld and the cover-ups. Plenty of violence to keep you hooked, similar to all other Kernick books that I have read. Looking forward to reading more of his back catalogue.
si0bhan's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been curious about Simon Kernick’s Dennis Milne for a while and have been desperate to dive into the series. Although this is the last book in the series, it’s the first of the series I have read. I hate to read series out of order, but the library has been giving me the books in no particular order. Despite not knowing the details of the prior books, I was able to enjoy this one.
The Payback had me hooked from the start, and I was happy to power through it in no time. There were a few moments that felt like clichés, with the characters and behaviours feeling like the stereotypical action movie, but this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. There was plenty packed into it, the pieces came together well, and I devoured it in no time.
I’ll certainly be giving the prior books a read when I get my hands on them. I just wish I’d read the author’s books in order, as this one contained a lot of spoilers for the author’s Tina Boyd series, which I have yet to finish.
The Payback had me hooked from the start, and I was happy to power through it in no time. There were a few moments that felt like clichés, with the characters and behaviours feeling like the stereotypical action movie, but this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. There was plenty packed into it, the pieces came together well, and I devoured it in no time.
I’ll certainly be giving the prior books a read when I get my hands on them. I just wish I’d read the author’s books in order, as this one contained a lot of spoilers for the author’s Tina Boyd series, which I have yet to finish.
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